“As Captain Bai predicted,” Su Wan said calmly, studying him, “you have a resilience that ordinary people do not possess.”
“If you finish cultivating the Second-Rank martial arts currently in the Yulong Gang’s possession, along with the ones she recomnded to you, you will almost certainly break through to Second Rank.”
She stood up, took a bottle of mildly alkaline drinking water from the refrigerator, and set it in front of him.
“There is no good tea here. Make do with this.”
Su Wangchuan accepted it and thanked her.
“Let us talk about the Second-Rank martial arts first… You said ‘a batch.’ How many are you planning to buy? It is not for your friends, is it? For Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao?” she asked tentatively. “They can purchase from
directly. There is no need for you to handle it for them.”
“I know. This ti, it is for one of my deputies. I want to buy a few manuals to help him improve his strength,” Su Wangchuan said truthfully.
“Twenty taels of gold per manual. That price is firm.”
“No problem.”
Su Wangchuan nodded and took out a list from his pocket, placing it on the desk.
“I need ten manuals. They are all written there.”
“A two-hundred-tael gold transaction. As expected of Hall Master Su—always a bold move,” Su Wan said with a pleased smile as she took the list. “Very well. I will take this deal.”
The higher the transaction amount, the greater the profit. Why would she refuse?
“And what about Third-Rank martial manuals? How are those traded? Surely the price is not simply doubled?”
Su Wangchuan t her gaze directly.
She shook her head.
“How could they be that cheap?”
Her tone grew serious.
“Third-Rank martial manuals are the stepping stones for martial artists knocking at the gate from Third Rank to Fourth Rank. For ordinary lower-tier gangs, they are rare treasures—because to transmit such martial arts, one must have cultivation above Fourth Rank and have mastered the art to the level of Perfect Mastery. In small regions, people like that barely exist. Naturally, the manuals are extrely precious.”
Su Wangchuan frowned slightly and listened intently.
“Martial arts like 《Wudang Sanshou》, 《Shaolin Subduing Tiger Fist》, or 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 circulate widely. Every so often, a few copies appear on the black market. Those can be purchased for one hundred taels of gold. But for other Third-Rank martial arts, do not even think about buying them for that price.”
His expression changed.
“Not even one hundred taels of gold? That sounds exaggerated.”
“If Third-Rank martial arts were so easy to obtain, why do you think Captain Bai has been stuck at Third Rank for two years?” Su Wan folded her arms and smiled faintly. “The Qingcheng Sect has nurous manuals—《Qingcheng Heart thod》, 《Qingcheng Sword Art》, 《Qingcheng Saber Art》, 《Qingcheng Staff Art》, and more. Compared to the Yulong Gang, they possess far greater resources. With Captain Bai’s talent and background, she has always had a higher starting point than us and easier access to manuals. Yet she lingered at Second Rank for more than half a year, and has also remained at Third Rank for over half a year. She still has not broken through to Fourth Rank.”
Su Wangchuan’s brows knitted.
Su Wan continued, “If Third-Rank manuals were that cheap on the black market, we would have already pushed her to Fourth Rank.”
Her reasoning was sound.
Captain Bai Jingtang, as leader of the First Land-Clearing Team and the face of the Warring States Ga Studio, would not be neglected by the studio.
If even she had difficulty obtaining Third-Rank manuals, then the situation must indeed be severe.
Third-Rank martial arts…
Extrely difficult to acquire.
“What is the market price, then?” Su Wangchuan asked.
“Three hundred taels of gold per manual. Including escort costs, it cos to three hundred and fifty taels of gold.”
Su Wan answered evenly.
“Besides the three Third-Rank manuals I ntioned before, our studio can guarantee only three more. A total of six Third-Rank manuals. I will round it down for you—one thousand five hundred taels of gold.”
Su Wangchuan’s temples throbbed.
Even if he squeezed himself dry, he could not produce that much.
After setting aside funds to purchase Second-Rank manuals for Wang Yuehui, Zhao Heiniu, and Chen Ergou, he would have only about one thousand three hundred taels of gold left—and that already included consolidating silver earnings from recent days.
He had thought a few hundred taels of gold would suffice.
How naive.
In 《spirit realm》, martial manuals were far more valuable than he had imagined.
To cultivate literature requires poverty; to cultivate martial arts requires wealth.
Without money, how could anyone hope to advance in rank?
At that mont, he felt a trace of gratitude.
At least he was Hall Master of a Yulong Gang branch hall, with businesses generating steady inco every day.
An ordinary person relying on mining, escorting goods, hunting—or even robbery—might never gather enough wealth to reach Third Rank.
Now he finally understood why Gang Leader Yang Feiyue had only recently broken through to Second Rank.
“Have you decided?” Su Wan asked, watching him closely. “How many do you want?”
“None.”
Su Wangchuan stood and pushed his chair back.
“Too expensive. I cannot afford it.”
A flicker of surprise—and then urgency—passed through Su Wan’s eyes.
“Wait.”
“I rember Captain Bai plans to visit Huishui County soon. I will have her personally escort the Third-Rank manuals to you. I will reduce the escort fee.”
“Reduce it to how much?” Su Wangchuan stopped.
Su Wan turned her head and snorted softly.
“Captain Bai’s efforts must still be compensated. We will count the escort cost as one hundred taels of gold. The manuals remain at original price. That makes it one thousand three hundred taels of gold in total. If you bargain any further, that would be unreasonable.”
He inhaled deeply.
The escort cost had dropped from three hundred to one hundred taels of gold.
Should he agree?
No.
He needed to keep so funds in reserve. If an ergency struck the hall and he, as Hall Master, could not produce money, it would be humiliating.
“I will take five Third-Rank manuals. I cannot afford the sixth for now.”
Su Wangchuan spoke decisively.
Afraid he might change his mind, Su Wan agreed at once, nodding briskly.
“Very well.”
“That will be one thousand one hundred taels of gold.”
“I will arrange for Captain Bai to et you for the handover no later than the day after tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
Su Wangchuan blinked, sensing faintly that he might have been maneuvered.
“In three days, the Prefectural Governnt will hold an auction. Major families and surrounding factions will present items for sale. Many martial manuals will be auctioned.”
Su Wan explained smoothly, “Our studio intends to convert the Third-Rank manuals we acquired earlier into capital, helping Captain Bai compete for Fourth-Rank martial manuals. Since you have demand, we will prioritize delivering these manuals to you. With your gold supporting us, Captain Bai will have a better chance to secure one or two Fourth-Rank manuals at the auction.”
Hearing this, Su Wangchuan finally understood.
So that was the reason.
Knowing that his purchase would help Captain Bai Jingtang, his resistance lessened.
He nodded in agreent.
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