Chapter 277: Chapter 172: About to Take Over the Land of Four Mansions
’Could Luo Dingran have actually been right?’
Cheng Zongyang’s gaze flickered as he stared at the Soul Crystal Stones in the box inside the small hut. He seed to be making a decision.
A mont later, he said, "I still have over seventeen thousand Points left. Let’s place another purchase order for forty more stones. Try setting the price at three hundred Points each, for a total of 13,930. The fact that it was completed so quickly this ti probably ans the price was still a bit high.
"Change the note this ti, though. Mark it as a final purchase order, offer void after this. If the order fails, we’ll go back to the original price next ti."
Luo Dingran was taken aback for a mont but quickly replied, "Yes, Sir."
’I can’t believe my master is still haggling after one successful deal. Is he trying to make the seller anxious?’
Cheng Zongyang paid no mind to what Luo Dingran was thinking.
Carrying the small box, he left the Wilderness World.
The territory in the Wilderness World had expanded and was in urgent need of manpower. Furthermore, the war between the Thirteen Royal Families and Da Liang was about to conclude, so he needed to prepare more resources.
Whether to be exchanged for Points or used in the outside world, preparations had to be made.
Cheng Zongyang looked at the sixty Crystal Stones in the box and began to ponder.
Recruiting personnel would still take ti; preparations also had to be made to fill these Soul Crystal Stones.
He had already told Zhao the Seventh to find people with this intention; he just hadn’t expected to acquire the Soul Crystal Stones so quickly.
And so, he entered the Wilderness World once more to prepare so things.
「An hour later.」
In his study, Cheng Zongyang t the two n Zhao the Seventh had brought him.
"Sir, I’ve brought you the n you asked for. I chose these two myself after a careful selection process.
Not only do they have experience riding horses, but they’re also literate. They’re refugees who fled the chaos."
Cheng Zongyang looked at the two n and gave Zhao the Seventh a slight nod.
"Well done. You’re dismissed."
"Yes, Sir." Zhao the Seventh cupped his hands, turned, and withdrew.
The two remaining n watched Cheng Zongyang nervously. They knew that despite his youth, he was one of the most powerful figures in the County Town, so they remained extrely respectful and dared not act out of turn.
Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "No need to be so stiff. Relax. I had Zhao the Seventh bring you here because I have a couple of jobs for you. Which of you is familiar with the areas surrounding Jade Peak County?"
At his words, the two n looked at each other. The one on the left, a taller, more upright young man, raised his hand and said nervously, "Sir, I’m fairly familiar with the area. I used to work for an Escort Agency."
Cheng Zongyang was surprised. "An Escort Agency? What’s your na? Where are you from?"
The young man gradually cald down and replied with a respectful bow of his cupped hands, "Sir, my na is Xu Dong. I’m from the neighboring prefecture of Linchuan. I led my family here as we fled the chaos. We were lucky to survive."
"From Linchuan? Then how are you so familiar with this area? Did you often run escorts to Jade Peak County in Xiangyang?"
Xu Dong cupped his hands. "You are perceptive, Sir. That is precisely the case. We’re from Yuxi County in Linchuan. Traveling east from Yuxi County along the main road, one can reach Jade Peak County in about ten days on foot.
Our agency handled long-distance escorts between prefectures, so we often traveled between the two counties. We even went as far north as Qingfeng County and as far south as Shangyong County."
Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly, then turned to the other man.
The other man imdiately cupped his hands and said, "Sir, my na is Ma Yue. I was once a town Soldier."
This ti, Cheng Zongyang looked at him with considerable surprise.
"A Soldier where?"
Ma Yue, however, seed reluctant to speak. After a mont of silence, he finally said, "A town under the jurisdiction of Shangyong County. It’s called Dongsheng Town, south of Jade Peak County."
At this, Xu Dong, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but glance at Ma Yue. What a coincidence. To think he was also from Shangyong.
Cheng Zongyang asked a few more questions and got a better understanding of his situation.
The situation in Shangyong County wasn’t any better, and Ma Yue had been forced to leave Dongsheng Town due to the war.
With the situation in Shangyong County so dire, his only option was to bring his family to Jade Peak County.
After learning this, Cheng Zongyang asked, "Then you must be quite familiar with the area around Shangyong?"
Ma Yue thought for a mont before nodding slightly. "I know it sowhat, but..."
Cheng Zongyang cut him off. "Are you familiar with places that have a lot of dead?"
Ma Yue looked baffled.
"Sir...?"
Cheng Zongyang looked at Xu Dong. "Step outside for a mont. I’ll call for you when I’m ready."
Xu Dong was taken aback but quickly replied, "Yes, Sir."
He then swiftly exited the room.
Once Xu Dong had left, Cheng Zongyang turned to Ma Yue, then rose and walked into an adjacent room.
Here stood a Wordless Stele, nearly as tall as a man.
Cheng Zongyang said to Ma Yue, "The material of this Stone Stele is unusual. It looks heavy, but it’s only about a hundred and sixty pounds. See if you can move it."
Ma Yue was surprised and looked over at it. Without asking any questions, he adjusted his stance, lifted it with relative ease, took a few steps, and then gently set it back down.
Cheng Zongyang comnted, "Not bad. It looks like you’ve recovered a good deal of your strength."
With that, Cheng Zongyang’s expression suddenly turned serious.
"I have a job for you. Of course, you’re not obligated to take it. After all, you’re not a mber of my Gang, nor are you my subordinate. But if you do it well, I promise to help you achieve Entry Grade, and I will grant you one request, so long as it is within my power."
Hearing this, Ma Yue’s hesitant expression fird with resolve. He cupped his hands at once and said, "Tell
what I need to do, Sir."
Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly. "I’m going to give you a horse and carriage. You will take this Stone Stele to places where many people have died—be it a Chaotic Burial Mound, a graveyard, a prison, or any similar location. Once there, you will place this stele and these Crystal Stones..."
Cheng Zongyang then began to explain in detail how to use the Stone Stele and the Soul Crystal Stones.
He had already restricted the Soul Gathering Stele’s functions; it could do nothing more than attract and collect.
He also made sure to inform him of the detailed precautions for handling the Soul Crystal Stones.
Once Ma Yue had committed it all to mory, Cheng Zongyang concluded, "Only return after all of these Crystal Stones are glowing red. I won’t restrict your movents, as long as you go to the types of places I just described."
Ma Yue understood. "I understand, Sir," he said finally. "If I can bury the Crystal Stones in different locations to let them collect and then retrieve them on the return trip, it will be much faster. However, I am worried about being robbed on the road."
Cheng Zongyang nodded, walked to his desk, and retrieved a bundle and a Long Saber from beneath it.
Unwrapping it revealed several items inside.
"This is a Seven Herbs Powder Package. Keep it on you, and it will keep snakes, bugs, and other vermin from approaching. As long as it doesn’t get soaked, it should be effective for three months."
"This bottle contains White dicine. It has an imdiate effect when treating external wounds. Use it if you get injured."
"This bottle holds Five Grains Inner Replenishing Pills. There are thirty of them. For a non-Martial Artist, one pill is enough to go three days without eating. This bottle should last you for over two or three months."
"This is a Geomagnetic Stone and a Purse. You must wear this Purse at all tis. What’s sealed in this iron case is the Geomagnetic Stone. If you run into danger, open the case and take it out imdiately. No one below Seventh Grade will be able to approach you, and even those at Sixth Grade will be affected. This should be enough to keep you safe. As long as you have this Purse, you won’t be affected by it."
As he spoke, Cheng Zongyang demonstrated the Geomagnetic Stone’s effect for Ma Yue.
He handed the Purse to Ma Yue the very instant he reacted, then sealed the case again.
Ma Yue stared at the iron case in shock, then looked down at the Purse in his hand.
"See how it works now?" Cheng Zongyang asked with a smile.
’This was Jing Xuan’s design, far more convenient and effective than the old one.’ Since the mission involved the Soul Crystal Stones and the Soul Gathering Stele, he had to equip the man properly.
He wasn’t worried about the Soul Gathering Stele, which he could recall at any ti.
But he had to be cautious with the sixty Soul Crystal Stones.
Ma Yue looked at the iron case and nodded gravely. "I understand."
Next, Cheng Zongyang handed the Refined Long Blade to Ma Yue. "This is no ordinary weapon. It can cut through iron as if it were mud, so take good care of it."
Ma Yue nodded gravely and accepted the Long Saber with both hands.
Finally, Cheng Zongyang took out a piece of Beast Hide Paper. "While I trust that you’ll complete this task, I have more faith in things written down in black and white. This is a Responsibility Agreent. Read it over. If there are no issues and you’re willing to do this job, then sign it and leave your thumbprint. As long as you abide by this agreent, it will benefit us both."
’With so many valuable items involved, he couldn’t just trust soone so easily.’
Especially with the Long Saber combined with the Geomagnetic Stone, even a Martial Artist of the Middle Third Grades could fall to him.
With so many precious items in play, a guarantee was only natural.
Thus, while preparing these items, he had also drafted a new Oath Contract, which he titled "Responsibility Agreent."
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