The refined-looking Xue Shiyu gently knocked on Hu He's courtyard gate. Looking at Hu He, who opened the door, he smiled and said, “Junior Brother Hu, sorry to disturb you.”
“Senior Brother Xue? Don't say that, please come in, please come in. And this senior brother is...?” Hu He was slightly surprised, but he quickly invited Xue Shiyu and the other man into his small courtyard.
The three of them exchanged pleasantries for a brief moment.
Hu He poured tea for Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong, then asked, “I wonder what brings Senior Brother Xue and Senior Brother Huang here to see me?”
Xue Shiyu said solemnly, “Junior Brother Hu, it's like this. I want to organize a mountain expedition team to lead everyone up the mountain to earn cultivation resources. Currently, the academy is vigorously cracking down on the Shengxue Cult, so the bandits of Qushe Ridge rarely appear on Northern Mountain anymore. It's the perfect time to go up. Seeing that your strength is quite impressive, Junior Brother Hu, I wanted to invite you to join us. With you on board, our gains from each expedition will surely reach the next level.”
Hu He listened quietly. His fingers traced the edge of his teacup as he pondered for a moment before giving a bitter smile.
“I am sorry, Senior Brother Xue, Senior Brother Huang. Thank you both for thinking so highly of me, but I suffer from a brain affliction. My epilepsy has been acting up frequently of late, and I fear I might disrupt your important matters.”
Xue Shiyu's heart stirred. “A brain affliction? You could tell me more about it, Junior Brother Hu. I happen to know a few highly skilled physicians.”
The three of them continued to banter, but Hu He kept using his brain affliction as an excuse to decline.
In the end, Xue Shiyu could only rise with regret. He cupped his hands to wish Hu He a speedy recovery, then left with Huang Renyong.
Behind the wall of Hu He's courtyard, Zhuang Xun listened to the entire conversation. He instantly understood Xue Shiyu's scheme: he wanted to lure Hu He out to make a move on him.
In that case, Xue Shiyu would certainly not give up. His next step would likely be to invite other disciples to go up the mountain with him, and then spread news of bountiful harvests each time to tempt Hu He. Once Hu He took the bait, he would spring the trap.
Zhuang Xun continued to stroll around the Posuo Courtyard, waiting.
Sure enough, it went exactly as he expected.
News of Xue Shiyu wanting to organize a mountain expedition team spread widely through the Posuo Courtyard. However, no one joined yet; everyone was adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
Having obtained the information he wanted, Zhuang Xun returned to his courtyard to think.
Because Xue Shiyu lived in the Posuo Courtyard, and his master—a Zenith powerhouse—as well as several elders of the Upper Three Ranks resided there, Zhuang Xun did not dare to use the Debt-Lending Bladesman to constantly spy on him. As a result, he still did not know who was backing Xue Shiyu.
Previously, when the threat was minor, he could afford to ignore it. But now that he was moving against the Shengxue Cult, it would be highly troublesome if someone within his own faction harbored ulterior motives.
If they were colluding with external enemies, and those enemies happened to be the Shengxue Cult, it would be even more of a headache.
Furthermore, Zhuang Xun was also very curious about what Hu He's fortuitous encounter was to have caused such a state of mind.
“Should I have Yan Pingsheng join Xue Shiyu's mountain hunting expedition? That would give me a chance to get close to him and investigate who is behind this. As long as I back out when Hu He joins, there won't be any danger, and I can even enjoy eating the bait.”
However, there was still a risk. If Xue Shiyu grew impatient waiting for Hu He and decided to spring the trap early, Yan Pingsheng would be in danger.
After weighing his options, Zhuang Xun felt it was worth a try. After all, Yan Pingsheng's utility had become somewhat low lately. Originally, his purpose in creating Yan Pingsheng was to have a backup clone in case anything happened to Bai Yujing.
But now, Bai Yujing had established a firm foothold in the academy. If a catastrophe occurred that could take down Bai Yujing, Yan Pingsheng would likely find it hard to survive as well.
Furthermore, Yan Pingsheng's role had been somewhat replaced by Yi Wangyou.
Among his three clones, Yi Wangyou was undoubtedly the safest.
As a young child, Yi Wangyou could constantly cling to Yi Xiaoxiang. In Mount Dazhou, a Zenith was peerless under heaven. Unless an enemy descended from the heavens, it was highly unlikely for anything to happen to Yi Wangyou under Yi Xiaoxiang's protection.
Thus, Zhuang Xun had been hesitating recently about whether to melt down Yan Pingsheng, but he had not been able to make up his mind.
For one, he had grown attached to him.
Secondly, he thought Yan Pingsheng might serve some purpose in the future, as he served as a link between Bai Yujing and Yi Wangyou.
“Well, I'll let Yan Pingsheng go. If anything happens to him, it will conveniently free up a permanent clone slot. If he survives, I'll keep him.” Having made his decision, Zhuang Xun left his small courtyard to find Xue Shiyu.
...
“Junior Brother Yan... wants to join us?”
“Yes, Senior Brother Xue.”
“I see... Junior Brother Yan, wait a moment. Let me discuss this with Brother Huang.”
Xue Shiyu gave Yan Pingsheng a warm smile, then pulled Huang Renyong aside to whisper.
Huang Renyong said, “Brother Xue, are you sure we should bring him? He's Senior Brother Bai's fellow townsman and Yi Wangyou's benefactor. What if the Law Enforcement Hall investigates thoroughly when the time comes?”
Xue Shiyu thought for a moment and made his decision. “Bring him! It's precisely because of his strong background that he'll be loaded. It would be a waste not to slaughter a fat sheep that delivers itself to our doorstep. As long as we're careful not to harm his life and put on a convincing show, the Law Enforcement Hall won't care much about a minor matter like losing some wealth. They're all busy searching for traces of the Shengxue Cult right now. This is the perfect opportunity for us to make a fortune.”
“Alright, we'll do as you say, Brother Xue. As long as we don't hurt anyone, robbing some wealth is no big deal. It's not like we haven't done this before.” Huang Renyong nodded vigorously.
The two returned to Yan Pingsheng, agreed to let him join, and smiled as they treated him like a brother.
The three of them went out for a meal to bond, then agreed to set off tomorrow morning before parting ways.
...
The next day, Zhuang Xun arrived at the location agreed upon with Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong the previous day. By then, the other two had already arrived, and the three of them set off together into Northern Mountain.
They wandered around Northern Mountain for half the day with little to show for it. However, as evening approached, they discovered a precious herb in a ravine.
Xue Shiyu exclaimed in surprise, “Look! That seems to be Continuity Grass!”
Huang Renyong also said, “It really is! I remember the purchase price for Continuity Grass last time was one thousand taels of silver. We're rich! To have such a great harvest on our first trip up the mountain!”
They're certainly willing to invest some capital... Zhuang Xun had been a hunter for two years, so he could tell at a glance that the Continuity Grass had been transplanted. Nevertheless, he joined in the excitement, shouting that they were rich.
Xue Shiyu quickly leaped down and carefully dug up the Continuity Grass. He then said to Huang Renyong and Yan Pingsheng:
“I have a use for this Continuity Grass, so I'll shamelessly keep it. I'll compensate the two of you with three hundred and fifty taels each based on the market price. Brother Huang, Junior Brother Yan, what do you think?”
Zhuang Xun waved his hands repeatedly. “Senior Brother Xue, how can I accept this? My strength is low, and it is already my honor that you and Senior Brother Huang were willing to bring me along. How could I have the cheek to split the profits equally with you?”
Xue Shiyu said generously, “What are you saying, Junior Brother Yan? I organized this mountain expedition team precisely to lead everyone to make money together. Don't refuse, Junior Brother Yan. We will split the profits equally.”
He gave Yan Pingsheng no chance to refuse. Once he made the final decision, he led the group down the mountain.
On the way back, he secretly lagged a few steps behind Yan Pingsheng and whispered to Huang Renyong, “You pay sixty percent of the silver for Yan Pingsheng, and I'll pay forty percent.”
Huang Renyong did the math; he would have to pay two hundred and ten taels.
He couldn't help but frown. “Brother Xue, isn't that a bit too much? We could have just given him any random amount.”
Xue Shiyu sneered, “If we aren't willing to invest some capital, how are we going to lure the others into taking the bait? It's not like we won't get it back later. There will be plenty of silver for you to take then.”
Huang Renyong gritted his teeth. “Fine!” Thus, upon returning that day, he took out two hundred and ten taels, pooled it with Xue Shiyu's portion to make three hundred and fifty taels, and sent it to Yan Pingsheng together.
...
The next day, news that Xue Shiyu's mountain expedition team had earned one thousand taels the day before spread like wildfire throughout the academy.
Upon learning that everyone who went received three hundred and fifty taels, those who had wanted to wait and see a few days ago were filled with regret.
Many volunteered to join, but Xue Shiyu only accepted a few, leaving the rest deeply disappointed.
Afterward, Xue Shiyu approached Hu He once again.
This time, Hu He was somewhat tempted. After touching his chest, he suppressed the urge and still declined, using his brain affliction and epilepsy as excuses.
Xue Shiyu had no choice but to leave in regret.
A week later, the mountain expedition team set off again. This time, the team had expanded to ten people, marching toward Northern Mountain with great fanfare.
At around noon, the expedition team discovered a pack of precious beasts. Working together, they eliminated the pack of wild wolves that coexisted with the precious beasts. Every member of the team received a few precious beasts, and they returned home in high spirits, loaded with spoils.
Upon learning of this, the academy was shocked once more.
Even more people wanted to join Xue Shiyu's mountain expedition team, but he still only accepted a few.
Before long, many people unexpectedly learned that Xue Shiyu had repeatedly invited Hu He to go up the mountain, only to be rejected every time. Consequently, they ridiculed Hu He for being blind, letting hundreds of taels of silver slip through his fingers for nothing.
At the same time, they praised Yan Pingsheng for his discerning eye, recognizing the potential of Xue Shiyu's mountain expedition team before they had even made any money. They envied him, estimating that from these two trips up the mountain, he had likely already earned five hundred taels of silver.
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