In other words, the proprietress never intended to help the Scorpion Gang obtain the exam questions at all. She purely used this as bait to keep those two guys around.
After figuring this out, Hu Niu also smiled. There was indeed no need to help such ill-intentioned people. It was only right to discard them after using them.
The best room in the Stone Heart Residence, similar to Lian Yu’s accommodation, featured front and back terraces. One side offered a commanding view of the Hundred Zhang Courtyard, while the other allowed one to enjoy the scenery of Tianji Mountain.
Upgrading to a more luxurious room did not mean the security had also been upgraded.
Yu Qing, who was wandering around the room, carefully inspected the entire space from top to bottom with spells. He occasionally clicked his tongue in appreciation, feeling thoroughly pleased. He felt his hundred thousand taels were truly well spent, not because of the room, but because of Lian Yu’s promise. Their objective was progressing with unexpected smoothness.
He even admired himself for coming up with such a stroke of genius as the “honey trap”. Fortunately, he had insisted on trying it. In this world, one truly only has a chance if one dares to try.
At present, the only person they might need to guard against was that Liang Ban. However, this was Kulei City after all. As long as the threat of Nie Rifu was gone, and with Lian Yu’s support, there was no need to worry too much.
Another matter was that the registration for the “Bronze Sparrow Martial Affairs” needed to be sorted out as soon as possible. There were only a few days left until the deadline. He had not even gathered enough people yet. If he did not hurry now, it would be too late to cram at the last minute later.
Besides people, the registration also required solving the issue of the registration fee, which meant the problem of money.
Without further delay, it was time to act. Coming back to his senses, Yu Qing looked around. The guest room was a bit large, and he did not know where Mu Aotie had gone. A series of calls yielded no response.
“Eh, where did he go? He clearly did not go out,” Yu Qing muttered to himself. He searched every room, and eventually found the person on the outward-facing terrace. Mu Aotie was quietly leaning in a corner by the railing.
Walking over to take a look, he noticed that Mu Aotie’s expression revealed loneliness and melancholy. His usually upright posture seemed somewhat drooping, and he seemed lost in thought.
Yu Qing immediately patted his back. “What are you spacing out for? Did you not hear me calling you so many times?”
Mu Aotie had heard him, but neither his body nor his thoughts wanted to react. Turning around at this moment, he sighed melancholically. “Having done such a thing, I really do not know how I will explain myself to Master when I see him in the future.”
Yu Qing understood. This senior brother wanted to express that he never expected to reach the point of living off a woman, and it seemed he could not get past this mental hurdle.
Seeing that stubbornness rising in him again, Yu Qing immediately comforted him again for the sake of the bigger picture. “What thing have we done? Why would it be hard to explain to Master? We are not living off a woman. We are using a ‘honey trap’. In the martial world, there is deception and trickery. Without some methods, how can one just stubbornly bang their head against a wall?”
Mu Aotie really wanted to ask him. If they truly relied on Lian Yu to take control of Bronze Sparrow Lake and held power for three years, what was the difference between him and living off Lian Yu during those three years? Where would he place his dignity as an upright man?
Then again, Yu Qing’s comfort did have some effect, at least to a certain extent.
Yu Qing pulled his arm again. “Stop overthinking. There is no need to fear being unable to explain yourself to the old man’s spirit in heaven. You are acting on orders. You are acting on my orders as the sect leader. The old man cannot blame you. If anyone is to be blamed, it is me.”
While speaking, he pulled the man back into the room. It was inconvenient to talk outside. Once the door was closed, he whispered again. “The registration deadline is not far away. We must hurry up and resolve this matter. If we leave it too late, we will not be able to remedy any accidents that occur.”
Mu Aotie asked, “Are you telling me to go find Tong Zaitian?”
Yu Qing said, “I will handle the matter of the people. You figure out a way to solve the money for the registration.”
Mu Aotie was puzzled. “Money? Where am I supposed to get that much money? I…” He suddenly choked on his words, staring wide-eyed at the other man, as if he had realised something.
Sure enough, Yu Qing gave a dry chuckle and whispered. “Ten million. For us, it is not a small amount, but for Lian Yu, it might just be a mere effort of raising a hand. Look, the people participating later will not be our people, and the money spent will not be ours. No matter how we do it, there is no loss, and we can play it however we want. Go find Lian Yu and say you are short of funds. Given her interest in you, as long as you ask, the probability of her giving it to you should be quite high.”
And he still says he is not making me live off a woman? Mu Aotie’s face gradually turned red. The feeling of him clenching his fists from time to time made it seem as if he wanted to pounce and bite Yu Qing to death.
Yu Qing, with a dry smile on his face, was also made uncomfortable by this reaction. He subconsciously took a step back, smiling cautiously to appease him.
Mu Aotie suddenly reached into his bosom, pulled out a stack of banknotes, and quickly counted out five million in front of Yu Qing. He slammed them onto the table in front of him, as if he wished he could smash them right into Yu Qing’s face. Gritting his teeth, he said, “From the money we divided earlier, it is enough for each of us to take out five million. If that works, take it. If not, forget it. Do not ask me to go beg a woman for money. I will not go. If you want to go, go yourself!”
With his personality, he really could not bring himself to ask. They were not close at all. To just go and ask someone for ten million, how thick-skinned would one have to be to do such a thing?
It was also clear to see. When things concerned this fellow, the fifteenth brother, such as regarding that Qiao Qie’er, this would not do and that would not do. He would even risk life and death for a woman. However, once the matter was shifted to someone else, it was no big deal. He would dare to make others do any shameless thing, as long as he was not doing it himself. What a bastard!
Yu Qing glanced at the banknotes on the table and felt speechless. He thought to himself, if it were useful for me to ask myself, would I need to find you, who is so clumsy with words?
When Mu Aotie had left Lian Yu in shame and anger earlier, he had already noticed. Once Mu Aotie left, that proprietress did not even want to look at him properly. It would be useless for him to ask.
However, seeing that stubbornness rising in Mu Aotie again, he also knew that not even a god could pull him back. Whatever he said would be useless. Having no choice, he could only reach out and take the banknotes from the table, preparing to do as Mu Aotie suggested, with each of them paying half.
Naturally, he was unhappy in his heart. The two of them had only gathered a little over ten million in total. This single registration would cost ten million, basically wiping them out. How could his mood be cheerful?
Looking at the stack of banknotes in his hand, and then looking at Mu Aotie’s fuming appearance, Yu Qing really wanted to mock him a couple of times. For a miser like you to produce five million taels for a woman, it would be strange if that were simple.
Clearly, he also liked seeing beautiful women. Mixing private desires with public affairs was clearly a sweet deal, yet he still had to put on a reluctant act. Yu Qing just could not stand Mu Aotie’s pretentious attitude.
But it was not good to tear away his fig leaf. The ninth brother was very fierce in this regard. After all, they still needed the ninth brother’s effort for the matter with Lian Yu. If they really made this fellow the ninth brother fly into a rage of shame, he would definitely throw in the towel and quit.
Then again, he also liked seeing beautiful women himself. A charming beauty like Lian Yu was also a novelty, it was just that he had no particular thoughts about it.
Forget it. He took the money and went out, leaving Mu Aotie alone. He left the inn and headed straight for the agreed meeting point with the Scorpion Gang members.
At this time, most of the Scorpion Gang members had not returned yet. After all, most of them were newcomers who had just arrived. With a day still remaining, they all wanted to properly savour Kulei City a bit more.
As expected, a purposeful person like Tong Zaitian had indeed returned early to keep watch.
As soon as the two met, Tong Zaitian first sized up Yu Qing’s clothing, confirming it was cheap goods, while politely bowing. “Gang Leader.”
Yu Qing asked cheerfully and with concern, “You are back so quickly?”
Tong Zaitian replied, “I am already very familiar with Kulei City. There is nothing much to stroll around, so it is better to rest here.”
Yu Qing nodded and waved his hand, leading the man to a secluded corner. He whispered, “There is a matter that requires an old hand like you, who is familiar with the environment of Kulei City, to handle.”
Tong Zaitian immediately stated, “If it is within my ability, it is my bounden duty. Gang Leader, please give your orders.”
Yu Qing stroked his little moustache in delight, realising that spies were indeed useful. He immediately instructed, “We are short of hands. A gang registration for the ‘Bronze Sparrow Martial Affairs’ requires at least fifty people. Go and recruit some more hands. Not many, just fifty will do.”
“Ah!” Tong Zaitian feigned surprise. “Is the Gang Leader truly going to participate in the ‘Bronze Sparrow Martial Affairs’?”
Yu Qing said, “What is the harm in participating? If it works, we continue. If it does not, we can withdraw halfway. It will not affect anything, and it does not require you to pay.”
Tong Zaitian said with concern, “Gang Leader, the problem is, will the others agree?”
Yu Qing said, “That is why I am telling you to recruit fifty people. If the others do not agree, they can withdraw from the Scorpion Gang.”
“…” Tong Zaitian was simply speechless, realising that this man was indeed as wilful as ever.
Yu Qing patted his back. “I will give you one day. Can you get it done?”
Tong Zaitian shook his head. “This subordinate dare not guarantee it, but can only say I will do my best.”
“You are the only old hand who has mixed in Tianji Mountain. At present, I can only rely on you,” Yu Qing sighed earnestly, and then patted his arm again. “Everyone will stay in Kulei City for the time being and await orders. If the matter is handled well, you can just come to the ‘Stone Heart Residence’ to find me.”
Tong Zaitian was slightly surprised. “The Gang Leader is staying at the Stone Heart Residence?”
“Yes,” Yu Qing admitted openly and honourably.
He really had so much money that he did not know where to spend it. However, since he was spending his own money, Tong Zaitian had nothing good to say about it. He merely offered a reminder. “Gang Leader, how many days will we stay in Kulei City? Many people in the gang do not have much money on them, and it is dangerous to stay outside. It costs ten thousand taels a day here, and there are over a dozen people.”
Yu Qing fell silent for a moment and pondered. “The registration fee for the ‘Bronze Sparrow Martial Affairs’ alone is ten million. I am also tight on cash. How about this? If you trust me, you advance this money uniformly for now. It will be counted as gang expenses anyway, and I will reimburse you for this money later. How does that sound?”
If he could not find a reason to make Duan Yunyou pay, fearing it would arouse Duan Yunyou’s suspicion, he would have wanted Duan Yunyou to cover that ten million.
Tong Zaitian was stunned again. He had originally intended to remind this Gang Leader to advance some money, but unexpectedly, it bounced back onto himself. Regretting that he had opened his mouth, he hesitated for a moment and could only force a smile. “The Gang Leader speaks too heavily. If I did not trust the Gang Leader, how could I have joined the Scorpion Gang? Rest assured, Gang Leader, I know what to do.”
“Do not delay the matter of the manpower. I will wait for your good news tomorrow.” After Yu Qing solemnly cupped his hands in request, he swaggered away.
After watching him walk away, Tong Zaitian pondered for a moment and felt something was strange. He felt that this Gang Leader was not someone who spent lavishly, so why would he stay at the Stone Heart Residence?
In the end, he quietly followed him, all the way to the Stone Heart Residence. Only after witnessing with his own eyes Yu Qing swaggering inside and confirming it, did he leave with his doubts.