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Chapter 261: Worry-free business

Chapter 250: Worry-Free Commerce

After the Autumn Tournament concluded, Tianshu Academy's recruitment efforts quickly commenced.

Cao Jinsong, as the Instructor responsible for recruitment in Feng Province, returned to Feng Province after half a month of rest, accompanied by Xiang Fu and Liu Jianan.

Although they were last year's new students and hadn't joined the Master's Courtyard, as Disciples from Feng Province, this was their duty; they had to work and not be idle.

Kuang Cheng also returned to Feng Province with them.

His purpose in returning to Feng Province this time was to audit the account books, count the grain stored in the warehouses after the autumn harvest, and, as Ji You had previously instructed, establish an external merchant guild before winter arrived.

Kuang Cheng was merely a scholar with no martial ability, so Cao Jinsong, fearing for his safety, dropped him off at the State Prefecture along the way.

After the large-scale joint cultivation during spring plowing, and the selection and breeding of grain seeds by the agricultural officials, coupled with Feng Province's rare good weather this year, they all believed that Feng Province would have a large surplus.

However, when they saw the numbers, a few of them were still startled—

Good heavens, that unfilial Disciple truly earned a fortune!

After escorting Kuang Cheng to his destination, Cao Jinsong and his group, with their recruitment mission, departed from the State Prefecture and headed southeast along the official road.

Feng Province was vast, equivalent to one and a half of Central Province, but there were actually few who qualified for cultivation.

This was because the biggest hurdle for Immortal Sect recruitment was not talent, but Aptitude; only descendants of officials could be chosen for cultivation.

Therefore, after several days of effort, Cao Jinsong and his group only found two Disciples with good Aptitude in Feng Province: one was the son of the Prefect of Shangfang Commandery, and the other was the daughter of the Prefect of Anbei Commandery.

In addition, there were two others, family members of the Zhenbei Army, who were recruited through military merit quotas.

As autumn deepened, Instructors who had gone to other prefectures to recruit students gradually returned with their chosen Disciples.

However, Tianshu Academy's recruitment this year could be described in three words: a complete failure.

There was only one Junior Third Realm Completion who had not yet reached adulthood, and he was a Disciple of the Elder Council.

His elder was an Immortal Sect Great Power, so it was naturally not difficult for him to reach Junior Third Realm Completion before adulthood. This was not considered a successful recruitment, as they were destined to enter Tianshu Academy anyway.

In other words, in the second year of Taiyuan, Tianshu Academy did not have a single true Junior Third Realm Completion who had not yet reached adulthood enter through recruitment.

"Has the reputation of our Tianshu Academy truly gone to rot?"

"No, I also encountered recruiting Instructors and external envoys from other Immortal Sects during my trip. Upon inquiry, I found that the situation for most other Immortal Sects was similar. The only one doing slightly better was Lingjian Mountain, which had two Junior Third Realm Completion recruits."

On a clear autumn day with falling leaves, Ding Ang sat in the tea pavilion of the Instructor's Courtyard, explaining to the returning Instructors.

Instructor Sun stroked his beard upon hearing this: "This is not surprising. After all, although Lingjian Mountain's Disciples did not claim the top spot at this Tiandao Conference, with three Disciples entering the Xianxian Holy Land, they still had the most Immortal Sect Disciples, and their reputation is immense."

Ding Ang picked up his teacup upon hearing this: "The impact is more than just this."

"Oh?"

"As you all know, due to the Sacred Artifact choosing a new Master, Tianjian Peak and Xuanjian Peak within Lingjian Mountain are secretly at odds.

Therefore, Lingjian Mountain is different from our Tianshu Academy. Every year, newly recruited Disciples must choose a peak upon entering and cannot change it. This year, both of these Junior Third Realm Completion Disciples chose Xuanjian Peak."

"Is that true?"

"Indeed. After much thought, I believe it's still because of the Tiandao Conference."

Two months had passed since the Tiandao Conference ended, and as time went on, various details of the Tiandao Conference battles gradually spread.

Especially Ji You's battles; it was unclear where the rumors originated, but they were clearer than anyone else's, almost giving one a sense of being there.

Ding Ang held his teacup at this moment: "Yan Hao, known as the strongest of Tianjian Peak, only took sixteen swords from Ji You and suffered a terrible defeat. Yan Rui, from Xuanjian Peak, took thirty-two swords. Although he also lost, he was completely unharmed. Xuanjian Peak's reputation has soared as a result, and it's not without reason. Moreover, Yan Rui is merely a collateral Disciple, not a descendant of the Peak Master."

The other Instructors nodded after hearing this: "Disciples naturally have their own judgment. Tianjian Peak of Lingjian Mountain truly suffered heavy losses this time."

"I actually know this Yan Rui."

"?"

"As you all know, my wife is from Ling Province. According to the information I've gathered, this Yan Rui should be somewhat inferior to Yan Hao. I don't know why he displayed such Divine Might at the Tiandao Conference."

Cao Jinsong, who had been sitting by the window with his eyes closed, suddenly coughed upon hearing this.

Don't know why?

Heh, isn't it because my Disciple's wife is the little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain!

There was no Divine Might; there was only superb acting.

And the storytelling Instructor, hearing the cough, immediately lowered his voice, appearing very well-behaved.

Instructor Cao, who had brought forth the Tiandao Conference champion, was currently riding high in the Instructor's Courtyard, and no one wanted to cross him.

Ding Ang couldn't help but curse inwardly, then lowered his voice and said: "This year, there's only one Junior Third Realm Completion who hasn't reached adulthood. Next year's Autumn Tournament probably won't need to be held."

"This—that's true."

"Indeed, others who haven't reached Perfection naturally find it difficult to enter the Profound Realm. This quota will surely fall to that Elder Council Disciple. From this perspective, people like Chu River and Fang Jincheng are rather unlucky, especially Chu River, who went through so much trouble but still couldn't get his wish."

At this point, everyone fell silent, involuntarily recalling the Autumn Tournament from a year ago, and couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle.

The newly admitted students were no different from previous years. Whether they were Worldly Family Disciples or entered through quotas, they all went to the Wudao Field daily to comprehend the Heavenly Book.

But just like last year, no one succeeded for a long time.

The Elder Council Disciple was no exception, going from ambitious to eventually accepting reality.

The newly admitted Disciples from Feng Province, on the other hand, cultivated Dao, made friends, and gradually became accustomed to the rhythm of life at Tianshu Academy.

Although they came from official Worldly Sect, they were ultimately descendants of Mortals, especially Mortals from Feng Province. Before entering the academy, they actually had some aspirations, but when they saw those Worldly Family Disciples taking Medicinal Pills like water and Spirit Stones piled in front of them, they inevitably felt a sense of inferiority.

However, they soon discovered that they were never looked down upon or belittled. In fact, some Worldly Sect in the capital, hearing that they were Disciples from Feng Province, would even specially host banquets to invite them.

In fact, after the Tiandao Conference battle, very few people would return to Feng Province.

This barren land, which originally had no cultivating Worldly Sect, was gradually being re-evaluated in people's minds due to one person's existence.

Meanwhile, a group of students who had been languishing in the Outer Courtyard of Tianshu Academy completed their five-year term and left Tianshu Academy with endless regret.

Some with higher cultivation were invited by Worldly Sect in the capital and the Ling Shi Merchant Association to become venerated cultivators.

In the past, a larger number would go to the Ling Shi Merchant Association as venerated cultivators, as joining the Ling Shi Merchant Association directly provided Spirit Stones.

As for those whose cultivation was similar to when they entered, they were completely ignored. Feeling ashamed to return home, they would voluntarily enter even lower-tier Immortal Villas.

But this time was slightly different. As soon as these people left the academy, they encountered a group of people, led by a very large Fat Man, who handed them a piece of paper.

Everyone knew he was Cao Jinsong of Tianshu Academy, and the paper was an invitation from Feng Province.

Come on, be oxen and horses.

Not long after, deep autumn arrived. The clamor of the Tiandao Conference gradually faded, and everyone returned to the quietude of cultivation, where years passed unnoticed, until a new round of tax collection began again.

Gurgle gurgle. As the decree for tax collection was issued, tax carts from various local governments began to travel frequently throughout the Nine Provinces, their creaking wheels sounding from morning till night.

The officials in the government offices also became busy, going through streets and alleys, house by house, to inspect and load sufficient production materials onto carriages.

Some officials, upon finding slightly larger households, would take more, and then, after taking off their uniforms at night, they would go to the pleasure houses.

Subsequently, the fully loaded carriages, carrying sixty percent of the Mortals' hard-earned annual produce, were sent to Worldly Sect, Immortal Sects, and various Immortal Villas, providing for these Immortals so they could cultivate without worldly distractions, far from the mundane world.

Of course, there were still those who could not pay their taxes, living in constant fear and anxiety, enduring until they were left with thin clothes, carrying their Sect, and beginning to wander in the biting cold of winter.

Most of these people who couldn't pay their taxes were those who had new additions to their Sect or elderly parents to support.

Along the bone-chilling journey, even infants in their arms could only endure the cold and hunger. A slight oversight, and they would be frozen purple overnight.

Some elderly and infirm, unable to walk, simply stopped running, watching their children and grandchildren with tears, telling them to just survive.

But though the Qingyun World was vast and boundless, where could such Mortals escape to?

Especially at this time of year, government offices in various places would dispatch large numbers of people to secretly intercept and capture, leaving no way out.

The Tie Niu family, living in Zhuxi County, Tianshui Prefecture, Central Province, was an example of this; they hid from place to place as winter approached, but in the end, they were still thrown into prison, and Fang Nian was utterly disheartened.

Actually, Tie Niu wasn't afraid of death; he just lacked the courage to seek it himself. If he just went with the flow, a single slice to the neck would end it, and he wouldn't come back in his next life.

But the problem was that tax evasion wasn't a death penalty; it was a whipping.

He would be whipped until his skin was torn, and the amount due next year would still have to be paid.

His wife was frail, and his son was still young; Tie Niu had to endure the punishment for them. He didn't know if he could survive it, nor did he know how his wife and son would live if he was lucky enough to be released.

At first, his family advised him not to have children, saying that one life would cost another, but he didn't listen. He thought that with his strength, he would never reach such a desperate point, but he hadn't expected things to be so simple.

Late at night, under the iron window, Tie Niu, hungry and cold, found it hard to sleep.

He stared blankly until early the next morning when the prison door was opened. The jailer threw him the only bag he had taken during his escape: "You can go."

Tie Niu opened his mouth: "I can go?"

"Someone paid what you owed."

"Then—what about my wife and son?"

Tie Niu didn't believe that someone had paid his grain, thinking the yamen had made a mistake, but he didn't make a fuss at the moment. Instead, he anxiously inquired about his wife and son's whereabouts.

The jailer glanced at him: "They've already gone home. You should leave quickly too; don't dawdle."

"Thank you, jailer, thank you, jailer—"

Five other people, who had been arrested with Tie Niu, also walked out of the cell looking dazed.

Having been confined overnight in the dark cell, they immediately felt a stinging pain upon seeing the sunlight for the first time. After the white haze in front of their eyes subsided, they noticed grain carts constantly moving in and out.

However, these grain carts were not from the government but bore the flag of the Worry-Free Commerce.

Tie Niu rubbed his eyes, gradually adjusting to the light of the clear sky, then walked towards the city gates. After traversing several dirt roads, he finally returned to his village.

Pushing open the door and entering his home, he saw his wife holding their child, a bowl of wheat porridge in her hand. Upon seeing him return, she immediately stood up and embraced her husband.

Tie Niu patted his wife's back, his eyes following her shoulder to the corner of the room.

There was a small half-sack of grain there, with the name of the Worry-Free Commerce written on it.

Tie Niu's eyes widened: "Where—where did this grain come from?"

His wife carried the child back into the room and then walked out of the main hall, taking out an IOU from her bosom: "Mother saw us get arrested and went to the merchant guild to borrow it."

"How dare Mother go to the merchant guild to borrow? These bloodsuckers, how much will we have to repay next year?"

"They don't require you to repay it, but they want you to work for half a year."

Tie Niu shivered: "Where will I work? Is it that Spirit Mine where hundreds die every year—?"

His wife held his hand: "Husband, don't be afraid. It's not the Spirit Mine; it's to Feng Province."

Upon hearing this, Tie Niu's eyes widened: "How could it be Feng Province? The officials send people to patrol everywhere every day, aren't they afraid of people escaping to Feng Province? In the past, we couldn't go even if we paid, so why can we go now?"

Ever since Feng Province's tax tribute was cut to 30% last year, countless people wanted to flee to Feng Province, but countless had their legs broken. He never expected that they could go now.

His wife shook her head after hearing him: "It's not moving there. You'll go with the Worry-Free Commerce, earn money, and then come back. The tax tribute still has to be paid to our local yamen, still 60%. My son and I will be detained here. The masters only want the tax tribute; they won't stop you even if you earn it elsewhere."

Tie Niu opened his mouth: "I'll go alone—"

"You can live, husband, this is a way to live. I've inquired; do you still remember that Immortal who appeared in Feng Province a few years ago? He will give you land, and someone will help you. As long as you work hard, it will be enough for our family of three to live."

"But—what do they want?"

His wife looked at him with tear-filled eyes: "I don't know what they want, but our Xiao Niu can live."

Tie Niu embraced his wife's shoulders: "I'll go, I'll go to Feng Province. Did they say when to go?"

"In a few days. Your second uncle and the others will go with you. You'll have company on the road, and I'll feel more at ease."

"What kind of work requires going in the dead of winter?"

"I don't know either—"

"Never mind, let fate decide. I will work hard, and I will definitely return when I earn money. No matter how difficult, I will come back."

His wife raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at him: "I'm not afraid you'll be heartless and not come back. They said over there that if you don't come home to support your wife and children, they'll break your legs."

Tie Niu hugged his wife tightly after hearing this: "I'll come back even if my legs aren't broken—"

Soon after the tax tribute was collected, winter arrived. A cold current flowed from the Northern Realm, crossing the towering city walls, chilling the Nine Provinces, causing all things to wither.

Among the common people of the Nine Provinces, there were actually not many who couldn't pay the tax tribute, because such people wouldn't have been able to survive until now in this world.

However, whether one could survive the winter after paying the tax tribute was an unknown. For many poor Sect, after paying the tax tribute, the remaining amount was often insufficient to support their Sect.

In previous years, some would choose to endure, leaving their lives to fate.

Others would borrow grain from merchant guilds, repaying three or five times the amount borrowed, and if they couldn't repay, they would become lifelong servants, selling their children, working like oxen and horses.

However, with the first snowfall, a batch of low-priced grain began to flow into the Nine Provinces.

Some were practically half-bought, half-given away, and those who couldn't afford a single cent directly signed work orders.

In fact, this incident affected the interests of some people, because some merchant guilds specialized in the business of lending grain.

These merchant guilds that lent grain to the common people were mostly reliant on some of the lowest-tier Worldly Sect, and these Worldly Sect had generally been in decline for a long time, only able to engage in such businesses to maintain their wealth.

And the grain they lent out was actually the tax tribute that had been collected.

Some Worldly Sect didn't need that much, so it would flow into their hands for operation. A collateral branch of the Lu Family in Ling Province was doing this business.

They had originally planned to squeeze another sum from the Mortals this winter, but they didn't expect to encounter such a situation.

"What's the background of that merchant guild?"

"It's a newly opened merchant guild that appeared in the autumn. There's not much information to be found about it, only that it comes from the north."

"Northerners dare to interfere with my Southern business?"

The Old Family Head, who had achieved Integration Realm through years of cultivation, exuded Divine Might without anger, his tone hinting at displeasure: "Have you found out who the Master-in-charge is?"

The Lu Family's steward bowed upon hearing this: "It's a merchant from Shengjing. We've investigated thoroughly, but haven't found any background."

"Let's go, let's meet this merchant guild."

The immensely dignified Old Family Head rose, bringing several Junior Third Realm Completion experts from his family, and then arrived at a newly opened merchant guild on the main street of Ling Province's capital city.

Immediately, a surge of Qi swept through the hall. The Old Family Head waved his hand, shattering the plaque inscribed with the words "Worry-Free," and sternly rebuked them, telling them to leave quickly and never appear there again, adding that if they came again, what would be shattered would be more than just a plaque.

This Old Family Head was quite cautious in his actions, fearing there might be someone behind them. He didn't harm anyone on his first visit.

Actually, there was no need to be so cautious. In his opinion, how powerful could the backing of people doing this kind of business be?

As expected, the clerk at the counter looked utterly terrified, immediately prostrating himself on the ground, trembling with fear, not daring to speak a word.

Seeing this scene, the Old Family Head returned satisfied.

However, what he didn't expect was that the next morning, as the Old Family Head had just risen from his bed, he saw several carriages flying through the air, landing in his residence.

Greeting him was an Old Ancestor from the main branch of the Lu Family, who, with a wave of his hand, slapped him to the ground, looking at him with sharp eyes and telling him to personally carve a plaque and send it over quickly.

As he left the residence, the Lu Family Old Ancestor couldn't help but look fearfully towards the three sword peaks by the sea.

Lingjian Mountain usually didn't meddle in worldly affairs; even in Worldly Family disputes, they rarely intervened, even with casualties. He couldn't understand why they would specifically pay attention to such a minor matter as selling grain this time.

Even more frightening was that he had inquired about the person who came; it was said that she was once the personal maid of Lingjian Mountain's Little Master Jian.

It is said that Central Province and Feng Province are experiencing heavy blizzards, and even Ling Province, which rarely sees snow, is now having snowflakes continuously falling.

The Lu Family Old Ancestor stood in this snowy weather and felt a chill, but this chill originated from within.

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