met free Page 221
Page 221
It is clear that the Sun Moon Cult is also at its end.
Moreover, this was merely because Ren Woxing stole two horses, causing the Sun Moon Sect to be bankrupt. This demonstrates the Zhang family's tyranny.
As for not compensating?
They didn't think the Sun Moon Cult could withstand the Zhang family's wrath.
Madam Zhang alone could rival Dongfang Bubai, let alone the Blood Droplets, Ghost Street, and River Fiends.
Finally, there were bronze-armored warriors to bring up the rear.
Therefore, after comparing their strengths, the Sun Moon Cult silently endured it.
'Congratulations, Master, on your upcoming good fortune! A divine blessing is on the horizon!'
"Haha, it should be Dongfang congratulates Young Master Zhang on making a fortune."
Not only did they steal a large sum of money from my Sun Moon Sect, but I also heard that the Ghost Street in Yangzhou swept through Jiangnan, making the Zhang family a fortune.
Looking at the young man before him, Dongfang Bubai was amazed by the Zhang family's ability to amass wealth; he never expected that a mere stone could be used to create such a spectacle.
You should know that these days, they are extremely hard to come by.
Even the Nine Gates forces, who originally received a share of Ghost Street, were in the same situation.
They had no idea about the sales plan, and once they got their share, they became unrestrained and amassed wealth on a large scale.
In less than half a month, all the gambling stones in his hands were gone.
Therefore, the only option is to seek help from Madam Wang of Tianji Tower. However, it's uncertain whether Madam Wang will relinquish her share of the profits. In fact, Tianji Tower's jade gambling operations are all planned out, with no extra shares available!
It should be noted that the Zhang family needs supplies not only for the Tianji Tower, but also for at least four or five other locations.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan was also wary of Madam Wang and kept many things to himself.
The real surplus of rough stones are all in the Tianji Tower in Lin'an Prefecture.
As for transporting them from Southeast Asia and Dali?
These are stones, not grain, and who knows if they're real or fake? Right now, everyone only recognizes the Zhang family.
First, the Zhang family has a good reputation; they wouldn't do anything to undermine their own reputation.
Secondly, there are copies of the agreements between the Zhang family, the Dali Duan family, and the royal family of the Biao Kingdom, all posted in the gambling hall.
Therefore, apart from the Zhang family, it was very difficult for others to obtain these things from Dali or the镖国 (Biao Kingdom). This method shattered the dreams of countless people to get rich.
"I wonder if there is anything the Eastern Master needs the Zhang family's help with? I, Zhang, will certainly not refuse!"
"Dongfang really needs the Zhang family's help right now!"
After Dongfang's death, he originally intended to go to Hengshan for seclusion, but remembering where the young man from Huashan was, he came south here instead.
"Does Young Master Zhang have a place to stay?"
"West Lake Plum Manor!"
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Bubai shook his head immediately; that place was not safe.
The safest place is none other than the Zhang family's.
"What kind of place does the leader require?"
"Ideally, it should be a bustling marketplace, yet quiet inside, with few江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the martial arts world) figures roaming around!"
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Dongfang Bubai; these conditions...
A bustling marketplace? Quiet? Not many people bothering you, especially not those from the martial arts world?
"Then let's go to the Red Mansion. If the Eastern Cult Leader doesn't mind, you can play the role of the courtesan there."
As for the courtesan's task, it should be a piece of cake for the cult leader!
The second and third floors of the Red Mansion are quiet places, where basically only one music and dance performance is needed each day.
Furthermore, once the monthly target is met, there is no obligation to continue accepting clients.
It's just that Zhang Xiaoshan instilled in them the idea that everyone who comes here is a heartless person, and that they should trust real money rather than trust them.
"A courtesan? Facing men every day?"
“The Red Mansion is not a brothel. The private room where the courtesan is located is just a slightly more upscale private room. It is not a place for prostitution.”
The courtesan's task was simply to perform a short song or dance at noon, in the afternoon, and in the evening each day.
Or perhaps we can discuss classic texts, chess, calligraphy, and so on...
However, what I'm most worried about is their potential emotional involvement, and where they shouldn't be emotionally involved.
The so-called love at first sight and the vow to stay together day and night are nothing but the most beautiful lies!
love?
Zhang Xiaoshan wasn't disbelieving, but neither brothels nor the Red Mansion were, without a doubt, impossible things.
Because among the people who come here for entertainment, there are only a few honest ones.
A moment of infatuation and tenderness is not a lifetime of protection.
Life is long, and love, like a shooting star, ultimately only brings regret to the woman.
Men are not bound by the constraints of this era.
Unless they committed suicide together at the time, leaving behind only a beautiful legend!
"If that's the case, why are you still doing this?"
“They’ve already entered this industry. If I don’t take them in, the next person to take them in might not be so kind.”
Anyway, the Zhang family's business is full of bachelors, and we know their character. When they want to leave their profession, we can just introduce them to someone.
What kind of looks did these courtesans have?
Coupled with the most valiant men in the Zhang family, it would be like "Wu Dalang" paired with "Pan Jinlian," making them laugh in the middle of the night.
"Moreover, they are all talented, intelligent and quick-witted."
Women can hold up half the day, just as the leader of the cult was able to support the hegemony of the Sun Moon Cult. It would be a pity if their talents were buried in the countryside.
The Zhang family could rehire them after they reformed, as potential successors for the Zhang family.
Hiss...
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's plan, even Dongfang Bubai had to admit that Zhang Xiaoshan was not only fearsome in martial arts, but also chilling in strategy.
As long as Zhang Xiaoshan is around, no one else can hold their head high in the Zhang family.
"can!"
Dongfang Bubai did not object; it would be good to learn about the Zhang family this way.
···
"Oh!"
Ren Woxing looked at the empty treasury, with only a few scattered silver pieces, less than ten thousand taels.
Enraged, the entire vault's doors shattered instantly under his domineering and fierce palm strike. What need was there for a proper gate to guard such a small amount of silver?
"Where's the money? How dare you embezzle the Sun Moon Cult's funds?"
Suddenly, Ren Woxing looked at Shangguan Yun and the other hall masters and elders with a furious expression.
Since Dongfang Bubai is dead, it's impossible for him to have taken anything from here. The only possibility is that these people took advantage of the chaos to seize the Sun Moon Sect's core assets.
"Reporting to the Master, what is happening here is also related to you."
"Is it related to me?"
Ren Woxing looked at Shangguan Yun with a stern expression. What kind of nonsense is this, Shangguan Yun?
"...Did the leader and the Left Envoy steal two dragon-elephant steeds from the Zhang family?"
"That's right, so what?"
Seeing Ren Woxing's nonchalant attitude, Shangguan Yun felt helpless.
The five of them joined forces and used a sneak attack to defeat Dongfang Bubai, even though Dongfang Bubai had previously gained the upper hand in the battle.
It could be said that their combined strength was at most comparable to that of Madam Zhang.
But they still use ranged attacks and crowd control!
If they wanted to confront the Zhang family head-on, even ten members of the Sun Moon Cult might not be enough.
"The cult leader stole the horses and is now nowhere to be found in the martial world."
However, on the third day, the Zhang family sent a letter directly to Blackwood Cliff, demanding compensation of 500,000 taels of gold for the five dragon-elephant steeds, plus another 500,000 taels of gold for other losses, totaling one million taels of gold. Otherwise, they would take action against the Sun Moon Cult.
Hiss...
Xiang Wentian suddenly looked at the other elders and saw their helpless expressions. He immediately realized that this was Ren Woxing's own fault.
"Dongfang Bubai gave up?"
"Even Dongfang Bubai, the leader of the Eastern Cult, was wary of the Zhang family."
On Mount Heng, the young mistress of the Zhang family was no less powerful than Dongfang Bubai, and the Zhang family also had Master Mingchen, a Japanese female warrior, and Ghost Yama...
The White Lotus Sect's provocation of the Zhang family serves as a cautionary tale for the Sun Moon Sect.
Moreover, the Zhang family's purpose in doing this was to shift this hatred onto the cult leader.
"Zhang family!"
Even Ren Woxing was furious at this moment, never expecting the Zhang family to be so outrageous.
Two horses were all they got, yet they directly extorted a million gold coins from the Sun Moon Cult, a staggering price of 500,000 gold coins per horse.
Even Ren Yingying's red lips parted slightly, revealing an expression of disbelief.
Goodness, even killing someone by destroying their spirit isn't this terrifying.
"Master, please reconsider. The Zhang family's strength is terrifying, not only because they have many experts, but also because their influence in Ghost Street surpasses that of the Sun Moon Divine Cult."
It also has a terrifying assassin organization under its command—the Guillotines!
“Indeed, Master. The Divine Cult is currently vulnerable both internally and externally. It is not advisable to confront the Zhang family head-on. It would be better for the Master to unify the martial world and, with the power of a hegemon, launch a fierce attack on the Zhang family.”
"That's good too!"
Even Ren Woxing had to admit that the Zhang family was truly not someone the current Sun Moon Cult could afford to offend.
Huang Rong alone is a tough nut to crack.
Dongfang Bubai had no reinforcements, but the Zhang family had more experts than they did.
With the addition of the incredibly mysterious Ghost Street Alliance and the infamous Blood Droplets that strike fear into the hearts of the martial arts world, Ren Woxing's ability to hold back for half a year before taking action shows he's no fool.
"Hmph, let them go for now!"
Looking at the empty treasure vault, although there had been a lot of accumulation in the past, Dongfang Bubai's extravagance in recent years was not in vain. This time it was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Therefore, Ren Woxing had no doubts, it was just a matter of liver damage.
Chapter 278 Jade Jewelry - Snow Maiden, Famous Dancer of the Later Zhou Dynasty
"Young Master, Langya Pavilion has delivered something!"
Hongxiao placed a large camphor wood box, about a foot square and deep, in the hall.
As for why it wasn't placed in the study, it's because this thing didn't belong to Zhang Xiaoshan at all; it all belonged to his daughter.
Sure enough, upon hearing that the item was from the Jade Pavilion, the girls from upstairs and downstairs immediately gathered in the hall.
Before Zhang Xiaoshan could even come down, she had already excitedly opened the box.
The first layer consists of earrings, bracelets, and brooches, all made primarily of precious platinum.
The jade used for embellishment is not kingfisher feathers, but at the very least, jade of the glassy type.
Besides the Imperial Green Dragon variety that Zhang Xiaoshan had previously acquired, there were also Blood Jade, Violet Jade, Topaz, and Blue Jade of the Glass variety...
Earrings are just small items; there are platinum bracelets (and anklets), or bracelets inlaid with eighteen crimson beads, or sixteen sky-blue beads, or thirteen beads of life...
The halo of light flowed, dazzling and captivating.