Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Waiting for the Highest Bidder

’To be able to stake out the Government Office entrance and wait for me to emerge with such precision, this person must be from a faction in Yuan Guang County with many eyes and ears.’

Zou Feng had long been prepared for recruitment offers from various factions, but he was still surprised by how quickly they had come.

“That would be me,” Zou Feng replied.

“Young Master Zou, I’m an attendant from the Danxin Alliance. Our Elder Zhu Qiming would like to invite you to a banquet tonight at the White Crane Building.”

As he spoke, the man presented an invitation with both hands.

Zou Feng took the invitation and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

However, he didn’t immediately commit to attending.

The man clearly wasn’t required to wait for an answer. He cupped his fists once more and departed in a hurry.

“What, not interested in joining the Danxin Alliance?” Zhao Tianhu couldn’t help but ask. “The Danxin Alliance is actually pretty good. Among the three major gangs in Yuan Guang County, their overall strength is solidly at the top.”

“Though, they are lacking a bit in sincerity…”

The reason Zhao Tianhu said this was simple. If the Danxin Alliance were truly sincere, they wouldn’t have sent a mere attendant to deliver the invitation.

It was understandable that a man of Elder Zhu’s stature wouldn’t come himself.

But at the very least, he should have sent one of his own disciples. That would have been more appropriate.

Zou Feng said nonchalantly, “It’s not that I’m completely uninterested. But I should at least see what other options I have, right?”

“True enough. Wait for the highest bidder!”

“Brother Hu, the way you put it… It’s not like I’m for sale.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Martial Arts are still arts. We’re all performers selling our skills!” Zhao Tianhu laughed heartily.

After that, the two went straight to the Hengyu Building, just as they had agreed.

In fact, with the silver he now had and his status as an Entering Grade Martial Artist, Zou Feng could have gone to a much more high-class brothel.

But there was truly no need; it wasn’t as if he was actually looking to do anything.

’Besides, the chefs at the Hengyu Building are quite skilled, even a cut above my own master, Luo Yong…’

But drinking and making merry with Zhao Tianhu wasn’t just for celebration.

Zou Feng took the opportunity to learn more about the situation in Yuan Guang County from Zhao Tianhu, an old hand in the Jianghu.

Before, with his status as a Household Slave and not yet an Entering Grade Martial Artist, it hadn’t been appropriate for him to ask too many questions.

Now, however, it was reasonable for him to ask even the deepest of questions.

He was particularly interested in how the Government Office had managed to find Yang Yanpeng’s remains so quickly, even though he had killed him and disposed of the body properly over a month ago.

He desperately wanted to find out about the Government Office’s investigation methods.

’After all, I’ll definitely be committing similar crimes in the future.’

By this point, Zhao Tianhu was slightly tipsy. Hearing the question, he let out a drunken hiccup. “Why were the remains found so quickly?”

“When you were handling your manumission papers just now, that clerk burned your indenture contract, right?”

“Those are special blood contracts. As long as the person involved has pressed their Blood Hand Seal, the Government Office naturally has a way to track them. But as for the specific method they use, I’m not sure…”

Only then did it dawn on Zou Feng.

And he was incredibly glad he hadn’t rashly chosen to run away earlier.

“Also, the Government Office raises a type of Spirit Beast with an incredible sense of smell. It’s said that even if only bones are left, it can identify a person by comparing the scent on their former clothes.”

Nodding, Zou Feng asked no more about the matter.

’An incredible sense of smell?’

’But what happens if it smells poison?’

As they drank and chatted, a succession of invitations was delivered to the door, and recruiters would even enter the room directly to state their purpose.

There were families even richer than the Yang Family who wanted to hire Zou Feng as a guard.

There was a verbal message from a martial hall master, promising to take Zou Feng as his disciple if he joined.

There was also an invitation from the Mountain and River Association, clearly also with the intent to recruit him.

At this point, of the three major gangs in Yuan Guang County, both the Danxin Alliance and the Mountain and River Association had sent their offers.

Only the Black Flood Dragon Gang had yet to be heard from.

But what surprised Zou Feng the most was that he had also received a recruitment offer from the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall.

It was a letter delivered by someone on behalf of Zhuang Sixuan.

The letter’s contents were simple: “Come to the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall. I’ll teach you!”

Zou Feng scoffed at the notion.

’You don’t even practice an Evil Skill. What can you teach me?’

’Teaching me other types of skills might be fine… but the problem is, I absolutely cannot go to the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall.’

’After all, the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall has no shortage of Eighth Grade masters, and the Heart Hall Master is a Seventh Grade powerhouse. Why would someone like me, who practices an Evil Skill, go there looking for trouble? Am I trying to make things harder on myself?’

It was worth mentioning that the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall was originally the strongest faction in Yuan Guang County, second only to the Government Office.

Even though the Heart Hall Master wasn’t the only Seventh Grade master in Yuan Guang County, he was still publicly acknowledged as the county’s number one expert.

Zou Feng was just thinking that all the factions interested in recruiting him had probably shown up when another knock came from the door.

“Come in!”

The first to push open the door and enter was the Madam of the Hengyu Building.

She, of course, recognized Zou Feng. She just never imagined that the poor, shabby kid who used to only ever ask for the cheapest “girls” was now an Entering Grade Martial Artist…

’If I had known, I would’ve taken care of him myself back then!’

’For free!’

While secretly filled with regret, she respectfully stepped aside and said fawningly, “Master Zou, my apologies for the interruption. This is Incense Master Wang of the Black Flood Dragon Gang!”

’An Incense Master came in person?’

Zhao Tianhu immediately and subconsciously shot to his feet.

He wouldn’t dare to remain seated and keep drinking in the presence of an Incense Master from the Black Flood Dragon Gang.

Zou Feng, however, merely lifted his eyes to take a look.

In fact, the moment the Madam had introduced him as Wang Incense Master, Zou Feng had a feeling he was about to meet an “acquaintance.”

Sure enough, it was Wang Incense Master, Wang Xingjian—the sallow and emaciated man he had met once in the Ghost Market.

’This man has sharp eyes. Back then, he must have seen that I wasn’t to be trifled with, so he quickly stepped in to discipline his subordinate and humbly apologize to me.’

’But I was wearing a mask and a bamboo hat at the time, and I even deliberately released a poisonous fragrance. He shouldn’t be able to recognize me now.’

“Wang Incense Master!”

Zou Feng rose to his feet and greeted him.

Wang Xingjian smiled, sized Zou Feng up for a moment, and then said with praise, “Brother Zou, you are indeed a man of great talent!”

“I wonder if I could speak with you alone, brother?”

“Of course. You’re too kind, Wang Incense Master.”

Without needing to be told, Zhao Tianhu had already taken his leave of the room. The girl who had been pouring their wine and the Madam immediately followed.

As for the subordinates who had come with Wang Xingjian, they had never entered the room to begin with.

’There’s really no need to talk. Judging by his attitude alone, I know he’s definitely here to recruit me, too.’

’And this is by far the most sincere recruitment attempt yet.’

’We’re both Entering Grade, but one is an unaffiliated, freshly-minted martial artist, while the other is an Incense Master of the Black Flood Dragon Gang. On the surface, at least, the difference is enormous.’

To be honest, Zou Feng had already formed a good impression of this Wang Xingjian from their last meeting.

But it wasn’t because of the man’s humble way of handling matters. Rather, just one look at him was enough to know…

’This guy, nine times out of ten, also practices an Evil Skill!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep