Chapter 237: Chapter 136: Borrowing Money

「A few days later.」

The Earth Core Milk Mist within the A-Class Quiet Chamber of Langya Pavilion slowly dissipated. Chen Qing, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes.

He slowly exhaled a turbid breath, feeling the Cyan Wood True Qi in his Dantian grow even more condensed.

Ten days of free Cultivation in the A-Class Quiet Chamber had yielded remarkable results.

Although he was still a ways off from opening his sixth Main Meridian, he had made progress. The total volume and purity of his True Qi had increased, as had his understanding and application of his three Cultivation Techniques.

Chen Qing left Langya Pavilion and returned to the Cyan Wood Institute. He sat down in a small lakeside pavilion and poured himself a cup of tea.

As he looked out at the sparkling surface of Dingbo Lake, a thought suddenly surfaced. ’I wonder where I can fish quietly around Lake Heart Island? I’ll have to ask someone next time. Fishing to calm my mind after Cultivation would be a nice change of pace.’

It had practically become a habit etched into his very bones.

“Chief Disciple! Chief Disciple!” a clear, crisp voice called out, drawing nearer.

Yu Bao’er trotted over and presented a letter to Chen Qing as if it were a treasure. “Senior Brother, someone delivered a letter to the institute’s gate, specifically for you! I brought it to you right away!”

“That was very thoughtful of you.”

Chen Qing took the letter and opened it.

It was a letter sent by one of Jiang Bohong’s men.

The letter was brief. Someone had gathered the three fifteen-year-old primary herbs, worth tens of thousands of taels, and had requested that he perform Alchemy. As per the rules, he would take half of the finished products as his fee.

If the Alchemy was successful, he was willing to sell Chen Qing one Pill from his own share at a “friendship price”!

After reading the letter, Chen Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

’A Bone Transformation Pill!’

The opportunity to improve his Root Bone was right in front of him.

Improving his Root Bone meant a quantum leap in his Cultivation efficiency.

But even at a friendship price, it would still cost two hundred thousand taels of silver.

He had just spent a portion of his savings at Langya Pavilion. Now, he had just over fifty thousand taels of silver to his name, at best.

He was still short one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver.

The resources available to the Chief Disciple were excellent, but the quotas for Treasure Fish, high-quality Elixirs, and cultivation time in Langya Pavilion’s Quiet Chambers were all monthly benefits provided by the Sect. They couldn’t be immediately converted into a huge sum of current silver.

Chen Qing knew this was indeed a rare opportunity.

Jiang Bohong was ninety-nine percent certain to be banking on his current status as the Cyan Wood Institute’s Chief Disciple, as well as the potential value demonstrated by the strength he’d shown at the Grand Competition.

Otherwise, news of a Treasure Pill that could improve one’s Root Bone would have long since fallen into the hands of a top-tier noble family or an even wealthier buyer. How could it possibly be his turn?

Jiang Bohong frequented the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp and had a reliable reputation, so there was no need to doubt the pill’s authenticity.

But two hundred thousand taels…

Chen Qing slowly folded the letter and tucked it away.

His gaze drifted toward the vast, misty surface of Dingbo Lake. His brow furrowed as he fell deep in thought.

’Where will the money come from?’

Three days… He needed a way to quickly raise at least one hundred fifty thousand taels without breaking the Sect’s rules.

He could probably get some from the Wu Family, but it might not be enough.

After all, Chen Qing needed to keep some silver on hand for emergencies.

Seeing this, Yu Bao’er lowered her voice. “Chief Disciple, are you in some kind of trouble? I am willing to help you share the burden.”

Chen Qing asked, “Do you have one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver?”

The eager-to-please expression on Yu Bao’er’s little face froze the moment she heard the astronomical figure. “One… one hundred fifty thousand taels?! S-Senior Brother, you couldn’t raise even a fraction of that by selling me…”

Although her family was wealthy in the Prefecture City, one hundred fifty thousand taels of current silver was still an incredibly difficult sum for her to procure.

Chen Qing’s gaze fell on the depths of the lake. He pondered for a moment, and a plan began to form in his mind.

“Junior Sister Yu.”

Chen Qing’s voice was calm again. “I need you to deliver some letters for me.”

Hearing she had a task, Yu Bao’er immediately perked up. “Just give the order, Senior Brother! I guarantee they’ll be delivered!”

…

「Affairs Department, a side room.」

Shen Xiuyong was lounging in a cushioned grand tutor chair, a thick ledger open before him.

It recorded his financial gains from the past few years.

’Just need to save a bit more silver, then I can go to the Qianyuan Pavilion in Lin’an Prefecture to bid on that Profound Iron Box. If I can really get my hands on an Innate Pill, my chances of breaking through to the Astral Force realm will increase by another thirty percent.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The sound of knocking interrupted Shen Xiuyong’s thoughts.

“Who is it? Come in.”

Shen Xiuyong answered lazily without even lifting his eyelids.

A disciple from the Affairs Department pushed the door open and peeked inside. “Steward Shen, Junior Sister Yu Bao’er from the Cyan Wood Institute wishes to see you. She says she’s here on behalf of Chief Disciple Chen Qing.”

“Chen Qing?”

Shen Xiuyong’s fingers, which were flipping through the ledger, paused. A trace of confusion flickered across his face. ’This kid is the Chief Disciple now, what does he want with me?’

He waved his hand. “Let her in.”

Yu Bao’er walked in properly, bowed to Shen Xiuyong, and said, “Greetings, Elder Shen. The Chief Disciple has a personal letter for you and ordered me to deliver it into your hands personally, for your eyes only.”

She respectfully presented the letter with both hands.

Shen Xiuyong took the letter, broke the wax seal, and read it. His eyebrows shot up at first, then the corners of his mouth curled into an amused smile.

The letter’s contents were simple. Chen Qing stated frankly that he urgently needed a large sum of silver coins for a short-term need. He implored Senior Brother Shen, for the sake of their past working relationship, to lend his assistance, promising he would be endlessly grateful and would surely repay the favor in the future.

The wording was polite, but the intention to borrow money was unmistakable.

“Heh, this kid…”

Shen Xiuyong put down the letter, his mind racing. ’Chen Qing’s status is a far cry from what it used to be. He’s the Chief Disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute, he overpowered Li Lei at the Grand Competition, and he’s currently in the limelight.’

’Last time, with that Thunder Fire Bomb deal, Chen Qing paid promptly. He’s a man of his word.’

’Now he’s asking to borrow money, and as a personal favor at that… It seems like a worthwhile investment, doesn’t it?’

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