“Junior Brother, you can do it!”
“Junior Brother, may success be yours!”
“Junior Brother, win over Elder, win the first order!”
The Senior Brothers started to cheer him on.
“Whoever shouts the loudest, I’ll make them accompany me.” Qian Duoduo steadied himself.
Elder Bi had a serious personality and rarely smiled. In the Sect, he had a nickname: “Bi Gong Bi Jing” (meaning extremely respectful). Whether it was an Outer Sect Disciple or an Inner Sect Disciple, everyone was well-behaved in front of him, not daring to joke or fool around.
When Qian Duoduo counterattacked, the Senior Brothers immediately fell silent. Offending Elder Bi and being thrown into Jail was no fun.
Wang Dahei thought for a moment and said, “How about this: whoever closes a deal takes half of the profit, and the rest is divided among the others. We can’t let our Face be kicked for nothing. Do you agree?”
The one who contributed the most naturally received the most profit. This distribution method was fair to everyone.
None of the Senior Brothers objected.
After leaving the Gold Vault, Qian Duoduo returned to his courtyard, washed his Face, tidied his clothes, and walked energetically towards the Protectorate.
As he was leaving the courtyard, Liu Boli’s voice transmitted from the Golden Toad: “Wear the Jade Pendant on the outside.”
Although Qian Duoduo complied, he didn’t understand the meaning of the words. He thought to himself, “Am I going to encounter a Cultivator who has formed their core and tries to rob me on the way to the Protectorate? Liu Bo didn’t explain in detail, so I’ll just do as he says. He wouldn’t harm me.”
Upon arriving at the Protectorate again, he realized that this place was actually located between the Jail and the Gold Vault.
Monitoring was to the east, and the Gold Vault was to the west.
One watched people, the other watched money; their natures were very similar.
Just as he reached the entrance, Elder Bi’s aged voice came from inside: “Bu Huan is here, come in.”
The solemnity was still there, but it felt like there was an added three points of cordiality.
After entering and bowing, Qian Duoduo looked up at Elder Bi, meeting his scrutinizing gaze.
“In just a few days, you’ve reached the second level. Congratulations,” Elder Bi’s sharp gaze fell on the red Jade Pendant on his chest. “Has Palace Lord arrived at the Gold Vault? Is he satisfied with the Gold Vault?”
It seemed that “Bi Gong Bi Jing” recognized this item as Tang Honggong’s.
“Great—Uncle didn’t say anything about the Gold Vault; there’s nothing he’s dissatisfied with.” Qian Duoduo spoke truthfully. Jin Buhuan called Tang Honggong Palace Lord, but he called him Great-Uncle. Having the Bloodline title of Great-Uncle could reduce a lot of trouble.
Elder Bi nodded, “Palace Lord didn’t say anything?”
“He told me to go back to Qinglong District. I didn’t agree.”
“Why?”
“I want to go back on my own.”
“If you don’t like the Gold Vault, I can change your location. Even places not under my jurisdiction are fine. Except for the Artificer Hall.” Elder Bi’s Face showed no expression.
“The Gold Vault is quite good.”
“It seems Wang Dahei has some skill, to make you, a former Inner Sect Xiong Jun, willingly be his Junior Brother.” Elder Bi was silent for a moment and didn’t force Qian Duoduo to change locations again.
He pointed to a treasure chest in the room, “Deposit these 100,000 gold coins into the Gold Vault.”
Qian Duoduo was startled by the large amount.
He really couldn’t lift the treasure chest plus 100,000 gold coins.
“Why doesn’t this old man put the gold coins in a Storage Pouch?” He later learned that in the Immortal Cultivation World, the price of a treasure chest was only one-tenth that of a Storage Pouch.
“I’ll call a Senior Brother over to help move it.” Qian Duoduo took out a Jade Slip and called his Third Senior Brother, Bai Machi.
While waiting, Elder Bi sat upright in his chair, closing his eyes to rest, not actively trying to curry favor with the Palace Lord’s nephew.
However, he read some signs from the red Jade Pendant.
Tang Honggong had shown his attitude towards Jin Buhuan, so the Protectorate could no longer make things difficult for Jin Buhuan; instead, they should provide him with some convenience.
The matter of the lending business revolved in Qian Duoduo’s mind nine times. He mustered his courage and spoke: “Elder Bi.”
“Hmm?” Elder Bi opened his eyes.
“I want to tell you something—”
Elder Bi subtly smiled, revealing an expression that said he already knew, “Is it official business or personal business?”
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment. Lending money was a matter between individuals and should be unrelated to the Sect, so he replied: “Personal business.”
“Personal business? Tell me about it.”
“Can you authorize me to lend your 100,000 gold coins to others?”
“What? Lend them to others?” Elder Bi turned his head.
“Yes. Lend them to others. Not only do you not have to pay the two percent storage fee, but you can also get four percent interest.”
“Such a good thing? If the money is lent out and others don’t return it, who do I ask for my 100,000 gold coins?”
“Me. I’ll put collateral worth no less than 200,000 gold coins in the Gold Vault. If the money isn’t returned, you can take the collateral.”
Elder Bi pondered for a while and asked, “If this money is lent out by you, will the Sect’s storage fee be reduced?”
“Not a single cent less. Regardless of whether it’s lent out or not, the Sect’s two percent storage fee will not be reduced.” Qian Duoduo answered quickly and decisively.
The Gold Vault was managed by Elder Bi. If the lending business reduced the Sect’s income, Elder Bi definitely wouldn’t agree. The crime of harming public interest for personal gain was enough to make Elder Bi lose his reputation in the Sect.
This balance had to be handled well.
“Oh, that sounds good. A new game thought up by a young person.” The thin old man closed his eyes again. “I’ll consider it.”
While he was considering, Qian Duoduo was scratching his head. “What does ‘consider it’ mean? Is it a yes or a no?”
He thought it was good that the Elder’s attitude was much better than that Inner Sect Disciple’s. He didn’t actually have to put his Face out there to be kicked; that would truly hurt.
“Agree! Agree! Agree!” He secretly prayed in his heart.
Bai Machi arrived, and the two of them affixed a seal with “Elder Bi” written on it to the treasure chest. Qian Duoduo in front, Bai Machi behind, they lifted the treasure chest with a carrying pole and walked out of the Protectorate’s door.
The task of counting the gold coins would be done in the Gold Vault hall.
As his body walked out, Qian Duoduo’s entire Spiritual Awareness was focused on Elder Bi: did he or did he not agree to lend his money?
Bai Machi was known for being articulate among the Senior Brothers. In the Gold Vault, he would chat and retort to anyone, his lips truly a Heaven-Defying Divine Artifact. But in front of Elder Bi, it was as if his mouth was covered by a silence array, and he had swallowed a sound-dampening pill.
“No hope!” Qian Duoduo’s left leg stepped out of the doorway, and he sighed inwardly.
“Bu Huan.” Elder Bi’s aged yet pleasant voice sounded from behind him.
Qian Duoduo’s leg was like a giant root sinking into the mud, immediately motionless.
Bai Machi behind him hastily withdrew his strength, almost hitting him with the treasure chest.
“Elder Bi.” Qian Duoduo gripped the carrying pole with both hands, turned his head, and answered tremblingly.
“That matter you mentioned, I—agree to it.” Elder Bi said slowly.
He calculated thus: “Jin Buhuan almost died in Jail, and he must have told Tang Honggong. Whether this deposit is Jin Buhuan demanding compensation or playing a new trick, I will lend him these 100,000 gold coins for now. If Tang Honggong ever asks about the Jail incident, I’ll have a buffer.”
Qian Duoduo forcefully lifted the carrying pole, placed the treasure chest on the ground, turned around, walked back a few steps, and bowed deeply to Elder Bi, his head almost touching his knees.
“Thank you, Elder.”
Bai Machi also understood what the Elder had agreed to. Although he didn’t speak, he accompanied Qian Duoduo in several deep bows.
“Go tell Wang Dahei later that I don’t object to you playing new tricks, but the income the Gold Vault brings to the Sect cannot be reduced. If it is reduced, then—”
As Elder Bi spoke, Qian Duoduo and Bai Machi listened respectfully. He paused, and they nodded.
When they lifted the treasure chest again, they felt it was much lighter.
After leaving the Protectorate, Bai Machi whispered in admiration, “Junior Brother, you’re amazing. You actually got Elder to agree to lend money!”
Qian Duoduo still felt like he was floating on a cloud, not knowing how Elder Bi had agreed, or which words had moved him, but he said:
“Although Elder Bi’s Face is like ice, his heart is a ball of fire. I didn’t really say much; he considered it and then agreed.”
“Really?” Bai Machi activated his talent for arguing.
“Third Senior Brother, you must have confidence, confidence in our business. This is a great thing that benefits the Sect, benefits others, and benefits ourselves. What’s there not to agree to?”
“What ‘three benefits’? How do I feel that Elder agreed because of your red Jade Pendant? The Palace Lord’s Face is worth a nod on this matter. An Elder’s monthly Cultivation fee is several thousand, so he doesn’t care much about the two percent or four percent you mentioned.”
“There’s a reason for nodding, and of course, there’s a reason for shaking one’s head. The key is to find the reason for nodding. Senior Brother, don’t you agree?”
“Don’t celebrate too early. If these 100,000 gold coins can’t be lent out, then it’s just empty joy.”
Qian Duoduo and his Third Senior Brother carried the treasure chest, looking very conspicuous on the road.
Several gray-robed and Blue-Robed Disciples specifically came forward to look at the seal on the chest.
Qian Duoduo and Bai Machi took the opportunity to talk about the new business, telling them that the first customer was Elder Bi himself.
“Borrowing other people’s money to upgrade yourself. Once you upgrade, you earn more money. How cost-effective is that?” Qian Duoduo chattered, “Tell your Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, if you need money, come to the Gold Vault. Breaking through to the Mortal Realm and forming a core are not dreams!”
Bai Machi played along, painting a grand picture. He asked about the other party’s cultivation level, then told them how much they could earn after one upgrade, and how much after two upgrades.
While painting a picture can’t satisfy hunger, it can create it. As long as hunger is created, you’ll need money, you’ll have to spend money. If you don’t have money, you can borrow from us.
Unknowingly, the Gold Vault was right in front of them.
In front of the Gold Vault, the Great Senior Brother led the team, and the Senior Brothers lined up to welcome them back!