Chapter 8

"Yes. I think I don't need to introduce myself. I want to buy this building and want you to work for me." Nie Li asks.

"What will I be doing?" the man asks.

I plan on opening a shop that would sell food for half the original price.

"Why would you do that? You currently have a lot of food gathered. You can become rich with it." The man says.

"We can talk about it in detail about it only after you agree." Nie Li says.

The man thought for a while and said "I agree. Come inside and talk." while guiding Nie Li inside the building.

The man introduced himself "My name is Lan Ming. I am a merchant and the owner of this building. I would first like to know why you want me to work for you?"

"I have seen many people. I can tell their character with only one look. You are trustworthy and a hardworking man with knowledge on business." Nie Li says.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Lan Ming asks.

"Your body. Even scholar takes care of his body but, a hardworking businessman's back would be bent a little. They would have a slightly bent spine." Nie Li says.

"I don't know about 'hardworking'. I usually give up easily. Even now, when they came to swindle my money, I didn't even try to fight back." Lan Ming says.

"Let's test that. I fully trust you and believe that you can do better. For now, open this building as a store and sell the food I have.

Sell it for half the price and recruit trustworthy workers. I will improve the business further. You don't have to worry about anything else, just manage the business properly.

Do your job as a good merchant and I will take care of any troubles you have. I can also take care of your family." Nie Li says.

"I don't have a family." Lan Ming replies.

Nie Li apologizes and says "Ok. I now have some work to do. Don't worry about the losses. We will cover them. Now take this and start the business." while giving him two interspatial rings.

It contained money and food. Nie Li says "You should know how to spend it, right? I will take my leave." and leaves.

Lan Ming was in tears. He was an orphan who was abandoned by his commoner parents at the age of 5 when they felt that he was useless.

Lan Ming read books instead of working. They never trusted his talent in literature and intelligence.

Nie Li was the first one who trusted him and had faith in him. Nie Li knew Lan Ming's character.

Nie Li realised that what Lan Ming needed was someone who trusts and someone who would depend on him, make him feel wanted.

So, he planned to do something the next day to boost his self-esteem and also test his character.

There are some people, who in this situation, would easily get scared and might even end up betraying Nie Li with fear of other families.

Nie Li is now standing in front of the Alchemy Association. He thought 'Now I have to bring the Alchemy association into control.

The recipes he has for pills and elixirs can be made and sold to balance the flow of currency. I had seen a country printout a lot of currency notes and then the value of the currency fell down.

I don't want that to happen.'

He entered the Alchemy association and found a girl with short pink hair. He walked up to her and said " I am Nie Li. I would like to meet your association president."

The girl looks at Nie LI and says "Kids shouldn't play around. If people from Jade Dragon family hear this, they wouldn't stay silent. Leave I have work to do."

Nie Li sighs and says "Why do these families and associations believe me only after I beat up someone?"

Nie Li snaps his finger and his clones appear. He says to them "Beat up the first two people who you find."

"No need." A voice says from the corridor.

Nie Li looks at the owner of the voice. A woman in her 20s with indigo hair comes walking from the corridor.

"You are?" Nie Li asks.

"I am Yang Xin, the Director of the Alchemy association." Yang Xin introduces herself.

"I want to talk to the president. I have come as the Jade Dragon family head." Nie Li says.

'Family head? At this age?' Yang Xin and the receptionist thought.

"Ok, follow me. I will inform him of your arrival." Yang Xin says while escorting Nie Li to a room.

She then heads to the room of the President.

Yang Xin enters the room. The president is an old man, who is currently refining a pill.

Yang Xin says "President Gu Yan, Nie Li from the Jade Dragon family is here to see you."

Gu Yan is concentrating on the pill and opens his eyes while still refining. He looks at Yang Xin and says "Who is that? Since when can every person meet the President? Send him."

"President has been refining and hasn't come out for days. The Jade Dragon family is a mysterious family which rose in power in only one night." Yang Xin explains.

Gu Yan stops refining and looks at Yang Xin, indicating to continue explaining.

She then explains about how he now also controls the herbs supplies.

"Take me to him." Gu Yan says.

They arrive at the waiting room where Nie Li is. Gu Yan enters and finds Nie Li sleeping.

Gu Yan coughs, intending to wake up Nie Li. Yang Xin chuckles when she saw the scene.

Gu Yan gets angry and releases his aura a little. Immediately Nie Li's clones appear and stand before Nie Li.

Nie Li opens his eyes and says "You make your guest wait and then try to attack them.

The president of Alchemy association is very rude to its guests."

"The president was busy cultivating so, I didn't want to disturb him. So, I had to wait till he comes out." Yang Xin.

"Good excuse. You could have explained our achievements better. I actually felt good when you were talking about my great feats." Nie Li says.

"How did you know?" Yang Xin asked, surprised.

"I am the family head of the Jade Dragon family. If that many strong people are following me, you should have guessed my strength." Nie Li says.

Gu Yan says "Sorry about that. Now, can I ask why you are here?"

Nie Li's silly face turns serious and says "As you heard from our gorgeous director Yang Xin, I have around 60% of the herbs produced in the city.

I want to propose the idea of cooperation between the Jade Dragon family and the Alchemy association.

Since everyone in our family are lazy idiots. They don't want to refine pills and elixirs.

We will provide the necessary materials and recipes. You guys have to refine them and give it to us.

We will sell them and give you 40% of the profit. What do you say?"

Gu Yan's face turns serious and says "And why do you think we will agree?"

"We have recipes that are hundred times better than the thrash you guys sell." Nie Li says.

"What did you say?" Gu Yan shouts while getting up.

Nie Li didn't even budge. He threw a bottle to Yang Xin.

Yang Xin catches it and opens it. It gave out an aroma which filled the room.

"Have one, it's not poisoned." Nie Li says.

She takes out a pill and eats it. Immediately she went from 1 star Gold rank to 2 star Gold rank.

Usually it takes a lot for a person's soul force to increase by 10,000. The pill immediately raised 10,000 soul force.

Gu Yan also noticed the increase in her soul force. He sat down and said "Mind your language. I want to know how much it takes to make these."

"It costs a lot less to make them. I can make thousand of these with the amount of money you guys spend to make one." Nie Li says.

"Then with this, the price would go down and our strength would increase greatly." Gu Yan says.

"Sorry to disappoint you but, it wouldn't decrease that much. As you know that I brought so many things last night.

I will have to cover those expenses. Only after that will I be able to decrease the price. I also plan to sell the food for half the market price. So, it might take a while." Nie Li says.

"We might have to discuss this with the other elders of the association." Gu Yan says.

Nie Li gets up and says while walking out of the room "I would like to hear from you by tomorrow. Even if you guys refuse, I can make the pills and sell. I think you guys are wise."

Gu Yan didn't even get up from his chair. Yang Xin escorts Nie Li out and returns.

She looks at Gu Yan's troubled face and asks "What happened president? I think it's a nice deal. Even though it's late, it would still be good for the citizens and the city."

Gu Yan looks at her and explains "That's where you are mistaken.

They brought goods for double the price while selling them for half the market price. With this they would get the commoners support.

When their pills and elixirs come out, they wouldn't be cheap, again only the noble families would buy them and become stronger.

When the noble families gain strength, they would try to snatch goods from the commoners.

If the Jade Dragon family protects them at that point, they would get a good impression while the noble families would look evil.

The Jade Dragon family will gain more support of the commoners.

The noble families would start to loose power and wealth. That's when the Jade Dragon family could take over other families."

Yang Xin was in disbelief. She asks "If they had this much planned and all the resources they need, why come to co-operate with our association?"

Gu Yan smiles and says "They want to show their power to the city.

We can maintain power equal to the three major families only by selling and making pills and elixirs.

Now they control the herbs and have recipes better than ours.

We would easily loose power. The only way to maintain our power is to agree to their terms.

We have always been neutral and have influence equal to the three families.

They rose to power in only one night. No one still believes that.

By this they want to tell the other major families that they are not to be messed with."

Yang Xin is still in shock. Then an idea struck her. She said "Shouldn't we report this to the City Lord?"

Gu Yan again laughs and says "Even the City Lord can do nothing in this matter.

They currently have partnered with many farmers and commoner families who have offended the three major families and joined them.

If he does something, the other major families would take revenge and many citizens would be affected by it.

If the City Lord did something, the commoners would think that the City Lord favours the major families. This could shake the whole Glory City."

Yang Xin was again shocked. Gu Yan says with a terrified face "If this was really planned by that kid. He is whom we have to fear.

He managed to gain such strong followers, is strong enough to spy on us and is clever enough to plan all this.

He might become someone greater than Lord Ye Mo."