31. Planning

Song Cheng had not long returned to the commerce chamber when the chamber's ten ox carts were also ready to depart.

The reason for the one-day delay was because the world was still somewhat chaotic, and even the chamber had to send out scouts to survey the area before traveling.

The young lady had shed the flowing robes she wore at their first meeting, now clad in simple cloth garments that facilitated movement, her voluminous bosom now confined within a tight wrap, appearing flat and subdued.

The veil and bamboo hat still remained, but only to conceal her delicate features.

Clearly, An Chenyu was not someone who could only sit high in the hall and issue commands; she... was capable of practical work and able to shed her glamorous attire.

"Song, train well."

The young lady lifted her veil, offering Song Cheng encouragement.

"I will, Sister An." Song Cheng clenched his fist and smiled, "Twenty days, entry level!"

The young lady replied indifferently, "There are only eighteen days left."

"Alright, eighteen days," said Song Cheng.

The young lady lowered her veil and entered the cabin of an ox cart, accompanied by another woman with a blade, in her early twenties, valiant and expressionless. This was another one of the young lady's personal maids—Ying.

The blade-wielding Ying, had a strength ranging from 28 to 50.

She was indeed the strongest person Song Cheng had encountered in the eastern district of Shanghe County.

Ying also entered the cabin.

Song Cheng's keen hearing picked up faint sounds from behind the curtain.

"Shi Yi should have returned by now, but the young lady waited another day, and still, he did not show," said the voice of Ying.

"There were things I wanted to clear up with him..." An Chenyu shook her head and said, "Never mind, we can talk when I return. I have given Ling a letter; she will pass it on to Shi Yi."

"Miss, do you really think that Song Cheng can achieve it within twenty days..."

Their soft conversation continued, but Song Cheng could no longer make out the words clearly.

The charioteer cracked his whip.

The ox carts rattled away into the distance.

Those seeing them off also turned and left.

Ling ran over and asked, "Song Cheng, how's your training going?"

"Not bad," Song Cheng replied.

"What do you mean 'not bad'?" Ling demanded, hands on her hips.

Song Cheng said, "'Not bad' as in... progress is normal."

Ling said, "You're boasting."

With that, she ran off.

Her good feelings remained a constant 50, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Young Mrs. Tong, hand in hand with her husband, returned to their courtyard. Then, she said, "Miss Ling seems to have some complaints about you."

Song Cheng glanced at his own data "39~78," whereas, in Miss Ling's eyes, his strength was probably just a bit stronger than Ding Kui's, estimated at around the teens.

So, he chuckled and said, "Never mind."

For one, his strength was fully capable of handling the situation.

For another, Ling's good feelings for him had not dropped to the "kill line."

Young Mrs. Tong smiled and said, "Hmm..."

...

...

Night swiftly descended.

Young Mrs. Tong, under the "guidance of a renowned teacher," trained all day long and after eating the "demon beast meat sent by the young lady," continued her strenuous practice until the moon was high in the sky before stopping.

The couple, like playful mandarin ducks, soaked in a bath, and then went to bed.

As usual, Song Cheng sat on her to perform stretches.

Madam Tong had cast aside her blade, her strength at "3~3".

But today, as Song Cheng kneaded, the numbers jumped suddenly to "4~4".

"That feels so good." Madam Tong arched her neck and sighed lightly.

Song Cheng's fingers worked on her spine.

He knew which areas were affected by the "White Snake Blade," so he targeted those specifically.

"Darling, you're really good at this."

Madam Tong was happy and relaxed; she felt as if she were getting stronger.

After a while, she said, "It seems like we're being kept by the young lady, without earning our own money."

Song Cheng said, "Let's wait for her to return and then talk about it."

Having said that, he stopped his movements, leaned forward, embracing and rolling over, then clung together, lost in thought.

If he became stronger, staying with such a commerce chamber wouldn't be so bad.

With money, connections, contacts, and a reliable chamber president... it was a good place to live.

Having contacts meant there was no need to worry about something like "settling down"; otherwise, even leaving this small county town would be impossible.

Having connections also meant more opportunities to meet more people and access more Cultivation Techniques.

And as for money, that goes without saying.

A reliable and rational chamber president would ensure that the chamber wouldn't decline, at least... not from internal problems.

Disaster has struck, Endless Hell...

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Without power, there's no escaping.

Because you must go to places with a crowd, where there's power and rules, and where money is needed.

Now, no power suited him better than the Ruyi Commerce Chamber.

He had no choice.

The Ruyi Commerce Chamber also just happened to be quite good.

However, he needed to establish a deeper relationship with the young mistress as soon as possible, so that he could settle down here better and also make better use of the Ruyi Commerce Chamber to enhance his strength and seek good fortune while avoiding disaster.

Otherwise... why should people take your word for it, if you say this place is dangerous, should they just up and move?

If you say you want money, should they just give it to you?

If you say you want to establish contact with some power, for a "social gathering," to exchange views on cultivation techniques, to spar and learn from each other, should they be willing to listen to you?

Who are you?

On what basis?

Song Cheng himself had no connections, no means, no money...

Although he was a potent seed, if he wanted to bloom, he still did not know how much thought and time he would have to spend, how many battles he would have to fight, and how many complicated interpersonal relationships he would have to get involved in just to establish his own power, not to mention worrying about loyalty issues.

Wasn't "borrowing a chicken to lay eggs," "a vine wrapping around a sturdy tree" much faster?

Song Cheng meditated for a long while, then suddenly asked, "Madam, do you like it here?"

Tong Jia was silent for a moment, then smiled, "I like being by your side."

Song Cheng couldn't bring himself to say the words that followed.

Madam Tong wrapped her arms around his strong waist and said, "If you want to say something, just say it, don't be a worrywart!"

Song Cheng then relayed his thoughts, yet the crucial sentence at the end remained unsaid.

Madam Tong said, "We need to integrate with the Ruyi Commerce Chamber and then leverage the chamber to survive better in the Chaotic World... Hmm..."

The young Mrs. Tong smiled gently.

Husband and wife have an understanding.

She tapped her man's forehead, "Can you do it?"

Song Cheng also smiled, asking only, "You don't blame me?"

The young Mrs. Tong said, "I just never mentioned it, but actually... I've been putting up with you for a long time!"

"Huh?"

Song Cheng was stunned.

The young Mrs. Tong said, "Do you have any idea how strong you are now? It hurts, okay?"

Song Cheng: ...

The young Mrs. Tong said, "So can you speak now?"

Song Cheng said, "I'm thinking of taking another wife."

The young Mrs. Tong asked, "Who?"

Song Cheng answered, "An Chenyu."

The young Mrs. Tong kicked out her foot, "So you like marrying your employer!"

Song Cheng chuckled lightly and said, "If I want to establish roots here, I must have her. I need her power, and she... will need my strength."

"Your strength?"

"Yes... my strength."

Song Cheng nodded and glanced at the panel.

[Points to Add: 30 points]

[Realm: Yellow Level Grade C]

[Cultivation Technique]

Extreme Force (Yellow Level Grade C) (Uninitiated) (0/4)

The stone from other mountains can polish jade; with wide-ranging knowledge, there's the chance to advance even further.

The Xuanwu Willow Brushing Force has a 16‰ chance of deducing a "Yellow Level Grade B" cultivation technique.

The chances are increasing step by step.

Song Cheng narrowed his eyes, contemplating Ling's behavior.

When a woman is inexplicably angry with you, either she truly despises you, she actually likes you, or... you're standing in her way.

Despise?

It doesn't feel like it.

Like?

Hardly.

In the way?

How could he, Song Cheng, possibly stand in the way of a personal maidservant?

Then... by logical deduction, it must be that he stood in the way of someone with a deep connection to Ling.

Who could that person be?

Song Cheng fell silent for a long while, then suddenly revealed a dangerous smile.

'Shi Yi?'

I, Song, also have a selfish and ruthless side. If others stand in my way and make me unhappy, then when others stand in my way... would they be happy?

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