Chapter 1074: High Cliff Courage Test

"Raine took me to Blackrock Street; we ate our way through it, and everything tasted good." It was peak shipping season again, and Sotting Island regularly hosted hundreds of large and medium-sized merchant ships. During peak times, this number could multiply several times over. Consequently, the island's commercial district was already well-established. From the docks, past the warehouses, you entered the main street, which had everything imaginable: inns, taverns, tea houses, theaters, specialty shops, perfume stores, labyrinths, and barber shops. But the most common were the various snack shops.

Lu Feiyan, a practitioner, had a substantial appetite, but even she was full after walking only halfway down the street.

"I also saw a rock goat at the docks – so fat, no, I mean, so robust! It had huge horns, beautifully groomed fur, and a bronze plaque hanging around its neck." At the time, her mouth was watering, but Miss Lei said it was He Lingchuan's mount when he traveled through Beijia.

"Yes, it liked Sotting Island, so I sent it there to retire," He Lingchuan said with a smile. "That goat could scale perilous peaks as if walking on flat ground; it helped me a great deal back then."

However, now that he was the island lord, constantly moving within his own small domain, the rock goat had no practical use, so he simply let it roam freely.

With the plaque, everyone on the island knew the rock goat was Sotting Island's mascot and wouldn't think of harming its prized meat.

"By the way, didn't your brother come with you today?"

"The night we drank on your island, as soon as we returned to Bailie, my brother received orders and departed immediately."

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised: "Something happened?"

In truth, he knew Lu Qingbang had already left, as he had informants within the Lu family.

"It's a matter, not an incident," Lu Feiyan corrected. "Accidents in war are difficult to predict."

But He Lingchuan caught the word 'orders' in her statement.

The Lu siblings were already in charge of the eastern front in Bailie. Who would be sending them orders?

Was it Lu Zhensheng, or...?

"Miss Lu doesn't need to rush back?"

"Not yet, I suppose," Lu Feiyan said, wanting to change the subject. "Your place has only been open for half a year, and I hear shop rents are already very high?"

She had casually asked while shopping, and the shopkeeper's reply had astonished her. A shop of five to six square meters on the main street had a rent equivalent to sixty percent of a prime shop in Qucheng!

Qucheng was the capital of Bailie, with a permanent population of over 350,000. Sotting Island had only been developed for a few months, yet shop rents were already so high?

Though she had indeed observed a constant flow of people on Sotting Island.

"We've had two consecutive harvest seasons recently, making the Golden Shipping Lane busy, and many guests are disembarking onto the island," He Lingchuan explained. He had initially chosen the Yangshan Archipelago due to its superior geographical location.

Late spring, early summer, and autumn were all harvest seasons here, meaning three-quarters of the year were busy times for the Golden Shipping Lane. If managed properly, the Yangshan Archipelago would never lack visitors.

Agriculture was the foundation, but how much money could be earned and how many people could be supported by farming alone? He Lingchuan wanted to develop the area's commercial value.

He had some ideas, but they hadn't been implemented yet.

Across the way, Blade Port, managed by Chief Wu, had always been well-run. Unfortunately, Blade Port was small, surrounded by water on two sides and backed by a mountain, limiting its expansion due to its geographical conditions. Its business model was mature, but there weren't many new opportunities.

Therefore, merchants and powers with adventurous spirits and investment foresight turned their attention to the burgeoning Yangshan Archipelago, seeking new business opportunities.

Indeed, wasn't this a perfect match with He Lingchuan's vision?

As the saying goes, "Plant a good parasol tree, and phoenixes will naturally come."

The prerequisite is that your tree must be thick and strong enough, standing out from the rest of the forest.

Lu Feiyan asked, as if casually, "How many people are on Sotting Island now?"

He Lingchuan smiled. "Far fewer than Qucheng."

With a permanent population of 350,000, Sotting Island naturally couldn't compare yet.

Heh, this girl wasn't as simple and straightforward as she appeared.

Lu Feiyan asked again, "Can I buy a few shops on Sotting Island?"

"Purchases won't be opened up for a few more months."

Sotting Island had been under development for less than a year, and He Lingchuan had no plans to sell land or shops yet. What was the value of land in a place with little traffic and low popularity? Selling it now would be a waste.

The land was simply there; its 'value' was entirely added. Perhaps due to commerce, or foot traffic, or simply because it was closer to officials and powerful figures—like "a pavilion near the water catches the moon first"—in short, only when people recognized its value would its price rise.

However, the Yangshan Archipelago now also attracted long-term commercial partners, such as Platinum Island, Songyang Prefecture, and merchant guilds from Qing, Mou, Ya, Bailie, and other countries. This was considered investment attraction.

As they spoke, another new recruit stood at the edge of the cliff.

He was very robust, but one glance down sent him gulping, his feet rooted to the stone, unable to move.

He hadn't felt it when looking up from below before climbing, but once he stood there, he realized the height was absolutely terrifying!

Just looking made him dizzy. If he jumped, he'd surely die, right?

The soldiers nearby began to clamor, some cheering, others jeering.

Several breaths passed, but the recruit still didn't dare to jump. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down ceaselessly.

Wanqir Feng, standing nearby, said indifferently, "You're not cut out for this. Next!"

Lu Feiyan noticed the braids at the back of his head and let out a surprised "Oh?" "Is he from Ya country?"

"He's from the Bailong tribe," He Lingchuan said, gesturing towards Wanqir Feng with his chin. "The day over five hundred of their men came to enlist, every single one passed the Eight-Zhang Cliff trial."

As soldiers, the elite of Bailong met all the stringent requirements. Otherwise, He Lingchuan wouldn't have had to go to such lengths to subdue them half a year ago.

The next three recruits also faltered, failing the courage test.

Lu Feiyan walked over, peered down from the cliff edge, and saw jagged reefs below, with white waves crashing and spraying.

It was a full eight-zhang drop; the fainthearted would find their limbs turning to jelly with just one look. Not to mention, jumping from that height with poor entry into the water could lead to unconsciousness.

If one landed on the reefs, it would mean instant death.

Recruits standing there would likely be unable to stop imagining themselves splattered like rotten persimmons.

She asked Wanqir Feng, "Has anyone died from falling?"

"Yes," Wanqir Feng replied, standing with his arms crossed. "There was one two months ago, unlucky fellow. The wind blew him off course onto the rocks, and his brains splattered."

He even emphasized, "The waves that crashed up afterward were all red."

The recruits waiting in line were already nervous; hearing his words, several of them blanched and took a step back.

"Holy cow, people actually die from this?"

"No, I'm not doing it! Risking my life for a few silver coins isn't worth it, not worth it at all!" someone immediately declared. "I quit!"

Once someone took the lead in abandoning the test, over a dozen of the already anxious recruits immediately lost their nerve.