Chapter 233: Duán Xiāngméi

The house in Sheng Shenzhou’s imperial capital, Shi Chun’s house, was very beautiful. At least, it was beautiful to Shi Chun and his companions.

Compared to other residences in the same area, this one wasn’t particularly large, but it still occupied about three mu of land. In the imperial capital, where land was extremely valuable, it was considered a spacious mansion for most common people.

Although compact, it had everything one could need: pavilions, terraces, and water gardens. Inside, there was also a sturdy, quiet room specifically for cultivation, capable of withstanding powerful attacks.

Outside the courtyard, a small bridge spanned a gurgling stream, with mountains and water in harmony. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded, creating a scene like a blessed paradise, yet it wasn't far from the bustling heart of the imperial capital.

Most importantly, like Lan Qiaoyan's family residence, the houses in this area were protected by a grand formation and guarded by dedicated personnel. Wu Jinliang and Xiang Lan'er's prize residences didn't have this level of protection, though they were located amidst the city's prosperity. Furthermore, their houses were self-sufficient, requiring no additional payments, unlike this one, which incurred a substantial annual fee that most cultivators' incomes couldn't cover.

In other words, Shi Chun's residence was in an area for the wealthy.

The mansion was meticulously clean, and several exotic flowers and plants had clearly been newly transplanted. All these arrangements, including the basic living facilities, had been made by Young Master Nan, making it ready for immediate occupancy.

Wu Jinliang had already moved in. After seeing his own house and then this one, he simply moved over, making Shi Chun's residence his own.

In truth, he preferred the bustling surroundings of his own house; stepping out meant entering a vibrant world filled with beautiful women. When these women realized he was the owner of a mansion in the prosperous part of the imperial capital, their eyes would light up, and within days, he had already found companions. This place, however, was quiet and unexciting, with few people ever seen.

However, they had offended too many people, so living in an unprotected area made them feel uneasy.

It was unclear if Wei Mo, the former Lord of Shengzhou, had considered this when he helped upgrade the standard of the house awarded to Shi Chun to this location.

After showing Shi Chun around the residence, Wu Jinliang pointed at it and asked, "Chun Tian, do you know how much this house is worth?"

Shi Chun had no idea, but he knew that Wu Jinliang asking meant it was worth a considerable amount, and he waited for Wu Jinliang to elaborate.

Wu Jinliang exclaimed in feigned surprise, providing the answer himself: "Over a hundred million! Over a hundred million taels of sandalwood gold!"

Shi Chun was startled. "That much?"

Young Master Nan, who was accompanying them, smiled faintly. "You really underestimate your own reputation. As it stands, it's fitting. So many prominent families and sects have been overthrown by you; a cheaper prize would make them seem worthless. However, as far as I know, you should also thank Wei Mo. He personally approached the royal court and directly elevated the standard of your reward. Compared to the original property intended as a prize, its value more than doubled. His actions are understandable; he was the biggest beneficiary. You gave him a huge, unexpected surprise, so a simple favor like this was nothing to him. Both logically and emotionally, he was bound to reward you handsomely. This is also something someone in his position should do to demonstrate generosity, so you shouldn't be too surprised."

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were aware of this, but they had underestimated the value of Wei Mo's involvement. Only now did they realize, was it truly worth Wei Mo personally speaking up just to increase the value by a few tens or hundreds of millions?

It was then that they understood Wei Mo's "upgrade in standard" actually meant at least a doubling of value.

Wu Jinliang then pointed to the residence with a wry smile. "The fees are also high. The protective formation and the guards aren't free. The basic cost of living here is 100,000 gold per year."

Shi Chun was surprised again. "That much?"

Wu Jinliang pointed at Young Master Nan. "He's already paid for ten years in advance for you."

That amounted to a million gold. Shi Chun, now having money, immediately wanted to repay him, but Young Master Nan raised a hand to stop him. "Brother Chun, please don't mention money. This sum is a drop in the ocean compared to what you've helped me earn. If you truly want to talk about money, I wouldn't even know how much would be appropriate to give you. Consider it a housewarming gift, and if you still consider me a friend, just accept it as a red envelope."

Wu Jinliang chuckled beside them, gesturing for Shi Chun to let it go. He knew too well the usual expenses of people like Young Master Nan; to them, a million was truly nothing. Being too calculative would make things awkward. He had always been one to freeload on their meals, drinks, and entertainment.

Alright, Shi Chun knew Wu Jinliang wasn't foolish. Since Wu Jinliang felt this way, he conceded. His gaze was then drawn to a woman who emerged from the house. She was quite pretty, though a bit petite, the delicate and exquisite type.

She had been cleaning inside the house moments ago and was now weeding the flowerbeds, clearly a very diligent worker.

Noticing them watching her, the woman offered a bright smile, then worked even more diligently.

Shi Chun asked, "Is she included in the 100,000 gold annual fee?"

At this, Young Master Nan glanced oddly at Wu Jinliang beside him, then raised a hand to rub his nose. "I'm not sure about that."

Wu Jinliang stammered, "No, she's not."

Shi Chun sensed something was amiss and asked, "If not, then where did she come from? Did you hire a helper?"

Wu Jinliang equivocated, "Well, she used to do odd jobs in the imperial capital. I saw we needed someone to help out here, so it's not really hiring, more like, she came to help..."

As he spoke, he noticed the boss's eyebrows gradually rising. He then sighed and decided to stop hiding, revealing the true reason for the woman's presence.

The woman's name was Duan Xiangmei. Like many commoners, she made a living in the imperial capital, primarily by doing odd jobs at a restaurant and taking on various other tasks whenever work was available.

Wu Jinliang came to know her because when he was leaving his own house, he accidentally knocked over a pile of items stacked outside a neighbor's door. These items were goods Duan Xiangmei was transporting for that family.

Hearing the commotion, Duan Xiangmei rushed out and, upon seeing her transported goods damaged, became instantly anxious. Knowing she would be liable for compensation, she immediately grabbed Wu Jinliang to reason with him, fearing he might flee.

If he had broken someone else's property, then he should pay for it; there was nothing more to say. Wu Jinliang immediately asked how much it would cost and offered to pay whatever was due. It was a minor issue, and he had money now.

The awkward part was that Duan Xiangmei was just a delivery person; she had no idea of the cost. The landlord wasn't around, and while she needed to ask her employer, she was afraid Wu Jinliang would escape.

Naturally, Wu Jinliang had to prove he wouldn't run. He demonstrated on the spot that the adjacent residence was his, so he couldn't possibly flee.

What followed was a negotiation regarding compensation.

In any case, Wu Jinliang found the woman to have a certain spirit he hadn't experienced before; being with brothel courtesans all the time had become rather dull.

The outcome was quite common and simple: Wu Jinliang, playing the role of a rich man, told her not to bother with such small sums of money. He patted his chest and declared to Duan Xiangmei, "I'll take care of you!"

He then easily won over Duan Xiangmei. While Shi Chun was at Wu Kang Mountain, Wu Jinliang had already slept with Duan Xiangmei, and so she became his companion.

Young Master Nan had actually investigated this whole affair and was somewhat impressed by Wu Jinliang. Wasn't it enough to have sampled all the top beauties from the imperial capital's brothels? What kind of beauty hadn't he seen? He had conquered so many courtesans that he now had the nickname "King of Courtesans." Why bother with an ordinary person? He truly wasn't picky. Wouldn't it be simpler to just spend money and enjoy himself?

The problem was, even if he wanted to have fun, why bring her to Shi Chun's home? Didn't he have his own private residence where he could house her? Was this appropriate?

However, despite knowing all this, he found it difficult to say anything.

Wu Jinliang hadn't intended to bring her, but how to put it? It was genuinely different from the insincere affections of brothel women. He truly felt Duan Xiangmei's admiration for him, and it was the first time he had experienced such adoration from the opposite sex. This gave him immense satisfaction and made him a bit conceited, leading him to boast.

For the ordinary and unremarkable Duan Xiangmei, Shi Chun's deeds—being the top performer at the Heavenly Meteor Shower Convention, directly defeating Mu Lanqingqing, and causing elite disciples from various sects to return defeated—were enough to make him a legendary figure.

Curious, wanting to see, wanting to meet? Wu Jinliang, once again, thumped his chest, promising to easily arrange it.

When the moment arrived and he learned Shi Chun had returned, Wu Jinliang grew uneasy. He realized his actions might be absurd and was somewhat afraid of displeasing Shi Chun. But since he had already made big promises, he could only instruct Duan Xiangmei to be careful, not to upset Shi Chun, and emphasized that he was the boss.

This made Duan Xiangmei quite nervous, leading to the scene of her diligently working to make a good impression.

Shi Chun didn't react much after hearing the story, only asking, "Is she trustworthy?"

Wu Jinliang was just messing around; he had no idea if she was trustworthy or not, which was precisely the source of his worry and unease.

Brothers they might be, but the boss's authority was still present and could put pressure on him.

Seeing that the truth was out, Young Master Nan didn't hold back, remarking casually, "She's just an ordinary person; it shouldn't be a big problem. It depends on how you view it."

The fact that he said this indicated he had already investigated her, and it also implied that in his eyes, Shi Chun and his companions were no longer ordinary people.

Since they were already together, Shi Chun didn't say much more, telling Wu Jinliang, "Handle it as you see fit."

He wouldn't interfere in this matter. He trusted Wu Jinliang; he wasn't brainless and knew his limits.

Wu Jinliang's face lit up with a smile, and he beamed as he waved to Duan Xiangmei, gesturing for her to come and meet Shi Chun and Young Master Nan.

Duan Xiangmei immediately rushed over enthusiastically to greet them. She was a woman full of spirit, with a plain, unadorned face and a brilliant smile. Yet, within that brilliance, there was a hint of humility, making her seem a little reserved.

Not to mention Shi Chun, she now also knew that Young Master Nan was a prominent figure far beyond her previous reach.

Watching the tall man and the petite woman stand together, the stark contrast between them was evident. Shi Chun and Young Master Nan instinctively exchanged a knowing glance, both somewhat bewildered by Wu Jinliang's choices.