Chapter 38: Lofty Brow Faction

"Brother Lu, from what I understand, are you planning to do business as a cultivator?"

"Yes, older brother, as someone with experience, I will definitely need your guidance in the future."

"Guidance might be too much to ask for. When it comes to business, I'm not as good as our second brother. If there's anything you don't understand, it's better to ask him."

Zhu Bo pondered for a moment and said, "I can only say that the business world is very complex. Little brother, you might not be able to handle it."

"Older brother, don't worry. If there's money to be made, we can all earn it together. I am a trustworthy person. Once I have agreed to cooperate with the Zhu family's business, I won't look for anyone else."

Lu Bei reassured him directly.

As the conversation touched on personal reputation, Zhu Bo found Lu Bei's words quite offensive. He furrowed his brows and continued, "Doing business as a cultivator is not as easy as you think. First of all, you have to pass through the Great Victory Pass. Without the proper documents and seals, you'll be considered an illegal establishment. Once you're discovered..."

"That's where I'll need your help, older brother."

"It's a small favor. Even if I don't help you, with your eldest cousin's intervention, it will be a simple matter."

"After all, he is an upright official. It's better not to trouble him too much." Lu Bei suddenly remembered that he was still wearing the blue equipment passed down from the Wei family. He planned to make a trip to the Great Victory Pass when he had the chance.

"Furthermore..."

Zhu Bo paused and said, "Brother Lu, I'll be honest with you. I'm not interested in your business of selling pills and raw materials. The Zhu family's business already has several stores. However, the Spiritual Bamboo from Nine Bamboo Mountain... do you have confidence in that?"

"Whether I have confidence or not, what does it matter? Do you have any suggestions, older brother?" Lu Bei raised an eyebrow and smiled at Zhu Bo.

"If Brother Lu has confidence, our family business will benefit from it. It would be great to have a ready-made opportunity."

Zhu Bo smiled faintly, hiding a deeper meaning. "If you don't have confidence, older brother will have to lower his status and seek help from others to get things done."

"Come, sit down and let's talk."

Lu Bei pulled Zhu Bo to the old tree in the backyard, not far from a stone table and stone stool, with an ordinary stone well nearby.

As a cup of tea was poured, Zhu Bo continued, "The business of the Spiritual Bamboo from Nine Bamboo Mountain was set in stone ten years ago. After leaving Nine Bamboo Mountain, it goes through a business that eventually ends up with 80% of the bamboo flowing into the Great Victory Pass as materials for refining tools. The remaining 20% is purchased by various cultivators."

"Older brother came prepared!"

"I heard a few things from our second brother. Because it's a business in the Great Victory Pass, he wanted to squeeze out that business and couldn't find any connections on the Nine Bamboo Mountain side, so he had to give up." Zhu Bo explained.

"What do you mean? That business didn't even give face to our Zhu family... Could it be that they're also surnamed Zhu?" Lu Bei frowned.

"No, it's not that. That business has some connection with Lord Li from the Jade Chime District. They give him gifts during festivals and holidays. Although my uncle is the magistrate of Eastern Qi County, he doesn't have jurisdiction over Eastern Sun County. Lord Li doesn't want to give him face, so even with my second brother raising the price, they couldn't get in." Zhu Bo's expression turned unpleasant.

"I see."

After thinking for a while, Lu Bei realized that their plans coincided. He directly stated, "Nine Bamboo Mountain belongs to one sect, and Three Pristine Peak, where I am from, also has a say. If I overthrow the current person in charge, I will have the final say on which business gets the Spiritual Bamboo."

"That's the idea."

Zhu Bo hadn't planned to mention this, but Lu Bei's actions against the Lofty Brow Faction that night made him see the possibility of manipulation.

"Brother Bo, what do you mean by seeking help from others?"

"With Brother Lu controlling the source of the Spiritual Bamboo and my second brother handling the biggest buyer, the Great Victory Pass, if we cut off both ends, that business will lose its legitimacy. At that time, my uncle will write a letter to Lord Li, and the deal will be sealed." Zhu Bo declared confidently.

"Hehehe..." x2

"The plan is good, but there is still one problem, Brother Lu. You are from Jade Chime District and have offended County Magistrate Li. It might be difficult to do business in the future!" Zhu Bo reminded with a laugh.

"My eldest cousin and the captain of Jade Chime District are old acquaintances with a long-standing friendship. Jade Chime District is a leisurely place. If someone sends a small gift during festivals, County Magistrate Li will definitely not refuse."

"Hahaha, in that case, we can expect great things!"

The two raised their cups and clinked them, drinking the tea in their cups.

By noon, Lu Bei invited Zhu Bo to visit the beautiful scenery of Nine Bamboo Mountain. While strolling around, they unintentionally arrived at Four Thorns Peak Lofty Brow Faction.

Since they were already here, they might as well settle a debt.

The sect leader, Ding Lei, was nowhere to be found, and there were only a few small fry inside the sect.

It was expected by Lu Bei, and he didn't want to trouble the servants of the sect. Before leaving, he took five geese as temporary interest.

He had been staying at Great Victory Pass for over two months and found the roast goose prepared by the chef at Bright Moon Tower to be delicious. He was craving it, and since it was difficult to quench his thirst from afar, he decided to take a few back to cook himself. It didn't matter if the taste wasn't good; failure is inevitable when learning, but hard work pays off. He believed that as long as he worked diligently, he would eventually be able to make this delicious dish.

That night, the foxes' dinner was roast goose, causing them to sneeze. The little fox demon looked strange. If this was what Lu Bei called "living the good life," then they didn't want this meal ticket.

Ding Lei secretly returned to Four Thorns Peak. After hearing the report from the servants that Lu Bei didn't take away any furniture or paintings, but only five geese, he smiled faintly and didn't take it to heart.

Let him take them, it's just a few geese. The loss can be afforded.

Half a month later.

The sect leader, Ding Lei, gradually realized the seriousness of the situation. He had to stop Lu Bei. If things continued like this, Lofty Brow Faction would become Lofty Brow Faction. Moreover, seeing how calm and composed Lu Bei was, coming to purchase goods every day, once the geese were gone, it would be chickens and ducks.

Who knows, even the guard dog might go missing.

Unable to match Lu Bei's strength, Ding Lei was forced to sign an IOU. Thinking about the guest with the surname Zhu at Three Pristine Peak, Ding Lei knew that reporting this matter to the authorities would be useless. He immediately went to Great Expansion Peak and sought the leader of True Origin Sword School, Huang Guan, to mediate.

Huang Guan was a shrewd person. After hearing Ding Lei's account of the situation, he immediately made a decision, stating that Lu Bei was in the wrong.

He must compensate.

But upon hearing that there was a guest with the surname Zhu at Three Pristine Peak, he immediately changed his decision, realizing that he had almost been fooled. Ding Lei was at fault in this matter.

He had to personally go and apologize.

"I know I was at fault first. I shouldn't have provoked him. But this guy surnamed Lu has gone too far. He treats Lofty Brow Faction as his own, coming and going as he pleases. He even wants to collect the money owed to his master when he died."

Ding Lei was furious, slamming the table. Seeing Huang Guan's calm demeanor, he continued, "Not only that, he wants to destroy Lofty Brow Faction completely. He forced me to sign a mortgage IOU. If I don't repay the 100,000 taels within ten days, the Spiritual Bamboo production of Four Thorns Peak will belong to Three Pristine Peak."

"Just ten days, think of a solution and gather the money."

"This happened half a month ago, and several days have already passed."

Ding Lei had a headache. "It's almost the beginning of the month. When he comes with the IOU, Lofty Brow Faction's harvest for this month can only be handed over to Three Pristine Peak. I have already collected the deposit from Four Channels Trading Company. If I don't have the Spiritual Bamboo to give them, I will have to compensate them."

Seeing that it was getting late, Ding Lei seemed to have the intention of staying overnight. Huang Guan could only say, "You go back first. I will make an appointment with Zhao, the leader of Seven Coils Peak, tomorrow. She has good eloquence. Let her ask Lu Bei what he really means."

(End of this chapter)

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