Chapter 199: Profitable (II)

Clip, clop, clop.

The beast's hooves struck the ground, producing rhythmic clopping sounds. Each step left a deep print in the dirt under the immense weight it bore, yet its stride remained steady, its breathing long and even, showing no sign of exhaustion.

"Not bad! I'll take this one. Fit it with a sturdy, durable carriage. How much will it cost?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"You're my first customer today, Sir. I can offer a discount. It’ll be 60 taels of silver in total," the shopkeeper said quickly, struggling to hide his excitement.

"Fine. Make sure the carriage interior is soft and comfortable," Lin Zheyu replied readily without bargaining.

For someone of his means, 60 taels of silver was nothing. Catching and selling a single Blood Qi Realm beast would earn him far more.

"Please wait a moment, sir. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" the shopkeeper said excitedly.

This gentleman clearly isn’t short on money

.

The shopkeeper had set the price much higher than the market rate, leaving room for haggling. He would have agreed even if Lin Zheyu had cut the price in half, but the man accepted it outright. That was perfect. Spurred by the high profit, the shopkeeper worked eagerly and soon had the carriage ready.

The carriage was spacious and lined with soft cushions that made it very comfortable. Lin Zheyu also requested two chests, one for his armor and the other for miscellaneous belongings. Behind the carriage hung a rack piled high with grass seeds and mixed grains for feeding the Ox Horse. He spent another 100 taels of silver to buy more than a month's worth of fodder.

Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.

Little Black bounced excitedly inside the carriage. The soft cushions were delightfully comfortable, and as a beast, this was its first time enjoying such luxury. As Lin Zheyu drove the Ox Horse cart through the marketplace outside the city, he made several additional purchases that were mostly snacks and small treats.

Chirp, chirp.

Little Black reclined lazily against the cushions, gnawing contentedly on its food with a look of pure bliss.

As dawn broke, golden sunlight spilled across the land, bringing warmth to the morning air. With some time still before the appointed hour, Lin Zheyu guided the Ox Horse to the meeting point. By then, quite a crowd had gathered. Members of Guangxuan Escort Agency were easily identifiable by their matching uniforms, while among the rest were many young men and women. They were all strong for their age and were clearly martial artists of considerable talent and potential.

Are all of these people planning to venture into the Central Plains?

Lin Zheyu wondered silently, observing the travelers.

Those traveling to the Central Plains all possessed considerable strength; not a single one was below the Organ Forging Realm.

Before long, a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of Guangxuan Escort Agency approached and swept his gaze over the group accompanying them. In total, there were eighty-three travelers.

"This journey to the Central Plains ends at Ruyang City. Once we arrive, your journey will be considered complete. Those whose names I call will step forward. The rest will travel at the rear of the convoy and be responsible for their own safety," the man said calmly.

Beside him stood the same young man who had handled registration the day before. As the middle-aged man called out each name, the corresponding traveler stepped forward for verification. Soon, the roll call was done.

Of the eighty-three travelers, seventy-two had paid 700 taels of silver each, while the remaining eleven, including Lin Zheyu, had paid only 100 taels of silver for guidance. Excluding the escort fee, Guangxuan Escort Agency had already earned over 50,000 taels of silver from this single trip.

What a profitable business.

Lin Zheyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Even with Little Black's help in hunting every day, it would take him nearly a year to make that much.

Guangxuan Escort Agency had deployed many strong fighters for this trip: three Marrow Refining Realm martial artists, three at the fourth transformation of blood qi, four at the third transformation, one at the second, dozens at the peak of the Organ Forging Realm, and over a hundred at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm. It was likely that nearly all of the agency's elites had been mobilized.

Lin Zheyu glanced at the goods being escorted, wondering what valuable cargo warranted such a force.

Once the formation was arranged, the group soon departed. Those who had paid 700 taels of silver were protected within the center of the convoy, while Lin Zheyu and the others, who had only paid for guidance, could only drive their carts at the rear. Several others tried to tag along secretly but were quickly intimidated and driven off by Guangxuan's guards. Those who hadn't paid had no right to follow; there were no such bargains on this road.

The convoy's pace was steady, neither fast nor slow. Like Lin Zheyu, the Guangxuan Escort Agency also used Ox Horse. They were strong, enduring, and swift creatures ideal for long-distance transport.

Time passed slowly. Sitting outside his carriage, Lin Zheyu held a whip in his hand, flicking it lightly whenever the Ox Horse strayed from the path. The beast, well-trained and intelligent, quickly learned after a few lashes to follow the caravan without further correction.

The journey itself was monotonous. Lin Zheyu divided his time into two portions: six hours studying the Toxicology Codex, delving into the theories of poisons, and another four hours practicing the Boiling Blood Secret Art, striving to reach Perfection as soon as possible.

The caravan traveled from dawn until dusk. As night fell, they found a flat area to camp. Lin Zheyu fetched some feed from the rack behind the carriage to feed his Ox Horse. The creature's stomach was like that of an ox, capable of ruminating and chewing cud. After eating heavily at night, it could travel all day without stopping to graze, making it perfect for long-distance journeys. However, Ox Horses were expensive, and few families or sects could afford to use them.

Crackle.

The campfires were lit.

Since he had only paid a 100 taels of silver, Lin Zheyu had to make his own campfire some distance away and handle his own meal. Gathering dry wood nearby, he lit a fire for light. Little Black, who had been lazing in the carriage all day, burst out the moment the caravan stopped. Without needing orders, it disappeared into the forest. Moments later, it reappeared upright, gripping a beast by the neck with its jaws and dragging its much larger body through the trees. The sight of the small creature carrying prey thrice its size drew astonished looks from the onlookers.

"Go gather more firewood," Lin Zheyu instructed. He had only picked up a few branches earlier, and that wasn't nearly enough to roast such a large beast.

Chirp, chirp.

Little Black chirped twice in delight before darting off again.

As a beast, the darkness of night posed little hindrance to it. It dashed swiftly through the forest, occasionally returning with an armful of dry branches before vanishing once more. Among Guangxuan Escort Agency's members, the three Marrow Refining Realm martial artists leading the group had already noticed Lin Zheyu's camp.

"Brother Feng, what kind of beast is that? It looks incredibly intelligent," said the man on the left curiously.

The man's name was Cui Xiaojun, the youngest of the three, yet the strongest. The one he addressed, Cui Xiaofeng, was the eldest, who was the weakest in strength but far more experienced and well-traveled.

"I'm not sure. I've never seen one like it. There are too many species of beasts in this world. It's impossible to know them all," Cui Xiaofeng said, shaking his head.

He watched Little Black with growing curiosity as it scurried around collecting firewood. The creature's strength was clearly extraordinary, yet even Cui Xiaojun couldn't discern its exact level, which only made him more intrigued.

"Grandfather, do you like that beast? Shall I go see if that man is willing to sell it?" asked a young woman nearby. Her tone was lively, her features delicate yet spirited. The flickering firelight cast a soft crimson glow on her face, enhancing her beauty.

"No need. I'm just curious about it, that's all. Mengruo, once we reach Ruyang City and you join the Yin Yang Sect, focus on your cultivation and strive to reach the Force Transformation Realm as soon as possible," Cui Xiaofeng said with a gentle smile, his eyes filled with affection as he looked at her.

Cui Mengruo was the most talented of the younger generation in the Cui Family. At only eighteen, she had already broken through to the Blood Qi Realm. For that reason, they had brought her along this time, intending for her to join one of the great powers in the Central Plains, a stage worthy of someone of her gifts.

"Yes, Grandfather. I will do my best," Cui Mengruo said firmly with a nod.

***

Crackle.

The firelight flickered and swayed.

Lin Zheyu worked leisurely, cleaning the carcass of the beast. Its strength was not high; after all, this wasn't Little Black's territory, so in a short outing, it could only hunt ordinary creatures.