It takes about two hours to walk from Suchang City to Bailiang Mountain. Xu Huaigu and Gu Sanyue walked all the way. By the time they walked on the gravel road going up the mountain, it was already three poles in the sky.
Today's Bailiang Mountain seems to be particularly lively. At the foot of the mountain, there are a few scattered pedestrians going up the mountain. When Xu Huaigu and Gu Sanyue reached halfway up the mountain, there were even more people.
The most common sight among the crowd was a couple with their children, as well as a rugged man with a sword, who seemed to be a swordsman who came to apply for a job.
Walking a little further up, towards the Patriarch Hall, people began to line up. It's unusual to see so many people in the mountains.
Gu Sanyue asked a woman in line and realized that today was the day when Bailiang Mountain selected disciples and elders. Those couples with families wanted to come and have their children tested. That qualification for practice.
In the eyes of these ordinary people, those who can practice in the mountains are all gods. What parent doesn't want their children to become dragons and phoenixes in the future?
It is said that in this Jingyu Kingdom, Fang Shengming's reputation is indeed quite high. These people were not only from Suchang, but also people from several surrounding cities came to join in the fun.
Xu Huaigu and Gu Sanyue walked past the queue until they reached the entrance of the Patriarch Hall, where they saw several monks from the fifth and sixth realms testing the qualifications of those in line, including a man named Du Chongyang.
Xu Huaigu took Gu Sanyue to the observation deck on the side. This Patriarch Hall was specially built on the edge of a cliff. From the top of the cliff, you can have a panoramic view of the river in front of you.
The two of them admired the scenery for a while, then heard someone coming to greet them from behind. Xu Huaigu looked back and saw that Zhao Liuping was walking towards the two of them.
Zhao Liuping said cordially: "Fellow Daoist Xu is finally here. My husband and the emperor are already waiting for you inside." Xu Huaigu nodded with a smile and said, "Then please lead the way, sister." Zhao Liuping walked in front, Xu Huaigu and Gu Sanyue He followed her into the Patriarch Hall.
After turning seven times and eight times, he entered a wing deep in the Patriarch Hall. There is a large round table in this wing, and several people are already seated.
Needless to say, Fang Shengming is one of them. In addition, there is a middle-aged man with broad eyebrows, an elegant old man with a long beard, and a skinny old man.
Xu Huaigu guessed the identities of these people with just one glance. The middle-aged man had a calm face and a calm and commanding temperament. He must be the emperor of Jingyu Kingdom, Fu Rongyu.
The elegant old man sitting upright should be another insider of this matter - Gongsun Changlin, the national master of Jingyu Kingdom.
As for the skinny old man, it's even easier to guess. He is full of vitality and blood, and is just a martial artist accompanying him as a guard.
Zhao Liuping sat down next to Fang Shengming, and Xu Huaigu also took Gu Sanyue to sit down. Then a maid came forward and served them both a cup of hot tea, and then exited the side room. These seven people were the only ones left in the room.
Xu Huaigu was looking at the Emperor of Jingyu Kingdom. He was also looking at Xu Huaigu. There seemed to be curiosity, concern, and dissatisfaction in his eyes. It was a very complicated emotion.
The two looked at each other for a while, but no one said anything first, making the atmosphere a bit awkward. As the host of this meeting, Fang Shengming quickly laughed twice, looked at Xu Huaigu and the two, and took the lead to break the silence and said: "Fellow Daoist Xu, who is the girl next to you?" Xu Huaigu replied: "I haven't had time to introduce you yet. This is me. Disciple, Gu Sanyue. She knows all about our affairs, so Sect Master Fang doesn’t have to mind and can talk openly." Fang Shengming and the emperor exchanged a look, and both nodded slightly, so Fang Shengming introduced the royal family to Xu Huaigu There were three people in that group.
After getting to know each other, the conversation can officially begin. It was said that it was a three-party negotiation, but in fact, it was mainly between Fang Shengming and the royal family of Jingyu Kingdom.
Because Xu Huaigu's one-third share of the copper mine is counted under Fang Shengming's share. In fact, Xu Huaigu's two moves are not worth one-third of the copper mine share.
The reason why Fang Shengming agreed was mainly because of the bottle of Wangchuan River water. The Wangchuan River issue is actually a private matter of Fang Shengming's family and cannot be discussed openly, so Xu Huaigu only listened quietly to the conversation between the two.
The two discussed things in great detail, which inevitably involved the distribution of shares of copper mines, how many craftsmen the royal family should provide to help cast money, how Bailiang Mountain should help when wars are launched in the future, and how the royal family of Jingyu Kingdom can help in the war. Taoist seedlings were selected from all over the country and sent to Bailiang Mountain.
It's rare for Fu Rongyu to go to Bailiang Mountain in person. Everything is big and small, so it's best to settle it all at once.
During this process, there were some things that could be negotiated, and there were also things that made both parties red-faced, but overall, it went smoothly.
Xu Huaigu didn't speak much. He kept his eyes closed and took a sip of tea from time to time. This meeting was not short. Gu Sanyue was not interested in these things by nature, and he yawned profusely.
Seeing Xu Huaigu closing his eyes and saying nothing, she couldn't help but lean into his ear, frowning slightly, and said softly: "Master, why don't you say a word? What they are talking about is so boring, I I'm almost exhausted." Xu Huaigu just replied softly: "Don't worry, it's not time for me to speak yet. What they talk about is also an aspect of cultivating the mind. Please listen more, there are only benefits and no harm." Gu After hearing Xu Huaigu's words in March, he had no choice but to
After saying "Oh", he put his chin on his hands, opened his eyelids hard, and looked at the two people over there who continued to talk.
This meeting lasted for about three hours, during which some people specially served some snacks. Otherwise, Gu Sanyue would definitely not be able to hold on even if he was hungry and sleepy.
I don’t know how many yawns and pastries I ate. The meeting finally came to an end. Gu Sanyue couldn’t bear it for a long time. He just wanted to leave quickly and go to Bailiang Mountain to see the scenery and then go there. Look at that girl Fang He.
Even practicing swordsmanship is ten thousand times better than just sitting here. Just when Fang Shengming and Fu Rongyu were about to finish and leave, Xu Huaigu, who had been silent before, spoke up: "Have the conversation between Sect Master Fang and Mr. Fu been completed?" Fang Shengming nodded and said, "We can talk about all aspects of the matter. That's almost it. We all think that the idea that Fellow Daoist Xu gave us before is feasible. Of course, the money will not be lost to Fellow Daoist Xu." Xu Huaigu continued: "Thank you both for looking up to me, Mr. Xu, but I have one more thing to think about. I want to tell you two."
"According to the plan, I will use the identity of Xu Songtu to challenge the remaining two seventh-level sects in Jingyu. With my current strength at the peak of the sixth level, it is not very easy to defeat those two people with my external sword alone. The chance of winning. So I want you two to help me. If I can break through to the seventh realm, this matter can be completed more safely. What do you think?" At that time, Xu Huaigu vowed that he could do it, but now he changed his mind temporarily. Fang Shengming looked a little unhappy and asked: "Tell me first, how can I help?" Xu Huaigu bowed to the two of them and said: "Both of you are important figures in Jingyu Kingdom, and they must be very important to the local area. We are familiar with each other. I want you two to help me collect some sword intent. No matter what it is, as long as it contains sword intent, the more the better. With these sword intent, I can understand and break through the seven realms. It's just around the corner." Fang Shengming's expression became strange, and the Emperor Fu whispered a few words to the thin warrior, and then his expression began to become unnatural.
Xu Huaigu's favor was not easy to help, so the two reached an agreement on this point. There are only a few sources of this sword intent.
Either there are remnants of ancient swords, or they are accumulated by swordsmen practicing swordsmanship over the years, and there are also some rare items.
These things are all valuable, and they are not something you can just help with. Seeing the hesitation of the two of them, Xu Huaigu quickly continued: "Don't refuse in a hurry. I also know that my request is unreasonable, so I will make compensation." He took out a small bag of advice from his robe. After opening the opening and pouring it out, a small pile of colorful copper coins rolled down onto the table. These were all colorful beads.
As soon as the money was taken out, the expressions of Fang Shengming and Fu Rongyu unconsciously became dull for a moment. You know, this is lottery money!
A colored bead would be equivalent to one million taels of silver if converted into secular gold and silver. To be honest, excluding copper mines, Fang Shengming only had about this amount of money in his entire body.
Before the copper mine can no longer produce stably, Bailiangshan is still planning to borrow money from Jingyu Kingdom for its funding expenses.
Xu Huaigu said with a smile: "Zong Fang has been practicing swordsmanship for many years, and Mr. Fu is the master of a country, so he must have his own way. I still have ten colored beads left here. If you two can help me collect the sword intention, I am willing to pay a high price. purchase."
"How much do you think your career is worth? No matter how much you take from me. If you can't raise the money, the rest will be yours. What do you think?" Fang Shengming and Fu Rongyu were both a little shocked. The two looked at each other.
Fu Rongyu said in disbelief: "Xianzhang Xu is so generous in trading colorful beads? If the two of us are not trustworthy and take money from you randomly, but only give you far inferior items, then how can you Wouldn't it be a big loss?" Xu Huaigu replied with a relaxed smile: "Are you two such people? I, Xu Huaigu, saw you two today, and I don't think so. Sect Master Fang is a hero, and Mr. Fu is a royal family. You will lose longer-term interests because of small profits, right?" Longer-term interests... This word has a somewhat different meaning.
Fang Shengming and Fu Rongyu were still a little worried and did not dare to agree to Xu Huaigu's request. However, Zhao Liuping made a decisive decision and nodded to Fang Shengming first, saying: "I think it is feasible." She persuaded the two of them: "When Bailiang Mountain was first built, it was the time when money was most needed. Fellow Daoist Xu's money can solve our problem. It is an urgent matter. As for Mr. Fu, I know that you have lofty ambitions and are not satisfied with just guarding these territories for the rest of your life. But if you want to expand your territory and start a war, it will be all gold and silver. There are some in your treasury. Why not sell useless things and make a fortune?" After saying this, she smiled at Xu Huaigu with crooked eyebrows, and Xu Huaigu also smiled back and thanked her.
Fang Shengming always believed in Zhao Liuping's decision the most. After thinking for a moment, he agreed: "I have some sword cultivator friends. I can ask them." After Fu Rongyu said a few words to the national master next to him, he agreed. Said: "There are indeed many treasured ancient swords in the treasury of Jingyu Kingdom, which should meet the requirements of Xu Xianchang." So, Fang Shengming took four colored beads, Fu Rongyu took six, and Xu Huaigu took the last one. His family fortune was completely wiped out.
Gu Sanyue just watched happily and said: "Master, I didn't expect you to be so rich. Then you said you had no money before, are you afraid that I will develop a bad habit of spending too much money, so you don't dare Tell me?" Xu Huaigu laughed twice and ignored her.
It was true that he had lied to her before, but this time, there was really no colorful beads left on his body, only some scattered big beads and small beads and money.
Gu Sanyue was still immersed in the idea that his master was really rich, and he didn't know that the real hard days were coming.
