Inside the Five Directions Commerce Hall, a group of people stared at one another, still caught between shock and bewilderment, though the prevailing emotion was unmistakably elation.
"Guild Leader… these land deeds — do they truly include every shop along Tenglong Avenue?" Gao Hong's voice trembled as she asked. If that were truly the case, then the value of this entire box of deeds was simply beyond estimation!
The members of the Five Directions Commerce Hall, led by Hua Youmeng, had toiled for over twenty years just to lease a single small shop along Tenglong Avenue — and they didn't even hold ownership rights, merely a thirty-year lease. Every year they had to pay a steep rent, and once the term expired, Purple Star City would reclaim the property.
But now, an entire box containing more than thirty land deeds sat cupped in Hua Youmeng's hands…
That meant over thirty shops — and not just any shops, but an unbroken string of them forming an entire stretch of street. Any merchant with half a brain could see the staggering profits waiting to be reaped.
Gao Hong and the others were so overwhelmed with happiness they nearly fainted.
Hua Youmeng's hands trembled as she inspected the contents once more. Lifting her gaze to the crowd watching her intently, she said in a hoarse voice, "It's real…"
"Ha ha ha ha! There's no way the Five Directions Commerce Hall won't thrive now!" Yao Qing slapped his bald head over and over, seemingly too excited to sit still. His eyes blazed with an almost frightening light as he indulged in visions of a glorious future. "I've had it with the Tianyuan Trading Company next door for ages — always undercutting us with underhanded competition. Hmph, let's see what they've got to fight us with now. I'll throw them out on their ears later! Oh, and that Baodan Hall — last time Haitang and I went over, those Baodan Hall bastards looked down their noses at us and threw us right out. Infuriating! But now their land deed is in our hands. I'd like to see if they still dare to toss me out! Haitang, you're coming with me later to teach them a lesson!"
H Haitang stood beside him, nodding her small head vigorously, clearly harboring no small grudge over the last incident.
"A petty man who gains a little becomes insufferable!" Xia Jingwu shot Yao Qing a glare. The latter sheepishly grinned and scratched his head in embarrassment, not daring to offer the slightest rebuttal. Within the Five Directions Commerce Hall, Hua Youmeng held the greatest authority, followed by Xia Jingwu — as the guild's chief strategist, his word sometimes carried more weight than even the Guild Leader's.
"Uncle Xia, what do you think about all this?" Hua Youmeng had finally recovered from the initial shock. She looked at Xia Jingwu with a touch of hesitation.
The old man stroked his beard. He did not appear particularly excited; rather, his brow was knitted in thought. After a long pause, he said quietly to Hua Youmeng, "Guild Leader, the crux of this matter lies over there."
He gestured toward the room where Yang Kai was, then continued, "Whether it was Inspector Lu's attitude and compensation yesterday, or these land deeds today — none of it is because of anything the Five Directions Commerce Hall has done. We simply don't have that kind of leverage. Since the key isn't on our side, you would do well to spend more time speaking with the person who is. Perhaps you might learn something."
Hua Youmeng considered this for a moment, then nodded gently. "No one is to breathe a word of what happened today. The commerce hall remains closed for business as usual. Everyone, go about your business."
With that, she strode briskly toward the back courtyard.
Before long, she returned to the side chamber where Yang Kai was.
Yang Kai regarded her with an easy smile, clearly already aware of everything that had transpired outside.
Hua Youmeng did not beat around the bush. She produced the jade box and set it on the table before him. "Sir, this is far too valuable. The Five Directions Commerce Hall is afraid we are not worthy of such fortune. If we were to keep it by force, it would likely invite disaster upon ourselves. So please, sir, handle this as you see fit."
After the initial shock and elation had subsided, she had gradually come to understand — Lu Tianfeng had sent this box of deeds solely because of Yang Kai. She did not know the full extent of Yang Kai's background, but she understood this much: so long as Yang Kai remained here, Lu Tianfeng would continue to grovel before the Five Directions Commerce Hall and dare not slight them. But the day Yang Kai's protection was gone, these thirty-odd land deeds would assuredly become the spark that ignited a catastrophe.
An ordinary man commits no crime, yet bearing a jade disc makes him guilty. In Purple Star City, even in the outer districts, land deeds were exceedingly rare commodities — things that only merchants with real power and influence could possess. The Five Directions Commerce Hall was far too small; they had no business holding even a single one.
Would Yang Kai continue to shield them indefinitely? Hua Youmeng felt that was impossible. He was a Void King Realm powerhouse — that he had lent them a hand at all was already an extraordinary blessing. How could she presume to expect his long-term protection?
Yang Kai regarded her with a thoughtful look and said, "If it was given to you, then Guild Leader Hua should accept it. These things are worth nothing to me. I have no use for them even if I took them."
Hua Youmg offered a bitter smile. "But—"
Yang Kai raised a hand, cutting her off. "No 'buts.' Take them, put your mind at ease, and don't overthink it. I will bear any consequences."
Hua Youmg stared at Yang Kai, sensing something deeper lurking beneath his words. A note of genuine gratitude entered her voice. "If sir says so, then this humble woman thanks you."
Though she possessed considerable cultivation, she was still a merchant at heart, and no merchant in the world could refuse an entire box of land deeds.
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "Though I am curious — how does Guild Leader Hua plan to deal with these deeds?"