Chapter 103: The Top Spot, A Secret Plot

Three days later, night fell, the sky heavy with clouds and devoid of moonlight.

A large man appeared suddenly outside the Gao family’s Martial Kitchen Manor. Carrying a bamboo basket, he walked toward the gates.

"Halt."

Several men from the Qiu clan surrounded him. A sharp blade was pressed against the man's throat.

The man’s face turned pale with terror. He raised his hands, stammering, "Spare me, good sirs! I truly have no silver!"

Without a word, a Qiu clansman slashed the straps of the bamboo basket, only to find it empty. The group’s expressions darkened. One of them barked, "In the dead of night, who told you to walk here with a basket? Are you courting death?"

"Mercy, good sirs! Someone gave me five taels of silver just to walk around the manor with this basket. I thought it was easy money and couldn't resist. I don't know anything else!" the man pleaded.

Just then, from every direction, dozens of men carrying bamboo baskets began to converge on the Gao Martial Kitchen Manor.

"Damn it, stop them!"

"Halt!"

Men from the Qiu and Zheng clans, previously hidden in the shadows, rushed out to intercept them. But with dozens of people swarming the area, the two clans were clearly overwhelmed, and the scene descended into chaos.

Under the cover of darkness, Lu Yan, carrying a basket several times larger than the others, quietly approached the manor. With a sudden leap, he vaulted over the wall and into the compound.

"Who goes there?"

No sooner had he landed than he was spotted by a group of guards.

"Gentlemen, I am here to submit shell-fish," Lu Yan said with a smile. He discreetly slipped a thirty-tael silver note into the hand of the lead guard. "This is for a round of drinks for you brothers. I hope you might lead the way."

The guard glanced at the note, his face breaking into a wide grin. "Well said. So you're here to submit shell-fish? Come, follow us." The note vanished into his sleeve.

Lu Yan followed the guards through the corridors until they reached a study.

"Manager, someone is here to submit shell-fish," the lead guard reported.

"The deadline has passed. What shell-fish? Send him away," an aged voice drifted from inside the study.

"Sir, I have quite a lot of shell-fish—several hundred pounds," Lu Yan replied.

The guards were startled, looking at Lu Yan with suspicion. Inside the study, there was a long silence before the old voice spoke again: "So it is you. I have been waiting for several days. Come in."

Lu Yan pushed the door open and entered. The study was spacious, furnished with a pear-wood desk. A silver-haired old man sat behind it, eyeing him with curiosity.

"I am Gao Xuhai, manager of the Gao Martial Kitchen Manor. How should I address you?" the old man asked.

"This junior is named Wei Tao."

Lu Yan certainly wouldn't use his real name, nor that of Lu Shanchuan, so he concocted a pseudonym. It was not a random choice; the surname carried weight. The name "Wei" easily brought to mind the Wei clan of Li'an Commandery. Given that the surname was rare in the six commanderies of Lingdong, it naturally commanded a measure of caution.

"Surname Wei... are you from the Wei clan of Li'an?" Gao Xuhai asked.

"The war is tense, and there is no time for distractions. I had to come alone," Lu Yan sighed, brow furrowed as if burdened by heavy concerns.

"You have quite the talent, playing those major clans like puppets," Gao Xuhai said, his tone laden with meaning.

"You flatter me, senior. Being alone, I had to use some tricks to succeed," Lu Yan sighed.

"Enough. The process does not matter; the Gao family only cares about the result. Whoever has the most shell-fish wins. Let me see them." Gao Xuhai stood up.

Lu Yan handed over his basket. Gao Xuhai summoned two men, who poured the shell-fish into large vats. After verification, they weighed the haul in batches: four hundred and twenty pounds.

"At one hundred taels per pound, that is a total of forty-two thousand taels of silver."

Gao Xuhai recorded this in a ledger before producing a stack of gold and silver notes. In this world, one tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver. He handed over eight gold notes worth five hundred taels each, with the remainder in silver.

Forty-two thousand taels in hand. With just a little more, he would have enough to purchase the Jade-Bone Tiger. Indeed, in previous years, a single Jade-Bone Tiger cost as much as fifty thousand taels—a staggering price. While the "Beast King Bone-Protecting Soup" brewed from a Jade-Bone Tiger offered slightly better success rates for breaking through to the Martial Marquis realm than the "Nine-Tribulation Alienated Heart Flesh," the difference was marginal—at most ten percent. Yet, the price was four to five times higher.

However, scarcity dictates value. Alienated heart flesh was relatively common in the six commanderies, often appearing even in clans of Martial Marquis rank. But the Jade-Bone Tiger was exclusive to the Gao family, and one tiger could only produce a single batch of the soup. For those with innate martial bodies seeking to break through, the soup was essential. Fierce competition naturally drove the price ever upward.

After payment, Gao Xuhai took out another ledger and wrote: *Wei Tao, 420 pounds of shell-fish, first place.*

Lu Yan glanced at it, noting the amounts submitted by other clans. Aside from himself, the highest was the Ouyang clan with 260 pounds, followed by the Li clan with 210 pounds. These clans had indeed all exceeded 200 pounds. Had he not made his move, he would never have ranked in the top two.

Gao Xuhai allowed Lu Yan to look, knowing these figures would be announced anyway to ensure credibility. Once finished, Gao Xuhai produced a custom-made wooden token and handed it to Lu Yan. "In three days, bring this token to purchase the Jade-Bone Tiger. Remember, we recognize the token, not the person. If you lose it, you bear the consequences."

Lu Yan understood; there were many in this world skilled in the art of disguise.

"Many thanks, senior." Lu Yan cupped his hands, tucked the token away securely, and took his leave.

He leaped onto the perimeter wall and utilized his movement technique, sprinting into the distance. Even though men from the Qiu and Zheng clans spotted him, they could not match his speed and were soon shaken off. Lu Yan circled the area several times before finally returning to his inn. Everything was in order; now, he only had to wait three days.

The following night, at the Li family residence, three Martial Marquises—Li Wenlong, Li Wenjie, and Li Wenyuan—secretly hosted a guest: Gao Xuhai, the manager of the Gao Martial Kitchen Manor.

"It has been years, senior. You are as distinguished as ever. I toast to you," Li Wenlong said, rising to offer a cup of wine with great respect.

"I am old, my potential exhausted. There is no hope for me to reach the Grandmaster realm, and I do not have many years left. You, however, are in your prime; a future as a Grandmaster is within reach," Gao Xuhai said, taking a sip and sighing softly.

"What are you saying, senior? You are strong and vibrant; living another few decades will be no trouble at all," Li Wenlong replied.

"Nephew, let us speak plainly. Why did you ask to see me today?" Gao Xuhai asked.

"Senior, I heard there were interesting happenings outside the Martial Kitchen Manor last night. Did that mysterious person come to submit his shell-fish?" Li Wenlong asked.

"He did," Gao Xuhai nodded.

"How many pounds?"

"Four hundred and twenty."

The faces of the three Li clan Marquises changed instantly. Four hundred and twenty pounds meant he was guaranteed the top spot. Would the Li clan miss their chance? They were determined to obtain the Jade-Bone Tiger, as it was intended for Li Cangxin—the younger brother of Li Canglin and the son of Li Wenxuan, one of the future candidates for clan head. He possessed a powerful innate martial body with three times the blood energy of an ordinary man.

"Senior, this Millennium Ginseng was obtained by Lord Wenxuan by chance. We wish to present it to you," Li Wenlong said, opening a wooden box to reveal a fragrant, six-inch-long ginseng root.

Gao Xuhai’s eyes lit up with a burning intensity. The Millennium Ginseng was an incredibly rare medicinal herb. When cooked with the heart blood of a level-two beast king, it could extend one's life by five years. Its price far exceeded that of alienated heart flesh. It was so rare that it was effectively priceless in the six commanderies.

"I hear the head of the Li clan is advanced in years and running low on lifespan. That Li Wenxuan would give this to me instead of his own clan head—heh," Gao Xuhai chuckled, his eyes remaining cold.

"To be frank, senior, the clan head has already consumed a Millennium Ginseng. They only work the first time; any further consumption is useless," Li Wenlong explained.

"Speak then. What do you want me to do in exchange for such a precious gift?" Gao Xuhai asked bluntly.

"Nothing escapes you, senior," Li Wenlong flattered, then stated his purpose: "I wish to obtain the qualification to purchase the Jade-Bone Tiger."

Gao Xuhai remained calm, as if he had already anticipated their goal. "But the top two spots are already set. The Li clan is only third. This is difficult."

"Senior, what is the background of that mysterious person?" Li Wenlong asked.

"He calls himself Wei Tao," Gao Xuhai said.

"The Wei clan of Li'an?" Li Wenlong’s expression shifted.

"The Wei clan? Heh. He is likely using a fake name. Furthermore, he used a disguise—likely a specialized martial art. I have lived over a hundred years; there is little I have not seen. It is not so easy to deceive my eyes," Gao Xuhai sneered.

"Since he is alone and without backing, I trust you have a way to amend the records," Li Wenlong probed.

Gao Xuhai pondered for a moment before taking the wooden box containing the ginseng and sliding it into his sleeve. The Li clansmen beamed with joy.

"Senior, I heard the token has already been issued. How do you intend to handle this?" Li Wenjie asked curiously.

"The token is wooden. During its creation, I embedded a corrosive insect. Once I trigger it, the insect will burst and dissolve the token," Gao Xuhai explained.

"Your foresight is truly divine, senior," the three men chorused, bowing in flattery.

"It is not divine foresight, merely leaving myself an out. Also, remember: we never met today," Gao Xuhai stated.

"Naturally. We have been practicing martial arts all day and have never seen you, senior," the three men replied solemnly.

Gao Xuhai smiled with satisfaction. Late into the night, he slipped quietly out of the Li residence. Upon returning to his own estate, he hid the Millennium Ginseng and lit a special incense. Once ignited, its fragrance would travel for ten miles. Any corrosive insect within that radius would smell it and immediately burst.