Immortality: Raising an Ant Queen to Cultivate by increasing stat point - Chapter 162
Chapter 162: Chapter 157 Fang Family Crisis_1
Translator: 549690339 |
“Medicinal herbs worth over a thousand taels of patterned silver are probably not that common, right?”
Upon hearing the other party’s offer, Qin Niu felt not the slightest bit of temptation.
Instead, he keenly sensed that there lurked immense danger.
This young noble was willing to spend a hundred taels of silver to save a common plant, solely to verify whether the person taking up the task really had the ability.
If it was just to test the ability of the person taking up the task, other low-cost methods could have been used completely.
The willingness to spend this ‘unjustified money’ indicated two points.
First, he didn’t care about a hundred taels of silver at all. Perhaps in his eyes, these hundred taels of silver were nothing more than a wen money to ordinary people.
With such financial strength, in Black Tiger City, he would definitely not be a nobody.
Second, this person was extremely cautious. He would rather spend such a sum to test whether the other party really had the healing ability, revealing himself as the true master only after confirmation.
It can also indirectly show that he did not want the sickness of his medicinal plant to be known by outsiders.
If Qin Niu took up the task, wouldn’t they have to kill him to silence him after he healed the plant?
“There are actually quite a few medicinal herbs worth a hundred gold. Sir need not worry too much, I have come sincerely to request Sir’s assistance. If Sir agrees, I can present the thousand taels silver note in advance.”
The man’s speech was quite slow.
Each word and action exuded the authority of someone who held great power and could easily decide the fate and life or death of others.
While he verbally expressed his sincere request for Qin Niu’s help, he never took the initiative to reveal his own name.
“Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t take this job. The hundred taels of silver note I previously received will also be returned in full, thank you for your hospitality, farewell.”
Qin Niu did not wish to be caught in a hazardous situation.
He needed money, but he would only earn money that he could earn.
With the thousand taels of silver, he could immediately become a new landlord in Jade Stream Town, buy fields, buy land, keep servants, and live a life without concerns for food and clothing.
However, what’s the use of earning it if one has no life to spend? He could earn more but it would be futile.
“Master Qin, please wait!”
The middle-aged man saw Qin Niu put the hundred taels silver note on the table and walk towards the outside, then immediately called out to stop him.
Just now it was ‘Sir’ this and ‘Sir’ that, but now he directly called out Qin Niu’s surname.
This showed that he had long figured out everything about Qin Niu.
This made Qin Niu even more cautious.
It showed that the person was quite deceitful.
“Is there something else?”
Qin Niu’s brows lifted slightly, already prepared to fight for his life.
Unfortunately, his training in the Slash Martial Skill was still short, otherwise, he would have a stronger ability to protect himself against such a strong opponent.
Fortune comes with danger.
This was a lesson written in blood by the ancients.
When he first took up the notice, he felt that there were numerous abnormalities in it. He originally thought that relying on his status as an Insect Master and the first layer of his Acquired Realm cultivation, he could cope with most risks.
Now it seemed that he had overestimated himself.
Before he knew it, he had fallen into a trap set by others.
“Master Qin, Young Master Fang might have caused some misunderstandings. There are many things, where Young Master Fang has kept you in the dark, for which I apologize to you here.”
While speaking, the middle-aged man actually bowed with cupped hands to Qin Niu with respect.
“Young Master!”
The old man at the side exclaimed with surprise, wanting to stop him but not daring to do so.
Qin Niu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Young Master Fang is making too much of it. You and I are but strangers who met by chance, it’s only natural to conceal some things. Farewell.”
All he wanted now was to quickly leave this troubled place, far away from troubled people.
“Master Qin, Young Master Fang swears to heaven that he harbors no intentions of harming you.” Young Master Fang’s figure flashed, suddenly appearing in front of Qin Niu.
His speed was so fast, like a ghost.
This indicated that his cultivation was much higher than Qin Niu’s.
He probably had also practiced Step-Method Martial Skill. Otherwise, to achieve this speed with cultivation alone, how strong would that have to be?
He might at least have one foot in the door of becoming an Immortal Master.
Qin Niu had already reached into his clothes, gripping the handle of his blade.
As he hadn’t felt any malice or intent to kill from the other party, he was not in a hurry to draw his Ink Blade.
Crossing swords would surely harm the harmony.
If the matter could be resolved peacefully, that would be the best.
“My young master deliberately concealed that information to protect you! You this young man, really do not know what’s good for you,” said the old man by the side, berating him. “Do you know the identity of my young master? To have my young master humble himself to apologize to you, this is already utmost sincerity and kindness.”
“Young Master Fang, Old Master Huang, since you have brought the matter to this point, then let’s speak plainly. With you being so cautious in your actions, if I knew about your medicinal herb, would there be any chance for me to live afterward?”
Qin Niu’s face was cold and impassive, completely unmoved.
Neither of them was a three-year-old child. In the face of absolute interests, even fathers and sons could slaughter each other, and siblings could turn on one another directly.
Why should he believe that these two would not silence him by murder?
Only the dead can be relied upon.
“As long as Master Qin can revive my family’s medicinal plant, not only will Master Qin face no danger, but he will also receive a reward of a thousand taels of silver, and he can turn to Young Master Fang for help with any future matters,” Young Master Fang said earnestly.
” What if I can’t save that medicinal herb? Wouldn’t you just kill me to keep your secret forever?”
Qin Niu’s words were laced with irony.
While others consider the best-case scenario, he always planned for the worst before counting on success.
Always prepare for the worst outcome.
“If it cannot be saved, I still won’t harm Master Qin. However, I will require Master Qin to take a poisonous oath to keep this matter confidential. Originally, if Master Qin had not pressed Mr. Fang to reveal his surname, none of this would have been necessary,”
Young Master Fang’s eyes were clear, his tone sincere.
Qin Niu was already somewhat convinced.
The eyes are the windows to the soul; a person can lie, but the eyes, not so easily.
Just moments ago, he found this Young Master Fang to be dishonest about everything, even unwilling to reveal his surname, only to realize he may have misunderstood his good intentions.
“Is that herb very important to Young Master Fang?”
“Yes, extremely. It’s connected to the Fang Family’s fortunes. If our rivals found out about this, it would bring great trouble,”
Young Master Fang nodded with honesty.
Hearing this, Qin Niu couldn’t help but recall what Xiao Qing had told him.
Black Tiger City houses many great clans that cultivate centuries-old medicinal herbs as strategic reserves, treasures that are not to be underestimated.
These herbs, once refined into pills, have the power to help outstanding clan members break through significant cultivation bottlenecks.
When the clan’s strongest members face challenges, it helps prevent a period of weakness where there is no successor.
Even at critical moments, it could help the clan’s strongest member reach new heights, breaking through the current bottleneck and thus overpowering rival families.
The problematic herb of the Fang Family must certainly be part of their crucial strategic reserve.
And it is an especially critical one.
Now that it is on the verge of death, the Fang Family is, naturally, in an anxious state.
“Is the herb easy to move?”
“I’m afraid it’s quite difficult. First off, it has very high requirements for the soil and environment. We had a master in our family simulate its wild growth conditions to successfully cultivate it. Given its current condition, there’s a saying: ‘As people move, they live; as trees move, they die.’ We daren’t touch it. I certainly can’t make this decision on my own. The best course would be local treatment.”
“Second, it’s planted in a secret place of our Fang Family, guarded by the family’s masters. Those family masters are of a higher generation than I, and they only follow the commands of my father. If I were to take the herb out, they would never consent.”
“Third, there are many eyes on our Fang Family, including spies from powerful rival families. Inviting you quietly into the family’s secret place might go unnoticed by them. However, to move the herb elsewhere would require mobilizing forces, with family elites providing an escort. We could never hide that from their watchful eyes.”
“Therefore, I earnestly request Master Qin to be a guest at our Fang Family and to treat the herb in the secret place.”
“I can guarantee with my honor and integrity that, whether it succeeds or fails, I will absolutely ensure Master Qin’s safety,”
Young Master Fang spoke with urgency, his attitude extremely genuine.
Qin Niu’s gaze flickered as he pondered the risks involved.
The reward of a thousand taels of silver was indeed very tempting.
Don’t be fooled by how he can sell one Giant Green Hornet for a hundred and fifty taels of silver; it’s all because rarity creates value.
Selling one or two might work, but selling many would lead to plummeting prices and could even bring fatal trouble.
That old man surnamed Huang was unfathomable and far from benign.
Although he had not shown malice to Qin Niu, out of caution, Qin Niu definitely wanted to keep his distance from Old Master Huang.
With his current abilities, earning a thousand taels of silver was certainly not easy.
This was a significant opportunity.
He was already in the pit Young Master Fang had dug and pulling out was not going to be easy.
Despite Young Master Fang’s current amicable attitude, there was no guarantee that stubborn defiance wouldn’t anger him.
There’s a saying, “Rebuff the toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.”
If Master Qin remains obstinate against polite persuasion, Young Master Fang might well resort to force.
Sons of major families like him are not known for their soft-heartedness.
They can turn on you faster than flipping a page.
“Alright, I’ll go with you to have a look,”
At this moment, Qin Niu felt one thing profoundly: his own strength was too weak.
Whether the insects he raised or his own cultivation, it was just enough to dominate Shuangfeng Village.
In Black Tiger City, where dragons and tigers lay hidden and great clans stood tall, he was no more significant than a Termite.
“Master Qin, please get in the carriage. Your Insect Master Robe is a bit conspicuous, you might need to change into something else later,”
Young Master Fang invited him onto the carriage.
“Uncle Heizi, drive us back to the Fang residence,”
“Alright!”
The old man agreed, sat on the coach box, turned the horse around, and after leaving the courtyard and carefully closing the gate, he drove forward.
It was against the rules to move around the city at night, as it could lead to being captured by patrolling soldiers and thrown into jail.
But such rules were meaningless in the presence of Young Master Fang, posing no restriction whatsoever.
The carriage rolled on at a steady pace.
Young Master Fang and Qin Niu sat inside, the former with closed eyes, whether resting or contemplating something unknown.
The interior of the carriage was very quiet.
Qin Niu could even hear his own breathing, alongside the rolling sound of the carriage’s wheels.
