Chapter 10: The Ji Estate

On the way to the Ji estate, Chu Danqing opened the Excellent-grade treasure chest dropped by the Three-Corpse Stumbler inside the carriage.

[You have opened: Treasure Chest (Excellent grade), and obtained: Skill Book (Spirit-Hunger Hundred-Grain Qi), Paradise Points ×2000]

[Skill Book: Spirit-Hunger Hundred-Grain Qi]
[Type: Active Skill]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Effect: Upon use, you gain the skill Spirit-Hunger Hundred-Grain Qi. It deals damage to targets within range, inflicts additional damage to targets with health above 70%, and applies 1 layer of Hunger to yourself.]

After reading the description, Chu Danqing tucked the book away into his storage space. It was not always better to learn more skills; he lacked the time and Paradise Points to level them all up.

On his way to the Ji estate, Chu Danqing encountered several Apostles, including Tie Yan and Han Ying, who had joined the Taiping Way. Apart from Tie Yan, the rest were low-level followers, distributing talisman-infused water to the commoners on the streets. Tie Yan was likely completing his final contribution task, while the others were still working on their identity quests. As for the flat-headed young man, Chu Danqing did not see him; he had likely joined the government faction.

The threshold for the Taiping Way was the lowest, and its advancement was the simplest, yet it came with significant limitations. The government faction’s threshold was higher than the Taiping Way but lower than the aristocratic Lu clan, yet it was the most difficult to rise within. It was the kind of place where one might have talent but still never get ahead. The Lu clan, for its part, also had its own share of issues—it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Chu Danqing did not clash with the other Apostles; everyone was busy, and few would be so unwise as to provoke conflict without a clear clash of interests. Han Ying from the Dragon-Tiger Alliance seemed a bit resentful, but he dared not take action. Dabao’s strength was enough to tear him to pieces with ease.

Soon arriving at the Ji estate, Chu Danqing asked the gatekeeper to announce his presence. Seeing that Chu Danqing had arrived in a carriage belonging to the Lu clan, the gatekeeper treated him with great respect and passed the message up the chain. Ji Yun hurried over to welcome him, inviting him into the estate with a beaming smile.

Chu Danqing was aware of Ji Yun’s status; though he was middle-aged, he was not the head of the Ji family—that was his father, Ji Zhen.

"I never imagined you had become a guest retainer for the Lu clan. Truly remarkable," Ji Yun remarked with a sigh. There were only six other retainers in the Lu clan, and having visited them all, he recognized Chu Danqing.

"It was merely a matter of circumstance," Chu Danqing replied with customary humility.

"You are too modest," Ji Yun countered. "Every guest retainer of the Lu clan is a person of genuine skill. It is a pity we missed our chance; otherwise, I would have invited you to join our estate first." Ji Yun felt a deep sense of regret. Such talent would have been a tremendous asset to the Ji family. However, it was too late now; he knew how well the Lu clan treated their retainers, and he could not afford the cost of poaching him.

"I have come today because I wish to purchase grain from the Ji family," Chu Danqing stated directly.

Ji Yun was not surprised by the request. "How much do you require?" he asked, neither accepting nor refusing, but focusing on the quantity first.

"To be frank, I am purchasing on behalf of the Lu clan," Chu Danqing did not hide his intent. "How much can the Ji family spare?"

"If it were anyone else from the Lu clan, I would not sell a single grain," Ji Yun admitted. "This batch of grain belongs to the government, intended for disaster relief. You can imagine the consequences if it were to leak out." It was only out of gratitude for saving his life that he was willing to entertain the sale.

"I cannot spare too much for the Lu clan—one thousand shi of grain, at five hundred coins per shi." Ji Yun gave his quote, totaling five hundred thousand coins.

Chu Danqing had calculated the prices before arriving; before the disaster, a shi of grain fluctuated around fifty coins. Ji Yun had only raised the price tenfold, which was quite conscientious—it was practically a fire sale. He had estimated it might cost over a thousand coins per shi.

"Then I thank you," Chu Danqing felt a surge of relief. With these one thousand shi of grain, he would surely have enough contribution points to trade for the notes of the White Crane Immortal. He estimated that one shi was roughly equivalent to one hundred jin, making one thousand shi about fifty tons of grain. It was clear the Ji estate had likely transported grain into Yangxian County multiple times, or there would have been no surplus. And they were likely continuing to do so.

As for the price of five hundred thousand coins? That was not something Chu Danqing needed to worry about. He did not fear the Lu clan complaining about the high unit price; in these times, one could not buy such a large quantity of grain even with money. The Ji family was merely acting as the government's errand runners, earning a small transport fee without daring to gouge them.

"You are welcome. Since you came to discuss this personally, I could not refuse you," Ji Yun said lightly. Despite his words, Chu Danqing suspected that the Ji family had seized this opportunity to hoard a significant amount of grain, waiting for the right moment to release it into the market. He was being polite to Chu Danqing only because of the life-saving debt.

Had it been any other Apostle, they likely wouldn't have even been granted an audience.

"In that case, I shall return to have the Lu clan prepare the funds before coming back to finalize the transaction." Having achieved his goal, Chu Danqing prepared to leave. One thousand shi was a drop in the ocean regarding the current disaster, but it was sufficient for the Lu clan.

"Since you are here, I must insist on hosting you properly," Ji Yun offered.

Chu Danqing declined repeatedly, prompting Ji Yun to say regretfully, "When you have leisure, I shall sweep the floors to welcome you."

Once this grain transaction was complete, Chu Danqing would not return. The favor had been spent; he had no face to ask for more help. As for social calls, he simply had no time.

Ji Yun rose to see him out. The two had barely reached the garden corridor when they encountered Ji Yun’s father, Ji Zhen. He was dressed in extravagant, ostentatious clothing, adorned with so many accessories and ornaments that he appeared weighed down, needing assistance to walk.

"I heard that the righteous man who saved my son had come to visit, so I dressed a bit before coming to meet you. I apologize for the delay," Ji Zhen said with a tone of gratitude.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing’s expression tightened.

"You are too kind," Chu Danqing said with a bow. "I have one more matter I am unclear about, though I know not if I should speak of it."

"Please, speak freely," Ji Zhen replied. He was puzzled, but as a host, he extended the proper courtesy.

"May I ask, when did you develop this taste for such elaborate attire?" Chu Danqing asked directly.

"This... it has been some time," Ji Yun answered for his father. "Is something the matter?"

"Was it around... this period?" Chu Danqing specified the time after Lu San's death.

"There is a slight discrepancy, but I must admit, it was indeed around that time that I began to perceive the beauty of such fine garments," Ji Zhen said, stroking his clothes with a look of obsession and intoxication on his face.

To the Ji family, this minor quirk of Ji Zhen’s meant nothing. But Chu Danqing’s heart sank; things were becoming complicated.

"Gentlemen, have you ever heard of the Three Corpses?"