Half-human, half-ghost, the number one divine fist

"Sure."

Shen Youyi was straightforward.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fusheng nodded without saying anything more. However, he suddenly noticed that Wei Jinshu, who was standing next to Shen Youyi, secretly pursed his lips.

He didn't pay any attention to it.

Then Shen Youyi took out a long, rectangular brocade box from her leather handbag.

The brocade box was about a foot long, covered entirely in dark red velvet, with brass trim around the edges, and gleamed with a calm luster in the light and shadow of the corridor.

She held it in both hands and gently placed it on the stone table in front of Lin Fusheng.

"Mr. Lin, this is a 20-year-old wild ginseng from Tianbai Mountain this month. It's of excellent quality. If Dr. Dong from the Tongxin Association were here, he would recognize it at a glance."

"At this time every month, the Shen family will deliver the offerings to you on time."

"it is good."

"By the way, I'd like to know something. About that monster along the riverside road, are there many like it in the Songjiang area?" Lin Fusheng asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Shen Youyi pondered for a moment, then answered truthfully, "It's not a lot, but it's not a little either."

"Where is the strength?"

"The weakest of them are roughly equivalent to the combat strength of a martial artist at the Iron Tendon Realm. But those at this level usually don't show themselves easily, much less actively attack crowds."

"The powerful one, like the one along the river, was attacked by a combination of internal energy, firearms, and cannons. It took a great deal of effort to kill it."

"There are even stronger ones, but those don't appear easily."

Lin Fusheng's mind stirred slightly.

If someone is as strong as Tie Jin, then he will soon have the ability to hunt them down.

These ominous signs are important to him, since only by fusing the soul materials of these monsters can he unlock the "Peak of Perfection".

"Okay, then let's do it this way."

Lin Fusheng had learned most of what he needed to know, and he felt there was no point in asking Shen Youyi any further questions about the ominous information.

Why not choose a time to visit the No. 9 Research Institute for a more detailed understanding?

Shen Youyi nodded, then turned around, "Then I won't bother you any longer."

Wei Jinshu also bowed slightly to Lin Fusheng, lifted her skirt, and followed behind Shen Youyi.

The sound of their footsteps gradually faded into the depths of the bamboo forest path.

......

Outside the manor.

A black Ford sedan sat quietly in the shadows of the gatehouse.

Shen Youyi opened the car door and bent down to sit in the back seat.

Wei Jinshu got into the car from the other side, closed the door gently.

With a low hum, the car slowly drove away from the manor, its wheels rolling over the cobblestone road, producing a soft, steady sound.

There was a moment of silence inside the car.

Wei Jinshu leaned back in his seat, gazing at the roadside trees rushing past the window, and suddenly sighed softly.

She turned her head and looked at Shen Youyi.

"Youyi, I still don't understand."

Wei Jinshu's voice was not loud, but carried a familiarity and straightforwardness born from long-term collaboration.

"At this price, you can enjoy the same treatment as those in the Iron Tendon Realm, including a 20-30 year old wild ginseng from Tianbai Mountain every month, and a mid-stage Stone Skin ginseng."

"At this price, in Songjiang Beach, you could actually hire a skilled Iron Tendon Realm practitioner to lend their name. There are plenty of independent cultivators, retired gang thugs, or Iron Tendon Realm practitioners from humble backgrounds who would be willing to take this job."

Why would you sacrifice the watermelon for a sesame seed?

Shen Youyi did not answer immediately. She looked out the car window at the hazy sky, and after a moment turned her head to look at Wei Jinshu.

"Jinshu, what do you think Lin Fusheng is worth?"

Wei Jinshu frowned slightly. "Shi Pi is seventeen or eighteen years old. He has a good foundation and some reputation, but that's about it. Giving him a tribute at the Iron Tendon Realm is too much of a premium."

Shen Youyi gently shook her head.

"You're looking at him personally, but I'm looking at the people behind him. He saved more than a dozen Bronze Bone Guardians, Mo Feihong, who was at the Mercury Blood Realm, and Lu Gang. He was also highly regarded by Gu Yunzhou."

"But what if the Shen family really runs into trouble one day, and he comes alone? Will those who owe him a debt of gratitude stand idly by?"

Wei Jinshu remained silent.

a long time.

She sighed softly.

"But I still feel uneasy."

"These people might help Lin Fusheng once, but they can't help him every time."

Wei Jinshu's voice carried a hint of helplessness, "I'm not targeting Lin Fusheng personally, I just believe that personal ability is the only true measure of success."

"Connections, background, and powerful backers are all borrowed; you can borrow them for a while, but not forever."

"No matter how strong Lin Fusheng's background is, he's just a skinny guy. It will take him at least five or six years to reach the Iron Marrow level. Who knows what the situation will be like in Songjiang by then? These days, let alone a gang, even a warlord can be wiped out in an instant."

Shen Youyi listened quietly, then asked, "So what do you think we should do?"

Wei Jinshu thought for a moment.

"They gave us the ginseng this month, but starting next month, they'll find excuses to gradually stop giving it to us."

"Then use this money to properly hire a Iron Tendon cultivator. Even if it's just a rogue cultivator who has just entered the Iron Tendon realm, it's still a real combat force."

What do you think?

Shen Youyi thought for a moment, but did not answer; she simply shook her head.

Wei Jinshu looked at her and sighed.

"Whatever you want, I can't persuade you otherwise."

She leaned back in her seat, gazing at the hazy light outside the car window, and said nothing more.

.....

In the evening, Lin Fusheng and Mo Yiyi sat in the small flower hall.

The table was still laden with a dazzling array of medicinal dishes: astragalus-stewed chicken, angelica-infused mutton, red date and longan soup, and a bowl of dark, bitter-smelling medicinal broth.

Today, Mo Yiyi wore a light purple short jacket with delicate intertwined floral patterns embroidered on the collar, which made her cheeks appear even whiter. She ate with great relish, stuffing a piece of stewed mutton into her mouth without any regard for her image, and chewing with her cheeks puffed out.

Lin Fusheng quietly drank his porridge.

"Brother Lin."

Mo Yiyi swallowed the mutton and suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

Mo Yiyi's eyes held a hint of curiosity. "Those two women who came to see you today, were they from the Longxing Chamber of Commerce?"

Lin Fusheng nodded.

"What do they want from you?"

"Please let me be a nominal patron," Lin Fusheng replied, taking a sip of porridge.

"Oh." Mo Yiyi wondered what topic she should bring up next to chat with Lin Fusheng.

Just then.

"Fu Sheng!"

Mo Feihong's voice came from the entrance of the flower hall.

Lin Fusheng looked up.

Mo Feihong strode in, his face beaming with an irrepressible smile, the wrinkles etched by time around his eyes smoothing out.

He had clearly just returned from outside; the hem of his long robe was still damp with night dew, but he seemed even more energetic than during the day.

He walked to the table and sat down next to Mo Yiyi.

Then he looked at Lin Fusheng and said in a solemn tone:

"Fusheng, you must get up early tomorrow."

"Get yourself into top shape. Shave your beard, comb your hair, and change into those new clothes. Don't practice this morning; get plenty of rest."

Lin Fusheng asked疑惑地, "Is there something important happening tomorrow?"

Mo Feihong leaned back in his chair, his smile deepening, like an old child full of surprises, waiting to see someone unwrap their gift, without giving a reply.

"Important? Absolutely important."

"A very important person is coming."

At this point, Mo Feihong looked at Lin Fusheng and said, word by word, "This person is too important to you."

His eyes gleamed as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fusheng immediately smiled and said, "Mr. Mo, you've gone to so much trouble."

"I've eaten, and I'm going to go to sleep."

Mo Feihong suddenly burst into laughter.

He reached out and patted Lin Fusheng on the shoulder heavily.

"Okay, okay, no rush, eat slowly."

He got up and walked towards the door, his back ramrod straight, his figure gradually disappearing.

Mo Yiyi bit her chopsticks, looked at her grandfather's departing figure, and then at Lin Fusheng.

"Brother Lin, I'm going back now. I need to get some sleep so I can see what important things are happening tomorrow."

Mo Yiyi's voice rang out.

"Brother Lin, go to bed early!"

Lin Fusheng nodded, drank another bowl of porridge, and then went back into the house to sleep fully clothed.

.......

The next day, early in the morning.