The Fourth Calamity: My Sect Has Countless Prodigies

Chapter 61 The Bamboo Cutter

"I, Zhao Liu, have served Jishetang for so long, Master Wang, you can't kill me!"

Zhao Liu was so frightened that he trembled and could not even stand up, so he simply knelt down on the ground.

Although killing is forbidden in Lianyunfang, he knew that with his status as a rogue cultivator, his master Wang could kill him as easily as killing an ant.

Li Fan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zhao Liu, who was kneeling on the ground, feeling smug inside.

As it turns out, his imposing manner was quite impressive.

"Come in."

Li Fan turned around and walked directly into the courtyard without saying anything more.

Zhao Liujian quickly got up and followed after them, limping.

Li Fan walked into the room, glanced casually at Zhao Liu, and said coldly:

"The master has no interest in the life of a servant like you. Hurry up and finish handing over the information to me, pack your things and get out of here."

Zhao Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, nodded repeatedly, and immediately presented a bamboo slip.

Li Fan took the bamboo slip, opened it, and took a look.

The page is filled with detailed records of Baicaotang's customer traffic, and even includes some customer feedback analysis.

Li Fan frowned slightly, then threw the bamboo slip to the ground and spoke fiercely:

"Useless trash! The master gave you so many spirit stones just for this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Liu trembled with fear and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy:

"Your Honor, I'm innocent! Ever since I was arrested for causing trouble last time, things have been too tense, and I dare not..."

"Don't dare what?!" Li Fan interrupted him, sneering, "If you're so hesitant, you might as well be dead."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liu broke out in a cold sweat.

Although his cultivation level was low, he was genuinely afraid of death.

However, Zhao Liu reacted quickly, immediately flattering Li Fan:

"My lord, I was being slow. Please enlighten me and ask the master to spare my life."

Seeing this, Li Fan was overjoyed.

Now that things had come to this, he knew he had achieved his goal.

"Hehe, since you're thinking of making amends, it shows you have some remorse." Li Fan glanced at him casually. "Then I'll tell you a way."

"Please speak, sir! I will certainly comply."

"Rumors are spreading..."

These two short words made Zhao Liu's pupils shrink sharply, and a chill suddenly ran through his heart.

The consequences of his failed attempt to spread rumors last time were still fresh in his mind; even though he had cut off all sources, he was almost caught by the Lin family.

Doing it again now would be like a moth flying into a flame, leading him to his own demise.

Li Fan could certainly notice the change in Zhao Liu's expression, so he simply spoke calmly:

"Don't compare your methods to my methods of spreading rumors."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liu's expression changed. Did this mean he wouldn't have to die this time?

Li Fan continued:

"Simply spreading rumors about fake drugs is such a low-level tactic, it's meaningless."

"What I want you to do is spread rumors about the manager of Baicaotang being corrupt."

Zhao Liu looked completely bewildered as he listened to Li Fan's words.

He couldn't understand why the master's goal wasn't to damage Baicaotang's reputation and cause them to lose customers.

What's the point of spreading rumors about the shopkeeper?

Li Fan rolled his eyes at Zhao Liu and said disdainfully:

"Fool, don't you understand? External diseases are as light as a feather, while internal diseases are as heavy as Mount Tai."

"If it's just rumors about credibility, Baicaotang will definitely unite against it. But if it's targeting the manager, then it's a different story."

"Moreover, if there's a corrupt manager, can the quality and price of the medicinal herbs still be guaranteed?"

After Li Fan finished speaking, Zhao Liu suddenly realized what was going on.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of Lianyungang Market.

"Hey, Salty Fish, this market is so big, where should we go?"

"I think we could try to team up with some big spenders."

"No, the sect leader said we should find other things to do, preferably infiltrating a family. Would it be inappropriate to go looking for the Silver Broken Boss?"

"Too……"

Western part of Lianyungang City.

Running Rat and Salty Fish Don't Flip Over walked along the road, chatting idly while looking around with curiosity, observing their surroundings.

The western area of ​​Lianyunfang City doesn't have many shops; it's mostly residential areas for ordinary cultivators.

But right ahead on the road, there seemed to be a rather lively place, bustling with people, a stark contrast to the desolation here.

Seeing this, the two, Paodao and Shushu, didn't think much of it and immediately quickened their pace, walking forward.

Before long, a commotion reached their ears.

"The Zhou family is hiring bamboo cutters again. The pay there is really good. Not only is food and lodging provided, but the monthly wage is at least two spirit stones."

"Yes, yes, I hope I can get in this time."

The Zhou family!

Isn't this the family that the sect leader specifically named and ordered them to infiltrate?

Thinking of this, the running-knife rat's eyes lit up, and it quickly pulled the salted fish next to it to squeeze into the crowd.

"I...I'll sign up!"

The running-knife rat looked at the middle-aged manager in charge of registration and spoke breathlessly.

The middle-aged manager looked up, glanced at the two men, and said calmly:

"If you meet the requirements of the second level of Qi Refining cultivation, you can be hired upon registration."

"In addition, our Zhou family has a one-month probationary period. If the performance is not good, the employee will be dismissed directly after one month."

"If you've made up your mind, register your information and stand behind me."

Without much hesitation, Run-Knife Rat took the white paper from the butler and filled in his basic information.

Fortunately, he had already thought of his alias before he came – Lin Yi.

As for the pseudonym "The Salted Fish Can't Turn Over," it is Chen Xian.

One is carefree and the other leisurely, which also suits their characteristics.

After filling out the forms, the two quickly stood behind the manager.

At this moment, there were already nearly twenty people in the spot where the two were standing.

The group of independent cultivators ahead who hadn't yet registered were clearly getting anxious, jostling each other and wishing they could rush to the front.

Run-Knife Mouse speculates that it might not be long before the recruitment quota is filled.

really,

After the registration form reached number 30, the Zhou family steward waved his hand, dismissing the rest of the crowd.

"Alright, alright, our Zhou family has already filled all our positions. You can come back next year."

Those who didn't get accepted scattered like birds and beasts, filled with sorrow and regret, wishing they had come to register sooner.

Such a good job as a bamboo cutter is hard to find again once you miss it.

The middle-aged manager put away the reports and materials, turned around to look at the crowd behind him, and said calmly:

"Alright, you can come back to the Zhou family with me now."

Winter is approaching.

The summit of Qingzhu Mountain is already covered with a blanket of white snow.

Zhou Qingyun stepped out of the room and gazed in the direction of Lianyun Market, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

His good cousin Zhou Qinghe has not returned for seven days now, and no one knows what is going on with him.

Although Zhou Qingyun didn't have a good impression of this person who had risen to power through family connections.

But he had to admit that after Zhou Qinghe left, the entire collateral branch of the family became somewhat restless.

In a daze, Zhou Qingyun remembered what his second uncle had said.

Wealth stirs the heart of mortals, while profit corrupts the path to immortality.

The Zhou family, a Foundation Establishment family that has existed for hundreds of years, has never had its most prosperous period, but fortunately, it has had Foundation Establishment cultivators in every generation.

However, this has also led to a weakening of the connection between the direct and collateral branches of the family, constant conflicts of interest, and a long time since the harmony of the past.

"Sigh... Forget it, I should go and find out what's going on with Zhou Qinghe. If this drags on, I won't have any peace either."

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Qingyun, open the door."

A slightly aged voice came from behind the door, causing Zhou Qingyun's expression to change slightly. He knew all too well who the voice belonged to.

"Second Grandfather, Qingyun is here."

Zhou Qingyun quickly got up and opened the wooden door.

What came into view was an elderly man with white hair and a long beard, wearing a blue Taoist robe that fluttered in the wind, giving him a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal air.

Upon seeing the old man, Zhou Qingyun quickly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Qingyun greets Second Grandfather."

Zhou Xuanming nodded and walked into the house on his own. He sat on a wooden chair, closed his eyes to rest, but did not directly state his purpose.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingyun was not in a hurry and stood quietly to the side waiting.

The small wooden house was plunged into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Zhou Xuanming opened his eyes and stood up from the wooden chair.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhou Qingyun asked directly, "Second Grandfather, is there something you need to see Qingyun about?"

Zhou Xuanming looked at the plaque for the head steward behind the wooden chair, wanting to say something but swallowing it back.

He left with only the words "It's nothing" before turning and departing.

We're all family, so there's no need to say things directly.

"Zhou Qinghe, once I find you, we'll settle this score slowly."