Fifteen days ago, Author: Pig Heart Shrimp
Chapter 20: Feast of Gluttony
Gu Wen stood alone in the depths of the mansion, wielding a long stick used for guarding as if it were a spear, resembling a coiling dragon around him.
In just a month, he had already mastered the spear techniques as if he had been practicing for ten years.
The Xuanming Spear is divided into three levels: Ming Power, Inner Power, and Xuan Power.
The first two are similar to ordinary martial arts for mortals.
Ming Power is the strength emanating from muscles and bones, while Inner Power is the skill of concentrating strength at a point.
Xuan Power, on the other hand, involves cultivation and requires the coordination of True Qi to emit a kind of 'qi' through the weapon, also known as Gang.
He was still in the first stage, Ming Power.
The Jade Clear Dao Foundation was constantly strengthening his body, so Ming Power came naturally to him.
However, Inner Power required diligent practice and familiarity.
Gu Wen had now reached the threshold of Inner Power.
Every ten times he wielded the spear, he could unleash Inner Power once.
According to the martial artists in the jianghu, he had already reached the level of a master, with his Inner Power being comparable to a grandmaster.
He had intended to practice slowly, saving the Tianzhui for the Dao Foundation, as only the Dao Foundation could provide substantial improvement and was also the most difficult to cultivate.
However, his plans could not keep up with the changes, as the turmoil was getting closer to him.
The downfall of a dynasty often happens in an instant.
All the accumulated contradictions and root causes would sweep in like a flood.
From the abuse of street vendors by officials to excessive taxes leading to ruin, it was as if the tax revenue of ten years in the past and future of Daqian had been collected at once.
The people would remember the suffering of the past ten years and fear the hardships to come.
It seemed that only the final straw that would break the camel's back was missing.
Initially, Gu Wen thought that extraordinary power might bring change.
However, recent observations and interactions with Fairy Yuhua made him realize that extraordinary power was severely restricted in Daqian.
It was not enough to resist the wheels of history; the downfall of Daqian was inevitable.
It was not the kings and nobles in history books that decided the fate of a dynasty, but the countless common people who would never appear in history books.
Gu Wen did not want to drown in the torrent of this era when that time came.
His Fate Core trembled.
Tianzhui, Second Year.
This was accumulated over the past month.
Whether there was a discovery of smuggling within the Imperial Treasury or he had bought too much, the supply of medicinal fruits was decreasing.
The Tianzhui was like fire, and the Xuanming Spear was different from the other two immortal techniques.
In an instant, it transformed into clear Qi, entering the dantian and spreading throughout the body with the circulating True Qi.
An illusory figure appeared, wielding the spear on the battlefield, moving in and out seven times without a single person being able to counter a move.
He was like me, and I was like him.
In a trance, it seemed as if he was moving on the battlefield effortlessly, without experiencing actual combat.
Every move he made exuded a fierce killing intent.
Inner Power of the Xuanming Spear, achieved!
Xuan Power of the Xuanming Spear, achieved!
With the condensed True Qi, a thrust of the spear caused a continuous sonic boom, while the hanging curtains and flickering candles danced incessantly.
Gu Wen thought it was over, about to exhale and recover, but then a more intense surge of True Qi erupted from his dantian.
A faint golden light appeared on the Xuanming Spear technique, which should have been completely refined by the Tianzhui.
Having comprehended the Jade Clear Heart Technique in eight years and the Jade Clear Sword Technique in two years, it was evident that he had surpassed the Xuanming Spear technique.
As the spear was thrust, the Xuanming Spear shattered, and the intense spear Gang blasted open the door.
Jiang Fugui behind the door seemed to be pushed, stepping into thin air and falling clumsily.
Without seeing through the door, a large spear exuded a blood-colored aura, and the ink-like True Qi covered the long stick, transforming it into a spearhead.
Gu Wen exhaled, and all extraordinary phenomena converged, the spearhead disappeared and turned back into a stick.
Perhaps he had once again discovered another usage of the Tianzhui.
When understanding reached its peak, it was natural for the student to surpass the master, pushing the original technique to a higher level.
The fourth level of the Xuanming Spear, Xuan Gang External Attachment!
Tianzhui depleted.
Gu Wen had not engaged in actual combat, but the insights given by his Fate Core were clearer than actual combat.
The function of the Xuan Gang External Attachment was to provide hardness and "shock force." The former was easy to understand, while the latter meant that the Xuanming Outer Gang maintained a constant vibration, influencing everything it came into contact with.
In clashes with cold weapons, the vibration could potentially cause the weapon to slip, and it had a certain ability to bypass armor defenses.
However, Gu Wen preferred hardness, which meant that even picking up a stick at hand would give him combat power.
Supporting himself with his right hand on a chair, his True Qi was consumed vigorously, and the dark red Xuan Gang attached to the chair.
It consumed more than using a long weapon, and the vibration disappeared, making the Xuan Gang extremely chaotic.
"The difference between the spear and the Xuanming Outer Gang is too great, and it loses its effect."
Jiang Fugui got up from the ground, seeing Gu Wen coming out of the room with a long stick in hand, showing a surprised expression.
"Master, are you practicing martial arts? I was wondering why you suddenly ran to this side courtyard, with no guards around. What if something happens, how would that be good? If you really don't trust the royal guards, I can find you a few boatmen. Their families all rely on you for a living and are reliable."
"Ah, Master, how did you train your muscles in just a few days?"
The petite Jiang Fugui chattered behind Gu Wen.
Gu Wen walked to the water tank in the courtyard, took off his shirt to wipe away the sweat, and the cold water sprinkled on his skin, causing wisps of steam to rise.
Jiang Fugui rambled on, "Master, be careful of catching a cold. If you want to bathe, I can go instruct the servants to heat water."
"How are the medicinal fruits?"
"Master, we have them, but the price has increased."
"How much?"
"Forty taels per piece."
Gu Wen paused for a moment, sneered, "These tooth market merchants really think they're tigers, daring to take a bite at anyone. If he doesn't want to do it, then retire."
The one-armed old man was simply an intermediary, his main role was to take the blame, so that the buyers could not be traced in case of trouble.
The black market rats were all like this; otherwise, why would they engage in profitable activities like human trafficking? Because it was dirty, and the iron fist could come down at any time.
Initially, he didn't want to cause trouble, and he could afford eighteen taels per piece.
Some premium was normal for contraband items.
But now, with the continuous price hikes, he was not one to be trifled with.
The Tooth Market was not just the one-armed old man, but he was the biggest slave trader.
His eyes narrowed, he pursed his lips, showing a pensive expression.
"Master, should we go to the government office and deal with him?"
Jiang Fugui knew that the one-armed old man was in trouble.
Master Wen did not hold back his anger, but he wouldn't resort to violence either.
In Master Wen's words: "We are merchants, not bandits. We do things according to the rules. If someone doesn't follow the rules with us, the rules will naturally teach them a lesson."
He had always remembered this sentence, not because of business ethics, but because Jiang Fugui had seen Master Wen kill without using a knife more than once.
"No need, the government officials won't meddle in the Tooth Market."
After just a few breaths of contemplation, Gu Wen instructed, "Tomorrow, go and greet the major brothel owners. There are many people selling themselves recently, and there is no shortage of good girls. Unite to press down on the Tooth Market prices, and we'll take a small commission from it."
He didn't touch food because it was unethical.
He dealt with brothels because the real reason people sold themselves was never the brothels; they were just the best place to sell themselves.
Below that were dens and black dens.
Those who could enter the brothels were already at their wits' end, and their future would be better than most.
Such is the world, where the virtuous are not as good as the courtesans.
Gu Wen only raised the price of human trafficking slightly, but it was enough to crush the Tooth Market.
Hiss! The last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Jiang Fugui took a sharp breath, realizing that the brothels in Bianjing were not just at Long Bridge, but only Long Bridge could produce the top courtesans.
The Tooth Market could sell to dens, but the dens couldn't offer a third of the price of Long Bridge brothels.
If all the brothels lowered their prices, you would lose more than a thousand taels in the Tooth Market, and maybe they could even make a small profit.
Moreover, this price reduction was reasonable.
There were indeed many people selling themselves recently, and whether there were many good girls or not didn't matter.
This was not entirely aimed at the Tooth Market.
Whether it was Gu Wen or other merchants, even the prominent families liked to play the game of uniting to lower prices.
Gu Wen never touched anything related to food and the common people, but everything else was fair game.
He had a conscience, but only a little bit.
The next day, at Jiangyue Tower, the Heavenly Suite.
Merchants gathered, beautiful maids were numerous, and Gu Wen, dressed in plain clothes, stood out among the gold and silver-clad merchants, but no one dared to criticize him.
Today, he hosted the major brothel owners.
In times of disaster, the biggest beneficiaries were grain merchants, followed by the Tooth Market, including the brothels.
A normal court would control grain prices, and they wouldn't rise too high.
But now, with the Emperor ruling, even the eunuchs under his command were making a fortune.
Gu Wen raised his wine cup, and the merchants raised theirs.
Amidst the red candlelight and wine, it was like a grand feast of a bigwig.
The ones brought to the table were the Tooth Market merchants, who were seen as extremely vicious by the common people, and the black forces that roamed the alleys wielding knives and guns.
Their ferocity seemed so weak and adorable in front of the Long Bridge merchants.
Fengyue Tower had a dish of Osmanthus Fish Fin, which was delicious and held the top spot.
Gu Wen picked up the first bite, and the merchants swarmed in, the crisp sound of chopsticks hitting the jade plate as they devoured the profits of the Tooth Market.
Many books are now hard to find, so cherish what you have.