C16 Seeing Gao Yubo He Was Ready to Deceive Him

"Lee Ming..."

After the room emptied, leaving only Lee Ming behind, the weight of his solitude was palpable.

Hearing Meng Yang call out to him nearly brought him to tears. His face lifted, etched with the loyalty of a devoted servant.

"I know what's on your mind, but I need you to handle two things for me..."

Lee Ming, overcome with emotion, fervently pledged, "Master Lee, don't mention two tasks—give me twenty, and I'll tackle them with gusto, through fire and water if need be."

"Your words are all I need."

Meng Yang took the disciple identity card from the table, secured it around his waist, and continued, "Firstly, get those yellow teeth of yours cleaned."

Lee Ming, still smiling, hastily covered his mouth, assuring, "Worry not, Young Master. Consider it done."

"The second task is to visit Li Family Village and personally deliver this silver to my parents. With your skills, you should have no trouble identifying them. And while you're at the market, pick up some essentials and medicine for my sister."

"Here are the letter and the silver. Once you've completed the tasks, come find me in my courtyard. You know where it is, right?"

With that, Meng Yang handed over the items to Lee Ming and exited the room.

As Meng Yang's figure receded, Lee Ming's excitement surged like a rejuvenated maiden, his face flushed and his body quivering with elation.

Seventeen years. Seventeen long years.

I, Lee Ming, rose to the rank of butler from a mere guard within the flesh puppet courtyard, thinking that was the pinnacle.

But who could have imagined? I still have the chance to climb higher.

By faithfully serving Young Master Lee, I may not feast on meat, but surely I'll sip the broth.

At this thought, Lee Ming was moved to tears, his stooped back straightening with resolve.

He scampered off with a spring in his step, vanishing in the blink of an eye as Meng Yang's silhouette faded from view.

By the time Meng Yang reached the Disciple Courtyard, a new day had dawned.

The courtyard sprawled out, boasting over a dozen rooms, a main guesthouse, and the familiar training grounds.

In addition to the role of housekeeper he had earmarked for Lee Ming, he had also appointed ten guards under his charge.

"Young Master, there's someone at the door requesting an audience!"

Meng Yang, lost in thought in the main hall, was startled by the announcement. "Could it be the reward for advancing to a disciple has arrived?" he mused.

As he had predicted, when he instructed that the visitor be brought in, the reward had indeed arrived.

The reward was modest and straightforward, even including a middle-aged female housekeeper who inquired if Meng Yang required the services of a maid.

After much internal debate, Meng Yang ultimately declined the offer.

This was the first time Meng Yang had encountered a female housekeeper within the Lin family.

Once Meng Yang had signed his name in the Lin family disciple registry, the servants tasked with delivering the rewards gradually departed the courtyard.

Meng Yang was puzzled by the thumb-sized token in his hand when a sharp-eyed guard behind him stepped forward with a bow to explain, prompting Meng Yang to take a closer look at him.

"Young Master, this item is known as the Martial Arts Token, and it's the most precious of the rewards. Only disciples with this token may visit the Lin family's Martial Arts Pavilion to select suitable cultivation methods. However, one can only study one method at a time, and after mastering it to Great Completion, one must pass an examination by the Pavilion's deacon before choosing another. The cultivation method cannot be taken out; it must be memorized and copied personally."

"I see, it's akin to a library card from my previous life," Meng Yang realized, nodding in understanding.

"And what about this?" he asked, indicating another item.

The patient guard once again provided an explanation, and Meng Yang was finally able to make sense of the rewards.

In summary, the items of use to Meng Yang included the Martial Arts Token, an identity card, and most importantly, the paper contract.

This paper contract was the indenture for Meng Yang's entry into the Lin family as a sparring partner.

By returning the contract to Meng Yang, the Lin family was recognizing his status.

This meant that henceforth, Meng Yang, like the other core disciples of the Lin family, was free.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Meng Yang pondered briefly before posing the most pressing question to the guard of the Disciple Courtyard.

"Is there any way to obtain Whispershards aside from the monthly collection at the Spirit Pavilion?"

"If the Young Master is in need of soul stones, a visit to the Martial Hall might be worthwhile."

Noticing Meng Yang's puzzled gaze, the guard elaborated, "The Martial Hall is where many of the Lin family's core disciples come to exchange martial arts techniques. It's frequented by numerous direct disciples and those with time on their hands. Challenges attract plenty of bettors, usually wagering Whispershards. You might want to test your luck, Young Master."

Meng Yang's eyebrows lifted, and he nodded firmly before inquiring about other matters within the Disciple Courtyard.

Through these conversations, he began to form a clearer picture of the Lin family's structure.

Glancing outside, he noticed the sky had subtly transitioned to dusk.

After a moment's contemplation, he practiced the Water Serpent Style and Soul Stealing Palm in his courtyard, which, unlike the Sparring Courtyard's rooms, was not only spacious but also boasted a dedicated practice field.

Meng Yang continued his training deep into the night, stopping only when he was drenched in sweat and his elixir field was settled, then he returned to his residence.

......

The next morning, with a firm resolve to increase his wealth value, Meng Yang made a beeline for the Martial Hall.

Although it was his first visit, he was able to navigate there with the help of the numerous Lin family guards along the way.

Turning a corner, he suddenly came upon a procession of armored guards heading his direction.

The two leading figures were instantly recognizable, causing Meng Yang to stare in surprise.

They were none other than the Lin family Patriarch's most cherished daughter, Lin Zitong, and her butler.

Zitong's plump, cheerful face was beaming with a smile, and she hopped along, her hair tied with two red ribbons that danced in the breeze.

Her large, expressive eyes added to her charm, making her appear as lively and endearing as a magpie.

Meng Yang had a vivid memory of Lin Zitong, whose talent was nothing short of astonishing.

In fact, within the entire city of Entheas, it would be hard to find another with such a combination of strength and innate ability as hers.

Even the possibility of advancing to become a core disciple might owe something to Lin Zitong's influence.

Despite enduring a three-hour thrashing from her during sparring, I at least walked away with a heart sutra.

And when it came to the issue with Gao Yubo, Lin Zitong stepped in to defend me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful.

"That being said, Lin Zitong must have quite a stash of Whispershards..."

With his judgment clouded by an overwhelming wealth value and a deep-seated addiction, Meng Yang's thought processes had diverged from the norm.

He lacked the strength to steal or rob, but perhaps he could still manage to swindle.

After all, no matter how talented Lin Zitong was, she was still just a ten-year-old girl.

Even if she caught on to him later, he wouldn't face death—though a beating would be guaranteed.

In the worst-case scenario, once he rose to power, he could always make it up to her by buying her some extra candy.

"I need to come up with a plan..."

As the group drew nearer, Meng Yang frantically checked everything he had on him.

Regrettably, aside from the Whispershards, he had nothing but a few silver and copper coins.

Others might have given up by now, but Meng Yang was someone who planned to make a living through cunning and guile.

In a flash of inspiration born from urgency, he concocted a new scheme to deceive.