CHAPTER 594: CHAPTER 604: DEAL

"Very well, let’s settle on this! As long as Chu Feng is overthrown, you will not go unrewarded. I dare not make other guarantees, but the power to help you ascend to the position of Mountain Master, I do possess," Qin Shan declared as he once again loosely promised something beyond his reach.

Although he was an Inner Sect Disciple with no small amount of clout, and knows quite a few important figures within various Sects, the position of Mountain Master of Medicine Mountain was part of the higher echelons of the Outer Sect. Medicine Mountain itself is a major economic lifeblood of the Sect.

Could the Sect allow an Inner Sect Disciple to meddle with the selection of a Mountain Master?

To put it bluntly, not even Elder Zi Xu, let alone Qin Shan, could likely wield such power.

It is an ironclad rule established by the Sect that Inner Sect members must not interfere with the personnel appointments of the Outer Sect. Only a select few, such as the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders, have the authority to manage both the Inner and Outer Sect.

The promises made by Qin Shan were not only baseless but also beyond his abilities to fulfill.

Many have already fallen victim to Qin Shan’s deceit and suffered greatly.

Yet, there are still those who refuse to heed the warnings and insist on clinging to Qin Shan’s ’robust thighs’, not realizing that they are merely being exploited by him.

...

In the days that followed, Qin Shan continuously had his men tightly monitor Chu Feng’s movements, paying particular attention to that ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma on Medicine Mountain number 106.

At the slightest misstep, Qin Shan would seize the opportunity to strike and dethrone Chu Feng from his cherished position as Mountain Master.

Mao Wu, the Mountain Master, had been transferred to the Pharmaceutical Department and relegated to the ordinary role of a Pharmaceutical officer. On the surface, the Pharmaceutical Department seemed to be a level above Medicine Mountain and his transfer could be seen as a promotion.

But in reality, he had been stripped from being the master of an entire mountain to the very bottom.

Now at the Pharmaceutical Department, even an outsider officer could order him around with impunity. As for the Manager, Deputy Director, and other big chiefs of the department, Mountain Master Mao Wu did not even have the opportunity to speak to them.

From a high-ranking leader who could summon wind and rain, he had become a mere Pharmaceutical officer to be commanded, casually berated, and scolded at will. The enormous disparity in treatment and the psychological drop made Mountain Master Mao Wu feel as though he had fallen from heaven into hell.

He dreamt of being transferred elsewhere.

At the very least, a promotion to an external officer in the Pharmaceutical Department would be desirable.

He would hold some authority, able to give orders, and would not have to suffer such indignities.

"No, I must find a way to raise my position again. Now that I’ve encountered difficulties, those who used to call me brother and pal all avoid me like the plague; seeking their help is nothing but a foolish dream," Mountain Master Mao Wu thought.

"I have no choice but to take a gamble and make a move on the heirloom Jade Pendant of Jia Zongling!"

After all, someone who has served as a Mountain Master, Mountain Master Mao Wu, has a rather sharp mind.

After days of brooding and contemplation, he finally devised a plan to extricate himself from his current predicament. If he could find a way to get his hands on the Jade Pendant in Chu Feng’s possession, all problems would be easily solved.

Handing over the Jade Pendant to Jia Zongling would ensure an immediate promotion or transfer to another department.

The influence of a Zong Ling is phenomenally larger than one could imagine.

Not like Qin Shan, an Inner Sect Disciple without real power. A Zong Ling oversees all Inner Sect members, and even the Careful Punishment Department is nominally a department under the Sect People’s Mansion.

For Jia Zongling to help Mao Wu with a transfer or promotion would be an easy feat.

"Fuck, that Chu kid really drives a hard bargain, demanding 500,000 taels!" Mao Wu Mountain Master couldn’t help but feel the pinch as he recalled the price Chu Feng had quoted.

Even when he was still Mountain Master, 500,000 taels would have been a remarkably staggering sum for him.

To part with 500,000 taels would tighten his belt for a considerable time. He would have to live frugally.

Now that he had lost his position as Mountain Master, his other avenues of illicit income had been cut off. There would almost be no under-the-table earnings.

The salary of a Pharmaceutical officer was much lower than that of a Mountain Master.

The sharp decline in income from both sources also meant that Mao Wu Mountain Master was about to enter an economic winter.

If he did not buy the jade pendant from Chu Feng’s hands, he could still make do with the remaining funds he had without living too miserably.

But people sometimes always want to take a gamble, perhaps a bicycle will turn into a motorcycle unexpectedly.

Ever since Mao Wu Mountain Master fell on hard times, he dreamed of rising back to his former position.

Purchasing that jade pendant from Chu Feng, and then using it to ingratiate himself with Jia Zongling, might well be the best way to change his current predicament.

"I have an irreconcilable vendetta with Chu Feng, so it’s naturally not wise to go to him to make the purchase. Zhong Hong, my hidden piece, could be utilized; having Zhong Hong make the purchase on my behalf is a good plan. Perhaps, I might even get a discount."

Mao Wu Mountain Master’s eyes flickered as he calculated everything.

At the thought of his cunning plan, a sinister smile emerged on his lips.

"Chu Feng, it is all thanks to you that I have fallen to such a state. If I rise again, I will surely not let you off. A gentleman seeks revenge, it is never too late even after ten years." Mao Wu’s heart was filled with hatred towards Chu Feng.

He quickly summoned Zhong Hong.

Mao Wu Mountain Master naturally did not trust handing over the 500,000 silver notes to Zhong Hong. To prevent any mishaps, he took Zhong Hong’s family as hostages. This was to coerce Zhong Hong to obediently follow orders.

Although Zhong Hong was cunning, he cared deeply for his family.

After receiving the 500,000 silver taels, Zhong Hong immediately started to scheme.

"I’ve always had a good relationship with Chu Feng, and that fool actually believes I am utterly loyal to him. All I need to do is lavish him with a few compliments, and deceive him into thinking that I want to make the purchase myself. Haggling a discount of one or two thousand taels is not a big issue."

"The difference will then all go into my pocket."

After making up his mind, Zhong Hong immediately took the silver note to see Chu Feng.

He approached Chu Feng with the silver, and after some persuasions, claimed that he wanted to buy Chu Feng’s jade pendant. He even played a few clever tricks and told Chu Feng some deceitful words.

When it came to finalizing the deal, Zhong Hong intentionally pleaded poverty, playing the pity card, so that Chu Feng would ask for less silver.

"Less silver? Okay, let’s make it less then!"

Chu Feng noticed someone eavesdropping outside the window and deliberately spoke in a loud voice.

Zhong Hong, as a big chief, could not possibly come up with 500,000 silver taels. Moreover, with Zhong Hong’s status, he would be unlikely to come into contact with Jia Zongling.

Therefore, Chu Feng boldly speculated that Zhong Hong must be buying on behalf of Mao Wu.

The person eavesdropping outside the window was probably someone purposely sent by Mao Wu for surveillance. After all, with such a huge transaction involving several hundred thousand taels, Mao Wu, with his cunning nature, would definitely not rest easy.

"Many thanks, Mountain Master Chu! This humble Zhong Hong will be utterly devoted to you..." Zhong Hong, hearing that Chu Feng was willing to take less silver, was overjoyed.

Everything was going almost as he had imagined.

"Wait, I don’t have the jade pendant on me right now, I’ll go and get it immediately!"

Chu Feng said and walked out the door. The person outside who had been eavesdropping had long been scared away.

Soon Chu Feng returned.

"Here’s the jade pendant. Let me make it clear, there are no returns once it’s sold. Cash on delivery." Chu Feng said seriously.

"Deal!"

Zhong Hong readily agreed, not feeling any pinch as it was not his money he was spending.