CHAPTER 325: CHAPTER 45: THE TWO RICHEST TYPES OF PEOPLE ON THE CONTINENT

Inside the wooden cabin, Yue Jinghua and Helian Sheng were still in a standoff, one a top female spy who had experienced life-and-death situations and seen numerous dark facets of life, and the other, a talent born into a military family, raised amid constant deceit and strategy from a young age.

For the moment, neither was willing to concede.

Outside the wooden cabin, the clusters of Arrow Bamboo that were at the core of their argument bathed in the spring light. The freshly sprouted tender leaves emitted faint whiffs of fragrance, while the withered bamboo leaves, not fully shed from winter, fell from the top, tumbling into Nameless Lake.

Since the arrival of spring, melted snow from Xuan Beast Ridge was channeled into Nameless Lake through ditches dug beside the lake, filling it considerably and even melting the ice on its surface.

The occasional spring breeze rippled the lake, wrinkling the reflection of a charming figure on the water.

Yun Luo stood by the lake, her beautiful eyes reflecting the shimmering light, with ripples of tears passing by.

Teng Wu walked along the lakeshore, and with respect, said: "Miss, did you need something from me?"

"I’ve said it many times, when there are no strangers around, call me Yun Luo," Yun Luo turned around, looking at Teng Wu. He did not meet her gaze, but still respectfully waited with bowed head, prompting a slight irritation in her heart, "Later, give Yue Jinghua the Dan Xuan Card that grandfather left for me. I want to invest in Fengdan County."

"Miss! The chairman will not agree with you doing this," Teng Wu couldn’t help but cry out. At this point, Yue Jinghua was still unaware of the specific amount of Yun Luo’s investment, but Teng Wu knew – it was a staggering sum of twenty million Fifth-Order Dark Pills.

Due to Yun Luo’s special constitution and the fact that she would be without support in the future, her grandfather had prepared an astonishing personal fortune for her since she was a child. It was agreed that this fortune could only be used after Yun Luo reached the age of fifteen. Half a month ago, Yun Luo celebrated her fifteenth birthday in Fengdan County.

Investing in someone else’s territory was not unusual for Yunhu Commerce, but investing such a sum in a stranger she had known for only a few months, and furthermore in the emerging territory of Fengdan County whose future prospects were still unknown, was indeed rare.

"Within three years, Fengdan County will surely become one of the wealthiest territories in the Dragon War Empire," the spring breeze brushed against her forehead, pushing aside her hair to reveal her pale brow. She still looked immature, yet at this moment, her expression was unprecedentedly serious, strikingly different from her capricious and spoiled rich girl demeanor in public.

He remembered, before accompanying Miss away from home, the chairman had sent her off and lamented: "It’s a pity, that child, she was destined to be the most talented business prodigy of the family, yet she was born with such a body constitution. Teng Wu, if something important happens on the way, leave all decisions to Yun Luo."

"Miss, even so, there’s no need to invest your entire fortune. You can invest in stages," Teng Wu felt deeply shocked, could it be that Miss was...

"Burning one’s boats, leaving no way out, that is Yue Jinghua’s style of doing things. While Fengdan County is still out of the public eye, before stepping onto the continent’s stage, I want to seize the first business opportunity of territory development for Yunhu Commerce. There won’t be such a chance again in the future," Yun Luo brushed the hair from her cheek and smiled at Teng Wu, "I didn’t expect it, but that woman Yue Jinghua, despite being annoying, understands me the best. She said as long as I’m willing to invest, she’ll build a statue for me here and this lake, from now on, will be called Yunluo Lake. Hundreds of years from now, a thousand years later, people will remember this Yunluo Lake."

Yun Luo raised her arms and laughed, yet tears uncontrollably fell from the corners of her eyes.

What use is more money? How much of it can she really enjoy? One year, three years, five years, or even ten years from now, she might become a living dead with no consciousness.

Seeing that girl by the lake, looking as if she might take flight at any moment, Teng Wu felt a sourness in his throat and his eyes reddened. He wanted to stretch out his hands to embrace the girl who seemed ready to drift away with the wind at any moment, but the next instant, he retracted his hand, clenched his palms into fists, and stiffly let them fall.

The mere three or two steps’ distance between them seemed as vast as if they were worlds apart.

Inside the wooden cabin, the negotiations between Yue Jinghua and Helian Sheng were drawing to a close.

After repeated consideration, Helian Sheng agreed to Yue Jinghua’s request, but he also proposed an additional condition.

If she wanted help with developing the Xuan Crystal Cannon, Yue Jinghua would have to find a way to gather the necessary Meteorite Iron for the cannon’s furnace on her own. As for the Xuan Crystal Bombs used by the cannon, the Helian Family could provide them, but each bomb would cost ten thousand Third-level Dark Pills. Although the price sounded high, compared to the Xuan Crystals that were hard to come by at any price in the market, Helian Sheng was already giving Yue Jinghua a lot of face.

It seemed likely that the Helian Family owned a rather large Dark Crystal Ore mine.

On the surface, Yue Jinghua appeared very happy, but inside she was cursing up a storm, thinking, well done Helian Sheng, you’re cunning and sly indeed. Ten thousand Third-level Dark Pills for a single Xuan Crystal Bomb? How many Moxiang Pigs would have to be sold, how much wheat planted for that? This was akin to the old American exploitation of once small and medium-sized countries, exchanging high-tech products for low-value goods, a portent of driving one to their doom through exports.

Moreover, she was tasked with providing the Meteorite Iron for manufacturing the Xuan Crystal Cannons, which was extremely rare on the continent. Since the cannons were to be large-scale and used for city wall defense, who knew how much Meteorite Iron would be needed?

Such quantity of Meteorite Iron could only be obtained through some large commerce chambers or secretive places like nightclubs.

Helian Sheng showed no kindness, and neither did Yue Jinghua show any righteousness. Leaving aside the fact that Five Elements Bamboo was graded differently according to the integrity of the Spirit Wood Pattern, ranging from third to ninth grade, even if she truly did provide the Five Elements Bamboo to Rui Song Federation in the future, she had not agreed to an exclusive supply deal with the Federation. By the time she sold some to Dragon War Empire and Shang Kingdom, they couldn’t be so detached as to travel vast distances to murder her, Yue Jinghua mused, flicking her mental abacus with precise clicks.

Kid, trying to play tricks with me. Everyone knows that on the Canglong Continent, there are two types of people who make the most money: those who are Emperors and those who sell military arms. If I don’t con a good sum out of you, a seller of cannons, then I’m not Yue Jinghua.

Both harboring their own ulterior motives, they smiled superficially as if in good cheer, appearing friendly as they inked their cooperation agreement. After the signing and stamping, Yue Jinghua took the opportunity to grab hold of Helian Sheng and pulled out the Xuan Crystal Cannon she had obtained from Li Shuge, hoping Helian Sheng could help refine it.

Indeed, Helian Sheng was an expert in the field of cannons. After a brief examination, he pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of this cannon, "This Xuan Crystal Cannon is finely crafted, seemingly designed for a lady. If the City Lord wishes to use it, I can fix it up for you and even gift you a few Xuan Crystal Bombs."

After sending off Helian Sheng with the airs of a grand benefactor, it wasn’t long before Teng Wu, with a somber expression, came knocking at the door.

"Miss Yue, this is all of our young lady’s possessions. She’s a pitiable person; with this money, please take good care of yourself," Teng Wu looked furious. After throwing down the Dan Xuan Card, he turned his head and left without another word.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, I might have a way to save your young lady," Yue Jinghua called out to Teng Wu, seeing the Dan Xuan Card he left behind.