Lighting Lanterns in the Mountains and Seas

Regardless of the method, Wu Jinliang's side indeed has several hundred billion, whereas Shi Chun cannot possibly have five trillion. He wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death. If someone could really come up with that much money, given this scale, those people in the Heavenly Court couldn't possibly be unaware.

Therefore, Young Master Nan tried asking again, "If Brother Chun can come up with five trillion, why bother using his own money for something like this? Spending this money may not be earned back in several lifetimes."

Shi Chun put down his teacup, "That's why I came to seek cooperation with Brother Nan. Brother Nan can arrange for people to work with Wu Jinliang's team, consider the terrain and environment, and see how to keep the construction cost of a house under five thousand gold. As for materials, I'll send a hundred thousand troops to excavate, and they can even do some auxiliary work to cooperate. I guarantee it'll be more effective than Manxi's word. Anyway, I'll give Brother Nan five thousand gold for one house, multiply thin profits by a billion houses, I don't care how much you earn, but the house's quality must be decent, must be presentable."

Young Master Nan said in surprise, "If you really have five trillion, I would certainly do this business, there would probably be a bunch of people rushing to grab this opportunity. Also, didn't you promise those skilled craftsmen that when you open a residence and build a city, they would have priority in building houses there?"

Shi Chun calmly said, "If they want it, I will definitely give it to them. The problem is I can't produce the money now. Asking them to front the cost for a billion houses, they wouldn't take it."

"Can't produce the money..." Young Master Nan murmured, his throat bobbed as he swallowed, then smiled bitterly, "Brother Chun, are you overestimating me? Not to mention them, I can't cover several trillion either!"

Shi Chun said, "Not just you, even those top Great Sects can't do it. I met with Dongguo Shou before coming, and the Carefree Sect's approach is to spread the burden themselves among relevant parties, dilute it with scale. Can Brother Nan try to spread the pressure in the same way, find more businesses to collaborate with, lessen the burden, with Brother Nan's business reputation, someone should be willing to advance the funds, right?"

Young Master Nan smiled bitterly, "I understand the Carefree Sect's approach. The reason they can share the burden is because everyone trusts their capabilities, believes they can provide returns in the future. Many rely on the Carefree Sect's influence for survival. Without the skin, where will the hair attach? When the Carefree Sect needs support, they must back them firmly. And that's the core issue, the Carefree Sect has that strength, but we don't. Handling it could easily stir up trouble. After all, you have offended so many people, and crucially, they are all from some powerful factions. If they interfere and mess around, brother, I can't withstand it!"

Shi Chun waved slightly, "Whether you can withstand it is another matter. I'm only asking Brother Nan, removing those factors, can you spread out the task of building a billion houses?"

Young Master Nan couldn't help rolling his eyes, "Then I ask Brother Chun, once the houses are built, can you produce five trillion? I can't do it. If I really operate this, I would be responsible. Five trillion, even bankrupting myself couldn't cover it."

Unexpectedly, Shi Chun nodded decisively, "No problem. As long as it's successful, don't worry about the money, I promise you'll have a satisfactory answer."

Young Master Nan was suddenly skeptical, "Really? Can you truly come up with five trillion? Where will you get it from?"

Shi Chun said, "This I cannot tell you right now."

Young Master Nan found himself helplessly laughing, "Just based on your verbal assurance, I need to carry the risk of five trillion for you? Brother, you can't play like this, if you don't give me something solid, I really can't agree to it."

Shi Chun said, "It's not that I don't want to disclose it to you, but I can't disclose it to you. Remember the time you brought Wei Mo and the others to catch me? I know you didn't want to do it, so it's not that I don't trust you, but there are situations, when it comes to the crunch, you might be compelled to act against your will. So, the less you know, the better, better for both you and me."

"..." Speaking of the time when he betrayed Shi Chun, Young Master Nan felt awkward, and the awkwardness lingered for a while. After a long pause, he asked, "Can you truly get that much money? Sure it's not just idle talk? This can't be taken lightly, any mishap with such amounts, nobody can protect me."

This conversation confirmed to Shi Chun one thing: he hadn't made a mistake coming this time, nor had he chosen the wrong person. Young Master Nan's reputation wasn't empty; he indeed had a way to maneuver this several-trillion affair.

He immediately countered, "If a mishap occurs with this, can I get away?"

Indeed, Young Master Nan stroked the little beard under his chin, pondered for a while, then looked up again for confirmation, "Afterward, you can really get five trillion?"

Shi Chun: "This isn't a trivial matter, I can't deceive Brother Nan. I can't promise absolutely, but the probability of acquiring it is considerable. Even if I can't get actual cash, I guarantee to produce corresponding valuable items for Brother Nan to liquidate."

Young Master Nan fell into silence, intermittently lost in thought, occasionally sipping tea slowly, other times pacing back and forth with hands behind his back, sometimes raising his head to stare at the ceiling, other times bowing his head to look at the floor below. Clearly, it was a very difficult decision for him.

Shi Chun also understood, so he didn't disturb, letting the other person weigh it thoroughly.

After all, now that he had come here, and confirmed that this person indeed could handle it, this matter had to be accomplished. If not, he was prepared with another method to persuade.

In reality, he didn't expect to rely solely on his words to persuade and was ready to let Young Master Nan witness something impressive.