Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

To truly control the Netherworld Ship, Chen Li would have to be stationed here permanently.

But for him, that was simply impossible.

The Chen Family’s foundation was in Lingxi, and he had his own path of cultivation to follow.

Currently, there was no one in the family he could trust who was a Grandmaster at or above the Void Transformation Realm and capable of intimidating this band of Jianghu kingpins.

’In the end, I still lack the right people.’

Chen Li sighed inwardly.

However, that didn’t mean he was without a solution.

’If I can’t control it, I’ll let it go.’

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Li spoke again. "However, there is a business proposition I’d like to make you."

Li Sanli, who had just recovered from his initial shock, quickly composed himself and said respectfully, "Patriarch, please give your orders. This subordinate will obey without question."

Chen Li watched Li Sanli with a calm gaze and said, "Starting this year, the Netherworld Ship will give me a fixed payment of five hundred thousand silver taels annually. As for the rest, however much more or less you earn, you will distribute it yourselves. You’ll be responsible for your own profits and losses. I will not interfere."

He paused, watching Li Sanli’s pupils suddenly contract, and continued, "Of course, since I’ll be taking this silver, if anything happens to the Netherworld Ship, I can intervene, depending on the situation. What do you think of this business deal, Gang Leader Sanli?"

"..."

Li Sanli looked up, stunned.

Five hundred thousand taels a year was not a small sum for the Netherworld Ship, but it was definitely within an affordable range.

And in exchange, he would get the backing of an expert with unfathomable power.

This was equivalent to spending a mere five hundred thousand taels to find the Netherworld Ship a Kao Mountain powerful enough to deter the vast majority of forces in Jiangzhou.

Moreover, this Kao Mountain wouldn’t directly interfere in operations. He would still have the final say in everything concerning the Black Market!

This also meant that he, Li Sanli, would remain the de facto controller of the Netherworld Ship, still entitled to a share of the profits and power.

With this Kao Mountain, the business could likely grow even larger and more profitable. After deducting the five hundred thousand taels, his own take might be even greater than before!

The despair and dejection he had felt yesterday—of being so easily subdued by Chen Li, his life no longer his own—vanished in an instant. Li Sanli’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. "Patriarch, do you mean... the Netherworld Ship is still to be run by this subordinate?"

Chen Li’s expression was impassive as he retorted, "What? Was I not clear enough, or do you not understand?"

"This subordinate... understands!"

Li Sanli snapped back to his senses and replied, almost bursting with eagerness.

He cupped his fists and bowed deeply to Chen Li. "From this day forward, my Tuo Long Bang will follow only the Patriarch’s lead."

This declaration held a note of sincerity that had been absent from his previous, purely fear-driven pronouncements.

"Mm."

Chen Li gave a slight nod, his expression noncommittal. "Since you understand, it is settled. The silver taels are to be delivered during the last month of the year. Remember, don’t be late."

"Yes, this subordinate obeys. I would never dare to be late!"

Li Sanli promised in a solemn voice.

Chen Li said no more. His gaze returned to the ledgers on the table as he asked, "I see in your accounts that you’ve profited over five hundred thousand taels from reselling silk this year. Where did you get so much of it?"

Li Sanli answered truthfully, "To answer the Patriarch, this batch of silk is actually old stock. It is precisely the forty thousand bolts of Official Silk that the He Family misappropriated from the Qingshui County Government’s Treasury years ago.

We fled in such a hurry back then. A quantity of silk that large was too conspicuous a target to carry, and we had no time to dispose of it, so this subordinate had it secretly stored away. This year, silk supplies have become scarce everywhere and prices have soared, so I have been gradually taking some out to sell through the Black Market’s channels."

"The He Family’s silk..."

A flash of understanding appeared in Chen Li’s eyes.

He was well aware of the incident, of course; he just never expected that after all this time, the stolen goods were still here in Jiangzhou.

He immediately asked, "How much has been sold? And who bought it?"

Li Sanli replied, "To date, we’ve sold just over nine thousand bolts, not quite ten thousand. I’ve been selling them off piecemeal in the Black Market, so this subordinate hasn’t kept a detailed record of the specific buyers."

Chen Li thought for a moment. "Don’t sell any more of the remaining silk. I have a use for it."

"Yes."

Li Sanli agreed.

Although thirty thousand bolts of silk were quite valuable, giving them up was completely within his range of acceptance at this point.

With all matters settled, Chen Li did not linger. He had Li Sanli arrange for a small boat for his departure.

The night was deep, and the river wind carried a chill.

The small boat cut through the river, gliding silently toward the county seat.

By the time Chen Li returned to the fishing weir where Gossip and the others were staying, it was already dawn.

Just as he stepped through the courtyard gate, a figure hurried out. It was Peng Anmin.

But Peng Anmin’s face lacked its usual composure; it was wrought with anxiety. He lowered his voice and said urgently, "Sir, you’re finally back! Something’s happened!"

Chen Li’s brow furrowed. "What is it?"

Peng Anmin lowered his voice even further, speaking rapidly. "Last night, this subordinate went to check the contact signal point as usual and discovered a mark left by Hall Master Hua. When I followed the mark and found him, he was already heavily injured and unconscious. I’ve brought him back and made him comfortable."

Chen Li’s eyes hardened. "Where is he? Lead the way."

"Sir, this way."

Not daring to delay, Peng Anmin immediately led Chen Li through the front courtyard to a side room in the fishing weir’s rear courtyard.

Pushing the door open, he was assaulted by the thick stench of blood mixed with the scent of Golden Sore Medicine.

Hua Wuxin lay motionless on a wooden plank bed against the wall.

His clothes were torn in several places and soaked through with dark red blood. His face was as pale as paper, his lips were chapped, and his breathing was faint.

On his exposed arms, shoulders, and neck, several wounds cut deep enough to reveal bone were visible. Although they had been crudely bandaged, blood was still seeping through.

The slight rise and fall of his chest showed he was still alive, but the severity of his injuries was obvious at a glance.