Oh well. Since the Yangshan Archipelago had already been sold, whatever entanglements developed between the pirates and this youth were no concern of Bailie's.
Bailie could simply sit back and enjoy the show.
Having reasoned this out, Registrar Yang changed the subject, continuing to accompany He Lingchuan in admiring the scenery and chatting idly.
On the return voyage, the remains of another yin hui drifted past the hull of the boat, yet He Lingchuan and his men acted as if they hadn't seen it, not even asking a single question.
Right up until the pleasure boat docked and everyone disembarked, He Lingchuan never asked once about the anomalies of the Yangshan Archipelago, much less uttered the words "yin hui."
Registrar Yang knew this wasn't normal.
Those dozen-odd burly men of his weren't blind. To turn a blind eye to such strange occurrences and pointedly ask nothing meant Young Master He already knew what was going on.
This island purchase itself was certainly no simple matter.
Upon arriving at Blade Harbor, he accompanied He Lingchuan's party to the designated restaurant.
Seeing He Lingchuan ascend the stairs, Lu Qing'an, who had been waiting there for some time, came forward with hearty laughter. "A bumpy boat ride, no doubt. Young Master He has had a tiring journey."
"The sea was calm and peaceful today, just full of odd occurrences," He Lingchuan exchanged pleasantries with a smile. "If anyone had a tiring journey, it was Registrar Yang."
The moment Lu Qing'an heard this, he knew something had happened on their trip out to sea. He cast a glance at Registrar Yang. Just as the latter was about to speak, He Lingchuan beat him to it: "However, I'm quite satisfied with the inspection and reclaiming of the outer islands. So why don't we clear up the remaining formalities and handovers? What do you say, Eldest Master Lu?"
Paying the final installment already? Lu Qing'an perked up immediately. "Splendid, splendid! Young Master He is truly straightforward!"
Finishing the handover and getting his hands on the silver as fast as possible was top priority. Everything else could wait.
Left out in the cold, Registrar Yang quietly closed his mouth again.
Lu Qing'an had already prepared the acceptance agreement. He produced it, and both parties signed in duplicate, each retaining a copy.
He Lingchuan briskly handed over the remaining forty thousand taels and smoothly obtained the deed to the Yangshan Archipelago.
With this deed in hand, others could now call him "Island Master He."
Agreement, deed, receipt—all the paperwork was in order.
The ownership of the Yangshan Archipelago was finally settled.
He Lingchuan clicked an abacus in his mind. Eighty thousand taels of silver parted with just like that, leaving him with only two hundred thousand taels in cash.
Spending money was as fast as earning it was hard.
Lu Qing'an also felt a twinge of wistfulness. The Lu family had liquidated ancestral assets more than once, but never had anything been sold as cheaply as the Yangshan Archipelago today.
Yet feeling the silver banknotes worth forty thousand taels, he consoled himself: chicken ribs that weren't cashed in would always remain chicken ribs, dragging down heaps of maintenance costs for nothing.
Thus, the ultimate benefit of this deal was actually far more than eighty thousand taels.
"Young Master He has had a tiring journey. Please enjoy some tea, listen to the opera, and rest well here. I have clan business to attend to, so I must take my leave first."
He couldn't be bothered dealing with this playboy; the moment the money was in hand, he was eager to leave.
He Lingchuan smiled. "Of course. May I ask where one can purchase Shaoling ore in Bailie?"
"Shaoling ore?" Lu Qing'an was unfamiliar with that trade, so he turned to Registrar Yang. "Do you know?"
Registrar Yang pondered for a moment. "If Young Master He doesn't require a large amount..."
"Just for weapon crafting. Around three hundred jin or so," He Lingchuan added. "Raw ore will do."
"Your Yangshan Archipelago has it."
"Oh?" He Lingchuan blinked in surprise. Right on his own islands?
It even had ore? Were the islands' resources that bountiful?
"I recall it's... it's one of the islands in the central archipelago..." Registrar Yang furrowed his brow, thinking for a good while. "Lei Ni's family definitely knows. Her father even went to the island to mine it before!"
"Good." He Lingchuan didn't drag it out either, cupping his hands toward Lu Qing'an in farewell. "Eldest Master Lu, let's keep in close touch in the future!"
"Certainly, certainly. May we have many more cooperations in the days ahead!"
Lu Qing'an chuckled and headed downstairs, with Registrar Yang following behind.
He exited the restaurant and climbed into his carriage, letting out a long breath of relief.
The curtain lifted, and Registrar Yang boarded as well, whispering, "Eldest Master, there was something strange about this trip."
"Speak." Lu Qing'an closed his eyes, not particularly concerned. The deal was done and settled, goods and silver exchanged. What tricks could this He fellow pull now?
Registrar Yang proceeded to recount all the mishaps they had encountered that morning in thorough detail.
Hearing this, Lu Qing'an sat bolt upright. "You mean he might have known all along that there are yin hui in the Yangshan Archipelago?"
"Those remains floated right past him, and the Lei girl mentioned them more than once, yet Young Master He didn't ask a single word," Registrar Yang answered plainly. "From the half-day your humble servant spent with him, Young Master He appears careless and cynical on the surface, but he reacts swiftly and has immense nerve."
Otherwise, how would he have dared to go negotiate with pirates?
"He knows about the yin hui, and likely knows about the anomalies in the Yangshan Archipelago as well." Lu Qing'an recalled the analysis he and his father had made: the archipelago had suddenly undergone an upheaval, and He Lingchuan had appeared right at that time. The timing was far too coincidental.
In other words, He Lingchuan most likely already knew the situation in the Yangshan Archipelago, yet still insisted on buying it.
What could his reason be?
Could he actually have a way to deal with the yin hui and the yin fiend turbidity?
Recalling the mutilated carcasses of the yin hui on the beach of Blade Harbor, Lu Qing'an shuddered. Could that have been He Lingchuan's doing?
Yet on second thought, how could that be possible?
Back then, the ancestors of the Lu clan had hired renowned experts across the realm, yet none could dispel the yin fiend energy on Yangshan Island. The He boy wasn't even twenty; what brilliant solution could he possibly have?
After some thought, he instructed Registrar Yang to keep his lips sealed. There was no need to trouble his father with such messy matters.
***
When Dong Rui found his way to the restaurant, He Lingchuan was lounging on a soft armchair, watching the actors on the stage below sing coloratura opera tunes.
The table was filled entirely with tea snacks and pastries, a splendid spread.
"You're here? Have a seat and drink some tea," He Lingchuan greeted him. "The opera is quite good. Lu the Eldest paid for our entertainment."
Ever since changing his face, Dong Rui had grown increasingly fond of bustling public places. This restaurant in particular had a resident opera troupe that put on quite a performance. He stretched lazily before sitting down. "Why is there no wine? I want wine."
If he wanted to drink tea, why not go to a teahouse? Why come to a restaurant?
"Drinking wine costs our own money." Lu Qing'an hadn't lied; He Lingchuan could rest here, drink as much tea and watch as much opera as he pleased, all prepaid by the Lu family.
However, meals and wine were extra expenses that He Lingchuan would have to pay out of his own pocket.
That Lu Qing'an was truly stingy, He Lingchuan stroked his chin and thought. The last time they signed the initial agreement and Lu Qing'an treated him, had he been too unreserved? He had picked only the most expensive dishes and drunk only the finest wine.
This time, Lu Qing'an wasn't falling for it again, covering only the private room and the tea.
The moment the final payment was made, the treatment dropped. Sigh! The Lu family truly didn't understand the tricks of doing business—no wonder their territory kept shrinking.
Dong Rui was adamant. "I want wine, and you're buying!"
What was the big deal about spending a bit of silver? This kid was even stingier than the Lu family!
"You're going to drink wine with tea pastries?" Could so many pastries and sweet confections possibly go with wine?
"Yes."
"Fine, fine." He Lingchuan snapped his fingers a few times to summon a waiter.
Dong Rui cut in first. "What's the best wine you have here?"
"Berry Brew. It's brewed from four kinds of berries and mountain spring water..."
"We'll take that. Bring two jars to start!" Dong Rui ordered without the slightest hesitation. "Also bring us a plate of spicy shredded chicken, a plate of wine-lees clove fish, and a plate of sliced conch in aged vinegar!"
He Lingchuan could only smile wryly.
Dong Rui paid him no heed, tapping out the rhythm on his knee as he watched the opera.
Only after the food and wine were served dish by dish did he ask He Lingchuan:
"Out with it. What do you want my help with this time?"
He Lingchuan looked bemused. "Can't I invite you for tea and opera just to catch up? Must there always be an ulterior motive?"
"So you called me over purely out of boredom? Really nothing going on?"
"Really nothing." He Lingchuan lifted a jar to pour him wine. "Come on, eat and drink your fill. How many coppers does a meal cost anyway? Don't hold back on my account."
With that, he called the waiter back and ordered several substantial dishes.
There were slow-roasted, juicy lamb chops, plump stir-fried crabs, and when the final basin was brought to the table, Dong Rui swallowed hard.
Su-such a hearty dish?
The basin was larger than an infant's washbasin. Resting inside was a magnificent, multicolored giant lobster weighing at least six or seven jin. Just a single antenna was longer than Dong Rui's arm.
Of course, once cooked, the lobster turned a uniform red.
The waiter announced the dish with a flourish: "Our establishment's crowning specialty—Tihu Lobster!"
"Whoa, I've wanted to try that for ages."
*Tihu* was cheese, so the dish was essentially cheese lobster.
Blade Harbor was a distribution hub for goods from all directions, where all kinds of ingredients and spices converged. As long as one had money, any rare or bizarre delicacy could be enjoyed, including this tihu lobster, which seemed peculiar to most common folk.
When the rich, buttery aroma mingled with the fresh sweetness of the lobster, He Lingchuan found himself at a loss for words, able only to exclaim in awe:
"Holy crap!"
No more words needed; he rolled up his sleeves and dug in.
Like a whirlwind sweeping through clouds, they devoured most of the food and wine.
From time to time, Dong Rui sneaked glances at He Lingchuan, watching him drink and critique the opera performance as though without a care in the world.
Several times Dong Rui started to speak only to hold back, but He Lingchuan paid no attention.
Finally, an itch in Dong Rui's chest became unbearable. He slammed his silver chopsticks onto the table with a sharp clatter.
"All right, out with it!"
He Lingchuan looked utterly bewildered. "Out with what? Is the song not good?"
"Cut the act!" Dong Rui's heart had been suspended in suspense the entire time, and he had to lay the cards on the table. "How could a miser like you treat someone for no reason?!"
And treating him to such heavy, lavish dishes, no less!
An unprompted courtesy always masks an angle.
The moment that basin of lobster arrived, alarm bells had started ringing in his head. Who knew what impossible task this He fellow was going to dump on him this time!
He Lingchuan slowly sipped his wine and let out a satisfied breath. "Ah, marvelous.
"Actually, in looking for you today, there really is something."
Dong Rui stared at him with an "I knew it" look on his face.
"At the center of the Yangshan Archipelago, there are a few islands where human feet have never trodden. They aren't large, the terrain is flat, and the scenery is lovely. Once I eliminate the yin fiend energy there, do you want to take one and be its island master?"
Dong Rui froze, his brain stalling for two whole breaths before he processed the words. "You want to give me an island?"
Oho, there's such a good thing?
"With forty-two islands, it's impossible for me to develop all of them at once." He Lingchuan rested his chin in his hand. "One takes the color of his company, and we've been striving side by side for so long. When good fortune comes my way, how could I forget you?"
Dong Rui immediately blurted out, "Isn't there an Alfalfa Island over there? That's the one I want!"
Chapter 901