Chapter 592
As soon as the words left his mouth, a fishbone boat returned, and a middle-aged man with a simple, honest appearance and bronze skin stepped down. He wore a headscarf, clearly someone accustomed to the sun and wind at sea, his expression radiating satisfaction.
He directed the sailors to unload box after box, filled with blood corals, whale ambergris, and gleaming gold and pearls, all dazzling to behold.
“Folks, this trip was a bountiful harvest! Those who came out to sea with me have already struck it rich!”
“Look at this boat, fully loaded! Too bad I went out and didn’t catch a thing.”
“Not catching anything is one thing, but my brother hasn’t returned from the sea yet.”
“This is all about luck.”
Around them, people preparing to set sail or returning from the sea expressed their envy and amazement.
“Luck? If only I had brought that little bean, Shang Li, along…”
Li Mo chuckled to himself, shaking his head. He didn’t need to rely on luck; it was easier to buy what he wanted than to fish for it.
Just then, the middle-aged man, having spotted Li Mo, brightened up and approached him.
“Hey, young brother! You walk with such confidence and vigor. How about teaming up for a sea venture? We can split the costs right down the middle.”
“?”
“We’ll split the haul seventy-thirty.”
“Why only seventy percent for me?”
“Little brother, seventy percent is for me… after all, I have the experience and know the tricks of the trade at sea, including treasure hunting. I’m the one who finds the goods. If luck is on our side, we could make tens of thousands of taels…”
“Sorry, but I think I’ll pass. That kind of money comes too slowly.”
“?”
Li Mo waved his hand to refuse, but Qian Changlao, ever vigilant, pulled him aside, away from the crowd.
Once the middle-aged man was out of sight, Qian Changlao let out a sigh of relief.
“Xiao Mo, you’re quite sharp. You sensed something was off about that sea-goer.”
Li Mo was taken aback; he didn’t usually scan people with his Tianming Divine Eye: “I didn’t know.”
“…”
Qian Changlao fell into deep thought.
So, you really think that money comes too slowly?
With the majority of his wealth tied up in Qingyuan Sect, Old Qian suddenly felt the weight of poverty pressing down on him, as if he wanted to squat down and draw circles on the ground.
“Elder Qian, what’s wrong with that man?”
Li Mo asked again.
“Ah… these people aren’t genuine sea-goers; they’re con artists. The way he kept calling everyone ‘family’ felt off to me.”
Qian Changlao shared his streetwise experience.
Teaming up for a sea venture did exist, but it was a gamble; one could go months or even years without a catch if luck was against them.
While there were indeed cases of sudden wealth, most people didn’t have such luck. Not losing money or even losing one’s life was considered fortunate.
Over time, some people developed crooked ideas, using the guise of sea ventures to swindle outsiders.
Some would bury goods in the sand beforehand, giving the illusion of a catch, but it was far from worth the ticket price. And there were even more unscrupulous schemes…
“So if we really went out to sea with them, good luck would just mean losing money, and bad luck could cost us our lives?”
They say the East Sea is deep.
Today, he finally understood just how deep it was.
Xiao Li remained silent, quietly activating his Tianming Divine Eye.
...
In the crowd, the burly man frowned as he watched Li Mo and Qian Bufan disappear from view.
He returned to the boat, and the cabin below was a different world, exquisitely arranged, filled with the scent of sandalwood, resembling a study.
At a desk sat a young man, cheeks puffed out, with a square face and a hint of menace in his brow, dressed in a richly patterned purple robe.
Behind him stood an elder, similarly attired, exuding a heavy aura, likely an outsider.
His appearance… was like a younger version of the elder.
“Shall we, Master? That kid is quite alert, and he has a senior from his sect with him. I couldn’t trick him into going out to sea.”
The middle-aged man clasped his hands.
“You didn’t mention the potential haul?” the young master asked, puzzled.
“I did.”
“Even with that, he didn’t bite? Could it be our judgment is off?” The young master murmured to himself.
The elder spoke up, “Qingyuan Sect has limited resources. Even if Li Mo has some other inheritance, with Shang Wu as his master, he can’t be doing too well. I think he was tempted, but he’s too deep in thought to be easily lured.”
“Master, this region of Donghuang should rightfully be ours to control.”
“What belongs to us, we must reclaim with our own hands!”
The elder seemed to have a fiery temper.
“I know you’re a bit anxious, but hold on for a moment.”
The young man in the purple robe rubbed his temples, deep in thought:
“Our analysis should be correct; Qingyuan Sect doesn’t have much left, and the rare treasures are only available at the Dongzhu Building auction.”
“As long as we can drain Li Mo and Qian Bufan of their funds, they’ll naturally take the bait and might even risk going out to sea.”
“How do we do that?”
“By helping them spend some money. Spending money is my specialty.”
The young man in the purple robe wore a confident and relaxed smile.
...
Qian Bufan said, “Let’s go, we should check things out first.”
In truth, the market was a mixed bag, hard to discern between genuine and fake, and even with effort, they might not find anything good. But with a limited budget, Old Qian planned to make small investments for big returns.
“Let’s head to Dongzhu Building first.”
Li Mo shook his head, unwilling to waste time.
“Xiao Mo, Dongzhu Building has only the finest goods, but they charge a hefty commission…”
“Is it really that steep?”
“No choice; they have the best reputation and the clout to set such rules. We should check the market first…”
“Not necessary!”
Xiao Li’s smile was filled with ease and confidence, as if he were solving a troublesome problem:
“Why not just become the owner of Dongzhu Building?”
---
**Chapter 686: Giving Benefits to the Family...**
The next morning, the exotic sea market was bustling more than ever, with the streets teeming with people.
Today marked the official opening of the sea market, which would last for a month. The first few days were the most lively, with the highest number of vendors and buyers seeking their desired treasures.
“Five hundred-year-old sea silk! Perfect for making garments!”
“Crab clan treasure, a family secret recipe, the only one in the world! I went through great lengths to acquire it, starting at eight hundred taels of gold!”
“Aren’t crab clan secret recipes never shared? Yours can’t be fake, right?”
“Impossible! I stole it myself!”
Stalls lined the sea market, from small roadside vendors to larger shops, each employing their own tactics to attract customers.
Some relied on great discounts, others on captivating stories, and some simply on loud voices.
But no matter the promotional strategy, nothing shone as brightly as the center of today’s sea market.
Not far away, the exquisitely designed Dongzhu Building displayed shimmering images, as if casting a spell over the entrance. Among the visuals was a beautiful sea clan woman holding treasures, alongside a sunny young man.
It was an advertisement created using a mirage-like principle!
It seemed they were showcasing products… or rather, live streaming?
“Hey, Xiao Tian, hold the items up properly. Yes, one hand above your head, let it hang down…”
Li Mo directed Lan Tian to pose, placing the items in her hands.
Friends who often drank coconut milk might find her somewhat familiar…
Yesterday, Xiao Li had successfully become the largest owner of Dongzhu Building with his gold mountain and mysterious crystal, not just because of money, but also due to advanced business concepts and… the royal merchant’s golden reputation.
By chance, he encountered Lan Tian, who was selling local seafood.
With a promise of meals and a generous salary, he successfully recruited the foodie girl, making her the first female host under Dongzhu Building.
However, Lan Tian had never done this before and was quite nervous, so Li Mo personally guided her this time.
“Isn’t that Li Jianhao, the first of Qianlong, with his fourth-level extraordinary scene?”
“I heard he has a powerful sword.”
“Is he getting married to Han Xianzi and giving out benefits? Sounds too good to be true; let’s see what the benefits are.”
Even by the East Sea, Li Mo’s reputation had spread far and wide.
Instantly, people gathered around Dongzhu Building, forming layers of onlookers.
“The sea market is open, and as I’m about to get engaged, let’s celebrate together! I’m treating everyone to some benefits.”
“Are you still worried about being short on cash? Dongzhu Building is launching the Jinshan subsidy!”
“Are you still hesitant to buy something that you’ll only use once because it’s too expensive? Don’t worry, there’s a second benefit: if three people team up, you’ll get an extra ten percent off!”
“If that’s not enough…”
Li Mo paused, a playful smile on his face, then awkwardly closed his mouth.
This moment of suspense piqued the curiosity of the crowd.
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