C25 Lee's Trading House

Half a month later, Lee's Trading House opened its doors with its inaugural product, Flower Dew. This delightful fragrance, when applied to clothing, handkerchiefs, and hair, emitted a bouquet of floral scents that invigorated the senses and lingered for hours.

The Flower Dew instantly became a sensation in the brothels, and it wasn't long before it captivated the high society ladies of Yingchang Prefecture. It reached a point where not owning a bottle was tantamount to declaring oneself a country bumpkin.

Next came the qipao, offered in both ready-to-wear and custom-tailored options. Like the Flower Dew, it first took the brothels by storm, then swiftly became the rage among the elite women, spreading with the ferocity of a virus.

Another fortnight passed, and Lee's Trading House unveiled its third offering: books. Plain, ordinary books. This release left many of the more adventurous customers underwhelmed, who begrudgingly picked out a few poetry collections before heading home.

Unbeknownst to them, Lee's warehouse was brimming with an endless supply of books. Their stock was ever-increasing; selling five hundred in a day only meant a thousand would promptly replace them. Lee Cha had revolutionized the industry with his lead type printing technology, significantly enhancing printing efficiency.

The movable type printing technique, invented decades earlier by Bi Sheng, had yet to catch on, which played right into Lee Cha's hands.

Lee's empire continued to grow with the introduction of Lee's Square, a hub for dining and entertainment, the Lee's Fast Food Chain, and the Lee's Dance Theater, among other ventures.

Lee Cha's fortune swelled like a snowball in an avalanche, and those in his orbit, including the second branch of the Xiao family and the nobility of Yingchang Prefecture and other major cities, reaped the benefits.

Concurrently, Lee Cha dispatched envoys to Dali to track down The Infinite Sword School. He had considered going himself, but the news of civil unrest along the way prompted him to proceed with caution.

Before long, word came that all the investigators had gone silent, lost contact. Though he shelved his initial plans, Lee Cha persisted, continually sending out scouts while simultaneously collecting intelligence within the martial arts community.

In the ancient world, the lack of communicators and inconvenient transportation were significant hindrances. A message could take at least half a month to travel back and forth.

On this particular day, the deep recesses of the Lee Mansion courtyard echoed with the clanging of metal on metal. Two figures were locked in a fierce battle. Who could they be other than Lee Cha and Gao Shuai?

Half a year had passed since Lee Cha's transmigration to this time. It was now the sixth year of the Yuanyou era, or 1091 AD. The weather in April was beginning to warm.

Having amassed a fortune, Lee Cha had acquired a luxurious and spacious estate on the outskirts of the city. Now, dedicating merely two hours a day to his martial arts practice, his progress was more rapid than when he had trained all day.

Host: Lee Cha.

Fighting Power: 60

Stage: Body Refining Stage

Cultivation Techniques: Six Directions Stick Technique, Tiger Subduing Palm, Traceless

Lifespan: 19 / 20

Condition: Leukemia (late stage), Pulmonary heart disease (severe)

His fighting power had doubled in just six months, a testament to the advantages of wealth. Exotic herbs were plentiful here; he consumed century-old ginseng and millennium-old lingzhi mushrooms as if they were his last meal. Medicinal baths and spiritual ointments, claimed to be royal secrets, were as common as tap water at Lee Mansion.

From a distance, he appeared even more robust and upright than before.

Clang!

Gao Shuai's sword aimed for Lee Cha's ear, but with a swift move, Lee Cha parried with his dagger.

"How's the reconnaissance at Black Wind Ridge?" Lee Cha inquired, unfazed by Gao Shuai's relentless assault.

Gao Shuai replied, "We've pinpointed the exact location, but none of our men who entered have returned."

With a deft slide of his foot, Lee Cha moved to Gao Shuai's left and thrust his dagger forward sharply.

Gao Shuai countered, his blade meeting the dagger and sending sparks scattering.

"Keep sending reinforcements, but proceed with caution. We don't want to alert their backers," Lee Cha instructed.

Gao Shuai responded coolly, "You have nothing to worry about. I handle things well. Having been one of them, I understand their ways better than anyone."

Lee Cha leapt several meters back, halting the skirmish. His dagger-wielding hand trembled uncontrollably as he frowned and asked, "What's the situation with The Infinite Sword School?"

Gao Shuai executed a spin with his sword, deftly sheathing it.

"I'm quite curious, what exactly are you planning?"

"Don't ask questions you're not supposed to. I have my plans," Lee Cha replied, pulling out a cloth and tenderly wiping his dagger.

Gao Shuai remarked, "The journey there is too long. The closest caravan takes over a month for a round trip, and it'll be another ten days before we can receive any news."

Lee Cha gave a nonchalant hum in response.

With a flick of his wrist, the dagger vanished.

The ring's storage space could hold items.

...

Across the wall from Lee Mansion, in Xiao Mansion, Xiao Qingsong watched the newcomer with a sly smile.

"Well, if it isn't Young Master Xiao. What wind blew you this way?"

The visitor was his cousin, the direct heir of the Xiao family's main branch, Xiao Junjie.

Xiao Junjie's face was stormy as he demanded, "Do you truly intend to wipe us out completely?"

Xiao Qingsong, seemingly oblivious to his cousin's lethal stare, replied leisurely, "That's not quite the right way to put it. Everything we're doing is legitimate trade, after all."

Xiao Junjie retorted, "Humph! If your second branch hadn't deliberately undercut prices, would our main branch be in such dire straits?"

Xiao Qingsong chuckled, "Ah, Young Master Xiao, you seem to be confused. Our branch of the Xiao family is no longer the same as yours. What main branch or second branch are you talking about?" He paused to sip his tea.

Xiao Junjie, barely restraining his anger, looked at him and nearly threw a punch.

"Is there absolutely no chance for compromise?" he asked, his gaze icy.

Xiao Qingsong's smile remained, "If you're willing to return the business you took from us, I'd be more than happy to leave you a comfortable position as a wealthy man."

With a cold huff, Xiao Junjie turned and strode away.

Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Qingsong murmured, "Scoundrel, one day you'll be begging in the streets."

The once unified Xiao family had split into two factions.

The main branch, along with the third through sixth, were now one family, known to outsiders as the Xiao family of the North.

Xiao Mengchang and his son, Xiao Qingsong, of the second branch had broken away, establishing themselves as the Xiao family of Nancheng. In the past, the main branch had gone so far as to involve the authorities in an attempt to reclaim the Xiao's Distillery in Nancheng, but to no avail. Lee Cha's influence ensured that not a single influential figure in Yingchang Prefecture would back the main Xiao family.

Days later, Xiao Mengchang and his son were hit with devastating news: Old Master Xiao was gravely ill, with the doctor giving him no more than three days to live. They rushed back to the family home without delay. That very night, word spread from the Northern Kingdom's Xiao family that Old Master Xiao had died.

As Xiao Qingsong's blood brother, Lee Cha was traditionally expected to pay his respects. However, having never met Old Master Xiao and bearing a grudge against the Northern Xiao family, he chose to disregard this custom.

Several days passed before Lee Cha sent a servant to Xiao Mansion to summon Xiao Qingsong for a meeting to discuss their plans. The servant returned with an update: "Master, Young Master Xiao and his father have not yet come back."

Lee Cha, puzzled, inquired, "Didn't Old Master Xiao's funeral take place two days ago? Why haven't they returned?"

"I am not sure," the servant replied.

Lee Cha and Gao Shuai exchanged a knowing glance after a brief silence. They feared the worst had happened.

...

In the old Xiao family mansion, Xiao Qingsong was bound to a wooden frame, his clothing in tatters, his hair wild, his body smeared with blood. Xiao Junjie stood before him, whip in hand, his eyes icy. "Talk! Reveal the secrets of the Immortal Wine and the recipes," he demanded.

With a defiant laugh, Xiao Qingsong retorted, "Go ahead, kill me if you can. If not, I'll make sure you live to regret ever being born."

Crack! The sound of the whip echoed as a fresh laceration opened across Xiao Qingsong's chest. Agony coursed through him, causing his body to seize and his legs to shake, yet he remained silent, fixing Xiao Junjie with a fierce glare.

"Do you dare to be so bold even in the face of death?" Xiao Junjie sneered, holstering his whip before delivering a brutal kick to Xiao Qingsong's groin.

Xiao Qingsong let out a stifled groan, his eyes bulging as large beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Xiao Junjie approached a bonfire, using tongs to grip a glowing red-hot iron. He chuckled and said, "I've been wanting to carve up that handsome face of yours since we were kids..."

He lifted the iron, examining it closely before slowly extending it toward Xiao Qingsong.

Xiao Qingsong frantically scrambled backward, shaking his head in a vain attempt to dodge the searing metal.

But Xiao Junjie's henchmen were quick to act, seizing Xiao Qingsong's hair and rendering him immobile.

Squeak—Squeak!

A plume of green smoke arose as Xiao Qingsong let out a scream and lost consciousness.

"Hmph! I thought you had more backbone..." Xiao Junjie tossed the iron back into the furnace and left the dimly lit dungeon, clearly unamused.

...

In a secluded residence in Nancheng.

Lee Cha inquired, "What's the situation?"

A servant bowed with a fist to his chest and reported, "Master, Xiao Mengchang and Xiao Qingsong were seen entering the Xiao family's ancestral home and haven't emerged. Also, there was a water leak in one of the Xiao family's houses last night."

Lee Cha pressed further, "Has there been any unusual activity at the Xiao family's old residence?"

The servant replied, "Our informants have spotted several strangers in the past few days, likely soldiers from the army."

Gao Shuai speculated, "The Xiao family's eldest son is deeply connected with Zhang Ming. Could these be Zhang Ming's men?"

Lee Cha snorted with disdain, "Zhang Ming, that double-dealing cur, has lined his pockets at Lee's Trading House and still cozies up to Xiao Mengde. Does he think I'm blind?"

Gao Shuai suggested, "Zhang Ming is a formidable fighter with considerable clout. We should prioritize the rescue and deal with him later."

"Call our people together," commanded Lee Cha.

Gao Shuai nodded in agreement and quickly departed with the square-jawed man.

Lee Cha, toying with a dagger in his hand, gazed at the moon and murmured, "Wealth indeed has the power to sway hearts..."

...

In the dungeon beneath Xiao Mansion, Xiao Qingsong was jolted awake by a splash of cold water. He slowly opened his eyes, his eyelids feeling as though they were weighed down with lead.

A searing pain engulfed his entire body, eliciting an involuntary moan from him.

His voice was raspy, and the blood-flecked, charred scar on his face lent him a particularly menacing air.

Through his withered gaze, he stared emotionlessly at the middle-aged man before him.

The man standing before him was Xiao Mengde, the formidable head of the Xiao family.

In a grave tone, Xiao Mengde asked, "Did that old man pass anything to you before he died?"

Xiao Qingsong let out a chuckle.

"Spit it out!" Xiao Mengde demanded, pressing his staff against Xiao Qingsong's forehead.

"You're finished, old man. Your entire family is doomed... Hahaha!" Xiao Qingsong cackled maniacally.

Without warning, Xiao Junjie lunged forward, landing a kick in Xiao Qingsong's abdomen.

A mouthful of blood spewed forth as his face contorted in pain.

Yet, he continued to smile, as if to taunt Xiao Junjie for his lack of force.

Xiao Mengde gestured dismissively, "He's been with the Xiao family for ages. He must have stashed it away somewhere. Find it before anyone else gets wind of it."

"Understood." With a scornful glance at Xiao Qingsong, Xiao Junjie hurried off.

Watching Xiao Qingsong descend into frenzy, Xiao Mengde couldn't help but join in the laughter, then added, "You're likely unaware that last night, the second residence went up in flames. And your dear father, my younger brother, was too drunk to escape. Such a shame, indeed..."

Slowly lifting his head, Xiao Qingsong fixed a venomous glare on Xiao Mengde, then erupted in a furious struggle, bellowing, "If you dare, kill me! Do it! Kill me!"