In the following days, as Qian Nishang had predicted, the methods employed by the various forces from the county town were endless.
However, she was one of the three proprietors of Mingxin Xuan and had managed the Qian family for twenty to thirty years. What great storms had she not weathered?
The two sides exchanged blows, constantly exerting pressure in the shadows, revealing one trump card after another, stirring up turmoil in the city. Fortunately, no one crossed the line, and at least the disaster relief could be maintained.
"I heard that the various forces from the county town haven't really started disaster relief yet?"
Ji Yuan asked casually as he sat cross-legged before the alchemy furnace.
Beside him, the girl named Dong'er nodded. "According to everyone, those people have hoarded all the supplies transported from the county town and are unwilling to release any of it. It seems they are waiting for a crucial moment to deliver a fatal blow to our Mingxin Xuan."
The thoughts of these people were not hard to guess. They simply wanted to wait until Mingxin Xuan was running out of steam or the disaster relief was nearing its end, and then use the accumulated supplies to seize the final glory.
As long as Mingxin Xuan's reputation among the common people was completely ruined, at the final moment, they could then stand with the governor's office and distribute supplies in the name of the imperial court, claiming all the credit for themselves.
At that time, they would not only receive a large sum of merit but also thwart all of Qian Nishang's objectives, while causing her to waste a vast amount of money and manpower, ultimately only gaining a small portion of merit.
Not only would this thwart her plan to break through with merit, but such a heavy failure, coupled with the immense cost, would be enough to plunge the Qian family, already swaying in the storm, into a complete dead end.
Perhaps they wouldn't even need to wait for decades; with this opportunity, they could completely bring down this once behemoth in just one or two years.
"If we seize their supplies, wouldn't that thwart their scheme?"
Ji Yuan stared at the alchemy furnace before him and suddenly asked softly.
Hearing this, Dong'er first froze, then subconsciously nodded slightly.
Now, let alone in the county town, even within a thousand-mile radius, the grains that could be bought had basically been acquired by them. Even those forces with deep pockets couldn't compete with them in this regard.
This was why these people had planned to hoard their supplies and wait for the final moment to deliver their last blow.
When everything was about to end, they would bring out the large quantities of supplies they had prepared, and under the guise of the imperial court, claim all the achievements of Mingxin Xuan for themselves.
This way, they could not only obtain a vast amount of merit but also share in the rewards bestowed by the imperial court and the silver distributed during this disaster relief.
If their scheme truly succeeded, they could make a huge profit from this disaster relief at the lowest cost.
"But the experts recruited by the proprietor are all being used to maintain the safety of the disaster relief points and guard the supplies in our storehouse."
Dong'er looked at him somewhat hesitantly, implying that there were not enough people to intercept the supplies of those forces.
After a moment of thought, she suddenly said carelessly, "I heard the proprietor say that a batch of supplies prepared by various parties is currently being transported to Qianyu City. It consists of expensive medicinal herbs and precious silk, among other things."
Fortunately, Mingxin Xuan had started preparing early and bought up everything they could. This made it difficult for those forces, despite their wealth, to gather large quantities of supplies in a short period.
Who told them that they had spent their initial time arguing and dividing profits?
Ji Yuan's eyelids twitched, and he looked at Dong'er meaningfully. How could he not hear that someone had instructed her to say this to him?
However, he had already been involved enough in this matter. If he were to do anything more, it would easily attract too much karma.
Yet, karma was precisely what all cultivators feared most. If it could be avoided, they would never provoke it lightly.
This was why cultivators often preferred to cultivate in remote deep mountains, aiming to avoid karma as much as possible and stay out of worldly disputes.
Only those cultivators who had no hope of breaking through and could no longer advance their cultivation in this life would stay in secular cities for the sake of their sect or personal gain, working on relationships and connections for the powers behind them.
"I..."
Therefore, Ji Yuan almost without thinking, prepared to refuse, unwilling to get too entangled.
However, as soon as he spoke, Dong'er, remembering the proprietor's instructions, blurted out, "I heard that the value of the supplies being transported this time is at least over three hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Ji Yuan's voice paused, and his eyelids twitched.
Seeing this, Dong'er took a deep breath and said slowly, "I heard that a band of bandits has entered Luoxia County. I don't know if they will encounter this supply convoy. If they were to intercept it, the proprietor would like to make a deal with them and buy all the supplies."
Three hundred thousand taels... of silver...
Ji Yuan sighed, waved his hand, and sent out a surge of vital energy. The lid of the alchemy furnace before him immediately opened, and refined pills flew out, falling into a wooden box that had been prepared.
"I'm going out for a walk. I've been refining pills for so many days, my body has become a bit stiff."
He muttered a string of words, then grabbed the long sword beside him, casually slung it over his back, and calmly walked towards the door.
In the small room, Zhao Yuebai and Jiang He exchanged glances, and then they couldn't help but laugh. Dong'er beside them was even more bewildered, her mind constantly replaying the proprietor's earlier instructions.
"If he wants to refuse, tell him the value of these supplies, and then say I will buy them all at a high price."
Qian Nishang had said this while drinking hot tea.
The faint smile on her face seemed to confirm that this method would be able to control this money-loving young Daoist.
And the final result was as she expected. Ji Yuan, who had intended to refuse, changed his mind immediately after hearing this. He ambled out and, without realizing it, returned to Xuantian Temple.
In less than a quarter of an hour, two figures, one large and one small, quietly scaled the temple's wall, avoided the sight of the common people as much as possible, then scaled the high city wall, and disappeared into the wilderness outside the city.
"Is this guy... really a Daoist?"
Hearing Dong'er's report, even Qian Nishang, who had anticipated this, couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
She knew Ji Yuan was somewhat fond of money, but she didn't expect him to be so fond of it. She thought that even if he had ideas, he would at least wait until the dead of night before acting.
Who would have thought that after just a few words, he would immediately rush back to call someone and leave the city wall in broad daylight?
Was he afraid that others wouldn't know what he intended to do?
"Proprietor, after spending more time together, you'll get used to it."
Liu Ruyan covered her mouth and chuckled. She was the one who understood Ji Yuan best here.
This young Daoist appeared cautious, but once money was involved, he immediately became bold. He had taken risks more than once or twice, completely like a different person.
She still remembered that a few months ago, she had casually mentioned that there was a monster lurking outside the city, and that if it could be killed, its horns would be worth hundreds of taels of silver.
The next morning, this young Daoist appeared at the entrance of Mingxin Xuan with blood-covered horns...
Hearing this, Qian Nishang placed a hand on her forehead, unsure how to evaluate him.
"Proprietor, Manager Liu, does that Daoist... know the route of the supplies?"
A hesitant voice timidly sounded between the two of them.
Qian Nishang and Liu Ruyan both froze for a moment, and after a while, a sigh of helplessness escaped them.