Chapter 2832 — A Shift in the Heavens
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Huh? So it was smuggling all along..." Liu Tianli's expression changed at once, and he felt his resolve waver. He no longer wished to be drawn into Boss Lang's affairs.
"Boss Liu, what we say today is just idle talk—you hear it and let it go; once we step out that door, none of it ever happened," Cui Mianshi said. "What our Boss Lang means is that you need only put up the money. You needn't trouble yourself with anything else, and you'll take your share of the profits just by sitting still! The contract we sign can be framed as a loan from our company to yours, repaid with interest. That way, whatever we do has nothing to do with you, Boss Liu, and you needn't fear a thing."
"That does make sense!" For some reason, once Liu Tianli heard Cui Mianshi's words, his heart settled at once. He nodded and said, "All right, then. This business can work. How much do I need to invest?"
"To start with, thirty to fifty million will be plenty. No need for more," Little Pureheart said. He meant to cast a long line to hook a big fish, so naturally he would not name too high a sum at the outset and frighten Liu Tianli away. Even with Cui Mianshi present, the scheme would still succeed, but then Wei Zhao might grow suspicious and wonder whether something was wrong with it—and it would no longer look like an ordinary commercial fraud.
"Oh, that's not so much!" Liu Tianli nodded and said, "Good. Then let's sign the contract right now, and I'll have my finance people wire you the funds."
"Straight to the point—I knew Boss Liu was a man of action," Little Pureheart said, then turned to Cui Mianshi. "Assistant Cui, bring out the contract and let Boss Liu have a look."
"Yes, Boss Lang." Cui Mianshi took the already prepared contract from his briefcase and handed it to Liu Tianli.
Liu Tianli might lack any pioneering spirit, but in business he was a careful and capable hand. He read the contract over closely, found nothing amiss, and signed his name. Then he instructed his secretary, Little Zhang, to set the financial procedures in motion.
"Boss Lang, about those cigarettes—might I have them now? This craving of mine... heh heh..." Liu Tianli truly could not hold out any longer.
"Haha, of course. Little Cui, give Boss Liu the cigarettes!" Little Pureheart hastily instructed Cui Mianshi.
"Right away. Here you are, Boss Liu." Cui Mianshi handed the cigarettes in his hand to Liu Tianli.
Liu Tianli took them and, without a moment's delay, tore open a pack, pulled out a cigarette, and began to puff away in great clouds of smoke...
The Mystic Pill Sect.
Little Taohong knocked cautiously on Tian Canbian's door. These past few days, Tian Canbian had seemed to be in poor spirits. Apart from the necessary pouring of tea and water, he would not let Little Taohong disturb him. He spent his days reading and studying the art of pill refinement, and paid no heed to anything else. Matters of the sect were almost all reported to the Mystic Pill Sect's master, Tianjixing; in the past, Tian Canbian had handled them on his behalf.
"Who is it? Come in!" Tian Canbian said.
"Young Sect Master, it's me, Little Taohong." Little Taohong pushed open the door and said, "Young Sect Master, there is a matter. The Ancestor Xuanzhen, who holds watch over the sect, instructed that you go to him. There is something he wishes to discuss."
"Oh? I'll go at once." Hearing that Ancestor Xuanzhen had summoned him, Tian Canbian immediately set down the book in his hand and strode out of the room toward the side courtyard where Ancestor Xuanzhen was staying.
Little Taohong patted her chest. For some reason, these past few days, when facing the Young Sect Master, she felt an indescribable pressure—as though the Young Sect Master had grown distant from her. And yet perhaps not, for he seemed lukewarm toward everyone.
"Guess who I am?" Just as Little Taohong was lost in thought, a pair of hands covered her eyes.