Chapter 110: Private Discussions

The cool shade of the inner courtyard provided a quiet relief from the morning heat as Lu Feng was escorted into the grand reception hall of the Lin estate. The hall was elegantly furnished, lined with polished sandalwood furniture, painted silk scrolls depicting mountain landscapes, and the subtle, soothing aroma of burning jasmine incense floating through the air.

Lin Laifu sat at a wide mahogany desk piled high with thick ledgers, bamboo scrolls, and stacks of brass coins. Upon hearing the footsteps, the plump manager looked up, his sharp eyes widening in pleasant surprise the moment he recognized his visitor. He immediately set down his calligraphic brush, wiped his hands on a silk handkerchief, and hurried around the desk to greet Lu Feng with a warm, broad smile.

"Young Master Lu!" Lin Laifu exclaimed, bowing respectfully. "What a wonderful surprise! I was just going over our commercial distribution reports. Please, sit, sit! Let me have the servants bring out our finest brewed jade-leaf tea."

"There is no need for grand formalities, Manager Lin," Lu Feng replied with a relaxed smile as he took a seat in a carved wooden armchair. "I was in the area and decided to drop by to check on our recent arrangements."

"Ah, you must be referring to the high-grade pills you provided earlier!" Lin Laifu’s face beamed with professional pride. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low, enthusiastic tone. "I have already made meticulous preparations for them, Young Master. The news of such pure, unadulterated pills has been discreetly circulated among a few wealthy clan elders and high-tier merchants who are desperate to break through their current bottlenecks. I have organized an exclusive, private trading session for tomorrow afternoon. I assure you, the bidding will be fierce, and the returns will be exceptional."

Lu Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Your efficiency is very impressive, Manager Lin."

Reaching inside the inner fold of his wide robes, Lu Feng produced three small, stoppered porcelain bottles, their surfaces polished to a fine sheen. He placed them softly onto the wooden table between them.

"Since your buyers are eager, you might as well add these to tomorrow’s arrangements," Lu Feng said calmly.

Lin Laifu’s eyes practically sparkled as he picked up one of the bottles, gently pulling the wooden cork just enough to catch a breath of the rich, potent medicinal aroma contained within. His breath hitched for a moment before he carefully resealed it, handling the bottle as if it were made of delicate glass.

"Pure... absolute perfection," Lin Laifu murmured, marveling at the quality. "Three more bottles! Young Master Lu, with this quantity and purity, tomorrow’s sale will undoubtedly set a record in our district’s local market. You have my word that every single piece of gold will be accounted for."

"I have complete confidence in your management," Lu Feng said easily. He paused for a brief moment, letting the silence settle into the room before smoothly shifting the topic. "On another note, Manager Lin, while I was coming through the commercial district, a certain name happened to cross my path. Have you ever heard of someone called ’Black Rat’?"

Lin Laifu froze for a fraction of a second, the cheerful expression on his round face instantly giving way to a serious, cautious frown. He glanced toward the heavy wooden doors of the reception hall to ensure no servants were lingering nearby before turning back to Lu Feng.

"Black Rat?" Lin Laifu repeated in a hushed tone. "Young Master, that is not a name one hears in respectable merchant circles. Black Rat is a prominent sub-commander within the Iron Fang Gang."

"The Iron Fang Gang?" Lu Feng echoed, leaning back into his chair with an air of mild curiosity.

"Indeed," Lin Laifu explained, his voice low and serious. "They are an infamous underground group operating deep within the shadow of Crimson Vale. Unlike normal merchant guilds or official security guards, the Iron Fang Gang thrives in the dark—handling extortion, illegal smuggling, high-stakes protection rackets, and mercenary intelligence gathering for whoever has enough coin to pay. Black Rat himself is known to be a ruthless, calculating man who commands a network of street rogues, scouts, and low-level enforcers across the lower sectors."

Lin Laifu looked at Lu Feng intently, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "If I may ask, Young Master Lu... where exactly did you come across such a dark name?"

Lu Feng maintained a perfectly composed, unbothered expression, his dark eyes showing not a single trace of deceit.

"It was nothing major," Lu Feng answered smoothly, waving a hand dismissively. "Shortly before I visited your estate, I stopped by the Laughing Toad Tavern for a quick pot of tea. While sitting near the corner, I happened to overhear two rough-looking men at a nearby table whispering the name ’Black Rat’ to one another. The moment the name was uttered, the second man visibly shivered in fear and completely dropped the subject. It struck me as quite peculiar, so I was simply curious to know what kind of figure could inspire such immediate dread in the lower district."

Lin Laifu let out a long breath of relief, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Ah, I see! That makes perfect sense. To ordinary people and low-level street thugs, the Iron Fang Gang is indeed a terrifying entity. They are like venomous snakes in the tall grass—rarely seen in broad daylight, but dangerous if stepped on. It is wise to pay them no mind, Young Master Lu. As long as we do not cross into their turf or disrupt their underground trade, they generally avoid poking their noses into noble affairs."

Lu Feng offered a calm, approving nod, keeping his true thoughts completely locked away. He certainly had no intention of revealing that two covert operatives belonging to that very same Iron Fang Gang were currently bound, gagged, and held captive deep within his own estate grounds after attempting to scout his perimeter the night before.

"I appreciate the enlightenment, Manager Lin," Lu Feng said, standing up from his chair and smoothing out his robes. "It is good to know the lay of the land."

Lin Laifu immediately stood as well, bowing low. "It is my duty, Young Master. As for the revenue from these three new bottles along with the previous batch, I will have the full payment processed, verified, and delivered directly to your estate either late tomorrow evening or by the following morning at the very latest."

"That sounds perfect," Lu Feng replied, offering a warm nod. "I shall leave the matter in your capable hands."

With their business concluded, Lin Laifu personally escorted Lu Feng out to the courtyard, bidding him a respectful farewell as the grand gates opened once more to the afternoon light.

Stepping back onto the quiet avenue, Lu Feng looked down the long road ahead, his eyes sharp and filled with quiet calculation. Armed with the identity of the shadowy force lingering around his property, he began his unhurried walk back toward his estate.