Chapter 337 - 162: Neither Household Slave Nor Guest, but the Young Lady Heir’s Close Friend! Attending the ’Banquet of Hongmen’, the Grand Lineage Bows

"Then weigh it, check the quality and type, and prepare the Red Gold to be delivered. Don't shortchange the Fishing Trade."

The Fishing Trade was the Dragon Head of the industry, overseeing the Eight Dock and commanding the business of seafaring and fishing.

Ever since learning several years ago that Lady Beicang needed Spirit Fish for her treatment, they would, from then on, have people present any high-quality, high-grade Spirit Fish they caught every two or three months.

Over time, they became familiar with the Steward of the Marquis's Mansion and eventually caught Xiao Mingli's attention. This allowed the Fishing Trade to establish a connection with the Beicang Marquis's Mansion.

Although it was of no practical use on the surface, to Fishery Master Chen Jing, this was a connection—a tiger's skin to wear.

At the very least, when others saw the Fishing Trade frequently delivering Spirit Fish to the Beicang Marquis's Mansion...

Anyone who saw this would have to weigh the relationship between the two parties, wouldn't they?

However, as far as Xiao Mingli was concerned, it was a fair exchange. She never shorted the Fishing Trade a single tael of Red Gold.

As for what outsiders said, she couldn't be bothered to care. After all, they were doing her a service, so she turned a blind eye and let it be. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"Reporting to the Young Lady Heir, they did not come to present Spirit Fish."

"Lineage Master Chen Jing of the Fishing Trade claims to be an old acquaintance of Young Master Ji's Master. He has prepared a humble gift and arranged a banquet, wishing to invite Young Master Ji over."

"He also said that since everyone works for the 'Beicang Marquis's Mansion,' for the Young Lady Heir's sake, it wouldn't look good for things to get too tense. He is willing to let go of the two previous incidents where the ceremonial flags were shot down."

"He also hopes that Young Master Ji will no longer hold a grudge over their past conflicts."

"He heard that after Young Master Ji won the title of 'Daoist School's Top Card, the Celestial Blade' for his Master, he now aspires to join the Mansion Courtyard and seek a position as a 'Prefecture Official'."

"As it happens, the Fishing Trade has been active in Jiangyin Prefecture for nearly a Hundred Years and has deep connections within the prefecture. They have clansmen serving in the Mansion Courtyard, and one of their Direct Lineage is even a strong contender for a 'Prefecture Official' position this time."

"Therefore, he'd like to recommend some of his clan's talented young men for you to meet, so you can look out for each other in the future."

The message, as it was relayed, showed every courtesy to both the Beicang Marquis's Mansion and Xiao Mingli, and its tone toward Ji Xiu was also perfectly polite.

But after hearing it, Ji Xiu sneered inwardly.

'No longer hold a grudge over their past conflicts?'

'According to my Master, Duan Chenzhou, the bounty placed on my head in the Black Market was incredibly generous—a sum an ordinary Daoist School would hesitate to spend!'

'And looking across all of Jiangyin Prefecture, besides the ridiculously wealthy Medicine and Fishing Trades—whose grandson I killed and whose prestige I repeatedly trampled—who else could afford such an extravagant sum?'

'If I hadn't taken refuge in the Beicang Marquis's Mansion, causing the Black Market bounty to fail and taking down two Celestial Spirit Blade Catchers in the process,' Ji Xiu thought, 'that Lineage Master Chen Jing probably wouldn't be backing down now and sending someone to extend an olive branch.'

'Besides, his words were laced with hidden barbs, constantly hinting at the Fishing Trade's influence—that they even have power within the Mansion Courtyard!'

'Was he implying that if I don't bow my head, I'm disrespecting Xiao Mingli and refusing to settle our grudge? And that if I try to join the Mansion Courtyard later, they have plenty of obstacles and traps waiting for me?'

'This wasn't an olive branch at all. It was clearly a feigned retreat, a veiled advance!'

'But it made sense. Someone of Fishery Master Chen Jing's status, ranked among the 'Upper Nine Lineage Masters, one of the Jiangyin Nine Lords,' controlled the lifeblood of commerce. He could have whatever he wanted.'

'Although his personal strength was only comparable to an ordinary Sect Leader, even a Grandmaster of a School, a True Cultivator who had reached the Leakless realm, couldn't compare to his flamboyant and imposing lifestyle!'

'Why would someone like him ever truly, willingly bow his head to a 'poor boy' from a groom's background like me?'

After hearing all this, Ji Xiu was already pondering how to approach Xiao Mingli and refuse this 'Banquet of Hongmen'.

After all, the Fishing Trade had been paying tribute to the Beicang Marquis's Mansion for years. How long had he and Xiao Mingli even known each other? He couldn't be certain about the true relationship between the Beicang Marquis's Mansion and the Fishing Trade.

But just as Ji Xiu was about to speak...

Xiao Mingli's expression, which had just softened, turned icy cold at a visible speed.

She seemed to have read between the lines.

She looked toward the closed door, her red lips parting as she spoke faintly:

"Is that so..."

Her voice trailed off. She looked at Ji Xiu, hummed softly, and nodded.

"Then I suppose you should meet him."

Ji Xiu's heart sank with a pang of disappointment. 'It seems the Fishing Trade's roots in Jiangyin Prefecture truly run deep, and their relationship with Xiao Mingli is far from trivial. Otherwise, she wouldn't have spoken up.'

'Looks like this trip is unavoidable...'

The young man's lowered head and contemplative expression caught Xiao Mingli's eye, causing a flicker in her gaze. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and her tone turned playful:

"After all, Young Master Ji is not a 'Household Slave,' much less a 'Guest.' He is a friend to me, Xiao Mingli. Hearing of my leg ailment, he braved the wind and waves without a second thought to catch Spirit Fish for me."

"If the Fishery Master who commands the docks doesn't even understand this relationship and makes an enemy of him..."

"...then where would that leave my, the Young Lady Heir's, pride?"

"Go back and report this. Do not change a single word of what I have said."

"Tell Lineage Master Chen Jing to wait patiently. Young Master Ji will grace him with his presence."

"I do not wish to see a situation in the future where Young Master Ji is obstructed at the docks or wharfs when he goes out to sea, nor one where he is unable to procure boats and crew when he needs them."

She raised a delicate brow, her tone completely undisguised as she took Ji Xiu's side.

Her words moved Ji Xiu. He couldn't help but look up, his gaze involuntarily sweeping across her stunning face—a visage of immortal grace and jade-like beauty, exquisitely made-up.

For a moment, the strings of his heart were stirred, sending ripples through him. He couldn't help but lower his head, his gaze softening.