I am dying of old age, and I have awakened to the character of longevity.

"What? Six hundred taels?!"

Inside the Li residence's inner courtyard, Li Ru slammed his hand on the table upon hearing his son's words, knocking over a blue and white tea bowl, which shattered on the ground.

The Li family had been in business for two generations, and with no major expenses, they had accumulated considerable wealth. However, since Li Shaoyun started practicing martial arts, purchasing resources, and taking care of various matters, their expenses had become enormous.

Madam Li went to comfort Li Ru, "It's done, so venting your anger won't change anything. We still need to find a solution."

Unlike Li Ru, a shrewd businessman, Madam Li was originally a maid from a wealthy family in the county town. She learned to read and write with her masters and was considered well-educated. After marrying into the Li family, she managed the household affairs meticulously, earning her a reputation as a capable wife in Wuciao Town, highly praised by the local gentry.

Perhaps because of this, Li Ru mostly listened to Madam Li's advice on matters not involving money.

After comforting Li Ru, Madam Li asked Li Shaoyun, "Did you offend this new steward?"

Li Shaoyun carefully reviewed the events and finally shook his head, "I stayed in the Black Market of Blood Ridge for four months and only met the new steward for the first time today. During that time, I worked diligently and never offended him. Perhaps… this new steward is at odds with Zhang Biao and saw that I bribed Zhang Biao but not him, so he snubbed me."

Meanwhile, Xie An's days continued to become peaceful.

As Zhang Lin continued to vigorously clear out the bandits in the vicinity of the Black Market of Blood Ridge, the safety factor of the Black Market of Blood Ridge steadily increased. Along with this came better and better business, naturally.

And Xie An's relationship with his subordinates became more and more harmonious. Among them, there were a few troublemakers, and after Xie An repeatedly admonished them without success, he had Liang Zhi break their legs.

From then on, no one dared to offend Xie An, the new steward.

Practicing his skills, drinking tea, chatting with colleagues, and occasionally going out on patrol to show his authority. The rest of the time, Xie An focused on practicing martial arts.

For the elderly Xie An, he enjoyed this peaceful and fulfilling life very much.

One morning three days later.

Xie An was practicing the Fuyang Saber Technique in the courtyard.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. Xie An covered his face and said, "Enter."

As the door was pushed open, Liang Zhi walked in carrying a cloth bag.

Xie An took the cloth bag and opened it.

Silver gleaming with a silvery light.

A full six hundred taels.

Li Shao said, "Li Shao is quite efficient."

After speaking, Liang Zhi took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his inner pocket and presented it to Xie An, "Li Shao also gave me ten taels of silver, but I feel ashamed to accept it. I shouldn't take it."

Xie An glanced at Liang Zhi and became more certain of him, "Take it."

Liang Zhi really wanted to accept it, but fearing that Xie An was testing him, he declined, "This subordinate relies on the steward to make a living, so I should know how to repay kindness and dare not take it for myself."

Xie An smiled, and suddenly changed his tone, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "If I say you can take it, then you can take it."

Sensing the certainty in Xie An's eyes, Liang Zhi accepted the silver and cupped his hands to thank him, "Thank you, Steward."

Xie An waved his hand, signaling Liang Zhi to leave.

In the past few months, Liang Zhi had been dutiful and responsible under his command, without any ulterior motives. He was capable and understood how to handle people, saving Xie An a lot of effort.

He took six hundred taels, and it was right for others to take ten taels.

Xie An even felt that with Liang Zhi's performance, it would be reasonable for him to give him a little more. But Xie An did not open this gate so easily.

On the one hand, if the gate was opened too easily, it would easily fuel the subordinates' corruption.

On the other hand, if he really wanted to bestow favor on Liang Zhi, it shouldn't be at this moment. He should bring some gifts and money to visit his seriously ill old mother, and then the person would truly be grateful to him.

Xie An happily accepted the silver, "Now I have money to customize a heavy saber. Only by holding a heavy saber can I unleash the true power of the Fuyang Saber Technique."

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There was a blacksmith shop in the Black Market of Blood Ridge that was open all year round, and it was open during the day.

It was very convenient.

After a simple breakfast, Xie An met Zhang Lin, who was returning from patrol, just as he was about to leave.

Seeing Zhang Lin's worried face, Xie An couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhang, what's the matter that you look so worried?"

Zhang Lin leaned his blood-stained saber against the door frame and sighed, "It's all because of the Plum Blossom Fiend. Yesterday, the Plum Blossom Fiend extended his hand to our Black Market of Blood Ridge…"

Under Zhang Lin's narration, Xie An learned the details of the matter: A stall owner carrying eight hundred taels of goods money was ambushed on the way home after closing his stall in the early morning. A red wooden plum blossom was left at the scene.

Finally, Zhang Lin sighed in disappointment, "I strengthened the patrols in the vicinity day and night, and finally cleared the bandits in the vicinity, making the Black Market's business better. Now, because of a Plum Blossom Fiend, everyone is panicking, and my efforts have been ruined. This Plum Blossom Fiend is really damn worthy of killing."

Even Master Wei Xiang was injured by the Plum Blossom Fiend. Zhang Lin knew he was not his opponent, so he could only vent his frustration here.

Xie An's heart tightened when he heard this, "Brother Zhang, can you show me that plum blossom?"

Zhang Lin took out a wooden plum blossom smeared with red paint from his pocket and handed it to Xie An, "That's the thing. Now everyone is afraid when they see this thing. The business of the Black Market is likely to decline again."

Xie An looked at the plum blossom for a while, but couldn't see anything unusual, so he put it in his pocket and comforted Zhang Lin, "Brother Zhang, you've worked hard patrolling all night, go and rest early. I'll think of a way to deal with the Plum Blossom Fiend."

After several months of getting along, it was basically established that Xie An was the boss of the Black Market and Zhang Lin was the second in command. Now that something had happened to the Black Market, Xie An naturally had to take the lead in dealing with it.

After saying goodbye to Zhang Lin, Xie An went straight to the blacksmith shop in the Black Market, feeling a sense of urgency in his heart.

Forging a heavy saber was imminent.