Chapter 13

C13 – Lord’s Mansion

​”Before we go any further, I need to know who put up this notice,” Lu Lixing said, gesturing to the notice on the wall. He was certain that it hadn’t been there when he visited two days prior.

“Every shop in Black City was plastered with these notices two days ago,” Caitlin replied promptly. “To my knowledge, they originated from the Lord’s Mansion. Whoever is behind them is likely a high-ranking official there, possibly even the Lord himself.”

Lu Lixing inhaled sharply at Caitlin’s response. The connection to the Lord’s Mansion of Black City was unexpected—the Lord was a formidable cultivator at the peak of Foundation Building, according to rumors.

Anxiety crept into Lu Lixing’s thoughts. If the Lord’s Mansion caught wind of his involvement with the array, the consequences could be dire. He wondered if the risk he took for two hundred thousand was truly justified.

Amidst his indecision, Caitlin’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, then fixed Lu Lixing with an eerie look. “I’ve just been informed of a new decree from the Lord’s Mansion. They’ve updated the reward for the notices. Identifying one array now earns two hundred thousand, and for two arrays, the prize is five hundred thousand.”

The new bounty was staggering—more than double the original sum.

Lu Lixing steeled himself. Indeed, fortune favored the bold.

“Tonight, I’ll consult my grandfather. I’ll return here tomorrow evening, so have some Body Tempering and advanced Brain Domain cultivation resources ready for me—I intend to purchase them,” Lu Lixing said, his gaze intense. “And remember, my grandfather’s involvement must remain confidential. If it leaks, I might only get a beating, but you could pay with your life.”

The stakes were high with the Lord’s Mansion involved. Lu Lixing had to ensure absolute secrecy, and Caitlin, as an informed party, had to maintain it.

While speaking, Lu Lixing handed a slip of paper to Caitlin, unconcerned about the possibility of her pocketing his prize money.

Caitlin’s eyes sparkled as she took the paper from Lu Lixing with a slightly shaking hand. She inhaled deeply and told him, “Just give me a moment!”

She promptly stood up, went to the shop’s entrance, and locked the door, hanging a “Closed for Business” sign. Turning back to Lu Lixing, she instructed, “Come with me to the back.”

Without a moment’s delay, Lu Lixing followed her into the shop’s backyard. He knew that any sign of hesitation or fear might raise Caitlin’s suspicions. Regardless of what dangers might lurk in the backyard, he had to maintain a brave front.

It was a risk he was willing to take.

Caitlin returned from her bedroom carrying an Holo-Brain and set it on the table. “I’m sending the names of these arrays to the Lord’s Mansion right now,” she told Lu Lixing. “Once they confirm, you’ll instantly receive your prize money of five hundred thousand yuan.”

Caitlin glanced at Lu Lixing and continued, “I’ve also prepared advanced cultivation resources worth one million yuan for you today. They’re in the cabinet outside and I’ll hand them over to you shortly.”

Lu Lixing paused, puzzled. “Why would I have one million in advanced cultivation resources?”

He only had a gift of five hundred thousand yuan; surely that wouldn’t cover the cost of resources valued at one million. Was there some hidden aspect of the deal he wasn’t aware of?

“You surely don’t think hiring a level three Runemaster would cost just five hundred thousand?” Caitlin chuckled. She elaborated, “I suspect that the five hundred thousand is merely a token of introduction. The Lord’s Mansion will likely extend an invitation to your grandfather afterwards. Regardless of whether he accepts, they’ll have a generous gift for me to pass on to him. Ultimately, that gift will end up in your hands, and I’ll receive a substantial reward from this deal as well. Consider the additional five hundred thousand in advanced cultivation resources a small token of my appreciation. Please, don’t turn it down.”