As Jin Sheng and Tian Shen Ji left, the guards looked at Fu Jia, and one of them asked, "Master Fu, why take that brat? He is only a nosy child, not useful at all."
"What do you know? Did you not see how protective Jin Sheng was of him? If my hunch is right, that brat is Jin Sheng's bastard child. That alone gives him some value. Not taking that into consideration, he is young and clearly smart. A few simple threats and I won't have to worry about my secrets getting out in public like last time, with that infuriating rat, Jia Ru."
"Master Fu, are you still thinking about Jia Ru? We have already cut his tongue and broken his arms. We warned him that if he tries anything funny, we will do the same to his family."
"Are you seriously asking me that? I have lost nights of sleep thinking my secret dealings would be exposed. That rat almost ruined my health!"
Fu Jia was no longer looking for young men; he had almost fallen for the scheme of a young scholar once. In fact, he was relieved that Tian Shen Ji was so young. His gaze swept through the room toward the guard, Da Zhu. Da Zhu was his strongest helper but was not exactly the sharpest tool.
"If I remember correctly, we bought multiple courtyards in the north side of town, in the Outer District. Is there any one left?"
"Yes, Master Fu, there is actually one left. A very decent house with an acceptable price for that zone, but people who know the house don't even want to hear about it."
"Why is that?" Fu Jia asked, a trace of rage on his face.
"They say it's haunted. The house belonged to the town's longest-serving executioner. After his death, the two families that tried to move in suffered tragic events. But the straw that broke the camel's back was when a third-layer Qi Refining cultivator left after only three days, despite having paid three months' rent. Now, no one wants it even at half-price. They say it's cursed by a ghost."
"A bunch of fools! How can there be a ghost in this town? Do you think the two Foundation Establishment ancestors of the Ye and Zhu families are just for decoration?"
"We know, Master Fu, but the people are scared. At best, we could try to lower the rent even more..."
"Absolutely not! I'd rather see it empty than be taken advantage of by some stupid mortal superstition," said Fu Jia.
For Fu Jia, it was unacceptable to lose money, but he didn't have many options. He usually thought it was good that people were stupid—it made them easier to exploit—but in situations like this, it was a hassle. They wouldn't believe him no matter what logical reason he gave.
Then, a flash of inspiration hit him. He could give the courtyard to Jin Sheng's brat for a while. After a couple of months, when it was proven there was no ghost, he could rent it out as normal.
"Ha-ha-ha! I'm such a genius! I've come up with an idea that puts that brat to use while solving my problems at the same time."
"Da Zhu, prepare that courtyard. It will be the new home for Jin Sheng's brat."
"But Master Fu, a whole courtyard for the brat is too much," said Da Zhu with some indignation. He lived in one of Fu Jia's properties as well, but his rented house was relatively small, had no courtyard and shared walls with other houses. Essentially, it was a part of a large mansion that was divided into several rental units.
He had thirteen other people watching his every move.
The only good thing was that it was technically in the Inner District. It was Fu Jia house so it was rented at a reasonable price.
On the other hand, the house the brat was getting despite being in the Outer District with lower Spiritual Qi density was still a standalone house with a courtyard. It offered privacy, and if laying a simple but expensive Qi gathering formation it could be as effective as his Inner District residence.
"Do you think I don't know that? But I need to show those morons that the house isn't cursed. Once they see he's fine, I'll move the brat to more appropriate accommodations."
"I see, Master Fu. As wise as always. I will immediately prepare it," replied Da Zhu shamelessly.
"Ha-ha-ha! Of course I am."
…
"Sir Jin Sheng, how are you even a merchant? You don't get along with anyone. You're abrasive, violent, and you're constantly making enemies everywhere you go."
Jin Sheng scoffed, looking down at Tian Shen Ji. "How am I a merchant? Because I know what things are worth, boy, and most people aren't worth the breath it takes to greet them.
"You will have to learn that, too. There are too many bastards out there ready to waste your time, and time is the only currency you can't earn back. In my trade, I've realized the world is clogged by two kinds of people: the wicked and the foolish."
He narrowed his eyes. "The wicked are easy; they're cowards who prey on the weak but flee from the strong. But the foolish? They're dangerous. As they are supremely confident, utterly certain, and incapable of doubt. You can bargain with a bad person because he understands the concept of a loss, but a fool will sink his own ship just to prove he can swim."
"With them, you don't negotiate. You hit them with the most primordial teachers: pain and fear. You transmit the simplest, most ancient form of understanding so they don't have the room to misunderstand you."
To Jin Sheng, every minute spent being polite to a fool was a loss and if he detested anything, it was losing.
Tian Shen Ji stared at the older man. To anyone else, Jin Sheng was a very strange person, but to him, he was an unexpected mirror. In his past life, Tian Shen Ji had been far more polite to those who didn't know their own worth, or worse, those who thought they were worth everything. But beneath that politeness, he had been even more dismissive than Jin Sheng and likely far more stubborn.
As they silently entered the caravan, Jin Sheng announced, "The caravan leaves in three days, but I will make time tomorrow to take you to Fu Jia. It will be harder to do so on the last day, so prepare everything you have. Do you have any objections?"
"No, not really."
Tian Shen Ji was actually happy with that. He could tell that Fu Jia was a cultivator, but definitely not as strong as Jin Sheng, and certainly not as perceptive.
At the very least not as perceptible as Jin Sheng when it comes to danger and strangeness.
He knew he had lost the chance to pretend to be a normal child in front of Jin Sheng, but Fu Jia was someone who definitely wouldn't give much importance to anything that doesn't bring him money.
Tian Shen Ji couldn't wait to restart cultivating in peace.