I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1075 - Chapter 1075 Chapter 369 Misfortunes Never Come Singly

Chapter 1075: Chapter 369: Misfortunes Never Come Singly Chapter 1075: Chapter 369: Misfortunes Never Come Singly “`

However, the small courtyard’s finances, which had no income but only expenses, did not get any relief from this favorable development. Instead, a few days later, they plunged into an even greater slump.

The reason was that a prostitute from Yunliu Alley fell ill, hovering between life and death. When the pharmacy refused to treat her, Brother Tian stepped in. Not only did he provide money and medicine, but he also gave away all of his family’s preserved meat and food to the prostitute who had to stop working to recuperate.

After receiving a kowtowing thank-you from the mother and child, Brother Tian found himself saddled with a huge debt.

Though it was called a huge debt, it was actually just around two hundred gold coins in size–however, for the small courtyard’s current finances, this was practically the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Tang Luo, however, remained calm. As long as he overcame his mental barriers, his Void Stomach could digest even dirt. But Brother Tian was different; as a martial artist with a unity of spirit and intent, his daily nutritional needs far exceeded those of ordinary people. Now, the only thing to eat in the courtyard was medicinal herbs, which were not only expensive but also not filling.

In just a few days, Brother Tian became noticeably thinner. In fact, if he used some special techniques, a martial artist could consume even less than ordinary people. It’s not a big deal to go without food for three or five days, or even ten days to half a month. However, Brother Tian constantly practiced the Yun Clan’s disguise technique, which meant his consumption was naturally far greater than that of an average person, leading to significant food depletion.

If one big eater could bring down a restaurant, then two could bring down a whole street.

Seeing Brother Tian suddenly looking thin and haggard, Tang Luo advised, “Look, don’t use your disguise technique in the courtyard. You practice even when you’re home–how much Spiritual Power must that use up every day? You said at the beginning of the year you had stocked up enough food for a year. But given your current appetite, even without me, that food wouldn’t last three months. Your math isn’t quite right!”

After hemming and hawing for a long time, Brother Tian could not rebut. The food he had stocked up would indeed have been enough for him, because he used to live alone and could disperse his myriad disguise techniques upon returning home. But now that he continued to practice even at home, his consumption naturally increased significantly, so it made sense that the food was not enough. However, he certainly was not about to explain this to Tang Luo.

Instead, he offered encouragement, “It’s all right, it’ll soon get better! Counting the days, in a few more days, the Huangfu trade group led by Brother Huangfu will return from Beimang. I have a thirty percent share of the goods with them. Once we sell the spiritual medicines, we can go back to eating well. By then, Big Brother will buy half of a spiritual beast for us to nourish ourselves properly!”

Whether it was an illusion or not, Tang Luo felt that there was a green glint in Brother Tian’s eyes as he said this.

Since the person with an empty stomach wasn’t worried, Tang Luo, who could eat corn husks, had even less reason to fret.

…

Longzhou Calendar, 1785, the ninth day of the tenth month

Whether it was fate or a true response to Brother Tian’s prayers, the Huangfu trade group really did return to Chaochang.

Contrary to expectations of a lucrative expedition, the leader of the trade group, Huangfu Facai, died in Beimang. More than half of the group’s beast carriages were lost, and only a few old shopkeepers returned to Chaochang with Huangfu Facai’s only son and the remaining goods.

Such is the nature of commercial caravans–one successful trip might establish an economic foundation for a clan, but a failure could lead to nothing at all.

The Huangfu Family was on the verge of transforming from a large trading entity to an established clan. However, this failed venture could very possibly drag the Huangfu Family into the mire.

After entering the city, Huangfu Wang, the sole son of Huangfu Facai, handed over the task of selling the goods to his shopkeepers and hurriedly made his way to the East Market.

“`

Following his father’s final request, Tang Luo arrived at Brother Tian’s doorstep, and with tears streaming down his face, he knocked his head to the ground with force, “Brother Tian, before my father died, he asked me to come find you once I got back to Chaochang, he said you have a way to save the lives of the Huangfu family’s old and young!”

Brother Tian was initially stunned, then recognized the young Huangfu Wang, helped him up, and had him come inside, “Come in and talk!”

The young man, disoriented and devastated, entered the courtyard, and after drinking a bowl of hot tea, slowly recounted the bizarre journey of the Huangfu trade group, “It started out smoothly, thanks to the Longxi Alliance, we mainly traveled via the Lingjiang Waterway, encountering neither water bandits nor highwaymen, and arrived safely in Beimang.”

“But as soon as we entered the Min Mountain territory, everything took a dramatic turn for the worse. The tribal stockade that had traded with the Huangfu Family for over a decade lay in ruins, and the native guide, upon seeing this, went mad on the spot, vowing revenge for the stockade. My father realized something was wrong and hurriedly led the caravan to retreat, but before we could leave Min Mountain, we were ambushed.”

“The natives, who normally would never attack a trade group, were killing on sight as if they were merely venting their rage. We lost almost half of the live goods, and more than ten guards died in battle before we escaped Min Mountain, but just as we got out, we were ambushed again at the cliff’s mouth, this time by a group of robbers dressed in green military uniforms, their chests embroidered with various patterns of ferocious beasts!”

“My father, leading most of the guards to cover our retreat, ultimately fell outnumbered and died in battle!”

At this point, the young man’s eyes turned red, he choked up, and his hands trembled uncontrollably as he held the teacup.

The death of the helmsman was a catastrophe for a small family that hadn’t yet accumulated sufficient foundation.

The families of the guards who died in battle needed condolence money, the strong investors needed to see returns, and the shopkeepers and assistants still needed to eat.

Each and every one of these weighed heavily on the young Huangfu Wang, and Chaochang was never a place of peace.

People like Huangfu Facai, who failed in their trading ventures, appeared by the dozens every year in Chaochang.

The real danger wasn’t the consequences of a failed trade venture but how to face the oppression of other forces after losing the helmsman and draining the family’s resources.

Shopkeepers and workers are humans too, with families to support, and no one wants to waste their time following an inexperienced youth.

That these shopkeepers brought Huangfu Wang back to Chaochang and didn’t kill him en route is due enough to repay the kindness Huangfu Facai showed them and the sacrifice he made in the rear guard.

But returning to Chaochang wasn’t the end; it was just the beginning. This time, the Huangfu family was determined to make a big score, and the size of this caravan was unprecedented, with thirty carts of animals alone, almost reaching the scale of a noble house.

To achieve this, Huangfu Facai not only put in his life’s savings but also sought investments from several well-known moneylenders at the East Market.

The former Qingtian Gang leader, Second Senior Brother from Ding’s Dojo, and the manager of the Yunlai Inn – just the shares of these three people alone accounted for fifty percent, not to mention various smaller investors with their ‘floating money’.

Such an infusion was necessary because when the Huangfu family’s helmsman went out, only widows and orphans were left in Chaochang. Sharing some profits was also a way to protect the family, to ensure someone would look out for them if misfortune struck.

If this trade venture had been successful, given the current prices of spiritual herbs in Longzhou, the Huangfu family would have obtained a solid foundation. But with Huangfu Facai’s death in battle, all this turned to dust, and the enormous fear pressed young Huangfu Wang against the wall.