Lee He Song shook his head and corrected Hun Xiong Kun, "It's not me.
"I'm doing it under the instruction of Master Lin.
"And I do have to give you advice, time to buff up your security."
Hun Xiong Kun nodded his head; he knew that Lee He Song was right.
The other rice merchants could be trying to stop him again.
And he couldn't expect Lee He Song to be escorting the delivery of the rice every day.
"Thank you so much. I will do so as soon as possible." Hun Xiong Kun said and clapped his hands, "But first, here's a toast for the successful delivery today."
His servants came up to him with a wine bottle and cups filled with wine on a tray.
Before Hun Xiong Kun could pass him a cup from the tray, Lee He Song grabbed the wine bottle and drank a few mouthfuls from it.
"Good wine!" He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said out loud.
His life was coming to an end soon.
Lee He Song tried to enjoy what life offered while he could.
The only worry in his world left was keeping Yue Jie and Yue Xin safe, keeping his promise to his old friend, Liu Ju Zhen.
"Maybe it's time to visit my old friend." Lee He Song mumbled to himself as he left the rice shop.
...
Lin Xuan Qi was practicing the martial arts that Lee He Song had taught him.
His progress was getting faster.
Every punch he threw out was perfect.
And he could feel the Qi in his dan tian getting more plentiful and substantial.
"Focus on your work. Careful with that vase." Yue Jie frowned and warned Yue Xin.
Yue Xin was dusting off the dust and she kept glancing over at Lin Xuan Qi while he practiced.
"Yes, sister." Yue Xin lowered her head and focused on her work.
Xue Cong, who was beside them, kept quiet.
Her background was vastly different from theirs and the only person she missed was her younger brother, Ah Di.
Thoughts about how life was for Ah Di went through her mind again.
"Master Lee." Lin Xuan Qi's voice broke her thoughts.
Lee He Song had returned to the mansion.
"How was it?" Lin Xuan Qi stopped what he was doing and asked.
"It went well albeit a few hiccups." Lee He Song said and showed Lin Xuan Qi the daggers and darts he had gotten from the masked men.
"I will try and figure out from the make and design of these to see who they were."
"That's great news. We might be able to get a better deal with Hun Xiong Kun." Lin Xuan Qi said.
He and Lee He Song went into the main hall next.
Xue Cong quickly poured tea for both of them.
Lin Xuan Qi was all smiles and in a great mood.
It was a huge burden lifted off his chest now that there would be a steady stream of income coming in from the rice.
That reminded him to get more people into the clan.
However, he knew he had struck the lottery with servant girls like Xue Cong, Yue Jie and Yue Xin.
Even Lee He Song was introduced to him via Yue Jie and Yue Xin.
He might not be as luck again.
With this in mind, he took a sip of the tea, glanced at Lee He Song and said, "Master Lee, I need more people in the mansion to help with the daily work or security.
"Best if you can introduce someone that's reliable."
Lee He Song stroked his beard while he pondered the people that he knew could help Lin Xuan Qi.
He had friends that knew martial arts, merchants and even beggars.
None of them was a good fit.
Those martial art fighters treasured their ability to go wherever they wished. They were like wild beasts that couldn't be tamed.
And the merchants he knew were more focused on becoming wealthy themselves.
As for beggars, they were great if Lin Xuan Qi required an information network. These beggars were among the best to get firsthand information due to their overwhelming presence everywhere.
But that was not what Lin Xuan Qi wanted.
He glanced over at Yue Jie and Yue Xin dusting off the dust.
A candidate popped into his mind.
Lee He Song glanced at Lin Xuan Qi and said, "I've got someone that you might be interested in.
"We can go and visit after lunch."
"Thanks, Master Lee." Lin Xuan Qi said.
Without needing Lin Xuan Qi to remind her, Xue Cong looked at the bright sun that was getting hotter.
"Come and help me prepare lunch." Xue Cong said, leading Yue Jie and Yue Xin to the kitchen.
Lin Xuan Qi took a sip of his tea and was pleased with the feeling of being the head of the clan, even though there were endless things for him to worry about.
...
Lunch was great as usual and when they finished it, Lin Xuan Qi and Lee He Song went out of the mansion.
They traveled along the usual streets that Lin Xuan Qi recognized.
He even had time to stop by Luo Bao's stall for some meat buns.
But after that Lee He Song led him to some streets he had never ventured to in the city.
The streets were now filled with people that dressed well and were rich.
In other words, Lin Xuan Qi had never seen so many young masters before.
The buildings had red lanterns hanging in front of them.
Scantily dressed ladies stood outside the buildings and tried to chat with the young masters as they walked by.
Lin Xuan Qi frowned at what he was witnessing.
What blasphemy?
What were they doing?
What's the price?
These thoughts went through his mind, and he asked Lee He Song, "Master Lee, I'm afraid I'm not that interested in ahem such cultured activities."
Lee He Song chuckled and said, "Don't worry.
"I'm not interested too.
"I'm afraid the potential candidate is a little bit peculiar.
"You shall see what I mean later."
I hope the candidate is not into some cultured play.
Lin Xuan Qi thought silently to himself, and he entered one of the buildings with Lee He Song.