Lusheng was stunned for a moment.

Compared to Jiuliuchen, Yanshancheng's restaurants were on a whole different level. A single restaurant in Yanshancheng would be worth at least ten in Jiuliuchen!

Yet there were fifteen such establishments here! This was an unbelievable display of wealth! Just these fifteen restaurants alone, even if he sold off all the Lufamily assets, he still might not be able to afford them.

Because apart from the surface money, there were too many places that needed heavy connections and lobbying to open restaurants here. Top to bottom, at least 10 million silver bills would be needed. That would be another huge chunk of the Lufamily's wealth gone.

This is what it means to be filthy rich! To just throw money around. To spend a fortune in one go! To be a sugar baby...

And that was not even considering the connections and power behind Old Master Chen. If he agreed, not only would the medicinal ingredient supply issue be completely resolved, but finding mentors in martial arts would also be much easier.

Yanshancheng was not like Jiuliuchen. It was a central stronghold, controlling the throat between the north and central plains. The city guards and upper echelons of the imperial court had direct contacts here.

Gaining a foothold and becoming the richest man here, Old Master Chen's foundation was clearly far beyond Lusheng's imagination. He was definitely not as incompetent as the young master's evaluation yesterday made him out to be.

Facing Chen Yunxi's confession, Lusheng knew that for a woman to confess took tremendous courage, even in such an open-minded place. Yet Chen Yunxi had done precisely that.

He took a deep breath as he looked at the girl right before his eyes.

"Put your things away first."

Hearing his words, Chen Yunxi carefully looked at Lusheng, then the business deed in her hand. She gently bit her lip and put the deed away.

"Brother Lu, you..."

"It's not that I don't have any feelings for you... In the eyes of others, your long legs may be a defect, a congenital disability. But to me, they are your most beautiful feature." Lusheng could not help but blurt out these words, he just had to get them off his chest.

Hearing this, Chen Yunxi thought Lusheng was just trying to console her. But when she carefully looked into his eyes, she only saw frankness. She instantly knew he was telling the truth and that Lusheng genuinely liked long legs, not those petite and delicate girls.

"But..." Lusheng's tone changed. "Chen Yunxi, are you sure you really understand me? Do you truly know what kind of person I am? We've only known each other for a few months. You've only seen the side of me from the academy. You still don't completely know everything about me, just as I don't completely know everything about you. I don't want my future other half to regret her decision when she discovers my other sides."

He said this mostly because he did not want to drag Chen Yunxi into his life.

With the Modifier, and having encountered ghosts, monsters and demons, he was not as willing to live an ordinary life like most people. He wanted to strengthen himself and did not wish to rely on luck and other people's disdain and ignorance just to survive like a commoner. He wanted to control his own fate in this dark and dangerous world!

That was what he desired. But such a life and pursuit was also full of danger. Getting married too early would only become a weakness that others could exploit.

However, upon hearing Lusheng's words, Chen Yunxi, instead of being disappointed, became even more bright-eyed.

"Brother Lu looks down on money like dirt, so Yunxi knows she has not judged wrongly!" Her beautiful eyes shone vibrantly as she stared at Lusheng.

"Since Brother doesn't want to for now, Yunxi will listen and get to know everything about you in the future. I will accept everything about you!" She said, covering her flushed red face with both hands. With a sob, she turned and ran off.

Lusheng watched her departing back, speechless.

"Did that have the opposite effect?"

Shaking his head, he returned to the academy to continue his lessons.

Unknowingly, the day passed quickly. Wang Ziquan did not show up the entire day. During breaks, Song Zhenguo went to check on the rented residence Wangzi Quan was staying at, but no one was there. Feeling somewhat worried, he made plans with Lusheng to look for Wang Ziquan together if he still did not show up the next day.

After spending the night, Lusheng arrived punctually for class as usual the next morning. But Wang Ziquan still did not appear when Master Lu began teaching.

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Master Lu called the roll and asked about his family situation again.

"This student rents a room next to Wang Ziquan's. Yesterday, I didn't see any lights on in his room, it seems like he went out," a student who looked rather frail said as he stood up.

"Did he return home?" Master Lu frowned. "Even if returning home, he should have asked for leave. How inappropriate! Does he not want a recommendation for the imperial exams this year?"

The imperial exams also required academy nominations to participate. A name list had to be submitted. Otherwise, one would not qualify to take the exams. Those with exceedingly poor performance at the academy would also not obtain a recommendation, disqualifying them from even taking the imperial exams.

"The exams are imminent, Ziquan wouldn't make such a silly mistake," Song Zhenguo said softly as he promptly stood up. "Master Lu, perhaps Ziquan encountered some sudden urgent matter. I know his cousin in the city, I'll go ask about the situation."

"Mm, go on. Helping fellow students is only right." A trace of approval flashed in Master Lu's eyes.

With that matter skipped over, he continued with the lecture.

Lusheng looked at Song Zhenguo and saw his furrowed brows, seemingly worried about Wang Ziquan. He concentrated his mind and also recalled the midnight flower boat they had gone to before. Perhaps asking Song Zhenguo would reveal some clues.

He persevered until class was over. Having prior graduate-level knowledge, these lectures posed no difficulty for Lusheng. Dealing with such content was easy for him. So there was no struggle.

But for Song Zhenguo, once distracted, learning such things became very arduous. After class, he remained at his desk, recording and organizing the material Master Lu had covered, so he could review it later.

"Brother Zhenguo," Lusheng walked over and said softly. "I feel like something is off. Ziquan is usually so prudent and careful, and treats academy lessons more seriously than any of us. How could he miss class two days straight?"

Song Zhenguo slowly put away his stationery and also looked just as puzzled.

"I was thinking the same thing, which is why I planned to go ask about it."

"Let me join you," Lusheng said solemnly. "I'm rather concerned too."

Song Zhenguo looked at Lusheng in surprise. Actually, during previous breaks, he had already asked the classmates Ziquan usually played with, several close male and female friends. But regardless of gender, no one was willing to invite trouble upon themselves by going out to ask about him. Hearing of this matter, they came up with all kinds of excuses to decline. This allowed him to clearly see what kind of goods these so-called friends actually were, and his heart sunk.

Yet he did not expect Lusheng to voluntarily come over to say he wanted to go inquire together.

"Very well, Brother Lu, please wait a moment while I tidy up my things."

"Sure."

After Song Zhenguo finished putting away his items, the two swiftly left the academy and boarded a pre-ordered carriage at the entrance, heading straight into the city.

Along the way, both were rather concerned. Given Wang Ziquan's personality, he regarded the academy's exams as more important than anything. How could he suddenly vanish without a trace?

At a perfume shop on Jinyuan Street in Yanshancheng City, the two quickly found Wang Ziquan's cousin, Chen Hong. He was the boss of this shop, running the business by himself despite his young age.

"Cousin Ziquan? No, if he wanted to return home, he would usually come ask me to help him bring things back, like books, clothes, boxes etc. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him for days too. Wasn't cousin hanging out with you guys, Brother Song, a few days ago?" Wang Ziquan's cousin, Chen Hong, asked in puzzlement.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhenguo's expression became even more anxious. He exchanged looks with Lusheng.

"Yes, he was out with us before indeed. Just that we haven't seen him these two days and wanted to ask."

"Oh... Speaking of which, cousin came by late at night the day before yesterday to get several high quality perfume sachets and powders from me," Chen Hong said with a laugh. "Looks to me like spring feelings have spurred him into action! Heh heh, the perfume sachets and powders he took are all styles that young maidens prefer, tsk tsk..."

"The night before last? What time?" Lusheng suddenly asked, his expression turning somewhat bizarre.

"Probably around the hour of yin... anyway it was very late. I had gone to bed and he woke me up insisting I come down to get him things. Yes, because it was so late when woken up, it left a deep impression," Chen Hong stroked his chin and said. "Taking perfumes and powders so late into the night... tsk tsk..." An expression all men understood emerged on his face.

Song Zhenguo was somewhat dumbfounded, eyebrows tightly knitted, unable to make sense of what was going on.

But Lusheng seemed to have some guesses, his mood turning heavy.

Seeing Lusheng's expression, Song Zhenguo knew he had conjectures. He promptly bid Chen Hong farewell.

Once out of the shop, he pulled Lusheng into a street corner.

"Yuesheng, do you have any clues? Ziquan didn't even tell his own cousin and had gone out late the night before last. But wasn't he drinking with us on the flower boat that night?" His expression was severe.

Lusheng looked solemnly at Song Zhenguo.

"Actually, after we left that night, I returned to the flower boat once more too."

Song Zhenguo froze for a second. "Yuesheng, why did you go back? It must have closed for the night already so late right?"

"Yes it was closed." Lusheng said grimly. "I went back because I had forgotten my money pouch on the boat and went to retrieve it. I didn't expect..."

"Didn't expect what?" Song Zhenguo's expression also turned solemn, affected by the atmosphere in Lusheng's unfinished words.

"Didn't expect that on that flower boat, there wasn't a single person anywhere. Red lamp shades were hung all over. I quickly entered the room we were in earlier. Inside, two additional large lamp shades were put up but still not a person in sight, not even cleaning crew could be seen. Afterwards, I found my money pouch and immediately got out of there," Lusheng narrowed his eyes as he continued speaking.

"Not a single person... could it be that..." Suddenly, Song Zhenguo seemed to realize something. "Could it be Ziquan went specifically to get perfume pouches and powders from his cousin late at night to gift the flower boat's girls? But since you went back too, how come..."

"Highly likely!" Lusheng also came to that conclusion. "No need to guess, let's go directly to the flower boat and ask."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhenguo nodded.

Without another word, the two flagged down another carriage and sped straight towards the riverside of Songbai River. By now, dusk had fallen, the ideal time for nightly entertainment and drinking.

Familiar with the place, Song Zhenguo directly led Lusheng to the flower boat they visited last time, named Yingying Flower Boat.