From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

Fang Qing didn't respond to the saltworks stove worker's words, but instead turned to look at Dai Yu.

"When I arrived just now, I saw the carriage you were riding in. Although it wasn't particularly luxurious, it was still quite respectable in Yancheng."

Judging from the level of decoration on your carriage, you must be living a comfortable life.

"Did the second young lady mistreat you in some way, causing you to seek refuge with the eldest young master?"

After Fang Qing entered, he immediately saw through Dai Yu's weakness.

Logically speaking, Dai Yu and Fang Qing should belong to Fang Lingsu's faction.

The two should look out for and help each other.

Fang Qing hadn't paid attention to what had happened within the Fang family recently.

Or perhaps Fang Qing simply didn't want to pay attention to the Fang family, the salt merchants.

Because it is not necessary.

At this moment, Dai Yu helped Fang Jingyuan pull himself into this situation, which means that the other party has already betrayed Fang Lingsu.

Upon hearing this, Dai Yu's expression changed several times before he finally said fiercely:

"The reason I betrayed the Second Miss, Fang Zaotou, is ultimately because of you."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qing raised an eyebrow.

This was the first time he had met Dai Yu, and he didn't know why he had offended the guy in front of him.

At this moment, Dai Yu poured himself another cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, and then continued with a face full of resentment:

"Fang Qing, you may not know this yet, but the Second Miss has been arranging for people to apply to Lord Lin, the Salt Inspector of Yangzhou, for salt permits to be processed at the salt factory."

I've heard there's been some progress.

"I have been serving the Second Miss Fang Lingsu for nearly 10 years, always in the kitchen, without any advancement whatsoever."

"I heard that the Second Miss has a formula for making refined salt, so I told her that our Tianqing Saltworks can also produce refined salt."

"But do you know how the Second Miss answered me?"

As he said this, Dai Yu's previously clean face flushed red with anger.

"The second young lady told me that even if the salt permits for refined salt are obtained through the application of the Salt Inspector, they will be handed over to your Jinsha Saltworks for full control."

"Even I, an old man who has been by her side for ten years, and Tianqing Saltworks, are not qualified to process refined salt."

At this point, Dai Yu was furious, his hand tightly gripping the empty teacup.

With a click,

He crushed the teacup to pieces in his grip.

It was only at this moment that Dai Yu came to his senses from his extreme anger.

He snorted coldly and threw the broken teacup onto the ground.

He picked up a teacup from the table again and poured himself a full cup of tea.

"Ten years of loyalty cannot earn the Second Miss's regard for you, a newcomer from the bottom of the salt slave family."

"Why should I?!"

"If you were in her shoes, would you still continue to cling to the Second Miss?"

Before Fang Qing could answer, a ferocious look flashed across Dai Yu's handsome face.

"So I immediately sided with the eldest young master."

"Young Master Fang Jingyuan has already made an agreement with me: as long as we can get the recipe for refined salt out of you..."

"Then the positions of saltworks manager for both Jinsha Saltworks and Tianqing Saltworks will be handed over to me."

"With refined salt and the profits from the two salt fields, Fang Qing, perhaps in the near future you will see me rise to prominence and reach the top in one step."

Fang Qing immediately raised an eyebrow, finally realizing how he had offended Dai Yu of Tianqing Saltworks.

It turns out that the core of it really is the refined salt that they developed themselves.

The saltworkers from the three salt fields under Fang Jingyuan's command also put down their teacups and addressed Fang Qing:

"Fang Qing, I'm giving you two choices now."

"One choice: obediently hand over the secret recipe for refined salt."

"Next, all of our saltworks can produce refined salt. If you do this, after Li Zao Tou's niece cripples your martial arts and severs all the tendons in your hands and feet, we might be able to spare your life. You can then live out your days as a beggar on the streets of Yancheng. When we feel like it, we'll give you a few coins every time we see you so you can have a good meal."

"Of course, you can refuse. In that case, we'll have to do it for you, cripple you first, extract all the secrets of the refined salt from your mouth, and then hand you over directly to Li Zao Tou's niece."

"Of course, if you choose the latter, we cannot guarantee your life; you won't even have the chance to survive."

Fang Qing finally had a clear understanding of the situation he was facing today.

Both sides were acting in their own self-interest, trying to extract the salt formula from each other.

Of course, the woman to his left, Li Zaotou's niece, probably didn't just want to avenge her uncle Li Zaotou.

They must have been longing for the recipe for this refined salt for a long time.

Fang Lingsu was a master of true essence, so they naturally dared not ask for it.

So they set their sights on him.

Li Zaotou's niece was probably in her forties and had reached the fifth level of Body Tempering, but she already had some wrinkles on her face.

At this moment, Li Zao Tou's niece finally spoke up:

"Hand over the salt recipe, and I can guarantee you a proper burial."

Fang Qing did not respond to Li Zaotou's niece's words.

Instead, he turned to look at Dai Yu:

"It seems that what you called Shizhenlou the 'Relationship Broken Building' wasn't entirely wrong."

Dai Yu had recovered from his earlier rage. After taking a sip of tea, he smiled slightly and said:

"And one more thing, I didn't lie either."

"The entire Shizhenlou restaurant is indeed overseen by a master at the half-step True Yuan Realm."

"However, what I didn't tell you is that this Body Tempering Level 7 expert named Li Minghan values ​​money the most."

"As long as we pay enough money, after we beat you to death, he can turn a blind eye to this and won't hold us responsible."

"At that time, not only will you lose your life, but Li Minghan will also frame you for something, such as you being a salt bandit, etc."

Even if you don't die a horrible death, you'll probably become a rat that everyone hates and your reputation will be ruined.

"It would be better if we revealed the secret recipe for refined salt before we even made a move; at least that would save your life."

"It's just that your martial arts have been crippled. You're just a lowly salt slave, only at the third level of Body Tempering. For you, life is more important than cultivation."

Dai Yu patiently explained, trying to get the recipe for refined salt from Fang Qing first.

Fang Qing could guarantee that as long as he produced the refined salt formula, it would be fine.

The next second, everyone in this room will kill him, ensuring he won't be able to leave this private room alive.

This shows that when faced with profit, money can easily sway people's hearts.

Fang Qing nodded in agreement.

Even a master at the seventh level of Body Tempering would need a massive amount of cultivation resources to advance to the True Essence Realm.

Therefore, he actually believed what Dai Yu said: as long as they paid enough money, someone would naturally clean up the mess for them.

If Fang Qingruo were still at the third level of Body Tempering, she might actually fall into Dai Yu's trap, end up dead and becoming a pariah, branded as a salt bandit.

Unfortunately, Dai Yu's intelligence came too late...

……