Seventy years old is the age to take risks!

"Master, Senior Jiang is a highly skilled person. You...you can't be so disrespectful."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan didn't react much, but Liu Mang was startled.

He had already recommended Jiang Yuan to Zhu Hu, clearly stating that the other party might be a reclusive martial arts master, and that he was recommended to serve as a guest elder.

Saying such things upon meeting someone would offend them.

"Neglect?"

Zhu Hu glared at him sideways, his cheeks twitched, and he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

With his keen eye, he could naturally see that although Jiang Yuan had an extraordinary demeanor, his strength was somewhat lacking, at most only at the level of someone who had just entered the Meridian Opening Realm.

While such cultivation levels are not exactly rare in the black market, they certainly don't qualify one as a senior expert.

Plus, with his advanced age and limited future prospects, isn't he just going to be mediocre?

What a load of rubbish!

If it weren't for Liu Mang's sake, he wouldn't have bothered with Jiang Yuan at all.

However, although Zhu Hu harbored resentment in his heart, he didn't say anything so harsh, but simply said:

"The black market has its own rules. Am I supposed to treat everyone who walks in like an honored guest?"

"However, Brother Jiang is quite capable. Why don't you go and be a manager in the branch?"

"In charge?"

Liu Mang was taken aback. The steward was one level lower than the deacon. He was only responsible for miscellaneous matters in a certain area. Any inner disciple with a little experience in the martial arts world could take on the role. His status in the black market was not very high.

Brother Jiang is such a great man, yet he was only given a menial job as a manager?

"Master..."

Liu Mang looked anxious and was about to speak when Jiang Yuan stopped him.

"This old man thanks you, Master."

Jiang Yuan smiled faintly, not caring at all, and even pleased with what he had in mind.

He knew perfectly well that with his age and cultivation level, he was naturally not worthy of the attention of this White Tiger Hall Master, and it was normal for him to be looked down upon.

That's fine too.

He didn't want to pretend to be a master; playing dumb to outmaneuver others and climbing up step by step from the bottom was the most reliable way.

"Um."

Zhu Hu nodded slightly, giving him a look that said, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Before long, the two left the Zhu residence.

"Hey, Brother Jiang, I've messed things up. I'm really sorry to have troubled you."

Liu Mang looked apologetic.

Jiang Yuan patted Liu Mang on the shoulder, "It's alright. If I cared about these empty titles, I wouldn't have remained hidden in the martial world for so many years."

Upon hearing this, Liu Mang was filled with respect and gave a thumbs up: "Brother, your magnanimity is truly beyond the reach of us ordinary mortals."

"Hahaha..."

Jiang Yuan stroked his beard and laughed heartily; he found this kind of flattery quite pleasing.

But it's not that he has magnanimity; it's that he genuinely lacks the ability.

Liu Mang glanced around and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother, to be honest, I'm worried that the position the hall master gave you is too low, which might hinder your participation in the big business later on."

"A big deal?"

Jiang Yuan's eyes flashed, and he immediately became interested.

"good."

Liu Mang looked mysterious and said, "Brother, you don't know this, but this business is personally controlled by the leader. The higher-ups attach great importance to it and have been preparing for it for a long time. They have even prepared to recruit countless martial arts masters for this purpose."

"To be honest, one of the reasons I recruited you into the black market was because of my superiors' orders."

"Is this really true?"

Jiang Yuan's heart skipped a beat. If the black market leader valued this business so much, it must really be a big deal.

What could it be?

"Brother Liu, can you tell me a little more?" Jiang Yuan asked curiously.

Liu Mang grinned and smiled mysteriously: "To be honest, I don't know much about this, but it's definitely incredibly lucrative."

"They say this job will get you out of poverty in one go, and then we'll have to rely on you, older brother, to give us a hand!"

"Going ashore" is slang in this industry.

To put it simply, it means washing one's hands of something, or cleansing one's name.

As Jiang Yuan listened, he became increasingly alarmed; this matter was probably much bigger than he had imagined.

What kind of business can be so big that you can make a fortune with just one gamble?

Thinking hard!

Recalling the recent events involving the Blood Robe Cult, the City Lord's Mansion, and the Azure Profound Sect...

It's no exaggeration to say that such a small city as Jiangning has so many power struggles; it's a place of great upheaval.

This could be a huge whirlpool.

"There are many experts in the black market, I'm afraid it won't be my turn," Jiang Yuanqiang said calmly.

"Oh, you're too modest, brother."

Liu Mang laughed heartily, "With your invulnerability to swords and spears alone, you're the perfect candidate!"

Why does this sound so off?

Jiang Yuan's heart pounded, feeling as if he had boarded a pirate ship and was now in a difficult situation.

Don't be fooled by Liu Mang's constant use of "older brother" in his address.

If he said he didn't want to do this big business, he would probably turn against me immediately.

"Hehe, I'll do my best." Jiang Yuan chuckled.

All he could do was laugh.

The most urgent task is to improve our strength as soon as possible, and then take it one step at a time.

...

Before long, Liu Mang brought Jiang Yuan to the accounting hall to register as an administrator. The young disciple was so shocked when he heard that Jiang Yuan was seventy years old that his jaw almost dropped.

He's old enough to be his grandfather, why is he out here wandering the world?

"Master Jiang, everything is registered. This is your identity token. A disciple will deliver your monthly allowance to your residence, but..."

The disciple hesitated for a moment, unsure how to begin.

"But what?"

Liu Mang frowned and said, "I'm warning you, Master Jiang isn't just any ordinary manager. He's my elder brother, so you'd better treat him well!"

The disciple was startled.

The White Tiger Hall is the main hall, and the stewards in it are basically equivalent to the heads and deputy heads of other smaller halls. They dare not neglect Liu Mang in the slightest.

Jiang Yuan was actually Liu Mang's elder brother, so he was someone not to be trifled with.

"Master Liu... Master Liu."

The disciple said tremblingly, "The small courtyards where the stewards live have all been allocated. Now there are only some mansions left, which are reserved for the newly appointed stewards of each hall."

"Let me take a look at it?"

Liu Mang frowned slightly, took the register, glanced at it, and immediately cursed, "Bullshit! Isn't there still one room that's unoccupied?"

The disciple wiped the drool from his forehead and said helplessly, "Master Liu... this room was already reserved by Master Zhang, who said he wanted to save it for his new nephew."

"Master Zhang? Zhang Bo?"

Liu Mang's eyes widened, and he immediately flew into a rage. "His good-for-nothing nephew doesn't even deserve to live in the Steward's Mansion! Make room for my old brother!"

"Ah, this..." The disciple looked troubled.

Zhang Bo was also a steward of the White Tiger Hall, and he and Liu Mang were usually at odds.

He can't afford to offend either of these two.

Seeing that things were not going well, Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Liu, no need to trouble yourself, just find me any side room."

"Hey, why are you making your older brother feel so wronged here?"

Liu Mang said with a righteous expression, "Don't worry, brother, I'll take care of everything. I doubt that madman Zhang would dare to cause you any trouble!"

Seeing Liu Mang's insistence, the disciples of the accounting office had no choice but to write Jiang Yuan's name on the back of that mansion.

As for Zhang Bo's nephew, let them negotiate it themselves when the time comes.

Registration complete. This means that Jiang Yuan is officially registered on the black market starting today, and can take office tomorrow.

However, before that, Jiang Yuan decided to complete the cultivation of the Palm Lightning Technique, so that he could have another trump card in his hand.

Coincidentally, tonight looks like a night of thunderstorms...