Chapter 112: Very Humanistic

Lin Dong walked straight over to the stone table and sat down, smiling as he looked at Liu Lixiong.
“Elder Liu, the inn suffered heavy losses today.”
Liu Lixiong was overjoyed. This meant that as long as he showed enough sincerity, there was still a chance for mercy.
Not daring to stand up, he knelt and crawled six or seven meters before stopping five meters away from Lin Dong.
Lin Dong nodded inwardly. Although Elder Liu was somewhat despicable, he could analyze the pros and cons in a panic and choose the most advantageous approach. He also understood that getting too close might arouse Lin Dong’s suspicion—truly an impressive person.
“Senior brother, who is he exactly?”
Feng Cheng snapped out of his daze and hurried after Liu Lixiong, unable to understand how his usually stern second senior brother, who was in charge of the sect’s law enforcement, could kneel and beg for mercy.
“What you shouldn’t know will only bring disaster,” Liu Lixiong snapped sternly.
Feng Cheng shuddered. As a sect elder, merely knowing someone’s identity could lead to death. This young man likely had some unknown connection to a major sect or a peak-level powerhouse.
Looking at Lin Dong again, Feng Cheng’s anger vanished, replaced by respect. At his status and strength, and having witnessed a peak-level powerhouse nearly destroy the entire Tongquan Sect with a mere gesture, no one understood the terror of such powers better than him.
“Elder Liu, get up!” Lin Dong said with a smile.
“Dare not! Dare not!” Liu Lixiong immediately adopted a fearful expression, his ability to change his demeanor was astonishingly fast.
“Get up! If you act like this, it seems you don’t regard me, Lin Dong, as a friend,” Lin Dong said, shaking his head.
Liu Lixiong’s face lit up. Remembering Lin Dong’s earlier words about needing Tongquan Sect’s help in the future, he became even more convinced that he had great luck. There was a high chance he could resolve today’s crisis.
Behind him, Feng Cheng, who had been standing respectfully, also showed joy. If he could establish a connection with a major sect or a peak-level powerhouse, today’s incident might turn out to be a blessing rather than a curse.
Without hesitation, Liu Lixiong stood up and bowed, saying, “Young Master Lin, I am willing to use the entire Liu family to compensate for all the losses of Lin’s Inn.”
“Brother, what are you talking about?”
Liu Yejian and the others grew anxious and rushed over.
“Shut up if you don’t want to die,” Liu Lixiong said with a murderous look, scaring them into stepping back instinctively.
The three of them obeyed meekly, unable to understand why Liu Lixiong feared Lin Dong so much. A inn owner in his early twenties, whose strength hadn’t even reached the Lingdong stage—how could such a person have any significant status?

If one truly wanted to get to know a powerful person and had a close relationship with them due to that person’s strength, they would surely give them a few high-grade spirit pills. With the aid of such pills, even if one’s talent was poor and they couldn’t reach the Lingdong stage at the age of twenty like the sect’s disciples, it certainly wouldn’t be that bad.

Even if Lin Dong really had connections with some remarkable figure and still couldn’t get a few high-grade pills, as the head elder of his entire sect, what was there for him to fear?

Over by the side, Huo Yuan and the others also looked astonished. They naturally knew that Liu Lixiong’s strength was still above that of the heads of smaller sects. Yet with such strength, he was only an elder. At the very least, his sect was a powerful force in Qiufeng City.

Why were they being so polite, even fearful, toward Manager Lin?

Could it be…

Huo Yuan was shocked. Could it be that Manager Lin disdained the Gu Huan Sect as being too small and was seeking to negotiate cooperation with a larger sect?

“Manager Lin!” Huo Yuan grew anxious. There were only two rooms equipped with the Spirit Speed Array. Manager Lin wanted one for himself. If another sect joined in, wouldn’t that mean leaving the Gu Huan Sect behind?

Lin Dong had no idea what Huo Yuan was thinking. Surprised but not wanting to directly address Elder Huo, he asked, “Lord Huo, is there something?”

Huo Yuan came back to his senses, realizing this wasn’t the time for conversation. He immediately shook his head, “Let’s talk to Manager Lin later!”

“Mm!”

Lin Dong nodded and looked at Liu Lixiong, who was worried about further complications due to Huo Yuan’s sudden interruption. Smiling, he said, “I don’t think the entire Liu family is necessary.”

Liu Lixiong thought Lin Dong was dissatisfied with the amount offered. His lips twitched slightly, but he gritted his teeth and resolutely said, “If my lord has any orders, I’m willing to go through fire and water.”

Lin Dong was interested in the entire sect. Just Liu Lixiong alone wasn’t very useful. Moreover, this guy was the type who would abandon everything in a crisis. Such a subordinate might add prestige when outside, but in danger, he might not even know how he died.

As for the entire Liu family… Lin Dong did want them, but if all their assets suddenly changed hands, coupled with the Liu family causing trouble at the inn, it would surely put Lin’s Inn in the spotlight. Even if compensation was required, they couldn’t demand too much. The Liu family members weren’t Liu Lixiong—they didn’t know they had a peak-level powerhouse as a backer. Demanding too much might make them suspicious.

After some thought, Lin Dong said, “Lin’s Inn’s losses must be compensated. How about 100,000 taels of silver, plus 70% of the annual rent from all of the Liu family’s lands?”

Liu Lixiong breathed a sigh of relief. The entire Liu family didn’t have to pay so much—he had thought there would be even stricter conditions. To his surprise, it was only ten thousand taels of silver and 70% of the land rent. This Mr. Lin was quite considerate after all.

“What huge demands!”
Liu Yejian and Liu Zhengkuan gasped in shock, looking at Lin Dong with displeased expressions.
“Ten thousand taels of silver and 70% of the land rent? That wretched inn of yours isn’t even worth that much!” Liu Qingling’s face turned red again instantly.
“Get out! All of you, get out!”
Liu Lixiong was furious. Breaking and looting in the home of a peer at the peak of strength—ten thousand taels of silver plus 70% of the land rent was enough to cover it. There couldn’t be a cheaper deal in the world. If prices could be clearly stated, he believed there would be countless clan leaders or powerful figures eager to bring silver to smash Lin Ji Inn.
“Elder brother! He wants 70% of the land rent!” Liu Yejian grew anxious. For a family, strength was the most important, followed by wealth. If this storekeeper Lin really had some extraordinary status, ten thousand taels of silver wouldn’t matter much, but the land rent would be a problem.
Sixty percent of the Liu family’s annual income came from their lands in Xilan County. If they agreed to this, their annual income would drop by 40%, amounting to no less than ten thousand taels of silver.
Ten thousand taels in total versus ten thousand taels per year—there was a world of difference. Although the Liu family was large and prosperous, their expenses were equally huge. If they lost so much silver each year, what would they use to buy spirit stones for their clan members to cultivate?
“Elder Liu, please persuade the head of the Liu family! I can wait until tomorrow or the day after—just keep this matter secret from outsiders today.” Lin Dong stood up.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin. I guarantee no outsider will know about this today.” Liu Lixiong nodded firmly.
Liu Yejian wanted to argue further, but Lin Dong said smilingly, “Head of the Liu family, Young Master Liu has lost an arm. If we let him continue to lose blood like this, we might end up losing his life.”
“Huh?”
Liu Qingling looked down at his right arm, which was still oozing blood, stunned for a moment before finally understanding what was happening. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
Liu Yejian and Liu Zhengkuan finally snapped out of their daze. It turned out they still hadn’t stopped the bleeding for Liu Qingling!
“Take him back to the Liu family!” Liu Lixiong ordered.
Liu Yejian and Liu Zhengkuan didn’t hesitate. They picked up Liu Qingling and rushed out.
“Mr. Lin, I’ll bring the silver and 70% of the land deed right away,” Liu Lixiong said with a bow.
“Elder Liu, you misunderstand. I only want 70% of the land rent, not 70% of the land deed,” Lin Dong shook his head.
Liu Lixiong looked puzzled. What was the difference? Even if there was a difference, it seemed to be just a slight variation at most.

Lin Dong smiled and said, “And it’s not necessary to do it now. Elder Liu just needs to persuade the head of the Liu family. Whenever it’s time, I’ll personally visit the head of the Liu family.”
“Alright, then I’ll go back right away to prepare the money,” Liu Lixiong said, not fully understanding his intentions but not daring to ask further.
After Liu Lixiong and the others left the back yard, Huo Yuan stepped forward to ask about Lin Dong’s plans. Lin Dong naturally shook his head to deny Huo Yuan’s guesses. Although he didn’t reveal that there was a peak-level expert staying at the inn, his soothing words managed to dispel Huo Yuan’s doubts.
The inn system didn’t earn experience points until its upgrade task was completed, but business still needed to be done. After sending Huo Yuan and the others back to their rooms, Lin Dong immediately got to work organizing the lobby to reopen it.