I am dying of old age, and I have awakened to the character of longevity.

Having reached Xie An's age, he had a detached view of many things in life, and very few things could intensely stir his emotions.

Living long enough, one inevitably becomes like this.

But today, he was indeed stimulated by Wei Dian's open-mindedness and boldness.

What Wei Dian yearned for was also what Xie An yearned for in his heart.

Perhaps one day in the future, when Xie An possessed sufficient strength, he too would ride his horse, brandish his saber, and, stepping on sunflowers, leave these mountains and roam freely in the outside world.

That "Brother Wei" was spoken with sincerity.

Xie An knew that Wei Dian's initial kindness was due to his regard for the Tang Family Fortress. Wei Dian probably wanted him to rely on the Tang Family Fortress's connections to protect Lin Yun after he left.

In fact, even if Wei Dian had brought it up, Xie An would have found it normal and wouldn't have thought much of it. It's only human nature.

However, Wei Dian never made these requests to Xie An from beginning to end, and he didn't entrust Xie An with anything before leaving, but left everything to Xie An's discretion.

This was because Wei Dian didn't want to turn their encounter into a transaction and benefit. He truly regarded Xie An as one of his own, just like Lin Yun.

Such a Wei Dian, Xie An felt, deserved the title of "Brother Wei."

Xie An had always believed that some people might not have great abilities, but they possessed extraordinary charisma that could influence and infect others.

Wei Dian was clearly this kind of person.

On the mountain road, the cold wind was like a knife, and goose feather-like snow fell in abundance.

At the end of the mountain ridge, Wei Dian's figure on horseback was no longer visible.

Even the long trail of hoofprints left behind was covered by the falling snow… as if it had never appeared.

"Brother Wei, I still owe you a… thank you."

After being lost in thought for a long time, Xie An recovered and looked at Lin Yun, who was kneeling on the ground sobbing. Just as he was about to comfort him, he heard Lin Yun say:

"Xie An, I want to be alone here for a while. Is that okay?"

Xie An looked at Lin Yun kneeling on the ground, and suddenly felt that this Great Deacon had aged a lot. He thought that Lin Yun was already forty years old and understood many things, so there was no need for him to say anything more. What he needed most at this moment was to be alone.

"Deacon Lin, please take care of your health!"

After speaking, Xie An turned around and walked down the mountain road.

The wind that blew over was still very cold.

The snow on the ground was still very thick, and each step sank past the knees.

But Xie An seemed unaware, and just walked step by step against the heavy wind and snow.

Xie An knew that once Wei Dian left… when the news spread, the entire Blood Ridge lineage would be purged and targeted by Fang Baiyu.

The situation that followed would probably be very bad.

Relying on Lin Yun wouldn't be enough.

But Lin Yun had his own decisions and persistence, so Xie An naturally wouldn't say anything more, even if he did, it would be useless.

When he reached the foot of the mountain, he found Liang Zhi and Wang Xiang guarding the entrance.

"Chief, you'll easily freeze like this," Liang Zhi immediately came over with an oiled paper umbrella to shield Xie An from the wind and snow.

"Mm."

Xie An nodded and didn't say much.

All the way back to the courtyard, Liang Zhi lit the stove again, used a rag to wipe the snow off Xie An's clothes, and didn't forget to instruct Wang Xiang to make tea.

From beginning to end, the two of them were only busy, and didn't dare to speak. Obviously, they both sensed that the chief was in a bad mood today and didn't dare to speak rashly…

Xie An saw everything. After taking the teacup, he gently took a sip of hot tea. As the hot tea entered his throat, his body did feel a little warmer.

"Liang Zhi."

Liang Zhi was a little confused, but he knew the rules like the back of his hand, "Yes. This rule was set by Incense Master Wei in the beginning. If the deacon in charge of the black market urgently needs money, he can酌情advance one to two years' salary. But a promissory note is required."

Xie An nodded slightly, and simply calculated in his mind.

Last time when he was promoted to Second Deacon, Wei Dian doubled his salary.

Forty taels a month.

That's four hundred and eighty taels a year.

This was already close to the income of a Great Deacon.

"Bring paper and pen."

Xie An asked Liang Zhi to bring paper and pen, then wrote a promissory note for four hundred and eighty taels in advance, and then handed it to Liang Zhi, "I want to advance one year's silver. After you get the silver, go to the hall and buy me four sets of tiger meat yuan soup, and the rest buy tiger skin yuan soup. The sooner the better."

Advance four hundred and eighty taels…

This is a big deal.

Liang Zhi was also quite surprised, but he could understand.

The expenses of martial arts are so great. The Great Deacon had also made an advance payment before…

However, Liang Zhi still kindly suggested, "Chief, advancing one year's silver is no small matter. If you are short of money, why not find that Li Shaoyun… and fleece him a little more?"

Xie An thought for a while and shook his head: "No need. Just go and do it."

"Yes."

Liang Zhi didn't dare to say more, and hurried out with Wang Xiang.

After leaving the courtyard, Wang Xiang secretly clicked his tongue, "Brother Liang, what do you say is wrong with the chief? He advanced nearly five hundred taels in one breath. The chief wasn't like this before, he was cautious."

Liang Zhi scolded: "What do you know? It must be that the chief is about to break through the Refined Flesh Realm. You have to strike while the iron is hot."

Hiss!

Wang Xiang sucked in a cold breath, "Refined Flesh Realm… this is too perverted. It seems that in our entire White Feather Hall, only Hall Master Fang, Hong Lie, and Wang Ziwen, the two deputy hall masters, have reached the Refined Flesh Realm, right? If the chief breaks through the Refined Flesh Realm… at least an Incense Master position is guaranteed."

Liang Zhi was also filled with emotion, "Indeed. I never imagined that Boss would break through to the Refined Flesh Realm after only a year in the Black Market. Once he breaks through, he'll catch the eye of the higher-ups in the entire Tiger Wolf Gate. After a few years of accumulating experience, it wouldn't be surprising if he became a Hall Master. We can be considered to have followed the right person."

Wang Xiang deeply agreed, then asked, "But… why does Boss want to buy Tiger Hide Essence Soup?"

Liang Zhi was also stunned, finally saying, "Perhaps he's just buying it for Zhang Lin. Stop talking nonsense and let's go quickly."

Two hours later, Wang Xiang and Liang Zhi returned to Xie An's courtyard with the heavy medicinal ingredients.

Because they hurried on their way, both of them were covered in snowflakes, their ears frozen purple.

"Boss, the medicinal ingredients you wanted are all bought. Four portions of Tiger Meat Essence Soup, eight portions of Tiger Hide Essence Soup. The shopkeeper at the pharmacy saw that we were buying in bulk and knocked off ten taels of silver. It's all here."

Liang Zhi handed the packaged medicinal ingredients and the loose silver to Xie An.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Xie An accepted the four portions of Tiger Meat Essence Soup, then handed the eight portions of Tiger Hide Essence Soup to Wang Xiang, "Wang Xiang, I see that you've been diligently practicing martial arts recently, and you're at the stage of breaking through to the Bronze Skin Realm. Take these eight portions of Tiger Hide Essence Soup and seclude yourself for a while, strive to break through to the Bronze Skin Realm as soon as possible."

Wang Xiang was as if struck by lightning, standing still, looking at Xie An in disbelief.

Eight portions of Tiger Hide Essence Soup, worth one hundred and sixty taels.

This is his income for two years.

Boss gave it away all at once!?

*Thump.*

Wang Xiang directly knelt on the ground, "This is too precious, this subordinate cannot accept it."

Xie An was satisfied with Wang Xiang's attitude. It would be strange if this guy didn't even pretend to decline.

That's right.

Xie An raised his voice, "You've been following me for almost a year, and you're still not even at the Bronze Skin Realm. Do you think that makes me look good?"

Wang Xiang panicked, "This subordinate has already been working very hard…"

Xie An said with a stern face, "I only helped you because I know you're working hard. If you don't want to embarrass me, then quickly take the medicinal ingredients and go into seclusion. If you fail in your seclusion, I'll chop you up."

Wang Xiang still wanted to decline, but Liang Zhi kicked him, "Boss didn't hold it against you for being Zhang Biao's old subordinate, and is even vigorously training you. If you don't want to let Boss down, then stop dawdling here. Instead of wasting time, you might as well go into seclusion."

"Thank you, Boss."

Wang Xiang finally accepted the medicinal ingredients, and when he stood up, his eyes were full of tears, constantly wiping them away.

"Boss, rest assured, even if I risk my life, I will definitely break through to the Bronze Skin Realm, and will never let Boss down."

After saying the last sentence, the burly Wang Xiang walked out while wiping his tears.

Xie An was surprised, "Liang Zhi, is he really that emotional?"

"Eh."

Liang Zhi sighed, "Boss doesn't know, Wang Xiang was an abandoned child since he was young, never loved by anyone, and looked down upon. Later, he saved some money by doing hard labor and learned some martial arts at the martial arts hall, which gave him the opportunity to join the Tiger Wolf Gate as a servant. Without background or strength, he was often bullied in the Tiger Wolf Gate. Later, he followed Zhang Biao and was often beaten and scolded by Zhang Biao. If I hadn't pitied him and taken care of him, I'm afraid Zhang Biao would have crippled him long ago.

This child has never been cared for, his appearance seems fierce, but in fact, he is very eager to be recognized and wants someone to be good to him. Boss giving him eight portions of Tiger Hide Essence Soup this time, he's grateful."

Xie An was momentarily filled with emotion. In this chaotic world, the children of poor families rarely have a good life. If they meet a benefactor, their life might have some hope, otherwise…

Regaining his thoughts, Xie An took out two portions of Tiger Meat Essence Soup and handed them to Liang Zhi, "Liang Zhi, you're good at hiding. If my senses weren't so keen, I wouldn't have known that you've already reached the Great Accomplishment of the Bronze Skin Realm. Take these two portions of Tiger Meat Essence Soup and use them to break through as soon as possible."

Liang Zhi's whole body shook, staring at Xie An with wide eyes, wondering what was wrong with Boss today?

He just gave Wang Xiang medicinal ingredients worth one hundred and sixty taels.

Now he's giving himself one hundred and sixty taels?

This kind of generosity greatly exceeded Liang Zhi's expectations.

At this moment, after Xie An stuffed the medicinal ingredients to him, he went to the room and took out a piece of paper, showing it to Liang Zhi.

It was precisely the confession of embezzlement that Xie An had forced Liang Zhi to write when he first arrived at the Blood Ridge Black Market in order to subdue him.

"When I first came here, I was forced by the situation to use the fastest means to deter you, so that I could smoothly take over the Black Market. In the past year, I have seen that you are diligent and steadfast, and have no disloyal intentions towards me. This letter is no longer necessary."

After saying that, Xie An directly threw the paper into the stove, and as the flames shot out, it was quickly burned to ashes.

The scorching heat rushed towards him.

Along with it, Liang Zhi's eyes also became scorching hot. As the paper burned to ashes in his pupils, his eyes were already wet.

Just as he was about to say something, he saw Xie An already standing up, with his hands behind his back, facing away from Liang Zhi.

"Go down. Break through as soon as possible. The Blood Ridge lineage is not easy, it needs everyone's help."

"Thank you, Boss!" Liang Zhi took the medicinal ingredients, cupped his hands in a deep salute, and left the courtyard, holding back the sourness in his nose.

Only then did Xie An turn around, walked to the eaves, looked at the distant white mountains, and muttered to himself, "Big Brother Wei, this Blood Ridge Black Market is the lifelong effort of you and Ah Bao. You have treated me with such kindness, and I will treat them the same way. If you can return one day, I hope that the Black Market you see is still the same as it was in the beginning."