Chapter 48 Time is of the Essence

  The next day, Lin Wu took out the newly acquired Light Sword and was about to try out other skills when he was called over by Wu Bo.

  "Is something the matter with Uncle Wu?" Lin Wu asked.

  "Hmm, Little Wu, have you heard of a profit-sharing match?" Wu Bo asked with a nod.

  "What's this about a profit-sharing race?" Lin Wu had naturally heard of it, and it seemed like the entire Violet Bamboo City was preparing for it during this period. However, Lin Wu wasn't very clear on the specifics either.

  "The Profit Sharing Contest is simply a grand tournament held throughout the Violet Kingdom, where the winner can gain a share of the Rose Merchant Guild's profits." Wu Bo's words left Lin Wu with his mouth agape.

  "Why should the family divide the interests and take less for themselves?" Lin Wu asked in puzzlement.

  "Let's walk and talk." Wu Bo said, leading Lin Wu towards the direction of the Hawthorn family square. Along the way, Wu Bo began to explain to Lin Wu the reason for the benefit-sharing competition.

  "This profit-sharing contest was actually set by the first patriarch of the Rose family, when the Rose family was just a wealthy merchant with enormous wealth. Faced with such great wealth, who can't be envious? Without strong power to guard it, the patriarch of the Rose family at that time made a bold but extremely wise move. The patriarch divided the entire Rose family's wealth into ten parts, three parts were left for himself, one part was given to the royal family, and the remaining six parts became the current profit-sharing contest." Wu Bo said.

  When Lin Wu heard Wu Bo's words, he couldn't help but secretly admire the founder of the Rose family. He had actually thought of this method, which made the rise and fall of the Rose family almost related to the interests of the Violet Kingdom. Moreover, it also enabled the Rose family to obtain the title of Grand Duke, and more cleverly, this benefit-sharing scheme was an irresistible temptation that made the Rose family's merchant fleet travel freely in the Violet Kingdom, because who knew whether there would be a share for oneself in this merchant fleet in the future?

  If it's a caravan of the Rose family being destroyed, wouldn't that be something you'd regret in the future?

  "So, Mr. Wu, you've come to see me about that profit-sharing scheme?" Lin Wu asked.

  "That's right, among the three major families in the Violet Kingdom, our Rose family has the weakest military power. So over the years, the Rose family has been living off the 30% interest that we've always had." Wu Bo's words were tinged with deep regret.

  "Wu Bo, your strength isn't very strong, is it? You should be able to get a good ranking, shouldn't you?" Lin Wu asked in puzzlement.

  "Haha, this profit-sharing contest is held once every 3 years. The participants must be young people under the age of 30, because they are the future backbone and also the standard for measuring a force's potential." said Wu Bo with a smile.

  "Oh, we're here." At this time, Wu Bo and Lin Wu arrived in front of a huge square. At this moment, there were already many people training enthusiastically on the square.

  "These are all young guards of the family. Wu Xiao, are you willing to contribute your strength to the Jiashi Family?" Wu Bo suddenly asked with a serious face.

  "I agree." Lin Wu said firmly.

  "Alright, for this period of time, I will personally take you all out of the Imperial City to conduct the final assault training." Wu Bo said with a clap of his hands.

  "Ah!!" Lin Wu's face changed color upon hearing this, so it seemed that even he might not be able to return during this period of time, and the promise he made to Alice about the necklace.

  "Little Wu, what's wrong?" asked Wu Bo, seeing Lin Wu's poor complexion.

  "A month later is Alice's birthday..." Lin Wu murmured.

  "Don't worry about this, our training won't exceed a month, because the profit-sharing match is only a month away." Wu Bo's words stunned Lin Wu, it seemed that he didn't have time to make a necklace for Alice after all.

  Next, Wu Bo called over all the guards, a total of ten people who were all under 30 years old. Among them, there was one high-level peak swordsman, three high-level swordsmen, and the rest were mid-level swordsmen of higher rank. Lin Wu's surface strength was the worst among this group of people, but Wu Bo knew that Lin Wu's hidden strength was stronger than anyone here.

  "Alright, in a month's time it will be your turn to shine. I hereby declare that if you can achieve good results in this competition, the family will give you a generous reward. If you can enter the top three, the family will try its best to fulfill one of your wishes, naturally including going on a date with the young mistress." As soon as Wu Bo said this, Lin Wu felt an intense competitive spirit burst out from those ten people.

  These people are basically all rushing towards Elena, and this reward condition of Wu Bo is absolutely more attractive than anything like money or power.

  "Wu Bo, this hasn't been agreed upon by Big Sister, this..." Lin Wu whispered to Wu Bo.

  "It's all right, Miss is not young anymore. If there really is such a young talent..." Wu Bo said this but stopped, though everyone understood what he meant.

  When Lin Wu heard Wu Bo's words, a surge of emotions that he couldn't verbalize suddenly welled up in his heart. He secretly made up his mind to definitely get into the top three, and he wanted to protect Ailina not only from physical harm but also from emotional distress.

  "Disperse! Gather at the city gate tomorrow!" Wu Bo said, and everyone quickly got ready.

  After Wu Bo announced the disbandment, Lin Wu also started packing his belongings. At this time, Alice, who had received the news, found Lin Wu and pouted in dissatisfaction.

  "Alice, don't worry about this, I'll be back soon and bring you some good stuff." Lin Wu said, pinching Alice's puffed up cheeks.

  "I don't want it, you promised to make a necklace for me with your own hands and give it to me as a birthday gift." Alice said, turning her head.

  Seeing Alice's appearance, Lin Wu also felt a sense of helplessness. "Alright, wait for me to come back, I'll make sure to get you a necklace on your birthday."

  "Really?" Alice looked at Lin Wu, afraid that he was just joking with her.

  "Hmm, I guarantee it." Lin Wu said with a pat on his chest.

  Alice left in high spirits, and Lin Wu regretted it afterwards. Having no other choice, he temporarily went to ask the old man for all the materials needed to make the necklace, and would take a look at his leisure after cultivation.

  When the old man heard that Lin Wu was going to try out and couldn't come to learn how to make necklaces, he not only gave Lin Wu a stack of materials but also gave him a small furnace with great pleasure. It is said that this is his invention, the alchemy furnace, which can be used to refine some small accessories without any problem.

  However, the old man soon regretted taking it out, because after Lin Wu took the stove, he searched out a lot of materials in the old man's newly rebuilt shop. But seeing that Lin Wu was his only crystal supplier, the old man decided to endure it.

  Everything is ready, Lin Wu begins his cultivation in the best state of recovery, in order to welcome the next month's trial.