Having balanced both aspects, Lin Mu had a plan that was more viable than before.
He would support his companions from the proceeds of the bets and also help them in defeating Yao Changying.
But in all this, a final point was left.
'Umm, I get that we can't defeat Yao Changying on our own and that we'll have to weaken her over time. But when we do defeat her, what are we going to do with the reward from Princess Shang?" Luo Liqin asked after pondering on it.
"Isn't that obvious?" Lin Mu said instead. "We simply divide it. I'm sure the Princess can accommodate a reward that is split between several people."
~phew~
They couldn't helps but feel relieved after hearing this. After all, not being able to obtain a reward after all that might be bothersome to them. Even if some of them had enmity against Yao Changying, the need for resources was eternal.
"That's good then. Now we just need to gather the information about rounds as we go." Lu Xu said before looking towards the tournament grounds from the balcony. "We are still in preliminary rounds so we should have a decent chance at obtaining information about the black horses too." He added.
"Indeed. Now tell me, when you all have your next rounds." Lin Mu questioned.
Ming Aolian was the first to speak. "Mine is two days from now."
"Three days from now." Lu Xu replied.
"Next week." Ming Dandan said.
"Three days from now as well." Qian Wen stated.
"Hmm… So, Ming Aolian and I will be the first ones to fight. Both of us have fights on the same day." Lin Mu said after hearing them all.
"How are we going to manage when you are in a fight and we are also in one?" Qian Wen questioned in doubt.
"I'll try to end the fight quick when its something like that." Lin Mu answered. "Though I don't think it'll be highly likely for a match to be held at the same time. The chances would be too low, considering the sheer number of contestants." He explained.
"That does seem right." Ming Aolian nodded her head.
Her fight was the farthest from everyone; the others would have their fourth fight by then.
With this done, Lin Mu talked with them further and fine tuned the details of the plan as well as how they would be doing the bets.
The main plan was to start low while betting individually and then pool their resources depending on the odds of a fight. If the odds were high in a fights they would pool it. And when the odds were low, they would split it, so that it wouldn't seem suspicious.
They were also going to move the money between several bookies, so as to reduce the overall impact. After all, if one bookie lost a lot, there were bound to be some actions from the powers backing them.
These bookies were a mere front and weren't the true people running the bets. There were many other powers involved behind it, right from the nobles, to the merchants. Whoever it was, it wasn't a good thing to offend them outright liker hat.
As long as the losses were distributed, they wouldn't take it badly. It would merely seem like the normal loss one would face during business like this.
They discussed for a few hours, during which they also got to enjoy some delicious food and drinks that the Spring Valley Restaurant provided. The food and drinks all contained vitality as well as Immortal Qi, restoring everyone's condition to the peak and even helping them cultivate to some extent.
It was safe to say that luxury of this level was not easy to get for them. Not to mention, the cost which came down to around A fifty High Grade immortal stones by the end of it. Hearing the cost, Ming Dandan and Ming Aolian almost lost their breath.
Qian Wen let out a wry smile and wondered if he could even afford something like this with a few years salary.
Only when Lin Mu paid it off without caring much did they feel relieved.
"Don't worry, we'll make a lot more." Lin Mu didn't tell them that he had more than enough to afford this.
"Ah yes… perhaps we might be able to afford to eat here every month after we have the rewards." Lu Xu couldn't help but dream
When it was time for them to leave though, a certain person appeared.
"Daoist Mu Lin, seems like I caught you just in time." The Countess's voice chimed within the corridors.
Lin Mu's companion other than Luo Liqin were confused. After all, they didn't know that this place was owned by Countess Xiurong or that she had met him before.
"Greetings Countess." Lin Mu cupped his hands.
"I'm hoping you had a good time in my establishment." The Countess asked with a smile her fan covering half her face.
"We did indeed." Lin Mu said before turning to his companions. "Didn't we?" he asked them.
"YES!" They said in unison.
Only now did they realize that they were talking to the Countess. They too knew about Countess Xiurong and that she was at the banquet. But they hadn't gotten to see her and neither had she given any of them letters of favor.
"We had a nice time, Countess. The food your establishment provides is indeed amazing." Ming Aolian quickly spoke.
She was the more confident among the two sisters and was able to recover quickly.
"Exactly, I feel like I can now fight ten more rounds with ease!" Lu Xu praised greatly.
"Haha, I'm pleased that you liked it." Countess Xiurong said before glancing at Lin Mu. "You can come again if you wish to. The Spring Valley Restaurant will always be open to you. I'll inform the staff about keeping the Second Spring Room Assigned to you whenever available."
"What if someone else is using it?" Luo Liqin couldn't help but ask.
"Well… then Daoist Mu Lin can just come to the First Spring Room." Countess Xiurong said with a confident smile.
"Isn't that the personal room of the count—" Qian Wen was about to say but then realized something.
A blush appeared on the faces of Ming Dandan and Ming Aolian while Lu Xu couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ah, thanks for the offer. I'll see if it ever comes to it." Lin Mu didn't mind his companion and simply replied.
The Countess looked at Lin Mu with the same expression as before, seeing no change or wavering.
"Daoist Mu Lin sure is a staunch character. I'll be looking forward to your fights." The Countess spoke before turning around.
But just as she was about to enter her personal room, she spoke again. "A few strange individuals have taken part in the Tournament this time around. Watch out for those with fish skin headbands."
Having said this, the Countess disappeared, her presence fading once the room was closed. It was evident that the formations there were stronger than others.
There were different thoughts in their minds. Lin Mu was focused on the strange individuals that countess had spoken about while the Ming Sisters were focused on the earlier part of the Countess's words.
"My, my… Brother Mu Lin is far more impressive than I thought. To get the Countess to invite you to her room." Lu Xu laughed.
"I don't want to bother her by letting all of us use her room. We can always use other ones." Lin Mu replied.
Hearing this, a wry smile appeared on the face of Qian Wen.
Though Ming Dandan couldn't help but chuckle. "Brother Mu Lin is certainly different."
"What?" Lin Mu noticed the strange expressions shown by everyone and wondered if something was wrong.
"Ahem! Nothing." Luo Liqin tried to change the awkward situation. "Though the Countess did tell us about something important at the end, didn't she?" he stated.
"About the individuals with Fisk skin headbands." Ming Dandan spoke. "Isn't that…"
"Yes… The Black Fin Island." Qian Wen's expression turned serious.
"Seems like there are more people from there…" Lu Xu had a few thoughts.
"We should take a look into that too." Lin Mu said. "If Qian Wen was attacked with poison, there is a chance that others might be too."
"Indeed." Ming Aolian replied. "I can't help but think that they might have been brought in to weaken the contestants or something."
"Isn't that against the rules?' Luo Liqin couldn't help but ask.
"They seem to be operating in a grey area. Since they have participated as official contestants, there isn't much we can do. Even if they use poison, it isn't something that is fatal so even the Temple wouldn't find it against the rules." Lin Mu said after thinking.
"Yes, they seem to be doing this under the orders of someone." Ming Aolian replied. "The Black Fin Island wouldn't send out their people otherwise. They seldom leave the island other than to trade." She explained.
"Has there been any other instances of the people of the Black Fin Island carrying out assassinations or poisonings in the recent time?" Lin Mu inquired.
"None that I know of." Ming Aolian shook her head.
"There aren't many that can ask them to do that either." Luo Liqin said. "Since they were under the control of the Holy Topaz Imperial court in the past, there is chance they might be doing this under their orders again." He guessed.
"Will they really risk something like this though?" Lu Xu was doubtful. "After all, they are already in a complex situation with the Demon appearing."
