Chapter 14: Automatic Check-In, Walking Earns a Gold Card!

After much difficulty, having finally shaken off the bothersome Chen Duolong, Bai Musong returned to his residence with Hai Dafu and Cao Zhengchun in tow. The household servants, upon seeing two unfamiliar faces, were momentarily taken aback before quickly recovering and reminding him, “Young master, the master is waiting for you in the main hall.”

With a slight nod, Bai Musong instructed the servants to show the two men to guest quarters to rest, then made his way alone toward the inner hall. It wasn’t hard to guess the reason for being summoned—undoubtedly, it was because of Hai Dafu and Cao Zhengchun. After all, not only were both men formidable martial artists, but it was the first time Bai Zhan had ever met them. Moreover, the incident earlier today had left Bai Zhan badly shaken. As his father, albeit in name only, it was natural for him to be concerned and make inquiries.

Bai Musong could fully understand such feelings.

In the grand hall of the Bai residence, Bai Zhan sat drinking tea alone, his solitary figure somewhat forlorn—on most days at this hour, his wife would be there to accompany him.

“Father, what’s wrong?” Bai Musong entered the hall, found a seat, and took a leisurely sip of tea, grinning as he teased, “Could it be that you’re missing Mother so much you can’t sleep at night while she’s away?”

Bai Zhan’s lips twitched at the corner. Shooting his son a glare, he tried to maintain a calm demeanor as he replied, “She’s only gone to visit her family for a few days, not forever. Why would I be so desperate as to lose sleep?”

“As the saying goes, a day apart feels like three years...” Bai Musong chuckled.

“Don’t get smart with your old man!” Bai Zhan snapped, but seeing his son’s carelessly mischievous manner, he suddenly grew serious and asked, “Why didn’t you discuss with me beforehand about the assassination attempt on the Southern Warden with His Majesty?”

Bai Musong was stunned for a moment, then shrugged. “There was no other way. His Majesty was in a hurry, and by coincidence, I encountered a master while out in the city a few days ago, so I decided to seize the opportunity and give it a try.”

“That would be Hai Dafu?” Bai Zhan asked, half-skeptical.

“That’s right,” Bai Musong nodded. “Cao Zhengchun is his cousin—Hai Dafu recommended him to join my retinue.”

He had expected his father to be at least curious after this explanation, perhaps to question him further, but instead—

Bai Zhan simply looked relieved. “With those two around, I’m not worried about your safety,” he said, then got up to leave, offering only a parting reminder: “It’s getting late. You should get some rest.”

Stunned, Bai Musong watched his father’s departing back.

This really was his own father! Sometimes he wondered if he’d been foisted on them as a burden during a game. Such a carefree attitude—there was truly no one else like him.

Speechless, Bai Musong returned to his room and went to bed.

The next morning—

“System auto sign-in successful. Reward: one Walking Gold Card. Please check your inventory.”

Bai Musong was speechless. This sign-in system was surprisingly considerate; he didn’t even have to do anything himself. But what on earth was a Walking Gold Card?

He opened the system interface to check the card’s description:

Walking Gold Card: As the name suggests, for every step you take, one tael of gold will be credited to your account.

Valid for twelve hours!

“So, if I use this card, I’ll earn a tael of gold for every step I take within a day?” Skeptical, Bai Musong activated the card and took two steps—sure enough, there were two additional taels of gold in his sleeve.

“Amazing!” He could think of no other word to describe the card’s power.

However, remembering he didn’t have to attend court today and was instead tasked with supporting the founding of the ‘Tianlong Sect,’ Bai Musong began to wonder if he had used the Walking Gold Card too soon.

No, he needed to find a wheelchair! Otherwise, if he walked too much, the sheer weight of all that gold might very well crush him.

One tael of gold was about 37.5 grams. Thirteen taels made roughly a pound. A small amount was manageable, but if it accumulated, the weight could literally kill him!

Fortunately, he had once been seriously ill, so there was a spare wheelchair in the house.

He seated himself and had Hai Dafu push him out, with Cao Zhengchun following behind. The household staff exchanged puzzled glances at the sight, but merely chalked it up to one of Bai Musong’s odd whims.

At the main gate, Bai Musong suddenly noticed his sleeves had grown markedly heavier. Reaching inside, he found a handful of gold.

He was speechless.

He hadn’t even been walking—he was in a wheelchair! Did the card not care?

So annoying!

What was he to do with so much gold? He regretted trying the card so soon.

He handed the gold to the gatekeeper. “Take these and put them away in the house,” he said, then gestured for Hai Dafu to continue pushing him onward.

Their destination was Lin Alley, in the capital.

“Master, why are you getting heavier and heavier?” Hai Dafu, pushing the wheelchair along, finally voiced his confusion.

Bai Musong coughed awkwardly without answering. Was he supposed to explain that he could earn gold just by sitting in a wheelchair? Better not—Hai Dafu wasn’t exactly the sharpest.

Meanwhile, Cao Zhengchun, beside them, seemed to have no such doubts. Instead, he offered, “Master, would you like me to go to Lin Alley and recruit the Tianlong Sect’s members for you?”

Bai Musong was taken aback, but then realized this was an excellent idea! He wouldn’t have to walk much and thus wouldn’t accumulate so much gold today—a perfect solution.

“Yes, let’s do that!” he agreed, signaling Hai Dafu to stop. “Cao Zhengchun, I leave this matter entirely to you. I’ll wait for your good news at Tianxiang Pavilion.”

“As you command, Master,” Cao Zhengchun replied, cupping his hands before heading off to Lin Alley, with Hai Dafu following behind.

The staff at Tianxiang Pavilion were quick to notice Bai Musong, and a waiter ran over obsequiously. “Young Master Bai, please, this way.”

Bai Musong nodded, glanced at his wheelchair, and decided to remain seated. Better to stay in the chair—who knew if there might be members of the Azure Dragon Gang lurking inside?

“Take me upstairs,” Bai Musong instructed.

“Yes, Young Master,” the waiter replied with a smile, coming over to push Bai Musong into the building.

Just then, a lavishly dressed young lady approached, calling out with a bright smile, “Let me push him!”

Bai Musong turned, bewildered. The waiter, too, was left dumbfounded, turning to stare at the girl in confusion.