"Brother Zhuzi, where did you go? You were gone right after breakfast."
Before Liu Tiezhu could speak, Guo Qixing grinned and greeted him first.
"Nowhere special, just took a stroll after breakfast."
"Brother Qixing, did you need something from me?" Liu Tiezhu asked.
"Nothing major, just that matter from last night—I wanted to discuss it with you again."
Guo Qixing had thought it over all night and concluded that Liu Tiezhu had refused him because he hadn't offered any terms.
He also understood that these days, without money, no one would be foolish enough to risk their life for you.
"Brother Qixing, didn't we make things pretty clear last night?"
Still unsure of Guo Qixing's identity, Liu Tiezhu didn't dare speak carelessly.
"Last night we talked about the big future plans, but we didn't discuss the benefits for those joining."
"If Brother Zhuzi is willing to join, how about I pay you this much each month?"
As he spoke, Guo Qixing held up two fingers.
"Two hundred?" Liu Tiezhu asked.
Guo Qixing immediately waved his hand. "Not two hundred—two thousand."
Two thousand was no small sum, enough to cover several years of expenses for an ordinary town family.
But Guo Qixing didn't care about that money at all.
Besides, he felt two thousand was well worth it to win over a talent like Liu Tiezhu.
Two thousand?
Liu Tiezhu fixed his gaze on Guo Qixing's face, studied him for a few seconds, then waved his hand. "Brother Qixing, it's not about the money."
"To be honest with you, I won't be staying with the Ming family for long. I really can't help you."
From Guo Qixing's tone just now, he seemed genuinely eager to recruit him.
But Liu Tiezhu still wasn't sure if this was a test.
So while refusing, he deliberately let slip that he wouldn't be with the Ming family much longer.
If Guo Qixing was one of Jiang He's people, then Jiang He would surely learn of this and come to question him.
If Jiang He didn't, then he could safely cooperate with Guo Qixing in secret, each getting what they needed.
For now, without confirming Guo Qixing's true identity, he wouldn't agree to any conditions.
Hearing Liu Tiezhu's response, Guo Qixing still wasn't disappointed.
In his mind, there was nothing money couldn't solve.
If there was, it meant he hadn't offered enough.
So he took Liu Tiezhu's refusal as a sign that two thousand wasn't enough.
"Brother Zhuzi, how about three thousand a month?"
After a moment of silence, Guo Qixing raised the offer again.
This stunned Liu Tiezhu.
He didn't think he was worth that much.
Not that three thousand was an exorbitant price.
But that amount could hire plenty of highly capable people.
Guo Qixing's reaction and behavior made him suspicious again.
"Brother Qixing, it really isn't about the money."
"I've already made it clear—I could leave the Ming family at any time."
Guo Qixing nodded. "I know, but I think Brother Zhuzi is someone destined for big things."
"Instead of seeking another path, why not join forces with me?"
Liu Tiezhu frowned at this.
"Brother Qixing, I have a question."
"There are plenty of people stronger than me in the Ming family. Why target me?"
"I'm just a newcomer who might not even pass the third-level assessment."
Liu Tiezhu decided to lay his cards on the table, curious to hear Guo Qixing's explanation.
"Brother Zhuzi, you're straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either."
"Truth is, I've already investigated you thoroughly."
"Everything you did in Liu Family Village, Liu Family Village, the fight with the Zhang family, and the bandits—I know it all."
"A versatile talent with a track record like yours isn't something a mere newcomer can match."
Guo Qixing paused, pulled out a cigarette, handed one to Liu Tiezhu, and lit one for himself.
After a few puffs, he continued, "You managed to toy with the Zhang family's camp, stole their supplies twice, and burned their camp."
"Among everyone I know, no one has that kind of guts and nerve."
"Who told you all this?" Liu Tiezhu's hand trembled, and his expression shifted.
If these things got out, he wouldn't dare stay with the Ming family either.
"Brother Zhuzi, rest assured, only you and I know about this."
"The other person who knew has already been dealt with."
Guo Qixing didn't reveal who had spilled the information, subtly showcasing the Guo family's power.
After all, if they could uncover such hidden secrets, it proved their intelligence network wasn't idle.
Liu Tiezhu pondered for a moment and immediately thought of Yang Hua and Chen Hailiang.
The former was likely innocent; the latter was the most probable suspect.
But whether it was Chen Hailiang required further investigation before he could be sure.
Guo Qixing knew his secrets but didn't use them to threaten him; instead, he sought cooperation.
If this wasn't a setup for a bigger trap, then it was genuine partnership.
Still, until Liu Tiezhu confirmed whether Guo Qixing was one of Zhang He's people, he wouldn't agree easily.
Seeing Liu Tiezhu's prolonged silence, Guo Qixing grew anxious.
Bringing up Liu Tiezhu's dealings with the Zhang family was a psychological tactic.
Anyone else hearing this would likely nod without hesitation.
If they agreed under those circumstances, Guo Qixing could seize the upper hand later.
But Liu Tiezhu showed no reaction, his expression calm.
This demeanor seemed to tell Guo Qixing that he wasn't worried about the Zhang family finding out.
"Brother Zhuzi, investigating you wasn't my intention."
"I did it to find a reliable strategic partner."
Seeing that the Zhang family matter didn't sway Liu Tiezhu, Guo Qixing quickly changed tactics.
"Brother Qixing, I completely understand." Liu Tiezhu waved his hand, then added, "You know Jiang He, right?"
At this point, Liu Tiezhu decided to stop beating around the bush.
He brought up Jiang He directly to gauge Guo Qixing's reaction.
Guo Qixing was taken aback, then nodded. "Brother Zhuzi, did Examiner Jiang He invite you to join his team?"
"You didn't know?" Liu Tiezhu countered.
Guo Qixing waved his hand. "No, I really didn't."
"But that doesn't affect our cooperation."
Liu Tiezhu frowned again.
From Guo Qixing's behavior, it didn't seem like an act.
But top-tier hunters were often skilled at disguise.
Based on this alone, he still couldn't tell if Guo Qixing was one of Jiang He's people.
Seeing Liu Tiezhu still frowning, Guo Qixing assumed he was still unhappy with the price.
"Three thousand five hundred a month."
"Brother Zhuzi, that's the best I can offer."
Liu Tiezhu thought for a moment and said, "Brother Qixing, give me some time to think it over."
"Once I pass the Ming family's third-level assessment, I'll give you my answer, how about that?"
Guo Qixing nodded readily. "No problem at all. I'll await your good news, Brother Zhuzi."
If Liu Tiezhu agreed to join the Guo family, he didn't mind waiting a few extra days.
After seeing Guo Qixing off, Liu Tiezhu pondered for a moment, then left the camp and headed toward Chen Family Village.
Guo Qixing had said the person who knew the truth had been dealt with.
He wanted to go to Chen Family Village to verify whether Guo Qixing's words were true.