Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1022: Chapter 712: Setting Sail, Wind Island (Part 2)

Therefore, this Wind Island is mixed with many powerful Innate Martial Artists.

They are either preparing to enter the Stormy Sea Area or hesitating whether to enter.

The ship slowly docked at the pier of Wind Island. Yang Zhenshan looked at the small town behind the pier, his expression slightly moved.

"Do you feel it?" he asked softly.

"Hmm, there seems to be quite a few powerful martial artists!" Xuanzhen Taoist said blandly.

Yang Zhenshan smiled, "Come on, let’s go meet these experts!"

With that said, he led the group off the ship first.

Every place has its own characteristics. The feature of Wind Island is that it hosts many Innate Martial Artists from various regions.

According to the information Yang Zhenshan gathered earlier, any Innate expert from the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain who wants to enter the Stormy Sea Area would first arrive at Wind Island for a brief stop.

First, to replenish supplies—there’s no replenishment point in the Stormy Sea Area, so Wind Island is the last supply stop before heading through the stormy area.

Second, to wait for the calm wind period in the Stormy Sea Area. The so-called calm wind period doesn’t mean there is no wind, or that the wind is gentler—it’s just slightly less harsh compared to the stormy waves.

The Stormy Sea Area has a two-month calm wind period every year, roughly between July and October. The time may vary, but it’s generally between July and October.

Entering the Stormy Sea Area during the calm wind period is slightly safer, so every year, when it’s near July, some Innate experts wishing to cross the Stormy Sea Area come to Wind Island to wait for the calm wind period to arrive.

And at this moment, it is just the beginning of July. Yang Zhenshan has calculated the timing of setting sail.

Just as Yang Zhenshan stepped off the ship, a middle-aged man in gray attire approached with a nodding smile.

"Is there anything this senior needs that I can do for you? I’m very familiar with everything on the island!" The middle-aged man was probably around forty years old, presumably a Postnatal Martial Artist, but he seemed more like a shop assistant.

In fact, he was a broker, also known as a hanger-on, or middleman.

Their job is to help newcomers on the island with errands, guiding, introducing trades, etc.

Yang Zhenshan looked up at the clear sky, then glanced at the undulating sea to the east, finally speaking to the middle-aged man in front of him, "What is your name?"

"My surname is Zhang, and my name is Hanshan." Zhang Hanshan replied eagerly with a flattering smile.

"Hmm, is there any courtyard available for rent on the island?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

He had just sensed that in the next ten days, the wind and waves wouldn’t die down. The calm wind period should start in ten days.

Meaning they would need to wait on Wind Island for ten days.

"Yes, does the senior wish to rent a large courtyard?" Zhang Hanshan replied.

Yang Zhenshan looked up toward the small town behind the pier. The town wasn’t large, yet not small either, likely having some shops and courtyards.

Though not bustling, those who come here are major patrons with no shortage of money.

"A place enough to accommodate thirty or so people will do!"

Upon hearing that, Zhang Hanshan’s face showed an even more ingratiating expression, "Please follow me, senior. I have a large courtyard that should be suitable for senior’s stay!"

Subsequently, Yang Zhenshan followed Zhang Hanshan into the town behind the pier.

The town had a main street lined with shops on both sides, mostly selling supplies for going to sea.

Such as food, tea leaves, fruits, and vegetables, alcoholic beverages, and meats.

Things like dried meat, dried vegetables, tea leaves, etc., are all available.

Of course, the most sold items are fresh water.

Yang Zhenshan walked while observing the pedestrians encountered, indeed seeing quite a few Innate Martial Artists.

Meanwhile, many were watching their group, some even with malicious eyes.

Feeling those gazes, Yang Zhenshan’s lips curled slightly.

This is not a peaceful place. Wind Island should have an owner, and on the island, everyone should show some courtesy to the Island Master, but once off the island, that’s not certain.

As for the Island’s Master, Yang Zhenshan had heard of him.

He is an Innate expert known as the East Sea Tyrant.

Judging by the title, it’s clear this is not an easy person to deal with.

Yang Zhenshan ignored those gazes and continued to follow Zhang Hanshan to a courtyard.

It must be said, the courtyard recommended by Zhang Hanshan was indeed nice—it wasn’t refined or splendid but definitely peaceful and elegant.

The houses were ample, enough to accommodate forty or fifty people without issue.

This was normal, most who come to Wind Island would bring some attendants, they wouldn’t stay long, and their accommodation requirements wouldn’t be too high, yet since they are Innate Martial Artists, the place couldn’t be too shabby.

Thus, it being neither here nor there, just about suitable.

Everyone wouldn’t feel dissatisfied, allowing for tolerable living conditions.

"What’s the cost for ten days?" Yang Zhenshan glanced at the courtyard’s arrangement and nodded, asking the price.

"Senior, if only renting the courtyard, it’s one tael of silver per day. For meals, our family’s restaurant is right next door, and senior can order meals there!" Zhang Hanshan embarrassedly smiled.

Upon hearing that, Yang Zhenshan raised an eyebrow.

A tael of silver a day?

That’s it?

Even Yang Zhenshan thought this was exorbitant.

A courtyard like this, even in Da’an Capital City, the rent for a month would only be about a tael of silver.

On Divine Wood Island, the rent would be even cheaper.

Yet considering the location, well, this is where they make their money.

"How about meals?"

"For high-quality meals, two taels per person per day; medium-quality, one tael; low-quality, five coins. Which does senior want?" Zhang Hanshan cautiously glanced at the group behind him.

He likely felt the prices were too extortionate, but he couldn’t control the prices.

Yang Zhenshan chuckled as he stroked his beard, looking at the restaurant next door, hmm, this isn’t a restaurant; it’s a gold mine!

Forget high-quality, even low-quality meals at five coins per person a day would cost fifteen taels for thirty people in one day, considering ten days would be a hundred and fifty taels.

Yet asking Innate Martial Artists to eat low-quality meals would be an insult!

The attendants of Innate Martial Artists aren’t ordinary either; at least they are Postnatal Martial Artists, even above the Postnatal Fifth Layer .

For example, the sailors Yang Zhenshan brought this time were Postnatal Martial Artists at the seventh and eighth layers.

Could you respectfully let them eat low-quality meals?

If everyone consumes premium meals, it would be two taels per person per day. With more than thirty people, that’s seventy taels a day, and seven hundred taels for ten days.

In this view, rent is cheap in comparison.

Besides rent and meals, they also need to replenish various supplies.

Judging the rent and meal prices here, the cost of supplies on Wind Island surely isn’t low either.

Without spending a few thousand taels of silver, leaving Wind Island seems difficult.

The island doesn’t need many visitors—thirty or so groups like Yang Zhenshan a year could yield tens of thousands of silver coins.

Is Wind Island that big?

No!

Wind Island is just an ordinary little island.

But its annual income can rival the Yang family’s Cloud Island, or even exceed it.

The Yang family’s Cloud Island sits on several shipping lanes, acting as a key supply point. Nonetheless, Cloud Island’s annual revenue is only around tens of thousands of silver coins.

Moreover, Wind Island’s annual visitors must exceed thirty or so groups; this number might even double.

This isn’t a poor rural area; it’s essentially a constant goldmine.

Yang Zhenshan even feels an impulse to seize it, but he knows it’s merely thinking, as the distance from Divine Wood Island is too great, not worth the Yang family traveling ten thousand miles to claim such a detached territory.

Yang Zhenshan gave Zhang Hanshan a deep look, then signaled to Li Chang, who immediately understood, taking out ten gold ingots from his bundle.

"Half a month, high-quality meals, no problem, right?" Li Chang said.

Ten gold ingots equal a hundred taels of gold, equivalent to a thousand taels of silver, more than enough for ten days of rent and meal fees.

Zhang Hanshan scrambled to catch the glittering gold ingots, his face again showing a sycophantic smile, "No problem, no problem, thank you for the gratuity, senior!"

The extra amount was naturally his commission. At that moment, in his eyes, Yang Zhenshan’s group was the big spenders.

"Stay here for the ten days, ready to serve." Yang Zhenshan glanced at him and said faintly.

"Yes, yes! I’ll obey!" What else could Zhang Hanshan say?

The rent and meal costs were less than eight hundred taels of silver, and the extra two hundred taels were his, so even a hundred days sound fine to him.

Thus, Yang Zhenshan and his party found a place to settle on Wind Island.