Coiling Dragon (Book 1)

Chapter 5

Book 1, Chapter 5 – Growth (part 2)

Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the grandfather clock within the hall rang eleven times, signifying that it was now 11 in the morning.

"Is Hogg at home?" A clear voice rang out. The Baruch manor had no guards, so clearly, this person had already arrived within the manor grounds.

Hogg frowned, placing down the thick tome in front of him. "Linley, today we'll come to a stop here." Revealing a wisp of a smile, Hogg turned around and walked towards the guest hall.

"Ah, Hogg, my dear friend! Just the other day, I heard the clothspinner bird's cry, and I just knew that something good was going to happen. Indeed, by noon, I received your missive, and as soon as I read it, I was overjoyed."

"Dear Philip, I am very happy to see you as well. Hillman, quickly go and bring me the stone sculpture, 'Fierce Lion'. Philip, come, let's go to the main hall and wait. The sculpture will be here shortly."

Hearing these words, Linley felt his heart twinge.

"We're selling off more family belongings?" Linley knew that the 'Fierce Lion' sculpture was one which his father deeply liked. But the Baruch clan, which took very little taxes from Wushan township, really was in dire economic straits.

Fortunately, the Baruch clan was an ancient one, and by virtue of its age, had stored many rare and precious items.

Unfortunately, even the vastest of hoards could not withstand so many years of auctions and sales. By this point in time, the number of valuable items within the clan was very few. Linley couldn't help but turn to stare at the grandfather clock. "I wonder how long it will be before even this clock has to be sold off."

A middle aged man with long, golden hair and a nobleman's aura strode into the hall by Hogg's side. Linley immediately was able to guess that this middle-aged man must be 'Philip'.

"Oh, this adorable child must be your son, right Hogg?" Philip smiled very warmly at Linley. "Linley Baruch, right? May I address you as Linley?"

"It would be my honor, sire." Linley placed his right hand against his breast and respectfully bowed.

"What an adorable child." Philip seemed very pleased.

By his side, Hogg laughed. "Philip, stop wasting time with the child. Look, the 'Fierce Lion' you have desired for so long has arrived." As he spoke, Hillman easily carried in the large sculpture into the hall, and then easily set it down.

It was a nearly thousand-pound stone sculpture, but in Hillman's hands, it seemed like naught but a toy, clearly showing Hillman's strength.

"Mr. Hillman, your strength amazes me. My own manor doesn't have anyone as fierce as you, guard captain, even though I control twelve towns." Philip smiled as he spoke, but the implicit meaning in his words was quite clear; he wanted to invite Hillman to work for him.

Hillman said coldly, "Wushan town is my home, sire."

"Forgive me." Philip quickly apologized.

Philip turned to look at Hogg. "Hogg, I must say, although I like this stone sculpture very much, the artisanship of this 'Fierce Lion' sculpture cannot be considered to be top tier, much less the masterpieces of those grandmaster sculptors."

"Philip, if you don't wish to buy it, then forget about it." Hogg was quite succinct.

Philip's eyes couldn't help but narrow, but then he laughed. "Haha...Hogg, don't be angry. I'm not saying that I don't wish to buy it. I'm just telling the truth. How about this. I'll buy this sculpture for five hundred gold coins. What do you think?"