Chapter 34: Swift Return (Please Add to Favorites)

"Who are you..." Li Guanxuan looked at the woman in the green dress with a puzzled expression, unable to recall where he had seen her before.

The woman in the green dress lowered her hand, folded both hands at her waist, and offered a polite smile. "Greetings, fellow cultivator. I have just moved into the Water Narcissus Residence next door. If I cause any disturbance in the days to come, I hope you will forgive me."

She wore a long dress of emerald green, a simple silk ribbon wrapped around her slender willow waist. Though her head was bowed, revealing the tips of her toes, her figure was slim and graceful, her curves alluring, and her face beautiful as a flower in full bloom. Her eyes, reminiscent of spring breezes and autumn waters, were especially enchanting, her classical elegance tinged with a subtle hint of charm.

Li Guanxuan nodded slightly in return. "My surname is Li," he replied.

The woman in green smiled. "Greetings, Master Li. My surname is Song, given name Zhiqiao. I have some small skill in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and I am a first-rank formation master."

A formation master? She's quite the scholar... Li Guanxuan was a little surprised.

Everyone knew that formations in the world of cultivation were akin to mathematics: filled with endless changes, requiring deep study of restrictions, mountain terrains, and more, in order to lay down an array with precision.

"I have some modest skill in the Dao of alchemy. If you ever need any pills, feel free to seek me out," Li Guanxuan said with a smile.

Song Zhiqiao was about to speak when she noticed Wen Rongxin standing behind Li Guanxuan. She smiled in surprise. "I didn't expect that not only are you a pill master at such a young age, Master Li, but you also have such a beautiful confidante. Truly enviable... Unlike me, who has been alone all these years."

What a heavy dose of flattery. This neighbor is not to be trusted. I must keep my wife away from her, lest she lead her astray in the future... Li Guanxuan thought to himself with a hint of wariness, then said aloud:

"You're thinking too much, Madam Song. I am already forty-eight this year, only sustaining my youth with a beauty-preserving pill."

Song Zhiqiao sighed. "Mature men have a certain poise and charm. I truly envy Sister that she has found such a good husband in Master Li."

"..." Li Guanxuan inwardly sighed at how dangerous such subtle flattery could be. He then sent Wen Rongxin away with a glance, closed the door, and with an apologetic smile said, "Forgive me, I have some business to attend to outside."

"Safe travels, Master Li," Song Zhiqiao replied with a polite nod, maintaining her courteous demeanor.

After leaving his home, Li Guanxuan disguised himself before heading to the East Market.

Though his strength and talent had improved, and he now had some cards up his sleeve, for Li Guanxuan, caution and prudence were the best ways to survive in this cutthroat world.

Upon arriving at Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, he saw a handsome man in white, his expression cold as he reprimanded several young attendants.

Li Guanxuan listened for a moment; the gist was that the attendants had not welcomed guests properly and had led them to the wrong private rooms, thus earning the man in white's scolding.

Li Guanxuan recognized him: he was Li Kuangzheng, the steward of Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, equivalent to a manager, responsible for the shop's finances and other affairs.

Scholars can be so sharp with their words—those attendants looked like they were about to cry... Li Guanxuan shook his head, then stepped forward and asked, "Steward Li, is Elder Zheng in?"

Li Kuangzheng's sword-like eyebrows furrowed as he glanced at Li Guanxuan. "There is only Shopkeeper Zheng in Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, not 'Elder Zheng.'"

"Fine, fine, I'll look for Shopkeeper Zheng, then."

Li Guanxuan shook his head helplessly. Seeing that Li Kuangzheng was about to argue, he immediately said, "I'm a customer. If you keep stalling me, I'll write a letter of complaint on the spot."

He knew Li Kuangzheng cared most about his reputation. If a customer really complained, it would be like a black stain on his spotless attire.

"Shopkeeper Zheng is on the top floor," Li Kuangzheng replied coolly.

"Thank you."

Li Guanxuan smiled, then looked at one of the attendants. "I'm not familiar with the way to the top floor. Fugui, would you mind guiding me?"

At these words, the attendant's eyes lit up, but he glanced timidly at the steward.

The steward said calmly, "If a guest has a request, it must naturally be met at once. What are you waiting for?"

"Yes, yes... Thank you, Steward Li, thank you, Master Li."

Fugui, the attendant, visibly relaxed and thanked them repeatedly before leading the way.

"You all get back to your duties. No more distractions," the steward said.

"Yes, sir!" The other attendants chorused and hurried back to work.

On the way upstairs, Li Guanxuan comforted Fugui. "That's just how he is, don't take it too hard. His rules and principles, at least for you all, are fair and for your own good. Work hard, and promotion won't be an issue."

He had known Fugui for six years; a few words of encouragement between acquaintances did no harm.

Fugui smiled weakly. "Master Li, I know all that, it's just..."

"Just that sometimes his way of scolding people, without a single curse, makes it even harder to bear, right?" Li Guanxuan chuckled. "That's the power of a scholar. When you have free time, read more books yourself. You might find a house of gold in the pages, and then be able to argue back with him."

"I-I'd better not. I wouldn't dare," Fugui replied awkwardly.

"Read more, anyway... You can handle the inventory here. In a few years, you might get promoted." Li Guanxuan patted Fugui's shoulder and handed him a storage pouch before opening the door and going in.

"Thank you, Master Li!"

Fugui bowed deeply in gratitude.

He knew well that Li Guanxuan was a top-grade talisman master who could speak directly to the shopkeeper, but over the years, he had often entrusted goods to Fugui to calculate, looking out for him.

Entering the private room on the top floor, Li Guanxuan saw Zheng Huangjin busy at his desk. He silently sat down, poured himself some tea, and tapped his finger lightly on the table, making a faint "thump" sound.

Without lifting his head, Zheng Huangjin said, "You’ve brought the goods and the materials are as usual. You must be here to ask for a favor, aren’t you?"

Nothing in the shop could escape the notice of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense.

Li Guanxuan made no attempt to hide his intentions. "These are the spoils taken from Bi Zhou and Shu Yao. I’d like to ask you for help. Seventy-thirty split... Also, I'd like to inquire about the secret realm that just appeared in the Ten-Thousand Mountains."

"You mean the Dongyun Mountain secret realm? I hear there are quite a few Foundation Establishment pills inside. Several powerful factions have their eyes on it, and many rogue cultivators plan to compete as well..."

At this point, Zheng Huangjin glanced at Li Guanxuan in confusion. "But you haven't even reached Foundation Establishment. Why are you so interested?"

"Is it very dangerous?" Li Guanxuan pressed.

"It should be. The four great factions will all make a move. Besides pills and magical artifacts, there are Foundation Establishment techniques within that secret realm that could drive people mad."

Zheng Huangjin nodded, then lowered his voice and changed the subject. "But recently, the head of Falling Moon Valley forced his way into Dongyun Mountain's secret realm and barely escaped with his life, gravely injured..."

Li Guanxuan caught the implication, took a deep breath, and sighed, "The times are changing again..."

"Such is the world of cultivation."

Zheng Huangjin continued with his work, smiling. "If you have friends in Falling Moon Valley, advise them to leave as soon as possible. Other matters I can help with, but when it comes to sect affairs, even I am powerless."

"Understood. Thank you for your help, brother. The pills in this storage pouch are all of mid-grade."

Li Guanxuan walked over and placed several small bottles before Zheng Huangjin with a smile. "I've been in seclusion for over half a year, and my alchemy has improved a bit. Please help me sell these."

Zheng Huangjin stared at the bottles filling the table, shock in his eyes. He quickly picked one up and sniffed it.

"Recovery Pills, rich fragrance—better quality than the average mid-grade, though still far from high-grade..."

Zheng Huangjin looked at Li Guanxuan in disbelief and delight. "Brother Li, you truly are my lucky star!"

So many pills—enough to make the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion even more renowned in Qing'an City and beyond!

And the quality was excellent!

"I'm simply someone who remembers kindness."

Li Guanxuan smiled and said, "You go ahead with your work. I need to write a letter to Falling Moon Valley. Do you have a spirit dove that can fly there?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Li Guanxuan wrote the name "Qin Wuji" on the letter. The content was simple: Return at once!

...

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