Chapter Thirty-Three: Where Did the Money Come From?

Page 1

At the summit of Xiaoping Peak.

Mo Qingli gazed calmly at Wang Shaoyang and the other disciples guarding outside the cave, gently cradling the Nine-colored Deer in her arms as she stepped out.

"Peak Master Mo, forgive the interruption. Please come with us," Wang Shaoyang said, his expression as cold and indifferent as ever.

Mo Qingli stroked the little deer’s forehead and lowered her eyes. "Lead the way."

The disciples parted to either side, clearing a path ahead.

Wang Shaoyang walked at the front, Mo Qingli followed with tranquil composure.

…

Luo Yingying’s cultivation was at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, and she was older than Qu Yiqiu.

Her speed in sword-flight exceeded Qu Yiqiu’s.

Soon, the two entered Mingde City.

Luo Yingying glanced around and led Qu Yiqiu to the East Street.

They hadn’t walked far before stopping in front of a shop called Treasure Pavilion.

"Junior Sister, this is the place. I know the manager here well—he always gives me special prices when he sees me!" Luo Yingying stepped lightly into the shop.

Qu Yiqiu glanced around inside, then followed.

Luo Yingying greeted the attendant as soon as she entered.

"Where’s your manager? Call him out, set up a private room for us, and recommend some good items!"

The attendant, seeing her confident demeanor, immediately beamed with smiles. "Honored guests, please ascend to the third floor. The ‘Heaven’ suite is still available. I’ll call the manager at once!"

Luo Yingying nodded. "Good. Junior Sister Qu, let’s go up!"

Qu Yiqiu responded softly, and the two sat in the ‘Heaven’ suite recommended by the attendant.

No sooner had they settled than two maids in palace attire approached to brew and pour tea for them.

The fragrance of the tea filled the air, mist curling gracefully.

Qu Yiqiu lifted her cup and sipped lightly.

Gentle, subtle spiritual energy unraveled into fine threads, sliding into her belly.

She was slightly surprised. "Is this the Thousand-thread Spirit Tea?"

The Thousand-thread Spirit Tea was at least a third-grade spiritual variety.

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Just a small amount of these leaves cost three thousand low-grade spirit stones on the market.

Using such tea to entertain guests in the Qi Refinement stage—isn’t that a bit too extravagant?

A strange feeling arose in her heart.

Luo Yingying hadn’t noticed the type of spirit tea when she entered. Now, hearing this, she glanced down and immediately drew a sharp breath.

"Is it…? That can’t be. Let me try!"

Her eyes darted nervously as she gulped down the spirit tea in one go.

She set the cup down and laughed loudly. "Junior Sister, are you sure you didn’t mistake it? At most, it contains a trace of Thousand-thread Spirit Tea’s energy. I bet the manager blends it in just to impress guests!"

Qu Yiqiu watched her exaggerated laughter and, for a moment, wondered if she’d misjudged the tea.

Suppressing her doubts, she smiled. "So that’s it. It seems I know too little about spirit tea. Senior Sister Luo, you’re so knowledgeable."

Luo Yingying forced a dry laugh. "Junior Sister is still young. Once you reach my age, you’ll know plenty as well."

"Senior Sister Luo, you’re too modest." Qu Yiqiu quietly lifted her cup again to her lips.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luo Yingying’s body stiffen briefly.

There was definitely something odd about this.

But judging by Luo Yingying’s manner, she didn’t seem to mean her harm.

Luo Yingying dared not look at her, turning to the two maids instead. "Where’s your manager? Why is he taking so long? If he’s not quick, I won’t come again!"

"Please don’t be upset, honored guest. Xiaoyue will go urge him right away," one maid replied, lowering her head and turning to seek the manager.

Only to bump directly into someone entering.

"Hahaha, no need to look—I’m already here!"

A hearty laugh at once drew everyone’s attention.

Qu Yiqiu looked over at the manager of Treasure Pavilion.

His chin was covered in a thick beard, his face full and fair with a healthy glow, belly round and plump, dressed in a mid-grade robe adorned with spirit stones—an image of prosperity.

Luo Yingying breathed a sigh of relief and feigned displeasure. "Why are you so late? My friend and I have been waiting ages!"

"Please don’t be angry, Fellow Daoist Luo! There’s been unrest in Qunan City, so many customers have come to buy magical tools and pills. I couldn’t get away. But as soon as I finished, I hurried over," the manager explained helplessly.

Luo Yingying was simply putting on a show and didn’t truly mind. She quickly cut to the chase. "Since Manager Qian is giving me such face, I can’t blame you. I heard Treasure Pavilion recently got a batch of new goods—show us what you’ve got!"

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Manager Qian smiled, his eyes narrowing with delight. "The magical tools still need to be fetched by the maids. As for pills for Qi Refinement, I happen to have a few bottles right here. Please, take a look!"

With a flourish of his wide sleeves, he set more than a dozen porcelain bottles with different patterns on the table.

"These contain Spirit-restoration Pills, Vitality-nourishing Pills, and Foundation-fortifying Pills. Which do the honored guests need?"

Manager Qian’s round face was all smiles, his tone warm and friendly.

Qu Yiqiu found his attitude satisfactory.

Luo Yingying pushed the bottles toward Qu Yiqiu. "Junior Sister, see which pills you want. The grades vary, and if you like, we can buy them all!"

If not for Luo Yingying’s pure expression, Qu Yiqiu would have suspected she was deliberately making her look bad.

The pills in these bottles were of high grade and very expensive. Coming from Xiaoping Peak, Qu Yiqiu had few spirit stones.

Typically, she couldn’t afford so many pills.

Fortunately, she was not typical.

Qu Yiqiu smiled faintly and picked up the bottles to examine them.

She didn’t intend to spend much on pills; her purpose in coming with Luo Yingying was to buy a few magical tools for protection.

She had hurriedly advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refinement and still lacked a suitable magical tool.

"Manager Qian, how much for your Vitality-nourishing Pill with three patterns?"

Qu Yiqiu turned to ask.

Manager Qian rubbed his hands apologetically, smiling. "Three-pattern Vitality-nourishing Pill, six thousand low-grade spirit stones per bottle—twelve pills in total. For you, the friends’ price is fifty-five hundred."

"That price is reasonable… Junior Sister, what do you think?" Luo Yingying wished she could slap herself. Life on Xiaoping Peak was so hard for Qu Yiqiu—she wore ordinary clothes. How could she possibly afford three-pattern Vitality-nourishing Pills! She wished she could take back her words.

"And the three-pattern Spirit-restoration and Foundation-fortifying Pills—how much per bottle?" Qu Yiqiu didn’t agree to the Vitality-nourishing Pills, but asked further.

Manager Qian didn’t press, only smiling. "Three-pattern Spirit-restoration, forty-six hundred; Foundation-fortifying, sixty-three hundred—these are friends’ prices."

Qu Yiqiu nodded. "Do you have two-pattern Essence-gathering Pills? What’s the price?"

Luo Yingying was stunned. Was Junior Sister Qu really planning to buy?