Chapter 120: Better to Kill the Innocent than to Let the Guilty Escape

It was a pity that the damn system offered no response to his request.

Zhao Qianxue did not return home until the hour of the dog. Since the opening of several branch stores, she had been returning later and later. With every store turning a profit, Zhao Qianxue had transitioned from the front lines to behind the scenes. The players handled all the running around, and she only needed to provide inventory for those restocking.

She was now earning two to three hundred spirit stones a day. At this rate, once she completely replaced the Wanbao Pavilion, a daily income of over ten thousand would be no dream. However, tall trees attract the wind, and there would surely be countless people coveting the Immortal Guest House by then. It was only because the Wanbao Pavilion possessed formidable strength that they had deterred most of the petty scoundrels. The Eagle Sorrow Ridge was merely the beginning; the troubles to follow would likely be even more thorny. Moreover, their current shops had no cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage stationed there. The Wanbao Pavilion, at the very least, equipped their shops in mundane small cities with Golden Core stage cultivators.

The Blue Star players needed time to grow. When the time came, the quickest solution would be to summon a few more "All-Heaven" players. Yet, the uncertainty was too high; five thousand spiritual power points could easily summon a useless waste.

Su Ji’an felt a touch of heartache for her and wrapped his arms around her waist. It was the height of summer, and even through their clothes, they could feel the warmth radiating from one another. Su Ji’an suddenly smiled. "Qianxue, it is time to practice the Mystic Maiden Sutra."

Zhao Qianxue narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "You should be careful with your body lately; a man cannot rush the practice of the Mystic Maiden Sutra!"

Su Ji’an retorted indignantly, "You should worry about yourself instead. I have recently grasped a few obscure and difficult techniques."

Zhao Qianxue raised an eyebrow and agreed instantly, "Who’s afraid of whom!"

After a session of practice, Zhao Qianxue was the first to reach a state of fulfillment. Su Ji’an laughed, "Does this finally put an end to your doubts regarding my cultivation ability?"

Zhao Qianxue arched her brows and suggested, "Then why don't you call Sister Qing'er over to join us? I think she would be more than happy to."

Su Ji’an shook his head. "Anyone but her."

Zhao Qianxue was puzzled. "Why?"

Su Ji’an suddenly turned serious. "There might be something ghostly about her; stay away from her in the future."

Zhao Qianxue was stunned. "Then why not just kill her?"

She was not yet aware of the situation involving the Human Path Academy.

Su Ji’an nodded. "I am already considering how to eliminate the source of future trouble once and for all. When that time comes, we shall settle in Cold Mountain City, which will be much more convenient for you."

Zhao Qianxue thought for a moment and analyzed, "If there is nothing wrong with her, then so be it, but if there truly is a problem, the fact that she hasn't taken the opportunity to leave Spirit Show Village suggests she hasn't yet shaken off your control."

Su Ji’an deeply agreed with this. Although everything was still just a suspicion—perhaps even a far-fetched one—he preferred to trust his own judgment. In such matters, one must adhere to the principle of "better to kill the innocent than to let a culprit escape."

...

Wanbao Headquarters. The Mahavira Hall.

Several candle flames flickered on either side of the hall. Beneath the statue of the Buddha stood a simple wooden chair. A middle-aged man dressed in light gray monk’s robes, his head completely shaven, sat on the chair. He looked at the people before him with a benevolent expression and asked, "Do you know why I have summoned you all here today?"

"Master, the demonic faction harbors concerns; I believe they are mostly looking to use us," one of them said, stepping forward, kneeling on one knee, and cupping his hands.

The Master before them was, in truth, Zeng Xuanke, the leader of the Wanbao Pavilion. They had many branch divisions, but only a few high-level members knew the true location of the Wanbao Headquarters. This was nothing more than a move to deceive the public.

Zeng Xuanke sneered, "Heh, once you’ve boarded the ship, do you think it's that easy to get off? If they are acting in bad faith, then you must design a scheme to lure them into the trap."

"I understand, Master. But regarding the Orthodox Alliance, should we cut off all business dealings with them?"

Zeng Xuanke’s sneer deepened. "Why stop? We should still earn money from the Orthodox Alliance. Even if we don't do business with them, they will simply find someone else."

"Who would have the guts to compete with us for business?"

"Although there are countless merchants in the world, not one has the scale we do. If we cut off trade with the Orthodox Alliance, who else could they turn to?"

Zeng Xuanke shook his head. "Do not underestimate the Orthodox Alliance; they are more troublesome than you imagine. There is an unclear and mysterious relationship between the Human Path Academy and the Orthodox Alliance. Perhaps the Orthodox Alliance has been controlled by the Human Path Academy from the very beginning."

Hearing Zeng Xuanke’s words, everyone present gasped, their expressions filled with astonishment. The Human Path Academy was not merely a faction; it stood above all others. If one wished to become an immortal, the Human Path Academy was the stepping stone.

"Master, what should we do now?"

"Perhaps... we should reconcile with the Orthodox Alliance..."

"Shut your mouth! How could we reconcile now? Do you want us to become dogs for the Orthodox Alliance?"

"Several sects of the Orthodox Alliance have been bombed recently. It is clearly someone framing us, yet the Orthodox Alliance insists it is our doing."

Watching the panic among his subordinates, Zeng Xuanke calmly raised a hand to signal for silence. His prestige was immense, and everyone shut their mouths sensibly.

Zeng Xuanke said slowly, "Although the Human Path Academy is difficult to deal with, the demonic faction also has its own foundations. The outcome is yet to be determined."

"Master, I suddenly recalled something that might be related to the Orthodox Alliance."

Zeng Xuanke frowned, signaling him to continue.

"A shop called the Immortal Guest House has recently emerged. In just a few days, they have opened branches in several mundane cities. Furthermore, their method of competition is quite unique. While this in itself is nothing, the timing of the Immortal Guest House’s appearance is far too coincidental."

Zeng Xuanke replied with a calm expression, "Are you suggesting that the true intent of this Immortal Guest House is to replace us?"

"Exactly. We must not ignore it. Even if it has nothing to do with the Orthodox Alliance, we should still make it disappear."

Zeng Xuanke said indifferently, "Handle it as you see fit; deal with it using the old methods. But times have changed—remember to investigate thoroughly before taking action. Do not fall into a trap set by the Orthodox Alliance."

"Yes!"

Seeing that the instructions were complete, Zeng Xuanke signaled for everyone to withdraw. The Immortal Guest House was merely a small interlude. Over these hundreds of years, they had solved countless people who, like the Immortal Guest House, did not know the immensity of heaven and earth, both in the open and in the shadows. It was no exaggeration to say that the Wanbao Pavilion’s current standing was built upon a foundation of corpses.