Chapter Forty-Nine: Don’t Go Around Giving People Ridiculous Names

The two young maidservants glanced timidly at Su Ji’an, momentarily at a loss. Su Ji’an smiled gently. “It’s settled then; from now on, you’ll be called Little Fang, and you, Little Zi. Remember to obey your mistress.”

Little Zi: “...”

Little Fang: “...”

They wanted to protest—the names their master had chosen were hardly inspiring—but dared not speak out. Zhao Qianxue stepped in to ease the awkwardness. “Don’t go about changing people’s names willy-nilly. Our bodies and names are gifts from our parents.”

Little Fang hurried to reply, “Mistress, please don’t be angry... Our previous names weren’t given by our parents, but by the broker who sold us.”

Su Ji’an considered this; these two maidservants were mere mortals, and he would need to provide for their meals. He decided to unlock a Fasting Pill worth a thousand spirit points. In this mundane world, such a pill would surely be in high demand, and it would conveniently solve the issue of the maidservants’ sustenance.

Soon after, Su Ji’an used the remaining cultivation resources from Su Henli’s storage ring to redeem six thousand spirit points. He then unlocked five basic cultivation pills: the Spirit Opening Pill, Heavenly Spirit Pill, Profound Essence Pill, Yellow Essence Pill, and the Circulation Pill. These pills were mainly suited for practitioners from the Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment stages. Among ordinary folk, few possessed advanced cultivation; rare resources would only go unsold.

[Current remaining spirit points: 355.]

His spirit points were now completely depleted. All that remained was to wait for a steady influx of spirit stones.

Su Ji’an glanced at the two maidservants, signaling they could withdraw.

Then, Su Ji’an handed the deed of the shop to Zhao Qianxue, instructing her, “From now on, our family’s finances are in your hands. But you needn’t handle everything yourself—just hire a few trustworthy clerks to manage the business.”

“And don’t keep too much stock in the shop at once, lest thieves covet it.”

Su Ji’an rattled off a long list of precautions, particularly many details that seemed trivial but were, in fact, most critical.

Zhao Qianxue struggled to absorb all the information, muttering gloomily, “Turns out even running a business is so difficult...”

Su Ji’an encouraged her, “I believe our shop will prosper, and you will become the wealthiest woman in the world!”

She was accustomed to a life of ease and was prone to giving up.

Zhao Qianxue’s gaze grew resolute.

She certainly wished to be Su Ji’an’s support, not a burden on his path.

Suddenly, she recalled something and said eagerly, “Little Ji’an, guess whom I just met?”

Su Ji’an had no interest in guessing games and signaled for her to stop beating around the bush and get to the point.

Zhao Qianxue pouted, thinking him unromantic. “On my way back, I happened to see the Nascent Soul cultivator from the city gates; he seems to live right next door to us.”

Su Ji’an frowned slightly. “Did he see you?”

If things were as he suspected, that shifty fellow was likely up to no good.

Zhao Qianxue replied, “No, I was still some distance away. I just caught a glimpse as he entered the courtyard next to ours.”

Su Ji’an nodded. That being the case, he was probably worrying too much. There was no need to change their appearances; a Nascent Soul cultivator wasn’t enough to threaten them. Should the man harbor any ill intentions, Su Ji’an would not hesitate to ensure he never saw another sunrise.

He immediately took out a handful of Detoxification Pills and Disguise Pills, handing them to Zhao Qianxue. “If anything seems amiss, change your appearance at once and stay away from the courtyard. If all is well, each Disguise Pill you take will prolong its effect for three more days.”

...

Under a sparse, starry moon.

Su Ji’an quietly left his own courtyard and appeared at the City Lord’s mansion. It didn’t take long for him to locate the City Lord of Lingdu.

Wang Yourong was still asleep when Su Ji’an seized him by the throat of fate.

Su Ji’an was somewhat surprised by Wang Yourong’s reaction. One would expect him to panic, especially since he was a cultivator at the early Golden Core stage. Was he so calm because he felt secure?

Wang Yourong asked, “Do we have a grudge?”

Su Ji’an smiled coolly. “No grudge.”

Wang Yourong was puzzled. “Then what are you doing, young friend?”

Su Ji’an replied, “I merely wish to discuss a small matter with the City Lord—a favor that requires little effort.”

“What is it? Speak.”

Su Ji’an admired the man’s composure; were it not for the thousands of protective talismans he carried, he might have feared being tricked.

“I need you to issue a warrant, to help me apprehend a criminal.”

Wang Yourong was silent for a moment. “If he’s truly a criminal, why not simply report it to the authorities? Why go to such lengths?”

Su Ji’an laughed. “I have no concrete evidence, so I must resort to unconventional methods. I ask your understanding, City Lord.”

Wang Yourong said, “I’ll do it.”

So straightforward?

Su Ji’an found it hard to read the man’s intentions—it was most peculiar.

Wang Yourong countered, “Do you find this unbelievable, young friend?”

Su Ji’an pondered a moment, then spoke slowly. “It seems we’re both direct men, so I’ll be frank.”

“I’m originally from Lingzhou. Because of the villain Ouyang Ke from the Demonic Sect—who not only poisoned the City Lord of Lingzhou but also incited conflict between the Alliance of the Righteous and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion—I’ve been falsely accused. The scoundrel tried to pin the blame on me and recently fled to Yingdu. If you could issue a warrant clarifying these facts so the Alliance and the Pavilion are informed, that’s all I ask. The rest need not concern you, and you may simply note in the warrant that the report comes from an official subordinate of Lingzhou.”

Wang Yourong was slightly taken aback; the story sounded plausible.

But since the man needed something from him, Wang Yourong felt emboldened.

“Are you not afraid that, though you leave the City Lord’s mansion, you may not leave Yingdu?”

“That’s why I must trouble you once more. I won’t resort to any reckless violence, but I ask you to take this pill.” As Su Ji’an spoke, he produced the Blood Toad Gu and the Violet Extreme Pill from his robes, pushing them into Wang Yourong’s mouth and holding his throat until both pills dissolved completely.

Only then did he let go; there was no need to restrain the man further.

Wang Yourong’s eyes widened. “What was the other pill?”

Su Ji’an smiled. “No need to worry, City Lord. The other is the antidote, but it only suppresses the poison for three days. Once the matter is settled, I’ll deliver the antidote myself.”

Giving one is as easy as giving many—he was always a man of his word.

Wang Yourong’s mouth twitched as he forced a smile. “I’ll handle this promptly, but you must bring the antidote soon, or any misunderstanding would be unfortunate.”

Su Ji’an readily agreed and then departed.