Chapter Seventy-Four: Indeed, Murder and Arson Bring Gold Sashes

On this short stretch of road, Su Ji’an drew frequent sidelong glances. If “awkwardness” were a door, his mother would have opened it wide for him—this was awkwardness taken to its extreme!

The Celestial Maiden Transformation was a divine technique meant for little fairy maidens; even if he wanted to turn into an ordinary-looking girl, it was simply impossible.

In a moment, Su Ji’an stepped into the Wanbao Pavilion, where the steward’s gaze flickered with surprise.

“Immortal lady, what do you require?”

With an indifferent expression, Su Ji’an said, “Is the elder overseeing your Wanbao Pavilion in Hanshan City present?”

“Naturally, the elder is here. May I ask what you intend?”

The masters stationed at each Wanbao Pavilion branch were not permitted to leave at will, lest they neglect their duties and be held accountable if anything happened.

“I wish to sell a rare item, but I fear you may not recognize its value. Best have your overseeing elder show himself.” Su Ji’an’s face remained expressionless.

The steward hesitated, but seeing Su Ji’an’s extraordinary bearing—like an immortal untouched by mortal dust—and sensing the unfathomable depths of her cultivation, he felt compelled to believe her.

Moments later, the steward returned with a cultivator at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Su Ji’an was never one for unnecessary words. Two immobilization talismans flew out, landing squarely on the newcomers’ foreheads.

The pair immediately froze in place, caught completely off guard.

Su Ji’an swiftly tossed out several more immobilization talismans, pinning down a few attendants as well.

Everything was executed with simple efficiency. No matter how formidable a Nascent Soul cultivator, one immobilization talisman from him and they’d be rendered motionless.

Without delay, Su Ji’an shut the shop’s front doors.

All this happened in an instant; outside, there were no passersby.

He inspected the rear halls and courtyard of the Wanbao Pavilion—only a few Foundation and Core Formation cultivators were present.

He disposed of them without a second thought.

After a thorough search, a look of unprecedented satisfaction appeared on Su Ji’an’s face.

The Hanshan City branch’s inventory was far richer than what he’d found in Lingchuan.

Moments later, the Wanbao Pavilion was empty; it appeared as though he’d stowed everything in his storage ring, but in truth, it had all been converted to spiritual power.

Yet he left behind one superior-grade immortal robe—the most valuable item in the entire branch.

Then, Su Ji’an finished off the steward and the resident elder, leaving a handful of trembling attendants alive by design.

Though Nascent Soul cultivators were a bit more troublesome to kill, their nascent spirits were still weak and incapable of mounting any real resistance.

Su Ji’an chuckled, “This immortal robe is quite nice—perfect to give to Qingyan.”

Shen Qingyan was the daughter of Shen Lianxiang, leader of the righteous Southern Alliance.

Wanbao Pavilion would easily associate the name Qingyan, along with their recent actions targeting the alliance in Yingdu City, and inevitably suspect the righteous alliance.

In any case, the Wanbao Pavilion and the righteous alliance were already on the verge of open hostility.

The righteous alliance was used to taking the blame; one more scapegoat wouldn’t matter.

[Current remaining spiritual energy: 136,535.]

He remembered that last time, in Lingzhou City’s Wanbao Pavilion, he’d gained around ninety thousand spiritual energy.

This time, he’d deliberately left behind five hundred spirit stones for emergencies.

Now, running a shop was nearly a side business. Since acquiring the dog system, most of his spiritual energy came from… side ventures.

Truly, as the saying goes, arson and murder make for golden sashes… running a shop is hardly worth mentioning.

To build power and wealth quickly was no trivial feat.

Ensuring nothing was amiss, Su Ji’an nevertheless murmured before leaving, “Some things, once done, must be paid for in kind. This is only the beginning…”

With that, he vanished, leaving behind only the quaking, terrified attendants.

He returned to his previous hiding spot, dispelled the Celestial Maiden Transformation, and resumed his altered appearance from the Shapeshifting Pill.

Indeed, the transformation hadn’t erased the pill’s effects.

Otherwise, he’d have to concoct some awkward explanation when he returned to the village.

For instance, he could claim that he’d taken the pill to evade Zhao Qianxue’s father’s pursuit.

Su Ji’an took out a communication jade and got in touch with Zhao Qianxue.

After a brief exchange, he headed straight for the city’s eastern quarter.

Zhao Qianxue had finished the preparations for their new shop in the west and was now busy in the east.

However, the new shop wasn’t opening just yet—they still needed a bit of ceremony.

Before long, Su Ji’an found Zhao Qianxue bustling about in their eastern shop.

She looked rather dashing as she worked.

Su Ji’an couldn’t help but sigh, “A woman who can make money truly is most beautiful.”

If there was no wealthy lady to rely on, he’d simply raise one himself.

Perhaps by some unspoken connection, Zhao Qianxue quickly noticed Su Ji’an’s presence.

...

At the same time—

“Shen Jingya” looked grim. She had searched the entire region around Yingdu City, spanning hundreds of miles, yet found no trace of Su Ji’an or Zhao Qianxue’s disappearance.

There were too many things about this affair she couldn’t fathom.

She now felt as if everything had spiraled out of her control.

It seemed Su Ji’an had never even tried to probe the mysteries of the Diamond Ring.

This was utterly contrary to her expectations.

She had intended to use the righteous alliance to press Su Ji’an with crisis, so that he would think, “Only by seizing the opportunity hidden behind the Diamond Ring can I resolve the crisis from the alliance.”

But things had not gone as she planned—before she could act, Su Ji’an and Zhao Qianxue had simply vanished.

It was all too strange, and didn’t appear to be the work of any villain.

It seemed more likely Su Ji’an had seen through her identity and spirited Zhao Qianxue away by some means.

Yet that, too, left many points she couldn’t reconcile.

“After decades of careful planning, how could I simply give up now?” A look of gravity appeared on “Shen Jingya’s” face.

“No… there must be someone else interfering from behind the scenes!”

“I’ve watched Su Ji’an grow up—he may be clever, but I know exactly what he’s capable of; no one knows better than I…”

She had already noted Su Ji’an’s recent resourcefulness and had witnessed the descent of countless celestial thunderbolts outside Lingzhou City.

Afterward, she’d ordered the Tiger and Dragon to keep close watch, but nothing came of it.

This only proved that the meddler dared not reveal themselves, their methods exceedingly shrewd.

Remaining in Yingdu City was now pointless.

Whether Su Ji’an had fallen into another’s hands or not, they would surely never return to this courtyard or shop.

So, she left a few minor spirits behind to secretly monitor Su Ji’an’s residence and shop.