Chapter 126: 121 Lady Hua Rong

After sending off Shi Chunqing, Tang Zhao stayed in the Boutique Shop for another day.

Although he could now use the Sword Art to travel up and down the mountain with ease, he could not go down every few days. This time, he naturally had things to do; aside from daily business accounting, he had to prepare for the upcoming Spring Meeting, which would keep him away for one or two months, so he had to arrange all the shop's operational matters. He would leave general affairs to Manager Liu, and only notify Xue Yeyu via owl if there was a major issue.

"After I return, I will likely have to go into seclusion with my master to focus on Sword Casting, and it will be months before I can come down again, so I will have to trouble you with the shop. There isn't much stock in these coming months, so don't run any promotions; don't count on high-volume sales. Once I finish my seclusion, the mountain will host the Sword Casting Conference. That will be the day when guests from all directions gather, and our chance to make money and build our reputation. Don't be in a rush to sell any boutique items you see in these months; hoard them all. When the time comes, we will hold our first auction on the mountain to put our brand on the map."

Liu Qiguang understood and said, "The Sword Casting Conference? That will truly be a grand event, the first of its kind in Yunzhou at the very least. Once the Manor Master becomes a Sword Master, who in Yunzhou will be able to compete? Even just drinking the soup will be enough for us. But if we really want to eat the meat, it depends on you, our boss, becoming a Sword Master yourself."

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "That day isn't far off, maybe a year or two."

Liu Qiguang did not ask why Xue Xianyun had been preparing to cast a single sword for nearly ten years while Tang Zhao, despite his youth, only needed a year or two. He absolutely trusted Tang Zhao, knowing his boss never spoke empty words or lies, and sighed, "By then you will be barely twenty. A Sword Master and Sword Guest at the age of 'weak crown'—where in the world could you not go?"

Tang Zhao laughed, "Wherever I go, our shop will open there. If I fly to the sky, we will open the company on the moon. By the way, I met the person you mentioned last time yesterday, and I think they are acceptable. Let them come to the shop to be your deputy first; they can learn the work gradually. In these special times, pay extra attention to security."

Liu Qiguang said, "Thank you, Boss. And about that other matter..."

The two arranged everything one by one and reinforced the shop's defenses.

At dusk, a guest arrived.

Tang Zhao had been waiting at the door for her early on and smiled, "Aunt Hua is here, please come in."

The guest was a woman of about thirty, dressed in simple cloth and a wooden hairpin; though plain, she could not hide her graceful bearing. Even though her youth had passed, her charm surpassed that of young girls in their prime.

She was Hua Xifu's mother, Lady Hua Rong.

Lady Hua Rong looked weary from the journey, but she was in high spirits and smiled, "I haven't seen Azhao for a year; you've grown taller."

Tang Zhao smiled, "Auntie looks even younger than last year."

This was not just flattery; he had happened to run into Lady Hua Rong at the shop last year, and he had noticed then that her spirit was better. This year it was even more obvious; not only had Lady Hua Rong not aged, but her skin was fairer and her state was even better.

Was this the ease and happiness of no longer having to raise a troublesome child?

He led Lady Hua Rong to the second floor.

According to the layout, the second floor was a restaurant.

Tang Zhao had once wanted to turn the second floor into a luxurious restaurant serving the most delicious food, replicating the dishes Chen Zong often mentioned, but after discussing it with Liu Qiguang, he abandoned the idea. The positioning was wrong.

It was too far from Jichun City, so no matter how good the food was, the customer flow would be limited, and it would be hard to support a true master chef. It was better to rely on local mountain flavors. He could sell some local specialties on the side.

Although it was similar to farmhouse cooking, it was kept bright, clean, and tidy, matching the style of the Boutique Shop. The kitchen was also clean and orderly, with all kinds of kitchenware fully stocked.

Lady Hua Rong entered the kitchen, washed her hands, rolled up her sleeves, and took out a box she had been carrying close to her.

Opening the box, inside were washed and chopped vegetables.

"Although I hurried, these shepherd's purses have wilted a bit. And the winter bamboo shoots aren't as crisp as before."

Tang Zhao smiled, "I think they look fine; they are all fresh, good vegetables. How about this, Auntie, go downstairs and pick out an Art Tool for preservation? I'll give it to you..."

Lady Hua Rong laughed, "If you say you're giving it to me, I won't take it. If you sell it to me at the original price, I'll take five. That way, not only can Xifu eat more of a taste of home, but I can use them in my daily life too."

Tang Zhao said, "Alright, you buy five, and I'll throw in an insulated box so you can boil the dumplings and bring them up; the ones we boil on the mountain lack a bit of flavor."

As they spoke, Lady Hua Rong had already begun chopping vegetables, mincing meat, and mixing the filling. Tang Zhao helped knead the dough, and she asked, "Do you think Xifu can tell these are dumplings I wrapped?"

Tang Zhao said, "She didn't tell me, but she should be able to tell. Actually, Aunt Hua, why not just say so? A mother wrapping dumplings for her daughter's birthday—what is there that cannot be said?"

Lady Hua Rong said softly, "Because I cannot see her yet; why keep reminding her that she has this mother outside? In a while, it will be better in a while." She shook her head again, "I am just thinking in circles; I want her to forget me and play happily with her friends on the mountain, yet I am afraid she will truly forget me."

Tang Zhao struggled to understand this subtle emotion and could only say, "She is doing very well on the mountain and has not forgotten the world below, Aunt Hua, rest assured."

Suddenly, he heard Lady Hua Rong say from behind, "Sword Master Tang, do you know that your villa is being watched?"

Tang Zhao's hands, which were kneading dough, paused, and he said, "Can you elaborate, Madam?"

Lady Hua Rong continued mixing the filling, her lips slightly pursed; it was clear she did not want to say.

Tang Zhao moved his hand, and the kitchen door closed automatically; the slight breeze from outside could no longer be felt.

"Madam, to tell you the truth, you are not the first to come and warn us. In fact, warnings have been coming through various channels these past few days. Even people I haven't been in contact with for years have sent letters. Yet, as if they had all agreed, they each speak in riddles. Everyone surely has good intentions, but this guessing game only makes us more restless and helpless. As the saying goes, there are a thousand days to be a thief, but no thousand days to guard against one. If it is all in vain in the end, wouldn't I be failing to live up to everyone's kind intentions? Now that it is just the two of us, could you, for Xifu's sake, tell me a little more?"

Lady Hua Rong hung her head and pondered for a long time, her chopsticks clinking against the porcelain basin, her voice like a mosquito's hum: "The news came out of the Star-Plucking Pavilion. It was vague to begin with. But I spent a lot of time searching for clues myself; the matter may involve the Turtle Bandits."

The last two words were barely audible.

Tang Zhao frowned. He certainly knew of the Star-Plucking Pavilion; it was the most mysterious power in the martial arts world, known for being unfathomable and all-knowing, and it was rumored they could even predict the future. It was said that as long as one spent enough money, one could buy any information, though few could afford it. But the Turtle Bandits... He said, "Aren't the Turtle Bandits a group of roving bandits? They take innocents hostage and commit all kinds of evil. The Imperial Court has placed a heavy bounty on them."

Lady Hua Rong shook her head slightly, the pendants on her ears not even swaying, and said, "You cannot find out the real news about the Turtle Bandits in the martial arts world. If you have someone in the Imperial Court you can trust, you can ask them. You must be able to trust them before you open your mouth, otherwise, you will suffer the consequences."

Tang Zhao understood and bowed, "Thank you, Madam."

The two returned to their tasks. Lady Hua Rong rolled out the dough and said, "That child Xifu is not working hard enough; three years have passed and she still hasn't become a White Jade Disciple. The villa's rule is that one cannot come down the mountain until they are a White Jade Disciple; it is truly worrying."

Tang Zhao understood her meaning and said, "Green Jade Disciples can also apply for tasks outside. Our shop has quite a few such tasks, and Master has given special approval for junior disciples to be used. When the time comes, she can be sent to Jichun City to distribute flyers."

The two plates of dumplings were boiled until they were white and plump, then placed in the box and covered. Lady Hua Rong lowered her sleeves and said, "Actually, seeing Azhao, I have an idea in my heart that Zhuoyu Villa has a future. Investing a little now will not be a loss in the future. Your martial arts are now no less than mine."

Tang Zhao hurriedly said, "How can I compare to the famous Lady Hua... Hua Rong? You are a top-tier Martial Venerable, and your 'Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers' is peerless in the world; who can withstand it?"

Lady Hua Rong laughed, "Why not call me by my nickname? I quite like it; just call me Flower Yama. If there is anyone you want to kill, come to my Yama Shop. I will give you a First-Class Kill Order, very discounted."

Tang Zhao chuckled, "You should come to my shop and get a Super VIP Card instead."

After sending off Lady Hua Rong, Tang Zhao prepared to return.

This trip down the mountain was good; everything that needed to be done was done, and there were unexpected gains.

"Turtle Bandits, the name sounds very strange, and they usually have no presence; I've never heard of them doing anything major. But they have been wanted by the Imperial Court for over a hundred years, and they have been wanted for so long that the Imperial Court has gone from prosperity to decline, yet they haven't been wiped out. This must be a very powerful force."

"So it was them causing trouble; I thought it was other Sword Masters trying to steal business by preventing Master from successfully casting a sword."

"Come to think of it, although peers are enemies, the competition in the Sword Casting industry isn't that intense. If it were really just peer exclusion, why would so many warnings fly in? Even the Second Senior Brother in Jingcheng sent a letter back."

"Though Master just tore it up."

"It seems this trip to Jianzhou won't be so terrifying after all."

As he thought, a layer of white-gold light appeared on Tang Zhao's body, like the color of sunlight.

Gang Qi!

This was the power that came after Internal Energy, and the highest power a Mortal could master without the help of a sword.

Originally, Gang Qi was rare in the martial arts world, and those who possessed it were even called Martial Saints, but with the popularization of swords, it was no longer so rare. With the continuous improvement of the Mysterious Technique, Martial Artists no longer needed to complete both internal and external training to directly cultivate Gang Qi, which was why Loose Practitioners were becoming younger and younger.

But Tang Zhao had taken the path of completing both internal and external, and his martial arts foundation was extremely solid. No matter how many resources he spent or how many cheats he used, he had walked every step of the way himself.

And the Mysterious Technique he was cultivating was not the "Divine Bird Fire-Dripping Art," but a brand-new technique he had obtained by throwing into the pool once more.

Yes, after his diligent attempts, he had developed a new cheat for the Glasses—the Fairy could exchange an item twice, but the second time would directly shatter both lenses, the kind that would take a great, great many Art Tools to repair.

Before cultivating the Mysterious Technique, he had staked everything, exhausting his entire fortune, only then to exchange for that better Mysterious Technique.

Mysterious Technique, top-grade.

"Great Sun Divine Carriage Sutra"!

Clad in Gang Qi like solar fire, Tang Zhao controlled his Dharma Artifact and soared into the sky, flying toward Zhuoyu Villa.