Chapter 669: Xu Pingji

A voice came over, calling out to the two of them.

"Who are you again?" Yan Buji turned his head and asked.

"I am Wang Yun, an attendant of the Treasure Light Pavilion. Who are you?"

"This is the newly appointed Hall Master of the Lian Dan Tang of the sect, Yan Buji, Junior Brother Wang—what does the Treasure Light Pavilion mean by this?" Huang Ji saw an acquaintance arrive and thought, since Yan Buji had the sect master's order, he naturally had confidence.

Wang Yun glanced, smiled, and clasped his hands: "Oh, it's Senior Brother Huang. Since we are fellow sect disciples, please come inside to talk."

"Hmph." Huang Ji snorted: "Tell you, the Hall Master Yan has come under the sect master's order—you had better get Elder Xu over here quickly!"

Huh?

Wang Yun stared oddly at Huang Ji, wondering where this brat got the gall to speak like that after not seeing him for a few years.

Could it be that this Hall Master Yan... oh, right!

Wang Yun thought of something, smiled, and said: "I will promptly notify Elder Xu's family to come over; you two come in first."

Following Wang Yun into the inner hall of the shop, the three took their seats. Wang Yun, in their presence, sent out a letter, then said: "Please wait a moment; I apologize for overstepping—I do not know what business brings Hall Master Yan here."

Yan Buji said nothing, whereupon Huang Ji spoke up: "Naturally, we are here to convey the sect's orders to Elder Xu!"

Wang Yun frowned, looking at the silent Yan Buji: "Since Hall Master Yan has arrived here, perhaps..."

"Can you make decisions on Elder Xu's behalf?" Yan Buji asked lightly.

Wang Yun stiffened, saying: "I...."

"If you can't, then there's no need to say more."

Yan Buji closed his eyes, while Huang Ji, off to the side, looked at Wang Yun with a mocking expression.

Wang Yun's face darkened, and he also said nothing.

The awkward atmosphere didn't last long; the arrival of a Void Refinement cultivator broke the tranquility.

Yan Buji rose to his feet and looked toward the other party.

Wang Yun also immediately stood up, walked to his side, and clasped his hands: "Elder Xu, these two are emissaries from the sect!"

"I am Elder Xu Pingji; I do not know which of you brings the sect's orders."

"Elder Xu, I am Yan Buji, newly appointed Hall Master of the Lian Dan Tang of the sect; I have come under the sect master's order to discuss a matter with you." Yan Buji smiled.

Xu Pingji nodded, sat down, and said: "If so, Hall Master Yan, please speak."

"Well, the sect recently plans to launch trade activities with the Youming Realm; I, lacking talent, have been favored by the ancestral sect master to take charge of this. This time I have come to request an interworld vessel from Elder Xu."

"What?!" Wang Yun beside them exclaimed in shock: "The interworld vessel has already been contracted with the Great Merchant Association...."

Xu Pingji furrowed his brows: "Wang Yun, you go out first."

Wang Yun, aware of his impropriety, immediately clamped his mouth shut, clasped his hands, and left.

Yan Buji found it a bit strange: what agreement did they have with the Great Merchant Association?

Xu Pingji sighed: "Ah, originally the sect had ordered us, so we should naturally comply, but now we have indeed run into a major problem!"

"Oh? May Elder Xu clarify?" Yan Buji asked.

Xu Pingji said: "In recent years, the number of cultivators entering the Heavenly Spirit Realm has surged, causing the artifact smith's production speed to fall short of demand for interworld vessels. Moreover, the sect's previous contract with the Great Merchant Association stipulated a fixed annual quota of ten interworld vessels; any extra simply isn't available."

"Huh? What do you mean? Couldn't we ask that artifact smith to rush-build one?"

"This...." Xu Pingji looked embarrassed and said: "But the sect has recently settled on a residence, requiring vast resources. The sect master himself previously came to us for resources, and, without affecting business, we have already borrowed a considerable amount of spiritual stones from the Great Merchant Association and even signed a new agreement!"

"A new agreement?" Yan Buji narrowed his eyes.

"Namely, until we finish repaying, all production and sale of interworld vessels must be handled exclusively by the Great Merchant Association, and they have also added a monthly supply of five vessels, which we simply cannot spare."

Yan Buji pondered for a moment, looking at Xu Pingji: "May I ask rudely, was this agreement signed by you, or after the sect master's approval?"

Xu Pingji looked at Yan Buji: "Naturally, this was considered for the sect's development; although it hasn't been reported to the sect master yet, I expect the sect master will not blame us."

"Oh, if so, then you, Elder Xu, signed it on your own initiative?" Yan Buji chuckled.

Xu Pingji's face instantly darkened: "My loyalty to the sect is as clear as the sun and moon; Hall Master Yan, if you have anything to say, just speak plainly!"

"I dare not." Yan Buji rose, clasped his hands, and said: "Since Elder Xu finds this so difficult, I will say no more—farewell."

Huang Ji staggered, then hastily rose and chased after them.

Watching Yan Buji's retreating back, Xu Pingji grit his teeth in silence: "What does this brat mean?!"

Seeing the persons leave, Wang Yun also hurried inside, clasped his hands, and said: "Elder Xu, the people from the Great Merchant Association have arrived!"

"Oh? Please hurry in!"

Soon, the Great Merchant Association's people arrived at the Treasure Light Pavilion, entered, and met with Xu Pingji.

Xu Pingji smiled, rose to greet them, and clasped his hands: "Brother Zhang Wang, what wind blows you here?"

"Ah, it's been a while since we last met; I've brought some fine wine and dishes for Brother Xu—do us the honor of trying them together?"

"Thank you so much, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Wang sat down, took out food and drink from the food box and placed them on the table, whereupon the two took their seats.

"Come, Brother Xu, try this Drunken Immortal wine from the West Sand River Basin!" Zhang Wang laughed and poured a cup for Xu Pingji.

"Wow, what a rich aroma!" Xu Pingji merely smelled it and felt the fragrance permeate his lungs—exquisitely delightful.

He gently lifted the cup, tilted it slightly, letting the golden liquid flow slowly along the inner wall to the rim. Then he carefully brought his lips to the edge and took a small sip. In that instant, a rich, unique fragrance burst forth like a spring, streaming straight into his nostrils. The aroma seemed to carry the sediment of years and the essence of brewing—mellow and lingering, intoxicating to the point of being unable to pull oneself away.

"Fine wine! Indeed, it lives up to the legend that even immortals would get drunk from it!"

Zhang Wang laughed: "Hahaha, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

While eating and drinking, Zhang Wang took the opportunity to ask: "Brother Xu, I heard you had two guests today?"

"Ah, they're just sect members again, asking for this and that. They really think this business is easy—there's nothing we can do." Xu Pingji sighed repeatedly, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Zhang Wang's eyes shifted, and he smiled: "Don't blame me for speaking up, but are they here to ask you for money again?"

"No, that's not it." Xu Pingji shook his head: "It's for the interworld vessel."

「Cross-domain voyage?! 」 Zhang Wang's face instantly changed. Could it be that the Great Sinful Sect is planning to run a smuggling operation in the Five Domains?