Chapter 18

Qingyun City, West Market entrance.

Lin Xuan, incarnated as the middle-aged rogue cultivator "Mu Er," paid the entry fee and, with his head down, mixed into the crowd of this familiar city.

The atmosphere in the city was even more subtle than he imagined. In the street talk, "Black Wind Stronghold," "Advisor Lin," and "black dog blood" were still high-frequency words, but in the expressions of the talkers, besides curiosity, there was a bit more imperceptible tension. The patrols of the City Guard were obviously much more frequent, scanning passersby with sharp eyes.

Lin Xuan could feel that several obscure spiritual senses were quietly scanning the crowd like spider webs. This was definitely not a method the City Guard could have, more like... sect cultivators!

Is it the Youming Sect? Or other forces?

He was vigilant, pushing the "Turtle Breath Art" and "Breath Restraining Art" to the limit, combined with "Thousand-Face Phantom." At this moment, his appearance, aura, and spiritual power fluctuations perfectly matched a low-level Qi Refining Stage rogue cultivator struggling at the bottom, completely inconspicuous.

He did not go directly to the Four Seas Trading Firm, but first turned around a few familiar teahouses and restaurants, pricking up his ears to collect information.

"Have you heard? The Zhao Clan hired a pill master guest a few days ago, said to be from the Imperial Capital!"

"More than that! The Zhao Clan is also secretly recruiting experts, requiring cultivation to be at least mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and the reward is extremely generous, don't know what they want to do."

"What else can they do? Must be related to Black Wind Stronghold! City Lord Zhao suffered a loss in Lin Xuan's hands last time, can he just let it go?"

"I don't think so, maybe it's to guard against the Youming Sect's revenge? After all, the Zhao Clan was close to the Youming Sect before, now the Youming Sect has planted a big loss in Black Wind Stronghold, who knows if they will take their anger out on the Zhao Clan?"

Piecing together the fragmented information, Lin Xuan had a clearer judgment on the Zhao Clan's trends: they are accumulating strength, the purpose is unknown, but it must be inseparable from the recent turmoil.

He also specifically went around the City Lord's Mansion to turn around. Sure enough, the defense of the City Lord's Mansion was several times stricter than before, and the fluctuations of the array were faintly emitted.

"Guilty conscience?" Lin Xuan sneered. This old fox Zhao Wuji must be plotting something.

Feeling that the information collection was almost done, Lin Xuan walked toward the Four Seas Trading Firm.

The Four Seas Trading Firm was still crowded with people and business was booming. Lin Xuan did not look for Qian Wanguan, as that target was too big. He came directly to the counter of the trading firm for purchasing medicinal herbs and materials, and lined up at the back of the queue.

When it was his turn, he lowered his voice and said to the clerk behind the counter in a hoarse voice: "I have a batch of high-quality 'Blue Condensation Flowers,' want to see Master Sun and talk about long-term cooperation."

As he said, he carefully took out a mutated condensation flower emitting a faint blue halo, packed in a jade box.

The clerk was originally indifferent, but seeing the spirit-filled Blue Condensation Flower, his eyes lit up! He knew the goods; this quality was far better than ordinary goods!

"Please wait! I will report to Master Sun immediately!" The clerk did not dare to neglect, and quickly ran into the inner hall with the jade box.

Not long after, the clerk respectfully invited Lin Xuan into a quiet room in the inner hall. Master Sun, with white hair and beard, was holding the Blue Condensation Flower, admiring it lovingly.

"Wonderful! Pure spiritual energy, full of activity! Better quality than the last batch!" Master Sun saw Lin Xuan, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes; he didn't know this "Mu Er," "This fellow Daoist, this Blue Condensation Flower..."

Lin Xuan smiled slightly, removed part of the disguise of "Thousand-Face Phantom," revealing part of his original outline, and at the same time transmitted sound: "Master Sun, have you been well?"

Master Sun was stunned for a moment, then his pupils shrank, recognizing Lin Xuan! He was shocked in his heart, not expecting that this "Advisor Lin" who stirred up the wind and clouds would dare to sneak into Qingyun City in person, and come to find him so boldly!

After all, he was an old hand in the world, instantly recovering his composure, waving his hand to set up a soundproof barrier, and smiled bitterly: "Lin... Fellow Daoist Mu, you are really... courageous!"

"Master is over-praising." Lin Xuan restored his disguise and said solemnly, "Let's skip the pleasantries. I took the risk to come here, one for the subsequent spirit herb supply, and two, I have important matters to ask Master and Deacon Qian."

"Please speak."

"First, I need news about 'Golden Core Jade Liquid,' or clues to any treasure that can assist in condensing the Golden Core. Second, I want to know, recently in Qingyun City, besides the Netherworld Sect and the Zhao Clan, are there any other suspicious forces or figures active? Especially... people who might be related to luck, divination, and the like."

Master Sun heard this, his expression became grave. He pondered for a moment and said: "Golden Core Jade Liquid is extremely rare. As far as I know, three months later, the 'Heavenly Treasure Pavilion' in the Imperial Capital will hold a large auction, and this item might appear then. But the competition will inevitably be fierce, and the price will probably be astronomical."

Heavenly Treasure Pavilion auction? Lin Xuan noted this news. Although distant and difficult, at least there is a goal.

"As for the second question..." Master Sun lowered his voice, "Deacon Qian also instructed us to pay attention before. Recently in the city, there are indeed more new faces. Besides the Youming Sect's secret agents, there seems to be another group of people, whose movements are secretive, not like local sects, nor like the demonic path. They seem to be... looking for something, or someone. Deacon Qian suspects it might be related to you."

Sure enough! Lin Xuan's heart tightened. The accomplice of that "luck peeper"? Or another force?

"Where is Deacon Qian now? I want to see him in person."

Master Sun shook his head: "Unfortunately, Deacon Qian was ordered to go to the Imperial Capital headquarters to report on his work three days ago, and will not return in the short term. Before he left, he left a message, if... if Fellow Daoist Mu comes, let me tell you four words."

"Which four words?"

"Beware of the Zhao Clan."

Beware of the Zhao Clan! Qian Wanguan also noticed the abnormality of the Zhao Clan!

Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. It seems the Zhao Clan's problem is more serious than imagined. They are not just accumulating strength, they are likely already acting in secret!

Just then, a rush of footsteps came from outside the quiet room, accompanied by the clerk's panicked voice: "Master Sun! Not good! Outside... outside came several people from the Zhao Clan, the leader is even the Zhao Butler! Said they want to search our trading firm, looking for the wanted criminal of the Youming Sect!"

They're here! The Zhao Clan's actions are so fast!

Lin Xuan and Master Sun's faces changed at the same time.

"How did they know I came here?" Lin Xuan's mind turned, he was very careful all the way, could it be that he was targeted when he first entered the trading firm? Or has the Zhao Clan been monitoring the Four Seas Trading Firm?

"Fellow Daoist Mu, you quickly go out the back door!" Master Sun said anxiously, "The Zhao Clan is not coming with good intentions this time!"

Lin Xuan shook his head, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes: "Leaving now will only confirm the suspicion, and the back door may not be safe."

His gaze swept over the quiet room, seeing several sets of unified uniforms for the Four Seas Trading Firm clerks in the corner, and an idea immediately formed in his heart.

"Master, offended!"

He quickly stripped off a clerk's clothes and put them on the outside, and used "Thousand-Face Phantom" to slightly adjust his facial muscles, making himself look more like an ordinary trading firm clerk. Then, he picked up an empty tea tray on the table next to him, lowered his head, looking like he was ready to go out to work.

"You..." Master Sun instantly understood his intention, this courage is too big!

"The most dangerous place is the safest place." Lin Xuan winked at Master Sun and whispered, "They search their search, I deliver my goods."

After speaking, he carried the tea tray, opened the quiet room door, lowered his head, and mixed into the other clerks who were a bit panicked because of the Zhao family's intrusion.

Outside the quiet room, Zhao Butler, leading several burly guards, was confronting the manager of the trading firm with a cold face.

"Zhao Butler, what do you mean by this? Is my Four Seas Trading Firm something you can search just because you say so?" The manager's face was ugly.

"Humph! Acting on orders! Catching the wanted criminal of the Youming Sect! Someone saw him enter your trading firm! Those who obstruct will be treated as accomplices!" Zhao Butler's tone was tough, his gaze scanning everyone in the hall like a hawk.

Lin Xuan carried the tea tray, walking steadily toward the side door in the opposite direction of Zhao Butler, but his heart couldn't help but speed up. He could feel Zhao Butler's sharp gaze sweeping over his back several times.

Can't panic! The more you panic, the easier it is to reveal flaws!

He imitated the appearance of other clerks, slightly bowing his back, appearing humble and busy.

Just as he was about to walk out of the side door, thinking he had passed safely—

"Stop!" Zhao Butler's cold voice suddenly sounded behind him!

Lin Xuan's body stiffened, his footsteps stopped.

Discovered?!

He slowly turned around, squeezing a panicked and confused expression on his face: "Butler, Butler Lord, you called me? Small... small is just going to deliver tea to the guests..."

Zhao Butler narrowed his eyes, sizing up this "clerk," always feeling something was wrong, but couldn't say what. The aura was correct, the appearance was ordinary, it's just that he felt... too calm? Other clerks were too scared to move, how could he still dare to walk around?

"Which part are you from? Who are you going to deliver tea to?" Zhao Butler asked sternly.

Lin Xuan's heart turned rapidly, thinking about how to fabricate a reasonable excuse—

"Bang!"

The front door of the Four Seas Trading Firm was suddenly violently pushed open from the outside! An arrogant and domineering voice came in:

"Zhao old dog! You're tired of living! Dare to come to my Four Seas Trading Firm to act wild?! Do you really think my Qian family has no one?!"

I saw a young master wearing a luxurious brocade robe, holding a folding fan, with an arrogant face, walking in swaggeringly with a group of guards with stronger auras. His gaze directly skipped Zhao Butler and fell on Lin Xuan... the beautiful female clerk next to him, his eyes lit up.

"Yo? This little lady is not bad! This young master is just thirsty, this tea, send it to my room!"

After the young master finished speaking, he didn't care about the people present at all, directly stepped forward, grabbed the female clerk who was scared out of her wits, and dragged her to the backyard.

This sudden change made everyone stunned.

Zhao Butler's face was iron-blue; he obviously recognized this playboy, who was the grandson of a powerful elder of the Four Seas Trading Firm's headquarters, hanging out in the Qingyun City branch for training, usually domineering, and even he didn't dare to offend easily.

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was attracted by that playboy, Lin Xuan said "God helps me" in his heart, immediately lowered his head, carried the tea tray, quickly slipped out of the side door, and disappeared into the complex long corridor of the trading firm's backyard.

Zhao Butler reacted, and when he wanted to find that "suspicious" clerk, he was long gone.

"Bastard!" Zhao Butler smashed his fist on the counter next to him, knowing that he had been accidentally disrupted by that playboy.

And Lin Xuan, who successfully escaped, leaned against the wall in a corner where no one was, and let out a long breath.

Close! Almost capsized in the gutter!

That playboy... actually helped him a big favor unintentionally.

However, the Zhao family's search and the appearance of that playboy all show that the current situation in Qingyun City is like a pot of oil about to boil, and a little spark could completely detonate it!

"Golden Core Jade Liquid... Heavenly Treasure Pavilion auction..."

"Beware of the Zhao Clan..."

"Mysterious force peeping..."

Lin Xuan sorted out the information he got, his eyes gradually becoming sharp.

"It seems this Qingyun City cannot be stayed in anymore."

"Must leave as soon as possible, and before leaving, must leave some 'souvenirs' for the Zhao Clan!"

An idea of diverting the disaster and picking up some benefits along the way gradually formed in his mind.

(Chapter 18 End)