Something Went Wrong

He changed his mind immediately, counted out five hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and handed them over without haggling, and the deal was done in a clean and efficient manner.

He had just put away the Spirit Testing Stone when Accountant Wu approached and greeted him with a smile:

"Young Master Shen, what good stuff are you looking for this time?"

"Hi, just buying some trinkets." Shen Jingchuan replied casually, then looked up at him, "Mr. Wu, is there something you need? Did you come specifically to see me? Or...?"

"That's exactly why they came specifically to see you," said Accountant Wu. "My Steward Wang, has invited you here, saying he has something to discuss with you."

"Oh, I see. Okay, then."

Shen Jingchuan guessed that it was probably about opening a restaurant together, so he didn't think much of it. He said goodbye to the manager and went out with Accountant Wu.

The distance wasn't far, and the two chatted for a while along the way. Before long, they arrived at the government office in the market town.

As soon as he entered, Shen Jingchuan sensed that something was amiss.

Instead of sitting behind the desk, Steward Wang stood with his hands at his sides; in the main seat in the center sat an old monk he had never seen before.

He remained calm and secretly used the Heavenly Eye Peering into Truth Instruction to scan the old cultivator. Holy crap, he couldn't discern the other's cultivation level at all.

Those who can be detected by the Peering into Truth Instruction are at least Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators or higher.

At this moment, Steward Wang quickly came to greet them.

"Young Friend Shen, let me introduce you. This is True Person Moxuan, the true master of our Spirit Creek Market."

This was that Golden Core cultivator. Shen Jingchuan suddenly realized why he couldn't see through the Peering into Truth Instruction. He composed himself, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Junior Shen Jingchuan greets you, True Person."

True Person Moxuan nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on him.

Shen Jingchuan's mind raced. What did this Golden Core True Person cultivator want with him? It couldn't just be a coincidence. He went through recent events in his mind, but still couldn't figure it out. Could it be...?

Steward Wang, standing to the side, smiled and explained the reason:

"Here's the thing, Young Friend Shen. The True Person happened to be in the market today and heard about our two families' partnership to open a restaurant. I told him that your Shen Household's unique seasonings and your culinary skills are truly delicious, and that the restaurant will definitely be a great success. The True Person was pleased to hear this and specifically said he wanted to meet you, so I had someone invite you over."

Upon hearing that it was about the restaurant, Shen Jingchuan felt relieved and immediately said politely:

"Oh, it's just a small restaurant, how could you True Person take it to heart? I'm truly humbled."

"Young Friend Shen, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." True Person Moxuan raised his hand, his tone gentle.

He glanced at Accountant Wu out of the corner of his eye, and Accountant Wu, understanding, quickly brewed a cup of hot tea and gently placed it on the table next to Shen Jingchuan.

Shen Jingchuan thanked him but didn't touch the tea. He didn't say anything more, just sat upright and waited for the other person to speak.

True Person Moxuan observed his composure before slowly speaking:

"I heard from Steward Wang that besides co-owning a restaurant with this establishment, you also collaborate with us to sell an item called a timepiece, as well as makeup mirrors?"

"That's true." Shen Jingchuan nodded. "Reporting to the True Person, these are just small trinkets for ordinary people, very crude, and probably wouldn't meet the True Person's standards."

"Hey, you can't say that."

True Person Moxuan waved his hand:

"In my opinion, your business is very good, and it may even grow very large in the future. Don't underestimate it just because it's something for ordinary people and low-level cultivators. Its advantage lies in accumulating small amounts over time and focusing on volume. A single item may not be worth much, but the more you sell, the more profit you make, and the more you earn per item, the more considerable the profit will still be."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of approval:

"Your Shen Household's willingness to cooperate with our market is an honor for Spirit Creek Market. When you return, please convey my gratitude to the head of your Shen Household family."

"True Person 're too kind, sir." Shen Jingchuan cupped his hands in greeting. "I will certainly convey your words as they are."

The room fell silent for a moment.

True Person Moxuan did not respond immediately. After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, he reached out and picked up the small jade bottle on the table—the very one that Steward Wang had shown him earlier.

"Also, there's one more thing." He looked up at Shen Jingchuan, "Young Friend Shen, these few high-grade pills here, you sold them to our Gathering Pills Pavilion, didn't you?"

Shen Jingchuan recognized the jade bottle at a glance, and his heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, could it be...?

His face remained expressionless, but his mind raced. While carefully choosing his words, he first added a sentence:

"Reporting to True Person, Master, I have indeed sold some pills in the market, but I didn't know about this bottle you have..."

True Person Moxuan twitched his fingertips slightly, and a surge of Spiritual Power enveloped the jade bottle, which was then steadily sent through the air and stopped in front of Shen Jingchuan.

Shen Jingchuan reached out and caught it from the air. While pondering how to make up a story, he slowly uncorked the bottle, first bringing it to his nose to smell it, then pouring one into his palm and pretending to examine it repeatedly.

As expected, it was the product I sold.

He was even more on edge, but remained calm and composed, quickly going over what the other person might ask and how he should answer while he was trying to figure things out.

Only then did he put the pill back into the bottle, and with a wisp of Spiritual Power released from his fingertips, he lifted the jade bottle and sent it back into the air.

"Reporting to the True Person," he cupped his hands in greeting, "This pill was indeed sold by me, it was made by me, that's for sure."

True Person Moxuan took the jade bottle and placed it back on the table. He paused for a moment, as if considering his words, before slowly speaking:

"The manager of the Gathering Pills Pavilion told me that while you were selling these high-grade pills, you were also collecting a lot of mid-grade talismans from the shop."

Having said that, he stopped talking, picked up his teacup, and slowly looked at Shen Jingchuan, waiting for him to continue.

Shen Jingchuan immediately understood; something had gone wrong.

He didn't rush to speak, but secretly went over his words quickly, and quietly watched True Person Moxuan, waiting for him to continue.

The room fell silent again.

True Person Moxuan waited a moment, and seeing that he was not flustered at all and did not rush to defend himself, he secretly nodded in approval.

He's really composed. An ordinary Qi Refining cultivator would have lost their composure long ago if he, a Golden Core True Person, stared at them and questioned them like that.

Since he didn't respond, Moxuan had no choice but to continue speaking himself.

"Moreover, someone reported this to me."

He put down his teacup, his voice calm and unhurried:

"You do the same thing at other shops. At one shop, you sell high-grade pills and buy mid-grade talismans; at the next shop, you do the opposite, selling high-grade talismans and buying mid-grade pills, just like that, alternating between them."

He paused, his gaze pressing lightly on Shen Jingchuan's face:

"What's most puzzling is that—the mid-grade items you bring in and the high-grade items you sell are, nine times out of ten, the same kind of things."

Having said all that, the cause and effect are now crystal clear.

True Person Moxuan leaned forward slightly, looked at Shen Jingchuan, and asked, word by word:

"Young Friend Shen, can you tell me why this is?"