Recaps

After the princely manor attendants were killed, Lin Weiyuan prepared to flee the city with his family and the Zhenyuan Escort Agency’s remaining loyal staff. Shen Jingchuan returned home to arrange for his household to join them, leaving the chapter with him freeing Liu Zhong’s family from their service.

• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Weiyuan and his sons that ordinary attendants and low-level cultivators were no threat to him, and said Xiao Mingshu would try to mediate with Xiao Mingyuan.
• Lin Weiyuan ordered everyone at the escort agency to leave, returned their deeds of servitude, and gave them travel money; Zhou Fu, Shopkeeper Zhang, Zhao Hu, and Wang Fei chose to stay with him.
• Shen Jingchuan decided that Lin Qingyao and his family would travel with Lin Weiyuan to Azure Cloud Stronghold while he stayed behind with greater freedom to act.
• Lin Weiyuan told Lin Yue to prepare the household and carriages to leave within an hour, while Shen Jingchuan flew home on his sword.
• Shen Jingchuan gathered his household, explained the danger, and asked Lin Qingyao to bring him the deeds of servitude for Liu Zhong’s family.

Shen Jingchuan freed his loyal servants and led the Shen and Lin households out of Yuxi Prefecture toward the Azure Cloud Stronghold. After Lin Qingyao and the others broke through the government blockade, the party reached the stronghold gates.

• Shen Jingchuan offered Liu Zhong's family their freedom and silver, but they chose to stay and help him evacuate the household.
• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli that he was a Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator and planned to take everyone to the Azure Cloud Stronghold while he later returned to deal with matters in Yuxi Prefecture.
• Xiao Mingshu agreed that the Azure Cloud Stronghold was the right place to take the household and said she would explain matters after Shen Jingchuan returned.
• Shen Jingchuan led the Shen and Lin households through Yuxi Prefecture's closed city gate after the guards fled rather than confront him.
• At the mountain checkpoint, Lin Qingyao shot the government soldiers with her submachine gun, and the party fought its way up the mountain as the troops fled.
• Shen Jingchuan guarded the party's flank while Lin Qingyao, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue led the charge, and they reached the Azure Cloud Stronghold gates.

Shen Jingchuan brought Lin Weiyuan’s family to Azure Cloud Stronghold to take refuge after the trouble in Yuxi Prefecture. He arranged for them to stay in a secluded courtyard and equipped the stronghold with a Maxim Heavy Machine Gun to strengthen its defenses.

• Shen Jingchuan arrived at Azure Cloud Stronghold with Lin Weiyuan and his family, and Hu Tieniu and Zhao Kui welcomed them.
• Shen Jingchuan explained what had happened in Yuxi Prefecture, and Hu Tieniu offered to make Lin Weiyuan the stronghold leader.
• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu to keep running the stronghold as before and ordered him to arrange safe accommodations for Lin Weiyuan’s family and Shen Jingchuan’s two wives.
• Hu Tieniu showed Shen Jingchuan the secluded courtyard he had kept ready, and Shen Jingchuan approved it for the families to use.
• Shen Jingchuan placed a Maxim Heavy Machine Gun on the stronghold wall and told Hu Tieniu to choose trusted men to guard it and learn to use it.

Shen Jingchuan armed and reassured the Azure Cloud Stronghold before returning to Yuxi Prefecture, where Xiao Mingshu began explaining the cultivation world’s hidden power structure. The chapter ended with her revealing that the surrounding kingdoms were ultimately ruled by the Azure Origin Sect.

• Shen Jingchuan taught Hu Tieniu to operate the heavy machine gun, and Hu Tieniu tested it against a distant cliff.
• Hu Tieniu voiced concern that a prolonged government siege could exhaust the stronghold’s food, but Shen Jingchuan told him to focus on training and defenses.
• Shen Jingchuan checked on Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli, and Lin Weiyuan, then flew back to his residence in Yuxi Prefecture.
• Xiao Mingshu asked Shen Jingchuan what he knew about the neighboring kingdoms and the cultivation world, then explained that their ruling families were cultivation clans.
• Xiao Mingshu revealed that the kingdoms ultimately fell under the Azure Origin Sect, surprising Shen Jingchuan.

Xiao Mingshu explained Great Qian’s royal and cultivation politics to Shen Jingchuan, including why her standing and resources were limited. Shen Jingchuan decided not to ask her to return to the Capital, and the two agreed to stay at the residence and cultivate while watching how events developed.

• Xiao Mingshu told Shen Jingchuan that Great Qian’s emperor was a mortal and that cultivators in the Xiao Household normally stayed out of mortal affairs.
• Xiao Mingshu explained that her poor Spirit Root, concubine birth, and stalled cultivation had left her with little influence and led the clan to cut off her resources.
• Xiao Mingshu described how the clan concentrated its resources on her second brother, while her third brother was protected by his powerful mother and the emperor’s favor.
• Shen Jingchuan asked whether the imperial court would send cultivators against Azure Cloud Stronghold, and Xiao Mingshu said the clan would not intervene unless Great Qian’s rule was threatened.
• Shen Jingchuan said the stronghold’s Maxim machine gun and his Storage Ring would help it withstand a siege, and Xiao Mingshu agreed to remain at the residence while they cultivated.

Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan planned to use an imperial campaign against the Azure Cloud Stronghold to force Shen Jingchuan into violating cultivation rules. Xiao Mingyuan then had the Zhou Household raided in Chang'an, and the chapter ended with Zhou Tong learning of the raid.

• Xiao Mingxuan blamed Pan Wenbai for failing to deal with Shen Jingchuan, but Xiao Mingyuan stopped him and proposed attacking the Azure Cloud Stronghold with imperial troops.
• Xiao Mingyuan ordered Prefect Zhang to send the Ministry of War an urgent memorial portraying the stronghold as a grave threat, then departed for Chang'an with Xiao Mingxuan.
• Xiao Mingyuan ordered Chang'an officials to seize the Zhou Household for allegedly colluding with bandits and aiding the enemy.
• Xiao Mingyuan left for the Capital to gather troops, while Xiao Mingxuan stayed in Chang'an to arrange Prince Jing's support.
• Zhou Qian arrived at Zhou Tong's shop and told him that the authorities had raided the Zhou Household in Chang'an.

After the Zhou Household was accused of colluding with bandits and its master was imprisoned, Zhou Tong hurried to evacuate the Capital branch and went into hiding with Zhou Qian. They found refuge at Xu Mo’s residence, where Xu Mo agreed to shelter them.

• Zhou Qian told Zhou Tong that soldiers had raided the Zhou Household’s residence in Chang'an and imprisoned its master.
• Zhou Tong paid the shop assistants and Shopkeeper Wang to leave the Capital and told them to disperse the Zhou shops’ property and warn their workers.
• Zhou Tong and Zhou Qian disguised themselves as ordinary travelers and slipped through secluded alleys to Xu Mo’s residence.
• Zhou Tong explained the raid to Xu Mo and offered to leave if sheltering them would endanger Xu’s family.
• Xu Mo welcomed Zhou Tong and Zhou Qian, reassured them that the courtyard was discreet, and agreed to shelter them while they considered what to do next.

After returning to the capital, Xiao Mingyuan arranged for the Zhou Household to be arrested and pushed for a major military campaign against the Azure Cloud Stronghold. He won support from Su Lingwei and persuaded Xiao Chengyu to approve the troop request, then urged his father to destroy the stronghold before it could grow into a greater threat.

• Xiao Mingyuan ordered Shuntian Prefecture to seal the Zhou Household’s shops and arrest the clan on charges of treason.
• Xiao Mingyuan persuaded Han Wenyuan to request elite troops to suppress the Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Xiao Mingyuan told Su Lingwei that Shen Jingchuan had killed his three Attendants and accused Xiao Mingshu of conspiring against him.
• Su Lingwei promised to support Xiao Mingyuan’s campaign and said she would deal with Xiao Mingshu herself.
• Xiao Chengyu questioned Han Wenyuan about the troop request, then summoned Xiao Mingyuan and approved the request.
• Xiao Mingyuan urged Xiao Chengyu to send a large force against the stronghold, warning that it could attract disaster victims and become a serious threat.

Wei Zheng led the imperial forces toward Azure Cloud Stronghold, but the mountain’s narrow approach and the bandits’ powerful long-range weapon made a direct assault perilous. After five guards advanced behind heavy shields, gunfire erupted and Wei Zheng was stopped from going farther.

• Wei Zheng took command of the eight-thousand-strong Black Armor Guard, and Zhou Lie arrived with ten thousand frontier troops.
• At the planning meeting, scouts’ reports showed that Azure Cloud Stronghold occupied a cliffside bottleneck with no other route up the mountain.
• Wei Zheng led the officers to inspect the road and learned from the post commander that the bandits’ weapon could strike from more than two li away.
• Wei Zheng ordered five guards to advance behind heavy shields, and rapid gunfire and screams soon came from ahead.
• Wei Zheng tried to rush forward, but the post commander blocked him and warned that he would enter the weapon’s range.

Wei Zheng ordered assault carts built to counter the stronghold’s Maxim gun, then began the mountain assault with thirty-two carts and shielded troops. As the force advanced, Hu Tieniu and Lin Weiyuan set out to watch the defense from the wall.

• Wei Zheng learned that the Maxim gun had killed one guard and badly wounded two, and inspected a greatshield pierced by its bullets.
• Hu Tieniu reprimanded Zhou Meng for firing the Maxim gun too early and exposing its position.
• Scouts reported that twenty thousand government troops, including Black Armor Guards and northern border troops, had gathered below the mountain.
• Wei Zheng asked the craftsmen’s camp to build iron-plated assault carts layered with water-soaked quilts to withstand the gunfire.
• At first light on the third day, Wei Zheng sent thirty-two assault carts and shielded Black Armor Army soldiers up the mountain path.
• After the stronghold’s gong sounded, Hu Tieniu and Lin Weiyuan agreed to go to the wall to watch the government troops advance.

Hu Tieniu’s defenders used boulders, machine guns, and crossbows to halt Wei Zheng’s Black Armor Army as it advanced on the stronghold. The attackers brought their scaling ladders close, but jammed shield carts blocked their path while both sides continued fighting.

• Hu Tieniu ordered the defenders to drop boulders, smashing the leading shield carts and throwing the government troops into disarray.
• Wei Zheng ordered shield bearers to protect the scaling ladders as the Black Armor Army advanced uphill in formation.
• Hu Tieniu waited until the crossbowmen came within range, then ordered the machine guns to fire and kill or wound many of them.
• The defenders fired crossbow volleys through gaps in the attackers’ shields while soldiers struggled to bring more boulders up the wall.
• The shield carts halted fifty or sixty paces from the wall and blocked the road, and machine-gun fire killed the captain who ordered them moved aside.
• The attackers struggled to shift the heavy carts on the narrow slope and barely managed to open a gap for the scaling ladders.

The Black Armor Army’s first assault on the stockade failed under the defenders’ machine-gun fire, crossbow volleys, and falling stones, forcing Wei Zheng to retreat. After Xiao Mingyuan arrived with Xiao Mingxuan, Wei Zheng proposed starving the stockade out by sealing its only road.

• Hu Tieniu ordered defenders to drop stones on the scaling ladders, breaking them and sending the Black Armor Army soldiers tumbling down.
• Zhou Meng reloaded the Maxim and swept the mountain road with gunfire while crossbowmen shot at exposed soldiers, inflicting heavy casualties.
• Wei Zheng ordered the Black Armor Army to retreat, and Hu Tieniu stopped his men from wasting the remaining defensive stones.
• Wei Zheng’s officers discussed ways to overcome the rapid-fire weapon but could not find a workable plan.
• Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan arrived with a thousand guards, and Wei Zheng reported the assault’s failure and losses.
• Xiao Mingyuan rebuked the generals, and Wei Zheng proposed sealing the mountain’s only road and waiting for the stockade to run out of food.

Xiao Mingyuan overruled Wei Zheng and ordered Zhou Lie to lead an attack on Azure Cloud Stronghold, despite the army’s dwindling provisions and the danger of its defenses. Zhou Lie accepted the order and planned a cautious assault with Wei Zheng’s advice, leaving the attack set for two days later.

• Wei Zheng warned Xiao Mingyuan that the stronghold had enough provisions to withstand a long siege and that the imperial army was running short of supplies, but Xiao Mingyuan demanded another assault.
• Xiao Mingyuan struck Wei Zheng and displayed an imperial army supervisor’s token, then insisted on ordering the troops despite Wei Zheng’s objection that the token gave him no command authority.
• Xiao Mingyuan ordered Zhou Lie to lead the border troops against the stronghold within two days, and Zhou Lie accepted after requesting time to prepare equipment and formations.
• Zhou Lie visited Wei Zheng after the meeting, and Wei Zheng explained the danger posed by the stronghold’s rolling stones and rapid-firing weapon.
• Zhou Lie proposed using iron-plated shield carts and high-arcing archers to suppress the defenders, and Wei Zheng agreed they should try while cautioning him not to sacrifice his men recklessly.

Shen Jingchuan brought meat, vegetables, seasonings, a Maxim machine gun, and ammunition to Azure Cloud Stronghold to strengthen its defenders. Two days later, Zhou Lie launched another assault, and Hu Tieniu and Zhou Meng opened fire on the government archers.

• Shen Jingchuan visited Azure Cloud Stronghold and heard Hu Tieniu describe how the defenders had repelled the government troops’ first assault.
• Shen Jingchuan unloaded fresh food and seasonings, ordering Hu Tieniu to distribute them among the soldiers and stronghold households.
• Shen Jingchuan added a second Maxim to the wall and supplied the armory with more than four hundred thousand rounds of ammunition.
• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu he would arrange two machine-gun carts, then went to the rear courtyard with Lin Weiyuan, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue.
• Two mornings later, Zhou Lie led forty iron-clad shield carts and archers up the mountain toward the stronghold.
• Hu Tieniu and Zhou Meng fired their Maxims at the archers as they prepared to shoot at the wall.

Hu Tieniu’s two machine guns devastated the government troops’ assault, forcing Zhou Lie to retreat with more than a thousand men lost. Xiao Mingyuan demanded another attack despite Wei Zheng’s warning, while Shen Jingchuan prepared Azure Cloud Stronghold for a possible siege and planned to mount machine guns on carriages.

• Hu Tieniu used the two machine guns to destroy the shield carts and cut down the attacking soldiers on the mountain path.
• Zhou Lie ordered a retreat, but the machine guns trapped the troops on the narrow path and more than a thousand failed to return.
• Zhou Lie reported the defeat to Xiao Mingyuan, who demanded another attack, while Wei Zheng urged him to surround the stronghold instead.
• Hu Tieniu and Lin Yue celebrated the victory, and Shen Jingchuan sent food for the defenders.
• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Weiyuan, Lin Qingyao, and Bai Ruoli that he had ordered two carriages made to carry machine guns so the stronghold could attack rather than only defend.

Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu traveled to Spirit Creek Market to sell goods and buy cultivation resources, but were summoned by Steward Wang soon after arriving. They met him at the market’s affairs hall, where he welcomed them with spiritual tea, leaving them unsure why he had called them there.

• Shen Jingchuan returned from Azure Cloud Stronghold, and Xiao Mingshu warned him that supplying the rebels violated the rules against interfering in mortal affairs.
• Shen Jingchuan cultivated with High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills and sensed that he was nearing a breakthrough to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
• Shen Jingchuan persuaded Xiao Mingshu to travel with him to the market, and Huan'er joined them in the four-wheeled carriage.
• After reaching Spirit Creek Market, Shen Jingchuan, Xiao Mingshu, and Huan'er encountered patrol officers who escorted Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu to meet Steward Wang Cheng'an.
• Wang Cheng'an greeted Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu in the market affairs hall and poured them spiritual tea.

Wang Cheng'an questioned Xiao Mingshu about the ambush outside Spirit Creek Market and learned that her party had survived it. He then arranged to buy watches and portable makeup mirrors from Shen Jingchuan for sale at other markets, leaving the deal ready for payment.

• Wang Cheng'an realized Zhou Meng had disappeared after Xiao Mingshu and her companions left the market, and suspected Zhou Meng had attacked them.
• Wang Cheng'an invited Xiao Mingshu and Shen Jingchuan to the stewards' hall and asked whether they had been ambushed; Xiao Mingshu confirmed it had happened and been dealt with.
• Wang Cheng'an asked whether Xiao Mingshu had brought more watches and portable makeup mirrors, then offered to buy two thousand of each at the market price.
• Shen Jingchuan agreed to the order and offered an extra two hundred of each item; Wang Cheng'an accepted the deal.
• Shen Jingchuan produced the goods from storage, and Wang Cheng'an called for Mr. Wu from the accounts office.

Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu found that sales of their durable goods were slowing as Spirit Creek Market approached saturation. Shen Jingchuan proposed opening a restaurant using the Shen Household’s special seasonings, but warned that they would need protection from powerful competitors, and he began to explain his plan.

• Mr. Wu confirmed that Wang Cheng'an had 2,200 timepieces and 2,200 makeup mirrors, and Shen Jingchuan accepted 8,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones in payment.
• Shen Jingchuan sold more timepieces, makeup mirrors, and makeup bags through the market’s shops, but noticed that merchants were buying less eagerly than before.
• Xiao Mingshu mistook Shen Jingchuan’s silence for disappointment about the slowing sales, and he told her he was thinking about promoting new products.
• Shen Jingchuan explained that the Shen Household’s cooking seasonings could help ordinary cooks make delicious food, then suggested opening a restaurant because meals were consumable.
• Xiao Mingshu grew excited about expanding the restaurant business, but Shen Jingchuan warned that their limited backing could leave them vulnerable to jealous competitors.
• Xiao Mingshu realized her Foundation Establishment ancestor and the Xiao Household might not be able to protect the venture, and Shen Jingchuan started to tell her his plan.

Shen Jingchuan invited Steward Wang to dinner and personally prepared eight dishes to showcase the Shen Household’s culinary skill. Wang Cheng’an tasted the red-braised pork and was visibly amazed, leaving the meal’s outcome to unfold.

• Shen Jingchuan arranged to use the inn’s kitchen and listed the ingredients he needed for the meal.
• Shen Jingchuan invited Wang Cheng’an to dinner and explained that the Shen Household had a unique culinary skill.
• Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er brought Wang Cheng’an and Mr. Wu to the inn that evening.
• Shen Jingchuan served eight dishes, and Mr. Wu was captivated by their aroma and appearance.
• Wang Cheng’an tasted the red-braised pork and widened his eyes in surprise.

Shen Jingchuan proposed opening a restaurant in Spirit Creek Market with Wang Cheng'an, explaining that the Shen Household would provide its unique seasonings and culinary training. Wang Cheng'an agreed in principle and offered premises on behalf of Spirit Creek Market, while clarifying that the market—not he personally—would be the partner.

• Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er watched as Shen Jingchuan shared a meal with Wang Cheng'an and Accountant Wu.
• After dinner, Wang Cheng'an asked Shen Jingchuan why he had invited him, and Shen Jingchuan proposed opening a restaurant in Spirit Creek Market.
• Shen Jingchuan explained that the Shen Household partnered with local businesses and supplied exclusive seasonings, training, and recipes.
• Wang Cheng'an became interested in the partnership and considered how its investment and ownership shares should be divided.
• Wang Cheng'an offered premises from Spirit Creek Market and said the market would be the partner because he was only its steward.

Shen Jingchuan agreed to partner with Wang Cheng'an on a restaurant, with the Shen Household receiving forty percent of the profits for providing its seasoning. After signing the contract, Shen Jingchuan left the market's staff to arrange the premises and renovations.

• Shen Jingchuan and Wang Cheng'an agreed to split the restaurant's profits sixty-forty, with the Shen Household taking forty percent, and Wang Cheng'an told Accountant Wu to prepare a contract.
• Shen Jingchuan saw Wang Cheng'an and Accountant Wu off, then promised Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er more food after they missed out on the meal.
• Shen Jingchuan cooked eight more dishes at the inn, gave two to the innkeeper, and served six to Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er.
• Shen Jingchuan explained that he had left out certain seasonings because they were unhealthy to eat regularly, and agreed to use them for an occasional meal at home.
• Shen Jingchuan signed the restaurant contract with Accountant Wu at the Stewards' Hall, and Accountant Wu began arranging the shop and renovations.

Shen Jingchuan sold upgraded loot, stocked up on pills and talismans, and learned of an upcoming market auction. He and Xiao Mingshu decided to delay their departure to attend, while Shen Jingchuan used a disguise to resell upgraded supplies for a large profit.

• Accountant Wu gave Shen Jingchuan a VIP invitation to the market auction, and Shen Jingchuan sold upgraded loot and bought pills and talismans around the market.
• Shen Jingchuan put the newly purchased pills and talismans into the Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring and fed the ring two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Xiaohuan brought Shen Jingchuan to meet Xiao Mingshu, who said they could leave the next day after selling their goods and arranging restaurant renovations.
• Shen Jingchuan showed Xiao Mingshu the auction invitation, and they agreed to stay in the market for the auction.
• Shen Jingchuan disguised himself, upgraded his purchases, and sold them across the market, ending with over a hundred Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, fifteen Mid-Grade Qi Condensing Pills, twenty Mid-Grade Mind-Calming Pills, assorted talismans, and more than twelve thousand Spirit Stones.

Shen Jingchuan received Xian'er's Wind-Controlling Instruction and returned to the inn after secretly upgrading valuable pills. He gave Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er some of the pills, leaving Xiao Mingshu emotional and worried about the risks he had taken.

• Shen Jingchuan hid at another inn, moved his purchases and Spirit Stones into the Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring, and asked Xian'er to upgrade them.
• Xian'er absorbed two thousand Spirit Stones and taught Shen Jingchuan the Wind-Controlling Instruction, which improved travel speed and reduced the Spiritual Power needed for sword flight.
• Shen Jingchuan comprehended the instruction, disguised himself, and returned to the Yuelai Inn after checking that no one was following him.
• Xiaohuan brought Shen Jingchuan to Xiao Mingshu, who had been worried about his day-long absence, and he promised to be more careful.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Xiao Mingshu two High-Grade Mind-Calming Pills, five High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills, and two High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, then Xiao Mingshu recognized the rare pills and urged him not to risk himself for them.

Shen Jingchuan gave Huan'er and Xiao Mingshu precious pills before consulting Xian'er about his stalled cultivation. After refining his Divine Sense and consuming Qi Condensing Pills, he broke through the barrier between the Qi Refining Fourth and fifth Layers.

• Shen Jingchuan gave Huan'er a High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill and Xiao Mingshu five High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills, and they agreed to attend the auction together the next day.
• Shen Jingchuan deposited two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in the Heaven and Earth Ring and told Xian'er that he was cautiously reselling upgraded pills.
• Xian'er explained that Shen Jingchuan needed to refine his Divine Sense to advance with the Five Elements Qi Refining Instruction, so he used High-Grade Mind-Calming Pills to strengthen it.
• Shen Jingchuan swallowed two High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills and drove his Spiritual Power against the barrier to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
• The barrier gave way as Shen Jingchuan broke through.

Shen Jingchuan broke through to Qi Refinement Fifth Layer, then disguised himself and sold upgraded pills and talismans to amass Spirit Stones before attending the auction. Accountant Wu warned him that someone had been watching the place where he was staying.

• Shen Jingchuan reached Qi Refinement Fifth Layer and stabilized his new cultivation with a High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill.
• Shen Jingchuan decided to sell more upgraded goods before the auction, disguising himself with the Heavenly Eye Peering into Truth Instruction.
• Shen Jingchuan repeatedly sold high-grade pills and talismans and bought mid-grade goods, accumulating more than twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones.
• Shen Jingchuan, Xiao Mingshu, and Huan'er went to the Drunken Immortal Tavern for the auction, where Accountant Wu escorted them to a private room.
• Accountant Wu quietly warned Shen Jingchuan that someone had set their sights on the place where he was staying.