Shopkeeper Shen, What a Scheme
Lu Ping looked at options Little A and Little B.
Quitting right after starting a job seems inappropriate.
Moreover, Shen Yuerong mentioned earlier that Specially Appointed Alchemist of the Chamber of Commerce was merely a title.
The Travel Permit still need to be processed by the Chamber of Commerce.
That Tom, Shen Yuerong is stuck with her Official Business Passport!
As for the Nascent Soul Bureau?
A mere Nascent Soul is nothing to fear.
Early Leave is my way of having the world at my fingertips.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You looked at Shen Yuerong and asked the question that had been nagging at you.]
"Shopkeeper Shen, in this kind of situation, you should bring your most reliable ally from the Chamber of Commerce."
"My origins are unknown, and my cultivation level is only at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage."
"What makes you think I can help you get out of this unscathed?"
Shen Yuerong did not answer immediately.
She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then looked at you calmly.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, your disguise is flawless."
[You paused in surprise.]
"His cultivation level is only at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; he wears ordinary Rogue Cultivator robes and acts with humility and modesty."
[Shen Yuerong's tone was calm, yet every word was piercing.]
"But you forgot one thing."
"A person who can casually produce two hundred Top-Quality Qi-Gathering Pills."
"A Third-Grade Alchemist."
He looked completely ordinary.
"This in itself is the biggest abnormality."
"You give me the impression that you're weaker than me."
"So, the truth is most likely that you are far more capable than I am, to the point that I have no way of knowing your true strength."
"You're worth a bet."
You are taken aback.
You always thought you were infallible.
[Because you have Golden Finger, you unconsciously look down on the world with a superior player's mentality.]
[You treat the dudes from the four major families as NPCs.]
[You're treating the Heavenly Certification Alliance's Deacon as an NPC.]
But reality slapped you hard in the face.
[That old cultivator in Yi Wood City who swindled you out of three Spirit Stones.]
[Ye Zhi, who tricked you into joining the Thousand Mechanisms Sect.]
[The Black-Clad Leader, who didn't forget to sabotage you even in his dying moments.]
[The Household Ancestor Zhao, who spent decades plotting to Spirit Transformation, even used his lover's son as a plotting tool.]
[And then there's this one in front of me, Shen Yuerong, despite only having Golden Core cultivation, almost managed to expose your true identity based on the slightest clues.]
[Aren't they all top-notch old foxes?]
Shen Yuerong saw through your extraordinary nature long ago.
She just doesn't say it.
[She cooperated with your performance, and then naturally dragged you onto the Azure Dragon Merchant Association's chariot.]
[You're only just realizing that you were already caught in her trap the moment you stepped into this Elegant Chamber.]
[Even Specially Appointed Alchemist wasn't her primary objective.]
Tonight's Hongmen Banquet is the real trap.
[You deliberately walked right into her bowl, and you even think you got the better deal.]
[Salty Fish, in effect.]
[Your emotions have calmed down.]
[Your State of Mind has returned to that of a steady old dog.]
Never underestimate the people of the world.
[Then you realize that Shen Yuerong's judgment was probably partly a bluff.]
[Or, at least, they're testing you.]
Your astonishment confirmed Shen Yuerong's suspicions.
You sighed softly and looked directly into Shen Yuerong's eyes.
"Shopkeeper Shen is quite the schemer."
"Since we've come this far, I'll go to the Trade Fair with you tonight."
[Shen Yuerong smiled sweetly when she saw that you had agreed.]
"While I'm not entirely sure how many tricks Fellow Daoist Lu still has up his sleeve, tonight, the only person I can trust, and who might even fool those old fogies, is you."
[Night falls.]
[You've changed into the robes of a Senior Appraiser from the Azure Dragon Merchant Association.]
[The material is of excellent quality, with subtle, flowing patterns.]
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[Friend of Women, in effect.]
[When you emerged from behind the screen, Shen Yuerong's gaze lingered on you for a moment.]
A strange glint flashed in her eyes, and her tone softened.
"Fellow Daoist Lu looks much better in this outfit than in the attire of Rogue Cultivator."
A black van pulled by two Bronze Mechanism Beasts stopped at the back gate of the Chamber of Commerce.
You got into the car with Shen Yuerong.
The carriage was filled with soundproofing Restriction and Defensive Formations.
[The wheels rolled on, crushing the empty streets of Qingyang City.]
[An ordinary little Crow, silently disappearing into the night.]
Curfew is in effect in Qingyang City tonight.
There wasn't a soul in sight on the street, only the patrolling Qingyang Guards.
[Half an hour later, the Mechanism Carriage stopped.]
[You lift the curtain.]
[We've arrived at the Zhao Household.]
[Lanterns hung in front of the gate, and two rows of armored monks stood silently.]
[It is Qingyang Guard.]
Clearly, the City Lord's Manor has taken over the Zhao Household's control.
[You follow behind Shen Yuerong, hand over the invitation, and step over the high threshold.]
[Passing through three corridors, we entered an extremely spacious hall.]
A huge round table was placed in the center of the main hall.
Three people were already seated at the table.
[On the left is a bald old man with a face full of scars; Jin Household Ancestor.]
[On the right stands a middle-aged scholar, fanning himself with a folding fan; this Wang Family Ancestor.]
[The one in the middle, with half-gray hair and a thin build, is an old acquaintance, Han Shishan.]
[Three Nascent Soul Realm.]
[Including the city lord who hasn't shown up yet, almost all of Qingyang City's top-tier combat power is here.]
[As an appraiser for the Azure Dragon Merchant Association, you can only stand behind Shen Yuerong.]
The furnishings inside the main hall were extremely luxurious, with tables and chairs carved from Spirit Wood exuding a subtle, calming fragrance.
[But the fragrance couldn't mask the suffocating, chilling atmosphere in the air.]
[You followed behind Shen Yuerong, your steps light and slow.]
[The moment you stepped into the main hall, three Divine Senses simultaneously pressed down upon you.]
[The Jin Household Ancestor's face was covered in thick, fleshy muscles; at this moment, his skin trembled, making him resemble an enraged lion.]
"Where is Shen Silan? The Azure Dragon Merchant Association only sent you two Golden Core juniors?"
His voice was as loud as a bell, causing the Restriction surrounding the main hall to flash with a ghostly light.
Shen Yuerong remained composed, merely bowing slightly, her voice neither humble nor arrogant.
"The head manager is in seclusion today and has specially ordered me to bring the Chamber of Commerce's newly hired appraiser to assess your work."
[The Jin Household Ancestor snorted coldly and withdrew his Divine Sense.]
The Wang Family Ancestor shook his folding fan and closed his eyes.
[For them, with the opportunity to reach the Spirit Transformation Fortuitous Opportunity present, the absence of a Nascent Soul stage monster to share the spoils is actually a great blessing.]
[Two Golden Core cultivators were no different from ants in their eyes.]
[But you keenly noticed that Han Shishan's gaze lingered on you for a moment longer.]
[That old guy's eyes swept over you.]
[A year ago, when Han Shishan went to the Greenwood Sect to demand an explanation, you were just a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.]
[In just one short year, you have already become Golden Core True Person.]
[A flicker of surprise, apprehension, and an inexplicable greed flashed in Han Shishan's eyes.]
[But he quickly covered it up, picked up the teacup on the table, blew on the floating leaves, and pretended not to know you at all.]
[Options pop up]
[A: Pretend you don't know Han Shishan, and act like you're invisible.]
[B: It's better to strike first, so Han Shishan won't keep thinking about you.]
[C: He threw Han Changqing's Storage Ring at Han Shishan's face and loudly announced, "Elder Han, when are you going to settle my 320,000 service fee? You don't want your debt to become common knowledge throughout the entire Azure Cloud Sect, do you?"]