Senior, Please Don't Do This, You're Scaring Me!

[You imitated the manner of the Demon-Suppressing Tower Master, speaking casually to Gu Wusuan,]

"Take it. It wouldn't be good for people to say I'm making a living off my juniors."

[Junior?]

[Gu Wusuan a Spirit Transformation Stage, a figure who could shake the region with a stomp of his foot, yet he was treated as a junior?]

But ironically, he couldn't muster even the slightest anger.

[Gu Wusuan, true to his old fox nature, changed his expression swiftly, immediately flashing a standard smile and bowing to you again.]

"What are your instructions, senior? Please speak frankly, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

[Options pop up.]

[A: By subtly inquiring about the grand occasion of the Auction twelve years ago, the question can be gradually steered towards the main topic.]

[B: I just need a list of all the buyers from the Auction twelve years ago.]

[C: You grinned, suddenly pulled out a glowing red Recording Stone, and shoved it at his nose, laughing loudly: "Steward Gu, do you know what entrapment is? You're suspected of accepting a bribe of 500,000 yuan, caught red-handed!" Then you turned serious, slammed your fist on the stone table, and shouted sternly: "Doushu City Anti-Corruption Inspection! Immediately hand over all the buying and selling records and detailed ledgers from the last three major auctions for investigation! Confess and you'll be treated leniently, otherwise, you'll be expelled from the Mystic Nether Pavilion tonight!"]

They're playing dumb to take advantage of us now; let's finish this quickly.

Lu Ping chose B.

[You chose B.]

You picked up your teacup, gently blew away the foam, as if discussing something trivial.

"I need a list of the final buyers from the previous major auction twelve years ago."

[The moment you finished speaking, Gu Wusuan's smile froze instantly.]

"Senior... this..."

He paused, then continued.

"This is against the rules. Maintaining confidentiality for our clients is the foundation of the Mystic Nether Pavilion's existence. If the list is leaked, how can Mystic Nether Pavilion continue to operate in the Domain of Chaos?"

As he spoke, he carefully observed your expression.

"How about this, senior? If you need anything, you can choose three items from my Mystic Nether Pavilion's treasure vault. Or, if you're looking for a buyer, I can introduce you..."

He tried to dissuade you from the idea by offering other forms of compensation.

[Options pop up.]

[A: Explain the situation to him rationally and emotionally, telling him that this matter concerns an old friend and that he will surely be generously rewarded.]

[B: This little Spirit Transformation cultivator is so hesitant and indecisive. Just use force to make him understand who rules.]

[C: You grinned: "Choose three items from the treasure vault, right? Deal! First, the foundation of the treasure vault; second, the entire Xuanming Tower; and third, you, Steward Gu, yourself!" A burst of Crow-Crow fire blasted through the roof, and your Star River Myriad Blades transformed into a long rope around Gu Wusuan's neck, pulling as you ran: "If the old man doesn't give you the list, he'll drag you to the Black Tiger Gang's No. 3 mine tonight!"]

Little A, you've really come to make us laugh today.

What Little B said sounds somewhat familiar.

Didn't we talk about this before?

Never mind. It's not important. Lu Ping chose B.

[You chose B.]

You didn't speak, paused for a few moments, and then put down your teacup.

The teacup clinked softly against the stone table, a sound that, though faint, broke the silence of the courtyard.

[You didn't even look at him; your gaze was fixed on the Locust Spirit Tree in the courtyard, as if admiring the moonlight.]

[But an incomparably terrifying aura suddenly erupted from your body.]

[Commercial Espionage, effective.]

[I'm the Client, this agreement is effective.]

[Bully at Home, effective.]

[Your divine soul is powerful, and you have cultivated the Spirit Refining Technique. Even without external assistance, your divine soul's pressure alone is already comparable to that of an ordinary Spirit Transformation.]

[A pressure fifteen times greater than normal instantly descended upon Gu Wusuan.]

The Gray Crow on your shoulder has stopped yawning.

[It suddenly spread its wings, and its previously languid aura instantly transformed into one of ferocity.]

[A ray of the Sun True Intention shone upon the Gu Wusuan Divine Sense.]

[Gu Wusuan was terrified, and his entire body sank as if by magic.]

However, he was somewhat surprised; although this "senior's" aura was powerful, it wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined.

[This sense of relief hadn't even lasted a moment before he was horrified to discover that a faint, eerie aura had appeared within his meridians, instantly sluggishing his Spiritual Power flow.]

[His Primordial Spirit was bound by invisible threads.]

[Spirit-Chaos Lure! Spirit-Winding Threads!]

[Gu Wusuan's pupils contracted sharply, a tidal wave of emotions surging within him.]

[I've been poisoned! When was it done?]

[When entering the courtyard? When pouring tea? When presenting the Spirit Stone?]

[Gu Wusuan never expected that you, old monster, would act so unpredictably.]

[One moment they were laughing and chatting, bestowing Spirit Stones; the next they were threatening and poisoning him.]

[This kind of disregard for rules... is this truly the work of some reclusive, extraordinary genius?]

Gu Wusuan's face turned deathly pale, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"Senior... please calm down!"

"It's because I, a junior, was blind and didn't recognize your greatness!"

"Rules are rules, but people are flexible! Whatever you need, senior, I will provide immediately!"

You then withdrew your gaze and gave him a dismissive glance.

The terrifying pressure in the courtyard instantly dissipated.

Gu Wusuan relaxed completely. He dared not delay for the slightest, and took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring.

"Senior, this... this is the original record of the Auction from back then."

[Gu Wusuan handed over the Jade Slip, then quickly added a sentence.]

"However... as you should be aware, this list is not without its flaws."

[He was afraid you'd think he was deliberately hiding something, so he spoke much faster than before.]

"All invitations distributed directly through our channels are meticulously recorded."

"But some invitations are used as payment or are given away privately... These kinds of invitations are always based on the invitation itself, not the person."

"If these people have taken pictures of the items, I truly cannot ascertain their true identities."

[You'll naturally understand the intricacies of this.]

[After all, the invitation you yourself have was obtained through other means by consigning Pills.]

[The Deacon of the Mystic Nether Pavilion could never possibly know which person that "Ding Seventeen" invitation in your hand corresponds to.]

[You probe the Jade Slip with your Divine Sense and begin searching.]

[The Jade Slip contains all the transaction information from that major auction twelve years ago, every single transaction is clearly recorded.]

[You quickly found the entry for "Yin-Yang Love-Tribulation Flower".]

[Number 33, Desire Sea Pavilion.]