The Protagonist Treatment: Trouble Comes Knocking on Its Own
As soon as the Wang Household Cultivator finished speaking, the Restrictions on the two adjacent cave abode quickly opened.
Two Foundation Establishment cultivators stepped forward.
They did not argue.
[One person lowered their head and left, while the other handed the Restriction token to the Merchant Association Steward.]
The Wang Family, one of the Four Great Lineage in Qingyang City, can indeed make ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators bow their heads.
But you didn't move.
[ Of the Four Great Lineage of Qingyang City, the Zhao Household, you already have a grudge, but it hasn't been made public yet.]
Now another Wang Family, has arrived.
[You're speechless.]
Is this what it means to be treated like a main character?
[Please send an automated service.]
[You've figured out the strategic pass; this is the A-Class VIP Area, how could the Wang Family possibly barge in and drive people away?]
Therefore, the Wang Family is not here to cause you any trouble.
Their target should be Shen Yuerong, the Merchant Association Shopkeeper.
[You, or rather, the customers here, are merely pawns used to make things difficult for Shen Yuerong.]
[If Shen Yuerong tries to stop the Wang Family from eviction, it would be jeopardizing her partnership with the Wang Family, a major client.]
If Shen Yuerong doesn't intervene, she's condoning the infringement of her esteemed guest's rights.
No matter how she handles it, the people behind her will pass on their messages to the higher-ups in the Chamber of Commerce.
Even Shen Yuerong, Golden Core True Person, is caught up in internal power struggles.
The world of cultivation is truly unique.
No matter how high one's cultivation level, one cannot escape office politics.
[Options pop up.]
[A: Move out, keep your exam eligibility, and avoid getting involved in the chamber of commerce's internal strife.]
[B: To muddy the waters, turning a conflict between customers and the store into a dispute between customers themselves.]
[C: Open the door and ask the Wang Family if they can reimburse the moving expenses, and also ask for compensation for emotional distress.]
Lu Ping looked at A and hesitated for a moment.
Moving is the safest option.
This isn't his territory; Bully at Home.
The Wang Family isn't looking for him.
The problem is, he paid for the A-Class Cave Abode.
The exam will begin in five days.
Being kicked out of the exam preparation area now is tantamount to cutting his pass rate.
More importantly, the Wang Family didn't come to book the entire venue as a normal business.
Their entry into Zone A with the Chamber of Commerce's Guards indicates that someone within the Azure Dragon Merchant Association handed them the knife.
Shen Yuerong had received him, given him inside information, and upgraded him to Second-Class Honored Guest.
This favor isn't much.
However, in Qingyang City, it's quite valuable to make a Golden Core True Person owe you a favor.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
You didn't go out.
[You take out the Message Jade Talisman left by Shen Yuerong and send a message.]
"Someone led the Wang Family into the A-Class Cave Abode Area."
[No immediate response was received after the message was sent.]
[Outside the cave abode, the Wang Household Cultivator Leader has arrived at your door.]
[You raised your hand, Spirit-Eroding Powder and Mind-Erasing Powder began to spread.]
[You didn't open the cave abode door, but you removed the cave abode's Restriction.]
The poison's effects began to spread outside the cave abode.
[A Wang Household Cultivator outside the door suddenly coughed.]
[Then, his knees buckled, and he crashed into the stone steps.]
[The Wang Family leader turned his head.]
"Stand up."
The cultivator tried to hold on, but couldn't, and collapsed to the ground.
[The second Wang Household Cultivator reached out to help, but as soon as he touched the person, he also began to tremble.]
["Poisonous!"]
[Someone shouted something.]
[The moment those two words were uttered, the A-Class Cave Abode Area instantly descended into chaos.]
Tenants who have already moved their belongings should immediately retreat.
[Some people started circulating their qi to protect themselves from the poison, while others directly swallowed Detoxification Pill.]
The leader of the Wang Family has finally made a move.
He cast a Method Formula, and a pale gray spiritual shield enveloped the Wang Family members.
[As soon as the spirit shield was activated, the Spirit-Eroding Powder adhered to the edge of the Array Patterns and began to slowly erode the Spiritual Power.]
[The Household Leader Wang clenched his teeth, his face flushed red.]
"Who on earth dares to lay a hand on our Wang Family?"
[Options pop up.]
[A: Admits to poisoning, and demands the Wang Family apologize and pay compensation.]
[B: Sitting quietly inside the cave abode, waiting for Shen Yuerong to appear.]
[C: Ask him if he wants to purchase the Secret Realm Accident Insurance; it might cover the current situation.]
Lu Ping has done all he could.
If Shen Yuerong doesn't reappear, he'll have to reassess the value of this Golden Core True Person.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
Just then, footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor.
The footsteps were neither hurried nor slow.
Shen Yuerong enters A-Class Cave Abode Area.
[Behind her followed six Merchant Association Steward.]
[There was also a Merchant Association Guard Leader with a livid face, also at the Golden Core Stage.]
[The Household Leader Wang saw Shen Yuerong and immediately spoke.]
"Shopkeeper Shen, you've come at the perfect time."
"Your merchant guild's guests injured my Wang Household Guards."
"The Wang Family demands an explanation for today's events."
Shen Yuerong didn't look at him.
[She casually asked the Merchant Association Guard Leader beside her.]
"Who opened the General Restriction Zone A?"
[The Guard leader's face turned pale, and he spoke.]
"Temporary Order from Deacon Chen Ye."
[Shen Yuerong raises her hand.]
[The Deacon immediately took note.]
[The Wang Family leader interrupted.]
"Shopkeeper Shen, stop changing the subject."
"A member of my Wang Family lies here."
Shen Yuerong then looked at him.
"Does the Wang Family have a business Contract Token for contracting the Jiazi cave abode?"
[The Wang Family leader tossed out the Contract Token.]
[Shen Yuerong gestured, and one of the Deacon behind her reached out to take it, only to see it disappear in an instant.]
["Reservation Contract."]
"Unpaid."
"No master Master Ledger Seal."
"No clearance authority."
The Household Leader Wang's jaw tightened slightly.
"The Wang Family will pay."
[Shen Yuerong raised her hand and took the Contract Token back from the Deacon.]
[With a burst of her Spiritual Power, the Contract Token instantly shattered into dust.]
"If you didn't pay, you didn't buy it. When did the Wang Family to run wild in the Azure Dragon Merchant Association?"
[Watching this scene from your cave abode, you felt a rare sense of relief.]
[This is the Azure Dragon Merchant Association version of "Don't rush me if I haven't made the payment."]
[The Household Leader Wang's face was grim as he forcibly suppressed his instinct to retreat.]
"Shopkeeper Shen, the Annual Supply Contract between the Wang Family and the Chamber of Commerce is still in effect. You've torn it up today; you need to give your superiors an explanation."
[Shen Yuerong raises her hand and strikes.]
This strike was delivered without warning.
[The short armor on the Household Leader Wang's chest instantly split open, and a cloud of blood erupted in front of him.]
He crashed against the stone wall of the passageway, then slid to the ground, lying there like a lump of mud; his fate was unknown.
[Shen Yuerong's Golden Core pressure was released and immediately withdrawn.]
Everyone in the aisle was kneeling halfway down.
Shen Yuerong didn't even glance at the Wang Family members.
She turned to look at the Merchant Association Guard Leader.
[The Guard leader was about to explain.]
[Shen Yuerong strikes again.]
[The Guard leader's shoulder bone collapsed, he knelt down, and spat out a mouthful of blood.]
"The Restrictions on Zone A have been broken by outsiders."
"Serious dereliction of duty."