I'm Soft-Hearted

The Patrol Prefecture.

"Shopkeeper Wang, you're too kind."

Looking at the generous gifts before him, Lin Chang'an smiled and gestured for the other to sit. Shopkeeper Wang also saw the scene inside the main hall.

The once imposing Patrol Prefecture had become a place for entertainment. Shopkeeper Wang felt disdain, but he maintained a smile on his face.

"I wanted to visit you many times before, but I didn't expect Alchemist Lin to be in seclusion for alchemy."

Shopkeeper Wang's polite words implied that it wasn't that he didn't follow the rules; it was just that Lin Chang'an had been busy with alchemy. Otherwise, he would have come much sooner.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an slapped his forehead, a look of sudden realization on his face. "Look at my memory, I almost forgot the important matter."

However, in the next moment, Lin Chang'an looked at the gifts before him, a troubled expression appearing on his face. "Shopkeeper Wang, you've had business dealings with the sect before, I know that. But the problem is, this shop is registered under the names of the Liu sisters with the Patrol Prefecture."

"You see, I can't break the rules. These are rules set by all the major powers!"

He emphasized the last sentence. Seeing Lin Chang'an's troubled look, Shopkeeper Wang's face twitched. Although he had heard rumors, he was truly greedy!

With a fawning smile, Shopkeeper Wang cupped his hands. "Alchemist Lin, you might not know about this shop. When the Liu family was powerful, they insisted on this shop as part of the dowry when they married my elder sister. Who would have thought that after my elder sister passed away, this shop would go to these two wild girls."

At this point, Shopkeeper Wang revealed a sly smile. "Alchemist Lin, you don't know, but these two wild girls were born from the Liu Family Head's sister having an affair with someone outside. They don't even know who their father is."

It was clear he was implying that the Liu family was struggling to take care of themselves, so these two wild girls were insignificant.

However, Lin Chang'an calmly picked up his teacup. Seeing this, a flicker of pain flashed in Shopkeeper Wang's eyes as he took out a storage bag.

"Alchemist Lin!"

Lin Chang'an put down his teacup, a troubled look on his face, after feeling the weight of the spirit stone bag. He could tell there were over a hundred spirit stones inside.

"This doesn't seem right! After all, Steward Liu and I worked together before, and her cultivation isn't weak!"

It was obvious he was tempted, but his troubled expression clearly indicated it wasn't enough. Shopkeeper Wang cursed him inwardly for being so greedy.

"Alchemist Lin, the Liu family had an incident a while ago, and this Liu girl's origin was damaged from an injury sustained outside. It's a miracle she can maintain her current cultivation level! Besides, these two wild girls are quite attractive. This shop originally belonged to my elder sister, and the Liu family must have used some means to kill her!"

Another bag of spirit stones appeared in his hand. Lin Chang'an slammed his hand heavily on the table, a look of righteous indignation on his face as he shouted, "How outrageous!"

This startled Shopkeeper Wang, but Lin Chang'an continued with a furious expression, "Shopkeeper Wang, don't you think these people are too presumptuous, impersonating the eldest daughter of the Liu family to seize the shop!"

Shopkeeper Wang was stunned for a moment, but he quickly reacted and joined in with a feigned angry nod. "Steward Lin, your righteousness is admirable! These two wild girls who appeared from nowhere are impersonating members of the Liu family and claiming their mother left the shop to them."

"This was clearly my elder sister's dowry, when did it become the property of two wild girls!" Shopkeeper Wang also said indignantly. However, when he looked at Lin Chang'an's anticlimactic display, he turned green as Lin Chang'an didn't even bother to move.

"Steward Lin, you must uphold justice for me!"

Tears welled up in Shopkeeper Wang's eyes as he spoke with deep sorrow. This time, his grief was genuine; his heart was breaking. He tremblingly took out another bag of spirit stones and placed it in Lin Chang'an's hand.

The first bag contained a hundred spirit stones, the second contained a hundred, and the third also contained a hundred! A total of over three hundred spirit stones!

Seeing the heavy spirit stone bags in his hands and Shopkeeper Wang's pained expression as if he were being cut open, Lin Chang'an knew he had squeezed enough. His expression changed, and he angrily slammed the table and shouted outside, "Li Han! Qi Feng!"

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Li Han and Qi Feng, who had been waiting outside, shouted in unison and walked in. In front of Shopkeeper Wang, Lin Chang'an angrily slammed the table and roared, "You two go and bring the Liu Yanran sisters here!"

Qi Feng and Li Han were still confused. Go arrest Steward Liu? They weren't a match for her.

"What are you waiting for? Do you think she dares to rebel!"

"Yes!"

Li Han and Qi Feng exchanged glances before cupping their hands and leaving.

Seeing this, Shopkeeper Wang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was heartbroken by the loss, he could finally solidify the deal and get rid of these two wild girls.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Wang comforted himself, thinking that he had spent so much spirit stones, half of which could be considered payment for hiring people to eliminate these two wild girls.

"Thank you, Steward Lin, for upholding justice for our Wang family!"

Shopkeeper Wang said emotionally, with tears in his eyes. Anyone who didn't know better would think he had suffered great injustice and finally had someone to vindicate him.

"Shopkeeper Wang, rest assured, for the sake of maintaining peace and order in the market town, I, Lin, will not shirk my duty!"

Beneath his grand pronouncements, Lin Chang'an patted his chest vigorously. It would have been even better if the bulging spirit stone bags on the table weren't there.

As Shopkeeper Wang gratefully left the Patrol Prefecture, a trace of resentment flashed in his eyes, and he secretly cursed! Just wait, when the Beast Taming Zhou Family destroys your Great Sword Sect, you will repay today's events a hundredfold.

As soon as Shopkeeper Wang left, Zhang Qing arrived. Seeing Lin Chang'an in the main hall squinting with a smile while looking at the spirit stones in his hand, he immediately gave him a thumbs-up.

"Brilliant! Junior Brother Lin, your move is brilliant. You first squeeze the Wang family, and then you make them lower their guard."

Zhang Qing, who had just walked in, sneered when he mentioned the Wang family. "This Wang family eats our sect's food, yet they covet our bowls. They deserve to die! As expected, birds of a feather flock together; they're all the same as that Wang Youyun."

"However, Steward Liu is also pitiful. Just as the Liu family lost power, she was ambushed and her origin was damaged, tsk tsk."

Speaking of Steward Liu, Zhang Qing rarely shook his head and sighed. "Black Thread Poison, it erodes the heart meridians, roots itself in the blood and meridians, and devours flesh and spiritual energy. To detoxify it, one needs a high-grade antidote like Spirit Cleansing Powder, otherwise, she won't live for ten years."

Listening to Zhang Qing talk about this matter, Lin Chang'an was taken aback. It seemed there was more to the story of Steward Liu being ambushed, but it didn't concern him much.

"Senior Brother Zhang!"

Lin Chang'an smiled and pushed a bag of spirit stones towards him. However, Zhang Qing, with a rare clarity in his eyes, pretended not to see it. Instead, he sighed, "Junior Brother, although Steward Liu has a strained relationship with the Liu family, it's best to stop here for now."

Zhang Qing's meaning was simple: take the benefits and then deal with the Wang family. Steward Liu was no threat anyway, so there was no need to displease the Liu family over this.

Although the spirit stones were right in front of Zhang Qing, causing him pain in his heart, he knew it was all worth it when he thought of the temptation of the breakthrough pill.

Seeing that Zhang Qing didn't take the spirit stones, Lin Chang'an smiled and asked back, "Did I ever say I was going to make a move on Steward Liu?"

"Then what are you?"

Seeing Zhang Qing's confusion, Lin Chang'an revealed a knowing smile. "Brother Zhang, the Wang Family has connections with the Beast Taming Zhou Family, and we don't have any evidence. It's not good to go too far, and besides, I'm just soft-hearted and can't stand to see people suffer."

Hearing these familiar words, Zhang Qing had a bad feeling, a bad feeling for the Wang Family.

Thanks to Daoist 'King of Reciting Poems Zhao Dabao' for the 10,000 coin tip, and thanks to the so-called Daoist friends for your monthly passes, recommendation tickets, and continued support.

Koi Flu has given me a fever, but luckily I have some drafts saved, so rest assured, dear Daoist friends, keep reading. My full-time job is to guarantee updates.