Under a maid's guidance, Xia Qi'an entered Si Nan Manor.
The maid, Qiū Dōng, was like a wary cat. Along the way, she kept sizing Xia Qi'an up with her eyes, as though scrutinizing him.
As for Si Nanyue, the acting commander of the Hound Guard of the Wei Dao Si, she was like a dazzling pearl, radiating blinding brilliance.
Her status was exalted and her power towered to the heavens, like a mountain peak too high to climb.
Her peerless beauty was like a breathtaking painting, stirring the hearts and haunting the dreams of countless scions of Jinling's great clans.
The number of people who wanted to call on her was impossible to count.
Yet aside from official business, Si Nanyue never accepted any visitors.
However, on Xia Qi'an's first visit, he had actually received an audience with Si Nanyue.
What could be so special about this man? maid Qiū Dōng wondered inwardly.
She followed Xia Qi'an through the front courtyard. There, she saw Si Nanyue standing alone amid the flowers in the inner courtyard.
Without her official robes, Si Nanyue was as beautiful as a painting, intoxicating to behold.
Her beauty was like flowers blooming in spring, delicate and dazzling, their petals seeming ready to drip with color.
When Si Nanyue saw Xia Qi'an striding over with two wooden boxes in tow, she asked curiously, "What business do you have to report?"
"Reporting to you, my lord! A few days ago, I saw a kind of scented soap from the Qiluo Kingdom being sold on the market. I heard it had excellent cleaning effects, so I thought I'd buy a few bars to use. Unfortunately, it was expensive and crudely made. So I made a kind of scented soap myself and wanted to give it to you to try!"
"I also hope that after using it, you can give me some suggestions for improvement!"
Hearing this, Si Nanyue frowned. "You came all this way for such a trivial matter?"
She had assumed Xia Qi'an had come to curry favor with her, and she was immediately displeased.
Xia Qi'an hurriedly explained, "Lord Sinan! This is no trivial matter. I just happen to know how to make soap, and I want to sell the scented soap I make on the Jinling market. That's why I came to ask you to try it."
"I was born into humble circumstances, and practicing martial arts also requires a great deal of silver. That's why I thought of starting this soap business. I simply want to earn some money!"
After Xia Qi'an delivered his impassioned speech, Si Nanyue's expression softened somewhat.
"How did you learn how to make soap?" Si Nanyue asked, turning her head slightly to look at Xia Qi'an.
Xia Qi'an casually spun a tale. "It's a family craft passed down through the generations!"
"In that case, let me see the scented soap you made!" Si Nanyue finally showed some interest in the scented soap.
Xia Qi'an then opened the sandalwood box.
At once, the fragrance of flowers and herbs spread through the air.
Maid Qiū Dōng could not help exclaiming when she smelled it, "It smells wonderful! Even better than the scented sachet I carry!"
Seeing Qiū Dōng lose her composure, Si Nanyue pretended to be angry. "Dong'er! Why haven't you gone to prepare tea?"
"Yes, young lady!"
Qiū Dōng playfully stuck out her tongue before hurrying away.
After Qiū Dōng left, Si Nanyue took the scented soap from the wooden box and examined it carefully.
The item called scented soap was exquisitely shaped and translucent in color. It looked like a fine pastry.
Si Nanyue picked up the scented soap again and brought it close to the tip of her nose to smell it. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she praised it, "You named it scented soap, and the name certainly lives up to it!"
"Judging by its shape, color, and scent, it's indeed far superior to the soap from the Qiluo Kingdom!"
Xia Qi'an immediately chimed in, "You have a discerning eye, my lord!"
Si Nanyue's manor kept scented soap from the Qiluo Kingdom in stock as well, so she naturally knew the difference between the two.
With a little thought, she could also understand the enormous commercial value contained within it.
Si Nanyue set down the scented soap and said solemnly, "Did you come to see me just to have me try it?"
Xia Qi'an explained, "Of course not! I hope to use Lord Sinan's reputation to promote the scented soap throughout Jinling City."
"Besides, I know perfectly well that I could never make this business work on my own. Even if I got it running, I wouldn't be able to protect it. So I hope to cooperate with Lord Sinan and build this business up together, making it bigger and stronger!"
After listening, Si Nanyue thought for a moment before saying, "Since that's the case, how do you plan to sell it? You're also a member of the Wei Dao Si. You can't abandon your official duties and devote yourself to selling scented soap, can you?"
Xia Qi'an smiled. "Of course not! Lord Sinan should know that I have a good relationship with Yang Wei of the Yang Clan trading company. I plan to bring him into the partnership and leave all the sales to him."
"From now on, I'll be responsible for supplying the goods, Yang Wei will handle sales, and you only need to lend your name!"
"As for dividing the profits, the three of us will need to meet and discuss it. It would be best to draw up a contract!"
"Lord Sinan, what do you think of this arrangement?"
Si Nanyue naturally knew of the Yang Clan of Jinling. After thinking it over, she nodded. "Your plan sounds good! But let's wait until I've tried the scented soap before discussing it further. At that time, I'll send someone to summon you and Yang Wei to my manor to discuss the matter."
Xia Qi'an knew full well how important this matter was, so he did not expect Si Nanyue to agree on the spot.
He then handed the two kinds of scented soap to Si Nanyue and prepared to take his leave.
"Wait!"
Just as he was about to leave, Si Nanyue suddenly called out to Xia Qi'an.
"Lord Sinan, what are your instructions?" Xia Qi'an hurriedly asked.
Si Nanyue hesitated for a moment before saying, "A disaster occurred in Jishan County yesterday! The specific situation is still unknown. I've already sent two Hound Guards to investigate, but no news has come back yet. I order you to hurry there and take a look. You must send the information back as soon as possible!"
"Your cultivation is low at present. If you encounter danger, you only need to secretly gather information. Under no circumstances are you to force your way into the conflict!"
It was clear from her words that Xia Qi'an had not originally been meant to take part in this mission.
But Si Nanyue seemed to be facing some difficulty and had likely been unable to find anyone else for the moment.
Since Xia Qi'an had happened to appear, she had no choice but to make him take the trip.
"Yes, my lord!"
After receiving his orders, Xia Qi'an immediately left Si Nan Manor.
Although doing business was more important to Xia Qi'an at present, the Wei Dao Si's official duties also allowed no room for the slightest carelessness.
Xia Qi'an then made some simple preparations.
He mounted a black horse, left Jinling City, and raced toward Jishan County.
Jishan County, Liu Family Village.
"Caw..."
"Caw..."
A flock of crows cawed noisily from the old tree at the village entrance, its branches black as charred wood, as though they were recounting some ill omen.
Faint black smoke hung over the village, as if it had suffered a terrible fire.
The houses were scorched black, and the charred corpses of villagers lay scattered everywhere.
These people seemed to have been attacked by the flames in their sleep, then struggled out of their homes, only to die horribly by the roadside.
After entering Liu Family Village, Xia Qi'an looked around, trying to find traces of the two Hound Guards from the Wei Dao Si among the smallest clues.
However, the moment he stepped into the village, he sensed Turbid Qi permeating every corner, as though an evil force were spreading through the area.
From this, he concluded that some unknown demon had once passed through this place, and that the two Wei Dao Si members had likely pursued it.
Xia Qi'an activated Crimson Pupils, carefully tracing the remnants of Turbid Qi lingering in the air.
In an instant, a line formed from gathered Turbid Qi appeared in his eyes, winding away like a venomous snake toward the southwest of Liu Family Village.
Around the remnants of Turbid Qi, there were also two traces of lingering qi and blood, running in the same direction as the Turbid Qi.
Everything proved that Xia Qi'an's earlier deduction had been correct.
The two Hound Guards Si Nanyue had sent earlier had indeed followed the demon's trail away from Liu Family Village.
After finding no further clues in the village, Xia Qi'an followed the direction of the remaining Turbid Qi without hesitation.
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