When I returned to the Heavenly Pavilion, the manager and workers were all downcast. It was inevitable that some would grieve openly. Qin Ping must have treated them well over the years, so after her death, most of them were heartbroken.
The child in Ruan Yu'er's arms had suffered some injuries. After I used a water-element spiritual art to cleanse her wounds, I had Ruan Yu'er take her to the back courtyard to rest. Once she woke up, she might well make a scene. She would probably find it hard to accept the loss of a close relative.
To keep the Heavenly Pavilion from collapsing under Heavenly Market's siege, I immediately summoned all the managers and steadied them with a carefully crafted speech. I also raised their wages and had them summon all the merchants and major suppliers they dealt with. From then on, I would personally take charge of the business.
Besides that, I had learned quite a few of Heavenly City's secrets from Qin Ping's jade hairpin, including some matters beyond the city. The resources involved came not only from Heavenly City's immortal clans, but also from the various markets and trading fairs across the Immortal Continent. Qin Ping had been unable to interfere with affairs outside, but I could. Sooner or later, I would certainly establish contact with the Immortal Continent. The battlefield for this business was not limited to Heavenly City—it was the entire Immortal Continent.
The reason Heavenly Market had continued expanding in Heavenly City was precisely because it had extended its reach into the various treasure pavilions, which then extended their own reach into the major sects, markets, and trading fairs across the Immortal Continent. That was how they had accumulated such enormous wealth over the years. If we failed to curb Heavenly Market's