A Certain Hit That Would Sweep Half the World! (56k)

Henggao City, Ye Family.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on an exquisite wooden bed covered with soft, plush bedding.

A young girl dressed in an elegant pink Liu Xian Skirt is leaning lazily against the headboard, holding an ancient book in her hands.

Her hair was as smooth as a waterfall, casually tied up, with a few strands gently brushing against her cheeks, adding to her gentle and graceful appearance. Her gaze was focused and serene, as if the whole world was concentrated between the pages of the book.

The book is titled "The Return of the Condor Heroes," the latest edition published by Tianxin Bookstore.

Suddenly, the girl frowned slightly and impatiently took a shimmering jade pendant from the bedside.

She connected with the Mystic Qi, and several lines of text slowly rolled out in her Sea of Consciousness:

"Ye Erong, what kind of mess did you make?! Didn't I tell you to find a few sisters to support my master? What do you mean by finding a few lowly, uncultured female cultivators? Is this how you handle things?!"

Ye Erong pouted her pink lips unhappily and replied:

"Brother, all my sisters are busy. Who has time to go and support Bihua Venerable? Almost all the female cultivators in the city are scrambling for clothes at the Qianhua Pavilion. It's good enough if you can find a group of people. If you're not satisfied, go find some yourself. I'm reading, don't bother me."

"Reading? Do you think I don't know what you're reading! You're always reading those cheesy romance novels, they're ruining your brain! Stop reading! Go find me a new group of people, preferably with you in charge. You're a fairly well-known lady in Henggao City, you take them to support Bihua Pavilion. Remember, you absolutely cannot just look and not buy anything, all your expenses will be reimbursed by me!"

Ye Erong turned over, listlessly swinging her legs, which were lightly clad in silk stockings:

"No, you can go yourself. Besides, if Bihua Venerable finds out we're your shills, she won't be grateful; she'll feel her pride has been hurt. Wouldn't you be losing more than you gain?"

"Can you stop reading this kind of trashy books? Is that how you use that word? If you're not going to come, then don't bother. Send some Fairy with some reputation instead of this poor wretch who's picky even when buying clothes!"

"No, no, I'm not going! I asked you to take me to find You Su, but you wouldn't help, and you even slandered her in front of my parents for no reason. Why should I help you?! You think you're so capable? Figure it out yourself! Don't bother me while I'm studying! I'm not replying to your messages!"

Ye Erong angrily put down the jade pendant, then simply buried it under the thick quilt, hoping to avoid seeing it altogether.

To call the author of "Junior Sister is Number One in the World" a piece of trash is simply unforgivable!

Ye Erong first encountered this author's books through a blushing maid. When she first read them, she thought they were just vulgar books that sold only sex, but after reading them out of curiosity, she discovered that the poignant love stories were what kept readers captivated.

This made her unable to put the book down, but because of the erotic descriptions, she had to read it secretly from her family.

She often fantasized about whether she could also have a love story full of twists and turns, like the heroine in the book.

The girl sighed softly, and the image of the boy in black resurfaced in her mind.

If I go to the Bihua Pavilion to buy something, is there a chance I'll run into him...?

Bihua Pavilion's first day of business ended in a dismal failure; the few pairs of stockings sold were all thanks to patrons of acquaintances.

"Master, I finally understand the disappointment my parents felt when they discovered their child was actually an insect, hoping he would become a dragon among men... Waaaaah... I promise I will cultivate diligently from now on and never let them down, waaaah..."

Unable to contain her grievances, Zi Xun sobbed, and several female disciples also had red eyes.

In fact, these female disciples had a smooth journey with very few setbacks. This time, facing the failure of their Heart's Blood, they were all somewhat unable to accept it.

The Third Elder looked at everyone with pity and offered a few more words of comfort, which rekindled their anticipation for tomorrow.

Today was just bad luck, but tomorrow will definitely be packed with guests!

Everyone had the same thought, and they all dispersed.

Ji Lingruo and Wangshu returned to the mountain, You Su sensed that their emotions seemed somewhat off.

They returned to the peak in the evening, and although they were visibly tired, it was also clear that they enjoyed themselves.

But today, I feel somewhat dejected.

You Su tentatively inquired, Ji Lingruo simply brushed it off with a casual answer.

The girl wasn't unwilling to be honest with You Su; she just felt that her long-prepared surprise had failed, and telling You Su about it would be somewhat embarrassing.

Wangshu must have been instructed by Ji Lingruo to remain silent about the Silk Stocking Empire's setbacks. Although this white-haired, blue-eyed girl did not reveal her true face, her emotions were the most difficult to conceal.

There was no release of pent-up desire tonight, nor any intimacy that crossed the line.

You Su sensed the girls' disappointment but didn't press them further, simply telling them to get some rest.

He respected their privacy, and spoke softly to each of them individually:

"Junior sister (senior sister), you can come to me if you have any difficulties. I'm always here for you."

Back in his room, You Su cultivated for a while, then habitually took out the Xuanji Token, but did not receive any new messages.

Brother He's message came a little late today, which is unusual for him. I wonder what he's been up to.

Even more surprisingly, He Kongyue wasn't as clingy as usual tonight. She simply greeted You Su briefly, then logged off, citing her need to study.

Looking at the Xuanji Token, which hadn't moved for a long time, You Su felt a little uncomfortable. However, given Brother He's serious attitude of studying all night, how could he dare to disturb him? So he could only continue practicing the Sun Yang Sword Nurturing Art to pass the long night.

Little did anyone know that in the He Manor at the foot of the sacred mountain, He Kongyue were not serious works such as "The History of the Five Continents" or "Commentary on the Heart Sutra," but rather a copy of "The New Legend of the Lady White" and "The Return of the Return of the Condor Heroes."

"Junior Sister is Number One in the World?"

He Kongyue looked at the pen names on the books and felt a pang of jealousy for some reason.

"I never imagined that a blind man like him could make money by writing books... He definitely wouldn't accept money directly. I was even thinking of promoting his books, but it turns out they've already become bestsellers in the Central Continent. I had no idea how much talent you actually had..."

He Kongyue gently shook her head, then, filled with anticipation and gentle joy, opened the book in front of her.

The next day, the scene of a large gathering of guests that the women of Bihua Peak had been looking forward to did not materialize; instead, the place seemed even more desolate.

Because the friends and relatives who came to support us on the first day out of friendship are unlikely to come again today, only a few female disciples who went up Bihua Peak to complete the task of repairing the medicinal fields will take a stroll along the way.

However, these female disciples, who were constantly taking on missions, could hardly afford such a flashy but impractical item as stockings. On the contrary, the Third Elder, in order to boost popularity, generously gifted each of them a pair.

This approach did increase popularity somewhat, but all these new customers were looking to 'get something for free'.

A cold wind howled through the mountains and forests, and amidst the female disciples' expressions of gratitude, the beautiful female cultivators in the Bihua Pavilion felt even more the desolation of winter.

Zi Xun and Yu Tong, who had been recruiting business for the Bihua Pavilion within the sect, also returned, their expressions ashen, seemingly extremely indignant.

"Master, Qianhua Pavilion's promotional event is still ongoing today. People who missed out yesterday are lining up again to grab their clothes..."

Those who didn't buy then rushed to buy, while those who did buy naturally lost the desire to spend money at the Bihua Pavilion.

"Qianhua Pavilion did it on purpose! They never do promotions, yet they held two days in a row, clearly trying to cut off our business!"

A female disciple spoke up indignantly, Third Elder frowned deeply. In fact, she had expected this to happen. She just hadn't expected Qianhua Pavilion to be so ruthless.

"Let's wait until tomorrow..."

Unfortunately, by the third day, the situation had not improved. Qianhua Pavilion's promotional activities continued, and the situation outside the mall was even getting worse.

Several of the female disciples who had received gifts from the Bihua Pavilion returned the stockings, which saddened the women of Bihua Peak.

They got something for free, yet they didn't keep it and even wanted to return it. How much do they despise their Heart's Blood...?

They also subtly inquired about the reason.

It turned out that rumors had spread that a woman had worn Bihua Pavilion stockings to a banquet, where she was surrounded and mocked by many female cultivators for a long time, and was even kicked out of the banquet. The reason given was that Bihua Pavilion stockings were counterfeit and of inferior quality, so how could anyone wear such things out in public?

Even more outrageous, some claimed that Bihua Pavilion's stockings were made of poor-quality materials and would cause leg rot if worn... Of course, such falsehoods are easily debunked.

Later, the group of female cultivators who had isolated the person were forced to apologize due to the pressure of the situation, but the incident had a great impact. Originally, Bihua Pavilion's sale of stockings was not that well-known, but now all the female cultivators in Henggao City knew about this merchant, and the image of the Bihua Pavilion's stockings as low-class had become deeply ingrained in people's minds.

However, because Bihua Venerable's reputation was as impressive as her ample bosom, Bihua Pavilion's reputation did not plummet. But behind her back, there were many more people gossiping, and many more dared not shop at the Bihua Pavilion anymore, even showing a growing sense of shame.

The winter twilight was somewhat bleak, with the dim, slanting sunlight casting a lifeless glow on the upturned eaves of the Bihua Pavilion.

Most of the women gathered at the Bihua Pavilion looked somber; they had to admit that their ideas were beautiful, but reality was harsh.

For centuries, Qianhua Pavilion has dominated the women's clothing category, facing countless competitors yet remaining steadfast. Among them are many clothing stores with more resources than Bihua Pavilion, but at best, they can only make a name for themselves in the other four continents. On the continent of the Central Yuan Continent, no one can shake Qianhua Pavilion's position in the women's clothing industry.

"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days... It's all my fault."

The Third Elder's cheongsam was still predominantly red, but it lacked any festive feel.

"That's not how it is... It's clearly Qianhua Pavilion's fault! They're so petty. We're just a small clothing shop located within a sect, yet they target us and try to ruin our reputation. It's outrageous!"

Lin Si Han fought back tears and choked out words of comfort to the Third Elder.

The Third Elder shook his head with a wry smile, "Silly child, I actually have a grudge against Qianhua Venerable. She must have seen that my Bihua Pavilion is trying to compete with her, which is why she has been targeting my Bihua Pavilion at every turn."

"Using public office for private revenge, how petty!" Zi Xun was furious.

"That's right, that's right!" Yu Tong, who was precocious despite her young age, echoed repeatedly.

The Third Elder smirked, wondering why his disciple seemed to have insulted her as well...

"As it turns out, it was wishful thinking for Master to think she could defeat her opponent in their area of expertise, just as she couldn't defeat Master in the areas of Spirit Plant or wine."

The Third Elder took out her jade wine flask and took another big gulp. Before opening the shop, she was so busy that she had no time to drink. But after opening the shop, it seemed like she was trying to make up for all the wine she hadn't drunk in the past two weeks.

The disciples' hearts tightened upon hearing this, vaguely guessing what the Third Elder was about to say.

Wangshu's eyes dimmed, and Ji Lingruo pursed her lips, unable to believe that her beautiful dream had been shattered.

"We've worked so hard for the past two weeks, only to get this result. I feel it's all for nothing. Since that's the case, we might as well do what we're supposed to do. This Bihua Pavilion... let's just close it down."

As soon as the words were spoken, it felt as if a huge rock had been dropped on the hearts of the women. More than the relief of being freed, they felt a deep sense of loss after their illusions were shattered.

"However, that doesn't mean our efforts were in vain. At least we learned the skill of weaving. Anyway, we're not planning on selling them in large quantities; with our skills, we can easily make a living. In the future, we can not only make stockings, but also some skirts that we like by hand. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The Third Elder gently comforted her. As the master, she also enjoyed the experience of working closely with her female disciples during this time, feeling that she had never been so close to them before. The bond between a master and disciples who had fought together was completely different from that between an ordinary master and disciple.

"That's right! We sisters no longer need to spend a fortune on clothes at the Qianhua Pavilion! We can make whatever styles we like ourselves! I don't believe they can say we're not pretty!" A female disciple raised her chin and loudly echoed.

This was no exaggeration. The female disciples of the Third Elder were all stunningly beautiful, even if they were not quite as beautiful as Ji Lingruo. Moreover, to be True Disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect, their talent and family background were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Even if they wore clothes they made themselves, probably no one would dare to drive them away.

"It's not that our stockings aren't selling, it's that they don't deserve to wear our stockings!"

The female disciples comforted themselves and their sisters in this way, but Lin Si Han couldn't speak.

She was still resentful. She and her fellow apprentices had clearly worked hard enough, and the stockings they made were of good quality, so why did they have to suffer this fate?

She wasn't the only one who thought this way. When had these gifted female cultivators, born with silver spoons in their mouths, ever been so determined to accomplish something? And how could they so easily accept their failure?

All of this is just forcing a smile, trying to save face for oneself.

"Alright, everyone, you can all disperse now. You don't need to get up early tomorrow to worry about the Bihua Pavilion anymore. You can all get a good night's sleep. From now on, Bihua Pavilion will be your exclusive wardrobe. Looking across the Five Continents, I'm afraid no other female cultivator has such a luxurious building dedicated to storing their clothes."

The Third Elder's smile returned.

"Yay!"

The female disciples gradually dispersed amidst this false cheering.

At the end of the mountain path, Ye Qingchen, who had just finished meditating on the Cliff of Contemplation, looked at the desolate scene in front of the Bihua Pavilion and sneered:

"Master, without Qingchen, you truly have accomplished nothing... Cooperating with my Ye Family might just bring you back from the brink of death..."

Something's not right, absolutely not right.

Why did my senior and junior sisters go straight to their rooms today without saying a word?

Looking at the meal she had carefully prepared, You Su felt it was hard to bring herself to eat it all by herself.

Fortunately, Ji Lingruo and Wangshu came out after You Su called out to them, but they remained silent.

"Junior sister, what are you doing buying wine?"

You Su looked at the wine jar that Ji Lingruo had taken out, somewhat taken aback.

My junior sister had secretly tasted the wine back in Chuyun City; it was spicy and had an unpleasant smell, so the girl developed a strong aversion to wine. Why then did she buy it today?

"I bought plum wine from Bihua Residence, you'll drink it with me."

Ji Lingruo clattered down two large wine bowls, as if she were about to drink herself into oblivion.

Wangshu also moved her bowl forward; even if she didn't drink, she would never be willing to be left behind.

You Su raised an eyebrow, knowing that the situation was quite serious; the two women must have suffered some great blow.

"Junior sister, senior sister, what happened?"

"Oh, never mind that, just drink."

Ji Lingruo first took a big gulp, but it was still too difficult for the girl to swallow it all at once, and she choked and turned red in the face after only swallowing a few.

Wangshu gently patted Ji Lingruo help her catch her breath, her eyes filled with concern.

More than feeling sorry for her, You Su felt angry.

He slammed his chopsticks down on the table, making a clattering sound.

He is always gentle with the women around him, but that doesn't mean he can't be serious.

"I know you're hiding something from me, but out of respect I never pry. I could tell you've been having difficulties for the past three days, and I've always told you you can talk to me about it because I consider us to be from the same sect, like family. We can overcome any difficulties together, instead of hiding things from each other. But you still won't tell me now, do you think I'm not worthy to know?!"

You Su's tone was rather harsh, which startled Ji Lingruo.

The girl was already feeling a bit uncomfortable from choking, and now her nose felt even more sore. She didn't want to keep these unpleasant things to herself any longer, and if she had anyone to confide in, it would only be You Su.

"Waaaa, senior brother, I'm such a failure..."

"You even put the royalties from 'The Return of the Return of the Condor Heroes' into it?!"

You Su asked in shock.

Ji Lingruo nodded somewhat guiltily, "The Third Elder said she didn't want my money, but I thought if I invested more, she would definitely give me more dividends in the future, so I insisted on giving it to her anyway. She doesn't need my money, and now that Bihua Pavilion is closing down, she will definitely return it to me, but how could I possibly accept it..."

You Su rubbed his forehead and shook his head. It turned out his junior and senior sisters had been running businesses behind his back. He felt utterly defeated.

"Isn't the money I earn from writing books enough for you? Why bother with this?"

"It's not like that..." Wangshu rarely spoke, and she was also a little afraid of You Su's seriousness. The white-haired girl lowered her head and said softly, "It's because we also want to spend money on our junior brother, we don't want him to always be spending money on us..."

Upon hearing this, You Su was taken aback, and felt a warm feeling well up in the softest part of her heart.

I never imagined that all their hard work these past few days was for my own sake.

This made You Su feel somewhat guilty, so she softened her tone and said gently:

"So the mastermind behind obstructing the opening of the Bihua Pavilion is Qianhua Pavilion?"

"Although there's no confirmed evidence, it's pretty close to the truth." Ji Lingruo a mournful face, suddenly grabbing You Su's sleeve. "Senior brother, don't be impulsive! You want to take on the Qianhua Pavilion all by yourself? You'd have to die even if you had eight hundred lives!"

You Su smiled bitterly to himself. Even if he were to charge through the gates in a fit of rage for a woman, he couldn't just throw his life away, could he?

"Does my junior sister think I'm the kind of reckless person?"

After saying this, You Su stood up. The cold wind was howling, and he had a kind of resolute determination, like a hero going forth never to return.

"You still say it doesn't look like it!" Ji Lingruo quickly grabbed You Su, afraid that he would do something foolish.

You Su ruffled her hair. "I'm going to find the Third Elder."

Wangshu's eyes lit up when she saw this, and she also came over and bent her legs. You Su then affectionately patted Wangshu's head.

"What do you want with the Third Elder? He can return the money if he wants, but you can't just ask for it directly!"

Ji Lingruo have time to pay attention to the two people's intimate behavior in front of her.

"I won't take it. Not only will I not take it, I'll find a way to earn it back."

Ji Lingruo was taken aback. "How do you earn it?"

Meanwhile, You Su has already ascended the cloud ladder:

"Senior sister, junior sister, believe me, Bihua Pavilion won't go bankrupt. Not only will it not go bankrupt, it will become incredibly popular!"

The two women looked at You Su's retreating figure and exchanged a glance. For some reason, they felt a strange sense of security when You Su stood in front of them.