Inside the shop, Qiao Bin stared at the electronic products section before him, brow furrowed as he sank into thought. The assortment of novel gadgets on the shelves dazzled him, yet he didn't dare go near them.
Seeing this, Xu Yinyin walked over and deftly opened the Tablet Computer she used for work. Pointing at the pictures, she introduced them one by one. "These are all newly stocked by the boss. There are phones, Tablet Computers, VR Goggles—you've seen all of those before."
She swiped the screen and continued showing him more. "There are also Drones, electronic watches, game consoles..."
Qiao Bin's eyes swept over the price tags on the shelves. Even the cheapest electronic watch cost thirty Spirit Stones. He'd have to scrimp and save for three months to afford that.
He hurriedly waved his hands to stop her. "Hey, hey, forget it, forget it, junior sister. I only have five Spirit Stones on me. Is there anything more affordable you can recommend?"
Xu Yinyin's previously bright, welcoming smile immediately fell. With a slap, she snapped the Tablet Computer shut and pointed to the shelves on the other side, her tone cool. "Those are all old stock. Go take a look yourself." With that, she went behind the counter, sat down, and opened the copy of Journey to the West she'd just found beneath the display cabinet, picking up where she'd left off.
Qiao Bin awkwardly scratched his head and paced back and forth between the shelves. The many novel goods—snacks, drinks, electronic products—tempted him, but after hesitating again and again, he, an old-fashioned man who had always stuck to the rules, ultimately didn't dare try anything he'd never encountered before. In the end, he dutifully took five packs of Lanzhou cigarettes and set them on the counter.
"Junior sister, sorry for the trouble—could you ring these up?"
Then Qiao Bin neatly lined up five Spirit Stones on the counter.
"Exactly five Spirit Stones." Xu Yinyin didn't even look up. She took a plastic bag from beneath the counter, efficiently packed the cigarettes, and casually put the Spirit Stones into the cash box. Once she was done, she sat back down and immersed herself in the world of Journey to the West.
Qiao Bin was just about to leave when he suddenly smacked his forehead. "Oh, right, junior sister. There's a favor I'd like to ask of you."
Xu Yinyin kept her head down and continued reading. "The boss said Lighters aren't free. If you want one, you have to pay for it yourself."
Qiao Bin awkwardly scratched his head. "That's not what I meant."
"If you want to burn incense, go to the Incense Burning Room. Burning incense isn't allowed here."
Qiao Bin hurriedly shook his head again. "That's even less what I meant."
"No credit." As Xu Yinyin spoke, she turned another page.
Helpless, Qiao Bin could only blurt it all out in one breath. "The Hall Master wants to invite Boss Yang to serve as an Advisor for the Law Enforcement Hall. I asked him just now, but he never gave me a straight answer. He doesn't seem very interested. Do you have any way to..."
"..."
"Hm!"
The next second, there was a sharp smack as Xu Yinyin suddenly shut the book in her hands and looked up at Qiao Bin. "Senior brother, what did you just say?"
Qiao Bin had no choice but to repeat his words exactly as before.
Xu Yinyin immediately stood up and paced back and forth behind the counter, thinking to herself: I came to help out at this shop partly because I'm interested in all these novel goods, and partly because I wanted to hear the boss's insights and improve my cultivation.
And... Yang Ning's handsome, roguish face surfaced involuntarily in her mind. She hurriedly shook her head, trying to fling the image away.
My master keeps a close eye on me. Her going to see the Sect Master today is an exception. I can't come here whenever I want like I did today. If the boss became an Advisor for our hall, wouldn't I get to see him much more often?
As she thought about it, a lovestruck smile unconsciously tugged at Xu Yinyin's lips.
Then her gaze passed through the door and settled on Yang Ning, seated on a Sun Chair in the distance.
"Junior sister?" Qiao Bin called when he saw her staring into space.
Xu Yinyin continued to daydream, completely unaware of Qiao Bin's words.
What a pity he's a Mortal. In the end, immortals and mortals walk different paths. Otherwise...
Then she shook her head again. Oh, Xu Yinyin, what are you thinking? You're just interested in him. You don't have any other thoughts at all. At most, you're just using him to improve your cultivation a little.
Seeing that Xu Yinyin was still lost in thought, Qiao Bin had no choice but to remind her once more. "Junior sister?"
"Huh?" Xu Yinyin came back to her senses and hurriedly waved a hand in agreement. "It's nothing, it's nothing, senior brother. I'll help you persuade him. Leave this to me!"
Qiao Bin's eyes lit up at once. "With the Law Enforcement Hall's finest debater on the case, I can rest easy!"
Meanwhile, on the Sun Chair, Yang Ning was naturally more than happy to become an Advisor for the Law Enforcement Hall.
At the same time, Yang Ning was already grinning from ear to ear on the Sun Chair. In truth, he couldn't have been happier to serve as an Advisor for the Law Enforcement Hall.
First, Yang Ning's mission from the Demon Cult was to kill the Undercover Agent. Although he'd already gone mad and spilled the information, the Law Enforcement Hall would surely relax their guard over him. But the mission was still incomplete. Yang Ning still needed to enter the Law Enforcement Hall and kill the Undercover Agent to fulfill his assignment.
Second, the Law Enforcement Hall was the Sword Sect's authoritative institution responsible for enforcing the law, investigating cases, and carrying out arrests. It was also recognized by the entire sect as a place of fairness and integrity. As a Demon Cult spy, he was at risk of being exposed at any moment. Becoming an Advisor for the Law Enforcement Hall was like draping himself in the perfect disguise. Especially now that the Law Enforcement Hall had just finished checking for spies—there couldn't have been a better time!
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