Hearing Xu Yinyin's question, the sharp-faced Cultivator immediately bowed and scraped as he replied, "I am Sima Ye, the forty-fourth registered disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall. Greetings, Senior Sister Xu."
Xu Yinyin frowned. "What are you..."
Sima Ye unfolded the notice he had just shown Yang Ning. "Senior Sister Xu, this morning the Sect Master personally ordered us to take the lead in thoroughly investigating the Undercover Agents lurking within the sect."
Xu Yinyin glanced at the notice. "I know. So?"
Sima Ye raised his eyebrows. "According to the rules, this shop is also... also within the scope of the inspection."
Xu Yinyin waved a hand. "There's no need to search here. There are no Magic Stones inside."
Sima Ye's shifty eyes darted around, and he immediately put on a deferential smile. "All right. Since it's Senior Sister Xu's order, we'll naturally obey."
"Wait!" Yang Ning rose and called out just as Sima Ye was about to turn and leave.
Under everyone's gaze, Yang Ning walked over to Xu Yinyin's side.
Xu Yinyin immediately explained, gesturing toward him as she introduced him. "Everyone, this is the Law Enforcement Hall's newly appointed Advisor."
At her words, the few Incense Sect disciples behind Sima Ye flashed delighted looks and hurriedly saluted Yang Ning. "Greetings, Lord Advisor!"
Seeing this, the other Cultivators who didn't know Yang Ning also clasped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Lord Advisor!"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Sima Ye's eyes. After a long moment, he managed to force out a smile. "So we're all one family. It's a case of the flood washing over the Dragon King's temple."
Xu Yinyin deliberately raised her voice to add, "The Advisor's rank in the Law Enforcement Hall is higher than that of every registered disciple!"
Sima Ye's eyelid twitched. Reluctantly, he clasped his hands toward Yang Ning. "Greetings, Advisor."
Yang Ning knew Xu Yinyin was standing up for him after he'd been looked down on earlier, so he accepted her kindness. "Mm. This Advisor acknowledges your greetings. Rise."
After everyone stood, Sima Ye said with a smile, "Since this is Lord Advisor's place, and Senior Sister Xu is vouching for it, we won't search here." As he spoke, he turned to lead his team away.
At the words "Senior Sister Xu is vouching for it," Yang Ning's expression shifted slightly.
"That won't do!" Yang Ning spoke up to stop them. "Since it's the Sect Master's order, it must be obeyed. Go in and search."
Xu Yinyin turned to look at Yang Ning, puzzled.
"There's really no need," Sima Ye said with a smile, waving his hands in a hurry.
"We must search!" Yang Ning's voice suddenly rose, startling Xu Yinyin beside him. "I'm ordering you as the Advisor—you must search!"
The smile vanished from Sima Ye's face. He gave Yang Ning a long look. "Understood."
Yang Ning then led Xu Yinyin aside and made a "please" gesture.
A faint smile still played at the corners of Sima Ye's mouth. "Everyone, since Lord Advisor wants us to search, search thoroughly. Don't let anything slip by."
"Understood!" the Cultivators behind him replied in unison.
Led by Sima Ye, the group entered the shop. Xu Yinyin looked perplexed, and Yang Ning leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Trust me. I'll explain everything later."
"Oh." Xu Yinyin nodded, only half understanding. She showed no discomfort at all about Yang Ning leaning close to her ear.
The two followed the search party into the shop. Yang Ning's shop was roughly the size of a basketball court, just right for the goods from the original LV1 Mall. But after he unlocked the LV2 Mall, the space had suddenly become cramped. The previous night, Yang Ning had been forced to reorganize everything and put some of the more eye-catching products on the shelves.
The Cultivators inspected the shelves one by one. They were fairly orderly and didn't rummage around. Sima Ye paced back and forth through the aisles, keeping an eye on everyone's every move. Yang Ning and Xu Yinyin stood by the counter near the entrance, silently watching the search.
About two quarters of an hour later, the inspection came to an end. The Cultivators carried a pile of unopened products over to Yang Ning. Among them were potato chips, canned food, and instant noodles.
One of the Cultivators clasped his hands and said, "Lord Advisor, these items of yours are unusual. None of us have ever seen them, so we searched them more carefully... But we have no idea what's inside them."
"Hey, a general search would've been enough. Why be so thorough?" Sima Ye said sarcastically. "Don't forget, this is Lord Advisor's territory, and Senior Sister Xu is vouching for him."
At the shrill sound of his voice, Yang Ning reflexively dug at his ears. "Open every one and inspect it! You must search carefully. What if I really am an Undercover Agent and you let me slip through..." He deliberately paused and looked at Sima Ye. "Especially the one leading the team, Sima... What was your name again?"
Sima Ye's expression darkened. "Sima Ye."
"Right, right. What if I'm an Undercover Agent and you let me go? Your whole team—and especially your leader, Sima Ye—would be held primarily responsible!" Yang Ning turned to Xu Yinyin. "Isn't that right?"
Xu Yinyin immediately nodded. "That's exactly right!"
Sima Ye's expression darkened further. He immediately turned to the people he'd brought and barked, "Leave three people here to open and inspect all these items. Everyone else, search the shelves again. Make absolutely sure nothing is missed! Anyone who dares to slack off—I'll report them to the Hall and have them severely punished!"
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