As the sun climbed higher, more and more customers began to arrive at Myriad Things Come.
These regulars all knew the rules. After picking out what they needed, they would place the appropriate Tongbao or Spirit Stones into the basket beside the counter of their own accord. No one ever took more than they paid for or tried to stiff the shop.
Meanwhile, in the Incense Burning Room next door, the commotion over the Demon Cult Undercover Agent roundup had gradually died down. The place had returned to its usual bustling, smoke-filled state.
Qiao Bin squatted in his usual spot at the very back, a Lanzhou cigarette between his fingers.
After giving instructions to several trusted disciples, he had ensured that lively discussions were now ringing through the Incense Burning Room.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"That thing the Law Enforcement Hall did the day before yesterday, when they rounded up the Demon Cult Undercover Agents!"
"Ugh, don't remind me! The people from the Law Enforcement Hall turned my bed inside out several times. What a pain!"
"Hey, you can't put it like that. I heard they caught more than a dozen Demon Cult spies in one go this time!"
"What do I care if they caught a hundred? I'll never forget the way they turned over my wardrobe and bed. I had all sorts of personal belongings in there!" the Beast Taming Peak disciple grumbled.
The man beside him snickered inwardly. Aren't they just a few pornographic booklets you secretly bought at the Mountain Foot? Some personal belongings... He cleared his throat and deliberately raised his voice. "Brother, you're from Beast Taming Peak, right?"
"That's right!"
"Hey! Then you know the Undercover Agent hiding on your peak nearly stole the blood essence of your guardian qilin! If the Law Enforcement Hall hadn't acted in time, who knows what might've happened..."
"Really?!"
"How could that be fake? I heard the one hiding at Jade Maiden Peak even planned to make improper advances toward the senior and junior sisters there!"
"Outrageous!" The Beast Taming Peak disciple shot to his feet, bristling with rage. "They even dared to set their sights on the senior sisters at Jade Maiden Peak! What gall! They deserve a thousand deaths!"
Feeling the eyes around him, he coughed awkwardly. Then he raised his fist and shouted, trying to cover up his slip a moment ago. "Those Demon Cult fiends actually dared to plot against the blood essence of our Beast Taming Peak's guardian beast! I'll never stand with these wicked Outer Dao scum!"
These carefully crafted conversations were like stones tossed into a still lake, sending ripples spreading through the Incense Burning Room. One person told two, two told four, and the topic quietly spread at an exponential rate.
The few disciples Qiao Bin had specifically "trained" were now putting their lessons to use, tailoring their approach to each listener. They carefully picked up on the most sensitive concerns of Cultivators from each different peak and struck up conversations with them.
What Qiao Bin hadn't expected was that, at first, everyone was shocked to hear that Demon Cult spies had coveted their own peak's treasures or other vital interests, and some were even angered. But when the conversation turned to those spies being so brazen as to plot improper advances toward the female disciples of Jade Maiden Peak, everyone's fury ignited in an instant. Without exception, they were so enraged they wanted to eat their flesh, drink their blood, and grind the lot of them to dust.
During the few hours Yang Ning spent catching up on sleep, these incendiary "rumors" had already spread like wildfire through half of Cloudsky Sword Sect.
Yang Ning slept until the sun was high in the sky. He sat up on the extraordinarily soft Simmons mattress, reached up and ruffled his sleep-mussed hair, then stretched with a deep sense of satisfaction. He felt completely refreshed, and yesterday's slight cold had long since vanished.
He got to his feet in a blue, one-piece Blue Fatty pajama suit and stumbled out the door, still bleary-eyed.
Inside the shop, Cultivators had been quietly browsing the goods, among them several female Cultivators. The moment they saw Yang Ning emerge, smiles blossomed on their faces, and they greeted him with cupped hands. "Boss Yang, you're awake!"
Yawning, Yang Ning casually returned their greeting and took a leisurely lap around the shop. Then he went to the entrance, picked up the eraser, and wiped off the conspicuous chalk writing on the small blackboard: "The owner is asleep. No loud talking."
At once, conversation and discussion erupted throughout the shop, filling it with lively noise.
A Beast Taming Peak disciple held up a bag of pet food and marveled to his companion, "I fed this to my Blazing Wolf a while ago. Look, its coat's gotten so much shinier, and it's filled out a lot, too! I've got to stock up today!"
Nearby, a female Cultivator was eagerly recommending something to her friend. "Little sister, look! This is the skincare and beauty set I told you about. Perfume, face masks, essence, water... it's got everything! Let's buy a set and use it together!"
Her friend covered her mouth and giggled, her voice dripping with mock modesty. "How could I ever compare to a naturally beautiful big sister like you? I'd better pick out some foundation, lipstick, and other makeup first to make up for my plain looks."
Hearing that, the first female Cultivator gave her friend an exasperated, coquettish roll of the eyes, then turned away to browse on her own.
Before you continue