Xu Yinyin and Qiao Bin froze in place, staring at each other.
"Senior Disciple Brother, please stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll be right back!" Xu Yinyin was frantic. Without waiting for Qiao Bin to answer, she summoned her Flying Sword and shot after them in a streak of light.
Qiao Bin stood there, bewildered. He didn't understand how Yang Ning had suddenly become a suspect, or why the Hall Master had confined him. He knew that, given his standing, he couldn't get a word in with the Hall Master. This matter could only depend on Xu Yinyin, so he nodded in agreement.
"Junior Sister! Talk to her nicely, and whatever you do, don't make the Hall Master angry!" Qiao Bin shouted after her retreating figure.
"I know!" Xu Yinyin's voice came from the distant sky.
Qiao Bin let out a heavy sigh and comforted himself. "She's only forbidding him from leaving. It should be fine, right..."
He shook his head and turned to go back into the shop, but stopped abruptly, warily looking toward the nearby Bamboo Forest. "Who's there?" He listened carefully. There was no sound. He lingered a little longer, looking around, and, seeing nothing amiss, finally pushed open the door and went inside.
Inside the shop, Yang Ning was leisurely taking stock of the goods. Business had been good lately, bringing in three hundred Spirit Stones a day. At this rate, in a little over a month he'd unlock Level 3 of the Simple Arms Mall, and his physique would reach Core Formation Stage.
Yang Ning was quite satisfied with this progress.
"Don't just stand there. Help me take out the trash over there." When Qiao Bin came in, Yang Ning spoke without looking back, his tone so relaxed it was as if