Lin Taichu gave a hum and took a sip from his teacup. "Don't alert them yet. We still don't know the exact distribution of the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild's forces in this city."
The two silently drank their tea, listening to the idle chatter of the other patrons.
At the next table, two men dressed as merchants were discussing their recent business. One of them said, "I heard Lingshui City to the north recently loosened its trade restrictions. A lot of merchant guilds have moved over there."
The other picked up the conversation. "Exactly. Lingshui City's city lord has a hard temper. Three hundred years ago, he drove the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild out, and he still hasn't let them set foot there again."
Lin Taichu and Meng Qi exchanged a look. Both saw interest in the other's eyes.
After the two merchants left, Lin Taichu called over the waiter and asked, "Do you know anything about Lingshui City?"
The waiter wiped down a table and nodded. "Of course. Lingshui City is only three hundred li from here. You can get there in half a day through the Teleportation Array."
"There really aren't any people from the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild there. I heard that when they tried to open a branch there back then, the city lord led people to smash up their shop. He even declared that anyone who dared cooperate with the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild could forget about gaining a foothold in Lingshui City."
"What is the city lord's name?" Lin Taichu pressed.
"I think his surname is Qin. I don't know his given name. I only know his cultivation is very high. They say he killed demonic cultivators on the front lines when he was young." After saying that, the waiter hurried off to attend