"You have quite a few things here."
"If anything catches Elder Su's eye, just say the word."
"Patriarch Zhao, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with you in private."
Zhao Huai froze for a moment, looked at Su Yao, then looked at Lin Taichu.
Lin Taichu rose to his feet and walked out of the front hall.
Zhao Feng followed him out as well. The two of them stood on the steps outside the front hall, and Zhao Feng lowered his voice.
"Your Excellency, what does Su Yao want to discuss with the Patriarch?"
"No idea. But it's definitely not about buying things."
Zhao Feng glanced at the door of the front hall. The door was not closed, but the voices inside were very soft, too indistinct to hear clearly.
Lin Taichu walked down the steps and stood in the courtyard for a while, then headed toward the East Courtyard.
Zhou Jin's door was still closed. Lin Taichu did not knock. He stood at the doorway for a few breaths, then turned and left.
Su Yao and Zhao Huai talked for half an hour.
After Su Yao left, Zhao Huai called Lin Taichu into the front hall. Zhao Huai's expression did not look very good.
"What did she say?" Lin Taichu asked.
Zhao Huai sat in his chair, tapping his fingers a few times on the armrest.
"She said the Qingyang Sect wants to set up a station in Luofeng City, with a few disciples stationed here permanently to handle the purchase of goods produced by the Underground City."
Lin Taichu sat down across from him.
"You agreed?"
"No. I said I needed to consider it."
Zhao Huai looked at Lin Taichu.
"What do you think?"
"The Qingyang Sect ranks third in the Southern Region, and their