"Shopkeeper, Yiming, I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
Shen Long asked politely.
The Yellow-Shirted Man was Sun Huowang's son, Sun Yiming. He was responsible for Craftsman Hall's business.
"Not at all. Shen Long, you two talk. I still have some business to discuss."
Sun Yiming said with a smile as he headed downstairs.
Sun Huowang sighed softly but said nothing.
"Shopkeeper, your birthday will be here in a few days. This pot of Jade Apricot Brew is a small token of my respect."
Shen Long took out the wine pot and handed it to Sun Huowang.
Sun Huowang accepted the Jade Apricot Brew, a gratified look appearing in his eyes.
Back then, he had taken pity on Shen Long. Since a few dozen Spirit Stones meant nothing to him and he happened to need a helper, he had hired Shen Long. After Shen Long resigned, he sent Sun Huowang a pot of Spirit Wine every year on his birthday.
"Shen Long, have a few drinks with me."
Without waiting for an answer, Sun Huowang took out two cups and poured them each a cup of Spirit Wine.
"Shopkeeper, a toast to you."
Shen Long raised his cup and clinked it against Sun Huowang's.
Sun Huowang drained his cup in one gulp and said, "Shen Long, what plans do you have for the future? You don't intend to make a living by hunting Monster Beasts for the rest of your life, do you? Over the years, the customers at my shop have come and gone, and many of them died in the jaws of Monster Beasts."
"Shopkeeper, if you have something to say, just say it."
Shen Long said solemnly.
"What do you think of Yiyue?"
Sun Huowang asked, his eyes fixed on Shen Long.
"She's very capable. She inherited your mantle, and she'll certainly become an outstanding Artifact Refiner in the future."
Shen Long said.
"That's not what I'm asking. Do you want to become my son-in-law? Half of Craftsman Hall would be yours. I can teach you artifact refinement. With a craft in hand, you won't need to enter the mountains every few days to hunt Monster Beasts."
Sun Huowang said seriously.
Shen Long froze. He had never considered such a possibility.
"Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Why me?"
Shen Long asked in confusion. Even if pies fell from the sky, they could not possibly land right on his head, could they?
"Yiming plans to marry a female cultivator from the Li Family and become a live-in son-in-law. That unfilial brat has been bewitched senseless by a woman. He thinks they value him for who he is. Over these years, the shop's helpers have changed again and again, but only you have brought me a pot of Spirit Wine on my birthday. You understand gratitude. If I entrust Yiyue to you, I'll be at ease."
Sun Huowang explained the whole matter.
Sun Yiming could not hold onto this family business. Sooner or later, the Li Family would swallow it whole, bones and all. Sun Yiyue had inherited Sun Huowang's mantle and was proficient in artifact refinement; she could refine Mid-grade Magical Tools. The Li Family certainly would not stand by and watch Sun Yiyue take sole control of Craftsman Hall. With someone there to support her, she would not be swallowed whole, bones and all.
"My apologies, Shopkeeper, but I can't accept this."
Shen Long refused decisively.
He did not want to be drawn into that whirlpool. The Li Family was not an opponent he could handle.
Sun Huowang did not want Sun Yiming to become a live-in son-in-law, and Shen Long did not want to become one either.
"I don't need you to give me an answer immediately. Go back and think it over carefully first, then reply to me once you've made up your mind. With a craft, you and Yiyue will have food and clothing without worry for the rest of your lives. As for whether you can achieve Foundation Establishment, that will depend on yourselves."
Sun Huowang said.
"Shopkeeper, there's no need. I've thought it through clearly. Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but you should choose another husband for Yiyue. When the time comes, I'll certainly come have a few drinks."
Shen Long refused outright.
He had no desire whatsoever to wade into this muddy water. There was no need to leave Sun Huowang hanging. If he was unwilling, he was unwilling; making things clear was better for everyone.
Sun Huowang let out a long sigh, his face full of disappointment.
"Every man has his own ambitions. I won't force you. Still, you should think about your future. You can't rely on hunting Monster Beasts for a living forever. It's better to have a skill of your own."
Sun Huowang advised.
Shen Long nodded. "Thank you for your guidance. I have plans for my future."
"That's good."
Sun Huowang nodded. He emptied his cup and said, "Watch out for Xu Lei. He's no good person. If you threaten his position, he may get rid of you. There are plenty of cases where Monster Hunting Teams turned on each other over wealth."
"Thank you for the warning, Shopkeeper. I'll be careful."
Shen Long thanked him and raised a toast to Sun Huowang.
"Get back to your work. If you change your mind, you can come find me at Craftsman Hall."
Sun Huowang waved his hand, dismissing Shen Long.
Shen Long set down his wine cup, turned, and left.
Sun Huowang watched Shen Long's departing back and sighed softly.
After returning to his residence, Shen Long activated the Soundproofing Array and entered the Spirit Control Tower.
The Iron Tail Scorpion had already eaten the other Iron Tail Scorpion's corpse. As soon as Shen Long entered the Spirit Control Tower, it sensed him, crawled out of the Spirit Control Pool, and came to his side, its tail stinger swaying from side to side.
Shen Long took out a Spirit Feeding Pill. Catching the special fragrance emitted by the pill, the Iron Tail Scorpion let out an excited hiss.
It was Shen Long's first time seeing the Iron Tail Scorpion so excited. He said, "Open your mouth."
The Iron Tail Scorpion could not understand Shen Long's words, but it could receive the commands he issued and obediently opened its mouth.
Shen Long tossed the Spirit Feeding Pill into its mouth, and it swallowed it.
The Iron Tail Scorpion let out a cheerful hiss, looking very pleased.
Shen Long withdrew from the Spirit Control Tower and began cultivating.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, Shen Long was wandering around the square, looking here and there.
"Oh? Fairy Ye, you're setting up a stall?"
Seeing Ye Yutang, Shen Long greeted her with a smile.
Ye Yutang was manning a stall with several first-rank Talismans laid out upon it.
"Fairy Huang said you were looking for us?"
Ye Yutang asked casually.
They had worked together for more than two years. Shen Long occasionally sought Ye Yutang's advice on insect taming and beast control, and he was quite interested in those arts.
Shen Long swept his gaze over the Talismans at her stall and said, "I only wanted to buy a Flight Talisman from you, but it seems I came at the wrong time. You've already sold out."
Ye Yutang nodded. "Flight Talismans are rather difficult to refine. My younger sister only refined two, and both have already been sold. If she refines any more Flight Talismans, I'll save one for you."
"Then thank you, Fairy Ye."
Shen Long thanked her.
"It's nothing, just a small matter. We..."
Before Ye Yutang could finish, she took out a palm-sized Golden Dharma Disk that shimmered with spiritual light. It was a communication Dharma Artifact.
She injected a spell seal into it, and Xu Lei's voice sounded. "Fairy Ye, can you come to Green Bamboo Courtyard? We're preparing to enter the mountains. If you see Fellow Daoist Shen and the others, bring them along."
"Alright, we'll come over right away."
Ye Yutang agreed.
Her bottleneck had yet to be resolved. Otherwise, she would not need to keep entering the mountains to hunt Monster Beasts; selling Talismans was a faster way to earn Spirit Stones.
She contacted Ye Yuqing through the Communication Disk and told her to come to Green Bamboo Courtyard. Then she looked at Shen Long and said, "Fellow Daoist Shen, work has come knocking."
She put away the things on her stall and left Bluestone Square with Shen Long, heading for Green Bamboo Courtyard.
Xu Lei and Sun Yang were seated in the stone pavilion, discussing something.
Xu Lei had already resolved his bottleneck and advanced to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, while Sun Yang remained at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
Before long, Xu Wen, Xu Wu, Qin Qing, and Ye Yuqing arrived one after another.
Xu Wen had already advanced to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, Xu Wu remained at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, Qin Qing was still at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and Ye Yuqing had reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
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