After returning to the city, Xia Dong did not hurry back to his lodgings to wash off the dust of the road. Instead, he turned down a street and headed straight for the Eagle-Wolf Guard's Centurion office in Pingyang County.
As he walked along the bustling street, a thought crossed Xia Dong's mind, and the Divine Treasury Chapter of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art quietly began to circulate within him.
In an instant, his rich, pure Mysterious Yin Mana vanished like a mud ox sinking into the sea, leaving visible only the blood-and-qi cultivation expected of a martial artist in the Internal Strengthening Realm.
This technique was truly wondrous.
As long as Xia Dong wished to conceal his mana, spiritual sense, and even his blood and qi, cultivators below the Late Qi Refining Realm would never be able to see through him.
As for great cultivators in the Late Qi Refining Realm or even the Foundation Establishment Realm?
Xia Dong's principle had always been to avoid them whenever possible. He absolutely did not want to run into them.
After all, whenever he met someone whose cultivation surpassed his own, he simply couldn't feel safe in the least.
Stepping into the inner hall of the Centurion office, Xia Dong immediately spotted Zhao Ting sitting in a grand armchair, sipping tea.
With a quick sweep of his senses, Xia Dong's thoughts stirred.
Zhao Ting had a mixed Spirit Root of four elements, and his aptitude was mediocre. His cultivation had originally progressed very slowly.
But ever since he had started this business of buying and selling pills and talismans with Xia Dong, he had made a fortune. Not only had he earned the favor of important figures above him, he must have had another stroke of good fortune recently, because he had advanced from the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining to the Fifth Layer.
Still, despite his improved realm, Zhao Ting was far behind Xia Dong, whose foundation was solid, in both spiritual sense and resilience.
So when Xia Dong stood before him with his mana concealed, the newly advanced Fifth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator didn't notice a thing.
"Well, well! Brother Xueyi."
The moment Zhao Ting saw Xia Dong cross the threshold, he set down his teacup and hurried over with a broad smile.
Zhao Ting had been riding high in recent years.
Ever since he'd entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining and gained a steady source of income through Xia Dong, even his standing in the Household had risen.
He knew perfectly well that all these benefits came from the "Brother Xia" standing before him.
So whenever he saw Xia Dong, Zhao Ting's warmth was entirely genuine.
This wasn't merely a business partner. He was a dear friend, a sworn brother, practically family.
In Zhao Ting's eyes, anyone in Pingyang County could upset him, but no one could make Brother Xia suffer the slightest grievance!
"Xueyi, I was wondering why the magpies in my courtyard had been chattering away since early this morning. Turns out it was because you were coming!" Zhao Ting warmly ushered Xia Dong to a seat and personally poured him a cup of fine tea.
Xia Dong usually kept to himself and disliked pointless socializing. Whenever he was away from home, he told people he was gathering herbs deep in the mountains.
Zhao Ting had committed all these habits to memory. Unless something urgent came up involving the exchange of talismans and pills, he would never disturb this "God of Wealth" in his quiet cultivation.
What was more, to avoid suspicion, he had strictly forbidden his Eagle-Wolf Guard informants from keeping watch on Xia Dong's whereabouts, for fear Xia Dong would find out, grow resentful, and cut off this lucrative source of income.
After a round of polite pleasantries, Xia Dong took a heavy bundle from his robe and pushed it across to Zhao Ting. When the bundle was unwrapped, it revealed a batch of fine low-tier talismans and several jade bottles filled with Qi-Gathering Pills.
These things were hard currency in both the cultivation world and the Eagle-Wolf Guard. Qi-Gathering Pills in particular were always in short supply and much sought after by low-level cultivators.
What was more, even worldly martial artists without a Spirit Root, who couldn't refine spiritual energy, could nourish their blood and qi by taking these pills if they had reached the Bone Forging Realm or higher. They were quite beneficial to martial cultivation.
Zhao Ting didn't bother counting the goods. With a grin, he put the bundle straight into his Storage Pouch.
Once they had finished the business at hand, Xia Dong lifted his teacup to moisten his throat, then lowered his voice and asked Zhao Ting about the real reason for his visit. "Brother Zhao, I've actually come to ask you a favor today. Do you happen to know any reliable artifact refiners?"
Zhao Ting was slowly skimming the foam off his teacup when Xia Dong unexpectedly brought up "artifact refiners." His hand paused, and he raised an eyebrow, looking at Xia Dong in surprise.
"Artifact refiners? Xueyi, why are you asking about those arrogant fellows?" Zhao Ting set down his teacup and leaned forward.
Xia Dong calmly brought out the excuse he had already prepared. "A few days ago, a friend of mine got lucky and came across a demon beast that was badly wounded and on the verge of death. He risked his life and managed to get a fine-looking piece of demon beast hide. He asked me to see whether I could find a reliable artifact refiner to turn it into a close-fitting inner armor. It could serve as a lifesaving trump card."
"Demon beast hide? And in good condition?" Zhao Ting's eyes lit up at once, and his breathing grew heavier.
If it had been damaged, that would have been one thing. But a fine-looking piece of demon beast hide meant not only powerful defense; it was also a rare, excellent material in the eyes of artifact refiners. Such materials could improve the odds of successfully crafting a magical artifact, as well as its quality.
Zhao Ting leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Leave this to me. I'll let you know as soon as I have an answer."
Seeing how readily Zhao Ting agreed, Xia Dong felt a weight lift from his heart. Given Zhao Ting's current standing in the Eagle-Wolf Guard and his knack for working every angle, Xia Dong knew there was a good chance he could get it done.
"Then I'll trouble you with this, Brother. Once it's done, my friend will certainly reward you generously." Xia Dong rose and clasped his hands in a sincere salute.
"Hey! We're brothers. No need to be so formal!" Zhao Ting waved it off and walked Xia Dong all the way to the entrance of the Centurion office.
After saying goodbye to Zhao Ting, Xia Dong walked home, his steps feeling lighter than before.
Thinking of that snake shed, which had gleamed with a ghostly blue light, Xia Dong felt a rush of anticipation. A decent suit of inner armor would be as good as gaining an extra life.
Before long, Xia Dong arrived back at his quiet little courtyard.
He closed the gate and, out of habit, checked the area around the courtyard. Only after confirming everything was in order did he relax.
While he waited for news from Zhao Ting, he planned to sort through and learn about the recent events of all kinds taking place in Linyuan Prefecture.
After all, if he knew nothing about the winds blowing beyond his door, he could easily get caught out.
Just as Xia Dong was silently planning where to start, a soft knock came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Knock, knock-knock." The knocking was unhurried and quite polite.
Xia Dong raised an eyebrow. His first thought was that Xiao Hong had come back. But out of the caution ingrained in his bones, he instinctively stirred his spiritual sense, sending an invisible ripple drifting gently beyond the courtyard.
Yet when his spiritual sense swept over the figure outside, Xia Dong couldn't help but pause.
That clear, delicate mana, faintly touched with the aura of thunder... It was familiar!
Could it be her?
A flicker of surprise rose in Xia Dong's heart.
The two of them had always met at a fixed, secluded location to avoid suspicion and stay safe. This was the first time she had ever come to his worldly residence of her own accord.
Xia Dong suppressed his surprise, set down his teacup, and hurried across the courtyard to open the gate.
The wooden door creaked open, revealing a lovely figure. She wasn't wearing the eye-catching robes of her sect today, but a plain, elegant blue outfit. Her long, waterfall-like hair was simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin, yet it did nothing to hide her increasingly cool, otherworldly bearing.
It was Qin Wan.
When Xia Dong opened the door, Qin Wan dipped into a slight bow. Her usually gentle, composed, and lovely face now carried a hint of apology.
"Brother Xia, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Before Xia Dong could exchange greetings or ask what had brought her here, Qin Wan lifted her eyes and got straight to the point. "Some things have happened within my sect recently, and I have to leave to take up a post in a remote place. I'll be gone for at least three to five years. After that... I'm afraid I won't be able to help you get those spirit medicines and talismans anymore. I came to let you know before I leave."
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