Shen Wan was momentarily speechless, then laughed. "Just because they are guests of Evergreen Gate, does that mean they cannot do business outside?"
As she spoke, she tilted her head toward Yu Ci, seeking his opinion with her eyes. Yu Ci was indeed curious, but some matters were better laid out in advance. "I am still best at refining and purifying incense ingredients. I am rather ordinary at everything else."
"That is precisely what it concerns."
Shen Wan smiled at him, then turned to seek Steward Huangfu's approval. The two had always been close, so the old man naturally had no reason to refuse. He even said, "Good thing you thought things through. I was just worrying about how to answer them over there."
With that, the matter was settled. Steward Huangfu had other business to attend to, so Shen Wan led Yu Ci there instead. Gu Zhi shamelessly tagged along as well, claiming that Shopkeeper Shen was shrewd and formidable, and that he feared his friend might get taken advantage of.
Shen Wan could not be bothered with him. She led the two of them out of the Cang'ao Immortal Estate's special venue and boarded a somewhat worn lizard carriage outside. As its wheels rumbled along, Yu Ci confirmed that Shen Wan had not recognized his true identity. She had truly taken notice of his skill at purifying incense ingredients.
Gu Zhi rubbed his hands together, wanting to first get a clear picture of the business, but Shen Wan's answer was exceedingly simple. "We are only acting as intermediaries. The details of the cooperation, and how it will proceed, still depend on their side and on Fellow Daoist Jiu Yan."
Gu Zhi failed to pry out anything useful from her the entire way. Yu Ci suspected that he was