Business dealings

Yan Shaozhe spotted him from afar and immediately came forward, a perfectly measured smile of welcome on his face. "The Pavilion Master of the Carefree Pavilion honors us with his presence! Forgive us for not coming farther out to welcome you!"

As he spoke, he looked Xu Jingyao over.

The young man before him was tall and slender, with an extraordinary bearing. A golden mask concealed most of his face, but his exposed eyes were exceptionally deep, their intertwined violet and emerald hues shimmering with a strange luster in the sunlight.

Yan Shaozhe was secretly startled. The Pavilion Master of the Carefree Pavilion was far younger than he had imagined, yet that calm, composed bearing was nothing like that of a young man in his early twenties.

"You're too kind, Dean Yan." Xu Jingyao's voice was clear and bright. He gently closed his fan and returned the greeting with clasped hands. "Ziqing of the Carefree Pavilion. I've long heard of Shrek Academy's great reputation."

"You jest, Pavilion Master Ziqing. We're the ones who have long admired the Carefree Pavilion's reputation." Smiling, Yan Shaozhe stepped aside to lead the way. "Come, let me introduce everyone. This is Zhang Lexuan, our Inner Court's senior disciple, and this is-"

Before he could finish, Xuan Zi had already sidled over, still holding the bone of his fried chicken drumstick. He thrust out a large, greasy hand. "You're the Pavilion Master of the Carefree Pavilion, right? Could you give me a membership for your Honey-Glazed Barbecue? Queuing up every time is too much trouble."

The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face froze for an instant.

The corners of Zhang Lexuan's mouth twitched, and she turned her face away.

Looking at that greasy hand, Xu Jingyao reached out and shook it without a change in expression. "It's an honor for the Carefree Pavilion to have your appreciation, Senior Xuan Zi. I'll have someone send you a VIP Card later. No queues; you can collect your order whenever you arrive."

"Really?" Xuan Zi's eyes instantly lit up, and even his full beard could not hide the excitement on his face. "Now that's wonderful! That new offering of yours, what was it called again... fried chicken drumsticks with Mixue Fruit Tea. Yes, yes, that one. Set me up with that too!"

"No problem." Xu Jingyao smiled and nodded.

Yan Shaozhe finally could not hold back any longer and gave a light cough. "Xuan Zi, let's invite the Pavilion Master inside first."

"Ah, right, right. Let's talk inside, let's talk inside." Only then did Xuan Zi realize he was still gripping the other man's hand. He hurriedly let go, smiled sheepishly, and took another bite of his chicken drumstick.

Xu Jingyao followed the group into the academy, casting a sidelong glance at the two rows of students holding flowers as he passed.

The smiles on those students' faces were well rehearsed, but they could not hide the curiosity and scrutiny in their eyes.

He paid it no mind, gently waving his fan as he walked at an unhurried pace.

Once through the academy gates, Yan Shaozhe introduced the buildings on either side as he led the way, a measure of pride in his voice.

Xu Jingyao nodded occasionally and asked a few questions now and then, looking every bit like an honored guest on a tour, with nothing unusual about him.

I wonder whether Huo Yuhao still has a chance to become

And then there's the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

That Million-Year Soul Ring should have belonged to Huo Yuhao, but now it's gone. Can Huo Yuhao's spiritual Martial Soul still awaken? With Xu Jingyao taking a snip at the thread of his fate like this, where will it turn next?

Xu Jingyao did not know.

But he was very much looking forward to it.

"Pavilion Master Ziqing?" Yan Shaozhe's voice suddenly rang out. "What are you looking at?"

Xu Jingyao withdrew his gaze, closed his fan, and shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. I simply thought your academy had excellent feng shui and abundant spiritual energy. It truly deserves its place as the foremost academy on the Douluo Continent."

Yan Shaozhe laughed heartily. "You flatter us, Pavilion Master."

The private reception room was in a detached three-story building in the deepest part of the Outer Court, beside the lake. Opening a window revealed the mist drifting over Sea God Lake.

Yan Shaozhe led Xu Jingyao upstairs, talking nonstop about the building's history: "the place where generations of Outer Court deans received honored guests," "Sea God Lake framed in its windows, Shrek at its back, superb feng shui," and so on. Spittle flew as he spoke, as though he would have nowhere to hide his old face if Xu Jingyao found the place wanting.

Xu Jingyao listened patiently, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment, his fan tapping gently against his palm as he walked at an unhurried pace.

Shadow Douluo followed half a step behind him, gray-clad and gray-haired, his aura contained like a stone, his presence reduced to the barest minimum.

When the door to the third-floor reception room opened, the furnishings inside made Xu Jingyao raise his eyebrows slightly.

There was a long rosewood table, grand armchairs, several ink-wash landscapes hanging on the walls, and a bronze incense burner in the corner. Fine Dragon's Blood Incense burned within it, wisps of smoke curling upward with a pale blue halo in the sunlight.

A tea set and several plates of exquisite pastries had already been laid out on the table, clearly arranged according to the Carefree Pavilion's standards for receiving guests.

They've certainly put some thought into it.

Two people were already seated at the table.

One was a shrewd-looking middle-aged man in a dark gold robe, with a lean face and exceptionally sharp eyes. Seeing Xu Jingyao enter, he rose and clasped his hands, his smile warm. "Pavilion Master Ziqing, I've long heard of your great reputation. I am Qian Duoduo, Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion."

Xu Jingyao silently gave that name a thumbs-up.

Qian Duoduo, Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, Shrek Academy's moneybags.

With a name like that, he's clearly cut out for this line of work.

"You're too kind, Pavilion Master Qian."

Xu Jingyao returned the greeting with clasped hands, the violet-and-emerald eyes beneath his mask curving in a smile. "Ziqing of the Carefree Pavilion. A pleasure to meet you."

The other was a middle-aged woman in her forties. She was not tall and wore a plain blue-green dress. Her features were ordinary, but her eyes were astonishingly bright, as though they could see through people's hearts.

She sat beside Qian Duoduo, a thick account book before her, her long, strong fingers resting on its cover.

"This is Madam Zhou, chief steward of the Treasure Pavilion."

Yan Shaozhe made the introduction. "All of the Treasure Pavilion's incoming and outgoing accounts pass under Madam Zhou's eyes."

Madam Zhou inclined her head slightly, her voice cool and clear. "Greetings, Pavilion Master Ziqing."

"Greetings, Madam Zhou."

Xu Jingyao sat down opposite Qian Duoduo, while Shadow Douluo stood motionless behind him.

Yan Shaozhe took the seat at the head of the table, and Zhang Lexuan sat beside him.

Xuan Zi had also wanted to follow them in, but Yan Shaozhe stopped him with, "Xuan Zi, please wait outside for a while. We have business to discuss." The burly man was not annoyed. Carrying a newly purchased box of fried chicken drumsticks, he cheerfully sat down on a bench in the corridor, crunching away with gusto.

The reception room door closed, shutting out the noise outside.

After three rounds of tea and the exchange of pleasantries, Qian Duoduo spoke first, lightly tapping the thick account book on the table. "Pavilion Master Ziqing, I'll be frank. Over these two years of cooperation between the Treasure Pavilion and the Carefree Pavilion, the figures in our books have certainly looked good. The Carefree Pavilion's goods sell better in Shrek City than those of any Soul Tool shop. I came today to ask whether we could discuss the supply discount again."

Holding his teacup, Xu Jingyao leisurely took a sip. "Do you find the current discount unsuitable, Pavilion Master Qian?"

"Suitable, certainly, but there's always room to make it a little more suitable."

Qian Duoduo rubbed his hands together with a chuckle. "The Carefree Pavilion makes fine goods, and we at the Treasure Pavilion put real effort into selling them. But Shrek Academy is such a sprawling operation, and everything costs money. Every little bit saved helps."