Chapter 59: Brother-in-law!?

However, if Your Excellency truly wishes to sell it, you may wish to visit our branch of the Black Moon Merchant Guild located in the Crowstorm Imperial City; there, an absolutely satisfactory price is sure to be offered. As he spoke, Pu Hao carefully lifted the Wang Xuanlong Dan and placed it before Yun Che.

Yun Che silently took the dan back, his face devoid of any expression. He did not leave immediately but, with a sudden, cold question: "Who is Si Konghan?"

This question caused Pu Hao to pause, hesitated slightly, then spoke cautiously: "In New Moon City, Pu merely knows of one person named Si Konghan. He is the Grand Elder of the Secret Affairs Bureau in the New Moon Imperial Estate, a man of humility and integrity with great prestige in New Moon City. Your Excellency—does Your Excellency have any connection to Si Konghan?"

"Hmph!"

Yun Che merely let out a cold sneer, utterly disdainful of answering, and turned to leave… At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind: "Don’t go! I want that red dress, buy it, buy it, buy it!"

His steps halted abruptly, and he turned back toward the direction indicated by the girl. On the towering shelves above, he spotted a large red garment—delicate, clearly made for a young girl. He pointed at it and said, "That girl’s dress, put a price on it."

Seeing Yun Che turn around and then return, Pu Hao nearly leaped in surprise. He quickly glanced at the dress and said, "Your Excellency, you may not know, this 'Red Incense Immortal Gown' is crafted for girls under fourteen, its design delicate and perhaps… perhaps not quite suitable for Your Excellivity."

Yun Che rolled his eyes in secret, coldly declaring: "Daughter."

Madam: "~!@#$%……"

Only then did Pu Hao realize his mistake, quickly said, "Your Excellivity, this 'Red Incense Immortal Gown' is woven from the finest snow silk, intricately embroidered, adorned with ninety crimson blood crystals as pendants. It not only shines brilliantly but also protects against evil spirits and nourishes the skin. Such a gown exists in all of New Moon City, hence its price is somewhat steep—five hundred Purple Xuan Bi."

"…" Yun Che, though outwardly composed, had a herd of ten thousand pigs racing through his mind.

Of course, he knew the crimson blood crystals—lightweight, radiant, and when worn, they infuse the body with warm, life-giving energy and ward off malevolent forces, commanding a high price. But the cascade of red crystals dangling from that gown? All of them were crimson blood crystals—ninety in total! And the gown’s value reached five hundred Purple Xuan Bi!

He had planned to amass three hundred Purple Xuan Bi and live luxuriously for a night, never imagining he couldn’t even afford a child’s dress!! What kind of deadly merchant guild was this Black Moon Guild selling?!

Before coming to New Moon City, he had confidently promised Madam he would buy her the finest, most beautiful garment, only to find her eyeing the very first item…

Perhaps sensing Yun Che’s predicament, Pu Hao didn’t hesitate, reaching out to snatch the red incense gown and placing it before Yun Che, smiling: "Your Excellivity came bearing the Wang Xuanlong Dan—we hold Pu in high regard, but this little shop is quite modest in wealth, letting Your Excellivity down. This 'Red Incense Immortal Gown'—let it be a token of our apology, perhaps…" Pu Hao cleared his throat, his voice trembling: "A chance meeting, let’s be friends."

Five hundred Purple Xuan Bi, though not a vast sum for their small branch of the Black Moon Guild, was a mere pittance if it could win this "important person’s" favor, a small kindness worth millions.

Yun Che feigned silence for a moment, then took the gown, turning to leave, casually adding, "This kindness—I won’t forget."

After watching Yun Che disappear into the distance, Pu Hao exhaled a long, shaky breath, instinctively wiping the cold sweat from his brow. The silent attendant finally approached, whispering: "Master Pu, when did this 'important person' appear? When he came in, I detected his spiritual power… I only realized his dan was Wang Xuan-level when… my heart nearly stopped. If the Wang Xuanlong Dan’s appearance in New Moon City became public… the entire city, no—hundreds of miles around, masters would swarm there. Then New Moon City would be…"

He stammered, his own hands trembling.

"Are you insane?!" Pu Hao glared at him. "How could that person be from New Moon City? If there were such a person here, we’d know! Moreover, casually parting with a Wang Xuanlong Dan—it’s clearly they don’t care about such things. This person’s spiritual cultivation must far exceed our understanding. Such a person would fear others coveting their Wang Xuanlong Dan?"

"But when he entered, I sensed his spiritual power—it seemed only at the nascent stage?"

"Still too young," Pu Hao patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Someone capable of slaying a Wang Xuan beast possesses a spiritual cultivation level beyond what you can detect! At such a realm, they can freely control their outward spiritual energy. Even detecting a nascent-stage cultivator would be surprising. In the future, if you meet low-level clients, especially the elderly, never be too arrogant—they might be top masters at that level."

"Oh, right," the attendant nodded, retrieving the black wooden box containing Fire Spirit Pills: "Speaking of which, before he presented the dan, he offered three Fire Spirit Pills—all perfectly refined!"

"What?!" Pu Hao nearly dropped the pills, his voice shaking: "Someone casually dispensing three top-tier pills must be from the Sacred Realm or the Deep Sea Palace’s level. No wonder he radiated such terrifying killing intent!" Recalling the instant that made his hair stand on end, Pu Hao shuddered again. Relieved he’d committed no offense, he felt he’d somehow managed to grant a small kindness.

After leaving the Black Moon Guild, Yun Che walked far, found an empty corner, quickly changed his clothes, removed his disguise, then approached from another direction, unhurried. In his mind, Madam’s furious voice echoed:

"You dared call me your daughter!"

"I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t tell her I bought it for my master."

"That won’t do… Hmph. Well, this dress is nice enough, so I won’t hold it against you. If you dare to desecrate me like this again, I won’t forgive you!"

"A dress worth five hundred Purple Xuan Bi! The sum of my lifetime’s clothes can’t even match a fraction of that!" Yun Che growled.

"You’ve received my new meridians as a favor, my disciple. Taking five hundred Purple Xuan Bi as repayment, yet you dare complain."

Yun Che was at a loss…

"You were so bold as to hand over that dan without hesitation—do you fear they’ll kill and loot? I can’t even move my spiritual power now. If they decide to act, not only will the dan be gone, but we’ll both die!" Madam’s voice was cold.

"No, quite the opposite," Yun Che smiled. "The more carelessly I hand over that dan, the more they’ll hesitate to act. Even if they detect my spiritual power, they’ll be too cautious. As for whether they spread the news, that’s their affair, unrelated to me. Though I estimate it won’t happen."

"Your Excellency witnessed firsthand what mere bravado looks like. But what are you truly planning?"

"In the entire Tianxuan Continent, the Black Moon Guild holds the most abundant resources. Yet the truly fine items are sold at exorbitant prices to powerful sects. People like me—we probably can’t afford them, no matter how rich we are. I need a status weighty enough in their eyes. With this Wang Xuanlong Dan and disguise, it’s no trouble at all. Then, when facing the Black Moon Guild, things will be far easier… Oh, never mind future dealings—didn’t it just work then? All those inside the guild are arrogant. If not for my scare, they’d’ve practically thrown this Immortal Gown at me! Speaking of which, the rare Lingyue Boneflower and Purple Meridian Crystal you need—they’re most likely at the Black Moon Guild."

After a long silence, Madam asked: "When we were at the Black Moon Guild, what about the killing intent you exuded?"

That moment’s killing intent struck her so hard she was stunned. It was nearly as real as when she was enraged—utterly unparalleled. Such killing intent cannot be cultivated, let alone forged. It’s accumulated through countless deaths, requiring at least tens or hundreds of thousands of lives.

Only that instant’s killing intent made Pu Hao tremble, daring not even to breathe. Otherwise, with his years of experience and sharp eyes, he wouldn’t have doubted Yun Che.

Yun Che paused, then sighed: "I’ll tell you, you won’t believe it… we… are the same kind of people."

…………………………

Beyond the Crowstorm Imperial City, the Crowstorm Royal Family has established royal estates in seventy-two cities, New Moon City being one. Its estate ranks among the strongest in all royal estates, and with entry requirements not too high—far lower than those of moderately renowned sects—countless cultivators flock there yearly.

New Moon Estate includes the Bureau of Spiritual Affairs, Bureau of Medicines, Bureau of Literature, Bureau of Music, Bureau of Painting… thirteen bureaus in total, with the Bureau of Spiritual Affairs being the largest. Xiao Lie, the man Yun Che sought, Si Konghan, is the chief elder of the Bureau of Spiritual Affairs in New Moon Estate, holding a position superior to all but the three bureau heads. Yet even Xiao Lie didn’t know Si Konghan’s identity in New Moon City.

After inquiring a few people, Yun Che quickly located New Moon Estate. Just as he hesitated whether to enter, a loud voice boomed from his left:

"Sister… Brother!!??"