Chapter 108: Which Son of a Bitch Is Staring Right at Me?

Chapter 108: That Turtle-Bearing Son of a Gun Had Me Stared to Death

Since the tea drinks had become all the rage in the prefecture city of Shushou, the arrangements inside the Bǎicǎotáng had also undergone a transformation.

The front hall still sold various inexpensive medicinal herbs and five kinds of tea drinks, but the back hall had been converted into an accountant’s office, with a dedicated person tallying the books.

Because they needed to distribute profits to the pharmacies across Shushou, the ledgers had to be calculated with meticulous care.

Thus, Wang Jì had deliberately hired ten experienced accountants.

At this moment, the sharp clatter of counting beads could be heard.

Upstairs, as always, two rooms remained for receiving visitors—one for business, one for honored guests.

Chen Yì followed Wang Jì to the innermost of these chambers.

After taking his seat, he casually surveyed the surroundings, his inner energy flowing freely, and thus dispelled the effects of the Xuanwu Lianxi Jue.

Instantly, the sounds of raindrops, footsteps, breathing, and various people’s voices began to filter in.

A bit noisy, yet it brought him a sense of peace.

Those two individuals breathing faintly—his cultivation level was likely no higher than seventh rank.

After listening for a while,

Chen Yì had a clear idea of the number of martial artists gathered outside the Bǎicǎotáng, and he spoke aloud:

“Praise be to Mr. Wang’s kindness; the businesses of the Xiao family’s pharmacies have improved considerably since.”

His finger dipped in tea water, writing on the table: “Someone intends to eliminate the Bǎicǎotáng; they’ve made preparations.”

Wang Jì glanced over, his expression slightly shifting, and smiled naturally: “Mr. Chen, you’re too courteous.”

“Since Mr. Wang was entrusted by Miss Xiao and spared, serving as manager at Jìzhì Pharmacy, and now the situation has improved, I naturally cannot forget the favor.”

He also wrote with his finger on the table: “Your lordship, what shall I do for you?”

While speaking, Chen Yì wrote a few characters: “Which martial artists have arrived in Shushou? What is their strength?”

“Most are only at the level of guards, save for two bladesmen who’ve roamed the martial world for years, said to have reached seventh rank.”

“Weak.”

“I’ll go find them later.”

Chen Yì shook his head: “Too late; those individuals are evil cultivators from the Huanyin Sect.”

Upon reading this, Wang Jì’s face darkened.

Everyone in Shushou knew the name of the Huanyin Sect by now!

Earlier, those ruffians had dared to raid the Xiao family, and with such brutal methods, they’d slaughtered his newly thriving Bǎicǎotáng without hesitation.

“Your lordship, I’ll follow your instructions; whatever you say, I’ll do.”

Chen Yì glanced at him, thought for a moment, then wrote a few characters: “Go find Xiao Wànrén.”

Wang Jì hesitated: “Your lordship, you mean—?”

Chen Yì nodded: “Tell Xiao Wànrén that the Huanyin Sect intends to act against the Bǎicǎotáng; seek their protection.”

“Also, take the silver we had collected earlier and bring it there.”

If he hadn’t just encountered Shen Huàtán accompanied by a senior disciple from a sect, he would never have allowed Wang Jì to do this.

For the Xiao family’s situation had now become a matter that affected the entire household.

The patriarch was so cautious; how much more so Xiao Wànrén and Xiao Wàng?

Yet if Shen Huàtán and her even more powerful senior disciple were present, they could face the Huanyin Sect head-on.

By his estimation, the person from Tian Shan Sect who had arrived was likely here regarding the Huanyin Sect and the “Blade Demon” Liu Rong.

It wasn’t out of deliberate scheming.

As for that silver—

It was likely that if Wang Jì didn’t deliver it to Xiao Wànrén soon, Ge Lǎosān and Liu Sìr would begin to suspect things.

Or perhaps they’d already grown suspicious of the Bǎicǎotáng and his connection to it.

After reading this, Wang Jì immediately nodded: “I’ll have someone fetch the silver and deliver it.”

Chen Yì hummed in agreement, then spoke:

“Now the tea drinks of the Bǎicǎotáng are famous throughout Shushou; customers come daily, especially those from the southern part of the city, like the Qín Lóu.”

“This visit is to discuss whether we can share some of the tea drinks with Jìzhì Pharmacy in the future.”

Wang Jì relaxed, smiling: “That’s likely to disappoint Mr. Chen. I’m afraid I can’t help it, my lord.”

This wasn’t out of willful evasion.

It was simply that they’d reached their limit.

Since the tea drinks had gained fame in Shushou, dozens of workers labored day and night to package and ship them, yet it still wasn’t enough for the Bǎicǎotáng and the Xiao family’s pharmacies.

Wang Jì was planning to discuss with Yan Hai about hiring more workers, renting a courtyard, and increasing the output of the tea drinks.

Chen Yì naturally understood the situation with the Bǎicǎotáng, yet on the surface he said: “This matter, Mr. Wang, keep it for Miss Xiao to hear.”

Wang Jì understood, bowed: “Later I’ll bring people to visit, and I’ll ask Mr. Chen to speak highly of them…”

They both fell into a harmonious rhythm of words.

These days, Chen Yì had been rather satisfied with Wang Jì’s conduct.

Though past experiences made it hard for him to fully trust others.

After all, one must keep one’s cards close.

Once the matters were settled, Chen Yì chatted cordially for a while, then rose to leave.

On his way back to the front hall, he paused mid-step, picked up some medicinal herbs, and with an umbrella in hand, ambled off toward the East Market.

Not long after,

Wang Jì, with the silver receipt, boarded a carriage and galloped straight to the Xiao family.

Seeing them, the people hiding around—some pedestrians or street vendors—quickly glanced around and walked away.

But just as a few had departed,

Two shadowy figures appeared in the corner, staring intently at their retreating silhouettes.

A rough voice boomed: “Brother Ning, what do you think the young master wants us to do to that Bǎicǎotáng?”

“I don’t know. But the young master passed by just now; I suppose the master wants to find him and ‘avenge’ him.”

“The master wants to kill the young master?”

“Hey, what’s with you? I mean, the master wants to help the young master, didn’t he hear about the pharmacy needing the Bǎicǎotáng’s tea drinks?”

“Oh.”

“Also, from next time, just call me ‘Ning,’ don’t try to act like your lady, all whiny and fussy.”

“Got it, Brother Ning… Brother Ning.”

……

Before noon.

Wang Ji left Jixiang Garden with a relaxed expression.

Not only had the stone in his heart fallen, but he also received Xiao Wan'er's promise that he need not worry about the Huan Yin Sect for the time being.

Thus, the matter assigned by Chen Yi was concluded.

Yet he was unaware that in the room where he sought Xiao Wan'er's aid, a woman dressed in a white long gown was sitting, cracking melon seeds and listening intently at the corner of her ear.

She was more beautiful than Shen Huatan, with a melon-seed face, pale skin, and a plump figure.

When seated on the stool, she habitually placed one foot on it and swung the other leg idly.

Clearly, she was someone who paid no heed to propriety.

"How convenient!"

"I just arrived at Xiao's family, and a message from the Huan Yin Sect came right away… Was it the little turtle that made me wait so long?"

At that moment, Shen Huatan entered the chamber, glanced at her rigid demeanor, and frowned.

"Xie Tingyun, this is the residence of the Duke of Distant Far—"

Before she could finish, the white-robed woman straightened up, chest thrust out high, and fixed her gaze on her: "Is this how you address a guest?"

Shen Huatan sighed, her expression a mixture of resignation and duty: "Sister Xie, Father has sent word instructing me to teach you proper conduct."

Xie Tingyun waved dismissively: "Of course, of course."

"Come along, mistress is waiting."

"Onward, onward…"

……

In the afternoon, the sky over Shizhou City grew dim.

The rain did not lessen; instead, it fell just as fiercely as the day before.

A downpour swept through, filling the interior of the Life-Saving Pharmacy with artisans from the eastern market.

They chattered back and forth, speaking of idle matters.

Some things could be heard, others not.

Like tales from the streets and whispers from the martial world, snippets of gossip one could overhear.

Chen Yi found this rather intriguing and occasionally asked a question or two.

For instance, whose cultivation was the highest in the martial world?

Nine out of ten would say, "Of course, it's the White Deity of Fengyu Lou."

"At the eaves of Fengyu Lou, he hears the rain, looks out over the martial world, and no one stands above him."

"The White Deity has never suffered defeat, not even when the Sword Deity himself arrived. He has vanquished countless foes in just three days."

"But ever since the White Deity declared himself 'Master of the Mirror Terrace' thirty years ago, he hasn't been seen fighting anyone since."

Chen Yi found this amusing and chimed in: "Does his real name really mean 'White Deity'?"

This sparked a roar of laughter in the Life-Saving Pharmacy.

"Is Chen the Merchant not interested in martial affairs?"

"Ha! Chen the Merchant is a scholar, isn't he? He probably spends all his time reading ancient sages' texts!"

After some joking and teasing, someone finally said: "The White Deity's real name is Gong Mei White."

"That's why he adopted the honorific 'Deity'—in his youth, he often pretended to be a fortune-teller, giving people their fates."

"But it's said that those whose fates he predicted met with terrible ends."

Chen Yi, curious, asked: "What kind of terrible ends?"

"The better his predictions, the worse the outcomes. If he told someone their fate was 'wealth and honor,' they would die and report to the underworld within three days."

"The most tragic was the case of the Kindness Moon Deity, who was told her fate was 'love destined by heaven,' only to find herself alone to this day."

"There was also an old monk from Mount Mò, whose predicted fate was 'descending to earth under the Purple Dot Star,' and the next day, the entire Mount Mò temple was slaughtered clean."

Listening to these tales of the White Deity's fortune-telling antics, Chen Yi couldn't help but laugh.

Such strange stories from the martial world—truly strange places.

As evening approached,

Chen Yi gathered his belongings, took some medicinal herbs from the shelf, and prepared to leave, when he noticed Xie Sanyi already arrived in a horse-drawn carriage.

He nodded, settled in casually.

Xie Sanyi glanced around the pharmacy: "My lord, why are there so many people inside?"

Chen Yi shrugged: "They're all seeking shelter from the rain."

He looked at the pedestrians trudging through the rain outside, already scheming in his mind how to swindle that stout fellow with the thick eyebrows and dark heart who was ahead of them.

After all, it wouldn't do for Xie Sanyi to remain idle.

(Chapter Complete)