"You can't possibly expect me to step in and purchase all those supplies you've been skimming," Li Fan said, his expression unchanged as he sipped his tea, gaze fixed on Zhou Kebao. "I may be relatively well-off, but my contribution points didn't fall from the sky. Besides, those supplies are of little use for anything outside of constructing immortal cities."

Zhou Kebao shook his head hastily. "How could we be so unreasonable?"

He stole a careful glance at Li Fan and bowed slightly, his manner placating. "In truth, I came to find you, Fellow Daoist, in hopes of reaching an arrangement that benefits us both—"

Li Fan set his teacup down with a sharp crack. The sound cut Zhou Kebao off mid-sentence and made him straighten abruptly.

Li Fan's face had gone cold, a flash of killing intent...