Chapter 76: Every Tactic Deployed, Seeking Aid

On hearing the disciple’s report, Ye Tianyi knew Chen Lou had made his move.

“He struck this quickly?”

Qin Xiao had not expected the City Lord to retaliate so soon. Hardly any time had passed, and he had already begun.

“It does not matter. The Heavenly Clothes Pavilion has branches spread throughout Qingzhou. The gain or loss of a single city cannot shake our foundation.”

Ye Tianyi had long anticipated being targeted, so she was fully prepared to abandon the Heavenly Clothes Shop in this city.

“Reporting to the Pavilion Master! The guards of the City Lord Manor have sealed our warehouses. They claim we have been hoarding goods and evading taxes.”

“Reporting to the Pavilion Master! The city gate guards have blocked our convoys from entering. All our raw materials have been detained, and they have decreed that no one from the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion is allowed to leave the city, including members of the Ye Family!”

“Pavilion Master! Many guards have surrounded our pavilion. They say we are hiding fugitives and want to search it!”

“Family Head, disaster! The Ye Family estate has also been surrounded!”

Disciples arrived one after another with reports. Even the Ye Family had been targeted.

“Such audacity!”

Ye Qiuyue flew into a rage. Did they truly think the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and the Ye Family were so easily bullied?

“Aunt, don’t be rash. They are trying to force us to attack. If we do, it will be a provocation against the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty, giving them grounds to act against us.”

Ye Tianyi had thought it through. The other side had only taken minor measures, without attacking. Once her side used force, however, they would have an excuse.

A City Lord might not have the highest cultivation, but he held the greatest authority in his city because he had the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty behind him.

“Why don’t you all accompany me to Tianyuan City instead? I can set up new properties for you there.”

Qin Xiao understood that provoking the City Lord was one thing, but fighting him openly would mean facing the entire Supreme Heavenly Dynasty, which even the Immortal Dao Merchant Association dared not offend.

“Set those thoughts aside for now. Let us go assess the situation,” Ye Qiuyue said. “Xiao’er, stay here. Once this matter is handled, I will come find you.”

She knew Ye Tianyi was right. Even if they refrained from using force, they still needed to see the situation for themselves.

“All right, you go ahead. I’ll come over once the spirit food is ready.”

Qin Xiao said no more and continued waiting for the spirit food.

It was not that he did not want to go; his presence would be of no use. This was only the initial stage, a show of force as each side tested the other’s limits. Fighting would not break out yet, so he was in no hurry to join them.

“Young Master Qin, here are two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Please take them. We must hurry back to our family.”

Ye Tianyun handed a Storage Bag to Qin Xiao. With the Ye Family currently surrounded, they had to return at once. This chapter is updated first at novelping(.)com.

Unsure of how to appropriately address the young man, he defaulted to “Young Master Qin.”

“Take the Spirit Stones back. I was joking. I wouldn’t really make you treat me. That little amount means nothing to me. Hurry home.”

Qin Xiao refused directly. At a critical time like this, how could they still be worrying about paying for a meal? They needed to return immediately.

“Then we thank you, Young Master Qin.”

Ye Tianyun did not stand on ceremony. With the Ye Family facing such a crisis, keeping these two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones might prove useful.

“Master, are you truly just going to watch? Do you not have a way to help?”

Yun Man asked in puzzlement. As far as she was concerned, Qin Xiao could do anything.

“What can I do? If they’re openly targeting the pavilion, they must intend to use the dynasty’s backing. We can’t afford to provoke it right now.”

Qin Xiao was thinking it over too, but for the moment he could find no solution.

“He is right. It is not just this City Lord we must worry about, but also that Grand Commander. That is his true trump card.”

Lin Shimeng chimed in.

“Wait a moment. We cannot deal with them externally, but perhaps we can find a solution from within.”

Lin Shimeng’s words suddenly sparked an idea in Qin Xiao’s mind.

“From within? Within what? Are you suggesting we find someone from the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty to help us? Do you even know anyone like that?”

Lin Shimeng did not know what to say. Their enemy had the Eastern District Grand Commander behind him. Did Qin Xiao somehow know someone higher up in the dynasty?

“Uh, I don’t. But the Immortal Dao Merchant Association certainly does. I saved Ling Wushuang’s life. Asking his father to find us a connection shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Qin Xiao now understood the importance of connections. Fortunately, he had saved Ling Wushuang’s life. Even though he had already received a thank-you gift, surely asking for a favor would be no great problem.

“But can you even contact Ling Wushuang? Do you know where the Immortal Dao Merchant Association’s Qingzhou branch is? What if they refuse to help?”

Lin Shimeng kept dampening his enthusiasm. Why would the children of great powers readily use their connections for him?

“I might not be able to contact him directly, but couldn’t the Immortal Dao Merchant Association do it? Doesn’t Tianyi City have a branch of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association? We just need to go ask.”

Qin Xiao was fairly confident. He had met Ling Wushuang and found him reliable, not the sort to disregard a personal favor. Besides, he would not ask him to help for nothing.

A little over two more hours passed before all the spirit food was finally packed. Qin Xiao paid the bill, then took Yun Man and Lin Shimeng to the Immortal Dao Merchant Association’s auction house in Tianyi City.

Perhaps auction houses were the association’s main business. Each city’s auction house served as its headquarters there.

With his premium Membership Card, Qin Xiao encountered no obstacles and went straight to the association’s reception hall here.

“An honored guest has graced our halls! Forgive this old man for failing to welcome you properly.”

Li Rende approached with a smile. He had to come: the visitor had presented his card and specifically requested someone at manager level to receive him.

“You must be Manager Li, correct? I need your help with a matter.” The source of this chapter is novelping(.)com.

Qin Xiao had already asked about the association in Tianyi City. The Li brothers managed the branch, and both were at early Soul Formation. The elder, Li Renzhi, was the general manager, while the younger, Li Rende, was a manager. The general manager would not be the one receiving him, so this man should be Li Rende.

“Please speak freely, honored guest. As long as it is within our merchant association’s power, we will certainly see it done.”

Li Rende readily agreed. The visitor held a premium Membership Card, so the association had to meet his requests unless they were excessive. That was a premium member’s privilege and the association’s responsibility.

“It is definitely within your power. I need you to contact Ling Wushuang for me. Tell him that Qin Xiao is looking for him regarding an urgent matter.”

Qin Xiao stated his request without delay, confident they could manage it. To escape from the second level of the secret realm, Ling Wushuang had given him a Mother-Child Jade that transmitted voices. The association must have something similar. How else could its people report back and communicate?

“Ah, that can certainly be arranged. However, might I ask what matter this honored guest wishes to discuss with our young master?”

Li Rende did not leave immediately, probing for more information.

“We can discuss that later. Once you establish a connection with Ling Wushuang, I will naturally explain everything to him.”

Qin Xiao did not know how to explain, so he simply said he would speak once they had contacted Ling Wushuang.

“Very well. Since it is inconvenient for our honored guest to speak of it, this old man shall pry no further. I will go contact the young master for you right away.”

With that, Li Rende left.

“How did you know they could actually contact Ling Wushuang?”

Lin Shimeng was still bewildered. Could they really contact Ling Wushuang through the association?

“You have spent all these years doing nothing but cultivating. There is still much you do not understand about how the world works. Even though you are a few years older, you know even less than Yun Man.”

Qin Xiao said, looking at Lin Shimeng’s astonished face.

“Hmph.”

Unable to refute his words, Lin Shimeng merely let out a cold snort.

A short while later, Li Rende returned.

“Honored guest, I have contacted the young master. He asks you to wait a little. He will arrive soon.”

Even as he spoke, Li Rende could scarcely believe it. Who was this boy, that the young master would come in person?

This branch had not yet received detailed news of what had happened in the secret realm. It only knew that the association had suffered heavy losses; the specific cause had not been made public. Li Rende therefore did not know that Qin Xiao had saved Ling Wushuang’s life.

“He is coming personally? If that is the case, then I shall wait for him.”

Qin Xiao had not expected Ling Wushuang to come. From Manager Li’s words, it seemed he would arrive soon, too. The association must have many secrets.