Chapter 422

Chapter 422: Preparing Umbrellas Before Rain

After leaving the Assassin Tower’s stronghold, Zhou Luo originally intended to return to Zhou Fu. However, Long Yunshuang delivered the message instructing him to go to Tian Xia Restaurant.

Though unknown as to the reason, he still headed straight towards that restaurant in the city.

On the ninth floor of the restaurant, Long Yunshuang was drinking tea. Seated upright on the throne in a bright yellow dress, she appeared exceptionally capable and efficient.

"Sit."

Seeing Zhou Luo appear, she spoke calmly.

"Manager Long, unknown why you wished to see me?" Zhou Luo maintained a smile as he inquired.

"I must leave for a period of time."

Having just sat down, Long Yunshuang got straight to the point.

Zhou Luo raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

He only heard her continue, "You’ll need to tend to Tian Xia Pavilion’s affairs with more care. I don’t wish to return and find profits have decreased rather than grown."

The power struggle within her family was intensifying. She needed to return and assist her elder brother with certain matters, necessitating her departure.

"What about Fang Li?" Zhou Luo looked at her meaningfully, leaving the question open-ended.

"I will have you temporarily serve as Tian Xia Pavilion’s Master Manager." Long Yunshuang gazed steadily at him. "So long as you don’t provoke Master Xuanlong, you may proceed freely with all other matters."

Perhaps influenced by the Heartfelt Gu’s effects, though not enough to make her fall in love with Zhou Luo, her favorable feelings towards him were exceptionally high.

That was why, in such a crucial appointment, she bypassed Fang Li who had stronger backing and chose Zhou Luo instead.

"I understand."

Having obtained what he wanted, Zhou Luo said nothing further.

"Go. I’ll arrange for someone to liaise with your men."

Long Yunshuang seemed quite anxious to depart and thus offered no further instructions.

Exiting Tian Xia Restaurant, Zhou Luo glanced at the azure sky.

He cared little for the princely mansion’s struggle over succession. Yet, if Long Yunshuang were to lose her position due to these events, who would Tian Xia Restaurant dispatch as her replacement?

If it were that fellow named Long Yu, his own industries would likely suffer consequences.

He could not simply wait for calamity. He absolutely had to take action.

At the very least, he needed guarantees that his industries could continue operating even after Tian Xia Pavilion terminated its cooperation with him.

"It seems I must find new partners ahead of time," Zhou Luo thought to himself.

Returning to Zhou Fu, he found time to visit a secret chamber.

Lin Xi, currently undergoing Foundation Establishment, had now reached the final stage of the first Barrier and wasn’t far from the second.

This progress was largely due to Zhou Luo’s attentive care towards her, supplemented by the potent spiritual energy concentrated within this core district, allowing her to set aside all other concerns.

Once she successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, the boost it would bring to the entire Lin Family would be immense.

Zhou Luo’s ambitions extended far beyond merely establishing the Lin Family as a subsidiary of Qinyuan Sect. Aspiring to use this foothold to build long-life families, he needed to accumulate sufficient power to break free of sect constraints and occupy multiple cultivation cities.

This process promised to be lengthy. However, the seeds were already sown; undoubtedly, they would grow strong in time.

After seeing that Lin Xi was safe and sound, the next day he went to find Hong Han.

Now that the Wan Gu Sect had expanded its business to Immortal City, and with the emergence of many special and powerful Gu insects, the shops under Hong Han’s management had also become extremely busy.

His shops and the Tian Xia Pavilion commercial area were not in the same district, and there was no conflict between them. In the future, if he stopped cooperating with Tian Xia Restaurant, Hong Han might be a good alternative partner.

"Pill Master Zhou, you’ve returned so quickly?"

In an antique-style pavilion, Hong Han saw Zhou Luo arrive and warmly welcomed him to his study.

After sitting down at the tea table, Hong Han said with excitement, "Pill Master Zhou, you’ve really made a name for yourself in the Wan Gu Sect."

Although he was in Qinyuan City, he still learned about Zhou Luo’s affairs in the sect.

When he learned that he had helped his wife pass the Lieyang Mountain trial and smoothly receive the inheritance of Master Lieyang, he was utterly astonished.

He never expected that he possessed such formidable strength hidden away.

Recalling the rumors he had heard in Immortal City, he suddenly realized that this man before him, who seemed to be blessed with luck, might not be simple after all.

This made Hong Han view him in a new light.

"It was just luck," Zhou Luo smiled calmly.

"Pill Master Zhou, it’s what you say. Now Junior Sister Yao Wu studies Gu techniques with the sect leader, and it won’t be long before she truly becomes the Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain. At that time, I’m afraid I’ll have to rely on you." Hong Han said with a smile.

It was already a done deal that Yao Wu would inherit Master Lieyang’s legacy.

Essentially, as long as there were no other setbacks, she would inevitably gain an extraordinary status in the future, and Zhou Luo would naturally benefit accordingly.

Faced with this flattery, Zhou Luo modestly said, "That’s still a long way off. I came here mainly to discuss cooperation with Friend Hong."

Although everything was relatively calm at the moment, Zhou Luo, who was skilled at preparing for eventualities, had to make early preparations, especially regarding the cooperation with Tian Xia Restaurant. He had to prepare for the worst.

"Pill Master Zhou, you didn’t need to say it—I was thinking the same thing."

As soon as his words were out, Hong Han immediately responded.

Clearly, since his shop business wanted to expand, cooperating with Tian Xia Pavilion was the best idea.

During this time, he had also been considering opening branches in the central commercial district, so he was waiting for Zhou Luo to return to discuss it properly.

Now that the other party brought up the cooperation idea, it perfectly suited his wishes.

But Zhou Luo shook his head and said, "The cooperation I mentioned is between you and me."

Since he wanted to take precautions, he had to detach himself from Tian Xia Pavilion.

Otherwise, this cooperation would ultimately still be between Tian Xia Restaurant and the Wan Gu Sect, and it wouldn’t strengthen his own influence at all.

Upon hearing this, Hong Han’s expression changed slightly, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes.

As a businessman, he naturally understood what he meant by these words.

What surprised him was that he actually wanted to break away from Tian Xia Restaurant—was there some change?

Thinking of the recent clamorous royal succession dispute in Jinyun Continent, Hong Han suddenly sensed something.

"Pill Master Zhou, how do you want to cooperate?" he asked with a serious expression.

A change in Tian Xia Restaurant’s management wouldn’t affect him much; his reason for asking was mainly due to Zhou Luo’s status.

Now that Yao Wu studied with the sect leader, she would undoubtedly become the new Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain shortly.

As a disciple of the Wan Gu Sect, Hong Han certainly needed to plan ahead to befriend her.

"It’s simple. From now on, my Yao Yuan Pavilion will become one of your sales outlets. Not only that, wherever the Lin Family’s influence reaches, we can help you sell your goods, and even other long-life families as well." Zhou Luo presented his cooperation plan.

Gu insects, as treasures comparable to spiritual pills and talismans, did not lack a market.

It was only because Gu Masters were too scarce that they hadn’t gained popularity.

Now that the Wan Gu Sect had settled in Immortal City, it could fill this market gap and take away a large number of supplies.

Since he wanted to expand, he inevitably needed to broaden his sales channels.

Zhou Luo highlighted his advantage: the entire Lin Family and the other three long-life families.

Combined, these covered as many as ten cultivation cities, which was a significant temptation for him.

Indeed, Hong Han was genuinely tempted.

He thought for less than a quarter of an hour at most and then said seriously, "Pill Master Zhou, then we must discuss the cooperation in detail."