Chapter 9
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Heavenly Sword Sect
At the entrance of the now-renovated manor, a group of Heavenly Sword Sect members gathered, encircling the little Daoist boy sitting by the gate.
“This little sister looks so joyful.”
“So young and already a renunciate…”
“Young Master, don’t tell me this chubby little girl is our landlord?”
Ah Nuo’s gaze became deeply resentful.
Shen Tang found it amusing and gently asked, “Little sister, why are you sitting here alone? Where’s your Master?”
Ah Nuo sniffled. “Master said that if I sat here to greet guests, guests would see how cute I am and surely give me candy. He lied to me! You not only didn’t give me candy, but you also scolded me!”
At these words, the old man from the Heavenly Sword Sect who had blurted out “chubby little girl” immediately felt awkward. He fumbled around, finding no candy, and then offered a red envelope with an apologetic smile. “Little sister, take this for candy.”
In the next moment, over a dozen red envelopes were tucked into Ah Nuo’s arms. Ah Nuo, clutching the envelopes, stood up and scampered through the main gate, which then shut with a bang.
The old man: “?”
Ah Nuo’s voice came from inside the gate: “Master said that before he returns, children aren’t allowed to open the door.”
Outside, there was dead silence.
So you were sitting here acting cute just to scam money?
“Miss Shen arrived quite early.” Lu Xingzhou’s voice drifted over. Shen Tang turned to see Lu Xingzhou slowly approaching, pushing his wheelchair alone, looking quite strained.
Shen Tang pursed her lips. She always saw a reflection of herself in Lu Xingzhou, and each time she did, her heart softened considerably.
She knew this mindset wasn’t quite right… This man presumably didn’t need anyone’s sympathy.
She sighed, speaking softly, “You specifically had Ah Nuo put on that act at the door… Is Master Lu satisfied with the character of my Heavenly Sword Sect?”
Lu Xingzhou paused, surprised. This Shen Tang seemed even more astute than Sheng Yuanyao, who came from generations of Demon Suppressing Bureau officials. She had seen through his intention to gauge the Heavenly Sword Sect’s character at a glance.
“Miss is overthinking it,” Lu Xingzhou said, looking around. “Where is Miss Qingli?”
“Qingli has other important matters,” Shen Tang replied, her expression somewhat peculiar. You really do care about Qingli…
But one of her important matters is to investigate you, you know…
Lu Xingzhou opened the main gate and pointed to a corner of the west wing. “That’s my and Ah Nuo’s living quarters and alchemy room; it’s not for rent. The other areas are yours; you can arrange them as you see fit.”
Having said that, he directly entered the gate. It seemed that with Qingli absent, he had no interest in greeting the others.
A young man watched Lu Xingzhou’s retreating back as he entered, muttering discontentedly, “This person is rude.”
Shen Tang said calmly, “It’s merely a landlord-tenant relationship. How much warmth is needed? We are now fallen and no longer what we once were. Temper your arrogance.”
The young man pursed his lips in disagreement but said nothing.
Shen Tang ignored him, turning to the old man who had given Ah Nuo the red envelope. “Uncle Zhong, put up the plaque.”
The old man nodded, sprang up, and hung the plaque on the gate.
The curtain covering the plaque was unveiled, revealing the inscription “Shen’s Business Alliance.”
The expressions of the Heavenly Sword Sect members varied, with quite a few showing displeasure.
Although they were refugees and couldn’t openly display the Heavenly Sword Sect’s name, having to use a business alliance name as a cover, they could have chosen any other name. What did “Shen’s” imply? Had this become her family’s property?
You, Shen Tang, are merely a disciple of the former Sect Master, not his daughter. Even if you were his daughter, we are a sect, not a sword-wielding family!
But for some reason, no one spoke out publicly. Only a few exchanged glances. Shen Tang took in everyone’s expressions and smiled faintly, then led the way inside.
“Such a group of lost dogs, yet they’re already at odds,” Lu Xingzhou lamented in the alchemy room, as he and Ah Nuo sat opposite each other, eating cakes. “Actually, there’s nothing wrong with outsiders misunderstanding it as a family business; it’s less likely they’d suspect a sect. Since it’s meant to be a cover, the more thoroughly misleading, the better. What exactly are they conflicted about?”
It was unclear how the master and disciple could see the scene outside the door.
Ah Nuo rested her chin in her hand. “They’re unhappy with a girl being in charge. Back then, even Big Sister Yu, despite her strength, caused a lot of trouble because she was a young girl.”
“Yuan Muyu looked fourteen or fifteen on the outside; in others’ eyes, she was truly a young girl… Shen Tang is at least twenty-one or two.”
“Anyway, whether it was Big Sister Yu back then, or Big Sister Shen Tang now, they’re both older than you, right?”
“…What does older or younger have to do with me?”
“Hehe,” Ah Nuo giggled. “Are you really ‘closing your heart and locking away love’?”
“Women only lower my efficiency in raising my child.”
Ah Nuo’s expression unconsciously brightened, and she said cheerfully, “Oh, right, didn’t Master say they might not be the Heavenly Sword Sect?”
“Not certain, always felt something was off.” Lu Xingzhou paused midway through his sentence. “Shen Tang is coming this way… She’s just arrived, why isn’t she settling personnel and assigning rooms first, but coming to find me instead?”
Ah Nuo shut her mouth, looking curiously towards the door.
Soon, a knock came, and Shen Tang’s voice followed: “I have something I’d like to discuss with Master Lu.”
“Come in, the door’s unlocked.”
Shen Tang pushed the door open and saw the large and small figures sitting opposite each other, eating cakes. She couldn’t help but smile. “I hope I haven’t interrupted your meal.”
Lu Xingzhou said, “Miss couldn’t possibly be here for a free meal, could she? I can’t afford to feed hundreds of you.”
Shen Tang chuckled. “Quite the opposite. We will hire a chef to manage the Alliance’s meals. From now on, you and your esteemed disciple are welcome to dine with us.”
“You’re too kind. What does Miss Shen need from me, your landlord?”
“These past few days, the Danxia Gang has been spreading rumors in the city, saying that your alchemy skills are quite ordinary, that your previous elixirs were the result of others’ assistance, and that you even embezzled…”
Lu Xingzhou raised an eyebrow. “Oh, they actually found out?”
Shen Tang was momentarily choked, then continued, “I don’t think they knew; they’re just maliciously slandering you, making it impossible for you to get by in Xiazhou and for anyone to take you in. After all, you offended the Danxia Gang quite severely this time. It would be strange if Liu Qingtian didn’t try to vent his anger.”
Lu Xingzhou chuckled. “More than that… He even hired an assassin to kill me last night.”
Shen Tang’s expression shifted slightly, but Lu Xingzhou continued, “Now that I’m living with Miss Shen, if they still plan to use force against me, someone will be there to take the hit for me, won’t they?”
Shen Tang gazed into his eyes. “Did you design this rental arrangement just so we could act as your shield?”
Lu Xingzhou didn’t deny it. “That’s part of the reason, perhaps… But you were willing, weren’t you, Miss? After all, Bai Chi was poached from you, and you also want to show them a thing or two. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to lead your team in the future.”
“Since Master Lu needs our martial strength, and we need Master’s alchemy, it’s natural for us to cooperate. As newcomers, even if we wanted to trouble Bai Chi, it wouldn’t be appropriate to forcefully engage in a martial conflict with the Danxia Gang. If we can strike at them on the alchemy front, that would be the best option.”
“I said, I will not join your sect.”
“You don’t need to join the sect. We will provide the medicinal ingredients and pay Master to refine elixirs. Master himself needs to refine many elixirs to improve his own alchemy level, which was one of the reasons you were willing to stay at the Danxia Gang as an alchemist, isn’t that right?”
Lu Xingzhou looked at Shen Tang with some surprise for a long time, then asked curiously, “I’ve made many calculations against you, yet why are you so accommodating…? There are many alchemists in Xiazhou. I don’t believe you couldn’t find an excellent alchemist willing to join your sect. Why go to such lengths…?”
Shen Tang smiled gently. “Someone who is full of worries himself yet willing to meddle and persuade me not to seek an early grave… is worth accommodating.”
Lu Xingzhou pursed his lips and didn’t reply.
It was Ah Nuo who felt pity, not himself. This kindness was undeserved.
“Moreover…” Shen Tang patted her wheelchair, then looked at Lu Xingzhou’s legs, a hint of melancholy in her smile. “We are both fallen people in this world; we should help each other.”
Ah Nuo had been very sensible, not interrupting, quietly eating her cake, her gaze shifting back and forth between her Master and Shen Tang.
Lu Xingzhou’s gaze also fell on Shen Tang’s legs, but his focus was distant, as if lost in thought. After a long time, he said, “My embezzlement at the Danxia Gang was real. I wonder if Miss Qingli saw it then.”
Shen Tang paused, not immediately replying.
Lu Xingzhou continued, “With my character, do you truly dare to associate with me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”
“Heh…” Shen Tang chuckled. “I did some research. The treatment they gave you was only slightly higher than that of an ordinary Eighth-Grade Alchemist, yet the returns you gave them far exceeded expectations. Not only did you refine elixirs of a higher quality than required, but you also gratuitously helped establish their alchemy system and trained apprentices. You were just an alchemist, not a Hall Master; you weren’t obligated to put in so much effort. Wasn’t it actually you intentionally paying them for the elixirs you ‘stole’?”
Yes, that’s why the Liu father and daughter thought Lu Xingzhou was acting too much like an ox or horse and couldn’t understand him, simply assuming he was doing it all for Liu Yan’er.
However, in reality, he was merely repaying the cost of the “stolen” elixirs in this manner. How could others possibly understand?
Sheng Yuanyao, who observed the entire situation, didn’t figure this out, yet Shen Tang, only hearing Qingli’s report, could understand it so deeply.
“You’re quite good at finding excuses for me,” Lu Xingzhou remained silent for a long time, then said faintly, “Is it possible that I’m just someone who uses any means necessary to get money?”
Shen Tang looked at him, her eyes gentle. “Let’s assume so.”
Lu Xingzhou suddenly felt her gaze a little piercing. He pursed his lips, then turned his head and asked, “Your sect is transitioning from a sword sect to a business alliance. What kind of business do you primarily do, and what is your model?”
Shen Tang paused, realizing that this person was finally moving beyond the distant “landlord-tenant” relationship and looking to genuinely cooperate.
She smiled, her eyes curving beautifully.
– Mochinuna.
