99: Chapter 99: Spending a fortune for an old flame! Outside Xuan Yin Valley, a traitor from within the sect is encountered at night.

She is standing right in the center of the main hall.

The tassel of the iron sword at her waist sways slightly in the night breeze.

It is still that same face.

After two lifetimes of simulations, this face has left too deep an impression in your mind.

You even remember the look of despair in her eyes during the last simulation when she saw the corpse of her son, Shen Tian.

As well as her determination when she charged into the Nine Nether Array with you in the end.

The blood from that day in Yunzhong City seems to still retain its warmth.

But at this moment, the Liu Qingqing of this lifetime does not know you.

In her eyes, you are just the Shopkeeper of Shens Spirit Material Shop, a mortal who is doing quite well in business.

Liu Qingqing looks at you for a moment.

Her gaze shifts downward, finally landing on the jinhong sword at your waist.

The killing intent from consecutively slaying demon kings outside Yunzhong City has not yet fully dissipated.

Her right hand rests on the hilt of her sword unconsciously.

"Shopkeeper Shen."

She speaks first, her voice slightly stiff, but her manners are impeccable.

"What a coincidence."

You do not step forward, instead cupping your hands in a salute from three steps away.

"Miss Liu, I am just passing through, sorry to disturb you."

Liu Qingqing nods very quickly, says nothing more, and looks back up at the second floor.

Ji Mengxue's laughter drifts down from behind the second-floor window lattice.

"Since you are already here, Shopkeeper Shen, won't you come upstairs for a drink?"

The smoking pipe taps against the window sill, making two crisp sounds.

"No, thank you. Manager Ji, your business is booming, I shouldn't disturb you."

You cup your hands towards the upper floor and turn to leave.

You have barely taken three steps.

Liu Qingqing's voice comes from behind you.

"Shopkeeper Shen, how much longer can you supply the Liu familys goods?"

You do not stop.

"It is written clearly in the contract, Miss Liu, you need not worry."

As your words fall, you have already crossed the threshold.

Manager Luo Bin is waiting outside the main entrance.

He glances into the main hall, asks nothing, and follows quietly.

——

Shens Spirit Material Shop, backyard.

The night wind makes the old locust tree in the courtyard rustle.

You sit down on the stone stool.

"Old Hu."

Before long, Hu Wansan runs over quickly, sleepiness still hanging on his face.

Seeing your silhouette in the darkness, he shudders and wakes up more than halfway.

You do not waste words, pulling a brocade pouch from your storage bag and tossing it onto the stone table.

"Ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

Hu Wansan stares at the pouch on the table and swallows hard.

His hand reaches halfway, then retracts.

"Boss... which guild are we planning to swallow up?"

"There is a task."

You say.

"Starting tomorrow, do everything possible to achieve deep cooperation with the Liu family."

"Supply channels, joint procurement, bind them as tightly as possible."

Hu Wansan stands there, mouth agape, stunned.

You continue to instruct.

"If the Liu family has difficulties, concede two parts in business."

"Support them secretly, but do not make it look like charity. Also, do not lose the capital of Shens Shop."

"You handle this balance."

Hu Wansan understands.

He does not hesitate anymore and clutches the pouch to his chest.

"Rest assured, Boss."

"If I cannot get it done, I will pay the debt with my head!"

You nod and call out towards the courtyard.

"Manager Luo Bin."

Manager Luo Bin, who was guarding under the veranda, immediately walks in, his back straight.

You look at the two of them.

"Handle this matter together."

"Manager Luo Bin, you handle the dirty and tiring work."

"Old Hu, you keep a close eye on the accounts and the public-facing side."

Both of them agree in unison.

"Old Hu, go manage the accounts. Manager Luo Bin, stay."

Old Hu exits the courtyard, clutching the pouch.

Only you and Manager Luo Bin remain in the courtyard.

Memories of your past life flash through your mind.

Besides being meticulous, Manager Luo Bin actually has excellent talent for the Sword Dao. In your past life, you bestowed upon him the shuangluo sword and protected his path to increase his cultivation, which led to his later achievements of venturing through the Central Plains and opening twelve branches.

In this lifetime, although there is no time to protect his path personally, his foundation must be laid firmly.

You take a sword manual and three bottles of pills from your storage bag and slap them onto the table.

"Comprehend the sword manual, use the pills to break through your cultivation."

You look at him.

"Business must be done, but your sword skills must not fall behind."

"You have talent in the Sword Dao."

Manager Luo Bin's gaze lands on the sword manual.

He does not waste words, steps forward, and kneels on one knee.

"Thank you, Boss."

"I will provide the cultivation techniques and pills."

You tap the stone table.

"But I will not give you a sword."

"A sword cultivator must earn their own spirit stones to buy their sword."

"A sword bought with spirit stones you earned yourself feels steadier in your grip."

"Manager Luo Bin understands!"

You pull out a message jade slip and toss it to him.

"If you encounter tricky trouble, send me a message."

Manager Luo Bin grips the jade slip tightly and retreats.

The atmosphere in the inn tonight was wrong, but he did not ask a single word. This is also what you are most satisfied with.

You stand alone in the courtyard for a moment, looking up at the night sky.

The next moment.

A streak of sword light tears through the night and speeds away towards the northeast.

——

Thirty-one years old, March 13th.

Outside the perimeter of Xuanyin Valley, Wangyou Town.

The small town is sandwiched between two black mountains.

The streets are permanently waterlogged, and the air is permeated with an inescapable underground yin energy.

You change into a gray linen robe.

The jinhong sword is wrapped in three layers of coarse cloth and slung across your back.

Your cultivation is suppressed back to the early stage of Qi Refining.

At the entrance of the town, there is a stall selling loose talismans.

You toss down a few pieces of fragmented spirit stones.

"Boss, to go to Xuanyin Valley to gather Yin Soul Grass, which path is safe?"

The stall owner is holding the spirit stones and smiling.

Upon hearing the words "Xuanyin Valley", his hand shakes violently.

He quickly sweeps the spirit stones into his money bag and shakes his head like a rattle-drum.

"I don't know, I don't know, sir, please don't make things difficult for me!"

You do not ask further and head straight to the only two-story building in the town—Wangyou Inn.

——

At nightfall, in the inn's main hall.

You choose a corner by the window and order a pot of strong liquor.

The waiter brings the liquor to the table.

There is a layer of dark yellow, thick calluses on the web of his right hand.

Traces left by holding heavy weapons.

Two rogue cultivators at the neighboring table lower their voices, complaining about the new perimeter restrictions added to Xuanyin Valley.

Other than that, there is no other gain.

You get up to settle the bill and ask for a guest room on the second floor.

The innkeeper is a gaunt old man.

He hands over a rusty copper key without even lifting his eyelids.

"Stay in the room on the east side, it is quiet. There is a distinguished guest staying on the west side, don't wander around if you have nothing to do."

You take the key and go upstairs.

The corridor is dark and long, with an oil lamp swaying in the wind at the end.

You walk to the room on the east side, insert the key into the lock, and are about to turn it.

The light of the sound-insulation array on the door of the "distinguished guest" room on the west side suddenly dims for a moment.

The door hinge turns slightly.

A figure flashes out from the door crack and walks quickly downstairs.

The door closes again within half a breath.

It is exactly this half breath.

Your Foundation Establishment Level 5 divine sense cuts silently into the door crack like a sharp blade.

A person is standing inside the door.

A pale, effeminate side profile.

The fluctuation of the sound transmission talisman that just burned out in mid-air has not yet dissipated.

A remnant of divine sense transmission is forcibly intercepted by you.

"...The goods will arrive in three days, handover according to the old rules."

You push the door and enter the room.

You close the door behind you and drop the latch.

In the darkness, you stand quietly.

Outside the light screen.

Shen Ji leans back against the chair.

Fifth Senior Brother Lu Chen.

The third-ranked genius disciple of Fire Cloud Hall.

The guy at the victory banquet who did not drink a drop of alcohol and only glanced at Huo Quji out of the corner of his eye.

He actually appeared on the territory of Xuanyin Valley.

Talking about "goods" and "handover" with "that person in the valley".

Now everything matches up.

In the previous life, Huo Quji died at the hands of Xuanyin Valley.

That dark thread that took his life has finally revealed its end.