29: Chapter 29 Apology

Looking over, Wang Shouren saw a beautiful woman in her early forties with a slender figure and a bright, striking appearance. A set of purple robes made her skin look like snow, and she was precisely Zhiyao.

Zhiyao hurried forward and bowed deeply to Wang Shouren. The panic in her voice had not completely faded, driven primarily by the fear that this God of Wealth would run away.

"This humble one is Zhiyao, an Executive of Wanbao Pavilion. Last year, I delivered Cultivation resources to Lotus Pier and was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Fellow Daoist Wang from afar."

"This guard was blind and offended Fellow Daoist. It was this humble one's lax discipline, and Wanbao Pavilion will definitely give Fellow Daoist an explanation."

Her gaze swept across the half of Wang Shouren's Face hidden by his bamboo hat, then glanced at the gold-stamped invitation in the guard's hand. Suddenly, she turned around, raised her hand, and delivered a crisp, solid slap across the guard's Face with a loud crack.

The guard was struck so hard he staggered, clutching his Face as he looked at Zhiyao in disbelief: "Executive… Executive Zhiyao?"

"Open your dog eyes and look clearly!" Zhiyao's pretty Face was frosted with anger, "This is Young Lord Wang! Wanbao Pavilion's biggest client in Wanshan County, and you actually dared to stop him?"

The guard's Face turned pale instantly, his lips trembling as he wanted to say something, but not a single word came out.

The surrounding Cultivators who had been egging things on just moments before all shut their mouths simultaneously, looking at each other in dismay, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"The Wang Family? Is it that Lotus Pier Wang Family?"

"Shut up, you can't see me, you can't see me."

"Just now I followed along in mocking him for not knowing the rules. Later on, won't my Family be wiped out just like Dadao Sect? I'm just a shopkeeper, ah."

...

"Fellow Daoist Wang is the number one figure of the third generation of the Lotus Pier Wang Family, primarily practicing lightning arts. At only twenty years of age, he has already Cultivated to the Peak of the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, and furthermore manages the affairs within the Family. How could a mere guard like you afford to provoke him?"

"Since you didn't recognize Fellow Daoist Wang, remember it well today. If there is a next time, get lost straight out of my Wanbao Pavilion; Wanbao Pavilion does not take in blind people."

Many people recognized Executive Zhiyao, and with her testifying, those holding onto wishful thinking completely gave up hope.

The fat and thin pair looked even more ashen; the destruction of Dadao Sect was still just a few days ago, and today they had offended Wang Shouren—wouldn't they simply become the next Dadao Sect?

Seeing that the situation had been brought under control, Zhiyao turned around, her previously frosty Face already replaced with a gentle, smiling expression.

She slightly curtsied, executing a standard Wanbao Pavilion Executive salute, her voice softening by a few degrees.

"Is Fellow Daoist Wang here today on behalf of Senior Yaowen to attend the auction?"

Wang Shouren nodded: "My second uncle is busy with Family affairs and couldn't get away, so he asked me to make this trip in his place."

At the same time, he thought inwardly that this woman knew how to handle things. She not only gave him plenty of Face, but also classified Wanbao Pavilion's disrespect as the guard simply failing to recognize his identity.

However, with today's commotion, going to the auction or not didn't matter; could there possibly be Evil Qi for sale anyway?

"I see." The smile on Zhiyao's Face grew even brighter as she turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation: "Fellow Daoist Wang, this way please. The third-floor VIP room has already been prepared; please follow me."

Wang Shouren did not move.

He stood in place, straightening his bamboo hat once more to cover half of his Face, his voice flat: "Today's matter ends here. As for the auction, I will not be attending."

The smile on Zhiyao's Face froze.

Having served as an Executive of Wanbao Pavilion for many years, she had honed the skill of reading expressions and sizing up situations.

Although the tone of the Wang Family Young Lord before her was faint, it carried a sense of unnegotiable decisiveness; he was not just being polite—he was truly about to leave.

If it were anyone else leaving, so be it, but the Wang Family was the branch's largest client in Wanshan County. Every year, Wang Yaowen alone dropped several thousand Spirit Stones here.

Today, the Young Lord was blocked, mocked, and had a guard raise hands against him right at their own doorstep. If she just let him leave like this, never mind the Wang Family's future business being in jeopardy, she wouldn't even be able to explain things to the Pavilion Master.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please stay your steps."

Zhiyao quickly followed, piling smiles back onto her Face, her tone softening a few degrees more than before.

"Today's matter was entirely Wanbao Pavilion's poor hospitality. This concubine offers her apologies to Fellow Daoist here."

She bowed deeply once more, and after rising, lowered her voice with a hint of earnestness.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, many of the items in this auction were specifically named by Senior Yaowen in past years."

"If you just leave like this, won't it be difficult to explain to Senior Yaowen as well?"

Wang Shouren's footsteps paused slightly.

Observing his expression, Zhiyao quickly retrieved a roll of silk from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"This is the auction item list for this event. Fellow Daoist might as well take a look. If there truly is nothing to your liking, this concubine will definitely not dare to detain you further."

Wang Shouren glanced at her, took the silk scroll, and unfolded it.

Coming into view were rows of neat, delicate small characters.

Three bottles of Qingyuan Pills, fifteen pieces of various Medium Grade Magical Artifacts, a pot of Foundation Establishment True Liquid, three hundred catties of Dark Iron Essence, a portion of hanshui earth fiend...

His gaze paused on those four words.

hanshui earth fiend.

His expression remained unmoving, but his heart was already churning with towering waves. Earth Fiend—born in places of extreme yin and extreme cold within the earth, at the bottom of ten-thousand-year cold pools or deep-sea fissures. Its nature is cold and fierce, and it is precisely one of the Evil Qi required for the entry of the Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation.

He was just worrying about having nowhere to seek Evil Qi, yet this item had appeared right before his eyes.

Truly, just as one is dozing off, someone brings a pillow.

Wang Shouren's gaze stayed on those four words for less than a breath before shifting away without changing his expression.

He slowly rolled up the silk scroll and handed it back to Zhiyao, his expression looking as though he had merely glanced at a most ordinary list.

"Executive Zhiyao," his tone remained calm when he spoke, even carrying a hint of courtesy.

"I am only here today to go through the motions on behalf of my second uncle. My second uncle didn't instruct me on what items to bid for, so whether or not I participate in this auction doesn't matter. Please make way."

As soon as these words came out, the last shred of wishful thinking in Zhiyao's heart shattered.

She understood.

This Wang Family Young Lord was not putting on airs; he truly did not intend to step through this door.

He had stated everything crystal clear, but the problem was that given what happened to the Wang Family people at the entrance today, if he just left like that, where would Wanbao Pavilion's reputation go once word spread?

The Wang Family Young Lord was treated like a destitute beggar right at the entrance of Wanbao Pavilion. If this matter reached the ears of Wang Yaozu and Wang Chongyang, would the Wang Family still do business with Wanbao Pavilion next year?

No, let alone the Wang Family, if other Immortal Cultivation families in Wanshan County heard about this, who would cooperate with a commercial firm that couldn't even recognize distinguished guests?

Zhiyao had been an Executive for seven or eight years; what she relied on wasn't just knowing how to pour tea and smile apologetically.

The Wang Family's annual cash flow of several thousand Spirit Stones, combined with the connected business of other families, accounted for roughly forty percent of her branch's share.

If she lost the Wang Family, her position as Executive would come to an end.

But if she could smooth things over and save the situation, the reward would be immense.

This Wang Shouren was only twenty years old, possessed three Spiritual Roots, stood at the Peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refining, and held real power within the Family. Even older generations like Wang Yaowu spoke well of him.

Given time and successful Foundation Establishment, he would be the absolute, undisputed authority in the Wang Family.

Gamble on it.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please wait."

Zhiyao took a deep breath, the smile on her Face becoming a bit more sincere, and without beating around the bush any further, she spoke directly:

"Today, Wanbao Pavilion was in the wrong first. To express our apologies, Fellow Daoist may freely choose any item from this auction as a compensation gift from Wanbao Pavilion to Fellow Daoist."