Her tone, however, was quite serious. “We didn't just use a loophole to screw him over; we’re creating an opportunity for him.”
Wen Xuan asked, “What do you mean?”
“Look, before this competition, how many people knew Qin Xiaosheng was in the business of buying and selling information?”
Mu Chenze replied, “He’s a new disciple just like us. He hasn't been in Xiaoyao for long, so almost no one knew him.”
“Exactly. Before the competition, Qin Xiaosheng's name was virtually unknown, which meant almost no one went to him for information. How can a businessman do business without a customer base?”
Gu Ningyun changed her tone. “The situation is completely different now. With our help, Qin Xiaosheng's name is now a household name. Everyone knows that Qin Xiaosheng of Zezhi Pavilion on Luoyue Peak is a specialist in buying and selling information. In the future, whenever anyone needs to make a related trade, won't they know to go to him?”
Wen Xuan felt there was some logic to it, but something still felt off.
Jiang Yao asked, “After falling into such a massive pitfall this time, are you sure people will still go to him for information?”
“There will still be some. As long as his future information is accurate and he restores his reputation and customer trust, his business will naturally get better and better.”
Gu Ningyun had originally been using sophistry, but the more she analyzed it, the more she felt her reasoning made sense.
Her eyes darted around as she gave a mischievous chuckle. “His fame is thanks to our plan. When he starts making money in the future, it wouldn't be too much for us to ask him for a share of spirit stones, right?”
Mu Chenze remarked, “While your analysis isn't wrong, are you sure he’ll give you spirit stones instead of a fist the size of a sandbag?”
“It’s fine. Unless something unexpected happens, he can't beat me.”
Mu Chenze fell silent, somewhat speechless.
Jun Luo seemed to remember something and suddenly said, “Ningyun, have you not checked the messages on your identity jade token for a long time?”
“Right, I’ve been practicing my movement technique. Why?” Gu Ningyun was slightly startled and took out her identity jade token from her storage bag.
Jun Luo’s expression remained unchanged. “Si Puyu has been looking for you.”
Upon hearing that name, Gu Ningyun instantly remembered that Si Puyu had challenged her to a duel back in the secret realm.
Gu Ningyun swept her divine sense over the identity jade token, and a mountain of unread messages from Si Puyu rushed at her.
“I've reserved Arena No. 26 on the west side of Fighting Peak. Tomorrow afternoon, shall we fight?”
“Gu Ningyun, you didn't forget, did you?”
“Jun Luo said you were in seclusion. How long will it be?”
“My sword is honed. When are you coming out?”
...
“It's been a month. You're still not out?”
“Did you just completely forget about our duel?!”
“You're not planning to stand me up, are you?”
Seeing the two latest messages she had received today, Gu Ningyun felt a pang of guilt.
She really had been too busy and forgotten about it.
She thought about her future schedule and sent a simple reply. “I didn't mean to stand you up. Let me finish this busy period, and then I’ll set a time with you.”
As soon as the message was sent, Si Puyu replied almost immediately. “You're still alive?”
Gu Ningyun: “...That’s a bit hurtful.”
“Heh, a certain someone has been completely out of touch. I thought something had happened to you.” Si Puyu's reply was very fast. Even through the identity jade token, Gu Ningyun could feel his resentment.
She paused. “I heard people say you’ve always had a mild personality. Why do you seem like you’ve got a short fuse now?”
“Heh, you're just as annoying as Ling Hanbai.”
Gu Ningyun blinked, feeling like she was being unfairly accused. How was she annoying? And why bring Ling Hanbai into this?
She recalled her interactions with Si Puyu and had a sudden realization. During the individual competition, she had heard Ling Hanbai's teammates saying they wanted to secure second place and fight for first by targeting Si Puyu's group. Could it be that Si Puyu was pinning Ling Hanbai's blame on her?
She had only been beating them at their own game...
This wasn't something to dig too deep into, so Gu Ningyun decisively changed the subject, adopting the sword cultivator's way of solving problems. She replied with three words: “Fight or not?”
This time, Si Puyu didn't waste any words. “Fight!”
“I'll notify you once the time is set.”
“Fine.”
Just as she finished replying to Si Puyu, a cheerful voice came from the direction of the transmission hall. “Are you hungry? Let’s head out now.”
Gu Ningyun turned around at the sound and saw Martial Aunt Yang and Martial Uncle Lu standing side by side near the plaza, smiling broadly.
“Martial Aunt Yang, Martial Uncle Lu, you’re here!”
Jiang Yao cheered. “Let’s go! I’ve been wanting to taste the food at Yaoxian Residence for ages.”
His excited expression made him look like a little golden retriever who’d just been given a big bone.
Gu Ningyun let out a laugh.
A few days after the competition ended, the two martial uncles had sent them a message, agreeing to meet at Yaoxian Residence a month later. This was also why Gu Ningyun had chosen to come out of seclusion today.
After the competition, everyone seemed busy with cultivation. This was their first time leaving the sect in a month.
Xiaoyao had established sect outposts in all the cities under its jurisdiction, and these outposts contained teleportation arrays connected to Xiaoyao's external transmission points.
Gu Ningyun and the others went from Qixia Peak to External Transmission Point No. 3. Following Martial Aunt Yang, they chose their destination for this trip: Wuxin City.
After a brief sensation of pressure, they appeared inside a room.
Several other disciples were waiting in the room, seemingly preparing to use the teleportation array.
Martial Aunt Yang and Martial Uncle Lu led them out of the way and through the main door.
After leaving the teleportation room, Gu Ningyun took a brief look at the outpost.
The outpost wasn't large; it was just a pavilion with a backyard where various flowers and herbs were planted in a strange pattern.
They had just come out of a room on the first floor of the pavilion.
Walking toward the exit, they encountered many fellow disciples along the way. Looking at their disciple robes, there were yellow-belted, green-belted, and blue-belted ones.
Once they reached the pavilion's main hall, they could see the bustling street outside through the open doors.
In the main hall, near the entrance, there was a desk and a meditation mat. A disciple in white robes and a yellow belt sat on the mat. Based on his aura, he was at the sixth level of Qi Refining.
Looking back at the stairs leading to the second floor, Gu Ningyun guessed that this yellow-belted disciple was likely one of the disciples responsible for guarding the outpost.
While she was thinking, they had already left the outpost and stepped onto the street.
Martial Aunt Yang was already introducing the place to them. “Wuxin City is the largest city in Yunzhou and one of Xiaoyao’s subordinate cities.”
As they walked and observed, Gu Ningyun looked at the beautifully uniform architecture, the prosperous shops, and the passing cultivators. She couldn't help but think of Yushui City in Nanwangzhou.
Compared to Wuxin City, Yushui City was like the difference between Changting Abode and Qixia Peak.
When she had heard them talk about it before, she hadn't felt much. But now that she was in the city and feeling the lively atmosphere, Gu Ningyun couldn't help but look forward to the upcoming visit to Yaoxian Residence.
Rate on N.U.
