Chapter 31

"My acting skills have improved once again."

On the way back, Zhao Yun chuckled all the way, occasionally glancing at the Moon Goddess.

The Moon Goddess was still asleep, her slumber peaceful.

After a moment, he quickened his pace, walked for a few dozen feet, but then turned back and stopped in front of a stall. The items on the stall were varied, but he only focused on one.

It was a strand of silk, faintly glowing.

"Heavenly Silk."

Zhao Yun murmured, as if he recognized it, or perhaps he had seen it mentioned in ancient texts.

The Heavenly Silk Worm is an extremely rare species. The silk it produces is far superior to that of ordinary silkworms. Clothing made from this silk can nourish the body, due to its innate, extraordinary power.

"That little girl would like it."

Zhao Yun smiled, referring to Liu Ruxin.

"I'll take this."

Zhao Yun took out a silver note and picked up the Heavenly Silk.

After leaving the black market, he made a detour to a tailor's shop.

He left the Heavenly Silk there to be made into a dress, planning to bring it back to his wife when he returned to the family.

Since he had a gift for his wife, he couldn't neglect his father. He chose an ancient jade, black in color, cool and lustrous, and quite expensive.

As he approached the underground casino again.

Since he was passing by, he couldn't resist going in for a quick win. He didn't win much, but a few hundred taels was enough.

The casino manager looked quite anxious.

It had been several days, and the master still hadn't shown up. The old ghost of the Yan family must be lost!

Zhao Yun knew the truth but wouldn't say anything.

A new day, and the battle for the monopoly of the weapon shops began again.

Zhao Yun's weapon shop opened, and customers came one after another.

These customers were all wealthy, and when they bought, they bought in large quantities.

By noon, the weapons in the shop were sold out.

Zhao Yun remained calm, returned to the shop, and locked himself in a room to refine his skills.

Buy! Keep buying until you run out of money, and I'll bring you down in one go.

Zhao Yun's weapon shop closed again, and the people on the street coughed awkwardly. A good shop, but it kept closing every few days. But those with keen eyes could guess the reason. This closure wasn't an ordinary one; the weapons were sold out, and no matter how you calculated it, there was no loss.

"Keep watching."

Liu Canghai sneered, supported by several major families, and with plenty of silver, he was quite confident.

"Si Kong hasn't returned to the family for several days."

Wang Deli, standing to the side, spoke cautiously.

"He's just eccentric; he'll return when he's ready."

Liu Canghai said indifferently, not really caring. His mind was focused on how to bring down Zhao Yun's weapon shop. As for Si Kong, someone else would find him. The family head, Liu Cangkong, was probably more anxious.

Indeed, Liu Cangkong was very upset.

A guest alchemist, whom he had paid a large sum for, was not only arrogant but also often went out. He hadn't produced the weapons he was supposed to, and had been gone for days without returning. Truly disrespectful.

"Family head, the weapon shop..."

Liu Canghai's steward asked quietly. Liu Canghai didn't dare to approach Liu Cangkong directly, so he had to relay the message through the steward, bribing him with silver to get the family's financial support.

"He must be out of his mind."

Liu Canghai sneered, his words unmasked. As the family head, he had many informants and knew that buying weapons alone wouldn't work. The key was to find Zhao Yun's alchemist. If they continued buying like this, they might not achieve a monopoly, but they would certainly support Zhao Yun's business.

"Find Old Yang and investigate Zhao Yun's weapon shop at night." Liu Canghai said coldly, his eyes sharp. "Find that alchemist. If we can recruit him, do so. If not, eliminate him."

"What about the weapon shop?" the steward asked again.

"Leave it alone." Liu Cangkong waved his hand. "Also, continue searching for Night Wolf."

"Understood."

Behind him, Liu Cangkong took a deep breath, his face extremely grim.

Compared to the weapon shop, he was more concerned about the money house.

Night Wolf was still missing, as if he had vanished from the face of the earth.

The money house relies on trust.

With Night Wolf's actions, who would dare to deposit money in the money house? This was the biggest loss. Therefore, the security of the money house was doubled, and anyone who dared to come again would be killed, even if they were in the Earth Concealment Realm.

"Our weapon shop has been very popular recently!"

In the Zhao family, discussions were ongoing. The weapon shop's success was hard to ignore.

"Where did Zhao Yun find that alchemist?"

Even the elder was suspicious, having heard about it but not inquiring further.

However, he wasn't worried.

No matter how much money the dispatched members earned for the family, it was useless. When Zhao Yuan stepped down and his son took over, Zhao Yun would merely be working for the new master.

Thinking of Zhao Yuan, he glanced at the direction of the family head's villa.

Since Zhao Yun left, Zhao Yuan had been in seclusion, with no signs of coming out.

Three days passed quietly.

The morning streets of Wanggu City were as bustling as ever, with many vendors calling out.

"Calculating the time, it's been half a year since I last visited the black market."

The old man in the hemp robe walked leisurely down the street, looking around.

Bored, he headed towards the Zhao family's weapon shop.

Three days wasn't short, and he had been looking for medicinal herbs. Not finding the old master, he decided to look for Zhao Yun.

He also wanted to see what was different about the boy, who had been favored by the old master.

In the past few days, his breathing had become more even, and he had resumed his cultivation, making it less painful.

As he walked, he suddenly heard the neighing of a horse.

It was the same white cloud horse, and the same heavenly daughter, galloping past like a white cloud, drawing admiring glances from the crowd, both for the horse and for Liu Ruyue.

A heavenly daughter is a heavenly daughter.

Beautiful and elegant, such a talent would always be the center of attention wherever she went.

"That must be the disciple of the little cloud phoenix. Indeed, she is extraordinary."

The old man in the hemp robe stroked his beard, glancing at Liu Ruyue. Her talent was indeed impressive.

The "little cloud phoenix" he referred to was Liu Ruyue's master.

Fortunately, Zhao Yun didn't know. If he did, he wouldn't know what to think. After all, she was from the Heavenly Sect, deep and unfathomable, yet called a "little cloud phoenix." What a high seniority you must have.

"She's a good person, but her character..."

The old man in the hemp robe looked away, muttering. Everyone in Wanggu City knew that the Liu family had played a good game. If she didn't want to marry, she should just say so. Swapping one for another was too much.

And the little cloud phoenix, that night must have been quite impressive.

Yes, when he returned to the Heavenly Sect, he would have a good talk with her.

Stay at home and don't wander around, to avoid being killed by someone.

For example, Zhao Yun's terrifying master.

If he found out that someone was bullying his disciple, he would definitely seek revenge.

As he spoke, he arrived at the Zhao family's weapon shop.

Zhao Yun was there, pretending to doze at the counter, but in reality, he was studying the Heavenly Book of the Mystic Gate, multitasking and practicing the Wind God Steps. He never wasted a moment.

"There's a Profound Yang Realm expert."

Zhao Yun murmured, as the small spirit pearl in his chest glowed purple, indicating that a Profound Yang Realm expert was nearby. The depth of the purple light suggested a powerful one.

"He's here."

Zhao Yun glanced secretly and saw the old man in the hemp robe approaching.

He continued to pretend to sleep, preparing to test his acting skills.

The old man in the hemp robe entered, glanced around the shop, and raised his eyebrows. From the shopkeeper to the helpers, everyone was dozing, because the shelves were empty, with no weapons.

This was interesting.

With no weapons to sell, they should close and go to bed!

Bored, he leaned on the counter and tapped it lightly.

Zhao Yun was startled awake, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and was about to go back to sleep.

This amused the old man in the hemp robe. At least say something!

After a few moments, Zhao Yun finally looked up and said, "Sold out today."

"Do you want medicinal herbs?" the old man in the hemp robe asked quietly.

This time, Zhao Yun truly looked up, pretending not to recognize him, and scanned him from head to toe.

Then, he asked tentatively, "From the black market?"

"What do you think?" the old man in the hemp robe replied, heading for a private room.

Zhao Yun smiled inwardly and followed quickly.

In the private room, the old man in the hemp robe had already sat down, pouring tea for himself.

"My master said to give the cultivation technique only if you have medicinal herbs."

Zhao Yun sat down, yawning repeatedly, as if putting on a show.

"Alright."

The old man in the hemp robe didn't waste words, and with a wave of his hand, a jade box appeared, containing three True Essence Pills, neatly arranged.

"Smells good."

Zhao Yun sniffed, handed over the cultivation technique, still only a part of it.

"Where is your master?"

The old man in the hemp robe asked, seemingly casual but actually very interested.

"Traveling in the void."

Zhao Yun was in bluffing mode, making up an excuse.

"What is your master's background?"

The old man in the hemp robe, holding the cultivation technique, looked at Zhao Yun with a smile, trying to get some information.

"From the Heavenly Sect."

Zhao Yun sat up straight, reciting the prepared story.

"The Heavenly Sect is great, the Heavenly Sect is powerful."

The old man in the hemp robe sat up, stroking his beard, speaking with deep meaning.

Heavenly Sect, my ass. I've never heard of it.

Bluffing, this kid is bluffing. He just doesn't want to reveal anything, so he made up the Heavenly Sect.

"When will he return?"

The old man in the hemp robe didn't expose him, asking again.

"Unknown." Zhao Yun shrugged. "He's like a dragon, seen but not fully revealed."

"In that case, I'll wait here."

The old man in the hemp robe was still self-aware, leaving the private room but not going far, heading straight for the back yard.

Clearly, he planned to stay.

Before leaving, he gave Zhao Yun a meaningful look, his eyes deep.

Just as he thought! This kid is extraordinary.

Not a broken meridian body, but a connected spirit meridian, already a martial cultivator. Moreover, he had not only Heavenly Lightning but also a terrifying beast fire. His true essence was much purer than that of other martial cultivators of the same level. No wonder the old master took him as a disciple. In just a few days, his cultivation had advanced so much.

"So, you're the alchemist."

The old man in the hemp robe sighed inwardly. With beast fire and Heavenly Lightning, either one was enough to qualify.

Naturally, the old master had trained him well.

Unfortunately, most of Wanggu City, including the Zhao and Liu families, were still in the dark.

"Cloud Phoenix! You chose the wrong target to suppress."

The old man in the hemp robe shook his head, also feeling sorry for Liu Ruyue. A good marriage, a golden boy and a jade girl, but she had pushed away a martial genius.

"Objective achieved."

Zhao Yun, unaware of the old man's thoughts, was secretly pleased.

He had finally gained a protector.

Would the old man in the hemp robe harm him? Probably not.

He had a non-existent master to back him up.

At least until his master appeared or he found all the cultivation techniques, the old man wouldn't make a move.