Chapter 9

"Can't tell, Mr. Shen, I didn't know you had such a good fatherly side."

A pleasant yet somewhat cold voice suddenly came from outside the door, causing both Shen Tai and the Butcher to change their expressions. However, a moment later, when a slim figure appeared at the doorway, the Butcher's expression relaxed, while a hint of complex emotion flashed in Shen Tai's eyes.

He looked at the mature and beautiful woman standing before him, who exuded a sense of strength amidst her calmness, and gave a bitter smile, bowing slightly as he said, "Greetings, Manager Gu. For the offenses I have committed over the years, I beg your forgiveness."

Gu Lingyun, the renowned and influential manager of the Immortal Assembly's branch in Xilu City, was the beautiful and charming woman standing before them. However, at this moment, her gaze on Shen Tai was far from gentle, much like the intense and vibrant aura that always seemed to emanate from beneath her charming appearance. Her eyes were calm yet sharp, and after a moment of intense scrutiny, she said coolly, "The Immortal Assembly has 3,317 branches spread across the main world of Hongmeng, all of which are thriving and widely recognized. Only in the southwestern Yin Prefecture's Xilu City have we been plagued by troubles, with three managers being replaced in ten years. When it was my turn, I was suppressed by you for five years, becoming a laughingstock within the Immortal Assembly, with little chance of advancement. Tell me, after you have wronged me so, will I forgive you?"

Shen Tai's face stiffened, showing a look of surprise, while the Butcher, who had been relaxed beside him, was taken aback by Gu Lingyun's sharp and cutting words.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy, with no sound to be heard. No one had expected this beautiful woman to be as sharp and cold as a blade, showing no mercy.

Shen Tai's brows furrowed, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. He seemed to want to say something but, seeing Gu Lingyun's cold expression, he hesitated and held back.

Just as the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense, a light and quick footsteps approached from a distance. Before entering the room, Shen Shi's voice could be heard from outside, "Uncle, has my father come... Ah, Father, you're here!"

Before the words were fully spoken, a young figure ran into the room, none other than Shen Tai's only son, Shen Shi. Seeing his son standing safely before him, Shen Tai's expression relaxed, and he smiled, reaching out to pat his son's head, nodding with a smile.

Shen Tai took a deep look at Shen Shi, gritted his teeth, and suddenly turned to the beautiful woman still standing at the door, bowing deeply and said, "Manager Gu, in the past, we each served different masters, and our business conflicts led to misunderstandings. All the offenses are due to my lack of judgment. Now, my son and I are like dogs that have lost their home. I beg you, Manager Gu, to show mercy and let us live."

As he spoke, Shen Tai lowered his head, his voice and demeanor showing humility, almost as if he were pleading. This action left Shen Shi momentarily stunned, his mouth opening and closing as he turned to look at Gu Lingyun, a hint of anger on his face. However, he soon felt his father tug at his clothing from behind.

Shen Shi turned to look at Shen Tai, who was still bowed and lowered, unable to see his expression. Shen Shi stood there, speechless, and after a moment, he silently lowered his head, standing beside his father, his head bowed and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Even the Butcher, who had always been tough and had remained silent, couldn't help but frown, hesitating for a moment before turning to look at Gu Lingyun and saying softly, "Manager, they..."

Gu Lingyun gave him a cold glance, and the Butcher immediately held back, giving a bitter smile and turning away.

With light footsteps, Gu Lingyun slowly entered the room, coming to stand before the Shen family. She looked deeply at the man who was still bowed and showing a hint of humility, then suddenly snorted and helped Shen Tai to his feet. She walked to the table and sat down, saying coolly, "That's enough. We've been rivals in Xilu City for five years. Your show of penitence or endurance won't fool anyone, so stop acting."

The Butcher was taken aback, turning to look at Shen Tai, who stared at the beautiful woman for a moment before suddenly laughing and walking to sit opposite Gu Lingyun, clasping his hands and saying, "Manager Gu, your insight is truly remarkable, I admire you. Although we have been enemies for many years, we actually know each other very well. Just now, I..."

Gu Lingyun raised an eyebrow and said, "I am an unmarried woman, Mr. Shen, when you say we know each other well, are you trying to take advantage of me?"

Shen Tai's smile froze, a look of embarrassment crossing his face. Despite his usually smooth nature, he was at a loss for words in the face of Gu Lingyun's sharp remarks, realizing that over the past five years, he had truly offended this beautiful manager of the Immortal Assembly in Xilu City.

Fortunately, after her words, Gu Lingyun did not continue to press the issue. She just huffed and her gaze fell on Shen Shi, who was standing beside Shen Tai, and said, "This is your son, right?"

Shen Tai nodded, relieved, and said, "Yes, my son, Shen Shi, is twelve years old." Then he turned to Shen Shi and said, "This is Manager Gu Lingyun of the Immortal Assembly, call her... Auntie Yun?"

As he spoke, Shen Tai couldn't help but sneak a glance at Gu Lingyun. Over the past five years, although he and Gu Lingyun had some interactions, most of them were business conflicts. This was the first time they were sitting down to chat. Seeing how difficult Gu Lingyun was to deal with earlier, he was afraid that calling her "Auntie Yun" might anger her again.

However, under the watchful eyes of the Shen family, and with Shen Shi hesitantly calling her "Auntie Yun," Gu Lingyun did not get angry this time but instead nodded calmly.

Shen Tai waited for a moment, but the beautiful woman did not seem to have any intention of speaking further. He frowned and turned to look at the Butcher, who gave a dry laugh and leaned against the door, looking up at the sky.

Shen Tai glared at him, but with no other choice, he forced a smile and said to Gu Lingyun, "Manager Gu, regarding the agreement we made with your assembly, I believe you have received the news. Is it now time for you to fulfill your promise?"

Gu Lingyun's slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, and she said calmly, "The Immortal Assembly values its reputation and promises. We will not go back on our word."

Shen Tai was overjoyed, standing up and bowing, "Thank you. Could you please arrange for my son and me to leave Xilu City as soon as possible? This place is within the territory of the Xuan Yin Sect, and the longer we stay, the more dangerous it becomes. We..."

Before he could finish, Gu Lingyun waved her hand to interrupt him, then pointed at Shen Shi and said coolly, "Your son can leave, but..." She glanced at Shen Tai, a slight smile playing on her lips, and both Shen Tai and Shen Shi felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. She continued, "You stay."

A low,闷闷的响声传来，是沈石在情绪激荡下，咬牙愤怒地向前迈出一步，但随即被沈泰一把拉住。尽管如此，沈泰此刻的脸色也极为难看，重新缓缓坐了下来，半晌之后，才低声道：“为何如此，请顾掌柜教我。”

顾灵云脸色不变，平静地道：“你的事还未做完。”

沈泰面上掠过一丝怒色，沉声道：“顾掌柜说笑了，我分明已将‘阴潮珠’掉包出来，换上了你们给的假货，只要李老怪用此假灵珠修炼，下场如何不问可知。我一介炼气境小人物，如此暗算一位神通广大的元丹境大真人，顾掌柜你居然还说我事未做完，没这个道理罢？”

顾灵云淡淡一笑，道：“沈老板你不也是走投无路，这才狗急跳墙的么？”

沈泰面色陡然一沉，盯着顾灵云，缓缓道：“顾掌柜你果然消息灵通，看来在玄阴门中有不少耳目吧？”

顾灵云像是没听见沈泰的这番话一般，自顾自又接下去说道，“我们之前所约定的，乃是有某位前辈看那李老怪不顺眼，想要惩治此人一番，一旦成功，我们自然保你父子平安，同时安排你们妥善退路逃离玄阴门追杀，再给你儿子一个去名门大派修炼仙道的机会，可是如此？”

沈泰缓缓点头，道：“不错。”

顾灵云看了他一眼，道：“但如今事仍未成，李老怪还未拿到那颗珠子，就算拿到了也还未开始修炼，只要他不出事，这事就不算完。”

沈泰默然良久，随后深深吸了一口气，道：“那你要怎样？”

顾灵云毫不犹豫地道：“你儿子先走，离开阴州，你就与我呆在此处，若此事果然成功，我安排人让你隐名埋姓离开，若不成，万一玄阴门追查到我这里，你便是那替罪羔羊，神仙会自然不会回护于你。”

沈泰眼角肌肉抽搐了一下，道：“你们要把我交出去？”

“玄阴门在这阴州境内势力不小，并非寻常小门小派，而一个元丹境大真人也不是那么好惹的。”

沈泰冷笑一声，带了几分嘲讽之意，顾灵云只当没听懂了，说是元丹境不好惹，说是玄阴门势力不凡，但之前神仙会挖它墙角暗中阴毒行事，又哪里有半分顾忌了？

沉默片刻后，沈泰冷冷道：“你们把我交出去的话，就不怕我把你们拉扯进来？”

顾灵云微微一笑，道：“你儿子不是还在我们手上么。”

沈泰和沈石都霍然抬头，包括那屠夫都是一脸难以言表的神情，呆呆看着这个妩媚娇艳的女子，而顾灵云恍若不觉，神色自若，道：“所以呢，沈老板你就多多求神佛保佑，让那李老怪倒霉些，老老实实地用了那假灵珠罢。”

沈泰脸上神情变幻，痛苦挣扎之色不停闪过，而沈石的脸色也苍白之极，站在父亲身旁，眼中满是担忧之色，身旁的双手因为太过用力，连指甲都深深陷入了掌心之中。

半晌过后，沈泰忽地长叹一声，低声道：“我明白了，一切就按顾掌柜说的做，我留下等那个消息吧。”

顾灵云微微一笑，没有言语，但站在沈泰身边的沈石却是身子微微颤抖了一下，轻轻叫了一声：“爹……”

声音很轻，但话里却仿佛蕴藏了无数情绪，悲愤担忧焦虑，千言万语似也无法说清，到最后只化作了这一句，这一字。

沈泰看着儿子强笑了一下，掉头对顾灵云道：“顾掌柜，在石头临走之前我有些话想跟他单独说说，不知可否？”

顾灵云颔首站起，碧纱罗裙衣襟轻摆，整个人便如一朵娇艳无比在春光中最明媚的花儿，艳光四射，悠然自得地走出了这间屋子。在她身后，屠夫一阵默然无语，随后轻轻叹息一声，也是跟着走了出去。

很快的，这屋中便只剩下了沈家父子二人。

(晚上应该还有一章。）

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A low,闷闷的响声 came from Shen Shi, who, in his emotional turmoil, clenched his teeth and angrily took a step forward, but was immediately pulled back by Shen Tai. Despite this, Shen Tai's face was extremely grim, and he slowly sat down again. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "Why is this so, please enlighten me, Manager Gu."

Gu Lingyun's expression remained unchanged, and she said calmly, "Your task is not yet complete."

A trace of anger flashed across Shen Tai's face, and he said in a deep voice, "Manager Gu, you jest. I have already switched the 'Yin Chao Pearl' with the fake one you provided. If Li Laoguai uses this fake pearl for cultivation, his fate is clear. I am just a minor cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage, and to secretly plot against a powerful Yuan Dan realm grandmaster, you still say my task is not complete? That makes no sense."

Gu Lingyun smiled faintly and said, "Mr. Shen, you were in a desperate situation, weren't you, which is why you resorted to such extreme measures?"

Shen Tai's face darkened, and he stared at Gu Lingyun, saying slowly, "Manager Gu, you are indeed well-informed. It seems you have many informants within the Xuan Yin Sect?"

Gu Lingyun acted as if she hadn't heard Shen Tai's words and continued, "As we agreed, a certain senior found Li Laoguai to be a nuisance and wanted to punish him. If successful, we would ensure your safety and arrange a safe escape for you and your son, and provide your son with an opportunity to join a prestigious sect for cultivation. Is that correct?"

Shen Tai nodded slowly, "Yes."

Gu Lingyun looked at him and said, "But the task is not yet complete. Li Laoguai has not yet obtained the pearl, and even if he does, he hasn't started cultivating with it. As long as nothing happens to him, the task is not finished."

Shen Tai was silent for a long time, then took a deep breath and said, "What do you want?"

Gu Lingyun said without hesitation, "Your son can leave first, out of Yin Prefecture. You will stay here with me. If the task is successful, I will arrange for you to leave under a new identity. If it fails, and the Xuan Yin Sect traces it back to me, you will be the scapegoat, and the Immortal Assembly will not protect you."

Shen Tai's eye muscles twitched, and he said, "You are going to hand me over?"

"The Xuan Yin Sect has considerable influence in Yin Prefecture and is not an ordinary small sect. A Yuan Dan realm grandmaster is not easy to provoke."

Shen Tai gave a cold laugh, with a hint of sarcasm, but Gu Lingyun pretended not to understand. She said, "A Yuan Dan realm grandmaster is not easy to provoke, and the Xuan Yin Sect has significant influence. But when the Immortal Assembly dug into their ranks and acted in secret, did they show any hesitation?"

After a moment of silence, Shen Tai said coldly, "If you hand me over, are you not afraid that I will implicate you?"

Gu Lingyun smiled slightly and said, "Isn't your son still in our hands?"

Shen Tai and Shen Shi both looked up sharply, and even the Butcher had an indescribable expression, staring at the charming and beautiful woman. Gu Lingyun seemed oblivious, her expression calm, and she said, "So, Mr. Shen, you should pray to the gods and Buddhas to make Li Laoguai have a bad day and use the fake pearl honestly."

Shen Tai's expression changed, with pain and struggle flashing across his face, while Shen Shi's face was extremely pale, standing beside his father, his eyes full of worry, and his hands so tightly clenched that his nails dug into his palms.

After a long moment, Shen Tai sighed deeply and said in a low voice, "I understand. I will do as Manager Gu says and stay here to wait for the news."

Gu Lingyun smiled faintly, saying nothing, but Shen Shi, standing beside Shen Tai, trembled slightly and softly called, "Father..."

The voice was very soft, but it seemed to carry countless emotions—grief, anger, worry, and anxiety. No amount of words could express it, and in the end, it all boiled down to this one word, this one call.

Shen Tai looked at his son and forced a smile, turning to Gu Lingyun and saying, "Manager Gu, before my son leaves, I have some words I want to say to him alone. May I?"

Gu Lingyun nodded and stood up, her green silk dress swaying gently, making her look like a stunningly beautiful flower in the spring, radiating charm and grace as she walked out of the room. Behind her, the Butcher was silent, then sighed softly and followed her out.

Soon, the room was left with only the Shen family father and son.

(Evening should have another chapter.)

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