Xi Zhongkang is in his early forties, mid-acquired, wearing a brown short robe, thick eyebrows, big eyes, an angular face, and a slightly tired expression.
The man next to him is about the same age, early acquired, with short hair and blue clothes, a long and thin face, smart eyes, and a very capable spirit.
"Daozhang Yang is here. I'm glad to meet you. This is Fu Yong, the manager of Four Seasons Garden." Xi Zhongkang stood up and said.
"Nice to meet Master Xiyuan and Manager Fu." Xue Tong greeted.
The butler served tea and stood aside with his hands down.
"We are all our own people, so I will make a long story short. Xi has been fortunate enough to be the steward of Zhanxing Pavilion recently. He will leave for Longyuan Town next month to replace the original steward Zhang."
"As the Guandai, the number of subordinates will increase tenfold to the current number, and we need to accept and train disciples. It will no longer be as leisurely as the Four Seasons Garden. I have too few helpers around me. I want to recruit some capable people to grow bigger together."
"After Shen An's incident, I inquired about Taoist Master Yang's medicine shop. The elixirs he refined were of high quality. I intend to hire the Taoist Priest as the guest minister of Baimiao Valley in Longyuan Town. In the future, I will need a large number of primary elixirs for the disciples of Baimiao Valley. , it can also be guaranteed.”
Xi Zhongkang rambled for a while and expressed his intention to invite Xue Tong.
Seeing Xue Tongshang's hesitation, Fu Yong encouraged him: "My village owner sincerely invites you. This is a rare opportunity. How about giving it a try, Taoist Yang?"
"I may not be able to take on this important task. As for the elixir, Yang can guarantee the supply at a discount." Xue Tong replied.
He really had no interest in living under someone else's roof. He was just a small-time guest, and the small profit on the elixir turned into a meager profit. He sold it to Xi Zhongkang at a discount, but he didn't care.
The so-called guest guests refer to distinguished guests specially invited by Xuanmen. Xuanmen provides guest guests with certain spiritual stones and resources, and in return, guest guests must provide assistance when necessary.
"Oh."
"It doesn't matter. If Taoist Yang doesn't want to, let's talk about it later."
Xi Zhongkang seemed very open-minded, but Fu Yong's face was not very good-looking.
"Thank you very much, Master Xi. In the future, Bai Miao Valley will need Bone Tempering Pills and Qi Condensing Pills. No matter the quantity, Yang's Pharmacy is willing to sell them at a 10% discount." Xue Tong changed his name to Xi Zhongkang as the Valley Master.
"Okay, if necessary, Butler Liao will contact the Taoist Priest."
"The Four Seasons Garden disciples were rude this morning. I hope Taoist Master Yang won't mind you." Xi Zhongkang changed the subject and said.
"No, no, who is the boy named Shen?" Xue Tong cooperated and asked Xi Zhongkang's wishes.
"Shen An's boss is related to the whereabouts of a major criminal. Four Seasons Garden is looking for traces to arrest people. Shen An and his gang are dying and escaping. Shen An happened to escape to a medicine shop and was rescued by the Taoist Priest."
"Oh, where is Shen An? Have you caught him?" Xue Tong asked.
"Shen An's whereabouts are unknown after leaving the drug store. It is suspected that he stole a carriage at the corner of the street and went north out of the city."
"Four Seasons Garden is investigating. There is no need to worry, Taoist Priest Yang. This matter has nothing to do with Taoist Priest." Xi Zhongkang said.
"That's good. If nothing happens to Valley Master Xi, I'll take my leave."
"Steward Liao, send the carriage to Taoist Yang." Xi Zhongkang ordered.
"No, no, no, let's take a walk downstairs and take a look at the street scene."
…
After Xue Tong left, Xi Zhongkang's face darkened, "Young people don't know how to be polite. If you don't come to Baimiao Valley, you won't be able to do business! Gradually, the wind was released. Shen An was rescued by Yang Shijie, and then disappeared. The clues are in The one named Yang is broken."
Xi Zhongkang worked hard and climbed to the position of Guan Dai. He was so complacent that he didn't want to be poured cold water on by Xue Tong, and was extremely unhappy.
"Shen An stepped up his questioning. No one except the three of me is allowed to enter the Dongshan courtyard. If nothing can be found from Shen An's mouth after half a month, we will notify the superiors to collect him."
"Dig it out?" asked the steward.
"Same, just change some more money!" Xi Zhongkang said coldly.
…
In the next half month, Xue Tong noticed that something was obviously wrong. From time to time, people secretly observed the drug store and even followed him, which made him shrink back and forth in his own house, which greatly affected him.
"Shen An's ghost is still lingering. These people are really annoying. Unless they are punished, there will be no end to the trouble."
Xue Tong wanted to arrest the person for questioning, but thinking about it would probably be of no use, and he would only sink deeper and deeper into the situation. He had no choice but to give up this thought.
He called Liu Wu and Chen Shuang and asked, "You two have noticed that there are people following you for days. Have you observed the drug store?"
"No, Taoist Priest." The two of them were surprised.
"The white-faced guy who just passed by passed by the door every quarter of an hour and looked around a few times."
"This is just the lowest level, driving slowly past in a more concealed manner. Come back later, and the long room of the inn diagonally opposite has been replaced by groups of people, who are constantly monitoring it day and night."
Chen and Liu stared and asked, "Is this still about Shen An?"
"Well, you two don't have to look after the store these days. Each of you has one hundred spirit stones per day. You can invite new and old friends to drink and have tea, and talk about what's going on with Shen An?!"
"Remember, you won't be able to return the spiritual stones until they are all spent. If you spend too much money, you may need to pay on credit. Friends, old and new, have a great time!"
Xue Tong threw out two bags of spiritual stones, one hundred for each.
"No, Taoist Priest!" Liu An's eyes lit up, he couldn't believe such a good thing.
"But don't act like you have a lot of money and get robbed." Xue Tong said.
"That's for sure. Everyone knows that I, Liu Wu, was poor. It was the Taoist priest who was annoyed that the shop couldn't open, so he asked my two brothers to be happy first and prepare to break up." Liu Wu said with a smile.
"Yes, that's what I mean." Xue Tong nodded.
Young casual cultivators like Chen Shuang and Liu Wu can only drink a dozen spirit stones for three or five people. They grew up poor and have owed a lot of debts for food and drink over the years. With Xue Tong's support, they are busy. Invite old friends to eat and drink, old friends bring new ones, and the group is having a great time every day.
Information about Shen An is not difficult to obtain during the exchange of drinks.
The two were happy for seven days and returned on time.
"The boss of Shen'an and Ma Wanquan, the elder of Zhanxing Pavilion, had a drink. They were accompanied by a man named Huang Jun. After drinking, Ma Wanquan returned to the deposed envoy's mansion. Huang Jun disappeared. Looking for him."
"Ma Wanquan had a high status and was uncooperative, so Shen An's boss became the target of public criticism. After a fight, all the people who went to Xiangyun Restaurant to drink that day, except Shen An, died. It was rumored that Shen An last appeared at Yang's Pharmacy, Taoist Priest He is the last person to see Shen An." Liu An said anxiously.
"It's said that the Taoist priest hid Shen An!" Chen Shuang added.
Xue Tong smiled bitterly, "It's ridiculous. Saving Shen An is like having wet hands soaked in flour. I can't shake them off, and I can't speak clearly even if I have a mouth."
"Elder Ma Wanquan Zhanxing Pavilion, the matter is related to Zhanxing Pavilion? Why did he go to depose the ambassador's office?" Xue Tong asked.
"I don't know... Chen Shuang's and I's friends are all minor figures, and there's no way to know more specific information."
"Well, what does Huang Jun do?"
"I don't know, I just know he is an old man in his sixties." Chen Shuang replied.
At this point, Xue Tong suddenly woke up and immediately sent the two of them: "Okay, let's talk about this first. You guys have been playing for seven days, so you can calm down and continue to visit the store tomorrow."
…
Huang Jun's name was very familiar. Xue Tong, who was in his sixties, felt more and more like the Huang Jun he had seen in Hongzhou in the past.
"Huang Jun stays with Guan Muqing. If something happens to Huang Jun, Guan Muqing will definitely be involved. This woman is ignorant of the world and is naive and childish. Maybe she is the cause of the trouble."
"Guan Muqing lives in Qingliu Town, Binzhou. Do you want me to go there and have a look?"
"have a finger in the pie!"
Xue Tong stopped refining weapons to avoid the spread of fireworks and geothermal heat, which would arouse suspicion. He practiced Qigong, drew talismans, and planted medicine in the garden as usual, which gradually disappointed those who followed him.
Half a month later, news spread that Shen An's body was found in the wilderness, and it was unknown who had done it.
The people outside Yang's Pharmacy and Xue Tong's residence gradually dispersed. Just when Xue Tong thought that the rumors were self-defeating, a visitor from Yang's Pharmacy came to the door.
The visitor surprised Xue Tong!
A red carriage stopped at the door of the drug store, and a tall and charming young woman stepped out. She wore black boots, a short skirt, and a tight-fitting jacket that showed off her hot figure. She had a pretty face with a gooseneck, and willowy eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes.
"Uh" Liu Wu was dumbfounded and stared at the beautiful woman entering the door.
"Seek death!" The woman in black raised her whip and whipped it hard.
The riding whip came so fast that Liu Wu Daoxing was too shallow to dodge, so he instinctively shrank his head.
About to hit his head with a whip, three fingers appeared out of thin air and held the riding crop.
"Fairies don't have to be so angry. The people below are ignorant, so why bother." Xue Tong came to the backyard after hearing the sound of horse hooves, holding his whip and said.
The woman in black missed Liu Wu and ignored Liu Wu, saying coldly: "Are you Yang Shijie? The immortal envoy has summoned you to come with me."
"I'd like the fairy to lead the way."
Xue Tong loosened his riding whip and said secretly: "The rightful master is finally here!"
Liu Wu's face turned pale. It was the first time he was so close to the guards of Quexian Palace, and he almost got a whip.
After Xue Tong came to Chengzhou, he deepened his understanding of the Xuangu Divine Sect. The Divine Sect originally had Wque Immortal Palace, but for unknown reasons three thousand years ago, it branched off in Zhanxing Pavilion and named it Que Immortal Palace.
The previous owners of the Immortal Palace were all women, and there were eight male and female immortal envoys. The identity of the woman in black was roughly the guardian of the Immortal Palace.
Women are in charge of the family in the Immortal Palace, but men account for 70% of the family despite low status. The female disciples in the Immortal Palace are all like flowers and jade, and they dress openly. To prevent confusion between men and women, severe punishments are set up, and those who violate the rules are severely punished.
Xue Tong felt ridiculous after hearing this, "Isn't this nonsense? Beautiful women wander around every day, dressed in eye-catching clothes, but you are not allowed to have any wrongdoing."
The activity areas of male and female disciples in the Immortal Palace are clearly divided. Male disciples are limited to the periphery of Linxian Mountain, and the opportunities for contact with female disciples are limited. The palace rules do not object to disciples becoming Taoist couples, but they are strictly stipulated to be consistent to the end. Violators will be regarded as traitors to the sect and will be killed without mercy!
Xue Tong was thinking wildly in the car, wondering what Guan Muqing had done, but if the immortal envoy came forward, it would be serious.
…
The carriage made many twists and turns and arrived in front of a large courtyard.
The red lacquered door opened automatically in the absence of wind. Under the eaves of the main room, there was a woman in purple palace attire, her face covered with gauze, her eyes as cold as knives.
Xue Tongmu did not dare to squint, he bowed and cupped his hands and said: "Junior Yang Shijie has seen the immortal envoy."
"Yang Shijie, do you know why we are looking for you?" Luan Jing, the purple-clothed immortal envoy, said.
Luan Jing's voice was graceful and full of charm. Xue Tong knew immediately upon hearing it that she was the immortal envoy who had not revealed his true face at the Yixinzhai auction.
"This junior knows that it's about Shen An."
What Xue Tong was thinking was whether to reveal the past with Huang Jun and Guan Muqing.
He doesn't want to get involved in some messy disputes, but he doesn't mind digging up old stories if there's a big profit to be made.
