Chapter 224: Chapter 124: Heading Alone to the Meeting

As Yu Ziyu left the Taobao Pavilion, she still felt slightly surprised in her heart.

Li Jizhou agreed too readily, without the slightest hesitation.

He didn’t even ask why they were looking for Master Han.

This was completely different from the first time she was honest with him at Xiaogang Peak of the Golden Sun Sect.

Just as she was about to leave Liuyun City, she suddenly turned back to look in the direction of the Taobao Pavilion, a faint smile gradually appearing in her eyes.

Then, she turned her gaze to Ye Jingyu.

Just now in the Taobao Pavilion, Ye Jingyu hadn’t spoken a word, nor had he made any eye contact with Li Jizhou.

However, Yu Ziyu could feel that ever since he entered the Taobao Pavilion, Ye Jingyu’s aura was very stable, unexpectedly relaxed.

These two have something going on!

Master Han and Li Jizhou have something going on too!

Yu Ziyu suddenly realized that only she was kept in the dark.

“Hehe, then we shall patiently wait for Chief Shopkeeper Li’s news!” Yu Ziyu chuckled softly, returning to Qingyin Valley with Zhou Cang and Ye Jingyu.

The next day,

just as Li Jizhou was about to send a message to Yu Ziyu, planning to have a substitute puppet visit Qingyin Valley, a message arrived from Situ Yan.

“My brother, it’s urgent, come quickly.”

After months of frequent mutual use, Situ Yan, in order to control the merchants of the southern ten cities and dilute the impact of the Jindui Mountain incident, had rapidly heated up his superficial relationship with Li Jizhou.

Not hesitating to call each other brothers, using his Middle Stage of Golden Core strength combined with his identity as the son of the Black Water Commerce Association Vice President.

After roughly understanding Li Jizhou’s life experiences, family environment, and cultivation journey, he catered to his tastes, making this City Lord enjoy his hospitality immensely.

Upon receiving the message, Li Jizhou swaggered into Cloud Water Residence, the top-notch place in Liuyun City.

It is worth mentioning that the owner here met Li Jizhou twenty years ago, and after several times hosting guests on Li Jizhou’s advice, he managed to elevate the business of Cloud Water Residence several notches, finally achieving a top position in Liuyun City’s service industry.

“Senior Li, you’re here, the usual arrangement?” As soon as he entered the finely decorated front hall of Cloud Water Residence, a row of Qi Cultivation Stage female cultivators in thin silk short skirts bowed to greet him, followed by the enthusiastic reception by the madam.

Li Jizhou nodded slightly, walking straight to the elegant room in the backyard.

Inside the elegant room, a dignified young gentleman was enjoying a massage from two female cultivators. Upon seeing Li Jizhou arrive, he waved the two female cultivators away.

The dignified gentleman was in fact Situ Yan, disguised.

Having secluded himself in the Black Water River Vice President’s mansion for a century, despite many female cultivators offering themselves to him, none could compare to the varied experiences here.

Since being treated here by Li Jizhou once, they agreed to meet here secretly for any major matters in the future.

However, to prevent his old servant from reporting to his father, Situ Yan had to come disguised each time.

“Brother, what matters do you have?” Li Jizhou asked symbolically, activating the array.

Situ Yan sat in the man-made Spiritual Spring pool, his brow furrowed.

“Suspend all intercity goods flow operations recently, and no one from the pavilion should leave the city! Also, avoid any dealings with the Celestial Secret Pavilion or Hongchen Square for now.”

Li Jizhou was slightly taken aback, instantly linking it to the Wei Kingdom.

The day the four escaped from the Wei Kingdom, the Demon Monarch was furious.

This suggests that information about the Wei Kingdom is likely to leak.

And it’s clear, the Demon Sect’s aim isn’t to annex the Yan Kingdom now, but to wait until the Southern Domain Golden Corpse exhausts the Spirit Vein.

Therefore, the Wei Kingdom must be anxious now.

They’re bound to try every means necessary, at any cost, to prevent the information from leaking.

Seeing Situ Yan’s attitude, it seems the commerce alliance has already taken action.

“What should we do? Brother, you know how huge our daily transactions are at the Taobao Pavilion, if we shut down for a day, the losses would be immense! Brother, you…” Li Jizhou chose not to further question the cause, instead focusing only on his immediate interests, seemingly ignorant of the reasons behind the sudden changes.

Situ Yan slightly frowned, but eventually held back his disdain, speaking in a deep voice: “Remember what I’ve said, or it’s not just about financial losses, it could cost your life!”

“Really, that serious?” Li Jizhou finally calms down, lowering his voice, “Brother, what exactly happened?”

Situ Yan initially waved it off, not wanting him to pry further, but seeing the slightly frightened look in Li Jizhou’s eyes, he frowned and said in a deep voice: “The Wuxiang Sect, unable to stand against our commerce alliance army and at their wits end, have been spreading baseless rumors everywhere to disrupt the Yan Kingdom, and the rumors are becoming increasingly exaggerated!”

“Today, the President has ordered a thorough purge of Wuxiang Sect spies remaining in the Yan Kingdom, better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one go!”

“Oh~” Upon hearing this, Li Jizhou visibly relaxed, smiling indifferently.

He had long anticipated such measures from the commerce alliance.

Anyway, they could pin anything on the Wuxiang Sect.

And to prevent information about the Wei Kingdom’s Demon Sect from leaking, the commerce alliance would certainly spread rumors to confuse the public themselves!

“So just follow my words, and there will be no problem, rest assured!” Situ Yan said, seeing Li Jizhou relax, smiling indifferently.

“I comply with brother’s words!” Li Jizhou expressed his gratitude to Situ Yan with a cupped fist salute.

Situ Yan dismissively waved his hand: “No need for formalities, alright, that’s all for today. You can relax in the next room.”

“Oh, by the way, regarding what we discussed last time, I’ve asked around, and indeed, for a period, half-demons were trafficked to the Yan Kingdom, and even some sold to the Qi Kingdom.

However, some incidents involving the Nanling Demon Race led to higher-ups forbidding any dealings with half-demons.

In the short term, we may not experience the enjoyment you mentioned.

But don’t be discouraged, within a hundred years, once the commerce alliance establishes presence in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, hehe~”

Hearing this, Li Jizhou’s heart paused: “The Nanling is also within their schemes? It seems indeed, the Demon Sect’s plans aren’t just targeting the Eastern Desolate Southern Domain!”

After parting with Situ Yan, Li Jizhou didn’t go to the next room to relax, but directly returned to his residence.

Taking out the newsletters from the Celestial Secret Pavilion and Hongchen Square,

indeed, rumors were flying everywhere.

[Fenghuo Immortal City is a Demon Sect stronghold, where the Demon Dao runs rampant, slaughtering righteous cultivators!]

[The Kang family of Jade Dragon Mountain are actually Demon Dao cultivators, pawns nurtured by the commerce alliance!]

[The commerce alliance stationed enforcers in Wucheng are Demon Dao cultivators,]

…

There were countless other similar rumors.

But soon, the publishers of the newsletters would apologize, clarify the rumors, and promise to verify information more thoroughly before release.

Afterward, the commerce alliance would issue a notice stating the Wuxiang Sect has exhausted its tricks and began spreading rumors to discredit and cause chaos in the Yan Kingdom, urging all righteous cultivators in the Yan Kingdom to stay vigilant and not believe the rumors.

Li Jizhou shook his head with a smile, setting the newsletters aside.

He then sent a communication to Yu Ziyu, and took out a substitute puppet.

Given the current measures of the commerce alliance, Li Jizhou introspectively realized that even if he had the selfless and protective nature of Ye Jingyu, safeguarding all beings, there was no definite certainty of success.

He genuinely wanted to know how Yu Ziyu was planning to act?

Half a month later, the substitute puppet, Master Han, stood with hands clasped in front of Qingyin Valley on the Yan Kingdom’s western frontier.

Moments later, Valley Master Yu Ziyu led the senior members of the valley in a grand welcoming.

“I am Han Guangsheng, a cultivator from the Sea Domain of the Five Elders Association, honored by the invitation from Qingyin Valley, but I’m not sure what business you have with this old man?” Upon seeing Yu Ziyu leading the welcoming party, Master Han bowed respectfully.

“Master Han, long have we heard of you, please come inside to talk!” Yu Ziyu laughed charmingly, without publicly explaining anything.

However, inside, she was already clear.

If Master Han really didn’t understand the situation of Qingyin Valley, how could he dare accept the invitation?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep