Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official-Chapter 127: Secret Operations
Li Qingmu was back in the Flower Garden Tavern through the side entrance. He easily blended into the crowd of merry patrons and perfumed courtesans. His earlier exit had been quite dramatic, but he never truly left when unfinished business called.
He scanned the main hall first but nothing useful there.
His gaze drifted toward the backyard garden.
Lanterns glowed softly among flowering vines, and in the small open pavilion near the sparkling lotus pond sat a familiar cluster of beautiful women.
These were Sect Master Dai’s special prostitutes.
Perfect.
Li Qingmu straightened his collar and cleared his throat lightly as he strolled over with confidence.
One of the girls spotted him first.
Her eyes widened.
She quickly leaned toward the others and hissed.
"Quick, look away! Ignore him completely. Master Dai strictly warned us never to speak to that man, never to even glance his way. He’s trouble."
But another courtesan had already locked gazes with him and found herself biting her lower lip.
"Mmm~ look at him. So handsome it hurts. If he’s good enough to charm Miss Yueshan herself, imagine how skilled he must be in the bedroom..."
The third girl smacked the charmed lady’s arm.
"Stop it! Have you lost your mind? Master Dai pays us ten times what any other patron ever could. You want to throw all that away and crawl back to our muddy little villages just for a night with him? Think, sister."
The charmed lady pouted until her tender cheeks puffed like a sulky child.
"Fine... fine. I was just saying..."
Li Qingmu reached the edge of the pavilion and raised a hand in greeting.
"Ladies. I’d like a moment of your time, if I may."
The head courtesan who actually ran this little circle set her teacup down calmly. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
She met his gaze without flinching.
"Get lost, Mr. Li. We have no interest in sleeping with you. Our bodies belong only to Master Dai and he pays us more than generously. Leave."
The other women nodded vigorously with their tiny chins raised in stubborn loyalty. These were Dai Qiu’s women both in body and soul. The only reason Li Qingmu hadn’t already been thrown out on his face after that auction stunt was his official status. They couldn’t openly disrespect an immortal official without consequences.
Li Qingmu merely smiled wider, unruffled.
"No need to share beds. I only want to ask a few innocent questions about your Dai Qiu. Nothing more."
His eyes slid to the blushing prostitute.
He gave her a small wink.
"But, we can have some fun if the mood strikes."
The head prostitute stood up in one fluid motion.
Her silk sleeves snapped like flags in the breeze.
"Leave now, or I call the guards. I mean it."
Her stare could cut stone.
Li Qingmu studied her, then gave the tiniest shrug and turned as though he would walk away.
But of course he didn’t.
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Meanwhile.
The Exalted Sage School’s central pavilion.
Huo Yanzi waved a hand across the round table. Spiritual light shimmered, and a perfect miniature city rose from the wood with towers, walls, winding paths, even tiny flowing rivers that were all rendered in breathtaking detail.
Wen Qingwan rested her dainty white chin on her fingers as she studied it closely.
"Such fine control... I didn’t realize Senior Brother Huo also cultivated the Nine Celestial Transformations."
Master Wen Jiuling smiled proudly at his daughter.
"Huo Yanzi is one of the rare few with true potential to master it completely. He has already reached the third level of the Five Heavenly Transformations."
Wen Qingwan’s eyes widened.
Yu Fang’s knuckles popped around his sword hilt.
"Third level...?"
He muttered bitterly.
"Truly talented."
Wen Qingwan blinked several times then smiled so brightly it could light up a dark forest.
"Wow."
It wasn’t like she was trying hard to smile or make it special. She didn’t add any extra charm or effort to it. It was just that she was so naturally beautiful that even a small, simple smile from her felt bright and warm. To men who admired her beauty, that smile felt like soft sunlight shining right into their hearts.
Huo Yanzi modestly returned the smile.
Master Wen Jiuling continued.
"As you can see, he is exactly the kind of outstanding young man I would wish to see carry on my legacy in this fine sect one day. Who knows what the future holds when he decides to settle down and take a wife..."
He cast a subtle side-glance at Wen Qingwan.
She ignored it completely, still staring at the model.
"Hm... so fascinating. Isn’t this the floor plan of the Empyrean Thunder Sect?"
Huo Yanzi nodded and began pointing.
"Correct. Here is the main gate. This secondary gate leads to the administrative offices and disciple quarters. And this is the path carved personally by High God Mo Yuan to directly connect the sect to Immortal Cloud City without crossing the Exalted Sage School’s route."
Master Wen nodded attentively.
Huo Yanzi’s smooth and slender finger moved to a secluded hall deep inside.
"This area is restricted to elders only. It’s where peak masters collect their sect’s allocated resources. My inside source informed me... there is a secret vault hidden here."
Wen Qingwan blinked owlishly.
"Secret vault?"
Huo Yanzi smiled.
"Last month, Sect Master Dai quietly had workers construct a massive hidden chamber. It makes no sense. Regardless of status, sects are supposed to be transparent about resources to receive higher allocations from the echelons of Heaven World State. Hiding anything suggests... he plans to keep a portion for himself."
Wen Qingwan’s mouth fell open.
"That’s not fair! The Empyrean Thunder Sect already cheated to win those resources, and Mountain Lord Mo Yuan clearly favors them. How much more does Sect Master Dai want to steal?"
Master Wen Jiuling’s expression darkened.
"We don’t know yet. But our plan is to take every last spirit stone and herb back for our sect."
Yu Fang straightened.
"So that’s why you called us."
"Exactly."
Huo Yanzi nodded firmly.
"As the sect’s top disciples, you are the only ones suited for this assignment."
He leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"But we cannot be discovered. If High God Mo Yuan intervenes, we will regret it. The workers built only one entrance to the vault... and Dai Qiu had his personal office constructed directly in front of it. The only chance is to move when he is absent from the hall."
Wen Qingwan and Yu Fang exchanged a glance then nodded fiercely.
They were ready.
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Some time later.
Li Qingmu reclined lazily on the wide lounge chair in the very same pavilion. His head rested comfortably on a prostitute’s soft thighs while another knelt at his feet to gently massage the arches with perfumed oil. One cute little prostitute fed him peeled grapes one by one, giggling when juice dribbled down his chin. And there was another girl who daintily wiped his lips with a silk handkerchief.
The scroll he’d quietly lifted from Xu Xiaoshan lay open across his lap. He read it slowly with a smile on his face as he cross-referenced details.
Between mouthfuls of grape, he listened.
One of the prostitutes whispered against his ear.
"You mustn’t tell anyone we said this... but Resource Inspector Lin is very close to Master Dai. Comes here almost every week. He’s the one who personally inspects and records every resource shipment allocated to the sects on Immortal Table Mountain."
Li Qingmu’s eyes gleamed.
So. The records themselves could be... adjusted.
He patted the lady’s thigh gently.
"Of course not, my lovelies. Your secret is safe."
The girls beamed, delighted.
That was when the head prostitute returned.
She staggered slightly under the weight of a huge sack slung over her shoulder.
Sweat glistened on her smooth brow.
"Senior Sister! Are you alright?"
"Fine, fine."
The senior sister forced a smile and set the heavy sack down then hurried to Li Qingmu’s side.
"Sir, I gathered all the kitchen ingredients from the market you asked for. It’s quite a lot... do you truly enjoy cooking this much? You must have so many talents."
Li Qingmu waved a lazy finger without looking up from the scroll.
"Not for me. For my boss."
"Boss...?"
The head prostitute blinked in mild confusion but quickly shook it off.
She placed three exquisite wooden boxes in front of him.
"And these are the Ghostfetter Root, Bitter Shadow Leaf and Yellow Intestinal Vine. I had to pull strings with the herb storeroom. What exactly are you planning with such large quantities of spiritual herbs?"
Li Qingmu flicked his hand dismissively.
"Don’t worry about it. Come give me your famous head massage again."
Her expression melted into genuine pleasure.
She shot a quick glare at the prostitute currently stroking his long hair.
The junior huffed but obediently slid away.
The head prostitute settled his head onto her own smoother and much thicker lap. Her fingers immediately began working his temples with expert pressure.
It was stimulating in odd ways.
"Is it good, Young Master?"
Li Qingmu gave a distracted hum.
"Mn... keep going."
He was still reading the scroll.
