Ever since the tea beverages became a roaring success in Shu State Prefecture City, the layout of Hundred Herbs Hall had also changed.

The front hall still sold a variety of low-priced medicinal herbs and the five types of tea beverages, but the back hall had been converted into an accounting office where dedicated staff handled the books.

Because profits had to be shared with the various medicine halls throughout Shu State, the account books had to be kept meticulously.

For this reason, Wang Ji had specifically hired ten experienced accountants.

At this moment, the sound of abacuses clacking filled the air.

On the second floor, as before, were two rooms used for receiving visitors.

One was for business, the other for honored guests.

Chen Yi followed Wang Ji into the innermost room.

After taking a seat, he casually surveyed his surroundings. Circulating the True Essence in his body, he deactivated the effects of the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique.

In an instant, the sounds of dripping rain, footsteps, breathing, and the voices of all sorts of people flooded his senses.

It was a bit noisy, but it also put him more at ease.

’The two people with faint breathing likely had a Cultivation not exceeding the Seventh Grade Realm.’

After listening for a moment, Chen Yi now had a good sense of the few Martial Artists outside Hundred Herbs Hall. Aloud, he said,

"Thanks to your care, Boss Wang, business at the Xiao Family’s several medicine halls has improved considerably."

His finger, however, was dipped in tea water, writing on the table: "Someone wants to eliminate Hundred Herbs Hall. Make preparations."

Wang Ji read it, his expression changing slightly, but he smiled naturally and replied, "You’re too kind, Shopkeeper Chen."

"Previously, the Young Miss was gracious enough to have me serve as the shopkeeper at Jishi Medicine Hall. Now that circumstances have improved, I naturally wouldn’t dare forget my roots."

As he spoke, he also used his finger to write on the table: "My lord, what do you need me to do?"

While speaking, Chen Yi wrote in reply, "Have those Jianghu People arrived in Shu State? What is their strength?"

"Most are only at the level of mansion guards. Only two are swordsmen who have roamed the Jianghu for years; their Cultivation is said to be in the Seventh Grade Realm."

"Too weak."

"Then I’ll look for more later."

Chen Yi shook his head, writing, "It’s too late. Those people are practitioners of the Evil Demonic Dao from the Illusory Sound Sect."

After Wang Ji finished reading, his expression turned grim.

Who in Shu State didn’t know the name of the Illusory Sound Sect these days?

That group had dared to rob even the Xiao Family, and their methods were brutal. Slaughtering his Hundred Herbs Hall, which was just starting to see success, would be child’s play for them.

"My lord, I’ll do whatever you say."

Chen Yi glanced at him. After a moment of thought, he wrote on the table, "Go to the Xiao Family."

Wang Ji froze for a second. "My lord, you mean...?"

Chen Yi nodded and continued writing, "Tell Xiao Wan’er that the Illusory Sound Sect plans to move against Hundred Herbs Hall. Seek her protection."

"Also, bring all the silver you took previously."

’If he hadn’t just happened to see Shen Huatang arrive with a senior sister from her Sect, he never would have told Wang Ji to do this.’

’The Xiao Family’s current situation was so precarious that one wrong move could bring down the whole enterprise.’

’Even the Old Master was being so cautious, to say nothing of Xiao Wan’er, Xiao Wang, and the others.’

’But with Shen Huatang and her senior sister of a higher Cultivation level present, they would stand a chance against the Illusory Sound Sect.’

’According to his deductions, the visitor from the Celestial Sect was likely here for matters concerning the Illusory Sound Sect and the "Sword Madman," Liu Lang.’

’It wasn’t that he was intentionally scheming, either.’

’As for that sum of silver coins...’

’He figured that if Wang Ji didn’t send the money to Xiao Wan’er soon, Ge the Third and Liu Si’er would start getting suspicious.’

’Or perhaps they already suspected his connection to Hundred Herbs Hall.’

After reading, Wang Ji nodded at once. "I’ll have someone get the silver coins and take them over immediately."

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment and said aloud,

"These days, the tea beverages from Hundred Herbs Hall are famous throughout Shu State. We get a lot of customers every day, especially from those few brothels in South City."

"I came today to discuss with you, Boss Wang, whether you might be able to spare some more of those tea beverages for Jishi Medicine Hall in the future."

Wang Ji relaxed and replied with a smile, "I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Shopkeeper Chen. Forgive me, but my hands are tied."

This wasn’t just an excuse.

They had truly reached their limit.

Ever since the tea beverages gained fame in Shu State, dozens of workers packing and shipping them day and night still couldn’t produce enough to supply Hundred Herbs Hall and the Xiao Family Medicine Halls.

Wang Ji was just about to discuss with Yan Hai the possibility of hiring more workers, acquiring a residential compound, and increasing the tea’s production output.

Chen Yi was well aware of Hundred Herbs Hall’s situation, but he said, "You can save that for the Young Miss, Boss Wang."

Wang Ji understood. He cupped his hands and said, "I will lead a party to pay her a visit shortly. I hope Shopkeeper Chen will help put in a good word for me..."

The back-and-forth was perfectly coordinated.

Lately, Chen Yi had been quite satisfied with Wang Ji’s performance.

’It was just that his past experiences made it difficult for him to trust anyone completely.’

’He always held something back.’

After their business was concluded, Chen Yi exchanged a few pleasantries before rising to leave.

However, upon reaching the front hall, he paused to pick up some medicinal herbs before opening his umbrella and leisurely strolling toward the East Market.

「Not long after.」

Wang Ji, carrying the silver notes, boarded a carriage and headed straight for the Xiao Family.

Seeing this, a few of the seemingly ordinary passersby and stall vendors who had been hiding nearby glanced around before getting up and walking away.

But just as they left, two more figures appeared in a corner, staring at their retreating backs.

A coarse voice spoke up. "Brother Ning, why d’you think the Young Master wants us watchin’ this Hundred Herbs Hall?"

"How should I know? But Young Master Yi just passed by. I figure the Young Master wants to get his ’revenge’ on him."

"The Young Master is gonna kill Young Master Yi?"

"Are you an idiot? I’m sayin’ the Young Master wants to *help* Young Master Yi. Didn’t you hear him say their medicine hall needs tea from Hundred Herbs Hall?"

"Oh."

"And next time, just call me ’Brother Ning.’ Don’t copy your Sister Xiu, it sounds so girly."

"Got it, Brother Ning... I mean, Brother Ning."

...

「Just before noon.」

Wang Ji left Jiaxing Garden with a relaxed expression.

Not only had a great weight been lifted from his mind, but he had also secured Xiao Wan’er’s promise, so he no longer had to worry about the Illusory Sound Sect for the time being.

With that, he had completed the task Chen Yi had assigned him.

What he didn’t know, however, was that as he was pleading his case to Xiao Wan’er, a woman in a long white dress was in an adjacent room, cracking melon seeds and listening intently.

She was prettier than Shen Huatang, with an oval face, fair skin, and a voluptuous figure.

However, she had a habit of sitting with one foot propped up on the stool, while the other swung back and forth.

Clearly, she was someone who didn’t stand on ceremony.

"Well, what a coincidence."

"I just get to the Xiao Family, and news of the Illusory Sound Sect shows up... Don’t tell me some son of a turtle’s been tailin’ me?"

Just then, Shen Huatang entered the room. Seeing her sister’s rough-and-tumble posture, she immediately frowned.

"Xie Tingyun, this is the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion..."

Before she could finish, the woman in white had already straightened up, puffing her chest out proudly and glancing sideways at her. "How’s this?"

A look of resignation appeared on Shen Huatang’s face. "Senior Sister, Master’s letter specifically instructed me to teach you some etiquette."

The woman named Xie Tingyun waved her hand dismissively. "I know, I know."

"Let’s go. The Young Miss has sent for you."

"Let’s get a move on..."

...

「In the afternoon, the sky over Shu State City grew dim.」

The rain, far from letting up, returned to yesterday’s intensity.

As it poured, Jishi Medicine Hall filled with artisans from the East Market.

They all chattered away, trading idle gossip.

Some of it was worth hearing; some was best ignored.

For instance, the local anecdotes and rumors from the Jianghu were worth a listen.

Chen Yi found this quite interesting and would occasionally ask a question or two.

For example, who in the Jianghu had the highest Cultivation.

Nine out of ten would say, "If you’re talking about the most powerful, it has to be Immortal Bai of the Wind and Rain Tower."

"Listening to the rain from the eaves of the Wind and Rain Tower, he looks upon a Jianghu where he has no equal."

"Immortal Bai has an undefeated record. Even when the Sword Master himself challenged him, they fought for three straight days, and Immortal Bai won by a single move."

"But ever since thirty years ago, when Immortal Bai sealed his ’Mirror Platform,’ no one has heard of him fighting anyone else."

Chen Yi found this fascinating and chimed in with a question, "Is his real name actually Immortal Bai?"

His question prompted a roar of laughter in Jishi Medicine Hall.

"Shopkeeper Chen, you don’t follow Jianghu affairs much, do you?"

"Are you stupid? Shopkeeper Chen is a scholar. He’s probably one of those who ’only reads the books of sages.’"

After some joking and teasing, someone finally explained, "Senior Immortal Bai’s real name is Gongye Bai."

"He got the moniker ’Immortal’ because when he was young, he often dressed up as a fortune-teller and read people’s fates."

"It’s just that, the people whose fortunes he told are all said to have met rather miserable ends."

Chen Yi asked curiously, "How so?"

"The better the fortune, the worse the outcome. If he told someone they were destined for ’wealth and honor,’ that person would be reporting to the Underworld within three days, guaranteed."

"The worst case was Fairy Lian Yue. He told her, ’Your marriage is destined by the heavens; a happy event is just around the corner.’ HAHA... She’s still single to this day."

"Then there was the old Daoist of Mang Mountain. His fortune was supposedly ’the descent of the Emperor Star.’ The very next day, his entire Daoist temple on Mang Mountain was massacred..."

Listening to these amusing anecdotes about Immortal Bai’s fortune-telling, Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

’The strange tales of the Jianghu were truly strange in their own way.’

「As evening approached.」

Chen Yi tidied up, took some more herbs from the counter, and was about to leave with his umbrella when he saw Ge the Third arriving in the carriage.

He gave a nod of greeting and climbed into the carriage, his expression natural.

Ge the Third glanced at Jishi Medicine Hall. "Young Master, why are there so many people inside?"

"They’re all taking shelter from the rain," Chen Yi said casually.

’He watched the pedestrians on the rain-slicked road outside the carriage, his mind already churning with plots to entrap the blockhead driving the carriage—the one with the thick eyebrows and big eyes, but a heart as black as his methods were ruthless.’

’In any case, he couldn’t possibly let Ge the Third stay idle.’