Chapter 290: Senior Brother, Big Fat Fish
Brown hair, apricot eyes, delicate features, and a petite stature characterized her appearance, making her quite a charming young lady. However, her elusive gaze gave off a sly and cunning impression.
Ye Anping stared at the girl’s face, recalling the named “NPC” characters from the game, but he couldn’t match her with any of those in his mind. However, Si Xuanji knew that he also came to Yu Guan City, and since she gave her the return star bell, it indicated that Si Xuanji probably wanted to lead him to this girl.
The problem was—What was Si Xuanji’s purpose in introducing him to this girl? Did this girl have anything special?
Ye Anping paused for a moment, leaned against the counter, and smiled, saying,
“Dear lady, I’m Liang Xiaoliu. May I ask for the lady’s esteemed name?”
Su Wan’er had been mingling in the black market for several decades and was not lacking in people trying to initiate a conversation. Almost every time she appeared in the dirty business, she would encounter some bold individuals trying to tease her. She had long gotten used to it.
Initially, she didn’t want to pay attention, but after sizing up Ye Anping and seeing his handsome baby face, she thought in her heart—Among the people who have tried to strike up a conversation with this fairy over the past ten years, you’re quite handsome.
Su Wan’er crossed her arms, tilted her mouth, and smiled,
“You’re that confident! A Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator trying to strike up a conversation with a Foundation Establishment late-stage female cultivator. Aren’t you afraid of angering me and getting slapped away with a single palm?”
“Hehe…” Ye Anping smiled and replied, “Who can blame the lady for being so beautiful? I am also a man. Is it wrong for a man to be romantic?”
Su Wan’er pursed her lips and laughed, “Well, considering how good-looking you are, this fairy will entertain your conversation. I’m Su Wan’er.”
Ye Anping’s eyebrows raised slightly upon hearing the name. He was thinking about how to lure out the Thief Immortal and even spent twenty spirit stones on water and roasted chicken for that purpose, but now he encountered her by chance. When he saw her for the first time just now, Ye Anping did consider, but because of her current height and figure, he temporarily ruled out the idea that “She is the Thief Immortal” But since she mentioned the name “Su Wan’er”…Ye Anping glanced at Su Wan’er’s figure. Probably padded.” Then he said, “Yes… Su Tai’s traces are there, and Wan Wan wearily seeks fragrance. It’s indeed a good name.” Su Wan’er squinted her eyes, “Young sir, what do these two lines of poetry mean?” “Of course, it’s praising Miss Su…”
Ye Anping was halfway through his conversation when Wu Guang behind the counter couldn’t bear it and interrupted, his eye twitching as he interjected,
“If you want to chat, book a private room upstairs and chat slowly. It’s soundproof, and you can do whatever you want. My teahouse is still open.”
“Aha…” Ye Anping awkwardly chuckled, then straightened up and looked at Wu Guang. “I want to inquire about recent events in the Gobi Desert.”
As he spoke, Ye Anping took a small bag of spirit stones from his storage bag and placed it on the counter.
After Wu Guang took it, he glanced at it, then immediately changed his expression from wanting to drive away customers to a polite one.
“Oh! Sir, what information are you seeking about the Gobi Desert?”
Ye Anping paused, glancing at Su Wan’er’s attention drawn to the small bag of spirit stones he had thrown out, concluding that his bait had worked.
“Have any reports of caravans disappearing in the Gobi Desert recently?”
“Oh! Is the gentleman in the business of seeking wealth?”
Ye Anping squinted and asked in return,
“What’s it to you to inquire about me? Isn’t it against the norms of the martial arts world?”
“That’s true, my apologies,” Wu Guang said, with a hand gesture of apology. After some thought, he said, “Some time ago, members of the Flowing Moon Merchant Guild lost contact in the eastern canyon. Several groups have gone to investigate, but none have returned. I don’t know what happened there.”
“Some time ago… How long ago, specifically?”
“I received the news seven days ago, but members of the guild have been missing for over half a month.”
“So that’s the case…” Ye Anping nodded, finally gaining some clarity about the situation.
Just like the Moonlight Sword Sect incident before, which was rumored in the martial world that Yun Tianchong was about to make a move.
The event’s opening involving the Imperial Sect was the disappearance of the large caravan from the Flowing Moon Merchant Guild in the Gobi Desert outside Yu Guan City.
Following the timeline, perhaps tonight or in a few more days, the demonic beasts outside Yu Guan City would, under the guidance of the demon clan, besiege the city.
In the game, at this point, players could go to the city defense office in Yu Guan City and receive a series of tasks to defend the city from the city lord. The rewards were meager, but the storyline was rich.
However, even with players’ assistance, the city of Yu Guan City was eventually breached by the demon clan in the game.
Ye Anping had no intention of participating in this matter. He just needed to know the current progress of the Emperor Sect event.
“Is there anything else the young sir wants to inquire about?”
“No, inquiring about information is secondary. Mainly, I came here to familiarize myself with the shopkeeper. Consider this small bag of spirit stones as a token of gratitude to Sand Pavilion.”
Wu Guang, hearing that a long-term customer had arrived, and judging by the appearance that there could be good profits, also said,
“You’re too kind, young sir. If you have any needs in the future, Sand Pavilion is always ready to welcome Master Liang.”
Hmm…
“By the way, seeing that the young sir is someone with no shortage of money, Sand Pavilion has a good item. I wonder if the young sir is interested?”
“What item?”
Wu Guang leaned in, whispering softly,
“A pair of secondary Nascent Souls from cultivators in the later stage of Nascent Soul realm. They can be used for alchemy or refining tools. If the young sir is interested, I can help you contact the seller.”
Ye Anping, with an expression of speechlessness, raised his hand to stop,
“No need.”
“Master Liang, this item is the only pair in the world, a unique item! It’s a collector’s item, guaranteed to retain its value. The starting bid is two million spirit stones. You can buy it separately, what do you think? Or if Master Liang knows anyone interested, feel free to introduce them…”
Listening to the sales pitch, Ye Anping sighed lightly, suddenly noticing the familiar spiritual sword on Wu Guang’s table.
That looked familiar… Wasn’t that Xiao Yunluo’s sword?
Ye Anping was momentarily stunned, then his mind suddenly clicked, and he couldn’t help but glance at Su Wan’er beside him, finally piecing together why she had Si Xuanji’s star returning bell.
—Did she snatch Xiao Yunluo’s sword in front of Si Xuanji?
“…”
However, if Su Wan’er only snatched Xiao Yunluo’s sword, Si Xuanji wouldn’t give her a star returning bell unless…
Did she step on Si Xuanji’s toes? Like, insulting her as an old lady or something?
Ye Anping glanced at Su Wan’er, feeling a bit sorry for her.
If she did insult Si Xuanji as an old lady, her future might be bleak. Si Xuanji wasn’t the type to retaliate immediately, but rather the kind to make him beg her to retaliate. She never settled scores upfront but preferred to do so later, and she held grudges like nobody’s business.
Le Wanjun from the Xuanxing Sect was a prime example — a few hundred years ago, he made a casual remark like “old lady” while drinking, and from then on, Si Xuanji blamed him for every problem, big or small.
“Ah…” Ye Anping sighed lightly and asked, “Is this sword up for sale?”
“For sale! Absolutely.” Wu Guang’s eyes lit up, gesturing for him to come inside. “Shall we discuss this inside?”
“Yeah.”
Ye Anping glanced at Su Wan’er, who had been sizing him up, smiled back, and followed Wu Guang into a private room in the corner of the tea house’s first floor. They sat down and began negotiating the price.
Meanwhile, Su Wan’er, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, had a mischievous smile on her face and muttered,
“Heh, here comes another clueless big fish who doesn’t understand the principle of keeping a low profile~~”
