Hearing the commotion outside, Shi Chun immediately got up. Just as he was about to stroll over to Bian Weikang’s side, passing under the corridor of a small courtyard, he suddenly heard a "hissing" sound from inside a room, coming from an unknown person.
He turned his head to look and saw a familiar face peeking out from behind a half-open window. It was none other than Cen Futong.
Shi Chun quickly glanced around, pretending to be out for a walk, and casually approached the window. He whispered, "Why are you staying here?"
"I moved in last night. Everything is ready on my end."
"Just proceed according to the original plan."
"Alright, I was worried you might not be confident, so I specifically came to give you a definite word."
"Brother Cen is indeed reliable, someone capable of great things," Shi Chun praised with his mouth, but cursed him inwardly for being such a large target.
He then left, taking a roundabout path directly to Bian Weikang’s room and knocking on the door.
The person inside was already awake.
The door opened with a knock, and the two parties met to confirm their departure time.
After that, they each prepared.
Shi Chun and his companion even seized the time to experience the breakfast there.
Time was too short, and there were many things they hadn’t had a chance to experience.
They could only prioritize the important matters; other things could wait.
When they left Wuyou Inn, there were four people in the group.
Aside from Xiang Lan'er, who wore a cloak to cover her face, everyone else looked the same.
The couple didn't want to be seen by too many people, so Shi Chun and his companion could only comply with their wishes.
Instead of passing through the bustling area at the foot of the mountain, they went directly to the cliff above Wuyou Inn, then disappeared into the vast, primitive mountain forest.
Once they started flying, the difference in cultivation levels was immediately apparent.
Among the four, only Bian Weikang was a High Martial cultivator; the other three were all unranked. Fortunately, Bian Weikang didn't discriminate, regardless of gender, and slowed down to accompany them in their flight…
At Far-Gazing Tower, Chasi rushed to Miao Yilan's office and reported, "Miss Miao."
"Come in," Miao Yilan's voice came out.
Chasi immediately entered and walked to Miao Yilan’s desk. He glanced at the beautiful feather that had been placed back on display and reported, "Miss Miao, Shi Chun and his group, along with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er, have left.
It seems they've departed Zhaotian City. It's not appropriate for me to keep following them."
"Left?" Miao Yilan, who had just picked up an account book and opened it, froze, then turned to look at him.
"Didn't they say they'd repay the debt within three days? How can they repay it if they've left?"
She found it hard to believe that Shi Chun would break his word to her. Could he really think that after leaving the Land of Exile, the sky was wide enough for birds to fly freely, and that she couldn't do anything to them?
For her, the money wasn't a big deal; she just didn't want to be deceived like a fool.
Chasi: "I don't know what happened, but judging by the sneaky behavior of Old Dong and Big Stone yesterday, those two must know the inside story."
Miao Yilan thought for a moment, paused her work, and stood up.
"Call those two here."
"Yes," Chasi replied and left.
Old Dong and Big Stone, who had taken leave yesterday, had returned to their posts. Both of them were responsible for inventory inflow and outflow in the warehouse, essentially just two porters.
Whether they wanted to or not, Chasi easily took the two away after brandishing Miao Yilan’s name to the people in charge of the warehouse.
They kept asking what was going on, but Chasi didn't answer, leading them directly to Miao Yilan's office.
Miao Yilan was basking in the morning sun by the balcony railing, enveloped in a layer of light. She was waiting for them.
Upon their arrival, the two bowed and greeted her.
Miao Yilan turned around and didn't beat around the bush.
She directly asked, "Shi Chun and his group left Zhaotian City today. Do you know about this?"
"No."
"Yes."
The two, speaking simultaneously, gave different answers.
Old Dong said no, and Big Stone said yes.
Old Dong's face immediately turned green.
He didn't know where to look, essentially avoiding Miao Yilan's gaze, and felt an urge to strangle Big Stone.
Big Stone also felt awkward.
He probably guessed that Old Dong's "no" meant he didn't want to reveal anything. However, his "yes" didn't mean he wanted to reveal anything either.
He thought that the fact of Shi Chun and his group leaving Zhaotian City couldn't be kept secret, otherwise, they wouldn't have been called to ask about it.
Miao Yilan, whose words and actions were always gentle, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the two conflicting answers.
She truly hadn't expected these two guys to dare to deceive her so openly.
Chasi snorted, his gaze towards Old Dong turning cold.
The one who said "no" was definitely lying.
He was about to say something to threaten Old Dong’s job when Old Dong suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Now I remember! Big Stone is right.
I drank too much yesterday and almost got confused. Yes, yes, yes, Shi Chun and his group seemed to mention leaving today during the banquet."
Miao Yilan’s beautiful lips curved slightly as she asked, "Did he just run off? Is he not going to return the money he borrowed from me?"
Old Dong immediately replied, "He will return it.
He said that if nothing unexpected happens, he'll have someone send the money over today."
Miao Yilan was puzzled.
"Can Bian Weikang repay him that quickly?"
Big Stone lowered his head slightly, unsure what to say.
To everyone's surprise, Old Dong answered cleanly, "Where would Bian Weikang get the money to repay? Shi Chun made an agreement with Lü Taizhen.
He'll have money once he sells Xiang Lan'er to Lü Taizhen."
Big Stone suddenly turned to look at him, then quickly lowered his head to hide his surprised reaction.
Miao Yilan and Chasi were both bewildered, completely failing to understand. They had snatched Lü Taizhen’s person, and now they were selling her back to Lü Taizhen? Had they misheard? What was the point of such a convoluted scheme? Old Dong, however, looked utterly sincere, as if he hadn't told a single lie.
Chasi couldn't help but interject, "How will they sell her?"
Old Dong: "I don't know the specifics of how they'll sell her, but the transaction method should have been secretly discussed with Cao Puqing's nephew, Cen Futong. He didn't tell us."
Chasi: "Secretly discussed? What's there to discuss secretly? Furthermore, how can they snatch the person Lü Taizhen wanted to buy, and then sell her back to him? Are they bored, or do they think Lü Taizhen is very idle?"
Old Dong: "That's different.
Lü Taizhen would have to spend 500,000 gold to buy her from Liyun Tower, but only 200,000 gold to buy her from Shi Chun."
"…"
What the hell? Miao Yilan and Chasi couldn't quite grasp it at first, but then they realized the problem.
After a bit of thought, they gradually sorted out the trick behind it all, both dumbfounded.
After a while, Miao Yilan came to her senses, staring at Old Dong and Big Stone.
"Where are they making the transaction?"
Everyone could see that this woman seemed to want to stop the deal.
Old Dong shook his head and said, "We truly don't know the exact details of the transaction, and he wouldn't tell us two.
When he first borrowed the money, we didn't know he was going to do this. He only told us after the person was redeemed.
He said that since we are now people of Far-Gazing Tower, he didn't want us involved in this matter, only to help transfer the money sent to you."
He had to emphasize these points to distance himself and show that he hadn't participated in any private dealings.
Miao Yilan’s expression was complex as she sighed, "That's a living person, after all. How can she be sold back and forth so casually?"
Old Dong and Big Stone were stunned, looking at her with surprise.
If even this couldn't be done, then they would have starved to death in the Land of Exile long ago.
Then Big Stone tried to remind her, "Miss Miao, she was originally a courtesan from a brothel; she was meant to be sold."
Old Dong also nodded in agreement, "Liyun Tower selling her to Lü Taizhen is selling, and Shi Chun selling her to Lü Taizhen is also selling.
There's no difference. Shi Chun is just earning a profit from the price difference."
Miao Yilan was speechless.
The other party paid 450,000, and you only paid 50,000. What right do you have to sell her? Most importantly, it ruined a pair of lovers who were truly fond of each other, and she couldn't accept that.
She had actually fallen for that nonsense before, even being moved by Shi Chun’s claim that "mutual affection is worth more than countless riches." It turned out his words had to be taken in reverse.
That guy's refinement was indeed feigned; he was truly wicked!
Old Dong and Big Stone were one thing, but Chasi's reaction was another. Initially, he was as shocked as she was, but now there was a hint of admiration and praise in his eyes.
Was he complimenting Shi Chun for doing a brilliant job?
Since that was the case, she didn't want to say anything more and waved them away.
Walking to the corner of the stairwell, Chasi and the other two were about to go downstairs when they suddenly had to quickly move aside, all bowing in unison.
"Proprietress."
A person came up from downstairs.
It was none other than Lan Qiaoyan, the manager of Far-Gazing Tower in the Land of Exile.
She had come to see her daughter.
She didn't have to be confined to the Land of Exile; she could enter and exit whenever she pleased. In fact, she spent most of her time in the outside world.
She nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Chasi was familiar to her.
When her gaze swept over the faces of the other two, she suddenly paused, surprised, and asked, "Why are you two here?"
Old Dong and Big Stone had not only met her in the Land of Exile, but she had also personally recommended them to Far-Gazing Tower recently, so it was impossible for her not to recognize them.
Old Dong spoke for them, "The manager saw that you recommended us and asked if we knew Miss Miao.
We said we did, and he said it would be easier to communicate with acquaintances, so he reassigned us here."
"…" Lan Qiaoyan was speechless.
Never mind, it wasn't a big deal. She waved them to go about their business and turned to leave.
Upon entering her daughter's office, she saw her daughter staring blankly by the balcony railing, not even noticing her approach. She immediately startled her awake and asked what was going on.
What else could be going on? Miao Yilan recounted Shi Chun borrowing money to sell the top courtesan of Liyun Tower.