A hush fell over Shen's Pill Pavilion, like the stillness before a thunderstorm.
The clerk with a pale face and trembling hands, rushed into the back without another word, nearly tripping over a stunned junior disciple holding a tray of jade bottles. He disappeared behind a curtain carved with talismanic patterns of dragons and phoenixes.
Moments later, footsteps echoed, graceful yet commanding.
Then, she stepped out — Grandmaster Shen.
Bai Long's eyes narrowed slightly, his smile hidden behind the opened fan. Even he, a connoisseur of arrogance and beauty alike, paused a moment to appreciate the woman in the vision. Truly a beauty, hair falling like the moonlight silk.
She was a vision carved from the forbidden thoughts of celibate monks and written in poetry by lewd scholars. Her violet robes clung to her curvaceous figure, tight enough to show the elegant swell of her hips and the valley of her waist, while still fluttering just enough to make a man wonder what was hidden beneath.
How can one not think of sin watching her? I'd rather smash and stay in hell for eternity than merely watch and go to heaven.
A golden phoenix insignia, half-curled and blooming into flame, glowed faintly near her chest, but no man would look at that for long.
Her legs were long and bare from the knee down, smooth as polished jade, and her lotus feet looked tender and kissable.
Her eyes, violet as twilight and colder than immortal glaciers, studied Bai Long like a beast studies prey or perhaps a rival, or perhaps, merely watching was he telling the truth or not.
"You…" she said, voice like silk laced with thunder.
"You ...claim this to be a ten-thousand-year evolved Black Yang Cicada Shell?"
Bai Long didn't even blink. The fan snapped shut with a practiced flick.
"I don't claim. I am speaking the truth. And you..." he paused, eyes grazing lazily down her form, lingering briefly where no man should but always with that veneer of noble elegance.
It's not like watching cleavage is bad when they themselves show it. One can merely watch what's in front of their eyes.
"I believe the senior should know the difference between truth and a timid clerk's guesses."
Grandmaster Shen's lips curled slightly. Not a gentle smile neither disdain, but something in between like interest.
She held out her hand, slim fingers glowing with a subtle alchemical light, and Bai Long presented the cracked black comb with all the ceremony of offering a divine relic.
She turned it over, once, twice. Her eyebrows twitched unable to fathom the origin, It feels like a regular Yang Cicada shell but the texture seems a little off and it has a strong smell and nothing more.
Could the young master be lying?
Then... a flash of unmistakable greed behind her controlled expression.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood," she said finally, voice low, almost husky. "Name your price, Young Master."
Bai Long's eyes gleamed with silver.
"Thirty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
The clerk behind her choked on nothing.
"Impossible. Even for an evolved..."
"Twenty-five thousand if you pay now," Bai Long interrupted, smooth as silk over steel. "Otherwise, I take my leave. I'm sure Master Yun from the Alchemic Hall would appreciate the shell's properties. This is rare Yang cicada marinated in Yin Qi. It has the balance of Yin-Yang."
A flash of annoyance crossed Grandmaster Shen's eyes. "Go ahead, sell it to her. This is a regular Yang Cicada shell. I don't sense a single Yin aura."
Grandmaster Shen wasn't a woman to be easily scammed.
Seeing this, Bai Long shook his head alas in his past life he had ordered a book on how to scam, sadly the book never arrived even after 3 months, If only the book had arrived in time and he could read it then, he might have been a good scammer.
Nonetheless.
"Good! Good! Good! Have eyes but unable to distinguish silver from dust, I have seen enough of Grandmaster Shen's ability. However, if you are worried about the customer then worry not, I have a perfect customer in mind. Hehe... Let's discuss in private."
Grandmaster Shen raised an eyebrow. "Discuss… in private?"
Bai Long folded his hands behind his back and gave a light nod, stepping closer. "Of course. A transaction of this rarity and... weight deserves a setting with fewer ears and looser lips. Don't you think?"
The clerk opened his mouth to object, but Grandmaster Shen silenced him with a single raised finger.
"Leave us."
"But Grandmaster—"
"I said leave."
Reluctantly, the clerk and the few disciples in the room filtered out, casting glances that flickered between concern and curiosity.
Shen Meili turned and motioned with her fingers, and the talismanic curtain behind her shimmered, activating a privacy array with a soft hum.
The world outside fell quiet.
The chamber was warm with the scent of rare incense and faint alchemical smoke, the air thick with Qi.
She turned toward him, arms crossing beneath her chest, unintentionally or not, pushing her breast higher. Her gaze was icy and unblinking.
"Speak, Young Master. But do not mistake privacy for safety."
Bai Long smirked. "Perish the thought. This Young Master never confuses the warmth of a boudoir with the edge of a blade."
He walked past her, uninvited, running a finger along a table laden with alchemical ingredients.
"You think I'm lying. Perhaps I am. Perhaps I'm not. But let me tell you that Grandmaster, we can make a missive profit... Use this Yang Cicada and Yang sunflower to create a strong oil, and if you are worried about the buyer, I shall make sure Patriarch Gu purchases it, at the cost of ninety thousand or higher. You have my guarantee."
Hehe, of course, he has to make a more detailed plan that way using this oil he shall fuck patriarch Gu's wife. Hell yeah.
First of all, he needs to visit the Gu family and maintain a good relationship, and try to act like he understands that their daughter's decision is good.
Once, he starts to maintain the good relationship which might merely take 3 to 5 days, he must make sure to tell patriarch Gu about this oil in Shen Pavilion.
And get his hands on this oil, after that, clap! Clap! Clap!
He's gonna oil up and clap the Matriarch Gu.
'By the way, system, make me a detailed plan to tame Grandmaster Shen. I want to make her my pussy slave and gold mine. Hehe, with her I can finally let go of my financial burden.'