Protect Our Patriarch

The night passed.

The next day, there was no uproar in Jingsha City due to the death of two scattered cultivators. Perhaps some high-level officials related to the government would investigate, but it would not consume too much energy. After all, the Bai Island Guard was already more chaotic than other places, and the death of two scattered cultivators was not a big deal.

As for the mastermind behind the "Yin Sha Outer Sect" disciple, he would probably be suspicious, but he would not be able to investigate openly. After all, the Bai Island Guard was within the jurisdiction of the Longzuo Commandery, and there was no room for the Yin Sha Sect to cause trouble.

Wang Shouzhe and his group naturally acted as if nothing had happened and were not interested in the conspiracy behind the scenes.

For the small Wang's Clan, it was more appropriate to focus on their own survival.

The black market usually opened every few days.

Today was the day the black market opened.

In the evening, Wang Shouzhe asked Chen Fanghua to arrange a carriage to take him and Long Yan to the black market. The rest of the people did not accompany them, only the two of them.

The black market was located on the eastern edge of Jingsha City, near the sea, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter. Only Xuanwu cultivators above the fourth level of Qi Refining were eligible to enter, and most of them could only stay in the hall.

Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan had already completely disguised themselves today. He was dressed up as a rough-looking man, while Long Yan was covered in a gray robe, only revealing a pair of eyes.

The two of them got off the carriage and walked straight to the entrance of the black market.

Long Yan released a little bit of Spiritual Platform Realm aura, and was immediately respectfully invited into the black market by the doorman, and was invited to a private room on the second floor without even asking about their identity. However, Long Yan said that she wanted to sell a spiritual weapon, which immediately attracted the attention of the other party, who said that they would invite the steward to come and appraise it.

This was the style of the black market, allowing customers to disguise themselves and ensuring their privacy.

This approach had made the reputation of the black market in Jingsha City of the Bai Island Guard increasingly loud. Many families in the surrounding guards might try to find a way to participate in the black market transactions.

Soon, a voice sounded outside the private room, "I am the steward of the black market, surnamed Zhong."

Long Yan gave Wang Shouzhe a signal with her eyes.

Wang Shouzhe immediately understood and went to open the door and invited the steward in. He had seen the intelligence before, and this black market was a joint venture between two Xuanwu clans of the Bai Island Guard, the Zhong Clan and the Ouyang Clan.

This person was dressed in black, with an expressionless mask on his face. Since his surname was Zhong, he should be a descendant of the Zhong Clan.

"Steward Zhong, our ancestor invites you." Wang Shouzhe, who played the role of a rough man, bowed to the person.

After the steward Zhong entered the room, he politely bowed to Long Yan in the gray robe, "Thank you for trusting our black market. We have been in business for two hundred years and value our reputation the most. You don't need to have any worries when trading in our market. If you need to sell any spiritual weapons, please show them to me.""This statement is said straightforwardly and represents the fundamental principle of the black market. Anyone who does business in the market will cherish their reputation. A reputation that has been established for two hundred years is not easy to build.

Without wasting any words, Long Yan took out a palm-sized object from her hand. The object looked like a turtle shell, covered with dense scales and engraved with complex inscriptions that were difficult to understand.

"What is this? How much do you think it's worth?" Her voice was low and hoarse, deliberately disguising her tone.

"This?" Zhong, the steward, took a closer look and his expression changed immediately. He whispered, "It's the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield. Where did you get this, fellow Daoist?" A powerful spiritual pressure of the Lingtai realm emanated from him.

Wang Shouzhe felt a chill in his heart. What was going on with this black market? One moment they were boasting about their reputation, the next moment they were questioning the origin of this object. He immediately stood in front of Zhong, ignoring his spiritual pressure, and said coldly, "Does Senior Zhong want to break the rules of the black market?"

His words quickly calmed Zhong down, but he still looked serious. "I was too impulsive. This Turtle Scale Treasure Shield is a relic of an important person in my sect. If you are willing to tell us its history, I am willing to increase the price by ten percent, no, twenty percent."

"What?"

Wang Shouzhe furrowed his brows slightly. As a defensive spiritual weapon, the overall value of the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield was usually higher than that of an offensive spiritual weapon. Its price could reach tens of thousands of Top Gold. A ten percent increase would be several thousand Top Gold.

Why was Zhong so interested in this treasure? And his words...

"I'm not selling it. Let's go." Long Yan quickly put away the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield and spoke in a low voice.

"Wait!"

Zhong blocked the door and stared at Long Yan in amazement. He whispered, "Senior Sister Long Yan, is that you? You...you...you're still alive."

Senior Sister?

Wang Shouzhe took a deep breath. Zhong was actually Long Yan's junior brother? He also came from the Purple Mansion Academy...could it be that they had a relationship in the past? He began to use his imagination.

"Who are you?" Long Yan stopped her movements and her eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. "How do you know me and the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield?"

"I...I'm Zhong Xingwang." Zhong hurriedly bowed and said, "Senior Sister Long Yan, do you remember me?"

As he spoke, he took off his mask and revealed an ordinary and slightly old-looking face.

"Zhong Xingwang?" Long Yan pondered for a moment and a hint of confusion appeared in her eyes. "I don't remember. Maybe I forgot."

Zhong didn't mind and just chuckled, bowing again. "It's normal if Senior Sister Long Yan doesn't remember me. At the time, Senior Sister Long Yan reached the mid-stage of the Lingtai realm at the age of sixty and was a prominent figure in the academy. As for me, Zhong Xingwang, I only got into the academy through the back door of my family and can only look up to Senior Sister's prestige."

As he spoke, admiration, respect, and even a hint of fear showed on his face and in his eyes.

Upon hearing this...Wang Shouzhe finally understood that his previous imaginations were all wrong. The relationship between this Steward Zhong and Ancestor Long Yan was not one of mutual admiration between immortal classmates but rather that of a loser and a goddess...

His own ancestor couldn't even remember his name...

Moreover, judging by his appearance, he had already aged quite a bit. And since he called Long Yan an elder sister and entered the Zifu Academy through the back door, he must have been promoted to the Lingtai Realm at an older age.

It was normal for him not to know the origin of Long Yan's family, as it was strictly forbidden to casually promote one's own family or inquire about others' families in the Zifu Academy.

Unless the relationship between the two parties was extremely good, everyone was just one of the many students, without much distinction in family background. This was the domineering aspect of Zifu Academy.

"What do you intend to do by stopping me like this?" Ancestor Long Yan's voice was cold and indifferent, "Could it be that you want to break the rules of the black market?"

"Not at all, not at all." Steward Zhong hurriedly shook his hand and said, "If I break the market rules, I would be killed by the ancestors. It's just that they all said that elder sister had died in the outer realm, and I have been heartbroken for many years. So when I saw elder sister Long Yan, I was a little excited. I hope elder sister won't blame me."

As he spoke, he repeatedly bowed his hand, asking for Long Yan's forgiveness.

"Then step aside." Ancestor Long Yan said coldly.

"Step aside... No, no, no." The dignified Lingtai Realm Steward Zhong was actually somewhat flustered, "I beg elder sister Long Yan to give me a chance to atone for my sins. I wonder why elder sister wants to sell the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield? I remember that it was a spiritual tool given to you by Master Binglan!"

"I need money." Ancestor Long Yan said coldly.

"If you need money, why didn't you say it earlier?" Steward Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and then showed a somewhat flattering and pleasing expression. "As a direct descendant of the Zhong Clan, I have saved some private money and accumulated some connections. How much do you need, elder sister Long Yan? I can try to raise some."

A direct descendant of the Zhong Clan?

The Zhong Clan was a prestigious family of Heavenly Bloodline in the Hundred Islands Guard. How could a direct descendant be reduced to such a state? He even had to rely on the back door to enter the academy. Moreover, his appearance was just like a sycophant.

Or rather, an old sycophant who doesn't distinguish right from wrong and has no skills, just blindly flattering.

Wang Shouzhe was speechless. Steward Zhong, oh Steward Zhong, this is not the way to chase a goddess. Haven't you heard that a sycophant ends up with nothing in the end?

Sure enough, the cold aura on Ancestor Long Yan's body gradually spread, and her anger rose. She sneered, "Zhong, are you planning to buy me, Wang Long Yan?"

Steward Zhong's legs suddenly went weak, and he panicked, "Elder sister Long Yan, please don't misunderstand. I just want to repay your kindness. Don't you remember? You once helped me during a trial mission in the academy. Although you don't remember..."

It's over!

Wang Shouzhe shook his head in his heart. In front of the goddess in his heart, he couldn't even stand straight. How could he stand tall?

With this demeanor, he probably didn't even have half a chance. Not to mention Long Yan, even Wang Shouzhe couldn't stand him.

...