Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 293 - 293 292 Betraying the Master House

293: Chapter 292 Betraying the Master House 293: Chapter 292 Betraying the Master House Bai Qingqian’s gentle voice, “What Third Brother mentioned is a possibility, but there is also another possibility, which is that our adversaries are arranging their plans in the dark, striving to eliminate us in one fell swoop, to cut the weeds and dig out the roots; after all, their strike against the Bai Family this time is meant to set an example for the entire Anhe commercial circles, aiming to create a warning through this action.”

Grandfather Bai sighed.

The child was still so stubborn.

With Second Uncle stepping in, and with his friends from the Anhe Daoist Sect, their nominal strength on paper was not weak.

How could the Wu Sect dare such blatant disregard for universal condemnation?

Even after gaining control of Anhe in the future, would they no longer conduct business?

“Qingqian, your thoughts remain unchanged,” he said.

Bai Qingqian sighed, “I lack practical business experience and don’t understand the internal rules of the cultivation circles, but Qingqian has some understanding of human nature.

The best way to control a country, a land, or a power is to start with a thunderous approach, followed by a Bodhisattva’s heart.

Only then can you win over people’s hearts and achieve long-term stability and peace.

Have you ever heard of a power struggle that begins with gentle persuasion followed by sudden, thunderous action?

It would only unsettle people’s hearts and lead to greater chaos the more you try to control it.

Qingqian has observed that the Wu Sect’s previous actions, bringing several countries into their fold, have always employed such tactics.

How could they possibly change their behavior once they reached Anhe?

You feel the commerce circle is different from the cultivation circle, but I see no essential difference between them at their core.

Both are cases of survival of the fittest, victor and vanquished, with no exceptions,” she continued.

Bai Zongsheng was very displeased, “Seventh Sister, so you’re suggesting we run away first?

Hide out in Shan Country under the Quanzhen Sect’s protection?

Do you realize that if we do this and our movements are discovered, we’ll become the laughing stock of the Divine City’s commercial circles and it will affect the new commercial layout after the Wu Sect takes control?”

Bai Qingqian sighed, “A tarnished business reputation is just about profits, which can always be remedied.

In several decades or a century, as long as we work hard, who will still remember today’s escape?

But if we lose our lives…”

She fell silent, the other young people began chattering away, Zongsheng and Zongfang vehemently opposed immediate flight to Shan Country and the domain of the Quanzhen Sect.

Instead, they demanded dispatching people back to gather information;

The remaining Bai Zongyuan was a typical fence-sitter, rarely taking sides, but he disapproved of sending people back.

He suggested a passive approach, which was essentially sitting ducks; another woman, Bai Susu, was focused on the Daoist Path of cultivation, always dismissing these cunning and deceitful political maneuvers.

Grandfather Bai sighed.

In his heart, he actually admired Bai Qingqian’s suggestion for its vision and sense of responsibility, but he couldn’t just do that.

There were too many factors to consider, and it wasn’t as simple as just leaving to solve the problem.

Moreover, he knew that the Daoists stationed here would steadfastly stand with them, which was also why he had the courage to stay.

Eventually, a compromise was reached, “Always be ready to leave, making sure to keep all important items on you, rather than scrambling at the last minute in a panic.

As for gathering information, it is not suitable for us to send someone, and not all people in Ping Fu can be trusted.

As for the source of the information, we can entrust the Liuyang Daoist Sect to do it for us, their involvement will certainly be more discreet than if we were to act personally.”

The younger generation had no objections, as this was a prudent course of action, showing the shrewdness of the older generation.

The Bai Family’s enterprises were extensive, but it was inevitable that their core assets were in Anhe.

They had left with the intention of transferring their core assets, and each of the six of them carried large storage spaces, not the ordinary Treasure Gourds, filled with the most precious treasures from the Bai Family’s firm’s inventory.

Now in Divine City, from the outside, the Bai Family’s firm looked no different from before, with products as dazzling as ever.

However, upon close inquiry, those wishing to purchase the famous treasures or the Bai Family’s private collection would be politely informed that they were temporarily out of stock, already sold, or in the process of resource allocation.

In reality, all the good items had been moved out, leaving only the display items.

These treasures were now carried with them, and they did not seek guards precisely because they feared that Cultivators, overcome with envy, could not control themselves in the face of vast resources, losing their Heart Realm.

After all, the accumulation of their family over nearly a thousand years was comparable to the Library of a minor country or Sect’s influence.

Under such temptation, how many people in this world could restrain themselves?

The family chatted leisurely together, and the topic always revolved around the affairs of the Wu Sect in Divine City.

As chaos began to emerge, managing a family business system proved challenging due to their relatively weak backing;

For example, the Wang family of Divine City, also a great merchant family and equally resistant to the Wu Sect, possessed wealth several times greater than the Bai Family.

They remained completely unaffected by the turmoil, and the reason was simple: the Wang family had an ancestor who had achieved Nascent Transformation, a figure whom even the Wu Sect would not dare to provoke lightly.

Night had fallen when Shopkeeper Ping Fu entered, bowing respectfully, “Master, young master, dinner is ready.

May I…?”

Bai Third Master waved his hand, “Ping Fu, now that you are a shopkeeper in your own right, there’s no need to serve us as you did back in the Bai residence.

It also might attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

You could have sent a servant for such matters;

Nevertheless, since it’s Ping Fu’s kind intention, let us taste the local specialties of Liuyang.

We should not let your good will go to waste.”

The group filed into the dining hall and took their seats in order; the Eight Immortals table was brimming with an eye-catching array of dishes.

It was evident the old servant had put much thought into the meal; most crucially, it wasn’t just for today, as almost every day for the past half month had been like this.

Of course, for the Bai clan, who came from a background of wealth and luxury, this was nothing extraordinary, just passable.

Normally, they consumed spiritual beasts and fruits, which made for an entirely different experience.

Seizing the opportunity as Shopkeeper Ping Fu bustled in and out, Bai Zongsheng discreetly took out a treasure and shone it over the dishes of meat and vegetables.

Only after ensuring everything was safe did he begin to eat.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ping Fu, but it was a special precaution in special circumstances, just to be absolutely safe.

The Bai shop was full of treasures of every kind, thoroughly equipped, and certainly included such protective measures; not just Bai Zongsheng’s treasure that scanned emptily, but also Bai Qingqian’s white mink, which appeared to be a pet kept by wealthy families and dined at the same table as its owner.

However, this little creature had a unique sense for detecting all sorts of poisonous and medicinal substances in food.

No one spoke during the meal, adhering to the customs of a wealthy household, and not even the sound of chewing was heard—it was a silent dining experience.

Ping Fu stood by, waiting to serve, but no matter what, he refused invitations to sit and dine with them.

This was the rule for servants, and it was not in the others’ place to insist otherwise.

Midway through the meal, a kingfisher darted through the window and transformed into a piece of paper when caught by Bai Third Master.

After a sweep with his Divine Sense, the paper turned to ash in his hand.

He chuckled bitterly,

“An old friend has invited me out tomorrow.

Alas, where do I have the peace of mind to enjoy and admire the sights now?”

After a few more bites, his brow suddenly furrowed, and he stopped his silver chopsticks.

Ping Fu, who was attending carefully on the side, had the knack for reading faces,

“Third Master, is there something wrong?”

Bai Third Master said indifferently, “Ping Fu, it’s time to change the cook.

There are hairs left in the dishes.

What kind of job is he doing?”

Ping Fu was startled; he had been vigilant in the kitchen, and such a simple mistake should not have occurred.

He quickly leaned in to discern the dish pointed out by Bai Third Master but could not see clearly, so he leaned in closer…

All of a sudden, he felt an immense force and his face was pressed firmly into the dish.

As mana erupted, in the moments before his death, he faintly heard Third Master’s voice,

“Ping Fu, the Bai Family has treated you well; how dare you betray us for personal gain?”