Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 400 - 400 399 Full of Pride and Satisfaction

400: Chapter 399: Full of Pride and Satisfaction 400: Chapter 399: Full of Pride and Satisfaction Successful in love, frustrated in business, this was the life of Bai Qingqian.

She finally became Fang Yazi’s sister-in-law and was also considered one of their own by the sword cultivators of the Shan Sect.

Since then, it was only natural that these swordsmen would come to her place to liquidate their loot.

It was simply a matter of producing and selling their own goods.

But,

“Half of your inventory treasures have been divided up and taken away, and they didn’t want any of the other stuff.

Don’t you feel the pinch?

Many of those were meant for your own use.”

Tracing circles lazily on the man’s chest, Bai Qingqian begrudgingly admitted that she, who had longed for more even after gaining, now started to worry about her family business once she had secured the man.

Hou Niao smiled faintly, hinting at a deeper meaning, “Wealth scattered can be accumulated again; just consider it a clean break from the past and a fresh start.”

Bai Qingqian then buried her head into his chest, muttering, “Such a cut comes at a steep price.

You wouldn’t understand the cost of living since you’ve always had things handed to you…

you never had to worry about household expenses.”

Hou Niao shook his head, chuckling.

She was a very real woman, exhibiting the thriftiness unique to merchants, which surprisingly wasn’t off-putting.

He used nothing but ordinary items, while he kept the best for himself; he ought to be content.

An image of another woman crossed his mind, dim and indistinct…

“Don’t focus all your energy on business.

Your own cultivation is more important.

Don’t be afraid to spend what’s necessary…

Earning money, one counts on profits, the other on time.

If you could live for ten thousand years, even a meager profit would probably amount to an unimaginable fortune, wouldn’t it?”

Bai Qingqian laughed, “Ten thousand years?

You sure think big…

I don’t need ten thousand years; I only care about the here and now…”

Looking at the woman whose head was addled by happiness, Hou Niao felt somewhat reflective, his return this time truly was a bit fortuitous.

After finishing his cultivation at the Thunder Triangle and having nothing else to do, he thought he should show his face to his fellow disciples.

It had been over a decade since he came to the Lizhi Sea, and he hadn’t really had the time to pay a visit to his fellow disciples, so he took the opportunity during his free time to fulfill this wish.

Relationships need to be maintained; you can’t just send a letter when you need something from someone.

So, a long journey ensued, visiting many fellow disciples making a living in the Outer Sea, drinking merrily, sparring with swords, and having fun.

Among these fellow disciples, some were absent, and some were out on their islands.

He took things as they came and didn’t fuss about it.

Duanmu Chai was not around either, and he had no idea where he’d gone.

When he arrived at Li E’s island, that’s when he ran into a letter for help from Bai Qingqian.

And so, this return came to be; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to return to Mirage City for a while; there was also the issue of his own identity to resolve.

His original six-year term had already ended, and now, before he knew it, the second six-year term was nearly over.

Had he unwittingly become an old-timer of the Lizhi Sea?

It didn’t feel like he had done much.

Where he would end up mainly depended on two things: whether the Shan Sect called him or if the Jiedu Mansion needed him.

If not, he was perfectly content remaining the Island Master of Crab Claw Island.

Honestly, he loved this role; it provided the perfect cultivation environment, freedom of movement, no responsibilities—basically, he was the epitome of someone who got a free ride.

Luckily, it seemed that Jin City had forgotten all about him, which was normal, because the Jin City of today was quite different from the one ten years ago.

Gao Jianli from the Central Military Mansion was still in the Natural Realm but had been transferred from Da Feng Plain and had become the ruler of an Outer State, quite a political advancement.

Mu Shuai You Sunzhi successfully advanced to the Golden Core realm and his current whereabouts were unknown.

Capital Commandant Li Chuping achieved Golden Core status in the Upper Realm and was transferred to act on behalf of Sikong Mansion in Jade Capital.

All these, were things Fang Yazi had told him, signifying that the Cultivation ecology of Jin City on Da Feng Plain had completely changed hands.

With new masters came new atmospheres.

A king’s reign was succeeded by new ministers, and people heard only the laughter of newcomers, not the weeping of those gone…

For individuals like Hou Niao without clear affiliations, it was only natural for them to be forgotten, tucked away in some dusty corner, as if they never existed.

And that was just as well.

As for the other old faces of Jin City, their stories were less clear.

For instance, Wang Mian had traveled far to roam the Continent, Luo Yewang had moved to another state, and Yu Zhengxing’s whereabouts were unknown; this was the nature of cultivation—walking together until, step by step, the group dispersed.

Some had a chance to meet again, others would never cross paths anymore.

“We need to employ more people in the business, having just Old An is likely not enough.

You may not need these people for tasks, but you must maintain enough deterrent power to give those with ulterior motives something to weigh before they act,”

Bai Qingqian nodded.

“I hadn’t thought much about this before, but the experiences over these past years were truly frightening.

However, it’s not easy to recruit the right personnel.

It’s hard to find mature, reliable, and honest people like Old An.

Most are like those few that Yazi killed.

Hou Lang, do you have any recommendations?”

Hou Niao felt somewhat overwhelmed.

“As for me, my senior brothers from Shan Sect wouldn’t come.

In truth, almost every disciple with potential from a major sect is generally not easily recruited by a business house.

As for the loose cultivators at sea, well, it seems I’ve killed more than I’ve met…”

Bai Qingqian was speechless.

Asking this man for help was a mistake, belonging to the category where getting dead bodies was easy, but getting friends was hard.

Suddenly, she remembered something.

“Do you recall the Green Bamboo Villa outside of Mirage City?”

Bai Qingqian thought for a moment.

“Not much of an impression.

It seems like a female cultivator living a secluded life behind closed doors.

Hou Lang, do you mean they come from…?”

Hou Niao did not hide, “Indeed, they come from Bamboo Island.

They have lived in isolation for long, needing to interact with the mortal world; they are simple-hearted, love nature, and I have some connections with them.

If you approach them, maybe a few will be willing to help you?”

Bai Qingqian’s eyes widened.

“You don’t have a specific person in mind who needs help?”

Hou Niao pinched himself hard.

“Those people are over a hundred years old; if it were the mortal world, they would be from our great-grandmothers’ generation.”

Bai Qingqian smiled radiantly.

Hou Niao’s openness made her feel more at ease than if he had kept secrets.

The Cultivation World of Jinxiu Continent was relatively open about such matters, and no one was overly concerned—as long as you were capable, be it man or woman, the more, the merrier.

Good conversations must come to an end, as must the unhappy troubles, especially

“The stock has been divided up, they took nearly half of the treasures from the storage, leaving the other assets untouched.

It seems they came specifically for our stocks.

What’s more infuriating is that they are inviting all the city’s merchants to a Treasure Appraisal Meeting in three days, using the treasures they took from us.

They even sent you and me an invitation.

Tell me, is that infuriating or not?”

Contrary to her expectations, her hot-tempered husband showed no signs of anger, as if he had matured, became composed, no longer swayed by external things.

It was a bit disappointing because, in the end, they were the losers in this festival, the other side exchanging five unknown loose cultivators for thirty percent of the Bai family’s foundation.

But it was also somewhat gratifying because only through maturity and restraint can one survive longer in this chaotic world.

If she had to choose, she would prefer that he knew when to advance and when to retreat.

What’s the use of living ten thousand years?

Without your better half, even the longest of lives can only add to one’s sadness.