Chapter 123: The Man with the Mole

One million spirit stones—even if they were of the lowest grade, that was by no means a trivial sum. It was enough for an ordinary cultivator to squander for many years.

“Wang Changsheng, help me out!” Li Fusheng pleaded to Wang Changsheng.

Seeing the expression on Li Fusheng’s face, Wang Changsheng furrowed his brow. From his understanding of Li Fusheng, even if pressed hard by creditors, Li Fusheng would never be the type to lower his head and beg. Besides, Li Fusheng had been scheming and deceiving for years; it was unthinkable that he couldn’t come up with a million spirit stones. As a junior patriarch of the Shangyang Li family, Li Fusheng shouldn’t be short of spirit stones, right?

The Shangyang Li family was a merchant clan, after all.

“What’s going on here?” Wang Changsheng muttered to himself. “There’s something fishy!”

“How about this: I’ll help you pay off this debt if you help me inquire about someone,” Wang Changsheng said solemnly to Li Fusheng.

Given Wang Changsheng’s knowledge of Li Fusheng, he absolutely didn’t believe that Li Fusheng was so devoted to him that he’d obey blindly. This was a perfect chance to squeeze some information out of him.

When they had just left the Li family, Wang Changsheng had tried asking Li Fusheng about his second uncle, but Li Fusheng refused to say a word, even when offered spirit stones for information.

Li Fusheng’s face showed deep contemplation, a rare seriousness flickering in his eyes.

“You want to inquire about your second uncle?” Li Fusheng frowned.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

“Can you ask about someone else instead?” Li Fusheng asked, frowning further.

“No,” Wang Changsheng replied firmly.

After some thought, Li Fusheng grit his teeth and said in a low voice, “Alright, it’s a deal.”

Wang Changsheng nodded and waved his hand casually, causing a pile of spirit stones to appear before them.

“I don’t have low-grade stones. Here are ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones—enough to clear your debt,” Wang Changsheng said solemnly.

“Are you stupid?” Li Fusheng immediately scolded, waving his hand. About a fifth of the spirit stones on the ground vanished.

“What’s going on?” Wang Changsheng asked at once.

One mid-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for a hundred low-grade stones, so a million low-grade stones equated to about ten thousand mid-grade stones. That seemed just right!

“The exchange rate is theoretically like that, but mid-grade spirit stones are much rarer. To exchange for a million low-grade stones, you only need seven or eight thousand mid-grade stones,” Li Fusheng said solemnly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that?”

“Of course I knew!” Wang Changsheng wouldn’t admit ignorance; that would make him look uninformed.

“I have more spirit stones, so what’s wrong with that?” Wang Changsheng said with a swagger.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators around them all showed black lines across their foreheads.

“Return the extra stones to me!” Wang Changsheng said sternly to Li Fusheng.

“Aren’t you the one with more spirit stones?” Li Fusheng’s face broke into a wide smile. “Since you have more, why don’t you lend some to poor me?”

Li Fusheng’s change in demeanor was faster than Wang Changsheng drawing a blade.

Wang Changsheng glared darkly at Li Fusheng.

The remaining spirit stones were gathered up by Cai Yun, who looked at Li Fusheng and said, “Li Fusheng, consider our accounts settled.”

“Settled, settled!” Li Fusheng laughed, unable to hide his glee.

Not only was the debt cleared, but with the extra stones Wang Changsheng had given, Li Fusheng had made a handsome profit.

After settling his debt with Cai Yun, Li Fusheng didn’t rush off. Instead, he looked at Wang Changsheng, his eyes darting about.

“Everyone, this way!” Cai Yun turned and led Wang Changsheng and the others toward a side hall.

Wang Changsheng signaled the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect to follow but stayed behind with Li Fusheng.

“I’ll ask you about my second uncle later,” Wang Changsheng said solemnly.

Li Fusheng nodded.

“By the way, who exactly is this Cai Yun? You seem afraid of her,” Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled. “Is it because her cultivation is too high for you to handle?”

“Impossible!” Li Fusheng immediately denied. “I could take down five of her with one hand…”

Li Fusheng began shamelessly boasting again.

“Then why do you seem afraid of her?” Wang Changsheng interrupted.

“It’s not fear… it’s about saving face—for her and for Yun Palace Peak,” Li Fusheng said.

“Saving face for Yun Palace Peak?” Wang Changsheng’s curiosity deepened. What kind of status did Cai Yun hold that even Li Fusheng had to give her face?

“Yes, she is the Holy Maiden of Yun Palace Peak,” Li Fusheng said solemnly. “At Yun Palace Peak, only the sect leader has more power than her. Don’t underestimate her. Although her cultivation isn’t impressive, her authority at Yun Palace Peak can shock you!”

“Holy Maiden of Yun Palace Peak?” Wang Changsheng showed surprise.

Li Fusheng nodded. “Yes, the Holy Maiden. Whether internally or externally, she can make all decisions on behalf of Yun Palace Peak.”

“That powerful?”

Wang Changsheng was astonished. He hadn’t expected the Holy Maiden of Yun Palace Peak to wield such tremendous authority.

“Li Fusheng, is she the one you mentioned… about the butt?” Wang Changsheng asked quietly.

“What?” Li Fusheng screamed as if someone had stepped on his tail, nearly jumping up in shock. He rushed to Wang Changsheng’s side and covered his mouth.

“Don’t say that!” Li Fusheng said sternly. “Just keep it in your heart. If that gets out, both of us are dead!”

“With Cai Yun’s status at Yun Palace Peak, the cultivators there could drown us both with a single mouthful of spit,” Li Fusheng said gravely.

He glanced around, relieved to see no one overheard.

“What’s going on?” Cai Ling turned, puzzled, looking at Wang Changsheng and Li Fusheng. “I just thought I heard you say something about a butt?”

“No, no, you misheard. Wang Changsheng was talking about skin—about how beautiful your skin is, Cai Ling!” Li Fusheng said quickly.

“Is that so?” Cai Ling looked at Wang Changsheng suspiciously.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

Cai Ling didn’t press further and said, “Let’s go inside. Senior Sister will personally receive you.”

As Cai Ling turned to leave, Li Fusheng muttered, “You almost got me killed!”

“What do you mean ‘almost got me killed’?” Wang Changsheng whispered. “Weren’t you the one spreading rumors outside?”

“Rumors? My reputation as Li the Virtuous is well preserved. I only speak the truth!” Li Fusheng said.

“So that means…” Wang Changsheng looked toward Cai Yun’s backside, puzzled. “Is it really true?”

Li Fusheng nodded.

Wang Changsheng was speechless, wondering how Li Fusheng had gotten hold of such a secret.

During their journey on the cloud boat to the Shentian Realm, Li Fusheng had shared many secrets and gossip with Wang Changsheng.

One thing stuck in Wang Changsheng’s mind: Li Fusheng had once said the Holy Maiden of Yun Palace Peak had a mole on her butt.

At the time, Wang Changsheng hadn’t paid much attention, especially since he didn’t even know what Yun Palace Peak was. Now that he knew Cai Yun was the Holy Maiden, it all made sense.

Stepping into the side hall with Li Fusheng, Wang Changsheng immediately saw that the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect were already seated.

The two best seats—the ones closest to the front—were left for Wang Changsheng and Li Fusheng, one on each side, flanking Cai Yun.

As soon as they sat down, Cai Yun asked, “Steward Wang, I heard from Junior Sister Cai Ling that you came on the Li family’s cloud boat with Li Fusheng?”

Wang Changsheng nodded.

“So, Steward Wang has been to the Shangyang Li family?” Cai Yun asked, frowning.

Wang Changsheng nodded again.

“May I ask what your purpose is for coming to Yun Palace Peak this time?” Cai Yun inquired.

Wang Changsheng cupped his fist in greeting. “I have come because the Corpse Refining Sect is reemerging. As the largest sect in the Shentian Realm, Yun Palace Peak is naturally a place we must visit. We also wish to see if we can ally with Yun Palace Peak for mutual support.”

Cai Yun’s brow furrowed even deeper.

“So, Steward Wang means the Corpse Refining Sect wants to form an alliance with Yun Palace Peak?” Cai Yun asked solemnly.

Despite Wang Changsheng’s flattering words, Cai Yun did not agree. She knew better than anyone whether Yun Palace Peak was truly the largest sect in Shentian Realm.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

“Then your visit to the Shangyang Li family was also to secure an alliance?” Cai Yun asked.

Wang Changsheng could only nod.

Wang Changsheng noticed Cai Yun’s presence was overwhelmingly commanding. From the moment they arrived, Cai Yun asked all the questions while Wang Changsheng only nodded, as if Cai Yun already knew what was on his mind.

This was a terrifying display of negotiation skill and aura—only those long accustomed to power possessed it. Clearly, Cai Yun was such a person. As the Holy Maiden of Yun Palace Peak, her authority was staggering.

Moreover, her cultivation far surpassed Wang Changsheng’s, helping her dominate the room.

“Li Fusheng, has the Shangyang Li family agreed?” Cai Yun turned to ask him.

Li Fusheng, who had been indifferent until then, shrugged and said, “How should I know?”

“As a junior patriarch of the Li family, how could you not know about such a big matter?” Cai Yun asked sternly.

“I really don’t know!” Li Fusheng spread his hands helplessly. “I just returned home and ran into Daoist Wang. So I came with him to Yun Palace Peak.”

Seeing Li Fusheng’s silence, Cai Yun fell silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense.

Wang Changsheng, however, breathed a sigh of relief at the turn of events.