The Fairy: From the Traveling Merchant

Chapter 890 Snow Bamboo Sword

Chu Yuan didn't know what the "Nine Nether Yin Essence Fruit" was at first, but after Zhao Chen explained its effects, he couldn't help but get excited.

Although it has many side effects, this is a treasure that can directly grant people supernatural powers!

If they could obtain it, he and his daughter would have the ability to protect themselves.

"Thank you, young master. I will certainly complete the test." Chu Yuan repeatedly assured him, while also taking the test seriously and starting to think about how to approach it.

After that, Zhao Chen chatted briefly with the four people in front of him, mainly to confirm their departure time from the capital, before instructing Sister Hongxia to see them off from "Moyue Residence".

Just then, Ming Xueling, who had seen Madam Yu off earlier, returned. Zhao Chen beckoned to her, and she immediately sat down next to him, leaning closer and reaching out to unbutton her clothes, but Zhao Chen stopped her.

—During this period, Zhao Chen discovered that Ming Xueling's body also clearly showed traces of "puppet master" technology, so he often asked her to cooperate in research in the hope of helping her "upgrade" in the future. That's why Ming Xueling misunderstood Zhao Chen's intentions.

Seeing the stunningly beautiful woman looking at him with some confusion, Zhao Chen coughed and explained the situation of "Shi Wenxuan," finally asking, "Xiao Ling, do you think I should save this Aunt Shi?"

Although Ming Xueling is not the real Duan Mingxue, she had a lot of contact with the Shi family when she was Duan Mingxue's puppet. She actually had a pretty good impression of Shi Wenxuan. If it were before, she would definitely have directly suggested that Zhao Chen agree.

After all, the young master was asking for her opinion.

But now, she has learned to ponder the hidden meanings behind Zhao Chen's questions.

"Young Master has already decided to save her, but you still ask me. Do you want Aunt Shi to owe me a favor?" Ming Xueling looked thoughtful.

I wanted you to beg me, and then I'd agree... That's what romance is all about! Little Ling still has a lot to learn...

But having this understanding now is progress, isn't it?

Zhao Chen's lips twitched. People are so strange. Even though Xiao Ling lets him have whatever he wants and is completely defenseless, he just doesn't want to take it. He always thinks it can be more interesting.

Well, it seems there's still a long way to go before we get Xiaoling to actually "pay the bill"!

With a helpless sigh, Zhao Chen completely lost interest, so he changed the subject, asking, "How's the situation with the Shenmu Gang?"

A day earlier, Qiu Wufeng, the sixth son of the Shenmu Gang, known as "Qianye Suohun," married the illegitimate daughter of the Yu family. The ceremony had just ended when he received a business war letter from another major gang in the capital, the "Cuizhu Alliance."

They agreed to a duel tomorrow at "Qianzhuyuan," the largest private fighting arena in Shenmu District, to determine the ownership of numerous properties.

As Zhao Chen's secretary and intelligence chief, Ming Xueling had naturally already found out about this matter. She nodded slightly and said, "The Qiu family has finally decided that the form of the battle will be the most common three-person team battle, but the use of treasured weapons and any items that can temporarily enhance one's cultivation level is not allowed."

It's like the King of Fighters-style three-person team, where one strong player can take on all three opponents, and the teammates are just decorations... Tsk tsk, the Qiu brothers have a lot of confidence in me.

However, this restriction that "does not allow the use of any temporary items to improve one's realm" is probably aimed at my "Purple Light Ring", right?

While pondering, Zhao Chen asked, "Which three people will the 'Emerald Bamboo Alliance' send to compete?"

Ming Xueling "searched" and replied, "According to the information I investigated, there are two cultivators with supernatural powers in the 'Emerald Bamboo Alliance,' one of mid-grade and one of low-grade, neither of whom are a threat."

"But the reason they came to challenge the Shenmu Gang this time is most likely because other forces are stirring things up behind the scenes, so there is probably an outside helper at the high-grade supernatural power level."

Despite this, Ming Xueling was not worried about Zhao Chen. After all, she knew her young master's strength very well. How could an ordinary high-grade divine power be a match for him?

"Which force is instigating this from behind?" Zhao Chen pressed. "It's still unclear..." Ming Xueling shook her head slightly. "Although it seems to be someone from the Liang Prince's Mansion on the surface, I think it's more likely that some other force is using this matter to test your abilities, young master."

"After all, you had already declared that you had brought the Shenmu Gang under your control and were giving them protection."

What are you testing? My foundation? Then come and "see" for yourself!

Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes, already planning which methods he should reveal.

……

The "Emerald Bamboo Alliance" is said to be a gang, but in reality it is an alliance of many hotels and teahouses in Beijing.

Because they jointly manage a "bamboo forest" that can be used as spiritual material, most of these hotels and teahouses have the character "bamboo" in their names.

Bamboo Shadow Studio is a member of the "Emerald Bamboo Alliance". Its strength is among the top two in the alliance, and it is even a strong contender for the alliance leader. This is because the leader of Bamboo Shadow Studio is one of only two supernatural masters in the alliance, known as "Green Jade Spear" Jin Qingmo.

This person was dressed in bright orange-red and black-speckled clothes, which looked very young, about seventeen or eighteen years old, but in reality, he was over sixty.

On the contrary, his son Jin Xuanyu, who was standing beside him, had a very protruding belly and looked like a middle-aged man who had become overweight.

"Father, why did you allow the alliance leader to act recklessly and issue a challenge to the 'Shenmu Gang'?"

"Leaving aside the fact that the Shenmu Gang has existed for thousands of years and its foundation is beyond our reach, even just considering the 'prince's' reputation, we shouldn't have gone at this time..."

"This is clearly disrespecting that 'prince'," Jin Xuanyu asked, puzzled.

Although he wasn't very strong, he was shrewd and couldn't see any benefit in fighting and seizing property at this time.

Moreover, he knew that his father, being a mid-grade divine power user, was able to suppress the alliance leader, who possessed a low-grade divine power.

Jin Qingmo, wielding the "Green Jade Spear," sighed deeply and said somewhat vaguely, "Do you think the Alliance Leader would agree? But this is not up to us!"

Jin Xuanyu knew that someone from the Liang Prince's Mansion had approached the alliance leader, but he still couldn't understand it and asked in confusion:

"But the Prince of Liang himself has disappeared, and his faction is not favored by the emperor. They will be purged sooner or later. Why should the alliance leader listen to them? Could it be that they have some leverage over him?"

Jin Qingmo shook his head again, and said carefully, "You don't understand... those people from the Liang Prince's Mansion are just a facade."

“Even the one ranked first among the ‘Thirteen Famous Swords of the Nine Provinces’ is not in control of his own destiny, let alone our small ‘Emerald Bamboo Alliance’?”
"They're just tools in other people's hands."

Upon hearing this, Jin Xuanyu opened his mouth wide and stammered, "The number one of the 'Thirteen Famous Swords of the Nine Provinces'?"

"And also the leader of the 'Six Young Masters of the Central Plains,' the 'Snow Bamboo Sword' Tantai Zhugong?"

Jin Qingmo nodded solemnly: "It is him... He is also the third person in this battle."

“But although Young Master Tantai’s origins are a mystery, many people say that he is actually a direct descendant of the Upper Sect… So who can control him?” Jin Xuanyu said incredulously.

"Ah, what if it is the sect itself that drives him?"

(End of this chapter)