Chapter 227: Partnering to Open a Shop and Cause Chaos
Within three days, Zhou Kai was mobile again. His joints popped like firecrackers as he stretched, vigorous Vitality washing through his limbs to scrub away the bruising.
Although Li Qiwen had struck with heavy hands, he had been careful not to leave any hidden injuries.
Zhou Kai circulated his spiritual power. Aside from a slight hesitation at the meridian junctions, the flow was smooth. That bottle of healing medicine was truly top-tier.
Li Qiwen didn’t return to cause trouble. He simply stood guard outside Li Youci’s seclusion cave day and night, a silent sentinel barring entry to everyone—including Zhou Kai.
Zhou Kai didn’t mind the leisure. His days were spent getting shoulder massages from Lin Zhiwei or being hand-fed spirit fruits by Chen Ziqing. It was a life happier than an immortal’s.
Once fully healed, Zhou Kai hosted a banquet at the Asking Star Restaurant for Su Xuan and Gao Feihuang.
In the private room, the four took their seats.
Shen Hanyi, dressed in her signature white, ignored the table talk entirely. She stared into her teacup as if the swirling steam contained the secrets of a peerless sword art.
“Congratulations to Junior Brother Zhou and Junior Sister Shen for stepping into the Third Realm. Your futures are boundless.”
Su Xuan raised his cup. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut cleanly through the street noise below, warm and sincere.
“Congratulations to you as well,” Zhou Kai replied with a smile, returning the toast.
Gao Feihuang, on the other hand, was in full peacock mode. He held his wine cup but winked at Zhou Kai, sending a private Divine Sense transmission.
Congratulations, Junior Brother! Not only is your cultivation soaring, but you’ve bagged the beauties too. The Eldest Miss and the Sword Fairy… tsk tsk. This Senior Brother is green with envy.
Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched. He ignored him.
Gao Feihuang laughed loudly, downed his wine, and slammed the cup onto the table.
“Junior Brother, Junior Sister. Are you aware of the ‘Guardian’ situation?”
Su Xuan’s smile dimmed slightly. He set his cup down with a soft clack.
“Youci mentioned it,” Zhou Kai nodded.
“Then,” Su Xuan pressed gently, “which of you will be the Young Master’s Guardian?”
Gao Feihuang’s laughter cut off. Su Xuan’s finger traced the rim of his cup. The room went silent, save for the wind outside.
“Youci said she intends to compete for the Holy Maiden position,” Zhou Kai said frankly. “Hanyi and I have agreed to be her Guardians.”
Su Xuan and Gao Feihuang exchanged a look. Su Xuan seemed thoughtful, while Gao Feihuang stroked his chin, a playful glint entering his eyes.
Well. Now we really are opponents.
“I heard rumors,” Su Xuan said. “The Young Master is ambitious, but the Patriarch agreed to let her compete.”
Gao Feihuang slapped his thigh. “Bad news! That makes us rivals! I’m on the Young Master’s team! Let’s agree right now: No deathblows! And definitely no stabbing in the back!”
Before he finished speaking, he felt the temperature drop.
Shen Hanyi lifted her cool gaze. “No stabbing in the back. But I will go all out.”
Gao Feihuang raised an eyebrow. “The Sword Fairy is so serious?”
“Feihuang hid his strength deep,” Su Xuan explained. “Even I didn’t know his bottom line. But half a month ago at Yantian Peak, he walked into an Illusion Array. He broke it with brute force and exposed his cultivation.”
Zhou Kai paused, cup mid-air. “Who set the trap?”
Gao Feihuang scoffed, downing more wine. “The caster was long gone. But who else could it be but the dogs of the Song and Yang families?”
Zhou Kai smiled. He looked at Gao Feihuang.
“Senior Brother Gao. Since they are unrighteous, why should we be polite? I have a business proposal. Are you interested?”
“What business?”
“Instead of complaining, let’s hit them where it hurts,” Zhou Kai said. “I want to open a massive flagship store in the core city of Calamity Abyss Valley.”
Gao Feihuang slammed his cup down again, nearly jumping out of his chair. “Whoa! Junior Brother! I just said no infighting, and you want to raid my family’s market share?”
“Misunderstanding,” Zhou Kai waved a hand, grinning. “I mean we partner up. We open a shop on the Song and Yang families’ turf. Ideally, right across the street from their main branches. We exist solely to make them miserable.”
“It won’t topple them, but it will definitely disgust them.”
Gao Feihuang’s eyes lit up like lanterns. He slapped the table. “I like it! Damn it, they dare trap me? If I don’t make them bleed, my surname isn’t Gao!”
Su Xuan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Brilliance City is the largest city under our jurisdiction. It is guarded by the Sect Leader’s lineage from Tongtian Peak. Order is maintained, and while the factions are entrenched, the playing field is relatively fair. That would be the optimal location.”
Brilliance City?
Zhou Kai remembered. He had taken Fish Baibai there for a feast to farm Affection. The prosperity of that city was etched in his memory.
Plus, it was close to the Sect gate. Logistics would be easy.
Gao Feihuang chuckled, looking confident. “I know Brilliance City! My family’s turf there is ancestral; I can’t give that to you. But… I can pull strings to get you a prime lot right under the noses of the Song and Yang shops!”
He paused. “What are you selling? Generic trash won’t cut it.”
Zhou Kai considered his production lines. With the System, every Pill, Array, Talisman, and Artifact he produced was High Grade.
“My inventory strategy is simple,” Zhou Kai said. “Superior quality. Undercut prices.”
As the wine flowed, the business plan crystallized.
Su Xuan had no interest in commerce but took a 10% stake for political support. Gao Feihuang, with his vast network, would handle permits and “troubleshooting” for 30%.
The remaining 60% belonged to Zhou Kai.
The table was a mess of empty cups and plates. Slightly tipsy, the group stood to leave.
Gao Feihuang threw an arm around Zhou Kai’s shoulder, dragging him behind a pillar with a conspiratorial wink.
“Junior Brother Zhou… hehe…” He rubbed his hands together, wearing a quintessential ‘you know what I mean’ expression. “I heard the Asking Star Restaurant—and the entire Asking Star Sect—is actually your personal asset?”
Zhou Kai nodded. No point hiding it.
“Excellent!” Gao Feihuang’s grin turned lecherous. “I heard the sect is filled with stunning beauties. Junior Brother… don’t you plan to let this Senior Brother broaden his horizons? Maybe arrange a tour?”
Zhou Kai fought the urge to stitch the man’s mouth shut.
A tour? For what? To inspect my harem?
“Senior Brother Feihuang, you misunderstand.” Zhou Kai looked like he had swallowed a fly. “The Asking Star Sect… is essentially where I keep my canaries.”
“Canaries? Holy shit! Junior Brother, you are a legend! An entire sect for your… respect! Respect!”
Zhou Kai’s eye twitched. “Why doesn’t Senior Brother visit the Qian Family?”
Gao Feihuang’s face fell instantly. He looked bored. “You don’t know. The women of the Qian Family are mediocre. Except for the Patriarch’s little granddaughter, they are… sigh. Not to my taste. I can’t bring myself to do it!”
Looking at Gao Feihuang’s picky expression, Zhou Kai didn’t know where to start roasting him.
This guy isn’t just a peacock. He’s a snob.
Seeing Zhou Kai’s silence, Gao Feihuang leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a whisper.
“Junior Brother, we are kindred spirits and business partners. Tell me secretly… in this Shangqing City, which family has girls who are both top-tier beauties and… morally flexible?”
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