Chapter 74 - An Unscrupulous Merchant Citizen

Chapter 74: An Unscrupulous Merchant Citizen

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
True to their reputation of being the richest family in the Upper Azure World, the Yin Family had arranged for the banquet to held in Zheng Feng Restaurant, the largest restaurant in Yin Skycity. Moreover, as soon as it had turned dark, they had sent their disciples to personally invite their guests after having cleared the restaurant of all its customers.
When Shen Ying arrived, Xuan Yuanyu and the Yin Family’s patriarch, Yin Feng, were already waiting at the entrance. Both parties had seen each other at the finals during the day, but had not had the chance to interact. Unlike the patriarchs of the other three aristocratic families, Yin Feng looked especially… friendly. His smile never once left his face.
Seeing that Shen Ying’s group had arrived, the both of them quickly went to greet them. Stepping forward, Xuan Yuanyu saluted Shen Ying first and said, “Great Immortal.” He then turned his head to make the introductions. “This is Yin Feng, the patriarch of the Yin Family.”
“Honored guests, all of you must be tired after your journey,” Yin Feng said, the smile on his face deepening.
“Good evening!” Shen Ying took a look at the restaurant before her and waved her hand happily.
“Good evening, Fellow Daoist.” Yin Feng glanced at the people behind her and continued, “I was busy during the day and did not have the chance to congratulate your disciples for winning the first prize in the Golden Core division. Truly, great masters turn out skilled disciples.”
Lonemoon froze at this comment, feeling as if someone had shot an arrow through his knee.
“Has the banquet started?” Shen Ying was not interested in this kind of business small talk and went straight to the main topic!
“How could I have started the banquet before my guests arrived?” replied Yin Feng, stepping back. “Thank you for coming, Fellow Daoists. This way, please.”
Shen Ying was really a little hungry and was just about to follow him inside, when she saw a familiar-looking sign. All at once she froze in her steps. She felt the faint sensation of perspiration rolling down her face.
“Master? What’s wrong…?” Yi Qing, who was behind her, was about to ask what the matter was when he too froze after seeing the sign.
Written on the sign in gold lettering were the words: Shen Ying and Dogs Denied Entry!
“…”
Noticing that they had halted suddenly, Yin Feng’s eyes followed the direction of their gaze to the sign. With a laugh, he immediately explained, “Oh, this sign was put up especially for a few rogue cultivators. A few years ago, a restaurant under our Yin Family’s name reported that these three cultivators not only left without paying their bill but also tried to escape pursuit. So this sign was put up to serve as their punishment and warning. The person whose name is on the sign is the main culprit.”
The group of three accused of said dine and dash crime: “…” Unscrupulous merchant!
“Huh?” Xuan Yuanyu glanced curiously at the sign and got a shock. “Why is this name similar to…”
Before he could finish his sentence, however, he suddenly felt three cold and piercing glares shoot directly towards him, freezing the words in his mouth.
Why was the Great Immortal’s gaze suddenly so terrifying? Did he say anything wrong?
(⊙_⊙)
“This sign has been put up for more than a year. It is an old matter not worth mentioning. Please step inside!” The still smiling Yin Feng was unaware that something was amiss with his guests. But just as he stepped into the restaurant, he suddenly seemed to recall something. Looking at Shen Ying, he asked, “By the way, I only know that you are all from Invincible Sect. May I know the names of my Fellow Daoists?”
“Er…” Shen Ying’s mouth twitched. She glanced at the sign next to her and then after a while, she answered, “My name is… Qing… Qing what-was-it?” She nudged the chef next to her.
A certain chef immediately got her meaning and whispered a reminder, “Yi Qing.”
“Yes, Yi Qing!” she continued gravely. “My name is Yi Qing.”
“My name is Lonemoon!”
Lonemoon: “…” Shit! Damn!
Yin Feng was stunned. Yi Qing, Lonemoon! Weren’t these the two sword cultivators that had broken into the Xuan Yuan Family’s home a year ago? He suddenly understood why Xuan Yuanyu was treating these people so well!
“So you are Supremacy Yi Qing and Supremacy Lonemoon!” Thinking that he now understood the true situation, Yin Feng turned to look at the remaining person on the right and asked, “And this Supremacy is?”
Lonemoon’s mouth twitched. Bloody hell! All the names had been taken up, so what was left for him to say? Turning his head to glare at his two fellow mates, he replied through clenched teeth, “Niu Huayun!” Fortunately, he still had a real name. These two disloyal scum!
“Supremacy Niu.” Yin Feng nodded. “Please proceed inside.”
Xuan Yuanyu was the only one who looked bewildered. What was happening? Why did they suddenly change their names collectively? The Great Immortal even changed her name to her disciples? Was she dissatisfied with today’s banquet and thus deliberately withheld her real name from the Yin Family?
The Great Immortal’s mind is a mystery!
Σ(°△°|||)
On entering the restaurant, they found themselves in another world. The interior was swirling with immortal mist and oppressive Spirit Qi. The scenery continuously changed as they strolled along. It was as if they had come to a famous scenic spot rather than a restaurant.
Yin Feng led the group to the center of a peach forest. They saw that many tables and chairs had been set up at the spot in front of them. The tables were laden with a variety of food—Shen Ying’s eyes lit up immediately at the sight.
There were about a dozen servant girls standing at the tables. When they arrived, a man in blue rushed forwards eagerly to greet them . He was very tall and had the figure of a model, but… it was just that his face… there were no words that could adequately describe it. Covered in red and purple splotches, it was uniquely kaleidoscopic.
“Father!” exclaimed the man who came running over. He first saluted Shen Ying and her group. “Greetings, Supremacies.”
After that was done, he immediately turned to look at the girls behind them. His eyes suddenly brightened and, turning to face the second disciple in the group, he said, “Miss Si Yu, we meet again.”
Embarrassed, Si Yu instinctively bowed her head and hid herself behind Yu Hong.
“Junior Fei, didn’t I ask you to rest in your room? Why did you come out?” Smiling awkwardly, Yin Feng introduced him, “This is my son Yuanfei.” He then gave his son a meaningful glance.
“Father is entertaining guests, so how can I not come out to greet them. Ladies and gentlemen, please sit.” Showing no intention of leaving, Yin Yuanfei smiled even more… colorfully as he led everyone to their seats, but his line of sight never left Si Yu. He seemed alight with passion.
Something was brewing!
“Who is he?” Shen Ying asked the chef next to her.
“Yin Yuanfei. He came in second at the Golden Core finals,” Yi Qing replied. He then added, “That guy who was thrashed by Si Yu during the day.”
“Oh…” A sudden image of a figure bashed up so badly that it was shaking uncontrollably came to Shen Ying’s mind. She looked sympathetically at the person whose face had yet to recover. “Today’s youngsters have strong tastes!”Love at first bash?
Shen Ying wanted to gossip again, but she was too hungry. Having sat down, she concentrated on devouring her food.
Meanwhile, Yin Feng, seated at the head of the table, started on his business spiel.
Shen Ying seldom talked when she was eating except for basic responses such as ‘ah’, ‘oh’, ‘hmm’. As for Yi Qing, he hardly talked to anybody except for Shen Ying; he kept his words as short and concise as possible. During the entire dinner, he only focused on silently pushing the food in front him towards Shen Ying’s side of the table. Moreover, Shen Ying’s nine disciples were almost a generation lower in rank compared to the others.
Therefore, Lonemoon was practically the only one who responded to Yin Feng during the dinner.
Yin Feng had originally intended to pry some information out of these people as well as build a good relationship with them. Although he was a cultivator, he was also half a merchant. He had thought it would be easy to find out about their background, but he hadn’t counted on dealing with someone like Lonemoon. When an unscrupulous half-merchant met an unscrupulous former merchant citizen, the outcome of such a face-off was not hard to predict.
Within the space of an hour, not only did Yin Feng not manage to get any information out of his counterparts, but was instead completely out-foxed by them. Both parties had settled on terms of an initial deal whereby Yin Feng would pay twice the market price for the long-term purchase of spirit herbs while the Xuan Yuan Family would refine the herbs into elixir pills for free.
By the time Yin Feng realized he had gotten the shorter end of the stick, Lonemoon was holding onto the contract stamped with both parties’ personal hand prints.
“Brother Yin, Brother Xuan Yuan, let’s toast to our happy future collaboration.” Lonemoon happily gripped Yin Feng’s hand, the very picture of a crack businessman.
Xuan Yuanyu: “…”
Yin Feng: “…”
Where are we? What did we do?