◎Making Money Again, and Some Drama◎
The inn was dead silent.
A noodle slipped from the waiter’s mouth as he stared at Lu Jianwei in stunned disbelief.
Even a lion wouldn’t dare open its jaws this wide.
Who knew if the congratulatory gift the Twin Heroes of Dongliu had prepared for Elder Zhou was even worth a thousand taels?
Zheng Yuan was trembling with rage. "This is beyond insulting! Beyond insulting! Fang’er, let’s go to the city right now and ask Elder Zhou to judge this fairly!"
"Is that really a good idea?" A disciple from the Spirit Sword Sect, now recovered from his minor injuries, chimed in mockingly. "Today is Elder Zhou’s birthday banquet—it’s supposed to be a joyous occasion. If you two go there wailing and complaining, how can he possibly enjoy himself?"
"Shut your mouth!" Zheng Yuan scrambled up from the ground and helped Shi Fang to her feet. "Fang’er, Elder Zhou has always been fair and just. Let’s go to the city and demand justice."
Shi Fang shot a venomous glare at the crowd, clutching her aching chest.
"Let’s go!"
"Hold on." Lu Jianwei’s voice turned icy. At first, she had felt some sympathy for the couple, but after watching them, she now saw them as nothing but foolish and malicious.
"You greedy, thieving scoundrel—what more do you have to say?" Shi Fang’s narrow eyes burned with hostility.
Lu Jianwei stood leisurely under the corridor, her tone unhurried. "I despise being falsely accused more than anything. If I didn’t do it, you can’t pin it on me."
"You defended the thief—who else could it be?" Zheng Yuan panted heavily, as if about to explode.
Lu Jianwei smiled. "Remember, you owe me two thousand taels."
The crowd: "..."
How did the price just go up?
She continued, "If it were an ordinary thief, why would they still be at the inn waiting to be caught after stealing something?"
"The inn has records. If the thief fled beforehand, wouldn’t that prove their guilt? A simple investigation would reveal the culprit," Shi Fang sneered. "You don’t even understand that, yet you have the nerve to sell information?"
Lu Jianwei scoffed. "If they could steal the treasure without a sound, erasing the inn’s records would be child’s play. Did you think everyone was as stupid as you?"
"You—"
Lu Jianwei cut her off. "Yan Feicang, seize him!"
Before anyone could react, Yan Feicang moved like lightning, grabbing the waiter who had been leaning against the door, watching the spectacle. The force of his sixth-level internal energy instantly suppressed the man, who instinctively resisted—revealing his fifth-level cultivation.
Lv Hudie snapped out of her daze and gasped. "My, my! Who would’ve thought a humble little inn would house such a hidden dragon? Truly, appearances are deceiving."
"Who are you?!" Zheng Yuan demanded, torn between shock and fury.
He had interacted with the waiter several times the day before and hadn’t sensed a trace of internal energy from him.
The man’s steps had been unsteady, nothing like the firm footing of a martial artist, and his plain looks made it impossible to associate him with a fifth-level expert.
Caught red-handed, the waiter had no choice but to accept his exposure.
After a brief moment of surprise, he flashed a cheeky grin. "What’s wrong with a fifth-level warrior wanting to be a carefree waiter? It’s just a hobby."
"A fifth-level warrior, working as a waiter?!" Zheng Yuan’s eyes burned with suspicion.
The waiter shrugged. "Inns are great for entertainment—you see things here you’d never see elsewhere. Is that against the law?"
"It’s not," Lu Jianwei said coolly. "But stealing the White Jade Lingzhi Elixir is."
Everyone: ?!
Even Yan Feicang looked surprised. He had only acted on Lu Jianwei’s command, never expecting the waiter had stolen something as valuable as the White Jade Lingzhi Elixir.
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang were equally stunned.
"How did you know it was the White Jade Lingzhi Elixir?!"
They had deliberately avoided mentioning it, fearing it would attract unwanted attention.
The White Jade Lingzhi Elixir was rumored to extend one’s lifespan with just a single pill—perfect for Elder Zhou in his old age.
They had gone to great lengths to obtain one and had kept it a secret until the last moment, afraid it might be stolen.
Yet, just as they were about to reach Dongliu City, their guard had slipped, and the treasure was gone. Their fury was immeasurable.
Now that Lu Jianwei had casually revealed it, they couldn’t help but suspect her too—perhaps this was all an elaborate act.
The waiter feigned ignorance, his expression flawless. "I don’t know anything about a White Jade Lingzhi Elixir. You can’t pin this on me."
If this were the modern era, he’d have won an Oscar.
Having studied martial arts herself, Lu Jianwei knew how difficult it was for a warrior to mimic the unsteady gait of an ordinary person.
She had never bothered pretending to be powerless—most people simply couldn’t sense her internal energy and assumed she wasn’t a warrior due to her youthful appearance.
But this waiter was different.
He had played the part of a regular inn attendant flawlessly, down to the unstable footing—a fifth-level expert with such acting skills was truly impressive.
He had even concealed his internal energy, fooling everyone present.
Lu Jianwei said, "The White Jade Lingzhi Elixir has a faint, lingering fragrance. If carried for long, it leaves a trace. Most people wouldn’t notice, but unfortunately for you, I have some knowledge of medicine."
"No way," the waiter retorted. "There’s no scent on me!"
Lu Jianwei smiled without answering.
The couple couldn’t wait. Zheng Yuan began patting the waiter down, while Shi Fang, ignoring the pain in her chest, barged into the waiter’s room to search.
Moments later, they found nothing.
The waiter smirked. "See? Nothing. I was just here for the show."
Shi Fang wiped the blood from her lips, her gaze icy. "You’re stalling."
"I told you," Lu Jianwei said cheerfully, "one piece of information—two thousand taels."
"Bullshit!" Zheng Yuan roared. "You’re all in on this together, trying to confuse us!"
Lu Jianwei clasped her hands behind her back. "The White Jade Lingzhi Elixir is worth a fortune. What’s two thousand taels in comparison? I know where it is—are you sure you don’t want to know?"
"How do we know you didn’t steal it yourselves and set this up to swindle us?" Shi Fang’s paranoia ran deep.
"Fine, then. It’s none of my business anyway." Lu Jianwei waved dismissively. "Yan Feicang, let him go. We’re leaving."
Yan Feicang, ever the obedient bodyguard, released the waiter, who slithered away like an eel, vanishing from the inn before the couple could react.
"Miss Lu, till we meet again."
His voice lingered, but he was already gone.
"What are you doing?!" Zheng Yuan was livid. "Why did you let the thief escape?!"
Lu Jianwei shrugged. "You didn’t believe me—accused me of colluding with the thief. Might as well make it true."
The couple: "..."
Lv Hudie giggled, batting her eyelashes. "Manager Lu, ever the entertainer."
Entertainer?
What part of this was entertaining?!
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang were ready to kill someone.
After all their efforts to obtain the White Jade Lingzhi Elixir, it had slipped through their fingers just like that?
"Yan Feicang, is this how the ‘Number One Blade Master of the Martial World’ behaves?" Zheng Yuan snarled. "If that pill isn’t recovered, I swear I’ll expose your true nature to the entire world!"
Yan Feicang lifted his eyelids slightly. "Hopeless fools."
"Fangniang, let's go find Elder Zhou right now and show all the martial heroes what kind of business the so-called number one swordsman is really running!"
Lu Jianwei: "Are you really planning to show up empty-handed?"
She extended her palm, revealing a pale jade-like pill resting in its center. "I just found this on the servant. Want it?"
Zheng Yuan's pupils constricted. "Impossible! I searched him earlier—he had nothing on him!"
"Well, well," Shi Fang rasped, her voice hoarse. "Still claiming you're not in cahoots? Trying to swindle us out of our silver—what a clever scheme."
Lv Hudie giggled. "Senior Zheng, Senior Shi, allow this humble girl to speak fairly. A White Jade Lingzhi Pill is something Manager Lu wouldn’t even glance at twice. She helped you uncover the thief and even recovered the pill, yet instead of gratitude, you slander her? How unjust."
"Exactly!" A disciple from the Spirit Sword Sect seized the moment to vent their frustration. "First, you couldn’t find the thief and caused a scene at the inn. Now that he’s been exposed, you’re still making baseless accusations. Do you think the entire world’s logic bends to your whims? Ridiculous!"
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang: "..."
"Manager, if you ask me, they just don’t want to pay you for your help. Instead, they’re trying to pin a crime on you—what petty behavior!" Xue Guanhe crossed his arms, thoroughly trampling their dignity into the mud.
Outrageous!
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang had roamed the martial world for years—when had they ever suffered such humiliation?
In terms of age, everyone present was their junior. In terms of experience, no one could match them. And in terms of martial prowess, if the two joined forces, they might even break through Yan Feicang’s blade techniques.
Unfortunately, Shi Fang had been poisoned, weakening her combat ability. They couldn’t afford to gamble on defeat.
Lu Jianwei sighed. "Well then, this pill is mine."
She made as if to tuck it into her sleeve.
"Wait!" Zheng Yuan’s fingers tightened around his saber hilt, his breath ragged. "Two thousand taels—give me the pill."
Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. "Too late. Five thousand."
"You—" Shi Fang spat another mouthful of blood, her face now deathly pale.
Lv Hudie teased from the sidelines, "Senior Shi, are you really not considering buying the antidote? The little girl hasn’t left yet."
"Shut your mouth!" Shi Fang snarled before turning a frosty glare toward Lu Jianwei. "Fine. Five thousand taels. We’ll take it."
"Fangniang..."
"Brother Yuan, the birthday banquet is about to start. We can’t delay any longer." Shi Fang regained her composure. "Miss, five thousand is acceptable, but we don’t carry that much silver on us. Why don’t you accompany us into the city? After the banquet, we’ll go to the bank and withdraw the money."
"Reasonable." Lu Jianwei nodded—then suddenly turned to Yan Feicang and mouthed something.
Yan Feicang understood instantly. Channeling his inner energy to its peak, he vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing in the inn’s kitchen. There, he caught the sneaking servant by the pickled vegetable jar, sealed his acupoints, and dragged him out unceremoniously, tossing him into the courtyard.
Clutched in the servant’s hand was a sealed porcelain vial, its surface smeared with pickled vegetable juice—its scent alone invigorating the spirit.
"That’s the medicine vial!" Zheng Yuan exclaimed, lunging forward, only for Yan Feicang to block him.
Stunned, Zheng Yuan glanced between the vial and the pill in Lu Jianwei’s hand. "What in the world is going on?!"
Lu Jianwei withdrew the pill—secretly storing it in her system inventory—and signaled Xue Guanhe with a look.
Xue Guanhe used a handkerchief to pry the vial from the servant’s grip. Upon opening it, sure enough, another pill lay inside: another White Jade Lingzhi Pill.
Shi Fang was dumbfounded. "How can there be two?"
"I understand now." Lv Hudie couldn’t resist praising Lu Jianwei first. "As I said earlier, Manager Lu wouldn’t covet a mere pill. She already had one of her own—why would she lust after your so-called treasure?"
"Exactly." Cao Haozi chimed in, seizing the opportunity.
Lv Hudie smirked at Zheng Yuan. "Manager Lu pretended to catch the thief, then pretended to let him go—all to mislead him. She produced the White Jade Lingzhi Pill to lure him back."
"So that’s it!" A Spirit Sword Sect disciple marveled. "The thief pretended to leave but actually suppressed his aura and hid nearby, watching. When he saw Miss Lu really take out the pill, he panicked and returned to check his hiding spot."
"Right! The fact that none of us noticed him lurking proves he had the skill to steal your pill without you noticing," another disciple added, eyes gleaming. "If not for Miss Lu, we’d never have thought to search the pickled vegetable jar."
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang: "..."
"Manager, your foresight is divine!" Xue Guanhe beamed before turning curiously to Yan Feicang. "Brother Yan, you didn’t sense his presence either?"
Yan Feicang hung his head. "No."
The gap between him and Manager Lu was still vast.
"Manager Lu, how should we deal with this man?" Lv Hudie asked.
Lu Jianwei glanced down at the figure on the ground.
"Miss Lu, I admit defeat. I’m outmatched." Though immobilized, the servant showed no fear, only curiosity. "Before you dispose of me, could you tell me how you detected me?"
His concealment technique had fooled countless people—yet today, he’d suffered a crushing defeat. How could he not want to know why?
Lu Jianwei smiled. "A secret."
Her nameless cultivation method had sensed him, and her system map had confirmed his presence with a green dot.
The servant grimaced. "Fine, if you won’t tell me, I won’t press. But at least let me die knowing—Miss Lu, which sect do you belong to?"
This was a question everyone else wanted answered too.
To casually produce a White Jade Lingzhi Pill as bait—what kind of background did she have?
They’d messed with the wrong person!
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang realized their recklessness had likely earned them her disdain. They no longer dared to demand the pill, standing quietly instead, waiting to hear her sect’s name so they could apologize according to martial customs.
But Lu Jianwei didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at the two of them.
"The thief is caught, the evidence is here. Do you have anything else to say?"
"We dare not." Zheng Yuan clasped his fists. "We offended you today, Miss Lu. Our deepest apologies."
Shi Fang added, "Miss Lu, we were distraught after losing the pill and acted rashly. We beg your forgiveness."
"Miss Lu’s brilliance helped us capture the thief. We are endlessly grateful."
"Please accept this token of our thanks." Shi Fang pulled five silver notes from her robe—each worth a thousand taels—and offered them to Lu Jianwei.
A Spirit Sword Sect disciple scoffed. "Earlier, you claimed you didn’t have the money?"
"Tch, don’t listen to their lies. Who attends a birthday banquet without enough silver for emergencies?"
"Wait, didn’t Miss Lu say finding the antidote would cost five thousand? That’s payment, not a gift, right?"
"Tsk tsk, avoiding the payment and calling it a gift—do they think she’s a fool? Miss Lu may be wealthy, but that doesn’t mean they can cheat her."
Their back-and-forth left Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang flushed with shame.
But the Spirit Sword Sect wasn’t to be trifled with.
Earlier, they’d acted because their treasure was stolen—they had justice on their side. Now, they were the ones lacking principle.
Zheng Yuan’s face burned scarlet, like a boiled lobster.
"Miss Lu, this is all we have on us. Take these five thousand taels as a token of gratitude. As for compensation, could we deliver it after my husband and I enter the city?"
Lu Jianwei accepted the silver with a smile.
"Fair enough."
Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear a disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect interject, "What about us? You acted recklessly and injured our people—how will you make amends for that?"
"The medical expenses will be covered by me," Zheng Yuan replied. "After Elder Zhou's birthday banquet, we’ll send further compensation."
What a humiliation!
In the past, Zheng Yuan would have settled such matters with the flash of his blade—never had he been forced into such a humiliating position.
If not for Yan Feicang and the others blocking them, they could have simply searched the pickled cabbage jar for the antidote. Now they’d lost face and money alike.
The Spirit Sword Sect disciple snorted. "That’s more like it."
Seizing the moment, Tiao, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "The antidote costs fifty taels per dose. Want it?"
Shi Fang’s throat and chest still ached unbearably—she couldn’t possibly attend the birthday banquet in this state. Swallowing her fury, she gritted her teeth. "Fine."
She handed over fifty taels of loose silver and received a single antidote pill.
The moment she swallowed it, the pain subsided, and her mind cleared considerably.
"Miss Lu," Zheng Yuan said, "this man stole the pills—pills meant as a gift for Elder Zhou. Hand him over to us. We’ll take him to the Zhou residence and let Elder Zhou and the other heroes decide his fate."
"Please, no!" The shop assistant wailed. "I only took one pill, and it’s been recovered. Can’t you just let me go?"
Zheng Yuan slammed his scabbard against the ground. "You think you can steal treasure and walk away unscathed? Since when does the world work like that?"
"So you’re saying thieves of the White Jade Lingzhi Pill should be punished?" the assistant shot back.
"Absolutely!" Zheng Yuan reached out to grab him.
The fear on the assistant’s face vanished, replaced by a cold smirk. "Then let Elder Zhou be the judge. Shouldn’t you two be executed for slaughtering an entire family of six just to steal that pill?"
The Spirit Sword Sect disciples gasped.
"Murder? You actually killed people?"
Shi Fang’s breath hitched. "What, you’ve never killed anyone before?"
The disciples fell silent.
What martial artist didn’t have blood on their hands?
"Senior Yan, Miss Lu," Zheng Yuan explained calmly, "I merely offered a substantial sum for the pill. But that family tried to extort us—demanding ten thousand taels for a single dose. In the heat of the moment, Fang and I clashed with them."
He spoke without a trace of guilt.
This was simply how the martial world worked. He’d done nothing others hadn’t done before. Life and death were part of the game—if you died, it was your own fault for being weak.
Lu Jianwei felt a pang of discomfort. Even though she knew these people’s morals didn’t align with hers, witnessing it firsthand was still hard to stomach.
"Release his pressure points."
Yan Feicang obeyed, and the assistant immediately scrambled up. Though he couldn’t escape under Yan Feicang’s imposing presence, he turned to Lu Jianwei, pleading.
"Miss Lu, I only did this because I couldn’t stand their murderous ways. I didn’t harm anyone—can’t you let me go?"
"You nearly ruined everything for me, and now you think you can leave?" Shi Fang wasn’t about to let him off. "Miss Lu, hand him over to us. Let’s see if Elder Zhou will uphold justice for us."
Lu Jianwei: "..."
They murdered people, stole treasure, and now wanted someone to arbitrate?
Did they really think Elder Zhou and his allies would side with them?
If so, the martial world was truly rotten to the core.
"This has nothing to do with me. I’m just an unfortunate bystander," Lu Jianwei said coolly. "I only looked for the pill to clear my name."
Xue Guanhe caught on quickly. "Boss, we should get going."
"Let’s go."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the assistant bolted, his movement technique remarkably swift.
Zheng Yuan stamped his foot in frustration. "Next time I see him, I’ll chop him into pieces!"
"Brother Yuan, we’re running late for the banquet," Shi Fang said through clenched teeth. "I have a good guess who he is. We’ll deal with him later."
The group finally left the inn.
The innkeeper shut the courtyard gate and collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear.
He couldn’t take this anymore!
There was only one main road from the inn to Dongliu City.
Lu Jianwei rode in the carriage while the others traveled on horseback—except for Tiao, who followed on foot.
Xue Guanhe couldn’t bear it. "Boss, should we offer Tiao a seat?"
Lu Jianwei chuckled. "Why?"
"If she falls behind, how will she repay her debt?"
The system sighed. "He used to be such a good kid."
"You really think he’s worried about the money?" Lu Jianwei said. "Ask her yourself."
Xue Guanhe slowed the carriage and called out, "Miss Tiao, want a ride? Twenty coppers for the trip."
Tiao: "..."
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t refuse his kindness either. Quickening her pace, she leaped onto the carriage’s front seat beside him.
Twenty copper coins clinked into the carriage.
Xue Guanhe grinned and flicked the reins, speeding up.
Upon reaching Dongliu City, Zheng Yuan and Shi Fang hurried off to the birthday banquet, promising to deliver the rest of their payment afterward.
Yan Feicang blocked their path with his blade.
"We’re in a hurry."
Left with no choice, they first stopped at a money exchange, withdrew five thousand taels in silver notes, and handed them to Lu Jianwei.
In just half a day, Lu Jianwei had earned ten thousand taels. Even the street vendors seemed charming now.
With no outsiders around, Xue Guanhe finally had a chance to chat.
"Miss Tiao, why are you here?"
Tiao: "Going to Jiangzhou."
"You’re heading to Jiangzhou too?" Xue Guanhe brightened. "Then travel with us! The fare’s cheap."
Tiao stayed silent.
"By the way, in Moonview City, did you also earn money by healing people?" Xue Guanhe, ever the chatterbox, continued. "You’re amazing. A few more patients, and you’ll have your debt cleared."
"..."
"Why are you going to Jiangzhou?"
Tiao: "Earn money. Repay debt."
"Wait—did you decide to go to Jiangzhou just because you heard we were going, all to pay us back?"
"Same anywhere."
Xue Guanhe nodded sagely. "True. We martial artists are wanderers at heart. If you haven’t roamed the land, can you even call yourself one?"
Tiao: "..."
Lu Jianwei laughed. "Tiao has traveled far more than you."
"Oh, right." Xue Guanhe perked up. "You’ve been wandering with Hu Jiuniang, right? Where have you been? Tell me about it!"
Tiao: "Your blade technique is impressive."
The subject change worked flawlessly. Without missing a beat, Xue Guanhe puffed up with pride.
"All thanks to the boss’s teaching."
Yan Feicang joined in. "The technique is solid, but you’re not utilizing its full potential."
"I’m just not skilled enough. You should see the boss wield a blade—that’s true mastery."
"What’s the style called?"
"Boss calls it 'Frostwhirl Blade Art.'"
"Let’s spar sometime."
"Absolutely!"
The two dove deep into blade techniques, completely forgetting about Tiao, who had steered the conversation.
Tiao exhaled in relief and leaned against the carriage door, closing her eyes.
When they reached the western market, Xue Guanhe finally stopped talking.
"Boss, I’ll go buy fodder and provisions."
At every town they passed through, they would restock their supplies.
Lu Jianwei said, "Go ahead."
Before long, Xue Guanhe returned with his arms full of packages and once again drove the carriage toward the city gate.
Just as they were about to leave the city, several riders galloped toward them, swiftly blocking their path at the gate.
"Brother Yan! I knew you'd be here!"
Lu Jianwei abruptly straightened up, ears perked.
Oh, this is juicy!
