TRWSB – Chapter 141 A Fateful Encounter at Tianlong Emporium

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao returned from their stroll and reunited with Qi Heng and Bi Liuyun.

“Young Master, did you discover anything?” Qi Heng asked, noticing the smug expression on Qi Shaorong’s face.

Qi Shaorong nodded, his excitement evident. “We attended the local exchange fair—it was incredibly fascinating! I found lots of sea tribe specialties and even bought a bunch of them to bring back.”

With a wave of his hand, Qi Shaorong displayed a pile of sea tribe specialties on the table.

Bi Liuyun looked at the items with disdain. “Young Master, you bought a bunch of cheap trinkets.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“Are they really all cheap trinkets?” Qi Shaorong asked with a frown.

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Yes! I’ve heard some sea tribes bring their discarded or outdated items to human territories to sell to unsuspecting buyers.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” So he was the unsuspecting buyer?

“Forget about that,” Qi Shaorong said, quickly changing the topic. “I discovered that our Allure Cosmetics Shop has a huge market here. We could open a branch here, and business would undoubtedly flourish. Maybe the heavens sent me here to expand our cosmetics business into sea tribe territories!”

Bi Liuyun tilted his head and corrected him, “Young Master, it wasn’t the heavens that sent you here—it was the ruler.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Qi Heng, choosing his words carefully, said, “Young Master, opening a shop in the Azure Plains requires strong backing. Otherwise, it’s easy to get robbed. Robberies happen frequently in this area.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” These two really knew how to pour cold water on his enthusiasm.

“You two went out today as well. Did you find out anything?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Young Master, Bi Liuyun and I learned that there are two major powers in the Azure Plains: the Moyun Trading Company and the Tianlong Emporium,” Qi Heng reported.

“Moyun Trading Company has a Saint-level expert overseeing it and maintains extensive dealings with the sea tribes. They mainly sell goods to the sea tribes. It’s said that Moyun Trading Company started as pirates, dabbling in grave robbing and relic excavation before cleaning up their act and turning legitimate. They now run a sizable operation with many mercenary groups under their command.”

“The Tianlong Emporium is very mysterious. It suddenly appeared in the Azure Plains, and its owner remains an enigma. However, it’s clear that any force opposing Tianlong Emporium has vanished without a trace.”

“The upper management of Tianlong Emporium is highly capable. While Moyun Trading Company mainly acquires ordinary goods from the sea tribes, Tianlong Emporium even has sea tribe treasures for sale.”

“Historically, newcomers to the Azure Plains have chosen to align with one of these two forces. Doing so tends to ensure a longer lifespan.”

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes and interrupted, “How long is this ‘longer lifespan’?”

“About ten years,” Qi Heng replied.

“Only ten years?” Qi Shaorong said, dissatisfied. “Even those who align with them don’t last very long.”

“However,” Qi Heng added, “those without backing sometimes don’t even survive long enough to adjust to the environment here.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” Not adjusting to the environment? Every lord sent here had at least Level 8 cultivation. Would a Level 8 expert really die from something as trivial as not adjusting to the local conditions?

“Based on past experience, choosing a faction to align with is essential,” Qi Heng concluded.

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Exactly!”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“Tomorrow, we’ll visit both trading companies. Which one should we see first?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Without hesitation, Bi Liuyun replied, “Tianlong Emporium first.”

“Why?” Qi Shaorong asked, puzzled.

“Because the young master of Tianlong Emporium is rumored to be very handsome, whereas the young master of Moyun Trading Company is just average-looking,” Bi Liuyun explained.

Qi Shaorong snapped his fingers. “Let’s do as you say.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

When Qi Shaorong arrived at Tianlong Emporium, he was immediately stunned.

The entire emporium was constructed from crystal, resembling a magnificent crystal palace.

Under the sunlight, the emporium seemed to glow, exuding an air of opulence.

Looking at the flamboyant “Tianlong Emporium” sign above the entrance, Qi Shaorong couldn’t help but exclaim, “Impressive! What extravagance!”

Bi Liuyun waved his folding fan with a smile. “Young Master, let’s go inside.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Alright.”

The moment Qi Shaorong stepped inside, he was astounded by the items on display.

Exquisitely shaped corals, night pearls the size of soccer balls, shark silk dozens of meters long, and the transparent Tears of the Mermaid—Tianlong Emporium had all sorts of treasures from the sea tribes.

“Everything is so expensive!”

Every item in the emporium was a masterpiece and came with a sky-high price tag.

It was a perfect example of a business model where one big sale could sustain them for years.

Most of the customers who entered the shop merely browsed without making purchases.

A man in a brocade robe descended the staircase.

“Young Master, do you see any areas in the shop that need adjustment?” the steward of the emporium asked cautiously, trailing behind the man with utmost respect.

Hearing the conversation from the staircase, Qi Shaorong and his companions turned their gazes upward.

The man on the staircase was exceptionally handsome, exuding an aura of authority that was both regal and captivating, stirring emotions in anyone who laid eyes on him.

Qi Shaorong smiled involuntarily as he observed the brocade-clad man. “Now that’s a real heartthrob!”

Zhuang Hao, displeased, tightened his grip on Qi Shaorong’s hand. Qi Shaorong sighed inwardly: This guy gets jealous way too easily.

Bi Liuyun’s eyes remained fixed on the man, his brows furrowed as if caught in a trance.

Perhaps Bi Liuyun’s gaze was too intense, for the man—Hailing—turned to meet his stare.

Noticing Hailing’s response, Qi Shaorong felt a pang of unease and tried to warn Bi Liuyun, but it was already too late.

“You there, what are you looking at?” Hailing’s figure appeared abruptly before Bi Liuyun.

Bi Liuyun blinked, then offered a shy smile. “Ah, I was momentarily distracted by how strikingly handsome you are.”

Hailing chuckled. “Do you really think I’m that handsome?”

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Of course.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After exchanging a few polite words with Bi Liuyun, Hailing left with his entourage.

Not long after, Qi Shaorong and his group exited Tianlong Emporium as well.

Zhuang Hao, puzzled by Bi Liuyun’s demeanor, asked, “Master Bi, what’s going on with you? You’ve seen your fair share of people. That pretty boy doesn’t seem that special—why do you look like you’re about to surrender to him?”

Bi Liuyun glanced at Zhuang Hao and replied, “You wouldn’t understand.”

Zhuang Hao raised an eyebrow. “What’s there not to understand? Did you fall for that pretty boy at first sight?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Zhuang Hao. Has your brain rusted from being filled with nonsense all day?” Bi Liuyun retorted irritably.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

At Tianlong Emporium

Hailing crossed his arms, a radiant smile playing on his lips.

“Young Master, why are you suddenly so interested in a human?” one of his guards asked, visibly confused.

Hailing smiled faintly. “I don’t know. It’s just… the way he looked at me was so intense. It intrigued me.”

“Young Master, plenty of sea tribe members look at you like that,” the guard countered.

“This one felt different. His aura was peculiar.”

“Could he be from the sea tribe?”

“No, he’s definitely human.”

“Should we investigate their backgrounds? Perhaps the city lord has arrived early to take his post.”

“The city lord?”

“A group of four young elites, each highly skilled. Earlier, the white-clad youth’s aura rivaled my own. I suspect he’s Zhuang Hao.”

“Understood, Young Master. I’ll look into it right away.”

Walking along the street, Bi Liuyun seemed lost in thought, resting his chin on his hand.

Qi Shaorong glanced at him and asked, “Liuyun, did you notice something unusual? Is that why you’re so distracted?”

Bi Liuyun smiled. “Young Master, you always see through me. Yes, I realized something—the young master of Tianlong Emporium isn’t human.”

“He’s not human? Then he’s from the sea tribe? But he looks exactly like a human!” Qi Heng asked, confused.

“Sea tribe royalty closely resembles humans. Just as there are potions for humans to disguise themselves as sea tribe members, there are also potions for sea tribes to appear human,” Bi Liuyun explained.

Qi Shaorong clasped his hands behind his back. “I see. That explains why I felt something was off about him.”

Bi Liuyun draped an arm around Qi Shaorong’s shoulders. “Young Master, maybe you found him odd simply because he’s so handsome.”

“True! He really is strikingly handsome!” Qi Shaorong beamed.

Zhuang Hao frowned. “He’s not that great. Nowhere near as good-looking as me.”

Bi Liuyun chuckled at Zhuang Hao. “Young Master Zhuang, no need to declare it so urgently. Your anxiety makes you look insecure.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Eyeing Bi Liuyun suspiciously, Zhuang Hao asked, “Master Bi, you seem to know a lot about the sea tribe. Do you have some kind of connection to them?”

Bi Liuyun froze momentarily, then smiled. “I’m well-read and knowledgeable about many races, not just the sea tribe.”

“Young Master, are we heading to Moyun Trading Company next?” Qi Heng asked.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Not yet. We’ll go another day. For now, let’s visit the city lord’s residence. After all, that’s where I’ll be living in the future.”

Qi Heng hesitated. “Young Master, I’ve heard some news. The city lord’s residence might not be what you’re expecting.”

Qi Shaorong tilted his head. “Not what I’m expecting? Then what is it like?”

Qi Heng smiled cryptically. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”