TRWSB – Chapter 161 Secrets Beneath the Waves

Lord’s Manor.

Bi Liuyun sized up Hailing and asked, “Why are you here?”

“I was a little worried about you. The elders of the merfolk… they didn’t make things difficult for you, did they?” Hailing asked with concern.

Bi Liuyun shook his head. “No. At first, they thought I was a golden mermaid, so they gave me a whole lecture about returning to the sea clan to revive the merfolk and fight for their future. But when they found out I’m human, they immediately backed off.”

Hailing looked at Bi Liuyun suspiciously. “You’re human?”

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Of course. If I’m not human, what am I? Don’t tell me you think I’m seafood like you?”

Hailing: Seafood?! Did Bi Liuyun just call him… seafood?

“Do you still have the Heart of the Merfolk with you?” Hailing asked.

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Yeah. The merfolk might ask you for it. You should take it back.”

Hailing frowned. “I’ll find a way to deal with them.”

“I’m human. That kind of thing is useless to me.” Bi Liuyun handed the Heart of the Merfolk to Hailing.

Hailing stayed at the Lord’s Manor for a bit before being shooed away by Qi Shaorong for overstaying.

“You gave the item to Hailing?” Zhuang Hao asked Bi Liuyun.

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Yeah.”

“Are you sure swapping the Heart of the Merfolk with a piece of glass stone will work?” Qi Heng asked hesitantly.

Qi Shaorong shrugged. “It should be fine. The real Heart of the Merfolk doesn’t look special—it looks just like that piece of glass. Speaking of which, A’Hao, your cutting skills are impressive!”

Zhuang Hao smiled. “Not too bad, huh?”

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao stepped out of Bi Liuyun’s room.

“Shaorong, do you think Hailing can tell the difference?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Qi Shaorong crossed his arms and smiled. “No idea! Maybe he can. But if Hailing is smart, he’ll help Bi Liuyun keep it a secret.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Qi Shaorong took out his diamond card and said, “Looks like Liuyun found himself a sugar daddy.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

…

Several carriages stopped outside the Lord’s Manor. Shen Yuan and Qi Shaofu stepped down.

Qi Shaofu looked at the grand manor in awe. “Fourth Brother, you live here? This place is incredible!”

“When your Fourth Brother first arrived, this place was a ruin. He rebuilt it all himself,” Shen Yuan said.

Qi Shaofu looked up at the name plaque and said admiringly, “Fourth Brother is amazing.”

Shen Yuan nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go in.”

“Hey! You two brats, who are you here to see?” a voice called from above.

Heihei, the black shark, sat atop the roof, looking down at them.

Qi Shaofu turned to Shen Yuan in confusion. “Who’s this guy? When did my brother start hanging out with someone like him?”

Shen Yuan’s heart trembled—his intel was better than Qi Shaofu’s. Before they came, an elder warned him: Qi Shaorong now had a Level-9 sea clan bodyguard—not someone to cross.

“We’re here to see the Lord,” Shen Yuan said.

“You got gold coins?” Black Shark asked.

Shen Yuan blinked. “Gold coins?”

“Yeah. Entry fee: one million gold coins per incense stick’s time.”

Shen Yuan gave a dry laugh. “Senior, you’re quite the joker.”

Black Shark frowned. “Who’s joking?”

Shen Yuan: “…” At that rate, who would dare come to the Lord’s Manor?

Zhuang Hao put his hands on his hips and said, “You two finally made it.”

Shen Yuan sighed in relief when he saw Zhuang Hao.

“A’Hao, long time no see. You’re looking more handsome than ever,” Shen Yuan flattered.

“Really? I think so too,” Zhuang Hao said smugly.

Shen Yuan: “…”

Zhuang Hao gave Shen Yuan a long, icy stare, making Shen Yuan feel uneasy.

“A’Hao, why are you staring at me like that?”

“I was just thinking,” Zhuang Hao said, “if something happened to you on the road, maybe Shaorong would’ve been happy.”

Shen Yuan laughed awkwardly. “Why would he be happy? I don’t have any deep feud with him!”

Zhuang Hao glanced at Shen Yuan’s space ring and tilted his head. “Really? You sure?”

Shen Yuan touched his ring—the royal decree was inside. He rolled his eyes internally. “If it wasn’t me, someone else would’ve brought it.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “True. Shaorong wanted to kill you, but I talked him out of it.”

Shen Yuan: “…” Was it really necessary to be so blunt right away?

Trying to change the subject, Shen Yuan said, “I heard someone spent 30 million crystal coins on a single crystal. That person… was Qi Fourth Young Master?”

Zhuang Hao nodded proudly. “Yup! Shaorong bought it for me. In the entire Bihai Plains, only he could throw money around like that.”

Shen Yuan thought: Zhuang Hao, you’re the heir of the Zhuang family, yet you’re proudly playing the kept man?

Qi Shaofu’s heart skipped a beat. Thirty million! His brother was seriously generous. That wasn’t gold coins—that was crystal coins.

Qi Shaofu gave a bitter smile. He couldn’t even earn three thousand gold coins a year, and his fourth brother was already spending millions to support his lover.

Zhuang Hao turned to him. “Qi Third Young Master, you’re here too.”

Qi Shaofu forced a smile. “Yeah.”

Zhuang Hao tilted his head. “Shaorong’s been waiting a while for you.”

“Is he mad?” Qi Shaofu asked nervously.

“Why would he be mad?” Zhuang Hao asked. “Aren’t you here to work? He’s got plenty of jobs lined up for you.”

Qi Shaofu: “…”

…

Zhuang Hao brought them to the main hall. Qi Shaorong was meeting with a guest.

Seeing who it was, Shen Yuan stood up straighter. Sitting inside was Mo Yun’an, the young master of Mo Yun Trading Company. Shen Yuan had done his homework—this guy wielded enormous power.

Seeing how casually Qi Shaorong chatted with Mo Yun’an, Shen Yuan was floored with admiration. Many previous lords tried to build ties with Mo Yun Trading, but failed.

Qi Shaorong turned and said, “Third Brother, Young Master Shen—glad you’re here. Have a seat.”

After they sat, Mo Yun’an wrapped up his business talk with Qi Shaorong and left.

Shen Yuan looked at Qi Shaorong. “Your relationship with Mo Yun Trading seems pretty solid.”

Qi Shaorong leaned lazily on his hand. “It’s alright. We’re business partners now.”

“You’re doing well, even out here in Bihai Plains. Making all the right connections,” Shen Yuan praised.

Qi Shaorong eyed Shen Yuan. “You’re living well too. Your face looks rounder—been eating well?”

Shen Yuan: “Haha, thanks…”

“The royal edict?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Shen Yuan carefully produced the decree. “Here it is.”

Qi Shaorong glanced at it and casually tossed it aside, a mocking smile on his face. “The emperor’s got quite the appetite. Ten jin of Sea Sand Mithril?”

Shen Yuan said, “Just offer what you can. Doesn’t have to be the full amount.”

Qi Shaorong tilted his head. “Why couldn’t you have died on the way here?”

Shen Yuan gave another awkward laugh. “Even if I did, someone else would’ve come.”

“At least that would’ve bought us some time,” Qi Shaorong replied coolly.

Shen Yuan forced a grin. These two, Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao, are truly a match—so brutally honest!

Zhuang Hao said, “If you don’t want to comply, just say no.”

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Probably not an option.”

Yifan and Mu Tingxuan were still in the capital. His business foundation was also there. The royal family of the former kingdom wasn’t just what it appeared to be. In the end, his power still wasn’t strong enough. When you live under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head…

…

Outside the Lord’s Manor, Mo Yun’an emerged.

“See anything interesting?” he asked a cultivator at his side.

“Zhuang Hao’s strength has increased significantly.”

Mo Yun’an squinted. “Could it be because of the item Shaorong spent 30 million on? Any word on the seller’s identity?”

“Not confirmed yet,” the elder replied. “But likely a Nightwalker from the Sea Clan.”

“You mean one of those who sneak into forbidden areas for breakthroughs?” Mo Yun’an asked in surprise.

The elder nodded. “Yes.”

Mo Yun’an clenched his fists. “In that case, the 30 million wasn’t wasted.”

The elder nodded. “Zhuang Hao picked it out. His judgment is usually reliable.”

Mo Yun’an smiled. “I heard he and Qi Shaorong used to not get along. That doesn’t seem to be the case now.”

The elder sighed. “Exactly.”

“I also heard Qi Shaorong has someone by his side who might be a golden mermaid,” Mo Yun’an added.

“There was such a rumor,” the elder said, narrowing his eyes. “But it turned out to be a misunderstanding.”

Mo Yun’an shook his head thoughtfully. “I’m not so sure. Hailing seems quite taken with that person. That young lord of the Sea Dragon Clan… he’s a romantic.”