TRWSB – Chapter 208 Whispers and Alliances at Qingcheng Cosmetics

After Zuo Yunfei arrived in Yuan Kingdom, he stirred up quite a bit of attention.

The simultaneous disappearance of Zhuang Hao and Zuo Yunfei sparked a flurry of speculation.

“Young Master Qi, I heard Young Master Zhuang and Young Master Zuo have gone missing?” Tang Tianying asked.

Qi Shaorong looked at Tang Tianying and replied, “Are you wondering whether the two of them eloped?”

Tang Tianying: “…”

Qi Shaorong crossed his arms. “No need to be shy—this version of the rumor is the most widely circulated right now.”

Tang Tianying: “…”

“Rumors are just rumors. Who really believes them!” Tang Tianying said.

Qi Shaorong rested his chin in his hand. “Zuo Yunfei went off to make money so he could afford to marry. Zhuang Hao followed him. Zuo Yunfei told Qi Heng he wouldn’t return unless he made at least two billion. Who knows, maybe he’ll just vanish forever!”

Tang Tianying: “…”

“Young Master Zuo isn’t someone who gives up so easily,” Tang Tianying said firmly.

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “If only what you said were true. Zuo Yunfei is far too impatient! I was planning to test his temper a little more before offering him an installment plan for the bride price, but he ran off just like that—and even took Zhuang Hao with him!”

“Young Master Qi.” Zhuang Qian walked in.

Qi Shaorong looked at him. “What brings you here?”

Resting his chin on his hand, Qi Shaorong thought to himself: I’m really popular today. I just saw off the Fourth Prince, Tang Tianfeng, and now Zhuang Qian shows up.

“My brother told me to take good care of you before he left. So, I came to check on you,” Zhuang Qian said.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Is that so? Your brother sure is thoughtful.”

“Young Master Qi, there are rumors outside saying my brother and Young Master Zuo eloped. Don’t believe them!” Zhuang Qian said with great seriousness.

Qi Shaorong gave a wry smile. “Thanks for the warning. I almost believed it.” As if Zhuang Hao would choose Zuo Yunfei of all people to elope with.

Zhuang Qian scratched his head awkwardly. “Young Master Qi, are you going out?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “I’m a bit short-staffed and figuring things out.”

Zhuang Qian blinked and patted his chest. “Young Master Qi, how about me?”

Qi Shaorong looked him over. “I suppose I can give you a try. Even if you still seem a little green, I am short on people.”

Zhuang Qian’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Young Master Qi! Do you know Qingcheng Cosmetics has become a premium brand? Anyone who works there sees their value skyrocket—and they won’t have trouble finding a wife!”

Qi Shaorong gave him a look. “Ah Qian, getting lovesick? Thinking about marriage already?”

Zhuang Qian rolled his eyes. “Young Master Qi, don’t tease me. I’m the younger brother—how could I marry before my elder brother? When are you marrying him, anyway? Once you two are married, my family will start arranging my marriage.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” This guy’s getting sharper—he just turned the question back on me!

“You’re still a kid—don’t ask so many questions,” Qi Shaorong warned.

Zhuang Qian: “…”

“Young Master Qi! Ah Qian, you’re here too?” Shen Yuan walked in.

Zhuang Qian clasped his hands behind his back and greeted him with a grin.

“Young Master Shen, you’re here,” Qi Shaorong said.

“Young Master Qi, do you have a moment? I’d like to discuss a potential collaboration between the Shen family and Qingcheng Cosmetics,” Shen Yuan said.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Sure. Ah Qian, you listen in too.”

“Me?” Zhuang Qian asked in surprise.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Of course. Didn’t you say you wanted to help?”

Zhuang Qian gave an embarrassed smile. “I thought I’d be starting from the bottom.”

“The management team is understaffed. We can’t wait for you to climb the ranks. But if you make me lose money, I’ll have your brother beat you up,” Qi Shaorong said sternly.

Zhuang Qian: “…”

“Shaofu,” Qi Yao called out.

Qi Shaofu turned around and asked, “Father, is something wrong?”

“A group of people from the Qi family tried to join Qingcheng Cosmetics but got turned away. Do you know about this?” Qi Yao asked.

Qi Shaofu shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure.”

“I also heard that Zhuang Qian is helping out at Shaorong’s place. What’s your fourth brother thinking? He’d rather hire someone from the Zhuang family than the Qi family,” Qi Yao said with displeasure.

Qi Shaofu sighed. “Father, he did hire me, didn’t he? And Yi Fan didn’t even bring in a single member of the Yi family.”

Qi Yao snorted. “That’s different. The Yi family went too far. I also heard your fourth brother gave two hundred million to Qi Heng. Is that true?”

“It should be,” Qi Shaofu said hesitantly. Qi Shaorong’s withdrawal of such a large sum from Qingcheng Cosmetics’ accounts couldn’t be hidden.

“Your brother is crazy—giving that much money to a mere servant! What if Qi Heng takes the money and runs?”

“But he hasn’t, has he?” Qi Shaofu replied with a faint smile.

“Will it still be fine if he does run off?”

Qi Shaofu endured his father’s long rant before finally getting away.

“Third Brother!” Qi Shaoru called out to Qi Shaofu.

Qi Shaofu stopped in his tracks, a trace of helplessness flashing across his heart. He had thought he could catch his breath after dealing with Qi Yao, but instead, he was cornered again—this time by Qi Shaoru.

“Third Brother, I heard that Zuo Yunfei left? And he left with Zhuang Hao?” Qi Shaoru asked.

Qi Shaofu looked at her and said with clear exasperation, “Are you asking if Zuo Yunfei and Zhuang Hao eloped? That’s utter nonsense!”

Qi Shaoru frowned and said, “But that’s what everyone’s saying outside.”

“Zhuang Hao and Fourth Brother are on very good terms—there’s no problem at all between them!” Qi Shaofu replied firmly.

Qi Shaoru gave a forced smile. “Is that so?”

…

Tianxing Mountain Range

This mountain range was part of the Zuo Family’s territory. Normally, it was crawling with magical beasts and rarely visited by outsiders. Now, however, it had become a hotspot for beast merchants.

Zuo Yunfei and Zhuang Hao worked seamlessly as a team—one subdued beasts through strength, the other tamed them. On a typical day, they could subdue and tame over a hundred mid- to low-tier magical beasts.

“Young Master, Young Master Zhuang.”
The Zuo family’s guard captain respectfully bowed to both Zuo Yunfei and Zhuang Hao.

Only strength could earn the genuine respect of a warrior. The feats these two had accomplished in the Tianxing Mountains had already become legendary.

“How was today’s haul?” Zuo Yunfei asked.

“Two more beast merchant groups arrived today. The three-hundred-strong Gale Wolf troop you tamed was auctioned off for 18 million. Other beasts brought in another six million!” the captain reported with excitement.

Zuo Yunfei looked at Zhuang Hao. “You beast tamers really make money fast! Dead beasts aren’t worth much.”

A tamed beast could sell for a million, but a dead one would fetch no more than 100,000. Beast tamers were rare, which drove up their market value significantly.

Zhuang Hao smiled. “If it weren’t for your help, I wouldn’t have been able to handle so many beasts on my own.”

Zuo Yunfei grinned, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. “At this rate, there won’t be any beasts left in this area within three months.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “If that’s the case, you could then sell the mineral-rich land.”

Zuo Yunfei’s expression darkened.

“Is something wrong?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Zuo Yunfei narrowed his eyes, sounding displeased. “Nothing… The clan leader originally said he’d give me this area, but lately Jingjin seems reluctant.”

“Will that be a problem?” Zhuang Hao asked, concerned.

Zuo Yunfei dismissed it. “Not at all. The patriarch isn’t involved in these matters anymore, and no one in the Zuo family is a match for me.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”
So Zuo Yunfei’s plan was to take the land by force if they didn’t give it to him?

Zuo Yunfei flexed his wrists. “Speaking of which, I think I’ve gotten even stronger recently.”

Zhuang Hao chuckled. “You probably have. Intense battles are one of the best ways to improve.”

…

Zuo Yunfei and Zhuang Hao continued walking to the camp outside the mountain range.

The area was heavily patrolled by Zuo family guards, who all bowed respectfully to the two as they passed.

Several inns and restaurants had already sprung up around the Tianxing Mountains.

“That place we found today seemed odd,” Zhuang Hao said with a frown.

“You mean the bamboo-covered area?” Zuo Yunfei asked.

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yeah. I couldn’t sense any magical beasts there.”

High-level beasts typically claimed territories, and a place like that, with no beast presence, didn’t make sense.

“Could there be a Saint-ranked beast hiding there?” Zuo Yunfei mused.

Zhuang Hao stopped and looked at him.

Zuo Yunfei glanced back helplessly. “Why are you looking at me like that? I was joking!”

“I hope your jinx doesn’t come true,” Zhuang Hao said with worry.

“Even if it does, it’s nothing to fear! Honestly, I’d love to see what a Saint-tier expert is really like!” Zuo Yunfei said eagerly.

“Doesn’t your family have an ancestor at that level? Haven’t you seen his strength?” Zhuang Hao asked.

“We sparred once a year ago. Since then, the old man’s been in seclusion and won’t bother with me!” Zuo Yunfei said regretfully.

“How did that match turn out?” Zhuang Hao asked curiously.

“He flattened me. But I’ve improved a lot over the past year—he might not be able to handle me now!” Zuo Yunfei replied with full confidence.

Zhuang Hao looked down at his hands. These days, he did little else but tame beasts. At first, he could only handle two to three hundred a day. Now, taming seven to eight hundred in a single day was no problem.

He smiled. “You’re right. It’s better if that bamboo place has nothing unusual. But if there is something… maybe it’s time I get a taste of what it means to face a Saint-tier beast.”

He had been stuck at the threshold of the Saint rank for a while now. A powerful opponent might just be the breakthrough he needed.