Chapter 981: Change of Character

Proofreader: Papatonks

The dark corridor had no end as Zhuo Fan walked deeper and deeper. Only after a long time did he notice a glimmer of lamp light.

Arriving there after more walking, he found fifteen people bowing and a table at the side with an oil lamp giving off a poor yellow light.

Zhuo Fan said, “You all know northern lands better than I do. I want to see the North Sea’s shore. What is your solution?”

“Sir can see that ever since Invincible Sword barged into northern lands, the sects are on edge. The guard is very tight everywhere and making it so hardly anyone can move around. And even if there are some who go, they are thoroughly questioned. Any disturbance that might occur would spell disaster!”

One youth bowed to Zhuo Fan and reported, “To avoid such troubles, one must be part of a few special groups. One is made up of disciples, elders and venerables of northern lands’ five great sects, who can come and go at will as long as their aura matches the signature on their token. Another is made of three great merchants in these lands that focus on war preparations. They have three specific trading routes to use and dispatch goods to every sect, having earned their trust and thus exempt from any questioning.”

Zhuo Fan frowned in thought, “Then what did you prepare for me?”

“Sir, we are indeed among those merchants, but to have sir form an identity for cover is too hard. It’s much easier to fiddle with the commercial line sending reports.

The man grinned and showed a token, “None know that one of the three great merchants of northern lands, the Qian clan, is in fact a Serene Shores Trading pawn manipulated from the shadows. It’s to prevent the two lands from engaging in war, while also removing the populace’s hostility and facilitating trade to a greater extent. Now that the Serene Shores Trading hidden operatives have begun to move, the Qian clan has become our front. Sir can use the cover of Qian clan steward to move about. This here is the token of the Qian clan. Sir needs just place a trace of soul inside.”

Zhuo Fan looked at it then said, “Serene Shores Trading’s roots run deep I see. You sure came prepared.”

“Ha-ha-ha, sir, peace is there to prepare for war. And to have our big clients attended to, we need to have assurances. The old chairman had seen these times coming and had arranged for countermeasures. Because Baili Jingwei had acted with such speed, it allowed our company to deal with it.”

The man sighed and cupped his hands, “Sir, we will have a supply transport ready five days from now to the North Sea. All the sects along the way will inspect the convoy. And while the token helps, every inspection will compare it with a report they have on the transport from the Qian clan to verify your identity. As such, I will have to ask that you give us a name so we can make you a true member of the Qian clan in northern lands.” 

Zhuo Fan frowned as he pondered.

[With all the lands going against the central area, maybe even Shangguan clan and western lands’ men will show up. It’s best I avoid the usual names. And since it’s the Qian clan, then I’ll take on their name.]

“Qian Fan, no, Fan?”

(StarReader: first Fan is from his name, while the second means annoying, vexing. Qian is money.)

The man’s brow shook and chuckled, “Sir is truly refined, treating money like dirt. No one will ever dislike Qian Fan, ha-ha-ha…”  

The others laughed along.

Zhuo Fan nodded, “True, sometimes more money means more trouble, ha-ha-ha…”

Qiao’er, still inside the poor shop, had waited for so long and was bored to death, looking around the place.

Though there wasn’t anything particularly of interest to the average man. While Qiao’er, who was seeing the world for the first time, found everything a curiosity.

Qiao’er lit up as she stared at a purple mask of an eagle, finding it familiar and interesting. 

She was a bird as well, thus the eagle mask struck her fancy.

Her hands reached out for it out of her control, but then another dainty hand grabbed it first, “Shopkeeper, I want this one!”

Qiao’er flinched and followed the mask as it was taken by a fair young lady looking it over.

“T-that’s mine!”

Qiao’er didn’t know what to say, just that the mask was something she was fond of and now it felt like someone stole it from her.

The woman raised an eyebrow and turned in the child’s direction and big adorable eyes greeted her, “Little girl, just because you said it, it’s yours? Do you have money for it?”

“What is money?”

“So no then, he-he-he…”

Seeing the child so confused, the woman had a wide smile as she flourishly took out ten sacred stones on the table and teased, “I’m buying it. It’s mine now!” 

Qiao’er, still confused, looked at the stones then at the mask with longing and hope.

Qiao’er had no clue what those were, having just come out into the world, but the shopkeeper did all too well.

[Using ten sacred stones over some boring old mask is such a show off.]

The average sect disciple, even venerable at that, would never swagger to such an extent. Those who spent money like water were the imperial family. But with the might of the sects in northern lands, the imperial families were controlled like it was done in western lands.

Throwing away sacred stones was the common trend, but one tended to give sacred stones a second thought. And just like the other two lands, there were moneybags and wastrels everywhere.

But with northern lands on lockdown, who’d be dumb enough to come all the way here to waste their money? As for its three allies, their teams had settled on the North Sea’s shore and certainly not here.

That could only mean this person was from the Sword Star Empire!

Gnashing his teeth, the old man felt rage having guessed her identity. But then he sighed, letting all the frustration seep out and make way for calmness, “Miss, don’t you think it’s disgraceful to fight with a child over a simple mask?”

“What’s it to you? I like fighting, humph!”

Jutting out her chin, the woman taunted with a raised eyebrow, “I’m paying anyway and it’s only natural it’s mine. Don’t tell me that even ten sacred stones aren’t enough for a measly mask!” 

The old man shook his head and straightened his back, “This mask is made of the plumage of a 1st level spiritual beast, Scarlet Beak Eagle, valued at…”

“Don’t start me with the price. How much could some 1st level spiritual beast’s feathers be worth anyway?” The woman warned.

The old man shook his head, “Thirty spirit stones. Miss, ten sacred stones is beyond excessive…”

“More for you then. Take it as a reward.”

The woman huffed and held her head high as she snickered at Qiao’er, “Girlie, I’ve never lost a fight in my life, he-he-he…” 

Qiao’er frowned, wiggled her cute nose and stuck out her lip.

It only worked to drive the woman’s joy higher, pinching those wittle cheeks, “Little baby, once I’m done with it, I’ll give it to you, if we ever meet again. If not… oh, why not come with me?”

“Miss, are you now a slaver?”

The old man mocked, “You’re just too pigheaded. Not everything in the world can be done with stubborness alone just because you want them only to throw them away later when bored. A truly cherished item will never be thrown away. And I don’t feel like selling my items to someone who can’t even value them. Take back your sacred stones and leave the mask. I’m giving it to the child.”

The old man put on a cold face as he pushed away the sacred stones.

Qiao’er perked up, taking the mask, “This is mine. He gave it to me…”

The woman was faster in getting to the mask first, as her hand darted ahead of Qiao’er’s small hand. She then turned a dark look to the old man with eyes shining with murder, “Money for goods, that’s how it’s always been. Never has there been anyone who could take stuff from me. Old fool, do you have a death wish?”

“Always you say, humph. More like throwing money for something that caught your eye only to throw it away when you find it boring.”

The old man met her glare and jeered, “I believe if that if it had a soul it would never choose to go with you, miss. It would rather have nothing to do with the likes of you.” 

The woman’s piercing glare never left the old man, “There’s something else you’re hinting at. Just who are you?”

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