Chapter One: Heaven's First Floor

  "It doesn't show, but Old Shen, you're actually a good father material."

  A pleasant but somewhat cold voice suddenly came from outside the door at this time, and both Shen Tai and Tu Fu's faces changed, but after a moment, when they saw a slender figure appear in the doorway, Tu Fu's expression relaxed, while Shen Tai's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity.

  He looked at the mature and beautiful woman in front of him, who was calm yet had a heroic spirit, and sighed with a bitter smile. He cupped his hands together and said, "I've met you before, Madam Gu. For any offenses I may have committed over the years, please forgive me."

  Gu Lingyun, Gu Dapang's wife, the famous fairy who is in charge of the branch store in Xilu City, is this beautiful woman in front of you. However, at this moment, her gaze towards Shen Tai is obviously not very gentle, as if the intense and sharp aura hidden beneath her delicate face is about to burst out. Her eyes are calm but bright and piercing, looking at Shen Tai, gazing for a moment, then saying faintly:

  "The Shénxiān Huì has branches all over the Hóngmēng Main Realm, with a total of 3,317 houses. Business is booming and widely recognized, but only in this Xīnán Yīnzhōu Xīlú City, it's been suppressed by others, with three managers changed in ten years. When Língyún arrived, he was also suppressed for five years and couldn't turn things around. In the Shénxiān Huì, he has become a laughing stock, with almost no chance of promotion. You say, having offended me like this, will I forgive you?"

  Shen Tai's face stiffened, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face. The butcher standing beside him, who had been relaxed just a moment before, was also taken aback by Gu Lingyun's sudden sharp words.

  The atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet, not a sound was heard, as if no one had expected that this beautiful woman would be like a sharp blade, cold and fierce, without any regard for sentiment.

  Shen Tai's eyebrows gradually furrowed, and a subtle, imperceptible worry flashed in the depths of his eyes. He seemed to want to say something, but after glancing at Gu Lingyun's cold expression ahead, he hesitated and stopped himself.

  Just as the atmosphere in the house was getting increasingly chilly, a light and quick footsteps suddenly came from afar, and before entering the room, Shen Shi's voice was heard outside saying: "Uncle, has my father come? Ah, Father, you're here!"

  Before the words had fallen, a young figure had already run in from outside the door. It was Shen Tai's only son, Shen Shi. Seeing his son standing safely in front of him, Shen Tai also relaxed his expression and a smile reappeared on his face. He reached out to touch his son's head, who had run to his side, and nodded with a smile.

  He took a deep look at Shen Shi, and Shen Tai secretly gritted his teeth. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at the beautiful woman still standing at the door, bowed down to the ground, and said: "Master Gu, in the past, you and I were each on our own, with conflicts and disputes in business, but if there was any offense, it was all Shen Tai's fault for not understanding things. Now that my father and son are already a family of losers, I hope Master Gu will be magnanimous and spare us a way to survive."

  As the conversation went on, Shen Tai lowered his head and tone, his voice and expression had already become humble, it could be said that he was begging. This action shocked Shen Shi for a moment, he opened his mouth, turned to look at Gu Lingyun, and there was a hint of anger on his face, but soon he noticed his father pulling his collar from behind.

  Shen Shi turned his head to look at Shen Tai, but saw that he was still bowing his head and couldn't see the expression on his face. Shen Shi was stunned and unable to speak, after a moment, he silently lowered his head and stood beside his father, hanging his head in silence, with only his two arms clenched into fists by his side.

  At this scene, even the butcher who had been standing silently beside them from the beginning couldn't help but frown, hesitated for a moment, turned his head to look at Gu Lingyun, and frowned slightly, saying in a low voice: "Boss, they..."

  Gu Lingyun gave him a cold glance, and the butcher's latter half of his words immediately retreated, letting out a bitter laugh, shaking his head and turning away.

  Her footsteps were light, but Gu Lingyun slowly walked into the house and came to Shen's father and son. She took a deep look at the man in front of her who showed a hint of humility and refused to get up, suddenly letting out a cold snort. She stretched out her hand to help Shen Tai up, then walked to the side of the table and sat down as if no one was there. She said calmly, "Alright, don't pretend anymore. We've been competing in Xilu City for five years, and these acts of humility and forbearance can't fool anyone. Stop pretending."

  The butcher was taken aback, turned his head to look over, but Shen Tai stared at the charming woman for a moment, suddenly burst out laughing and walked over to sit down opposite Gu Lingyun's table, clasped his fists and said: "Gu Boss indeed has sharp eyes, I admire you. Although we have been enemies for many years, actually we know each other best, just now was...

  Gu Lingyun raised an eyebrow and said: "I'm just a young woman who hasn't even married yet, Mr. Shen, you say we're the closest of friends, are you taking advantage of me?"

  Shen Tai's smile froze on his face, and a look of embarrassment flashed across it. Even with his usual smooth temperament, he didn't know how to salvage the situation when faced with Gu Lingyun's sharp words. It seemed that over the past five years, he had indeed offended the beautiful shopkeeper who was like a goddess in Xiluo City.

  It's okay. After Gu Lingyun finished speaking, she didn't intend to continue causing trouble, but rather hummed in a bad mood and her gaze fell on Shen Shi standing beside Shen Tai, pausing for a moment before saying: "Is this the young master?"

  Shen Tai hastily nodded, also secretly letting out a sigh of relief, saying: "Yes, my son Shen Shi is twelve years old this year." Then he said to Shen Shi, "This is Gu Lingyun, the great shopkeeper of the Immortal Gathering Sect. Quickly address her as... Cloud Aunt?"

  In the end, Shen Tai couldn't help but sneak another glance at Gu Lingyun. Although he had interacted with Gu Lingyun many times in the past five years, most of their encounters were intense battles on the business front. It was truly a rare occasion for them to sit down and have a good chat like today. Looking back at how difficult it was to talk to Gu Lingyun earlier, Shen Tai couldn't help but worry that he might accidentally offend her again with this one careless remark.

  However, under the gaze of Shen's father and son, as well as Shen Shi's slight hesitation in calling out "Yun Yi", Gu Lingyun surprisingly did not get angry this time, but instead nodded calmly with a composed expression.

  Shen Tai waited for a moment, but found that the beautiful woman did not intend to continue speaking. She furrowed her brow and turned to look at the butcher standing beside her. The butcher gave a dry laugh and leaned against the doorframe, looking up at the sky.

  Shen Tai glared at him, but under duress, he put on a thick face and forced a smile, saying to Gu Lingyun: "Gu Boss, regarding the matter we agreed upon before our meeting, I suppose you've already received the news. Is it now time for your side to fulfill its promise?"

  Gu Lingyun's pale hand tapped lightly on the table a few times, her expression calm as she said, "The gods will come to those who keep their promises and maintain their reputation. We won't go back on our word."

  Shen Tai was overjoyed, stood up and cupped his hands: "Thank you, can we ask Master Gu to arrange for us father and son to leave Xi Lu City as soon as possible? After all, this is the sphere of influence of Xuan Yin Men, and it's better not to stay here for too long..."

  The words had just reached the halfway point when they were suddenly interrupted by Gu Lingyun's waving hand. Then, she saw her face calm and cold, pointing to Shen Shi with her hand, saying lightly: "Your son can leave, but..." She glanced at Shen Tai, the corner of her mouth slightly hooked up, and both Shen Tai and Shen Shi felt a simultaneous sinking in their hearts. Only then did they hear her continue: "You stay."

  "Hmph!" A low, muffled sound, but it was Shen Shi's emotions suddenly surging, biting his teeth and involuntarily taking a step forward in anger. However, he was immediately pulled back by Shen Tai, whose face was also extremely unsightly at this moment. He slowly sat back down, and after a while, said in a low voice: "Why is it like this? Please teach me, Master Gu."

  Gu Lingyun's expression didn't change, and she calmly said: "You're not done yet."

  Shen Tai's face flashed with anger, and he said in a low voice: "Gu Zhuanggui is joking, I clearly replaced the 'Yin Chao Pearl' with the fake one you gave me. As long as Li Laoguai uses this fake spiritual pearl for cultivation, the consequences are obvious. I am just a small figure in the Lianqi realm, and I have already made such a sneak attack on a great true person of the Yuandan realm, Gu Zhuanggui, you actually say that I haven't finished what I started, it doesn't make sense!"

  Gu Lingyun smiled faintly and said: "Boss Shen, aren't you also at a dead end, that's why you're acting so recklessly?"

  Shen Tai's face suddenly sank, staring at Gu Lingyun, and said slowly: "Gu Zhanggui, you are indeed well-informed, it seems that there are many ears and eyes in the Xuan Yin Gate?"

  Gu Lingyun seemed to have not heard Shen Tai's words, and continued on her own, "What we previously agreed upon was that a certain senior would take a dislike to Li Lao Guai and want to punish him. Once successful, we would naturally ensure your father and son's safety, arrange for you to safely retreat from the pursuit of the Xuan Yin Gate, and give your son an opportunity to cultivate the immortal path in a renowned sect. Is that not so?"

  Shen Tai nodded slowly and said, "Not bad."

  Gu Lingyun glanced at him and said, "But for now, things have not yet been accomplished. Li Laoguai has not yet obtained that pearl, and even if he did, he still hasn't started cultivating it. As long as nothing happens to him, this matter is far from over."

  Shen Tai remained silent for a long time, then took a deep breath and said, "What do you want to do?"

  Gu Lingyun said without hesitation: "Let your son leave first and leave Yinzhou. You stay with me here. If this matter is successful, I will arrange for someone to let you leave under an assumed name. If it doesn't work out, if the Xuan Yin Gate investigates and finds me, you will be the scapegoat. The Immortal Sect will not protect you."

  Shen Tai's eye muscles twitched slightly, and he said, "You want to hand me over?"

  "The Xuan Yin Gate has considerable influence within the Yin State, and is not an ordinary small gate or sect. A Yuan Dan realm great true person is also not someone to be trifled with."

  Shen Tai sneered, with a hint of mockery, but Gu Lingyun pretended not to understand, saying that the Yuan Dan realm was not easy to provoke, and that the Xuan Yin Gate's power was extraordinary. But before that, the Immortal Conference had dug at its corners, secretly plotting and poisoning, so where was there any consideration?

  After a moment of silence, Shen Tai said coldly: "If you hand me over, aren't you afraid I'll drag you into this?"

  Gu Lingyun smiled slightly and said: "Isn't your son still in our hands?"

  Shen Tai and Shen Shi both suddenly looked up, including the butcher, all with unspeakable expressions, staring blankly at this charming and beautiful woman. Meanwhile, Gu Lingyun seemed to be unaware, calm and composed, saying: "So, Mr. Shen, you'd better pray to the gods for blessings, let that old freak Li have some bad luck, and honestly use that fake spirit pearl."

  Shen Tai's face was a kaleidoscope of emotions, with pain and struggle flashing across it non-stop. Shen Shi's face was deathly pale as he stood beside his father, his eyes filled with worry, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

  After a while, Shen Tai suddenly let out a long sigh and said in a low voice: "I understand, everything will be done as Gu Zhangang said, I'll stay here and wait for that news."

  Gu Lingyun smiled slightly, without saying a word, but Shen Shi, who was standing beside Shen Tai, trembled slightly and called out softly: "Father..."

  The voice was very soft, but the words seemed to contain countless emotions, sadness, anger, worry, anxiety, and thousands of words could not be expressed clearly, until finally only this sentence, this word.

  Shen Tai looked at his son and forced a smile, then turned to Gu Lingyun and said: "Gu Boss, before Shi Tou leaves, I have some words I'd like to say to him alone. Is that possible?"

  Gu Lingyun nodded and stood up, her blue silk dress swaying gently, making her look like a delicate flower in the spring light, radiant and carefree as she walked out of the room. Behind her, the butcher was silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh and followed her out.

  Before long, only two people were left in the house, Shen's father and son.

  There should be another chapter tonight.