From the moment Shen An and his nephew arrived, Lin Miao was paying attention. Though their conversation was quiet, Lin Miao heard every word clearly.

This kid actually has designs on my senior sister.

Damn it.

It seems the rumors that Shen An is a gentle and refined person are clearly wrong. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, just like father, like son.

Appearing elegant on the outside, but inside he’s no better than a thug.

If Baili Yuyao really marries such a person, who knows what kind of suffering she’ll endure. Since I have my own plans for Li Hen City, I might as well reluctantly marry her.

While eating, Sun Youwei suddenly noticed Lin Miao’s expression had changed and asked with concern, "Junior brother, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just eat. After eating, where do you plan to go?"

"Nowhere, I’ll head back."

"Tonight, the night market here is very lively. There are many strange and unusual things for sale, including gambling on stones. Want to take a look?" Lin Miao said.

"Yes, yes." Sun Youwei nodded continuously; although she had been a well-behaved girl since childhood, she was curious about the world outside.

"Alright, after dinner, let Lianxin accompany you back. I have some things to handle and will come back to pick you up tonight," Lin Miao said.

"Okay."

After dinner, Lin Miao escorted Sun Youwei to the carriage. Lianxin drove away, while he stayed behind. Since he knew Shen An had designs on his senior sister, he wouldn’t let him off easily.

The first step is to figure out what he intends to do, and also determine where this uncle and nephew are staying.

Simpler: follow them.

His Concealing Breath Skill could even go undetected by Celestial Realm experts, blending silently into the crowd. He tested it on that big bald-headed Fahai.

This time at the Celestial Essence Banquet, plus the auction, it’s unclear if Shanglin Temple will send people. Although it’s part of Buddhism, it’s also a sect of martial arts and the largest in Li Hen City, so logically, they should have received word.

...

The uncle and nephew had lunch at Songcui Tower and, naturally, paid a little extra to the waiter to inquire about the identities of Lin Miao and the other two. Clearly, they found out nothing.

"No worries, as long as they are in Li Hen City, we will find out," Shen Hao understood his nephew’s thoughts.

"Second uncle, I’ve already sent the Blade Slave to follow them."

"Oh, you were prepared. No wonder you’re not anxious even though they’ve left," Shen Hao chuckled.

"Of course, pretty soon there will be news about that girl," Shen An was becoming impatient; if he could persuade such a girl to warm his bed, his hardships these past months would be worth it.

Blade Slave?

Following?

Lin Miao slightly frowned; he hadn’t noticed at all. It seems he underestimated others. There are always realms beyond realms, people beyond people.

However, as long as Sun Youwei entered the Snow Mountain Residence, Shen An probably wouldn’t dare make a move. Snow Mountain Residence was Snow Mountain Sect’s base in Li Hen City.

Would Green Blade Sect dare offend Snow Mountain Sect?

After eating and drinking their fill, the uncle and nephew returned to Bihai Tower. Shortly after, Shen Hao emerged alone, with two attendants, but Shen An was nowhere to be seen.

Soon, Lin Miao saw a person in an ordinary gray cotton robe walk directly into Bihai Tower, with no one inside stopping him, clearly someone they knew.

This person’s footsteps were light, and if placed among the crowd on the street, they would be utterly unnoticeable. Could this be the "Blade Slave" Shen An was referring to?

Bihai Tower mainly dealt in weapons, particularly famous for their "blade" crafting, giving them a certain amount of notoriety in Li Hen City.

It’s a chaotic place, so within Bihai Tower, weapons strictly prohibited by the imperial court can be bought. Although they are all replicas, those made by Green Blade Sect are no worse than those supervised by the Ministry of Industry.

However, these items are generally not bought by ordinary people; only those with special needs place orders.

For instance, fortress guards defend against mountain bandits and thieves. Individuals don’t need them, but such items are consumables, so once used, they must be kept in use. Hence, Bihai Tower’s business prospers, and all three major powers of Li Hen City are their clients.

This holds true only in Li Hen City; elsewhere, Green Blade Sect would only do ordinary sword and knife business.

Since teaming up with Marquis Lingyang and opening an iron mine for him, their cost of weapon manufacturing dropped dramatically, giving their weapons more competitiveness on the market. Many Jianghu people purchase or custom-order their weapons directly from Green Blade Sect.

Even so, Green Blade Sect’s weapon craftsmanship is second-tier; the top-tier weapon crafters are located in Hedong.

The Fan Family in Hedong has been crafting weapons for generations, producing countless renowned swords and blades, rightly earning the title of the top genre for forging weapons.

The Cyan Fish Sword in Lin Miao’s hand was crafted for Wu An Marquis Qingye by the Fan Family in Hedong.

"What would you like to see, young hero?"

"Swords."

"This way, young hero, we have the finest swords here: the Feihong, Mofeng, Youlan..." The sword attendant led Lin Miao over, introducing a myriad of swords.

Lin Miao’s visit to Bihai Tower was primarily to eavesdrop on the conversation between Blade Slave and Shen An.

Blade Slave went straight to Shen An’s room in the inner courtyard.

"Young master." The Blade Slave slightly bowed and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Young master, I’ve found out, that young lady is staying at Snow Mountain Residence." Blade Slave reported immediately upon entering and bowing.

"Snow Mountain Residence?" Shen An raised an eyebrow. That was indeed Snow Mountain Sect’s base, but staying there didn’t necessarily mean she was related to Snow Mountain Sect. Snow Mountain Residence was half a store for furs and snow mountain specialties, and half an inn, different from Bihai Tower.

Bihai Tower was purely a trading place, with the inner courtyard reserved for Green Blade Sect members to have a place to stay while conducting business in Li Hen City.

"Have you figured out her identity?"

"I didn’t dare go in, afraid of being discovered, but I did hear some news," said the Blade Slave.

"Go on."

"Elder Helian Wanwan from the Snow Mountain Sect has arrived and is staying at the Snow Mountain Residence."

"What, Helian Wanwan came?" Shen An exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

"Yes."

"No, this news needs to be reported to my second uncle immediately. Helian Wanwan is probably here for that Celestial Essence Fruit too."

...

"This sword is nice, quite good. How much silver?" Lin Miao casually picked a treasure sword, played with it for a few moments, and asked without looking carefully.

"Young hero, this sword is very suitable for women..."

The scabbard is made of silver sharkskin, the hilt embedded with pink gemstones, and the tassel is all pink, designed in a pink maiden series.

"This one, it’s fine, isn’t it?"

"Sure, for you. This sword costs one hundred and twenty taels of silver," the Sword Servant quickly said, thinking he would be a fool not to make a sale.

"Eighty taels!" It feels wrong not to haggle when buying.

"Young hero, you’re bargaining too hard, cutting a third off right away. How about adding a bit more, one hundred taels?"

"Sixty taels!" Lin Miao ignored him. In fact, he could see that although the sword looked pretty, it was merely ornamental. Not that its quality was terribly bad, but if used in a fight against a master, it would shatter in a second!

The Sword Servant was dumbfounded. Who haggles in reverse like this?

"Young hero, or maybe..." Seeing Lin Miao about to speak again, the Sword Servant quickly changed his tune, "Sixty taels, deal."

"Pick a nice sword case, and I’ll take it away packaged," Lin Miao instructed.

"Alright."

This sword is indeed quite attractive. He bought it, planning to give it to his senior sister for protection. Having a treasure sword when traveling outside could at least maintain appearances.

People generally wouldn’t dare to provoke a woman carrying a long sword lightly.

Shen An, on the other hand, was temporarily distracted from his sordid thoughts due to the news of Helian Wanwan’s arrival, but only temporarily.

Not hearing anything useful anymore, Lin Miao took the sword and left Bihai Tower.

...

"Lin’s" general store.

"Miss Yuyao, you’re here. Quick, bring over a cup of milk tea." As soon as Madam Zhen looked up and saw Baili Yuyao enter, she quickly set down her work and came out from behind the counter to greet her.

Milk tea is a new product launched by "Lin’s," available only in Li Hen City. Don’t be fooled by this small cup of hot milk tea, it’s now all the rage in Li Hen City, becoming "Lin’s" most profitable item.

Because only "Lin’s" can make this, it requires a lot of crystal sugar, and the crystal sugar produced can be entirely sold through this channel. Not only does it double the profits, but it also avoids being discovered.

Li Hen City is a city of vice and desire, but also open and free, so new things are easily accepted and become trendy.

The combination of milk, tea, and crystal sugar creates a magical chemical effect that has conquered women’s taste buds instantly. Of course, men like it too, but women love it the most.

Drinking a cup of hot milk tea has even become a fashion among female knights in the martial world visiting Li Hen City.

Especially in the latter half of this year, Li Hen City’s rising popularity has attracted many outsiders from the martial world. Once milk tea was launched, business has been incredible.

Baili Yuyao naturally loves milk tea as well, getting a cup every few days. She is known to call herself a sister with the owner of "Lin’s," and this relationship is no secret. So, her visits to "Lin’s" don’t raise any eyebrows.

Sometimes, if she doesn’t want to come in person, she leaves a message, and "Lin’s" will have someone deliver a hot cup of milk tea to her.

She also frequently treats her team to it, contributing considerably to the booming milk tea business.

With three generations of seamstresses at Embroidery House, who wouldn’t want to try such a delicious hot drink?

"This is the latest matcha flavor, and here’s this, candied fruit, only one of a kind," Madam Zhen personally served the milk tea and a bright and tempting candied fruit to her.

At first glance, it was very enticing. "Candied fruit, is this a new snack you’re launching?"

"No, this is the only one we have, right in Miss Yuyao’s hands," Madam Zhen smiled gently and explained.

"For me?"

"Yes, this was specially brought for you by the young master."

"Did Miaoxue receive any?"

"That I don’t know, I’ve only seen this one," Madam Zhen replied with a light smile.

"He came, yet didn’t see me. Does he think I’m not worthy of him?" Baili Yuyao asked.

This was a difficult question for Madam Zhen to answer, so she could only return a smile.

"I want to meet him. Can you arrange it?"

"Of course, Miss Yuyao. You’ll be my master’s in the future, so I wouldn’t refuse any of your requests," Madam Zhen nodded.

"I don’t want him using the name Lin Bei."

"Alright, I’ll relay that to him."