Hearing the disciple's report, Ye Tianyi knew that Chen Lou had finally made his move.
"He struck this quickly?"
Qin Xiao hadn't expected the City Lord to retaliate so soon. The man truly hadn't wasted a single breath before exacting his revenge.
"It does not matter. The Heavenly Clothes Pavilion has branches spread throughout Qingzhou. The gain or loss of a single city cannot shake our foundation."
Ye Tianyi had long anticipated being targeted, so she was fully prepared to abandon the Heavenly Clothes Shop in this city.
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master! The guards of the City Lord Manor have sealed our warehouses. They claim we have been hoarding goods and evading taxes."
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master! The city gate guards have blocked our convoys from entering. All our raw materials have been detained, and they have decreed that no one from the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion is allowed to leave the city, including members of the Ye Family!"
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master! A massive number of guards have surrounded the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion! They claim we are harboring fugitives and are demanding to search the premises."
"Family Head, disaster! The Ye Family estate has also been surrounded!"
Disciples rushed in one after another to deliver the grim news. Even the Ye Family had been swept up in the retaliation.
"Such audacity!"
Ye Qiuyue flew into a rage. Did they truly think the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and the Ye Family were so easily bullied?
"Aunt, do not act impulsively. They are doing this precisely to force our hand. The moment we strike back, it will be seen as a provocation against the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty. We would be handing them a justified excuse to eradicate us."
Ye Tianyi saw through the scheme clearly. The other side was only making superficial moves to test them without drawing blood. However, the instant her side struck first, their enemies would have the perfect pretext.
A City Lord's cultivation might not be the highest, but within this city, his authority was absolute. After all, the entity standing behind him was the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty.
"Why don't you all accompany me to Tianyuan City instead? I can set up new properties for you there."
Qin Xiao naturally understood the stakes. Provoking the City Lord was one thing, but an open confrontation meant facing the entirety of the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty-a colossal entity that even the Immortal Dao Merchant Association wouldn't dare provoke lightly.
"Set those thoughts aside for now. Let us go assess the situation," Ye Qiuyue said. "Xiao'er, stay here. Once this matter is handled, I will come find you."
She knew Ye Tianyi was right. Even if they refrained from using force, they still needed to see the situation for themselves.
"Alright, you go ahead. I'll join you once all the spiritual food is prepared."
Qin Xiao did not argue and simply remained seated to wait for his massive order of spiritual food.
It was not out of cowardice, but rather the knowledge that his presence would not change anything. This was merely the opening probe. Both sides were baring their fangs to test each other's bottom line; a true battle had not yet broken out. There was no need for him to rush.
"Young Master Qin, here are two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Please take them. We must hurry back to our family."
Ye Tianyun handed a Storage Bag to Qin Xiao. With the Ye Family currently surrounded, they had to return at once.
Unsure of how to appropriately address the young man, he defaulted to "Young Master Qin."
"Take your Spirit Stones back," Qin Xiao refused directly. "I was only joking earlier. How could I truly make you foot the bill? I do not care about such a trifling amount of Spirit Stones. Hurry back to your family."
Qin Xiao refused directly. At a critical time like this, how could they still be worrying about paying for a meal? They needed to return immediately.
"Then we thank you, Young Master Qin."
Ye Tianyun did not stand on ceremony. With the Ye Family facing such a crisis, keeping these two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones might prove useful.
"Master, are you truly just going to watch? Do you not have a way to help?"
Yun Man asked, her voice laced with confusion. In her eyes, Qin Xiao was practically omnipotent.
"What can I possibly do? Since the other side chose to act so openly, they are clearly leaning on the authority of the Heavenly Dynasty. That is an entity we cannot afford to provoke right now."
Qin Xiao was actually pondering the situation as well, but he genuinely could not think of a solution on such short notice.
"He is right. It is not just this City Lord we must worry about, but also that Grand Commander. That is his true trump card."
Lin Shimeng chimed in.
"Wait a moment. We cannot deal with them externally, but perhaps we can find a solution from within."
Lin Shimeng's words suddenly sparked an idea in Qin Xiao's mind.
"From within? Within what? Are you suggesting we find someone from the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty to help us? Do you even know anyone like that?"
Lin Shimeng asked speechlessly. The enemy's backer was the Grand Commander of the Eastern District. Could this guy possibly know someone from an even higher echelon within the Heavenly Dynasty?
"Well, no, I don't. But even though I don't, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association certainly does. I saved Ling Wushuang's life. Asking his father to pull a few strings for us shouldn't be too much of a problem."
Qin Xiao finally understood the importance of having powerful connections. Fortunately, he had saved Ling Wushuang in the secret realm. Although the young master had already given him a reward for his life, asking for a favor now shouldn't be an issue.
"But can you even contact Ling Wushuang? Do you know where the Immortal Dao Merchant Association's Qingzhou branch is? What if they refuse to help?"
Lin Shimeng continued to pour cold water on his idea. Why would the scions of such great factions casually expend their political capital for him?
"I might not be able to contact him directly, but couldn't the Immortal Dao Merchant Association do it? Doesn't Tianyi City have a branch of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association? We just need to go ask."
Qin Xiao was quite confident. After all, he had interacted with Ling Wushuang and found him to be a reliable person who valued loyalty and reason. Furthermore, Qin Xiao wouldn't let him help for free.
Over an hour passed before the kitchen finally finished packing all of the spiritual food. Qin Xiao paid the bill, then led Yun Man and Lin Shimeng toward the Immortal Dao Merchant Association's auction house in Tianyi City.
The auction houses were likely the Immortal Dao Merchant Association's primary source of business, as every auction house served as the association's regional headquarters within that city.
Armed with his premium Membership Card, Qin Xiao was granted unimpeded access, walking directly into the Immortal Dao Merchant Association's VIP reception hall.
"An honored guest has graced our halls! Forgive this old man for failing to welcome you properly."
Li Rende walked over with a warm smile. He had no choice but to come personally; the youth held a card that mandated reception by a director-level executive.
"You must be Director Li, correct? I need your help with a matter."
Qin Xiao had previously looked into the Immortal Dao Merchant Association in Tianyi City. He knew that the branch was overseen by the Li brothers, both of whom were at the early stage of the Soul Formation realm. The elder brother, Li Renzhi, was the general manager, while the younger brother, Li Rende, served as the director. Since the general manager wouldn't easily step out to receive guests, the man standing before him was undoubtedly Li Rende.
"Please speak freely, honored guest. As long as it is within our merchant association's power, we will certainly see it done."
Li Rende agreed without hesitation. The youth possessed a premium Membership Card. As long as his demands were not outrageously excessive, the merchant association was obligated to satisfy them. This was the supreme treatment afforded to their most valued members, and it was the association's sworn responsibility.
"It is definitely within your power. I need you to contact Ling Wushuang for me. Tell him that Qin Xiao is looking for him regarding an urgent matter."
Qin Xiao did not beat around the bush and directly stated his request. He was certain the merchant association had the means to do so. Back in the second layer of the secret realm, Ling Wushuang had given him a Mother-Child Jade capable of transmitting messages to ensure his escape. It stood to reason that this massive merchant association possessed similar artifacts for their internal communications and reports.
"Ah, that can certainly be arranged. However, might I ask what matter this honored guest wishes to discuss with our young master?"
Li Rende did not leave immediately, probing for more information.
"We can discuss that later. Once you establish a connection with Ling Wushuang, I will naturally explain everything to him."
Qin Xiao did not know how to explain the situation to the director, so he firmly insisted on speaking only after the connection was made.
"Very well. Since it is inconvenient for our honored guest to speak of it, this old man shall pry no further. I will go contact the young master for you right away."
With those words, Li Rende bowed and retreated.
"How did you know they could actually contact Ling Wushuang?"
Lin Shimeng was still somewhat dazed. Could they truly reach Ling Wushuang just by walking into a local branch?
"You have spent all these years doing nothing but cultivating. There is still much you do not understand about how the world works. Even though you are a few years older, you know even less than Yun Man."
Qin Xiao said, glancing at the wide-eyed Lin Shimeng.
"Hmph."
Unable to refute his words, Lin Shimeng merely let out a cold snort.
A short while later, Li Rende returned.
"Honored guest, I have established contact with the young master. He has asked you to wait here momentarily. He will be arriving shortly."
Li Rende spoke with an expression of sheer disbelief. Just who was this youth? To think the young master was actually rushing over in person!
The local branch had not yet received detailed reports regarding the events within the secret realm. They only knew that the Immortal Dao Merchant Association had suffered heavy losses, but the specific details were being kept strictly confidential. Thus, Li Rende had no idea that Qin Xiao had saved Ling Wushuang's life.
"He is coming personally? If that is the case, then I shall wait for him."
Qin Xiao had not expected Ling Wushuang to make a personal appearance. Moreover, judging by Director Li's tone, it would not take long at all. It seemed the Immortal Dao Merchant Association harbored many profound secrets.