Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 998: How Could There Be a Path to Immortality in This World? (6)

Ding ling ling ling——!

The old pinewood door suddenly swung open from the inside, and a maid holding a broom stepped out of the club, beginning her day’s work—starting with sweeping the entrance and wiping the windows.

It had been several days since the club had been moved back from South America. By now, the maid had grown accustomed to the small town, knew where the market was, and even learned the discount times at the local supermarket.

Waiting for sale days before shopping had slowly become a routine… Money meant nothing to her, yet at some point, this habit had formed.

Had it started after the arrival of her current master?

The people on the street hurried past, all rushing to work. Yet amidst the crowd, Yōu Yè continued sweeping in front of the door, seemingly overlapping with the world around her and yet appearing as nothing more than an illusion. She was here, and yet, she wasn’t.

Suddenly, she paused, sensing something. Turning slightly, she saw someone standing nearby, staring at her—no, at the store's entrance.

It was a tall man with dyed golden hair, carrying another man on his back—Mo Mo and Zhan’er.

“Aren’t you one of Senior’s…”

“Would you like to come in and sit for a while?” Yōu Yè smiled faintly and said softly, “If possible, allow me to serve you both a cup of hot flower tea.”Mo Mo initially intended to refuse but found himself nodding instinctively. He then followed the beautiful woman into the peculiar shop.

The moment he stepped inside, the temperature became instantly comfortable—despite the harsh winter outside, a gentle warmth spread through the air, seemingly seeping into his very being and driving away the cold.

Seeing the maid hand him a cup of tea with both hands, Mo Mo quickly wiped his palms before carefully accepting it from Yōu Yè.

“If I may ask…” Mo Mo took a sip of the hot tea, feeling a bit more at ease. He was about to speak but hesitated, swallowing his words.

“Is there something you wish to ask?” Yōu Yè stood in front of Mo Mo, holding the tray close to her chest, her voice gentle.

“Senior… Senior isn’t here?” Mo Mo glanced around the store—it looked far more spacious on the inside than it appeared from the outside. Was it really this big?

“My master is temporarily away, so I am managing the place for now.”

Mo Mo nodded, then let out a bitter chuckle. “I originally didn’t want to trouble Senior again, yet only a few hours later, I find myself here once more…”

“Mr. Mo Mo has met my master before?” Yōu Yè’s voice suddenly brightened.

Mo Mo nodded and briefly recounted his encounter with Luo Qiu at the Song Family Ancestral Mansion. “I truly owe my life to Senior this time. Without his help, I would have died from the poison long ago.”

“That’s quite unfortunate, Mr. Mo Mo.” Yōu Yè smiled. “Being chased by so many of your peers must have been exhausting.”

Mo Mo forced a smile. Exhausting wasn’t the right word—disheartening was more fitting. The way those people had gone mad for the Edict was still fresh in his mind, an image he couldn’t shake.

It was nothing like the graceful and otherworldly cultivators he had heard about since childhood.

“Let’s not talk about this.” Mo Mo shook his head and instead glanced curiously around the shop. “Your store… seems rather unique. What kind of business do you run here?”

When he first noticed the shop, no one else seemed to pay it any attention. A store with such an unusual storefront should at least draw some curious glances, right?

“This place?” Yōu Yè smiled faintly. “This is a place that provides services and sells what people need.”

Mo Mo was taken aback. “Provides services?”

“Yes,” Yōu Yè said softly. “Whether it is reasonable or unreasonable, possible or impossible—any request can be fulfilled here. What you desire and what you are willing to offer in exchange.”

A memory of Senior’s seemingly supernatural abilities flashed through Mo Mo’s mind. If this was his shop, then everything this maid said was likely true.

Possible… impossible… incredible.

“Can I… Can I also make a transaction here?” Mo Mo asked instinctively.

“As long as you’ve stepped inside, you are considered a customer.” Yōu Yè said seriously. “However, I must remind Mr. Mo Mo that we only trade in valuable things here.”

Mo Mo instinctively glanced at Zhan’er… Should he make a deal for some help?

“Can… can I think about it?” Mo Mo suddenly asked.

Because at that moment, an inexplicable feeling arose in his heart—a warning, urging him not to speak lightly.

“Of course.” Yōu Yè nodded. “As long as you don’t regret it.”

Mo Mo nodded. He didn’t dare stay too long. After finishing his tea, he quickly left with Zhan’er.

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the moment he stepped outside without making a purchase, he felt an immense sense of relief.

He needed to find a place to rest first. This was still a town, after all, filled with ordinary people. Even those who had lost their minds over the Edict would have to think twice before causing trouble in a bustling area.

"The greatest concealment is in the city itself."

Yōu Yè escorted Mo Mo to the door and watched him leave before murmuring with interest, “Cultivators are truly fascinating. To be able to resist their own desires… But, it is precisely because of that, they hold greater value.”

With that, the maid happily continued wiping the shop’s windows—after all, her master was nearby. With the club’s current reach, she could be by his side in an instant.

And this time, in person.

…

An old bus rattled as it came to a stop at the station. Shortly after, a massive figure hurriedly rushed out of the bus, dashing to a nearby corner to vomit.

Song San watched the towering figure with a look of disgust—who would have thought that Song Da, a man as strong as a war god, would get motion sickness and throw up so violently?

“This country’s old buses smell like biochemical weapons!”

That was Song Da’s explanation.

“Let’s find a place to rest first,” Mr. Blind said, shaking his head as he saw Song Da in no condition to move properly. “For now, we just wait.”

“Wait?” Song San, supporting Song Da, asked curiously.

Mr. Blind replied casually, “If I could calculate my senior brother’s presence here, then he can certainly calculate my arrival as well. Naturally, he will come to find me.”

Song San was stunned… Were the disciples of Plain-Clothed Dao always scheming against each other?

“You martial artists spar all the time. Can’t us geomancers do the same?” Mr. Blind said blandly, as if reading Song San’s mind.

Song San quickly shut his mouth in fear.

He and his two brothers often called Mr. Blind “Blind” to his face, but deep down, they all knew the truth—it was only because Mr. Blind didn’t bother to argue, and they were thick-skinned enough to keep doing it.

“…Fine, let’s find a hotel to rest—”

Song San suddenly tensed. His expression changed as he sensed someone quietly approaching.

He tried to extend his senses, but the presence flickered in and out, making it impossible to pinpoint.

And more importantly, his heartbeat had suddenly begun to race.

He seemed to hear the sound of footsteps—footsteps that matched the rhythm of his heartbeat… No, it was as if the footsteps were actually controlling his heartbeat!

In just a few moments, Song San was already drenched in cold sweat, his back chilled.

"Restrain your qi flow. If you keep resisting, your heart won't be able to take it," Mr. Blind suddenly placed a hand on Song San’s shoulder and spoke quickly.

Song San took a deep breath and slowly withdrew his qi. Only then did the terrifying sensation gradually fade away.

At the same time, a poised and elegant woman in a black business suit had appeared before them at some unknown point.

Her hair was neatly tied up, giving her a highly capable look, yet she carried an unapproachable aura. Song San took another deep breath—was this the person who nearly overwhelmed him with just her footsteps?

Was she at the same level as Mr. Blind?

However, the refined woman didn’t look at Song San. Instead, she gazed directly at Mr. Blind and said seriously, "May I ask, are you Daoist Qingxiaozi?"

"And you are?" Mr. Blind frowned slightly.

The woman emitted a faint but strong aura of magical energy. Mr. Blind could tell she wasn’t very old, yet she had already reached such a high level of cultivation—truly remarkable.

"My surname is Gong," the woman said respectfully. "Representative Lai sent me to escort you. He is already waiting for you at a teahouse outside the town. Please, Daoist Qingxiaozi, come with me."

"Representative Lai?" Mr. Blind frowned again and quickly performed a calculation with his fingers.

But Miss Gong swiftly added, "Representative Lai is a traveling disciple of the Plain-Clothed Dao. Despite his young age, he is already one of the representatives of the Daoist Association."

"My senior brother’s disciple, huh…" Mr. Blind nodded. "Very well, lead the way."

"Please follow me," Miss Gong nodded and turned away without further words.

Song Da and Song San exchanged a glance. Song Da, still looking weak, turned to Mr. Blind and asked, "Blind, are we really safe?"

Song Da suddenly had a bad feeling about Divine Land—not to mention this Miss Gong, but even the two young monks they had encountered at Wudang Mountain had terrifying martial prowess.

Mr. Blind said calmly, "This is Mt. Tai. Every ten years, the Daoist world and the Demon Realm hold an exchange here. Right now, nearly half of the Daoist world and the Demon Realm are gathered in this place. Even I don’t rank among them… If there was real danger, do you think running away would help?"

Song San hesitated for a moment and then suddenly asked, "Blind, Old Master Song should have arrived by now… Given how dangerous Mt. Tai seems, do you think he might run into trouble?"

Mr. Blind shook his head. "No need to worry. The Song Family has always been blessed with good fortune and has a destiny to turn calamity into opportunity. Besides, Old Master Song has someone powerful by his side…"

"Someone powerful…?"

"Let’s go. It’s nothing to worry about," Mr. Blind said indifferently. "You should be more concerned about Song Da. A warrior getting motion sickness—what a disgrace!"

——What an embarrassment…

…

…

"Hope?"

Luo Pianxian blinked her large eyes, looking at Long Xiruo, the Dragon Sister, in her arms.

Why was she in her arms?

Because right now, Luo Pianxian was carrying Long Xiruo while flying steadily through the sky.

Feeling an immense pressure behind her, Long Xiruo frowned and said, "To be precise, it was a spiritual vein transforming into a dragon, not a naturally born dragon. It belongs to a type of Qi Luck Dragon. The city we used to live in also had a similar spiritual vein underground. It almost completed its transformation and gained sentience, but unfortunately…"

"Unfortunately what?"

Long Xiruo’s gaze dimmed slightly, and she casually replied, "Unfortunately, it was a fool."

"Dragon Sister?"

Long Xiruo shook her head. "Nothing. It was its own choice… Alright, we’re almost there. Let’s land here. If I remember correctly, there’s a small village nearby where some people still live. And there’s also someone who really shouldn’t still be around."

"Who?"

"An emperor," Long Xiruo said indifferently. "His dragon qi is exhausted, but he foolishly dreams of using Hope’s dragon qi to nourish his soul, hoping that his descendants will find his body, revive him, and restore his rule."

Long Xiruo’s tone was calm. "When I found Hope, its dragon qi was constantly being stolen, preventing it from fully transforming into a dragon. Later, I severed the geomancer’s original setup, allowing Hope to finally accumulate dragon qi again. But because of that, it took several hundred more years to successfully transform… Yet, in the end, it was still born weak."

"Ah! That emperor is so awful! Dragon Sister, didn’t you teach him a lesson?" Luo Pianxian asked angrily.

Long Xiruo sighed. "Even though his dragon qi is gone, he was once the ruler of a dynasty. The mandate of heaven he carried and the merit of founding a nation still exist in the world. I could stop his plans, but I couldn’t personally destroy his soul. Doing so would be like using my own left hand to attack my right hand… True Dragon Emperor—just thinking about it annoys me!"

"Dragon Sister has it so tough," Luo Pianxian said, reaching out to pat Long Xiruo’s head.

Long Xiruo rolled her eyes. "Then hurry up and grow stronger. Maybe one day, you can actually help."

"I'm already doing my best to grow up!" Luo Pianxian said seriously.

…Her chest, at least, was growing seriously fast.

As Long Xiruo felt the soft and heavy pressure against her back, she decided to stay silent.

(End of Chapter)