Is it low to talk about money?
Lady Pei wanted to ask, "Can you earn money yourself?"
But the young woman was already skipping out of the room. However, as soon as she exited the room, she immediately calmed down and behaved like a modest girl.
At the very top of the courtyard was a spherical room. In the middle of this room was a circular hall. Tables and chairs were set there. The ambiance was simple and elevated.
Lady Pei followed the young woman out and asked:
— Madam, where are you going?
— Where is that Huangdi Dao's room? Has he returned?
— I don't know. I was with you in the room the whole time.
Noticing the movement, Liu Feng Hai and Chai Fei also came out of their rooms.
And just then, footsteps echoed on the staircase. Someone was ascending. Then one of the staff members appeared, followed by Chu An Lou, Niu You Dao, and the others.
As the group ascended, Niu You Dao and the others looked around and naturally noticed the young woman in the pink dress.
At that moment, they simply froze.
For the young woman was exceedingly beautiful. She had soft curls at her temples, a refined, graceful, and delicate physique, and large, clear eyes that held a youthful energy. But what amazed everyone most was her gentle, youthful qi. She did not resemble the high society ladies they were used to.
If not for Lady Pei and the other cultivators nearby, Niu You Dao would not have recognized this young woman.
Clad in women's attire, this young woman truly transformed into a rarely seen beauty.
Chu An Lou was also surprised by the young woman's beauty, but he didn't take it to heart. After a staff member opened one of the rooms, he extended his hand to Niu You Dao:
— Sir, please!
Niu You Dao entered, then turned, cupped his hands, and said:
— Manager, I won't bother you any further. Please attend to your duties.
— Very well, I won't disturb you, sir. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Food and other provisions are available at the inn. If you need anything at all, you may call a staff member or me. We will arrange everything for you, and it will all be free of charge.
— Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your kindness! — Niu You Dao expressed his gratitude, cupped his hands, and saw Chu An Lou off.
Several people dispersed to their respective rooms. The rooms' comfort surpassed everyone's expectations.
Hei Mudan and the others were in their rooms, while Niu You Dao was pacing his own room. Suddenly, there was a knock at his door.
— How are you? And is it good to speak a false name, deceiving us? Is your real name Huangdi Dao? — The young woman entered and immediately began to question.
His eyes flickered. Niu You Dao, surveying her from head to toe once more, was involuntarily surprised. It was still unusual to see her in such attire. He said with a smile:
— Did you ever tell me your true name?
The young woman immediately patted her chest and quickly replied:
— Hao Qin Qin. My name is Hao Qin Qin.
As soon as she stated her name, Lady Pei and the others nearly slapped their foreheads. Hadn't she been told not to reveal her name outside?
However, now that she had said it, there was nothing to be done.
— Hao Qin Qin... Niu You Dao murmured to himself. He measured her with his gaze again and wondered, why did this young woman seem overly enthusiastic? And her attitude had changed sharply. Could it be that she wanted to curry favor with him because of Chu An Lou?
But along the way, this young woman had displayed a character not prone to currying favor with others.
Niu You Dao asked with doubt:
— Do you intend to shirk the bet you lost?
— Hmph! — Hao Qin Qin snorted disdainfully:
— Who do you take me for? Am I the kind of person who reneges on debts? If you want to play, you must be able to pay. I'll write you an IOU, alright? — She immediately headed towards the study.
— ... Niu You Dao turned his head and, surprised, followed her.
Several people entered the study, where Hao Qin Qin had already ground the ink and quickly began to write on the paper. She shook the paper and blew on it, then approached Niu You Dao and, narrowing her eyes, smiled:
— Here!
The writing was not bad. Only the sum raised Niu You Dao's doubts:
— Two million? You haven't lost the second bet yet. Why two million?
Hao Qin Qin waved her hand dismissively:
— It seems your luck is good, so I wrote two million right away. I don't want to write it twice.
— ... Niu You Dao was surprised. He carefully examined the IOU again. He wouldn't want to be tricked by some young girl.
Lady Pei approached him and looked at the IOU. She saw the young woman's real name there. The girl truly hadn't lied. Lady Pei frowned and glared angrily at Hao Qin Qin.
Although all the treasures under heaven were concentrated in the hands of the cultivation world. However, this was because the items cultivators needed were expensive. A single spiritual herb wouldn't cost the same as a head of cabbage. And the ordinary expenses of common people would not be anything special to a cultivator.
For instance: one gold coin was enough for a common person to live comfortably for half a year.
And two million gold coins, one could say, amounted to the annual tax revenue of a single province, and a rather prosperous one at that.
As for cultivators, if one didn't account for time, two million could raise ten Jin Dan realm cultivators.
Therefore, the mention of such a colossal sum provoked Lady Pei's wrath!
Niu You Dao looked at Lady Pei's expression and handed the IOU to her:
— I don't know if this IOU can be used to get money, especially since the bet isn't over yet. We'll talk about this later.
Hao Qin Qin immediately cried out:
— How could I possibly deceive you? Once you reach the capital of the Qi Kingdom...
— Silence! If you continue to make noise, I'll send you back! — Lady Pei interrupted her and, folding the IOU, put it away.
Hao Qin Qin closed her mouth. She dared not continue shouting.
At this moment, Hei Mudan entered the room. She had just wanted to see what they were doing here.
Niu You Dao exited and told her:
— Find the person we met in the hall and bring him to me. — He was referring to Yuan Gang.
Hei Mudan:
— I don't know if I can find out his surname to inquire about his room at the front desk.
Niu You Dao shook his head:
— No need to make trouble. He will find you. Just take a stroll around the inn, that's all.
— Alright! — Hei Mudan agreed and turned to leave.
Niu You Dao turned to Lady Pei and waved his hand, as if asking, "Is there anything else?"
The group, along with Hao Qin Qin, exited.
As soon as Hao Qin Qin was outside, she immediately found a chair and sat on it. She said irritably:
— Annoying! Leave me alone.
— Let one person stay and watch her. Make sure she doesn't run off anywhere! — Lady Pei said displeasedly as well and returned to her room. She and Hao Qin Qin each had their own rooms.
Liu Feng Hai also returned to his room, and only Chai Fei remained at a distance, watching Hao Qin Qin.
The time it took for one incense stick to burn passed, and again, footsteps echoed on the staircase. Hei Mudan, Yuan Gang, and Wei Duo were ascending.
Upon seeing them, Hao Qin Qin immediately stood up and approached Hei Mudan and the others. She said to Yuan Gang with a smile:
— We met earlier in the hall.
Yuan Gang looked at her with a cold gaze and said nothing in response. He continued walking towards Niu You Dao's room.
At Yuan Gang's cold demeanor, Hao Qin Qin merely pouted, yet she didn't leave. She began to pace near the door of Niu You Dao's room.
Chai Fei, observing from afar, didn't understand what his lady wished to do.
Inside the room, Niu You Dao stood before the window, looking out. Hei Mudan was about to report when Yuan Gang already spoke:
— Is everything alright?
Niu You Dao shook his head and, looking at the snowy mountains, said with a sigh:
— You shouldn't have come.
Yuan Gang remained silent.
Niu You Dao turned, looked at Yuan Gang, then at Wei Duo, and, frowning, said:
— Get out of here!
Yuan Gang said to Wei Duo:
— You, step outside.
Wei Duo bowed his head and exited.
Hei Mudan didn't understand what kind of relationship this person had with Niu You Dao. But who knew that Yuan Gang would point at her and unceremoniously say:
— You too!
— ... Hei Mudan froze. She wanted to ask, "Who are you? Why on earth should I leave?"
However, Niu You Dao had already spoken:
— Get out.
Hei Mudan was speechless. She turned and, before leaving, glanced at the two of them.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Wei Duo, head bowed, and a smiling Hao Qin Qin.
Inside the room, Niu You Dao asked Yuan Gang:
— What are you doing with this stutterer?
— He's a reliable person. He'll be useful to you.
— I don't care if he's capable or not. He's from the Supreme Purity Sect, tell him to scram!
— Among the people of the Supreme Purity Sect, he only recognizes you. Of the entire sect, he alone followed the ancestors' rules and was punished for it. He is loyal to you.
— And you believed him?
— He nearly died for you already.
— What happened? You encountered danger on the way, and he saved your life?
— He knelt before the Ning Wang's manor door for too long and nearly died. They even wanted to bury him alive. If Bai Yao hadn't determined in time that he was alive and literally pulled him back from the gates of hell, he wouldn't be here now.
Niu You Dao remained silent for a moment:
— The Supreme Purity Sect has already settled in Beizhou, let him return to them. It's not advantageous for him to follow me. I myself don't want to be tied to the Supreme Purity Sect.
Yuan Gang: He himself agreed to endure hardships and follow us. I'm short on people, I need him.
Niu You Dao's eyes widened: Nonsense!
Yuan Gang: So it's decided.
Niu You Dao fiercely pointed a finger at Yuan Gang, then began pacing back and forth in the room.
Yuan Gang, seeing his state, approached the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and offered it to him.
Niu You Dao waved his hand: You should come to this room less often, so as not to bring trouble upon yourself. I won't drink!