Chapter 040: The First Pot of Gold

Just as Shen Duo finished getting ready to leave, a burst of laughter rang out at the door. Lina stood there, striking in a fiery red leather outfit, a captivating smile playing at her lips.

Shen Duo greeted her warmly. Lina raised an eyebrow and teased, “What’s this? Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

With a cheerful laugh, Shen Duo welcomed her inside and poured her a cup of nectar he’d brought back from the Butuo Tavern the previous day.

Lina was never one to waste time. She took a light sip of the nectar, then retrieved a pouch of gold coins from her storage ring. “Here’s your share from yesterday’s auction of the ‘Fire Pattern Stone’—three thousand gold coins in all. You’re in luck; an alchemy master happened to attend the auction and bought it at a high price.” As she spoke, Lina’s enchanting eyes sparkled mischievously.

Shen Duo was genuinely surprised by his first profit from trading alchemy materials across realms. Without hesitation, he accepted the coins, his dark eyes glittering even more brightly. “Thank you so much for your help, Miss Lina.”

“You’re not going to count it in front of me?” Lina joked, Shen Duo’s trust evidently increasing her fondness for him. If she’d looked after him before out of consideration for Lei Hang, now she truly cherished him as a friend and sincerely wished to protect him.

Shen Duo smiled slightly. “Miss Lina, is my trust not worth these coins?”

With a hearty laugh, Lina stood and clapped him on the shoulder. “Shen Duo, I’ll count you as a friend from now on. Don’t call me Miss Lina anymore—it sounds too formal. Just call me Lina. There’s work to do at the auction house, so I won’t stay long. If you have business or new treasures, just come find me there.”

Shen Duo nodded and saw her to the door.

Yusha leapt into Shen Duo’s arms, his tiger eyes gleaming. “Little Duo, hurry and take out those coins and let me count them!”

Shen Duo’s mouth twitched as he patted Yusha on the head. “There’ll be plenty of coins to count in the future—so many your paws will go numb. For now, we have more important matters to attend to.”

Yusha grumbled unhappily.

Strolling through the streets of Locastle, Shen Duo pondered ways to improve his strength, and before he knew it, he found himself at the door of the Butuo Tavern. The tavern was always a prime source of information and a favorite haunt for freelance cultivators. Shen Duo stepped inside, picked a quiet corner on the first floor, and ordered two cups of nectar and some pastries.

Yusha hopped down from his shoulder and settled on the table, stuffing a pastry into his mouth with a tiger paw. Shen Duo scanned the patrons, when suddenly, snippets of conversation reached his ears.

“I heard that City Lord Shen never returned last night. No one knows where he is now.”

“Really? Shen isn’t the greatest fighter in Locastle, but with his skills, who could possibly harm him? Besides, he’s so cunning—no one dares provoke him.”

“Keep your voice down! If the Shen family hears you... No matter what, he’s the city lord. The direct line of the Shen family will surely send people to investigate—don’t get yourselves into trouble.”

Shen Duo narrowed his eyes—word about Shen Qing had spread much faster than he’d expected.

Yusha munched on his pastry, sending her a mental message, “Hmph! Even if the main Shen family sends people from the capital, I’ll roast them all the same!”

Yet Shen Duo felt uneasy. The Shen family’s main house was far away in Carbas, the capital of the Carst Empire. The original Shen Duo had lived there for fourteen years—she remembered many things clearly. The Shen family was one of the four great clans, possessing the continent’s most advanced illusionist cultivation techniques, with their own beast tamers and alchemy masters. Several elders in the main house were Illusion Saints, a rank above even Sky Illusionists. With his current strength, Shen Duo knew it was far too soon to challenge the main house.

In an instant, Shen Duo weighed his options, quietly urging Yusha not to be reckless. Truthfully, she needn’t have worried; Yusha’s noble magical beast blood made him proud, yes, and prone to grand claims, but he was well aware of his own limits and would not act rashly.

After a few bites of pastry—her body, still that of a Greatsword Warrior, was far from being able to forgo food—Shen Duo was interrupted by a sudden commotion. A group burst into the tavern, shouting, “Where’s that useless girl? Come out, now!” The voice belonged to Shen Aofan.

Shen Duo frowned and turned. Sure enough, Shen Aofan, his face twisted in fury, stormed over and slammed a palm on her table. “Useless Ninth Miss, what have you done to my father? Where is he? Speak!”

The others might not know where Shen Qing had gone, but Shen Aofan did. Last night, his father had told him he was going to seek Shen Duo out for vengeance—and never returned.

Shen Duo raised her eyes, taking a calm sip of nectar. “How should I know where the city lord is? Shen Aofan, you’re asking the wrong person.”

“You! My father said he was coming for you last night. Who else but you would know?” Shen Aofan was fuming, nostrils flaring.

But at those words, everyone in the tavern hushed each other. Shen Qing had gone to see Shen Duo in secret; the intent was obvious—murder and silence. For the city lord to meet such a fate was only fitting.

“What proof do you have that I know the city lord’s whereabouts?” Last night, Yusha had burned every clue. Even if Shen Aofan suspected her, he had no evidence.

“My father only sought you out last night. Who else could be responsible but you?”

“You know better than anyone the city lord’s strength. Do you really think I could threaten him?” Shen Duo set down her cup and met Shen Aofan’s gaze with a cold look.

Her words were convincing. Anyone who’d spent time in Locastle knew the city lord was a nine-star Grand Illusionist with a six-star spirit beast. Having recently acquired a Water Spirit Flower, he might even have advanced to a Spirit Illusionist. Shen Duo, on the other hand, for all her newfound courage and combat skills, still couldn’t absorb even a trace of illusionist energy. The disparity between them was clear—who could possibly believe she’d harmed him?

Shen Aofan hadn’t expected her to argue so deftly. For a moment, he doubted her involvement. Still, his grudge against her ran deep—regardless of his father, he couldn’t stomach her aloof, elegant demeanor. He could never forget the humiliation she’d given him.

Hatred flashed in Shen Aofan’s eyes. With a wave of his hand, he barked, “What are you all waiting for? Get her!”

In this world, no matter how justified you are, in the end, it’s always strength that speaks the loudest.

The Butuo Tavern erupted into chaos. The tavern keeper was beside himself—how much would this cost him?

The men Shen Aofan brought were all from the city lord’s manor—a far cry from the local riffraff. Most were Grand Illusionists or higher, with several being nine-star Grand Illusionists.

Shen Duo was unfazed by Shen Aofan’s actions. Calmly, she drew her longsword from her storage ring and prepared to face them.