Chapter 544: Qingfeng Saint
Seeing the anxious look on Chairman Qian’s face, Lin Yun invited him into his room. At this point, the only thing that could have Chairman Qian so worried was the Gold Order from the Celestial Spirit Auction House Headquarters.
Pouring Chairman Qian a cup of tea, Lin Yun asked calmly, "Chairman Qian, is there news?"
Taking a large gulp of tea, Chairman Qian said agitatedly, "Younger Brother Lin, there’s news, but things have gotten troublesome. Do you know who the Gold Order from headquarters is? It’s the Qingfeng Saint."
"The Qingfeng Saint..." Lin Yun murmured, taking in Chairman Qian’s words.
Lin Yun didn’t know who the Qingfeng Saint was, so he urged Chairman Qian to calm down first. Only after downing three cups of tea did Chairman Qian manage to steady his nerves and begin to explain the situation to Lin Yun in detail.
The Qingfeng Saint was one of the more famous holders of a Gold Order from the Celestial Spirit Auction House, renowned for being incorruptibly impartial. That was why Chairman Qian was so terrified when he heard the name.
He was terrified that the Qingfeng Saint would discover that he and the people from Flawless Palace had killed Cao Tianxing. If that happened, Chairman Qian would be doomed.
After hearing about the Qingfeng Saint, Lin Yun took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Chairman Qian, there’s no need to be so anxious. This Qingfeng Saint, his Cultivation is at the Earth Saint Realm, correct?"
At these words, Chairman Qian nodded.
A faint smile touched Lin Yun’s lips as he said, "Chairman Qian, don’t lose your nerve. Even if this Qingfeng Saint is incorruptible, some things still depend on how you act. Do you know when he is expected to arrive in Wind City?"
"He should arrive tomorrow," Chairman Qian replied.
"Mm, in that case, we will await the esteemed arrival of the Qingfeng Saint at the Celestial Spirit Auction House tomorrow," Lin Yun said with a confident smile.
Lin Yun arranged to meet Chairman Qian at the Celestial Spirit Auction House early the next morning.
Killing Cao Tianxing and supporting Chairman Qian’s rise to power—everything Lin Yun had done was an investment in the future. The power wielded by the head of the Celestial Spirit Auction House’s Eastern Domain branch was not to be underestimated.
According to Chairman Qian, Cao Tianxing had grown accustomed to his own arrogance. In the Eastern Domain, even the Six Great Forces had to show him deference. If Cao Tianxing hadn’t been so brazen, Lin Yun would never have plotted to surround and kill him.
After all, based on what Chairman Qian knew alone, there were at least ten supreme experts at the Spirit Realm in Celestial Spirit Town’s Celestial Spirit Auction House, all of whom answered to Cao Tianxing.
After seeing Chairman Qian off, Lin Yun told him not to panic. He said he had his own plans for when the Qingfeng Saint arrived the next day and that the chairman should rest easy.
Once Chairman Qian was gone, Lin Yun had someone summon Li Tian and informed him about the Qingfeng Saint.
After hearing Lin Yun’s explanation, Li Tian thought for a moment before speaking. "Since this Qingfeng Saint is known for being incorruptible, tomorrow’s outcome depends entirely on how you move him, Young Master Lin. Or rather, how you can get him to accept your gift with a clear conscience."
Li Tian had a point; Lin Yun had been thinking the same thing. He had no doubt about the allure of the Saint-Breaking Celestial Pill. The only question now was how to make the Qingfeng Saint accept its Pill Formula.
He discussed it with Li Tian, who ended up whispering something in Lin Yun’s ear. Upon hearing it, Lin Yun smiled faintly. Li Tian’s plan was indeed ingenious.
Feeling more confident, Lin Yun figured Li Tian’s plan had at least an eighty percent chance of success—high odds, in his book.
Just as Lin Yun and Li Tian finished their discussion, Lu Bingning and Lan Xi walked in. After the four of them exchanged a few pleasantries, Li Tian noticed the two women seemed to have something private to say to Lin Yun, so he promptly stood up and excused himself.
After Li Tian left, Lin Yun looked at the two women and asked, "Where’s Qingliu? Didn’t she go out with you two?"
"Qingliu wore herself out having fun. She fell asleep in the carriage on the way back," Lu Bingning replied with a smile.
"Oh. So, did you two come here to tell me something?" Lin Yun asked, looking between them and paying special attention to the smile playing on Lan Xi’s lips.
They exchanged a knowing smile, and Lan Xi spoke up. "Eldest Young Master Lin, spill it. How did you manage to get a sweet, innocent girl like Qingliu to become so utterly smitten?"
At her words, the corner of Lin Yun’s mouth twitched. ’What are these two up to now? Especially Lan Xi. That woman is always a handful, her mind filled with the strangest ideas.’
Faced with Lan Xi’s question, Lin Yun didn’t know how to respond and could only manage a dry laugh.
Seeing his reaction, Lu Bingning covered her mouth to hide a giggle, while Lan Xi pressed on. "Eldest Young Master Lin, you really are impressive. Sister Bingning and I were in seclusion for what felt like a moment, and you’ve already found us a new sister. At this rate, are you planning on assembling a harem?"
Lan Xi was clearly trying to get a rise out of him, and Lin Yun knew it. Saying anything right now would only dig him into a deeper hole. So, he opted for silence. He let the two of them say whatever they wanted, refusing to utter a single word.
Seeing Lin Yun stay quiet, offering only a foolish grin, Lan Xi’s own smile grew ever more cunning. Finally, she leaned against his shoulder, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered like a fragrant orchid.
"Sigh, what a shame. Sister Bingning and I had already talked it over. Since Qingliu likes you so much, we were going to let it slide. I mean, what’s one more person, right...?"
Hearing this, Lin Yun’s heart skipped a beat with relief. He looked right at Lan Xi and started to say, "Really...?"
But the word had barely left his lips before he realized his mistake. ’Damn, I can’t believe I was careless enough to fall into Lan Xi’s trap.’ Sure enough, upon hearing his response, the smile vanished from Lan Xi’s face, replaced by a cold huff.
"Hmph! I knew it! You’re such a player, saying one thing while thinking another. I see now, you really do plan on building a harem for yourself."
’I fell for it! I fell right into her trap...’ Lin Yun couldn’t believe it. All his life he’d been so sharp, only to be brought down by one moment of carelessness. A classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Since the words were already out, Lin Yun had no choice but to face the music. He looked at the two women with a helpless smile. "That’s not what I meant. The situation with Qingliu isn’t what you think. She and I, we really..."
"Alright, alright, if we could believe you, pigs would fly," Lan Xi cut him off. "Truthfully, Sister Bingning and I are very fond of Qingliu too. But... we have a condition for you."
"A condition? Fine. Name it," Lin Yun replied.
"It’s actually quite simple. Sister Bingning and I have decided to spend our lives with you, and now it seems Qingliu feels the same. But you’re just too much of a womanizer, an absolute philanderer. So, we want you to swear an oath: from now on, you will not pursue any other women besides the three of us," Lan Xi said.
Hearing this, Lin Yun was overjoyed. ’So, this means Lan Xi and Bingning have forgiven me!’ He immediately moved to swear an oath to the heavens, but before he could say a word, both Lan Xi and Lu Bingning stopped him.
"There’s no need for that," Lu Bingning said with a smile, covering his mouth with her hand. "We were just teasing you."
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