"My name is Lu Fei, and my family runs a pawnshop business," Lu Fei replied politely with a smile.
"The surname is Lu, and he's in the pawn business." The beautiful young woman raised her fine, willowy eyebrows slightly. "Could it be that you are the new young shopkeeper of Sinisterium Pawnshop?"
"Three Flavors Teahouse truly is well-informed; I've heard that Sister Hong, the owner, knows all the news of the martial world without even leaving the premises."
"It's been said in the martial world that Sinisterium Pawnshop has made a comeback, run by a handsome young man. You really do live up to your reputation; you're even more handsome than I imagined."
The beautiful young woman giggled, becoming even more enthusiastic.
"Since it's your first visit as the young shopkeeper of Sinisterium Pawnshop, I must give you a discount, Brother."
With that, she went to serve the tea.
Tiger took the opportunity to glance at the menu, nearly falling off his chair from shock.
"Goodness gracious, this is highway robbery! A pot of tea costs three thousand dollars!"
"This place isn't just for drinking tea; people come here for information. The three thousand dollars is actually for the information fee," Lu Fei explained.
"That's still too expensive! My monthly salary used to be only three thousand. Do all the people in the Mystic Sect have so much money?" Tiger clucked his tongue, looking around curiously.
Lu Fei also discreetly scanned the teahouse.
There weren't many people.
Aside from them, there were only two other tables of patrons.
At one table was a man in a white shirt, sipping his tea by himself, seemingly uninterested in anything else.
The other table seemed to have a grandfather and granddaughter.
The old man was spirited and kind-looking, while the young girl was playful and adorable, eating the small snacks on the table with her cheeks puffed out like a big-eyed little hamster.
However, after hearing that Lu Fei was from the Sinisterium Pawnshop, the old man would occasionally glance at him.
Seeing that the old man was about the same age as his own grandfather, Lu Fei's heart stirred.
"Could he know my grandfather?"
So, he turned around, met the old man's gaze, and gave him a friendly, slight nod.
The elder also smiled at him.
Lu Fei was about to get up and ask a few questions when Sister Hong came over with some tea, along with two plates of delicate small pastries.
"Young Master Lu, please have some tea. The snacks are on me, I hope you will come often."
"Thank you, Sister Hong," replied Lu Fei, taking the opportunity to ask, "May I ask, who is that old gentleman over there?"
"He is the famous Feng Shui master, Old Duan Tiankui. In our Jiangcheng, no one would dare to claim they are the best in Feng Shui except for Old Duan."
Sister Hong sat down beside him, introducing with a smile.
"The little girl next to him is his granddaughter, Duan Lingyue. This young lady loves our small pastries here; she often brings her grandfather here for tea."
As she moved, the gold and silver jewelry on her body made crisp sounds, a pleasant jingling sound.
"Does he know my grandfather?" This was what Lu Fei most wanted to know.
"Of course, Sinisterium Pawnshop is very well-known, and your grandfather's skill in collecting evil objects is legendary. There are not many in the江湖上who do not know him?"
Red Sister extended her fingers, coated with bright red nail polish, and cracked them, her charming eyes narrowing slightly.
"However, it has been three years since Old Master Lu last came to the teahouse. Is Young Master Lu here to inquire about Old Master Lu?"
"Nothing can be hidden from Red Sister," Lu Fei said with a smile.
"Old Master Lu has been missing for three years, and there hasn't been a single bit of news about him in the jianghu. Many people have been saying that he must have met with some misfortune, but I don't believe it. A person with great capabilities always has nine lives, how could he meet with such trouble so easily?"
Red Sister affectionately patted Lu Fei's hand.
"Young Master Lu, rest assured. Old Master Lu might just be enjoying himself somewhere. If I hear any news, I will notify you first."
"Then, I'll trouble Red Sister a lot!"
It had to be said, Red Sister was very eloquent. Lu Fei nodded gratefully, then asked, "Red Sister, also, when my grandfather came to the teahouse three years ago, it wasn't just for a simple cup of tea, right?"
"Old Master Lu invited someone for tea," Red Sister said softly.
"Who?" Lu Fei immediately became tense.
"An old drunk, who calls himself Jia Banxian, terribly poor and vulgar." Red Sister's carefully made-up, beautiful face showed a hint of disdain, "If you want to look for this person to inquire about your grandfather's news, I advise you not to get your hopes up."
"Why?" Lu Fei asked, puzzled.
"Because this man has no fixed residence and wanders everywhere; no one knows where he is begging now, just like a smelly beggar. Three years ago, after your grandfather invited him for tea, I haven't seen him again."
"Could you please help me find out about him, too, Red Sister?" Lu Fei said, unwilling to let go of any hope.
This was the person my grandfather specially came to see before he went missing; he must know something.
"Sure, but you should know the rules here." Red Sister smiled charmingly, "For a regular search, 100,000 yuan is enough, but for Jia Banxian, it will be 200,000 yuan. His whereabouts are unpredictable, and finding him is quite troublesome."
"No problem, as long as Red Sister is willing to help." Lu Fei paid 100,000 yuan as a deposit on the spot.
This is the meaning of making money; even in the world of the Mystic Sect, everything depends on money, and there will be many more places where money is needed in the future.
"Sister likes straightforward, handsome boys like you! Don't worry, I will definitely do my best!"
Red Sister was almost smiling like a flower, leaning close to Lu Fei's ear and whispering, "You might want to get acquainted with Old Master Duan over there. After all, he is a senior figure and a big shot on the same level as your grandfather. It will be good for you."
"Thank you, Sister Hong, for the reminder," Lu Fei thought for a moment and said, "It's not right to go empty-handed. Could you please help me prepare two platters of fruit and pastries to send over, and put it on my tab?"
"I'll take care of the fruits. Young Master Lu, you are both handsome and sensible; I, Sister Hong, like you the most of all."
Sister Hong patted Lu Fei's hand and then went to prepare the fruits.
"My mom says that the more beautiful these smooth-talking women are, the better they are at deceiving. Boss, don't let her steal your soul!"
Watching Sister Hong's graceful figure, Hu Zi wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth.
Lu Fei thought to himself, 'It's your soul that she's stealing.'
He deliberately put on a stern face and said, "What are you thinking? Sister Hong is an elder."
"Elder? She looks only in her thirties, just a few years older than us. How can she be considered an elder?"
"She has been running this teahouse for twenty years, and back then, she looked exactly the same as she does now. Don't you think she should be considered an elder?"
"Looked the same twenty years ago? Then she must be over fifty!"
When Hu Zi heard this, his jaw nearly hit the floor, and it took him a long time to close his mouth.
"More than fifty? Who knows how old she really was before she came here!"
Hu Zi was completely stunned, muttering in a low voice, "Then why doesn't she look old at all? Is she a fairy?"
"She might just be! You'd better be careful and don't be disrespectful. If she finds out, you won't get off easy." Lu Fei said with a serious expression.
"I didn't!" Hu Zi swallowed hard.
This time, it was out of fear.
Lu Fei quickly picked up his teacup to hide his smirk from Hu Zi.
Actually, he wasn't lying to Hu Zi; he didn't know if Red Sister was a fairy, but it was true that she looked the same twenty years ago.
After a while.
Red Sister brought two plates of delicately arranged fruits to Duan Tiankui's table, telling them that they were sent by Lu Fei.
Duan Tiankui nodded and smiled, beckoning to Lu Fei.
"Young Master Lu, your grandfather and I are old friends, no need to be so formal. Come and have some tea with us."