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The Stardust Pavilion stood quietly under the afternoon sky, its carved eaves and intricate designs reflecting a sense of timeless elegance.
Qi Yuan sat comfortably in a century-old sandalwood chair, dressed in sky-blue robes with a jade crown resting neatly on his hair. He sipped from a steaming cup of spiritual tea, the mist curling gently upward.
Beside him lay a storage bag — one that had belonged to Tian Buque, the second son of the Hehuan Sect leader. It had remained untouched for over a year.
Qi Yuan knew keeping it longer would only invite trouble. If the Demonic Path's spies caught wind of it, the Hehuan Sect would surely launch a relentless wave of assassins after him.
He glanced at the storage bag again. The Stardust Pavilion was discreet and powerful — the perfect place to quietly dispose of such a volatile treasure. If they betrayed him? Well... he'd settle that score when the time came.
The door creaked open.
A stunning woman entered, her rosy complexion glowing with charm. The shimmer of her jewelry and the curve of her smile suggested both warmth and calculation.
"Master Qi!" she greeted brightly. "It's been a year, and yet your cultivation seems to have soared even higher. Truly impressive."
Madam Lan's sharp eyes studied him. Qi Yuan's rapid progress hinted at both strong talent and powerful support. In another life, she mused, perhaps there could have been something more between them.
"If I were a few years younger…" she muttered under her breath, only half-joking.
Qi Yuan stood and smiled. "Madam Lan, you grow more enchanting by the day. If you decide to remarry, let me know — I might just compete for your hand."
Madam Lan laughed softly, though her gaze faltered for a brief second. "You flatter me, Master Qi. What can this 'old woman' do for you today?"
Qi Yuan's smile faded, replaced by businesslike focus. He placed the storage bag on the table and slid it toward her.
Curious, Madam Lan picked it up, scanning it with her spiritual sense. Her expression stiffened as she took in the contents.
The treasures inside were staggering — enough wealth to rival a seasoned Jindan cultivator. But something else disturbed her. The items reeked of demonic energy — unmistakable remnants of the Hehuan Sect.
"Master Qi… you want to sell this?"
Qi Yuan nodded, sipping his tea again.
Madam Lan hesitated. A collection like this didn't belong to just anyone — only someone powerful, dangerous, and likely to be missed. Accepting it could invite disaster if word got out.
"Master Qi," she said carefully, "I'll take it… but I can only offer you forty percent of the profits. It's too risky otherwise."
Qi Yuan snorted. "Forty percent? That's too low. Forget it. I'll keep it."
With that, he grabbed the storage bag and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Madam Lan called, but Qi Yuan didn't look back. His footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving her staring after him, uncertain whether she'd just dodged a bullet or lost a rare opportunity.
Moments later, a servant named Zi Lian appeared at her side.
"Madam," he said quietly, "the Pavilion Master has summoned you."
Madam Lan's expression hardened. If the Pavilion Master was personally getting involved, something serious was unfolding.
Upstairs, in a room veiled by layers of enchantments, Madam Lan knelt before an elderly man with white hair and youthful features — Pavilion Master Xiao Minghe.
"Xiao Qian," the old man greeted softly. "I have an important task for you. The Six Sects of Yue Kingdom have requested a large supply of cultivation resources. I trust you to handle this."
"Of course, Pavilion Master. I will not fail you," Madam Lan promised.
Xiao Minghe nodded approvingly. As Madam Lan prepared to leave, a thought struck her — the mysterious treasures from Qi Yuan's bag.
"Pavilion Master," she ventured, "I recently encountered a client… he presented several items I couldn't identify. Might I describe them to you?"
"Go ahead," Xiao Minghe replied, now intrigued.
She carefully described each item — the pink flute, the violet sword, and the unmistakable aura of demonic energy clinging to the artifacts.
The Pavilion Master's eyes narrowed. "The pink flute… the purple sword… those belonged to Tian Buque of the Hehuan Sect."
Madam Lan's breath caught. "You mean… Master Qi was the one who killed him?"
Xiao Minghe's gaze sharpened. "Where is this Master Qi now?"
"He… left," Madam Lan admitted. "He refused my offer and walked out."
Xiao Minghe leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.
"Interesting," he murmured.
(End Of Chapter)