Three Sins Against Heaven-Chapter 99 – Master’s token, best tea leaves
Two months later, in the council hall, the stewards sat in silence, their spirits at an all-time low.
After the first settlement, many stewards, in order to keep their positions, had no choice but to follow Fragrance Beauty Tower in lowering prices, using their own money to cover the deficit.
Tomorrow was the end-of-month settlement, and those sitting here had already been warned twice and still hadn't achieved enough profit.
Compared to the number of stewards at the first settlement, less than half were present now.
These individuals were the foundation of Wei Lanqian in the Medicine Gate.
An older steward stood up with difficulty, cupping his hands in salute to Wei Lanqian, "Deputy Gate Master, we followed your instructions and refused to lower prices, but it's been nearly three months since we've had any business. You asked us to keep the pill refiners from going to Fragrance Beauty Tower. We've been paying them out of our own pockets, even giving them extra to keep their loyalty, but now we have no more Spirit Stones to spare. Tomorrow is the end of the month, and if we get warned again, we'll be dismissed. We have no options left, please give us some guidance."
Wei Lanqian bit her lip, silent for a long time, then turned to Li Qing, "Is there a way?"
Li Qing sighed and shook his head, "If there was business to be done, even if we lost money every month, we could hold on a bit longer. But three months without business, the loss isn't just three months' profit, we simply don't have enough Spirit Stones."
Wei Lanqian pondered for a long time, then suddenly her eyes lit up, "We can use the Spirit Stones from the Medicine Gate's accounts. As long as we get through tomorrow, Fragrance Beauty Tower might not last until next month's settlement."
Li Qing frowned, "But only the Gate Master can move the account's Spirit Stones. Doing this would break the rules."
Wei Lanqian said coldly, "At this point, who cares about rules? The Gate Master is in seclusion, and the affairs of the Medicine Gate are decided by you and me. As long as we agree, we can explain to the Gate Master later, and he might not even blame us. Do you really want to see Ghost Guest place his people from the Law Enforcement Hall into the Medicine Gate? When that happens, what will you use to take over as Gate Master?"
Li Qing was silent for a long time, then nodded, "In urgent times, we must act decisively, we have no other choice."
The two immediately headed to the underground vault where the Spirit Stones were stored, managed by Timothy Yuan, who had previously overseen the Medicine Gate competition.
"Brother Yuan, we want to move some Spirit Stones." The two saluted, bowing deeply.
Timothy Yuan was reviewing the accounts carefully, not even looking up, "Only the Gate Master can move the Spirit Stones. If you want to move them, bring the Gate Master's token."
Wei Lanqian spoke kindly, "Brother Yuan, you know what's been happening in the Medicine Gate these past months. If this continues, the Medicine Gate will fall into Ghost Guest's hands. Please make an exception, and we will reward you handsomely afterward."
Timothy Yuan replied indifferently, "Rules are rules, please leave."
Li Qing met Wei Lanqian's cold gaze and said sternly, "Brother Yuan, must you be so heartless?"
Timothy Yuan put down the account book, looked up at them, and sneered, "So you're planning to take them by force? Have you considered the consequences?"
Li Qing shouted, "I'll take responsibility for whatever happens. You're no match for us, don't force me to kill you. Give us the Spirit Stones, now!"
"Alright." Timothy Yuan shrugged helplessly, pressing his hand against the wall. A massive formation appeared, enveloping him in a blue light. Recognizing his aura, the wall split in two, revealing a passageway leading downwards.
This passage was forged from metal, seamless and solid. If used for crafting, it could create many top-grade mortal weapons, impossible for a Qi Refinement cultivator to break through.
Only Gate Master Xiao Shenghe and Timothy Yuan, who managed the accounts, could open this passage.
The two quickly entered the passage, but soon came out in a rage.
The vault was empty, not a single Spirit Stone to be found.
"Where are the Spirit Stones?" Li Qing grabbed Timothy Yuan's collar, glaring angrily, "You have some nerve embezzling the Medicine Gate's Spirit Stones!"
Timothy Yuan did not answer, only looked at Li Qing coldly.
"Where did you hide the Spirit Stones? Speak, or I'll kill you!" Li Qing's eyes were bloodshot, his murderous intent clear.
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Timothy Yuan calmly said, "The Gate Master moved all the Spirit Stones."
"That's nonsense!" Li Qing cursed angrily, "The Gate Master is in seclusion, how could he move the Spirit Stones? Explain, or I'll take your head to see the Gate Master."
Timothy Yuan was silent for a moment, then said softly, "It wasn't the Gate Master, someone with the Gate Master's token took all the Spirit Stones. Although I was unwilling, that person had the token, so I had to give them the Spirit Stones."
"Who?" Li Qing demanded angrily.
"Ghost Guest."
Lan Qian's face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground.
"It's over!"
Though Li Qing found it hard to believe, he remained relatively calm. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and asked, "I must ask, did he only take them once?"
Timothy Yuan shook his head, "No, every month before the settlement, he would come with the Gate Master's token and take all the Spirit Stones."
"I see." Li Qing couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Only now did he understand that the Spirit Stones Ghost Guest used to sustain Fragrance Beauty Tower weren't from the Law Enforcement Hall, but from the Medicine Gate.
Li Qing looked towards the back mountain, his expression filled with bitterness.
The token in Ghost Guest's hand was undoubtedly given by Xiao Shenghe, and the events of the past few months must have been communicated to him by Ghost Guest, which explained why Xiao Shenghe had remained in seclusion.
"Brother Yuan, I apologize for the offense earlier." Li Qing bowed, dejectedly helping Lan Qian to leave.
Outside the bamboo grove cottage, Wei Lanqian finally regained her strength and murmured, "We lost, didn't we?"
Li Qing remained silent. With Xiao Shenghe secretly aiding them, how could they not lose?
Wei Lanqian pulled away from Li Qing's hand and entered the house alone, "I'm tired, you should go back."
Li Qing sighed heavily and turned to leave.
After nightfall, the door gently opened, and Wei Lanqian, wearing a black veiled hat, disappeared into the night.
In the top-floor room of Fragrance Beauty Tower.
Ghost Guest leaned on his left hand, the Medicine Gate's Gate Master token flipping between the fingers of his right hand.
Amanda Han sat gracefully beside him, pouring tea for Ghost Guest with an elegance that left no room for criticism, "Using the small to win the big, Junior Brother, you're becoming more and more inscrutable."
"It's merely about satisfying everyone's needs." Ghost Guest took the teacup with a smile, "Zhao Wenling prefers the second brew, but I happen to like the third. Though the flavor is mild, it's not bland, fully contained, revealing countless tastes only to the taster."
"A young woman or a mature lady?"
"I'm talking about tea."
"I'm talking about people."
"I never win against you, Senior Sister, as long as you're happy."
"You're just humoring me." Amanda Han feigned anger, glancing at Ghost Guest, "You used to avoid this room, but you've been coming often lately. After tasting the tea, you can taste the person too."
"I can't help it." Ghost Guest shrugged, "I come often to see when Senior Sister will serve me the best tea."
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"How's tonight's tea?" Amanda Han asked with a smile.
Ghost Guest took a sip and praised, "Tonight's tea is the best."
"Tonight is the most important night, of course, I have to serve the best tea to Junior Brother." Amanda Han laughed heartily.
At that moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Amanda Han stood up to open the door, seemingly expecting the visitor, she walked past without even glancing at them.
Ghost Guest looked at Wei Lanqian standing at the door, the Gate Master token in his fingers stopped spinning, and he burst into laughter.
"To let the noble fall into the mundane, to let the filthy sit high in the clouds, so it is."
