Qi Yu and Yue Zhi Yin's eyes met.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
To ease the tension, Ming Lou proactively suggested, "If you ask me, let's not go to either of those places for now. We can visit other marketplaces in the cultivation world. Perhaps they'll have what we're looking for elsewhere."
Yue Zhi Yin and Qi Yu nodded.
The argument was temporarily resolved.
The three of them hit it off and were about to head down the mountain when a gentle voice stopped them at the entrance.
"Where are you going? I've finally returned, and none of you bothered to come see me or keep me company."
Hearing this, the three turned around. Qi Yu then saw that the speaker was a woman with her hair styled in a "hui xin ji" (a type of bun), wearing an apricot-colored wide-sleeved long dress, exuding a soft and gentle aura.
The woman possessed a stunning face, with long, narrow eyes that slanted upwards at the corners, lips naturally rosy, and skin as smooth as congealed fat.
However, her attire was so demure that her striking features were somewhat subdued, only adding to her mature charm.
Yue Zhi Yin whispered in Qi Yu's ear, "This is Madam Yu Zhen, she's our Master's Dao companion."
"Shiniang (Master's wife)," Qi Yu looked at Yu Zhen. Yu Zhen responded with an "ai" and walked over, stroking her head, "You must be Qi Yu? I didn't expect... you'd be so cute in human form." (Kuai Shu Ge)
Yu Zhen placed a hand on Qi Yu's shoulder and looked at Yue Zhi Yin and Ming Lou, "I heard that while I was away these past few days, you two brought Qi Yu along and nearly drove your Master mad."
"No, Shiniang, I'm telling you, it was all a misunderstanding," Ming Lou clung to Yu Zhen, "Really, it's just that Master is too rigid and unreasonable!"
Yue Zhi Yin chimed in, "That's right, and Master often uses punishment as an excuse to make us collect immortal herbs for him."
Qi Yu watched silently from the side as the two of them eagerly complained, and then added her own grievance, "Yes, Master also punished us by making us sweep the mountain. It was so much, it was too much."
"Oh my, you've been wronged," Yu Zhen pinched all three of their faces, "In that case, to compensate you, why don't you accompany me to Yu Qing Pavilion?"
Qi Yu's body stiffened.
Yue Zhi Yin relaxed, "Of course, Shiniang. Shall we go now?"
"Shiniang, why are you going to that place?" Ming Lou, like a puppy, tightly gripped Yu Zhen's sleeve and stayed close by her side, "Is there a big sale at Yu Qing Pavilion today?"
"Yes, there are indeed some things I want to buy there," Yu Zhen didn't elaborate, "We'll go now, it won't take long. Are you coming with me?"
"Yes!" Ming Lou raised his hand in agreement.
Yue Zhi Yin didn't object either.
Qi Yu also nodded. Just as she was about to ask how they would get there, a carriage appeared in the sky and landed smoothly before them.
Qi Yu peeked inside.
It wasn't quite a carriage, because it wasn't pulled by horses. Instead, it was a beast that was pure white, looked like a mishmash of different creatures, and had no demonic energy.
"What is this?" After staring for a long time without being able to identify the creature, Qi Yu finally turned to ask Yu Zhen.
Yu Zhen reached out and stroked it, "This is a White Jade Beast. It's not a rare item. Your Master conjured it from two jade pendants because ordinary horses couldn't pull the magical treasures and artifacts we buy."
Qi Yu suddenly understood.
On the way to Yu Qing Pavilion, Yu Zhen took out a pure gold Yu Qing Pavilion access token from her purse.
Qi Yu's pupils widened in shock.
There were four types of access tokens for Yu Qing Pavilion.
The first type was made of wood, the lowest tier, allowing entry only to browse outside.
The second type was made of jade, not particularly good jade, but of a higher grade than wood. It allowed entry to the first floor for browsing and purchasing.
The third type was made of silver, allowing browsing and purchasing on the second and third floors.
The highest level, naturally, was pure gold. This was reserved for guests of very high status and prestige within Yu Qing Pavilion, whose identities were usually quite mysterious.
How could her Shiniang have a pure gold token?
With this question in mind, Qi Yu sat in the carriage and began to count the number of people who possessed pure gold tokens at Yu Qing Pavilion.
Before she could finish her calculation, the carriage had already stopped at the entrance of Yu Qing Pavilion.
The facade of Yu Qing Pavilion was built from pure rosewood, and even the steps were carved with the name of Yu Qing Pavilion.
Yu Zhen led Qi Yu and the others off the carriage.
The White Jade Beast that pulled the carriage naturally drove it to the backyard to get out of the way.
"Oh my, isn't this Madam Yu? You've brought your disciples," a woman in a bright red robe, dressed alluringly, emerged from Yu Qing Pavilion and personally welcomed Yu Zhen.
Yu Zhen affectionately pulled the woman, "Shopkeeper Yin, you're still so beautiful. It looks like your cultivation has improved significantly. I'm here to buy that item I mentioned to you earlier. You must have prepared it for me in advance, right?"
"Oh, don't worry, it's absolutely fine. Come in quickly," Shopkeeper Yin said, stepping aside.
Yu Zhen followed her inside. After reaching the fourth floor of Yu Qing Pavilion, she turned to instruct Qi Yu and the others, "I'm going inside to buy something. You three can wander around here for now. Buy whatever you want, and I'll pay."
Yue Zhi Yin nodded and led Ming Lou and Qi Yu away. After they had walked a short distance, Ming Lou stretched his neck, looking around curiously and pondering, "What do you think Shiniang went to buy?"
It felt so mysterious.
"I can't figure it out," Yue Zhi Yin also looked puzzled, "But judging by Shiniang's demeanor, she must come here often."
"Ah, I wish we hadn't come. Now that I'm here, I can't stop wondering what Shiniang is mysteriously buying. It's driving me crazy not knowing," Ming Lou cupped his chin with one hand and squatted in a corner, looking in the direction Yu Zhen had gone.
Actually, Qi Yu was just as curious as Ming Lou.
However, while Ming Lou couldn't find out, Qi Yu had a way.
She told Yue Zhi Yin and Ming Lou that she needed to use the restroom, and then secretly slipped outside, crossing her hands to form a hand seal.
The moment the hand seal was formed, Qi Yu's official green robe visibly transformed into a dark blue silk skirt, and her coiled hair changed from a man's bun to a peony bun.
Qi Yu looked at the cracks on her body and lightly tapped her fingertips, using the peony petal pattern as a disguise.
After confirming everything was in order, she lifted her skirt and entered Yu Qing Pavilion.
"Master, you're here."
Several shop assistants at Yu Qing Pavilion, who were busy attending to customers, turned around and saw Qi Yu entering from outside. They immediately approached her.
Qi Yu gave a soft hum. After changing back into her female attire, she no longer needed to control her voice with magic, so her voice was more delicate and gentle than when she was in male attire.
"Are there any important guests today?"
"Yes, a guest with a gold token just went up to the fourth floor with Shopkeeper Yin," the shop assistant replied quickly.
"Oh?" Qi Yu asked casually, "Whose pure gold token is it?"
"Uh, that guest's pure gold token was given by you personally. Since you said not to inquire, I didn't ask," the shop assistant scratched his head.
Qi Yu was stunned.
She gave it personally?
There were only two guests to whom she had personally given tokens.
One was the former Sect Master of Xuan Yue Sect. At that time, she had concealed her identity and did not let him know that she was the Pavilion Master of Yu Qing Pavilion.
The other... was the current female Demon Lord of the Demon Realm, who had captured her to the Demon Realm countless times, and whom she had also tricked several times. In the end, the other party had suppressed her with force, compelling her to hand over a pure gold token.