"阁主, 阁主?" the shop assistant saw Qi Yu standing there in a daze and curiously poked his head over, "Is there a problem?"
"Nothing," Qi Yu withdrew her gaze, lifted her skirt, and walked upstairs, pushing open the door to the fourth floor.
But inside, Yu Zhen's shadow was long gone, and only shopkeeper Yin was arranging things.
"阁主," shopkeeper Yin walked over and bowed to Qi Yu.
Qi Yu waved her hand, telling her to get up, "Where did the guest from just now go?"
"Hmm, after buying things, she was called away by a young gentleman she was with," shopkeeper Yin said, then looked up and secretly glanced at Qi Yu's eyes, as if guessing something, and continued, "The gold medal guest just now bought a lot of mermaid pearl powder from us. She always pre-orders some. Because she wants North Sea mermaid pearls, I always go to the North Sea Dragon Clan in advance to purchase some, and after refining them, I sell them to her."
"Is that so?" Qi Yu looked at shopkeeper Yin with some doubt, "Why doesn't she buy directly from the North Sea? Instead, she has to spend more to buy from us."
"I asked about this, but the guest didn't explain, so I don't understand either," shopkeeper Yin shook her head.
"Forget it, just do as you normally do," Qi Yu nodded, glancing outside, and casually ordered, "However, if she buys anything in the future, remember to notify me secretly. Also... hand me the Vajra Profound Jade later, and the pure gold token from the Black Moon Sect can be retrieved."
"I understand," shopkeeper Yin quickly went to the side cabinet and handed Qi Yu the Vajra Profound Jade in a brocade box, "As soon as midnight strikes tonight, I will summon the token back."
Qi Yu hummed and put the brocade box into her storage pouch.
Hearing the faint voices of Ming Lou and Yue Zhi Yin from outside the door, she waved her sleeve and instantly disappeared in front of shopkeeper Yin.
When she reappeared beside Ming Lou and the others, she had already resumed her male disguise.
"Qi Yu, where did you go to relieve yourself? We've been waiting for you for ages," Ming Lou said with a look of disdain, "Shiniang has already finished shopping and is back."
"This place is too big, it's hard to find," Qi Yu complained convincingly.
Yu Zhen reached out and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, "The place is indeed a bit large. It seems there's only one restroom on such a high floor."
Qi Yu pursed her lips and nodded.
But her eyes involuntarily drifted towards Yu Zhen.
Could Shiniang be the Demoness?
It shouldn't be possible, right?
Shiniang used the Demoness's token, could there be a reason?
Otherwise, would Shizun be willing to become Dao companions with the Demoness?
However, after getting into the carriage and instructing the White Jade Beast in front to pull them back to the Bei Yuan Sect.
Qi Yu couldn't help but curl herself into a ball, thinking dejectedly.
Why can't Shizun become Dao companions with the Demoness?
Whether it's the Bei Yuan Sect or the cultivation world, no one has ever stipulated that demons and cultivators cannot become Dao companions!
Yue Zhi Yin saw Qi Yu sitting opposite him, her expression changing by the moment, and finally couldn't help but lean over, "Junior Brother Qi Yu, are you feeling unwell?"
"Uh, it's nothing," Qi Yu shook her head, "By the way, when I went to relieve myself, did you ask about the Vajra Profound Jade?"
Although she had already obtained the Vajra Profound Jade, she still had to ask.
Just to put on a show.
"We asked, and we asked Shiniang to help," Ming Lou said sheepishly, hugging his arms, "With Shiniang's gold medal status, she still had to pay 500 gold to buy the Vajra Profound Jade!"
That was gold!
Five hundred gold, might as well rob them.
"Is that so?" Qi Yu replied, pretending that nothing had happened.
But after returning to the Bei Yuan Sect, that night.
The formation Qi Yu had set up in Yu Qing Pavilion suddenly emitted a buzzing sound.
Qi Yu's previously closed eyes suddenly snapped open, and her figure flickered, disappearing from the Bei Yuan Sect and reappearing in Yu Qing Pavilion in her female attire from earlier that day.
Before she could even check the situation, she was forcefully pulled into an embrace by a black silk ribbon wrapped around her waist.
Qi Yu struggled.
Turning around, she realized that the one who had pulled her into her embrace was the Demoness, dressed in a black, off-the-shoulder wide-sleeved long dress, with a floral crown and enchanting red lips and eyes.
"...阁主, disturbing you in the middle of the night," the Demoness's breath was like orchids, "I have a few things that need to be obtained. Please get them for me."
"Don't worry, 阁主, these are not difficult items to obtain. They are just Ice Heart Stone, Cold Cicada Silk, Heavenly Thunder Lock, and Vajra Profound Jade."
Qi Yu: "..."
Confirmed.
Shiniang Yu Zhen is indeed the Demoness!
Qi Yu looked at the Demoness version of Yu Zhen with a conflicted heart, "Your Majesty Demon Lord, can I refuse the first three items?"
"Tell me why," Yu Zhen pinched Qi Yu's chin.
"Those three items need to be obtained from the North Sea. I really don't have time," Qi Yu's attitude was very sincere.
This wasn't an excuse, it was the truth.
Back in the Black Moon Sect, no one managed her, so she could do whatever she wanted.
But since entering the Bei Yuan Sect, there was always someone around her, and she simply couldn't find the time!
"Do you have time? Does that have anything to do with me?" Yu Zhen stared at Qi Yu with arrogant eyes.
Qi Yu looked pitiful, weak, and helpless, "It... it doesn't have much to do with it."
"If it doesn't have much to do with it, then just go and get them for me. Once you get them, bring them to me immediately. Understand, little flower demon?" Yu Zhen pinched the small flower bud hairstyle at the back of Qi Yu's head.
Qi Yu raised an eyebrow.
No wonder Yu Zhen didn't recognize her when she learned her true form at the Bei Yuan Sect. It seemed that besides her male disguise, Yu Zhen had always believed that the 阁主 of Yu Qing Pavilion was a flower demon...
Alright.
Let her continue to misunderstand...
Sigh.
After being coerced and manipulated by the Demoness version of Yu Zhen and signing various unfair treaties, Qi Yu changed back into her male attire and leaned her forehead on her hand, looking exhausted.
She had originally planned to return directly to the Bei Yuan Sect.
But after thinking that this matter couldn't be delayed for long, and if she didn't resolve it soon, Yu Zhen would continue to cause trouble in her Demoness identity. Qi Yu felt it was better to take advantage of the fact that it was still early before dawn and go to the North Sea to inquire about the whereabouts of those three treasures.
At least ask if they could be bought with money.
Sigh.
Being threatened and bribed into finding treasures for someone else, she was probably one of a kind in the world.
North Sea.
Qi Yu, in her female disguise, flew here on a magical artifact and the first thing she did was go to the Dragon Palace.
The immortal attendant at the Dragon Palace heard Qi Yu's purpose for coming. They neither refused nor agreed, but bowed and replied, "The three items you mentioned are all under the management of the Crown Prince's treasury. The Dragon King is currently away, and the Crown Prince is studying abroad. It will probably be difficult to obtain them in a short while."
"Then may I ask when the Dragon Crown Prince will return?" Qi Yu bowed, "I have an urgent matter regarding these three items. Please, immortal attendant, be more accommodating."
"This... if we calculate carefully, it will probably be more than fifteen days later," the immortal attendant was not very sure, "You can come again then."
Qi Yu nodded.
Just as she was about to turn and leave.
Suddenly, a tall figure blocked her path.