Chapter 184 The Deal

"Uncle Gao... did you really beat Bai Chen?"

That was Gu Shen's first sentence after getting into the car.

Last time, at Snow Forbidden City, he scared away Han Dang using "Uncle Gao's" name, only to be surrounded by Bai Lu. He heard that Bai Chen, for his sister's sake, intercepted Li Qingsui's car... and then two titled extraordinary beings had a fight on the highway.

The specifics of that fight weren't captured by [Wind Eye].

Upon reaching the titled level, one could use mental power to shield against the surveillance of those eyes in the sky... Under the shared will of the two combatants, that battle left no images or videos behind.

And the Li family was quite low-key, not publicizing it.

However... news came from the prison.

It was said that in the battle that night, Bai Chen suffered minor injuries, and someone saw him going for a checkup accompanied by Master Shan.

Regardless of whether the news from the prison was true or false.

Gu Shen carefully observed with "Blazing Fire."

At least Uncle Gao... was unscathed, that was true.

"It can only be said that he received a small education."

Gao Tian drove the car, saying calmly, "Changye will be the world of you young people in the future, but now... we still have the final say here."

"Impressive, impressive."

Gu Shen clicked his tongue in admiration, shrinking back into his seat, hinting, "No wonder someone can run rampant in Changye."

Li Qingsui didn't mind, smiling, "I didn't expect you to be so diligent. Only a week has passed, and you've contacted us, wanting to come to the Shrine Mountain to work as a cleaner? Aren't you afraid others will see it and misunderstand?"

"Hey, watch your words... or I'll go complain to your sister!"

Gu Shen was a little helpless hearing the word "cleaner." He shrugged, "Besides... Uncle Gao has already taken action for me, what's there to misunderstand? Aren't my relationship with the Li family just what everyone imagines?"

"True."

Li Qingsui snorted, dropping her demure, lady-like demeanor when alone with Gu Shen, "I must remind you, once you enter Shrine Mountain, restrain yourself a bit. If you dare to secretly complain... I'll..."

"You'll what?"

Gu Shen said with a smile, "How come I remember someone begging me pitifully before leaving Shrine Mountain..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

This was intentional on Gu Shen's part.

He deliberately said this, then stopped.

"You..."

Li Qingsui's eyes widened, remembering her previous statement, "I'll do anything for my sister"... Luckily, Gu Shen stopped there, not saying the whole thing, otherwise she would have wanted to find a hole to crawl into!

Regret!

So much regret!

How could this guy be so... shameless?

Uncle Gao looked at the young lady's flushed face through the rearview mirror, somewhat surprised.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret for you." Gu Shen found a way to control this little girl, saying calmly, "However, the premise is that you need to be quiet, and don't threaten me anymore. I can't stand being intimidated... What if I accidentally let it slip one day, that would be terrible."

"Bah."

Li Qingsui could only admit defeat, pretending to be fierce and leaving a sentence, "Gu, you're utterly wicked!"

Which roughly meant, you win this time.

"Thank you for the compliment," Gu Shen shrugged indifferently, "I wasn't a good person to begin with."

Rarely seeing Li Qingsui at a loss like this.

Gu Shen was very satisfied.

He pressed his advantage, adjusted his seat, and asked with a smile, "By the way... Miss Qingsui, I happen to have something I need your help with."

Li Qingsui gritted her teeth: "...Spit it out."

...

...

Five minutes later.

Li Qingsui raised an eyebrow, utterly astonished.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course."

Gu Shen looked out the window and said softly, "I can guarantee... no outsiders will enter 'Shrine Mountain,' I'm just bringing some things. Um, inanimate objects."

"Outsiders or not... that's secondary."

Entering the Mystic Realm didn't mean directly entering Shrine Mountain.

There was still a long way to go in between.

But Gu Shen's "request" exceeded Li Qingsui's expectations... He wanted to store a batch of goods on Shrine Mountain? Clearly, he had taken a liking to the Li family's forbidden area, which wouldn't be monitored by [Wind Eye].

"Gu Shen, you're storing inanimate objects on Shrine Mountain..." Li Qingsui furrowed her brow, vaguely catching something amiss, confirming, "Is it to avoid [Wind Eye]?"

"Correct."

Gu Shen didn't deny it.

"Repairing Shrine Mountain for the Li family is a chore." He said calmly, "There's giving and taking. It's only natural for me to ask the Li family for something in return, right?"

That was true.

If Gu Shen was only unilaterally giving to Shrine Mountain... Li Qingsui would find it unreasonable. There was no selfless person who would sacrifice themselves, at least Gu Shen wasn't that kind of person.

"Storing inanimate objects is a small matter. But I need to know, what exactly are these objects of yours?" Li Qingsui said calmly, "I can't just ignore it... After all, this is the forbidden area that the Li family has guarded for six hundred years."

"These things..."

Gu Shen rubbed his temples, he didn't want to reveal the secret of the Qing Tomb.

Not because he didn't trust Li Qingsui at this stage.

But because, as an important member of the Five Great Families... the Li family had been highly attentive to the life and death of "Gu Changzhi" all these years, and any slight disturbance could arouse the suspicion of the other Five Great Families.

"Everyone has secrets."

Just then, Uncle Gao spoke softly, helping Gu Shen out of his predicament, "If you're unwilling to say, I can simply scan with my mental power... I can confirm whether these objects you brought pose a threat to Shrine Mountain."

Gu Shen didn't expect Uncle Gao to speak up for him.

He gave him a grateful look.

Upon their first meeting... he only felt that Uncle Gao had a chilling and unapproachable aura, but only after truly interacting with him did he realize that Uncle Gao was actually not difficult to get along with.

"In that case..."

Li Qingsui nodded, saying, "If Uncle Gao thinks there's no problem, then you can bring the things into Shrine Mountain."

Gu Shen sighed in relief.

"However... I have one thing to make clear."

Li Qingsui sat up straight, her expression devoid of any hint of joking, saying each word clearly, "If you choose to use 'Shrine Mountain' to escape [Wind Eye] and accomplish certain things of your own, then the kind of 'relationship' we talked about when we parted last time... might have to change today. You should know, after bringing 'things' into Shrine Mountain, what the Li family has to do isn't just keeping secrets."

Gu Shen's expression also became serious.

"Of course, I know."

He turned back to look at Li Qingsui, saying calmly, "And it seems I already said it when I got in the car... Isn't my current relationship with the Li family just what everyone misunderstands it to be?"

Li Qingsui smiled.

She extended her hand, "Pleasure doing business."

Where did she learn this, like an underground transaction...

Gu Shen looked at the little girl and slowly extended his little finger, politely and respectfully asking, "Future head of the family, you should be just sixteen years old this year? Wouldn't a pinky swear be more fitting?"

"You!!!"

Li Qingsui gritted her teeth in anger.

"Pleasure doing business!"

Knowing when to stop was Gu Shen's consistent style.

He quickly grabbed the little girl's hand with lightning speed, and at the same time said to Uncle Gao, "We're at Highway 447... Please pull over, thank you!"