Lin Haoming was surprised by the conversation. Since there was no one else in the shop except the young errand boy, he asked casually, "What's this? Senior Brother Wang, are you planning to lease this place out?"
Seeing it was Lin Haoming—a regular customer—Wang Chen nodded. "My cultivation has reached the peak of the 9th level, and I'm not yet thirty. As long as I break through, I can enter the inner sect directly. Otherwise, I'd never be willing to part with this place."
"In that case, why is no one willing to take over?" Lin Haoming asked, puzzled.
Wang Chen, sensing Lin Haoming had some background, didn't hide the truth. He smiled bitterly. "You know how big this operation is. For an average outer disciple, suddenly holding thousands of spirit stones' worth of inventory makes it hard not to get greedy. If someone ran off with the goods, I'd be in deep trouble. On the other hand, those who wouldn't be tempted by the money are usually focused entirely on reaching Great Perfection to enter the inner sect themselves; they don't want to waste time here."
At this point, Wang Chen's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Lin Haoming. "Junior Brother, would you be willing to take over? You know the situation here. To be honest, I take a ten percent cut of everything sold. In a month, that's at least thirty to fifty spirit stones."
"Aren't you afraid I'll run off with the inventory?" Lin Haoming asked with a smile.
"Haha! Someone who can drop hundreds of spirit stones at once to buy gear... if a man like that still wants to embezzle this pittance, then I, Wang Chen, truly have no eyes for character. My only worry is that you'd look down on this income or fear it would delay your cultivation!" Wang Chen laughed heartily.
Lin Haoming was genuinely tempted. "Senior Brother Wang, to be honest, I'm currently a manager in the Stupa Grotto. If I come here, what if the higher-ups there won't let me go?"
"Hah! You call that a problem?" Wang Chen replied confidently. "When you first came here, you must have seen the real boss behind this place. Senior Sister Xie is pursued by many elite inner sect disciples. With just a word from her, even the disciples of Golden Core Ancestors would scramble to help. Would the people running the Stupa Grotto dare to disobey?"
---
The Fairy Descends
Just as Lin Haoming was hesitating, a sudden waft of fragrant wind filled the air.
He turned to see a young woman appearing at the cave entrance. Dressed in pale green palace robes with her hair tied loosely behind her back, she looked fresh, elegant, and ethereal—like a celestial fairy descended to earth. It was Xie Ruolan.
"Senior Sister Xie!" Wang Chen greeted her respectfully.
Xie Ruolan's gaze swept over Lin Haoming. "Is he the one you found to replace you?" she asked indifferently.
"This... well, I just brought it up. Junior Brother hasn't given me an answer yet," Wang Chen said awkwardly.
Standing so close, Lin Haoming could feel a faint pressure from her aura. She had broken through again since their last meeting; she was now likely at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.
Xie Ruolan looked at Lin, her star-like eyes flashing with a faint purple light. "Does this Junior Brother have some hidden grievance? Why are you unwilling to show your true face?"
Wang Chen was shocked. He had met Lin several times and never realized the man was wearing a disguise.
Realizing he'd been seen through by a spiritual eye technique, Lin Haoming sighed and rubbed his face, reverting to his original appearance. "Since you've called it out, it would be more trouble to keep it on."
When Xie Ruolan saw his face, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. A faint, knowing smile curled her lips. "So it's you! I didn't expect to see you again."
---
A Shift in Power
Lin Haoming knew she recognized him. He was thirteen when they last met; though five years had passed, his features hadn't changed drastically, just matured. Xie Ruolan, however, had changed much more. He remembered her as a snot-nosed little girl with two braids.
"Senior Sister Xie," Lin greeted her, forcing a smile.
Hearing that title, Xie Ruolan felt a strange, inexplicable surge of excitement. She would never forget how this bastard kid used to order her around. She remembered the words he once told her:
"The Ancestor gave you to me, so you are mine. Whatever I want you to do, you must do. That is your fate!"
Back then, when the Lin Ancestor died and she gained her freedom, she swore she would never let anyone control her fate again. Seeing this formerly high-and-mighty descendant of an Ancestor now standing before her, obediently calling her Senior Sister, felt like divine justice. A thought bloomed in her mind: Since he used to boss me around, I should pay him back in full.
"Junior Brother Lin, it's been a few years. I'm surprised to see you've reached the 8th level of Qi Refining," she said, her face wearing a dignified smile.
"Haha, it's all thanks to the resources the Ancestor left behind. Otherwise, with my talent, I wouldn't be where I am today," Lin lied. He didn't think she knew the full details of his fall, so he played the living off inheritance card.
Xie Ruolan didn't doubt him. She noted that he was completely different from the arrogant playboy of the past. Life's ups and downs had changed him.
"At least you have self-awareness," she said. "I trust Wang Chen's judgment. If you stay, I'll give you the same cut I gave him."
Lin was both surprised and relieved. If he stayed, he wouldn't have to flee the sect. As Wang Chen said, Situ Ping and Zhou Zhiye would have to think twice before touching someone working for her. Compared to Xie Ruolan, those two were small fry in the inner sect hierarchy.
"Thank you for your care, Senior Sister. However, I have some trouble at the Stupa Grotto. I might need your help to leave."
"Oh? What trouble?" she asked lightly.
"You know I once had a significant net worth," Lin explained. "Since the Ancestor died, I've been extorted until almost nothing is left. Lately, I've had to sell what little remained just to fund my cultivation. Even so, two inner disciples in the Grotto still have their eyes on me. I'm afraid they won't let a piece of fat meat like me escape."
Xie Ruolan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Her beautiful eyes swept over Lin Haoming's serious face.
"You... call yourself fat meat?"