Chapter 278 - 158: At Last

"Hey, Boss Xiao, wait up..."

Soon, Gu Yun and Wang Zifan entered the city.

Inside Guangping City, towering pavilions packed the streets, which teemed with a sea of people. It was a picture of bustling prosperity, where the citizens lived ordinary, happy lives in peace and contentment.

However, that wasn’t always the case.

Just then, Gu Yun’s gaze fell on a scene not far off. A rather handsome man in plain robes was pestering a young, beautiful woman in a pink skirt. She had a slender waist, curvaceous hips, and wore delicate makeup.

"Heh, Boss Xiao, that guy’s actually pretty well-known here in Guangping City. He’s been relentlessly hounding that girl. I think he’s genuinely fallen for her."

"Too bad for him, though. That girl gets around. She’s a real social butterfly who knows a lot of young masters from wealthy families."

"So how could she possibly fall for an ordinary, unremarkable poor boy who has nothing to offer but his sincere heart?" Wang Zifan said, standing beside Gu Yun.

"That girl once said that whoever wants to marry her must not only offer a grand wedding with an eight-bearer sedan and a formal proposal, but also provide a carriage for all her trips—and it has to be four-wheel drive. The house can’t be any worse than what others have; a three-courtyard mansion is the minimum..."

Gu Yun could only shake his head helplessly.

’It really proved that old saying,’ he thought. ’She’s been with a thousand men, yet still demands a carriage and a mansion.’

He immediately shifted his gaze,

looking ahead at the surging river of people.

Pavilions of varying heights lined the street, and the endless cries of hawkers filled the air.

Soon, Gu Yun’s gaze settled on a grand, nine-story pavilion in the heart of the city, its architecture simple yet imposing. Wang Zifan followed his line of sight to the towering structure and immediately began to explain:

"That’s the most famous restaurant in Guangping City, the Jade Tower."

"Their specialty is a wine called Immortal Drunk. They say it’s strong enough to get an immortal plastered."

Gu Yun turned and gave Wang Zifan a deadpan look. It was a clear signal.

Wang Zifan immediately slapped his forehead. "Boss Xiao, I get it, I get it..."

Weaving through the crowd, the two soon arrived at the foot of the Jade Tower.

Looking up, they saw two massive pillars supporting the eaves, each intricately carved with auspicious beasts. A plaque above the entrance bore the flamboyantly carved name: "Jade Tower." The nine-story building, with its green tiles, crimson eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, exuded a classical elegance that was breathtaking.

The moment Gu Yun and Wang Zifan stepped inside, a stunning woman came to greet them. She wore a red robe, her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her figure was voluptuous. Her face was a picture of delicate beauty.

"Well now, what lucky wind blew Young Master Wang in today?" the red-robed beauty chuckled.

"The wind of my longing for you!" Wang Zifan shot back with a grin.

"Sister Wu, you’re so stunning today you’ve turned my world upside down. I’m afraid you’re about to steal my very heart."

"Enough chit-chat. Sister Wu, get me a private room on the ninth floor. I’m treating my big brother to a welcome dinner," Wang Zifan said, his expression suddenly turning serious.

"Oh?" The red-robed beauty’s gaze immediately shifted to Gu Yun.

She gasped internally. ’What a handsome young master!’ He wore a white Profound Robe, his features were sharp and refined, and his eyes shone like stars. A piece of White Jade hung from his waist, but it was the invisible aura he exuded that left her utterly captivated.

In the next instant, the red-robed beauty caught herself and recovered her composure. "Of course," she said immediately. "I’ll arrange a premium private room for you right away, Young Master Wang."

「A short while later」

On the ninth floor, within a private room, the air was filled with a classical, fragrant aroma. An exquisite crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling above a massive Purple Sandalwood table. Mind-refreshing incense smoldered in a corner. The room was luxuriously appointed, and its wide window offered a magnificent panoramic view of Guangping City.

"Not bad," Gu Yun commented, raising his cup and gently swirling the wine within.

"Heh, only the best," Wang Zifan chuckled.

He then raised his cup again. "Boss Xiao, how about I take you to enjoy the sights at the Cyan Jade Tower tonight?"

"A brothel? No, thanks." Gu Yun shook his head.

"Fine, fine. Well, Boss Xiao, have you ever heard a certain love story?" Wang Zifan asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he held his cup.

"What story?" Gu Yun asked.

"Once, there was a key. It was very lonely. Then it met a lock."

"On a dark and stormy night... they became one."

At this, Wang Zifan chuckled, then raised his cup and drained it.

"A key... and a lock..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gu Yun was momentarily baffled.

The next moment, a glint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"You’re a smooth one, aren’t you? The Love Saint of Anchuan... you’ve really earned that reputation." A smile touched Gu Yun’s lips as he, too, drained his cup.

"Smooth!" Gu Yun exhaled.

"What’s so smooth, Boss Xiao?"

"You know, the word ’smooth’ is just ’oo’s with ’smth’ in the way," Wang Zifan quipped with a grin.

"You bastard."

...

While Gu Yun and Wang Zifan were drinking their fill at the Jade Tower,

「Meanwhile」

In a great hall within the Wang Family Mansion, several figures were deep in a discussion, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

"How can we use this Celestial Abyss Meteorite Iron to maximize its effectiveness?" a goat-bearded old man in a Brocade Robe of Transformation said in a deep voice.

Ever since Wang Zhen’an had brought back the Celestial Abyss Meteorite Iron, the Elders of the Wang Family had convened an urgent meeting to discuss how to use it.

Celestial Abyss Meteorite Iron was a priceless treasure, perfect for forging high-grade Spiritual Artifacts. Wang Zhen’an had brought back a full half-ton of it—enough to forge seven, eight, or perhaps even more Spiritual Artifacts if used properly. This would be a massive boost to the Wang Family’s overall power.

But the Wang Family had no Artifact Refiner capable of forging Spiritual Artifacts. If they were to hire someone, they would have to spend an immense fortune.

Furthermore, a treasure like Celestial Abyss Meteorite Iron is enough to make any Artifact Refiner green with envy. If word of it got out, the Wang Family would become a target for everyone. The fallout would spread to other provinces, plunging their family into the heart of a political storm.

After all, in the entire Guangping City, only the Wang Family, the Yue Family, and the City Lord’s Mansion possessed Spiritual Artifacts.

"So what in the world are we supposed to do?" someone asked anxiously.

"Report!"

A sudden, panicked voice shattered their grim deliberations.

A Wang Family disciple in a white robe stood at the entrance, his face a mask of terror, looking as though he had disastrous news to report.

"What is it? Why are you in such a panic? Get ahold of yourself!"

Seeing the state of the disciple, the goat-bearded Elder berated him.

"Eighth Brother, enough. For a disciple to come here like this, it must be important. Let him speak." Wang Zhenlong, seated on the high chair at the head of the hall, raised a hand to silence him and spoke in a deep voice.

Seeing his chance, the white-robed disciple spoke, his voice trembling, "Reporting to the Patriarch and the Elders..."

"The Yue... the Yue Family... they’re gone!!"

"What?!" the goat-bearded Elder exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table and shooting to his feet in disbelief.

"Say that again!" the goat-bearded Elder shouted.

"The Yue... the Yue Family is gone! There’s no one left, not a single soul!"

The disciple’s voice trembled as he faced the Elder’s intense gaze.

"I passed by the Yue Family estate today. The entire, vast compound was empty and eerily silent. It’s like they just... vanished into thin air."

After hearing his report, the Elders exchanged looks. They understood what they had to do: they would go see for themselves.

"You have performed a great service by reporting this so promptly," Wang Zhenlong said softly to the disciple from his high seat. "Go to the Merit Spirit Pavilion and collect a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones."

"Yes, Patriarch!" A flicker of excitement appeared in the white-robed disciple’s eyes.

’What did he think he ran all this way for? It was for this exact moment. If he’d been any slower, someone else might have snatched this reward.’

In the next moment, the figures of the Elders flickered and vanished from the hall.

...

Night fell, and a sliver of a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Moonlight washed over the land, and a scattering of stars twinkled in the sky.

At the Jade Tower,

in a private room on the ninth floor,

the rich aroma of wine filled the air,

accompanied by the sound of snoring.

Wang Zifan was completely passed out.

Gu Yun held a cup of Immortal Brew, taking slow sips as his gaze fell upon Wang Zifan, who was a drunken mess sprawled across the Purple Sandalwood table.

’He had to hand it to this guy,’ Gu Yun thought. ’He could have easily used his True Yuan to burn off the alcohol, but instead, he sealed it away to get drunk like a mortal. Said something about how... it’s no fun if you don’t actually get drunk.’

"Boss Xiao..." MWAH! The completely wasted Wang Zifan planted his lips on the wooden table and made a loud kissing sound.

A corner of Gu Yun’s mouth twitched.

He immediately kicked Wang Zifan square in the face, sending him flying into a corner of the room. Wang Zifan landed with his cheek flat against the floor, his body curled up, and continued to sleep, dead to the world.

Then, Gu Yun slowly rose and walked to the window. He gazed out at the sea of lights from the city’s countless homes and was suddenly moved.

He activated his Spiritual Sense, which instantly spread out to cover a radius of hundreds of miles. Countless sights and sounds became crystal clear to him.

"How much water comes out depends on the size of the pipe. If your pipe is too small, you can’t blame her for being dry..."

"Next time, can you not finish inside? My husband can taste it..."