Chapter 1295: Doubts About the White Deer Institute

Chapter 1295: Chapter 1295: Doubts About the White Deer Institute

"More points of suspicion?" Liu Xuanji asked with interest upon hearing.

"Yes!" Pei Yan nodded, looked around, and asked with a smile, "I wonder if any of the elders here have any impression of Zhou Yinnong?"

"Zhou Yinnong?"

"Who is Zhou Yinnong?"

The dozen sect leaders present looked at each other with confusion, except Mao Xiang, who seemed contemplative as if he had heard of this person’s reputation. Pei Yan noticed this and smiled slightly, "It’s no wonder none of you recognize him, as his status is far different from yours. Oh! By the way! Elder Liu, your grandson does recognize him; it was during my first meeting with Zhou Yinnong that he introduced his identity and gave an evaluation of his affairs."

"My grandson? Oh! Is it Liu Xiantong! How did he get involved with such a person? My young grandson hasn’t made any big mistakes, has he?" Liu Xuanji quickly realized who Pei Yan referred to as his descendant, but he truly had no impression of this Zhou Yinnong. However, if Pei Yan mentioned him and he was connected to the White Deer Institute, he must be no ordinary person. Now that the Hongjun Sword Furnace was already turbulent, if his grandson was further involved, he’d be truly dismayed.

Seeing the deep worry in Liu Xuanji’s eyes, Pei Yan quickly reassured him, "Rest assured, Elder Liu, Brother Liu has only had few encounters with this person and has no deep connection. To be honest, although Brother Liu often acts beyond bounds, causing us quite some trouble, my colleagues and I quite like his personality; you could say adversity forms bonds!"

"That’s good! That’s good! Ah! My young grandson has extremely high talent but is unstable in temperament and mischievous, thus has been frequently disciplined by the family. He always escapes to the Daoist Plane to enjoy life whenever he has the chance. Fortunately, his nature is not bad and he hasn’t caused shame to the sect, forming a bond with you is also destiny. Since you share interests, I will slightly ease his restrictions from now on; if you associate with each other, do lend him some advice. Compared to peers, he’s somewhat lacking." Liu Xuanji, hearing Pei Yan’s seemingly sincere words, thought that his family indeed had Liu Xiantong frequenting the Daoist Plane most, and knowing the investigation department best. If relations could be established between Pei Yan and others through this, it would be a good thing. Hoping their relationship could be further strengthened, Liu Xuanji asked again, "How does my grandson evaluate Zhou Yinnong then?"

"Middleman!"

"Middleman?" This peculiar term left everyone perplexed, and Pei Yan continued, "It’s a term from our place meaning intermediary, or what you would call a merchant, someone with cultivation who travels between major planes as a trader."

"Merchant?" Mulling over this term, several sect leaders fell into thought. Naturally, there are industries under each sect, mostly related to cultivation resources, managed by those with moderate talent who have no hope of reaching the Heavenly Dao but have close connections within the sect. People of their status wouldn’t have any dealings with those steeped in worldly money aroma. Even during the ten-yearly sect industry audits, these individuals could at most report to elders in charge, seeing the sect leader’s silhouette would be a great honor. The sect leaders couldn’t understand why such a small figure had caught Pei Yan’s attention and what waves he could stir.

Seeing the confusion, Pei Yan took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, lit it in front of everyone, amused by their bewilderment at the flame from the windproof lighter. He explained, "Such small objects, in your elders’ eyes, are just decently crafted alchemical items, but they’re cheaply mass-produced at our place, household staples! For ordinary people in the Daoist Plane, they’re quite useful. This lighter, tobacco I hold, along with canned goods, toilet paper, handheld flashlights—all low-tech yet integral to daily life, are very popular in the Daoist Plane, according to Liu Xiantong. The major sects in the Daoist Plane disdain making such small objects to better their citizens’ lives."

Upon hearing this, the sect leaders showed complex expressions. Mo Sect Leader Feng Tianhe wanted to argue but was stopped by Pei Yan who continued, "That’s not meant to ridicule the Daoist Plane. Sect resources are limited, disciples are already pressed producing magical artifacts for cultivation. Where’s the time to create daily items for so many mortals? The cost-benefit ratio doesn’t add up. But on our Daoist Plane, it’s not an issue, as ordinary people drive our world, and under an industrial system, these things are mass-produced, good quality and cheap. Your citizens need these goods while our talents crave your artifacts and cultivation resources, thus an intermediary arose."

"Is that Zhou Yinnong?" After a long explanation, Feng Tianhe finally understood what Zhou Yinnong’s role was.

"Yes, him! For a long time, he was a frequent guest of our investigation department because back then, the Immortal Palace disregarded minor forces like us, and we had few channels for acquiring your plane’s resources. Zhou Yinnong was one key avenue." Pei Yan said, regrettably clapping his hands, "This situation changed when I captured the Child of Origin from the Magic Plane, Moira, during a competition. I assume you know her true identity as Delacuri’s offspring, and from her confession found that the Blood Race was investigating weak spatial barriers in the Magic Plane, which drew our attention. Not only did we discreetly alert other planes for defense, but also noted who else concerned themselves with weak spots of spatial barriers, and Zhou Yinnong emerged before us."

"What we uncovered was startling. Zhou Yinnong and his trading house’s tracks were found across the Daoist Plane, even in the Hell Plane, Magic Plane, and the notoriously insular Spirit Monster Plane, conducting business. Though the profits weren’t small, it was barely noticeable, dealing with trade items flowing between lower-class individuals and cultivators, transactions that typically wouldn’t draw attention from the upper echelons of the major planes. Ultimately, we discovered Zhou Yinnong had close ties with the formerly vanished Celestial Secret Pavilion, and some connections with the White Deer Institute." Pei Yan shared everything he learned.