Chapter 47. Quest, task, rewards.
Chapter 47: 47. Quest, task, rewards.
"Please, everyone."
Su Qingci extended his hand toward the seats.
"Make yourselves comfortable."
Lin Xuan nodded and led the group to the table.
Lin Zhaoyue and Lin Zhaoxi naturally sat on either side of him.
Zhao Moying and Ouyang Jun took the remaining seats.
Only after everyone had settled did Su Qingci return to his own seat.
With a light clap of his hands, the door opened.
Several attendants entered in orderly fashion, placing fresh tea and delicate refreshments onto the table.
Not a single unnecessary word was spoken.
The attendants completed their task with practiced efficiency before quietly withdrawing from the room.
The door closed once again and the faint ripple spread across the room as the soundproof formation activated.
Only then did Su Qingci speak.
"Patriarch Lin. I owe you an apology for my behavior earlier. My actions were inappropriate.
I hope you can forgive my lapse in judgment."
Lin Xuan neither nodded nor shook his head.
He simply picked up the teacup before him and took an unhurried sip.
The silence stretched for several breaths and only after setting the cup back onto the table did he reply.
"I accepted your invitation because someone wished to return. It was not because your apology moved me."
Su Qingci’s smile stiffened for the briefest moment.
Even so, he did not allow the awkwardness to linger.
"That is understandable, in that case, shall we continue our earlier discussion?"
Lin Xuan leaned back in his chair.
"That depends, have you decided whether the information in my possession is worth hearing?"
Su Qingci met his gaze without flinching.
"After giving it some thought... I believe it would be unwise for the Blue Sea Restaurant to miss such an opportunity."
His tone remained courteous.
However, unlike before, there was no trace of condescension left in his voice.
Lin Xuan gently set his teacup back onto the table and looked directly at Su Qingci.
"Huang Guangzhou is currently hiding in Blue River City under the guise of a bandit.
No one would suspect that the leader of a small bandit group is actually the infamous blood cultivator who vanished fifteen years ago."
Lin Xuan’s voice remained steady from beginning to end.
"He has also gathered a number of children and fed them Blood Pills and teaches them cultivation.
The children know nothing about his true identity and simply believe they have encountered a great benefactor."
The moment those words fell, Su Qingci’s calm expression finally changed.
Across from him, Zhao Moying abruptly stood up.
Her beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
"If you knew all of this... Then why haven’t you stopped him? How many innocent children could still be suffering because of your delay?"
Her voice was no longer as gentle as before, even Ouyang Jun frowned.
Anyone who raised children using Blood Pills deserved death.
Facing Zhao Moying’s questioning, Lin Xuan remained composed.
"Miss Ying, I am the Patriarch of a cultivation clan. My responsibility is first and foremost toward the people under my protection."
He paused before continuing.
"As for this information... I only received it recently from a trusted source.
If I had known about Huang Guangzhou’s whereabouts earlier... I would not have waited until today to bring it here."
Hearing that explanation, Zhao Moying slowly regained her composure.
She realized she had allowed her emotions to speak before fully understanding the situation.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across her face.
"...My apologies, I spoke too hastily."
Lin Xuan merely smiled faintly.
"It is only natural to be angry, I do not blame you."
Su Qingci remained silent for several moments.
Then he slowly rose from his seat and cupped his fists toward Lin Xuan.
"Patriarch Lin. Thank you for this information. If your intelligence proves true, the Blue Sea Restaurant will remember this favor."
He sat back down before speaking again.
"You originally came here to exchange information for information, I am a man of my word."
You may ask for any piece of information within our capabilities. We will answer it truthfully."
Before Lin Xuan could even open his mouth, Lin Zhaoyue eagerly raised her hand.
"I want Hong Shaoyun."
Lin Xuan turned to look at his daughter and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.
He let out a quiet sigh and said, "My daughter has become rather attached to that child. If possible, I would like Hong Shaoyun to come work for the Lin Family."
At the same time, Lin Xuan quietly sent a voice transmission to Su Qingci.
"If you have someone suffering from a serious illness, give me that person to me as well.
I have a use for such a person."
Su Qingci’s eyes flickered.
He immediately saw an opportunity to deepen their relationship.
Without changing his expression, he replied through a voice transmission.
"Hong Shaoyun has an elder sister. Her name is Hong Shaoling."
She has been gravely ill for many years, I’ll send her to you as well. Shaoyun is diligent and exceptionally capable.
As long as her sister remains under your care, she will never betray you."
Lin Xuan’s expression visibly relaxed and he gave a satisfied nod.
"Very well."
After a brief pause, he continued,
"If your organization intends to capture Huang Guangzhou, the Lin Family is willing to lend a hand."
Su Qingci’s eyes brightened.
A Ninth Layer Golden Core expert joining their operation...
That was far beyond what he had expected.
He immediately clasped his hands together.
"Then I shall thank Patriarch Lin in advance. With your assistance, our chances of success will increase considerably."
Just then, Ouyang Jun leaned forward and looked directly at Su Qingci.
"Tell me everything you know.. about the fake elders of the Mystic Sky Sect operating within Azure Willow City."
Ouyang Jun’s words caused the room to fall silent.
Su Qingci stared at him, disbelief flashing across his face.
The fake elders of the Mystic Sky Sect were currently the Azure Willow Pavilion’s greatest source of profit.
Countless cultivators were willing to pay enormous sums just for a chance to meet those so-called elders.
Even if Su Qingci had wanted to expose them, revealing such information to an outsider was no different from handing away one of the Pavilion’s greatest secrets.
His brows gradually knitted together.
"You have quite the—"
But before the words could leave his mouth, his expression suddenly froze.