The most dangerous moment in any negotiation comes not from what is said, but from what remains unspoken. Truth hides in the spaces between words.
—Master Song Lin, Scholar of the Jade Path
The Treasure Pavilion stood tall, its imposing structure exactly as Li Mei remembered from the game. The streets thinned out as they approached the walled area surrounding the tower. It made sense; the Lin Family was the heart of the festival, and most celebrations centered around their manor house in the city. Still, the place wasn’t deserted. Blackmere’s streets rarely emptied, even during quieter times.
Two guards, clad in polished armor, halted them at the entrance. "Identify yourselves," one demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Mei Chen stepped forward with confidence. "This is Miss Lin Xiulan, Second Daughter of the Lin Family, accompanied by her attendant and guard."
The guards exchanged wary glances. "What business do you have here?"
Xiulan straightened, channeling every ounce of regality she could muster. "Has the Treasure Pavilion forgotten who the county magistrate is? Or have you simply become unmannered?"
The guards stiffened, chastised by her authoritative tone. "Our apologies, Miss Lin," one said, bowing deeply. They stepped aside, allowing the group to pass as a servant hurried off to fetch the pavilion master.
The courtyard beyond the gates was a serene display of wealth. Ornate lanterns hung from meticulously pruned trees, casting soft colored light over polished stone pathways. Intricate tapestries adorned the walls, rivaling the opulence of her father’s own courtyard in the city.
In one corner, two men in flowing robes played a board game, their concentration intense. Xiulan’s heart skipped a beat. Cultivators. She recognized their aura from countless hours spent in Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles. She tensed, but they didn’t even glance her way.
The master arrived shortly after, his robes swishing as he approached. He dismissed the servant with a wave. "I thought it was a scam," he muttered to himself before addressing Xiulan directly. "But it truly is the Second Daughter of the Lin Family."
He bowed deeply. "Master Qingfeng at your service."
Xiulan curtsied with practiced grace. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Qingfeng."
Despite the throbbing pain in her ankle, Xiulan maintained perfect posture. "Might we conduct business in one of your trade rooms?"
Qingfeng’s eyebrows lifted. "Interesting. I wasn’t aware you’d done business with us before."
"I know many things, of course." Xiulan turned to her companions. "Mei Chen will accompany me. Guard Han, please wait in the courtyard."
He didn’t like that. "Miss Lin, I must protest—"
"The Treasure Pavilion’s protection is more than adequate." Xiulan’s tone left no room for argument.
Han’s jaw clenched, but he bowed stiffly and retreated to find a place to wait with the jewelry boxes.
Master Qingfeng nodded and led the way. Inside the pavilion tower, displays of precious artifacts lined the walls. Crystalline pedestals held everything from gleaming weapons to luminescent pills. The polished marble floor reflected the warm light from overhead lanterns, creating an atmosphere of refined opulence.
Qingfeng led them up a curved staircase to a secluded room on the second floor. Plush cushions surrounded a low table, and delicate paintings adorned the walls.
"Since you’re familiar with our ways," Qingfeng said, "shall I arrange the full tea ceremony?"
Xiulan bowed. "I would be honored."
After Qingfeng departed, Mei Chen knelt behind Xiulan as she took her seat. "Miss Xiulan, I confess I’m lost."
"Everything proceeds well." Xiulan reached for the parchment and ink set on the table. "Don’t worry."
"That’s good then." Mei Chen smiled.
Xiulan dipped the brush in ink and began listing items from her mental inventory of the game’s most crucial resources.
A servant glided into the room carrying a lacquered tea tray. The delicate porcelain clinked as she arranged the dishes with practiced precision.
Master Qingfeng entered and settled onto a cushion. "Since Miss Lin isn’t an immortal cultivator, I took the liberty of selecting a more suitable tea."
Qingfeng stroked his pointed beard. The steady drip of water from a nearby fountain punctuated the silence. "What makes you think I’d consider such a trade?"
"You didn’t reach your position as pavilion master without recognizing valuable investments." Xiulan straightened her spine. "Consider this favor an investment that appreciates with time. The longer you wait to collect, the more valuable it becomes."
Sweat trickled down Xiulan’s back as Qingfeng studied her. Without her status as the magistrate’s daughter, such an obvious scheme would have earned immediate rejection. Even with her lineage, the proposal reeked of deception. If Qingfeng accepted, he’d have to believe she’d found a cultivator patron—rare, but not impossible.
"What restrictions do you place on this favor?" he asked.
Xiulan bit her lip, then nodded. "My consent required for anything that could permanently harm myself or my future. Nothing that harms those I care about. Other than that—no restrictions."
"An interesting proposition." Qingfeng drummed his fingers on the table. "Though I wonder—why doesn’t this mysterious benefactor approach the Treasure Pavilion directly? That would simplify matters considerably."
Xiulan’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t considered that angle. Her throat felt dry, and she wished she still had some tea left. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to maintain eye contact with Master Qingfeng. "Ah... I’m afraid they are not on good terms with the Treasure Pavilion."
Qingfeng’s eyebrow arched, skepticism clear in his gaze. Xiulan’s mind raced.
"But that won’t affect our relationship in the future," she added hastily. "This daughter is already very appreciative of the care she has received and would be very grateful for the master to grant her request that solidifies her future. Once I have the needed things, there won’t be the risk mentioned earlier, thanks to my benefactor, so you can be assured of a good result."
The lie hung in the air between them. Xiulan’s pulse quickened, but she kept her expression serene. There wasn’t any benefactor, but she did believe in her ability to succeed.
She had spent countless hours in Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles mastering the art of pill-making, even if it was through a virtual interface.
In the game, creating medicine and pills involved a simple process of adding ingredients to boxes, setting quantities, and pressing a button. Thousands of pills could be produced this way, but the quality capped out at 90% even with maximum skill levels.
For a Meridian Opening Pill, which opened a mortal’s meridians to begin cultivation, Li Mei had opted for manual brewing to achieve the highest quality possible. And she had done it a lot—turning mortals into cultivators in the game added them to your character list.
And they could all be active at the same time.
With her time investment in the game, she had built up her very own sect clan. All on her own.
So she knew the recipe by heart: from herb preparation to precise timing. The temperatures were less critical and could be managed with a normal fire, sparing her the need for a specialized pill furnace.
She bit her lip, waiting for Qingfeng’s response. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the faint trickle of water from a nearby fountain. Qingfeng’s gaze remained fixed on her, unyielding and probing.
Master Qingfeng nodded with deliberate slowness. "Your proposal intrigues me, Miss Lin."
Relief flooded through Xiulan’s body, releasing the tension that had coiled in her muscles. Her heart soared at his acceptance.
"The requested items will take time to gather." Qingfeng poured another cup of tea. "Shall we arrange delivery to the Lin Family Manor in a week’s time?"
The elation dimmed as reality settled in. Xiulan steadied her breathing. He spoke truth—the things would need time to prepare, and during that period, she’d remain vulnerable to her enemies within her family.
"Miss Lin, perhaps there are other items you require immediately?" Qingfeng’s eyes sparkled. "Something to assist your endeavors while we procure the ingredients?"
Xiulan blinked in surprise at his unexpected offer of additional support. She swallowed hard, considering the possibilities from her game knowledge. "A silver poison sensing needle would prove invaluable."
"Ah, a prudent choice." Qingfeng stroked his beard. "Ten thousand taels, added to your existing debt."
"Agreed." Xiulan smiled. The cost meant little compared to the favor she would owe.
"Excellent. I’ll prepare the contracts and summon an official for proper authentication." Qingfeng stood and bowed before departing.
"Miss Xiulan?" Mei Chen whispered. "I don’t understand what’s happening. Is everything alright?"
Xiulan reached across the table and grasped Mei Chen’s hands. A genuine smile spread across her face. "Everything proceeds perfectly."
"That’s wonderful, Miss Xiulan!" Mei Chen beamed back.