The figure was clad in a black dress and had silky smooth jet-black hair rolled up in a bun, highlighting her beautiful face and soft, translucent skin.
Her figure was graceful and alluring, and she radiated a feminine aura that only mature women had. Even just standing there, she drew the attention of countless passers-by.
Mu Wansu!
Lin Xun recognized her with just one glance.
The Black Rose from Donglin City had become the manager of Stone Cauldron Alms in Haze City. The status and power she wielded were no longer the same as before.
Lin Xun also was no longer the weak youngster as when he first arrived in Feiyun Village.
Almost two years had passed since Lin Xun last saw Mu Wansu, so he couldn’t help but reminisce about some past events.
Mu Wansu also noticed Lin Xun walking out of the Rune Master Association. A faint almost imperceptible smile came to her lips and she waved her hand.
Lin Xun stepped forward and said with a smile, “What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to run into Big Sister Wansu here.”
“It’s not a coincidence. I deliberately came to find you.”Mu Wansu’s mood changed when she saw the warm and bright smile on Lin Xun’s face. If I didn’t know this little bastard, I likely would be deceived by his harmless looks.
“You came to find me?” Lin Xun looked perplexed.
Mu Wansu nodded. “How about going on a walk with me?”
Lin Xun thought for a moment and then said playfully, “How would a man refuse the invitation of a beauty like Big Sister Wansu?”
Mu Wansu glared at him. “I haven’t seen you in a while but you’re still a smooth talker.”
She turned around and leisurely strolled along the street. “Why didn’t you attend the Stone Cauldron Alms celebration?”
Lin Xun followed and walked next to her. “I had something urgent to deal with and couldn’t make it.”
Mu Wansu nodded and didn’t question him further.
“What? Big Sister Wansu, did you come to scold me?”
Mu Wansu snorted. “I have no intention of being angry with you. I came to ask you what your relationship is with Golden Jade Hall.”
“Big Sister, you have also heard about Golden Jade Hall?”
Mu Wansu said irritably, “I’ve not only heard about it but also watched your performance in the provincial exam. I just want to know why you would do something that will tarnish your reputation. If you are short of money, you can cooperate with Stone Cauldron Alms. Given your mastery in the art of runes and the financial resources of Stone Cauldron Alms, you can enjoy an inexhaustible amount of wealth and glory.”
Before Lin Xun could respond, Mu Wansu turned around and stared at Lin Xun pensively. “Of course, you didn’t do that for money, am I right?”
Lin Xun looked at her charming and beautiful face and exclaimed, “Big Sister, you have sharp eyes and know everything.”
Mu Wansu snapped, “Stop talking nonsense. I no longer treat you as an outsider because of your relationship with First Young Master Shi Xuan and Third Young Master Shi Yu. But if you fool around anymore, you are being too disrespectful.”
Lin Xun suddenly assumed a serious expression. “I will always remember Big Sister’s teachings.”
He explained, “The boss of Golden Jade Hall has saved my life before. We have become close friends so as a friend I have to help Golden Jade Hall establish a reputation in Haze City.”
Mu Wansu was aware of Golden Jade Hall’s background because the first Golden Jade Hall store that Gu Yanping opened was in Donglin City. This was the reason why she found it strange that Golden Jade Hall could ask Lin Xun for help given that it was much inferior to ordinary forces in Haze City.
Fortunately, Lin Xun’s explanation resolved a lot of her puzzlement.
“I didn’t expect you to be someone who cherishes friendships that much.” Mu Wansu chuckled. She wasn’t mocking him but she was genuinely surprised.
Lin Xun responded with a smile, “When you get to know me more, you will notice a lot of good points in me.”
Mu Wansu snorted, “I can’t see any good points, but I do notice that you are more shameless than before.”
Lin Xun shrugged helplessly.
Mu Wansu tucked her jet-black hair behind her ear and suddenly said, “I originally planned to ask you to join Stone Cauldron Alms and was going to create a new special runemaster position for you, but that seems impossible now.”
Only then did Lin Xun realize that was Mu Wansu’s real purpose of coming to find him.
He didn’t say a word but his silence already showed his response.
“Never mind, let’s work together again if there’s a chance in the future.” Mu Wansu quickly made a decision.
Lin Xun nodded with a smile.
“By the way—” Mu Wansu suddenly said, “Golden Jade Hall doesn’t have a deep foundation and now that it’s creating a lot of noise in Haze City, you should remind your friend that fame is just fame. Golden Jade Hall needs true strength if it wants to gain a foothold in Haze City. Without a solid foundation, it’s impossible to compete with the other well-established businesses in the city.”
She talked eloquently, “Business is as fierce as war. No matter how famous Golden Jade Hall is, it will eliminate itself if it has a weak foundation.”
“For example, there are hundreds of large and small businesses in the city, and they sell everything. If Golden Jade Hall doesn’t have any unique products, what does it have to compete with other businesses? The others will have what you have, and it is likely to be cheaper. How can Golden Jade Hall’s shallow foundation be able to compete with those powerful businesses?”
“Ultimately, the Golden Jade Hall should first deal with the problem of fame. Then, its priority should be to release products unique to them to avoid competition with the other business.”
Without Mu Wansu realizing it, she had said too much. She spoke calmly and meticulously. She was like a successful and strong woman strategizing.
She suddenly flushed. “Ever since I came to Haze City, I don’t have any friends whom I can talk to. I have rambled on without realizing.”
Lin Xun smiled. “Everything Big Sister said is very insightful. It was a rare and valuable business experience. I wish I could hear more.”
Mu Wansu suddenly felt that Lin Xun’s smile seemed less annoying than usual.
……
It was late at night when Mu Wansu said goodbye to Lin Xun. The provincial exam was still undergoing.
As the examination progressed, news continued to spread out and caused a stir in Haze City. It made the dark night seem particularly lively.
Naturally, the cultivators who won became the focus of attention.
The cultivators who failed in the first round also became targets for various clans and sects to recruit.
Everyone knew their failure was just a failure in the provincial examination, and it didn’t negate their cultivation potential.
On the contrary, they were all below eighteen years old, had a Human Dipper cultivation base or above, and had earned the qualification to take the provincial examination. They had already surpassed many of their peers. Such talents of the younger generation would only bring them benefits if they could recruit them.
Lin Xun didn’t care for that, or rather, he only cared about whether he could successfully pass the provincial examination.
At that moment, he was sitting in a secret room in Golden Jade Hall. He handed over a stack of paper full of rune patterns to Gu Liang.
Those papers detailed the ideas of seven brand-new aeth tools, including their appearance, shape, materials and runes.
The design of every aeth tool had never been seen on the market!
When Lin Xun forged the Flowing Light Blade, he had already proved that his mastery in the art of runes had reached the point where he could independently design and develop new types of aeth tools.
However, the ideas for the seven brand-new aeth tools weren’t his own. Instead, they were found in an animal skin notebook from Mister Lu.
Although the animal skin notebook had long disappeared since the Omega Secret Realm appeared, the notes inside were engraved in Lin Xun’s mind.
The ideas for the seven brand-new aeth tools were Mister Lu’s creations.
“Take a look, I have listed the methods and steps for making these seven kinds of aeth tools in detail. You only need to find rune masters to make them.”
Lin Xun picked up a cup and took a sip, looking leisurely.
With a swoosh, Gu Liang grabbed the thick stack of paper and looked through it carefully.
Before Lin Xun had come to find him, he was very troubled even though Golden Jade Hall had risen to fame and its name had spread throughout Haze City.
This was because Gu Liang was aware of the most tricky problem of Golden Jade Hall—It had no unique signature product.
If that problem wasn’t taken care of, Golden Jade Hall would sooner or later be suppressed by other businesses in the city and wouldn’t be able to lift its head high again.
Gu Liang was overjoyed when Lin Xun rushed over to talk to him about the matter. Lin Xun had basically delivered him coal in the snow.
When Lin Xun brought out the ideas for seven brand new aeth tools, he was utterly dumbfounded like a pie had dropped onto his lap from the sky.
He knew very well what a brand new aeth tool signified. It was akin to a secret recipe of a restaurant.
If the brand-new aeth tool could meet the demands of the market after testing, it would undoubtedly become the signature product of Golden Jade Hall and bring endless benefits to them.
Moreover, there wasn’t only one brand-new aeth tool but seven!
Seven!
Gu Liang trembled with excitement and his heart pounded violently, almost about to jump out of his throat.
An indescribable excitement and joy flooded his entire body like the tide and almost made him go crazy!