Chapter 037: A Matter of Intelligence

Outside the Treasure Pavilion, the scene was already bustling; a long queue stretched from the doorway, and several people dressed in identical clothing stood guard at the entrance, likely staff of the Pavilion. The distance made it impossible to discern their actions, so Yan Shu, curious, asked, “Do we need an invitation or something to enter the Treasure Pavilion?”

Liu Zhiqing was about to answer, but Yu Wenche spoke first. “No invitation is required, but different entrance fees are collected depending on your needs. The Treasure Pavilion has five floors. The higher you go, the more spirit stones you must pay.”

“The first and second floors only require an entrance fee, but from the third floor onwards, besides the entrance fee, your funds are verified. The third floor requires at least ten thousand premium spirit stones, and the fourth and fifth floors demand even more, with reserved seating as well.”

Ten thousand premium spirit stones!

After an entire night’s work at her stall, she had earned only a few thousand spirit stones. Judging by Liu Zhiqing’s words, that was the result of several years of effort by the senior brothers of the Xuan Heaven Sect.

Poverty had truly limited her imagination.

Yan Shu silently halted her steps, hesitating as she said to Liu Zhiqing, “Maybe we shouldn’t go in after all. There’s nothing we need, and paying the entrance fee seems wasteful. Earning spirit stones isn’t easy, Senior Brother!”

Even thick-skinned as he was, Liu Zhiqing couldn’t help but blush. “It’s fine, with Junior Brother Yu Wenche here, it’s not an issue!”

Yan Shu felt uncomfortable about this—after all, it was only her second meeting with Yu Wenche.

The first time, he had treated her to a meal. The second time, she had persuaded him to buy three Blood Qi Pills useless to him, and made him her free salesman. Now, she would have him pay the entrance fee as well—wasn’t she taking advantage of him?

This wasn’t how one should fleece a sheep.

Yu Wenche watched her expression, guessing her thoughts, and his heart softened. He spoke gently, “It’s nothing. We don’t need to pay entrance fees, and I always have a reserved seat on the fifth floor of any Treasure Pavilion.”

Once again, poverty constrained Yan Shu’s imagination.

No wonder the third senior brother couldn’t walk away when he saw Yu Wenche!

This time, as she looked at Yu Wenche, Yan Shu felt as if he radiated light from head to toe.

The light of spirit stones!

Catching the sparkle in her eyes, Yu Wenche’s fingers twitched, a ticklish feeling stirring inside him. He quietly took a deep breath to suppress the urge to pinch her cheek.

Soon, it was their turn.

The manager collecting entrance fees at the Treasure Pavilion recognized Yu Wenche at once, his face breaking into a smile. “Young Master Yu Wenche, please come in. Your seat on the fifth floor has been reserved for you!”

Yu Wenche gave a slight nod, and immediately a staff member stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Young Master Yu Wenche, please follow me inside.”

Yan Shu and Liu Zhiqing followed Yu Wenche into the Pavilion. From outside, the Treasure Pavilion was already imposing, but only after entering did Yan Shu realize she knew nothing of true grandeur.

She had seen modern shopping malls, but what left her in awe was not the massive five-story building or the clamorous crowds, but the eighteen giant luminous pearls suspended above, illuminating the central hall as bright as day.

How many spirit stones would a single pearl cost?

Yu Wenche had been watching Yan Shu, and seeing her gaze fixed upward, he smiled and explained, “Those are thousand-year clam pearls. They possess no spiritual power—merely serve as lighting, and add beauty.”

Embarrassed at being so easily read, Yan Shu quickly withdrew her gaze, murmuring in assent.

The smile on Yu Wenche’s lips deepened.

The Pavilion attendant led them up to the fifth floor and into a private room, then withdrew.

On the square table inside were spirit fruits and delicacies, three cups, and a wine jug.

Once seated, Yu Wenche poured wine for the three, speaking gently to Yan Shu, “This is fine fruit wine, brewed with spiritual spring water and spirit fruits. It has only a light alcoholic taste and won’t intoxicate.”

Liu Zhiqing had already raised his cup and drank. Yan Shu thanked him and took a sip. Indeed, it was excellent spirit fruit wine—upon swallowing, the spiritual energy transformed into warmth within, leaving only the fragrance of fruit in her mouth.

As for the taste of alcohol, it was barely perceptible unless one focused.

Liu Zhiqing poured himself another cup and sighed to Yu Wenche, “Good wine! If only it were stronger, it would be perfect.”

Yan Shu glared at him—how dare he complain when he was eating and drinking for free!

Yu Wenche seemed unconcerned, smiling as he replied, “Senior Brother Liu is right. I’ll have them bring a stronger wine. This fruit wine can be left to Junior Sister Yan.”

Yan Shu was about to protest when Yu Wenche tapped the table three times. Instantly, an attendant entered.

Yu Wenche instructed, “Bring us a jug of stronger wine.”

The attendant replied and soon returned with a jug. Yu Wenche poured for himself and Liu Zhiqing. Liu Zhiqing tasted it and exclaimed, “Excellent! I like it!”

Yu Wenche smiled. “As long as Senior Brother Liu enjoys it.”

As the two exchanged cups, Yan Shu could only quietly raise her own, surveying the Treasure Pavilion.

Suddenly, she spotted Xiao Jihan’s figure at the corner opposite her on the first floor.

From five floors up, the people below were no taller than matchsticks, but Yan Shu could see Xiao Jihan—not because of any romantic notion of seeing him in a crowd, but because the red health bar above his head was so obvious.

Especially in the shadows, that red bar was like an emergency exit light in a mall during a blackout—except green had become red.

Yan Shu was intensely curious: where had he gotten his spirit stones in just a day?

Perhaps she stared too long, for Xiao Jihan suddenly looked up in her direction.

Yan Shu quickly shrank back, hiding herself in the shadows.

Only after she finished did she realize—

Wait, why was she hiding?

She had taken the Masking Pill. Even if she hadn’t, she had every right to be here—why avoid him?

Besides, he had changed his appearance too. As long as she pretended not to know him, everything would be fine.

Yan Shu refused to admit it was her intelligence at fault. It must be the psychological shadow from having been oppressed by him for so long.

She drained her cup of fruit wine, straightened herself, and looked downstairs again, but Xiao Jihan was no longer in the same spot.

She searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. Just as she was about to give up, a flash of red caught her eye.

Xiao Jihan stood on the third floor, leaning against a pillar opposite her, calmly watching her.

For a moment, their eyes met. Yan Shu was caught red-handed.

Strangely, at times like this, Yan Shu became calmer. She smiled at him, nodded slightly, as if greeting a vaguely familiar stranger, and then withdrew her gaze.

Xiao Jihan snorted softly and turned toward another private room.