Han Yuan’s story was a mixture of truth and lies, its logic so sound it was nearly impossible to see through.

Besides, he had specifically instructed Zhai Mu not to talk, and he was certain the man would keep his mouth shut.

So, Du Qiuxu had no choice but to believe Han Yuan’s tale.

After all, it was hard to believe Han Yuan’s claim that he had killed the Evil Corpse Daoist all by himself.

But if someone had helped him, that was a different story.

"So you’re saying someone helped you."

"Who was it?"

Du Qiuxu asked.

"I don’t know... The man was masked, and his Fist Technique was divine. I fear he was a True Qi Martial Artist."

"He held off that Evil Corpse for me, which gave me the opening to kill the Evil Corpse Daoist."

"He left right after, without leaving a name,"

Han Yuan said.

’Good at Fist Technique... a True Qi Martial Artist...’

Du Qiuxu couldn’t think of who it might be.

But the world was vast and full of all kinds of experts.

It could have been an expert from an Outer County, or perhaps even an Outer Province.

Du Qiuxu had no intention of investigating further.

The Observatory only ever cared about results, not the process.

Since Han Yuan had brought back the body of the Evil Corpse Daoist, the reward was his to claim.

"The mission itself is worth five hundred Contribution Points."

"The Evil Corpse Daoist was ranked twenty-seventh on the Cangshui Black List, with a bounty of three thousand Contribution Points."

"That’s a total of thirty-five hundred Contribution Points."

"Satisfied now?"

Du Qiuxu said with a faint smile.

Over the past few days, he had more or less figured out Han Yuan’s temperament.

A Martial Fool who only cared about Contribution Points.

As long as the Contribution Points were high enough, he’d do anything.

"Of course I’m satisfied."

Han Yuan chuckled and nodded.

"Then you can head back for now."

"I’ll have someone take care of the Evil Corpse Daoist’s body in a moment,"

Du Qiuxu said.

Han Yuan took his leave and departed.

’I can’t believe I got thirty-five hundred Contribution Points from one trip. That’s already halfway there.’

’At this rate, it won’t take me long to gather the full seven thousand.’

Han Yuan was in high spirits, humming a little tune as he returned to his courtyard.

He had been in a tomb and gone through a bloody battle, and his whole body reeked of a strange smell.

At this late hour, no one would be boiling water for a bath.

Han Yuan didn’t mind. Even in the dead of winter, he drew a few buckets of cold water, washed off the foul stench, and went to bed.

「Three days later.」

Drunken Immortal Tower.

This was a restaurant in the Inner City of Cangshui County. It was so expensive that ordinary people couldn’t possibly afford to dine there.

Han Yuan, dressed in a black robe and without even his Cold Blade, walked straight into the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Though his clothes were plain, his tall, powerful build and imposing aura immediately marked him as no ordinary man.

A waitress approached him at once. "Welcome, sir. Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes."

"My friend is in the Celestial Immortal Drunk room on the top floor,"

Han Yuan said casually.

The Celestial Immortal Drunk was, in fact, the name of a private room.

Hearing that name, the waitress’s smile grew warmer. "Right this way, sir. I’ll show you."

The Drunken Immortal Tower had five floors.

Han Yuan followed the waitress to the fifth floor and was led to the front of a private room.

"Sir, this is the Celestial Immortal Drunk," the waitress said with a gesture.

"Alright, you can go now,"

Han Yuan said with a wave.

The waitress said no more, simply smiling as she took her leave.

Han Yuan then pushed open the door and entered.

The private room was exquisitely decorated in a classic, antique style.

The table was surrounded by a folding screen, obscuring the view within.

When Han Yuan stepped past it, he saw a full spread of fine dishes already laid out on the table.

A young man with an ordinary face was standing there waiting. Upon seeing Han Yuan, he smiled. "Lord Han, you’ve finally arrived."

Han Yuan paused. "Zhai Mu, your Disguise Technique is quite impressive."

Zhai Mu’s current appearance bore no resemblance to how he had looked in the tomb.

Han Yuan couldn’t even spot any flaws in the disguise.

Zhai Mu chuckled. "In my line of work, you can’t just let people see your real face."

Han Yuan nodded, then added, "You must have made a fortune to be able to afford a place like this."

"That’s only because you looked out for me, Lord Han."

"Please, sit."

Zhai Mu led Han Yuan behind the screen and personally pulled out a chair for him.

"None of that."

"Just sit down,"

Han Yuan said with a wave.

Hearing this, Zhai Mu smiled and sat down beside Han Yuan.

"Lord Han, the gold, silver, and jewelry from the tomb sold for a total of one hundred and thirty thousand taels of silver."

He even produced a ledger for Han Yuan to inspect.

Han Yuan couldn’t be bothered to look, waving his hand. "It’s fine. I trusted you with this for a reason."

"Then all one hundred and thirty thousand taels of silver are right here."

Zhai Mu took out thirteen silver notes, each with a denomination of ten thousand taels.

"Not planning to take your cut?"

Han Yuan asked with a smirk.

"If Lord Han hadn’t appeared that day,"

"no matter how good my Lightweight Skill is, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have lasted much longer."

"You saved my life, Lord Han. How could I dare take your money?"

Zhai Mu said, shaking his head.

Han Yuan gave Zhai Mu a slightly surprised look.

’This guy... he really knows how to play the game.’

"Fine."

"Take these thirty thousand taels of silver."

"We’ll work together again if something comes up in the future."

Han Yuan pushed thirty thousand taels of silver across the table.

Zhai Mu didn’t refuse, accepting it without a moment’s hesitation.

With their business concluded, the two began to chat and drink.

...

Outside the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Two luxurious, horse-drawn carriages pulled up to the entrance.

Several young figures emerged from the front carriage. The leader, a handsome young master, eagerly approached the carriage behind them and said softly, "Miss Xu, we’ve arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower."

"Very well."

A voice, as clear and crisp as a mountain stream, replied from within the carriage.

Soon after.

A woman in a pale green dress, her face hidden behind a veil, stepped out of the carriage.

Her partially obscured features sparked the imagination, making one wonder about the beauty hidden beneath the veil.

Following her, another woman with a longsword on her back and an icy expression also emerged from the carriage.

She appeared to be the veiled woman’s Guard.

A flicker of desire flashed in the young master’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

The group chatted and laughed as they made their way toward the Drunken Immortal Tower.

This time, the Shopkeeper of the Drunken Immortal Tower himself came out to greet them.

"Second Young Master Bai!"

"It’s been a long time!"

the Shopkeeper greeted him warmly.

"Shopkeeper Tong, I believe I was just here half a month ago," the young master replied with a smile.

"Even half a month feels like a long time!"

"Come, there happens to be a private room available on the second floor. I’ll take you there myself,"

Shopkeeper Tong said with a grand gesture.

"The second floor?"

"Are there no private rooms left on the fifth floor?"

Bai Yong asked, frowning.

"Second Young Master Bai... they’ve all been booked for the evening."

"I’m afraid you’ll have to make do for now,"

the Shopkeeper said helplessly.

"That won’t do."

Bai Yong pulled the Shopkeeper aside. "I’m entertaining an important guest tonight. Use my Bai Family’s name and find someone on the fifth floor to vacate a room for us."

"This..."

"I’ll get right on it."

The Shopkeeper had no choice but to agree.

Worried he might fail, Bai Yong had his cousin, Bai Liang, follow along with two Guards.

The Shopkeeper thought for a moment. He recalled that the Celestial Immortal Drunk room had been booked by a young master claiming to be from out of town.

’Someone from out of town like that should be the easiest to deal with.’

And so, he led the men to the Celestial Immortal Drunk and knocked on the door.

Inside the room, Han Yuan and Zhai Mu were drinking merrily when the sound of knocking made them frown.

"What is it?"

Zhai Mu called out.

Standing outside, Bai Liang impatiently shoved the door open and said in a cold voice, "The Bai Family is taking this room. Get the hell out, now!"