Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 327 - 64: In the Face of Money, Can a Young Girl Maintain Her Dignity

Chapter 327: Chapter 64: In the Face of Money, Can a Young Girl Maintain Her Dignity

February 12, 2018

At the end of winter and the beginning of spring, Shen City was still shrouded in ice and snow. Unlike Qingyun City, which had arrays making it like spring all year round, this city of a million people maintained its unique culture. When people stepped out their doors, they were still greeted by the bitter cold wind. The best-selling medicines in the pharmacies were still those for colds and fevers.

However, amidst this cold wind, Shen City’s Deputy City Lord Shen Jinghai felt somewhat restless. Although he outwardly maintained a calm demeanor, he sat at his desk, unconsciously twirling a brush in his fingers like a dragon in flight. The ink-drenched tip of the brush sprayed ink everywhere, but it was tightly constrained by an invisible force within the confines of the brush’s vicinity.

Using his Immortal Cultivation for such antics was rare for the usually composed Deputy City Lord. The two secretaries outside the door caught a glimpse of this with the corners of their eyes and were incredulous, then quietly communicated in sign language.

"What’s happened to the Deputy City Lord?"

"He seems anxious; his Divine Sense fluctuation is almost showing... it’s rare. What’s happened?"

"Speaking of which, I’ve seen similar behavior from Lord Shen Ziqiong."

"Oh? What happened then?"

"Not much, just that Lord Shen Ziyu was about to return from a long journey, and while Lord Shen Ziqiong was waiting, he was twirling a brush just like that."

"...Are you suggesting the Deputy City Lord is in love?"

"I didn’t say that, you’re thinking it!"

"Then why did you bring up those past examples!?"

The two secretaries were gesticulating wildly and arguing when a cold hum came from inside the room.

"If you have nothing to do, you might as well clean up Shen City inside and out."

The two secretaries turned pale, remembering that the Deputy City Lord’s cultivation was profound, with Global Perception abilities. Their unscrupulous sign language exchange was no different from speaking directly into his ear.

Fortunately, Shen Jinghai did not intend to fuss over gossip with his subordinates. After putting down the brush, he asked, "Still no response from the Divine Sword Tower?"

Secretary A replied, "We received a letter back an hour ago, but after that, there’s been no reply."

Shen Jinghai asked, "The letter should clearly state the contact method, right?"

Secretary B nodded, "The competition registration details are all clearly written. In fact, they don’t even need to fill out the specifics, just sign the registration form."

Shen Jinghai said, "Then why haven’t we received their registration yet? For the Li Family, spending more than a month in Shen City without making any progress, they finally have a breakthrough point. What’s their reason for not acting? Do they want to wait until we change our minds?"

When a leader asks such questions, it’s not to test subordinates’ imagination while idle. The two secretaries exchanged glances, and the younger one got up and responded, "I’ll go check out the situation."

——

Before long, the young secretary returned with an odd expression on his face.

"Reporting to Lord Jinghai, something peculiar is happening. Shen Qingming and the others... are packing up, preparing to check out."

The older Secretary A said, "What’s strange about that? Since they’re participating in the Outer Courtyard competition, they need to stay there for a few days. No matter how good the rooms at Divine Sword Tower are, how can the cultivation environment compare to the Shen Family Outer Courtyard? For such a competition, it’s customary to adjust physically and mentally a few days in advance, to be fully prepared."

Secretary B’s expression turned even stranger, "Even so, when they were checking out at the Divine Sword Tower’s front desk, Miss Qingming was inquiring about a direct shuttle to Cyan Cloud City."

"A Cyan Cloud Shuttle?" Secretary A questioned, "Are they planning to send a letter to their family?"

Before he finished speaking, their superior Shen Jinghai coldly interrupted.

"If you’re not going to think before speaking, it’s best to keep your mouth shut."

Secretary B continued, "My lord, in my opinion, they probably don’t want to participate in the competition and are preparing to return home directly."

Secretary A exclaimed, "That’s impossible! They came all the way from Cyan Cloud City to attend the City Lord’s birthday banquet and to nurture relations between the two families. Now they’ve finally gained the City Lord’s favor and got invited to the banquet, and they’re leaving? You must have seen wrong!"

Secretary B hastily defended, "I couldn’t be wrong. When I overheard them chatting in the lobby, they were indeed talking about returning to Cyan Cloud City urgently. If it weren’t for Li Wanqing’s bedmate being unable to get up this morning and delaying the checkout, they might have already left Shen City."

Pausing, he added, "By bedmate, I mean..."

"Enough, no need to explain it in detail." Shen Jinghai waved it off, then his expression grew serious, "It seems they’ve lost trust in us."

Secretary A laughed at this, "The Li Family is truly of petty minds, thinking everyone is as deceitful as they are. We’re giving them an opportunity to enter the competition out of goodwill, yet they doubt our intentions. If that’s the case, let them leave; the City Lord’s birthday banquet surely doesn’t lack a few of them..."

His words were cut short as an overwhelming Invisible Power grabbed him by the collar and flung him out of the office.

"I said, if you’re not going to think before speaking, you’d better keep your mouth shut." Shen Jinghai waved his wrist and instructed Secretary B, "After the ups and downs over the past month, it’s normal for them to have doubts. But since the City Lord ordered them to participate in the competition, you should..."

Although Secretary B was young, his mind was much sharper than the predecessor who flew out the door. He quickly realized, "I’ll take care of it right away!"

Shen Jinghai nodded: "Go ahead."

——

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Divine Sword Tower.

Shen Qingming had already drunk over a dozen cups of free tea on the bench, to the point where she was restless and dizzy...

Wang Jiu kindly reminded her, "Research suggests that for humans, excessive drinking can lead to the risk of water intoxication."

Shen Qingming waved her hand, "Anyway, you already think I’m dumb... but isn’t Li Wanqing going too far? I’ve been waiting for an hour! Is she going to use the excuse of coming back for more because the first round wasn’t enough?"

Before she finished, a laugh came from not far away.

"Little Sister Qingming, you’re misunderstanding me." As she spoke, Li Wanqing approached gracefully, with Shen Ying following behind, her face slightly flushed, her steps seeming a bit unsteady.

Li Wanqing sat down next to Shen Qingming, picked up the leftover teacup from the coffee table, drank the half cup of tea in one gulp, and said with a smile, "Anyone who knows me should know that anyone spending a night with me wouldn’t have the strength for another round the next day."

Before the words were finished, she was punched in the shoulder by Shen Ying.

Shen Ying explained, "Don’t misunderstand, we were just practicing the Divine Thought Skill last night, and because we were evenly matched, we accidentally overdid it... I just didn’t expect Wanqing to recover so well. I still feel a bit dizzy now."

Li Wanqing said, "I’m dizzy too, but seeing a pretty girl naturally wakes me up."

Shen Qingming glanced disdainfully at the teacup Li Wanqing had used and said, "Alright, since you’re all packed up, let’s get ready to leave."

"Okay."

With those words, the group got up, ready to pay the bill and leave.

However, just then, outside the Divine Sword Tower, a young man with a somewhat nervous expression walked in solemnly.

"Excuse me, are you Shen Qingming?"

The girl looked up, "What?"

"Hello, I am a staff member of the Shen City Lord’s Mansion. This is my ID." As he spoke, the young man took out his badge and displayed it, "May I ask if it’s convenient for you now? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you..."

Upon hearing the words "Shen City Lord’s Mansion," Shen Qingming immediately wore a cold expression and snorted, "It’s not convenient, we don’t have time, we’re rushing home for dinner, and the shuttle is about to arrive."

The young man became anxious, "Please, hear me out."

As he spoke, the young man decisively took matters into his own hands and unfolded a talisman, creating a small space that isolated sound, light, and True Essence fluctuations.

But before the space could form, there was a crisp crack, and the entire space shattered along with the talisman in the young man’s hand.

Wang Jiu gently put away his White Sword and looked at the young man intently.

The young man ignored the backlash from the connection between his Divine Sense and the talisman, enduring the stabbing pain in his mind, raising his hand, "Don’t misunderstand, I mean no harm. It’s just some things are not convenient to say here..."

Shen Qingming snorted, "You don’t have to say them."

Seeing that their attitude was indeed resolute, the young man helplessly unfolded his badge again and shouted, "City Lord’s Mansion business, bystanders, please step aside!"

The effectiveness of this badge was extraordinary. Even though the young man held only a lower-level one, once he displayed it, within a few breaths, the entire main hall of the Divine Sword Tower was emptied.

Seeing this, Shen Qingming became even angrier.

"What, flaunting your authority?"

"I wouldn’t dare, it’s just that some things really shouldn’t be known by outsiders," the young man said, "Regarding the previous invitation, I hope you understand, we sincerely invite you to participate in the Outer Courtyard Competition."

Shen Qingming chuckled, "No matter how sincere you are about using a monkey as entertainment, what’s the benefit for the monkey?"

Wang Jiu commented from the side, "I still think you drank too much earlier. How could you casually compare yourself to a monkey?"

"Stop interrupting! I like to drink!" Shen Qingming yelled, turning back to the secretary, "Our patience ran out a month ago. If you really have sincerity, then..."

The next moment, the girl couldn’t continue. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Because right in front of her, a dazzling Spirit Stone check issued by the Shen Family was displayed.

The amount was ten thousand.

"As long as you’re willing to participate in this Outer Courtyard Competition, this check will serve as your competition funds, to be used freely. Additionally, since you’re guests from afar, during the competition, I guarantee you can enjoy some policy benefits... In my view, the chance of winning a place to enter the longevity banquet is quite large!"