Hearing the words “Qian Fu,” Su Wan’er froze for a moment, then abruptly turned her head to look again at the brocade-clad young master slumped against the corner of the wall.

She scrutinized him up and down several times, yet she still couldn’t reconcile the handsome, jade-like face before her with that of the wrinkled old man.

But since her Honored Master said he was Qian Fu, he must be Qian Fu.

Lying on the ground, Qian Fu naturally heard Lai Li’an’s words loud and clear as well.

The pitiful expression on his handsome face stiffened for a second, and a trace of panic flashed through his eyes, but it was quickly masked by an even more high-pitched wail.

“Where is the justice!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “This Senior, I have no grievances or enmity with you. It’s one thing for you to order your disciple to injure people in the street, but you even slander me as a swindler! Just because Senior’s Cultivation Base is high doesn’t mean you can arbitrarily frame someone out of thin air! Fellow Daoists, judge for yourselves, is there still any justice in this Yunze Market!”

Su Wan’er chuckled, “When did my Honored Master ever say you were a swindler?”

Qian Fu didn’t panic; pretending not to hear, he continued shouting while casting glances around, attempting to once again stir up the emotions of the spectating cultivators. However, this time, no one stood up for him anymore.

The female cultivator in red lowered her head to look at the tips of her shoes, the old man leaning on a cane silently took half a step back, and even the female cultivator in blue who had been cursing the fiercest just a moment ago kept her mouth tightly shut, her gaze evasive.

The Law Enforcement Hall disciple’s call of “Senior Lai” still echoed in their ears; anyone who could make the Law Enforcement Hall bow their heads in Yunze Market was not someone they could afford to provoke.

Watching his strenuous acting, Su Wan’er couldn’t help but chuckle lightly. Although she couldn’t see through Qian Fu’s Disguise Technique, looking at this handsome face now, every expression on it was written with the word “guilty.”

Pressing her hand on the hilt of her sword, she took a step forward, her voice clear and cold, “Fellow Daoist Qian, since my Honored Master has recognized you, there is no need to keep up the act. Surrender without a fight.”

The smile on Qian Fu’s face finally started to slip. He leaned against the wall, looked at Su Wan’er’s hand resting on her sword hilt, and finally his gaze landed on Lai Li’an’s face.

One Mid Golden Core and one Peak Foundation Establishment, running away was definitely out of the question. He gritted his teeth and simply stopped crying injustice, merely sitting against the wall with his eyes darting around, no one knowing what scheme he was brewing.

It wasn’t long before hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Li Xiuyuan stepped into the room, followed by four disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall. His gaze swept across the shop, and he first cupped his fists in a salute to Lai Li’an before looking at the brocade-clad young master in the corner, frowning slightly. “Senior Lai, is this Qian Fu?”

Upon seeing Li Xiuyuan, Qian Fu immediately regained his energy. He struggled up from the ground, clutching his chest, and pointed at Lai Li’an. “My lord, my name is Zhang Xuan, a Spirit Plant Merchant in the West Market of Yunze Market. I’ve been doing legitimate business in the market for several years. My shop is right in the third alley of the West Market, you can easily verify it, my lord! These two people came in and beat me up without distinguishing right from wrong, and even slandered me as some Qian Fu. I don’t even know who Qian Fu is! I beg you to uphold justice for me, my lord!”

Li Xiuyuan did not state his position immediately. He merely turned to look at Lai Li’an, his eyes carrying an inquiry.

Lai Li’an stood with his hands behind his back, his face devoid of any expression, but his mind was racing. The fact that this old swindler Qian Fu dared to shout like this meant that the identity of “Zhang Xuan” was most likely not fabricated on the spot. Perhaps he really had a legitimate shop to serve as his cover.

If he had Li Xiuyuan go investigate, the back-and-forth would take up quite a bit of time, and the very last thing he wanted was to waste any more time on this mess.

He had to think of a way to make Qian Fu give himself away.

Lai Li’an pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “Speaking of which, yesterday someone was peddling a large batch of fresh Spirit Herbs at the black market on the west side of the Market. Clearwater Vines, Crimson Sun Flowers, all in perfect condition, large in quantity and cheap in price, practically sold off in one go. This Venerable happened to have a friend passing by who asked about the price.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping lightly over Qian Fu’s face. “The seller was in a rush, looking exactly like someone eager to get them off his hands. My friend was quite puzzled as to why so many Spirit Herbs were being sold a full thirty percent below the market price. Later, upon hearing that Hundred Herbs Hall at Sunset Slope had lost Spirit Herbs, he grew suspicious and informed this Venerable of the matter.”

“So what?” Qian Fu forced himself to remain calm and sneered. “What does someone selling Spirit Herbs in Yunze Market have to do with me? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“I am merely telling a story. Why are you so anxious, fellow Daoist?” Lai Li’an’s tone remained indifferent. “However, as it happens, this Venerable’s friend kept an extra eye out. While asking about the price, he specifically inspected the goods and added something special to them. That substance is colorless and odorless.”

Qian Fu’s entire face suddenly flushed blood red, and he blurted out, “Impossible! When I sold it, I never let anyone inspect the goods at all. Whoever came to buy just paid Spirit Stones directly and took it away. Where would this friend who inspected the goods come from…”

His voice abruptly stopped.

The gazes of everyone in the shop fell upon him. Qian Fu’s lips trembled a few times as he tried to say something to salvage the situation.

Su Wan’er sneered, her fingers gripping the hilt of her sword tightening slightly.

Just now she had been worried that her Honored Master wouldn’t be able to produce any evidence, but she didn’t expect that with just a few casual words, her Honored Master had made this old swindler jump right into the trap himself.

That so-called friend who inspected the goods was probably entirely made up by her Honored Master. The guilty Qian Fu had even forgotten to refute the claim, overcome by panic.

Li Xiuyuan’s face was as dark as water. With a wave of his hand, the two Law Enforcement Hall disciples behind him immediately stepped forward, pressed Qian Fu to the ground, and fished out a Storage Bag from his waist.

As soon as the bag was opened, inside were exactly the Spirit Herbs that Su Wan’er had handed over back then.

Pressed to the ground, Qian Fu’s Disguise Technique began to peel off piece by piece due to losing control of his Spiritual Power, revealing the wrinkled, withered face underneath.

Someone among the spectating cultivators gasped. The female cultivators who had spoken up for him just a moment ago now had exceptionally ugly expressions on their faces.

“Senior Lai,” Li Xiuyuan put away the Storage Bag and turned to Lai Li’an, his tone even more respectful than before. “Thanks to Senior’s intervention this time, otherwise who knows how long this old fraud would have continued to roam free in Yunze Market. By the way, Senior mentioned earlier that Qian Fu has accomplices. I wonder if their whereabouts are known? If needed, the Law Enforcement Hall is ready to cooperate with Senior’s actions at any time.”

Lai Li’an was silent for a moment. Accomplices? He had just said that casually. He didn’t even know if Qian Fu had any accomplices.

He glanced at Li Xiuyuan and said nothing, just a meaningful curve slightly hooking up the corner of his mouth, followed by a gentle shake of his head. His expression seemed to say, “It is inconvenient to speak more on this matter.”

Seeing his gaze, Li Xiuyuan’s heart suddenly understood. Senior doesn’t want to alert others. Perhaps he has already laid hidden lines, or perhaps those accomplices are already under his control and it’s just not convenient to disclose it publicly.

The ways of an expert’s actions were not for him to question.

He quickly cupped his hands and bowed: “This junior understands. This junior will absolutely not ask about this matter. If Senior has anything you need this junior to do, just say the word. This junior will definitely fully cooperate.”

The curve at the corner of Lai Li’an’s mouth stiffened for a second. What did you understand? I don’t even understand it myself.

However, since the other party had taken the initiative to offer their services, he did indeed have one matter to attend to. He coughed lightly, restored his calm and indifferent expression, and said slowly, “Since Manager Li has said so, this Venerable does indeed have a matter to entrust to you. Yesterday Hong Wu reported to the authorities, claiming that the Spirit Herbs were stolen, and this Venerable’s friend compensated Hundred Herbs Hall with five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Now that Qian Fu has been caught red-handed and the Spirit Herbs have been recovered, that compensation money…”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xiuyuan immediately took over the conversation, “Senior, rest assured! Since this case has already revealed that Senior was deceived by Qian Fu, that compensation money should naturally be returned. When this junior returns, I will report to Elder Sun and order Hundred Herbs Hall to refund the five thousand Spirit Stones in full, personally delivering them into Fellow Daoist Meng’s hands within three days.”

Lai Li’an nodded slightly, not showing much expression on his face, but in his heart, he was already frantically clicking an abacus.

Five thousand Spirit Stones! That was five thousand! How could they possibly be returned to him?

He suddenly straightened his expression and added in a solemn tone, “Give these Spirit Stones to me. This Venerable will return them completely and intact to little friend Meng Qiuran, without shorting him a single piece.”

Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan’s eyes couldn’t help but show a bit more respect. “Senior is highly righteous, this junior is in awe.”

Su Wan’er stood to the side, secretly glancing at her Honored Master. When her Honored Master said those words, his expression was a bit more serious than usual, so serious that it made her feel as if something was off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

By the time they walked out of the gates of the Law Enforcement Hall, it was nearly noon. The streets were bustling with people coming and going. Su Wan’er followed behind Lai Li’an and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

“Honored Master, since the matter is settled, shall we leave the city?” Su Wan’er took a few quick steps to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with her Honored Master.

Leave the city? What a joke, he didn’t need to run away anymore.

Lai Li’an patted the storage bag at his waist. A full five thousand low-grade spirit stones! He, Lai Li’an, had never seen so much money before.

If he ran away now, how was he going to spend these five thousand spirit stones?

“There is no need to leave the city,” Lai Li’an stopped in his tracks. “Let’s stay in the market for now.”

“Honored Master,” Su Wan’er whipped her head around, unable to suppress the excitement in her voice, “are you going to start teaching Wan’er alchemy?”

Lai Li’an’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Al… alchemy?” He coughed lightly twice and reached up to adjust his collar. “That’s right, the Alchemy Conference is approaching, it is time for you to officially begin your training.”

After he finished speaking, he stepped forward and headed toward the center of the city. Su Wan’er followed closely behind him, her eyes full of anticipation for the coming month.

She secretly clenched her fists. Her Honored Master was finally going to officially impart the Alchemy Dao to her. She had to give it her all and absolutely could not let her Honored Master down.

Meanwhile, Lai Li’an, walking in front, was letting out a silent wail.

Lai Li’an cursed viciously in his heart, though his face maintained that same calm and breezy smile.