Chapter 229: Color and Dignity
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Shi Mingyi hovered beside Li Shiyu like a scheming courtier, his face plastered with a sycophantic grin, his words devoid of any trace of an elder's dignity.
"Wow! Elder Shi! Shiyu adores you!"
Oh my~
Hearing those words, Shi Mingyi felt his life was worth it even if he died!
What this little darling wanted was long stockings like her senior sister's!
It was something they elders had spent ages researching to create!
Truth be told, Su Cheng felt numb all over looking at the black stockings in Li Shiyu's hands…
【Shiyao already possesses the ultimate divine physique for bearing children. If she acquires such a magical artifact as well, even I, her master, would be powerless!】
【Are all of you on Holy Mountain inventors? You actually researched this?】
Dongfang Jueye Qinghan and Dongfang Jue also crowded around, scrutinizing the black stockings in Shiyu's hands!
"Shiyao, could you ask Elder Shi? Jue'er wants to try it too!"
Ye Qinghan stood at 178cm tall, the Bald-headed Holy Maiden was 175cm, while Dongfang Jue was slightly shorter at 172cm.
But she believed that when it came to legs~
she wouldn't be any worse than her two senior sisters!
Li Shiyu glanced at Shi Mingyi, as if seeking his approval.
Shi Mingyi thought to himself, How could she refuse?
He'd heard before arriving that Dongfang Jue was also Li Shiyao's junior sister—she was just one step away from formally becoming her disciple!
As Li Shiyao's maternal clan, Holy Mountain naturally gave her ample backing!
This small matter?
"Since Miss Dongfang has spoken, it's no problem! Next time, I'll tell my people to make more!"
But Li Shiyao had another request this time!
With a wide-eyed, innocent expression, she presented her request.
"Elder Shi, do these socks come in other colors?"
Shi Mingyi froze. Other colors?
Wasn't Ye Qinghan wearing black during the Ling Mountain Tournament?
"What color would Shiyu like?"
"Senior Sister has white ones besides black! Shiyu wants white ones too!"
Shi Mingyi gritted his teeth and blurted out!
"No problem. In a few days, I'll bring them to Shiyu—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet!"
Li Shiyu blinked her big eyes, her face beaming with delight!
"Senior Stone is so awesome! I love Senior Stone the most!"
Su Cheng watched Shi Mingyi and the disciples, unable to tell whether Shi Mingyi was coaxing the child or Shi Yao was coaxing the child…
"Elder Shi, may I ask how these long socks are made? To be honest, the eldest mistress also asked me…"
Shi Mingyi was a bit bewildered…
"Aren't these long stockings the ones Immortal Ye wore?"
"Elder Shi, you may not know this, but these garments of various styles were all prepared by the Master for the two Madams. They are for the two Madams to choose freely."
"However, those black stockings are different. Unlike previous garments, they are scarce and difficult to replicate."
Shi Mingyi couldn't help but whistle softly upon hearing Xu Zhanfeng and Yu Lan address their two disciples.
One was addressed as "Grandmother," the other as "Young Lady"—this was somewhat unexpected. It seemed the status of a direct disciple far surpassed that of an attendant or elder.
Xu Zhanfeng briefly outlined the matter Ye Qinghan had entrusted to him, adhering to his usual style of saying only what was necessary.
Shi Mingyi nodded, his regard for Ye Qinghan rising once more!
The Fox Demon King's bloodline truly lived up to its reputation. Her words, "First my late master, then Qinghan," had genuinely startled Shi Mingyi!
No wonder she was the first disciple to be accepted under Immortal Su!
Shi Mingyi smiled, signaling his approval. He was more than eager to cultivate closer ties with the stewards of Lingxian Hall!
Shi Mingyi wasn't afraid Lingxian Hall might need his help; what he feared was that they wouldn't even consider him worthy!
Fortunately, though Lingxian Hall's people were notoriously cold to outsiders, Shi Mingyi wasn't exactly an outsider either—not close, but certainly not a stranger—thanks to Shi Yao, the second disciple.
"Elder Shi has traveled so far to see Shi Yao. Please don't rush off. Stay for a simple meal."
Su Cheng's invitation was impossible for Shi Mingyi to refuse. He promptly had the "daily necessities for Shi Yao" sent ahead to Lingxian Hall.
But Shi Mingyi was no novice. After exchanging a few words with Shi Yao, he took his leave, seeking out the manager to give his instructions.
"My name is Shi Mingyi. Here is a banknote for ten thousand taels of silver. Keep it deposited at your inn."
"Did you see that group over there? Today's meal is on me, but future expenses will be deducted from this. If it runs low, send someone to relay a message to the Sacred Mountain."
The beautiful woman standing behind the counter looked slightly bewildered. "What do you mean?"
"Let me put it this way—see that girl over there with golden hair, grinning like an idiot?"
The woman pushed her glasses up slightly and nodded. "Yes, I see her. What about her?"
"That is my Holy Mountain's Sacred Maiden. From now on, all expenses incurred by the Sacred Maiden and her companions at this inn shall be borne by the Holy Mountain."
"Who are you?"
The beauty's eyes narrowed slightly. She was about to contact Xu Zhanfeng—she suspected this man might not be trustworthy!
"I am the Second Elder of the Holy Mountain. My name is Shi Mingyi."
The woman no longer looked up, merely flicking her jade-like fingers over the abacus as she spoke.
"Then do you know who that girl with black hair and a white dress is?"
Shi Mingyi was a bit baffled. You run a business, I come to spend money here—why all the questions?
"Of course I know. She is the senior disciple of the Holy Maiden, the First Disciple of Lingxian Hall."
"She is the proprietor of this inn—note, the proprietor, not the proprietress."
Uh…
Didn't Shi Yao say Lingxian Hall was poor?
If Ye Qinghan has enough money to run an inn, how come the Holy Maiden only gets forty taels of pocket money a month?
Though he thought this, Shi Mingyi didn't plan to voice his opinion. After all, while Shiyu had complained about the meager allowance, she never accepted money from him.
She claimed that only money given by her senior sister counted as pocket money?
Shi Mingyi didn't understand, but perhaps there were things only girls could grasp between themselves?
Still, Shi Mingyi placed a ten-thousand-tael banknote on the table. Some gestures, while unnecessary, carried meaning!
The martial world wasn't just about fighting and killing; it was about human relationships and social conventions.
His Holy Mountain wasn't so destitute it couldn't afford this small gesture. Moreover, the Holy Maiden's honor was the Holy Mountain's honor!
The Holy Mountain would always stand behind the Holy Maiden. Whether before senior or junior sisters, Shi Yao had the Holy Mountain as her family!
It must be said, the inn's decor was extravagant, every inch of space valued at its worth.
The largest room in the entire establishment was reserved exclusively for Su Cheng by Xu Zhanfeng. Even if Su Cheng had no intention of dining there, this room remained permanently off-limits to outsiders.
As the heavy solid wood door swung open, Su Cheng followed Xu Zhanfeng's lead into the room. It was far more upscale than he had imagined!
Honestly, the decadent, modern-bar-like atmosphere downstairs had him momentarily wondering if he'd wandered into the wrong place.
Fortunately, behind this door lay not a group of scantily clad fairies, but a massive dining table. Otherwise, he truly would have wondered if he'd walked into an ambush!
It must be said that with Ye Qinghan's formidable financial backing, Xu Zhanfeng enjoyed considerable autonomy and far more avenues for generating income.
Xu Zhanfeng hadn't believed it either, until the moment he actually began seeing the profits.
Perhaps, at times, the reason the poor remain poor is not because they are inherently foolish, but because others actively prevent them from rising.
But he couldn't be bothered pondering such things. His job was to keep the First Lady happy and the Old Master pleased, all while cultivating his immortal path. Maybe someday he'd even try to find a wife like the Old Master had!
"Shiyao, spin one for the Master!"
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