Qu Shui immediately knelt to explain, "Master, this location is excellent. Anyone coming to the capital from anywhere must pass through here, making it the perfect spot for a tavern. Moreover, a rundown building like this is easier to renovate. With your skills, Master, this place will surely be bustling with customers in the future."
"So you chose it just because it's a必经之路 for everyone coming to the capital?" Ye Lashan's mouth twitched, unsure what else to say.
"Yes, and when that happens, with so many people around, it'll be easier to gather intelligence." Qu Shui was actually thinking of Ye Lashan's intelligence network.
"An interesting idea. I suppose choosing this spot isn't out of the question. We did pass by here when we came to the capital, but because it was so dilapidated, we didn't stop. If we fix it up, it could indeed attract many outsiders. Within the capital, we already have Dream Red Pavilion as a base, and now this inn could collect intelligence from outside—it's a brilliant approach." Shuang Bai looked around and nodded in agreement with Qu Shui's idea.
"Hmm, the idea is decent. Since that's the case, I'll leave this place in your hands. But I want to design the building's appearance myself. Also, Qu Shui, go tell Tao Yao to assign me two people with higher cultivation levels." Ye Lashan sized up the building, a vision of its renovated form forming in his mind.
"Let's head back to Dream Red Pavilion first." His warm voice rang out, like a spring breeze brushing against one's cheeks. If Shuang Bai hadn't already had someone in her heart, she might have been captivated by that gentle tone.
"Is this about right?" Ye Lashan's desk was piled high with crumpled drafts.
He blew on the final completed draft to dry it, then handed it to Shuang Bai. "Let's start with this renovation."
"Isn't this a bit too ambitious?" Shuang Bai looked at the magnificent building on the draft with some hesitation. Not to mention whether it could be done, the layout depicted in the drawing alone would cost a fortune. It wasn't that she underestimated Ye Lashan, but even if Dream Red Pavilion were as profitable as could be, it couldn't sustain such expenses.
"Without this kind of effect, how could we attract those high-ranking officials and nobles who truly carry intelligence?" Ye Lashan's meticulous planning was all aimed at gathering the most useful information possible.
"But if we renovate it like this, the cost won't be low." Shuang Bai cautiously reminded Ye Lashan.
"Don't worry about the money. If you're short, just ask me for it." As the head of the Ye family, how could he not have that much money? Besides, there was still plenty left from the last auction of the purple sand stone.
But Shuang Bai knew nothing of his background. As for the auction, they only knew he had taken the Fuxi Qin and the method to contract it, sparking a scramble, completely unaware that he had also auctioned the purple sand stone.
"Master, just renovating the exterior of this building alone will cost five thousand mystic stones." Shuang Bai reminded him cautiously, still hoping Ye Lashan would reconsider, lest the money run out before the building was even finished.
"Money? I'll transfer it to you from the bank later." So that was what she was worried about. Ye Lashan finally understood why she had been hesitating and stammering earlier.
"Yes." Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Shuang Bai knew there was no need to worry about the money.
She laughed at herself, thinking: I really was too heartbroken before, even my mind got dull. Someone like Master Shan Luo, who could make a divine artifact submit, couldn't possibly be just a merchant running a brothel.
And this brothel was only part of an intelligence network. It seemed Master Shan Luo's background was far from simple—she just didn't know which faction he belonged to.
"Oh, right, take these seeds and plant them at the base of the wall." Ye Lashan, as if suddenly remembering something, grabbed a handful of seeds from his space and handed them to Shuang Bai wrapped in a handkerchief.
"What kind of seeds are these?" Shuang Bai asked casually as she took them.
"They're seeds for some ingredients. Just scatter them at the base of the wall." These seeds came from various ingredients he had picked in the forest. Of course, no one here recognized them, but they made excellent dishes.
Why scatter ingredient seeds at the base of the wall? Shuang Bai felt puzzled as she walked, but she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she took the blueprints and hurried off to find some carpenters.
It had been a while since he'd visited Ye Yu and the others. He might as well go see them today and discuss other matters. After all, he couldn't keep them hidden forever. Besides, the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill required several ingredients besides the Twin Life Fruit, so he needed to ask around.
"Miss, you're here." Ye Yu's face was now rosy, no longer the pale shade it had been when his soul left his body.
"Your fist technique looks pretty good." Ye Lashan felt relieved seeing him like this.
"Miss flatters me." Ye Yu's mood soared at the sight of Ye Lashan, his smile nearly reaching his ears.
"How about we spar?" Seeing the fist technique and the energy waves around Ye Yu's fists, Ye Lashan wanted to test if he could defend himself now.
"Better not. I'm afraid I might hurt you, Miss." Ye Yu rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, a hint of inferiority flashing in his eyes.
"It's just a normal spar. What's there to fear about getting hurt? Since you won't strike first, I will." Ye Lashan threw a punch, forcing Ye Yu to block.
"Good strength, but I wonder if the energy waves from your fists are as impressive as I imagine." Ye Lashan clenched her fists into a Tai Chi stance and caught his incoming punch.
After the spar, Ye Lashan had a rough idea of Ye Yu's current strength. Without mystic power, relying only on a fist technique from some unknown world, he was still too weak. Crafting the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill couldn't be delayed.
But how was she to know that Ye Yu, afraid of hurting her, hadn't gone all out?
"You're saying there's a mysterious force inside Ye Yu helping to nourish and repair his meridians?" Ye Lashan had just found Sikong Kuang when he brought up Ye Yu's condition.
Sikong Kuang leaned against the wall, his expression conflicted. "It's not exactly repair. Thanks to that mysterious force, Ye Yu's meridians aren't as bad as before. But to truly heal them, the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill alone won't be enough. You'll need phoenix blood too."
"Phoenix blood?" Ye Lashan mulled over the words but couldn't recall anything about the use of phoenix blood.
Seeing her confusion, Sikong Kuang said, "You know the story of the phoenix rising from the ashes and being reborn, right?"
"You mean Ye Yu needs to undergo a rebirth and reshape his meridians?" Ye Lashan looked at Sikong Kuang leaning against the wall, pondering where to find a phoenix.