Chapter 141 – The Most Unique Sixth Rank, Revealing the Blood Blade Patriarch’s Identity - Part 3
A couple of weeks slipped by in a swirl of wind and snow. Gentle bells jingled through Gemhill County’s north gate as a caravan arrived at Silver Creek—part of the Fortune Trading Company, which used to employ Qian Da.
Qian Da’s cultivation talent was neither great nor poor; over the years, he had reached eighth rank and now led a steady life—working, earning money to buy ninth rank demonic beast meat, and continuing his practice.
Elder Li is still eighth rank. eighth rank is already amazing! his acquaintances would keep telling him. But Qian Da had his doubts. There was something about Li Yuan—whether you called him Brother Li, Young Master Li, or Elder Li, especially an elder who did practically nothing—that felt off. The more Qian Da learned, the less he understood. All that remained was a vague sense of awe.
“Brother Qian, I’ve brought you something new this year,” announced the company’s steward with a jovial laugh. Jumping down from the cart, he fished out a small box and handed it to Qian Da, who was seated in the workshop’s martial practice area. Leaning in, the steward confided quietly, “This is the latest from the Jade Capital, a limited-edition product from Apparel Atelier. I saved one just for you.”
Friends in high places, as they say. The steward was pleased to keep him supplied with rarities. Qian Da flipped open the box, and a heady perfume wafted out. It had a peculiar but exquisite scent that felt almost spiritually cleansing. Definitely not cheap. He accepted it without reserve.
Over at the Heavenly Scent Pavilion, they’d recently introduced the concept of a courtesan queen, mimicking the top-tier brothels in the Central Plain. Truthfully, it was just a marketing gimmick, but men loved the thrill of it. With something like this upscale fragrance from Apparel Atelier in hand... well, even if he couldn’t turn the head of that marquee courtesan, it’d be more than enough to impress some other beauty.
“Isn’t the Jade Capital in the midst of a war?” Qian Da asked offhandedly, taking the manifest from the steward. While porters began checking off the goods on the list, he skimmed them, speaking almost absentmindedly. “How did you even manage to pass through there?”
The Fortune Trading Company’s steward said, “Oh right, you don’t know yet. Our guild master changed recently and ended up partnering with Apparel Atelier. From what I hear, Apparel Atelier has some major backing, so neither the Red Lotus Prince nor any other powers dare interfere with us now.”
“That big a deal?”
Qian Da was a bit taken aback. “What exactly does Apparel Atelier do?”
“They sell clothes,” the steward replied, shrugging. “Old-timers like me have no idea beyond that.”
“Selling clothes made them so famous?” Qian Da sounded mystified, smacking his lips in amazement. All the more reason to treasure that limited-edition rouge from the Jade Capital tucked under his arm. He tightened his grip on the box.