v4c39: Selling Moonlight

After Ri Zu truly entered the Medical Pavillion, Bi De’s days had once more calmed. No more fools came to bother him or Old Li, and the days passed paradoxically swiftly and slowly at the same time.

 

He had a lot more free time than his companions, unburdened as they were by chores. So he spent most days performing ‘proper cultivation’ like an Inner Disciple was supposed to, secluded in his mansion and meditating. That, however, always seemed to be a waste of time, and instead he would end up tending to his garden. He was getting better at controlling his Qi and nourishing the soil, which was fantastic. No longer did he feel tired in performing the most sacred task of giving to the land; instead, there was only peace.

 

When the hour was right, however, he would descend the mountain to spend what time he could with his friends. He stole small moments with Ri Zu, relishing in her blushing face.

 

He sparred with Yushang, pressing into her weak points and trading pointers with her whilst fending off her joking advances. He was getting more used to them… Especially considering she flirted with every single one of their number. Bi De didn’t mind her hugs, and Ri Zu had stopped pushing her off.

 

With Fat Han, he also traded pointers and listened to him speak on his formations. He also, to Bi De’s surprise, knew how to cook snails properly. A sublime delicacy they were, shucked out of their shells. Yun Ren and Yushang refused to eat them, to their loss.

 

And while she made faces the entire time they were eating them, Yushang started making jokes about Bi De and Fat Han’s ‘dexterous tongues’, waggling her eyebrows.

 

By far the most put upon was Yun Ren, however. The Inquisitors had stepped up his training and most nights he was out in disguise, plying disciples with alcohol.

 

His inquisitorial minders did not seem to notice the chicken watching over him when he went out into the city.

 

In addition to this, Bi De had recently been able to expand his own investigation of the Shrouded Mountain Sect. The Inner Sect seemed clear of demonic taint—but that was just the Inner Sect. Now, his herbs were ready. Most he had simply purchased and then charged with Qi rather than growing them from scratch. It took a week, still, but under his care they were much superior to what he had originally obtained. They were filled with Lunar Qi, and any demon that sampled the subtle traces would surely be burned by it.

 

He did apologize to the earth for his haste, however. He was likely harming the soil with his haste.

 

Under the guise of raising money to afford pills for cultivation, Bi de began his plan. He started at first with Outer Disciples, enlisting his friends’ assistance to saturate the Outer Sect with his wares. Ri Zu and Yun Ren knew his true reason… but it was due to Yushang that they progressed so swiftly, especially once he said he would give them a share of the herbs and profits.

 

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Bi De raised an eyebrow at the positively heaving stall.

 

Perfect Spirit, a bright, colourful sign attached to the front of a building declared, complete with a stylized depiction of Yushang and Ri Zu, both smiling.

 

The stall was also packed with disciples, stretched out in a long line. It was so crowded that from the back one could not see the front of the line. Oddly, there seemed to be two lines. One made up solely of men, and the other made up of mostly women.

 

He had asked for Yushang’s help, but he hadn’t expected this. Curious, he walked up to the stall… and froze. On the male side of the line were Yushang and Ri Zu.

 

Yushang had a bubbly smile on her face, while Ri Zu was also smiling… and it looked like she was actually enjoying herself.

 

“Thank you for coming! Remember, only one batch per customer, we have to keep things fair, don’t we gentlemen?” Yushang said, smiling at the men at the counter and leaning forwards.

 

“Yes, Miss Yushang!” the men choroused. Their eyes were fixed squarely below her face… And Bi De made note of the outfit. The Healing Sage would surely appreciate the knowledge of this garment coming back to her.

 

It was a fetching thing of pale green and white, like a fresh shoot of Spiritual Herb. It did not have any complex designs on it, but it did have a cut-out in the front. A cut-out that Bi De had a bit of trouble looking away from as it exposed a pale valley.

 

Beside her Ri Zu also worked, though tending to less people than Yushang. She was clad in much the same dress, but with a smaller cut-out on the front. Instead, she had a little hat that only enhanced her cuteness.

 

“Thank you for your patronage,” Ri Zu said as she finished packing some herbs in a small bag. “Remember, take this with soup. You have too much Cold Qi in your system, and this shall counteract the imbalance.”

 

“Thank you, doctor!” the man Ri Zu was serving shouted. He looked into Ri Zu’s compassionate eyes and blushed before scurrying off.

 

Bi De smiled at them, observing from a distance as the pair diligently provided for their customers. They had so many that Ri Zu didn’t even notice him. Finally, when the crowd began to wane, the girls took a break. Bi De went around to the back of the building and knocked on the back entrance.

 

Yushang opened the door, at first suspicious, then she grinned, brightening up as she realised who it was.

 

“Handsome Brother!” She cheered, pulling him in by the arm. “Look at how much we’ve sold today!”

 

She led him to the inventory list and presented it proudly. Bi De blinked at the number. At this rate he would have to be more diligent in resupplying them with herbs.

 

“In a single day?” Bi De asked as he turned to stare at Yushang, trying to keep his eyes level with her face. He cursed his human body mentally.

 

“Of course! You dare underestimate a Mountain Guide’s ability to sell things to suck—customers?! This Pretty Sister could sell a coat to a mountain goat!” Yushang crowed with a grin and pose. She put her arm under her bust and pushed them upwards. She was slightly… thicker than most of the female Inner Disciples, Bi De noted. Probably from her pectoral muscles. Her sword was rather heavy. “Granted, what I had to work with was already good, but this? It put us over the top! A service window always increases sales!”

 

It took Bi De a moment longer than he should have to turn his attention to Yushang’s face, and his junior noticed, judging by her grin. “Say, Handsome Brother…” she began slyly, only for her entire body to freeze up as a burst of Ri Zu’s intent crawled over them both.

 

“Ri Zu can’t believe she let you talk her into wearing this,” Ri Zu said. Her voice was loud, and she was trying to sound angry, though her open smile said otherwise. She glanced up at Bi De and flushed, then hooked an arm around Yushang’s neck, tightening her hold.

 

“But it looks great on you! Look, Senior Brother! She’s absolutely stunning, don’t you agree—ehk!” Yushang gagged as Ri Zu cut off her compliments.

 

Though the window was smaller, and less distracting on Ri Zu’s dress… It was still distracting. Especially because the two women started wrestling and shoving against each other, though both were clearly jesting.

 

It was an utterly beautiful view.

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“Indeed. You both shine like the stars above—though you need not these dresses. Even rags would look like silk upon you.” The words were out of his mouth in his distraction before he realised what he was saying.

 

Ri Zu and Yushang both flushed. Ri Zu coughed, pushing Yushang away.

 

She looked up at the ceiling, then off to the side. “…you like it?”

 

“Of course. I like whatever you wear,” He said, with only a slight flush on his own face.

 

“We can wear this whenever you want~” Yushang sang, slinging her arm around Ri Zu’s waist and pulling them together. Their chests too—Bi De looked away. Ri Zu just rolled her eyes, by now entirely too used to Yushang’s antics. “Though… I may have something for you to wear, so you can help us.”

 

Bi De raised an eyebrow, curious. “Really? What would I wear—”

 

“Sold out on this side, ” Yun Ren called out as he walked into the back of the building.

 

Bi De stared. Yun Ren’s robe was completely open in the front, exposing an expanse of skin and trim muscle. His pants were tight and ran low on his hips, hinting and teasing the eyes as he moved. He walked without a single ounce of shame. Fat Han beside him just looked amused, wearing a robe that covered more but it still made him look refined and imperial.

 

“Nice robes,” Bi De said, looking Yun Ren up and down. Yun Ren’s body was quite appealing, he supposed. His pectorals, abs, and the way his waist tapered were certainly different compared to Bi De’s thickset master, or even Disciple Gou Ren were.

 

Yun Ren shrugged and pointed at Yushang. “Her idea.”

 

“He cleans up real well! Let me take care of those sideburns, and squint a bit! This Yushang swears you’ll be beating girls off with a stick! But don’t, because you’ll make us a lot of money!” Yushang demanded, her hands making grasping motions. “Han needs more refined robes, but he has a good face, so it works!”

 

Fat Han blushed and looked away, looking slightly haunted. “Her hands went everywhere…”

 

“Maybe we can get you in one of these tomorrow, Bi De. What do you think, Ri Zu~?” Yushang whispered salaciously into Ri Zu’s ear.

 

Ri Zu’s face went red… and so Bi De helped out the next day.

 

He was quite certain that every woman in the Outer Sect got a dose from him at least. And the Inner Disciples got a second round, just in case.

 

As did a rather old looking woman that some people whispered was an Elder.

 

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Next, Bi De targeted the support staff—the mortals of the Shrouded Mountain Sect, with Old Li’s help. That was as simple as charging food with his Qi and then giving it to the old servant. He said it was a reward for Old Li’s fine service.

 

It did feel slightly… bad to be tampering with food, especially when he was giving it to people whom trusted him. But if they weren’t horrible demons, Bi De’s purifying Qi would do nothing to harm them. It may even be beneficial. Sister Ri Zu had likened it more to medicine than poison.