CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER 238: HE SHOULD THANK US

"Disappeared? How is that possible! Our auction house hasn’t held any auctions these days; Qing Wu is probably off enjoying himself somewhere again. It’s happened before, I’m used to it."

Liu Wanhai said this out loud but was secretly pleased. Ever since he had urged Qing Wu to go to the black market to confront the mysterious person selling Elixirs privately, Qing Wu hadn’t returned.

It seems his plan was foolproof!

There hadn’t been any news of Elixirs being sold in the black market for the past two days, which likely means both sides suffered from the confrontation.

Just a few secret goads were enough to get rid of that thorn in his side, without raising any alarms or leaving any trails leading back to him; he couldn’t help but admire himself, "Haha!"

Hu Jiu, hearing this, looked even more sympathetic, "Sigh, Liu Shopkeeper, you truly have no idea; the rumors have spread all over the market!

Qing Wu conspired with the money shop owner, who is actually his senior brother, to steal from the auction house’s treasury. Afraid of being caught, they would follow lone cultivators and murder them for their treasures every time they embezzled something!

You know how there have been rumors about many cultivators mysteriously disappearing in the market, right? Many have suffered, and in the end, no clues were found, making it unresolved. It was all Qing Wu’s doing!"

Ever since receiving instructions from her third sister to secretly spread gossip, Hu Jiu had never been so diligent.

She worked hard every day, adding fuel to the fire with the gossip, gradually stirring up almost every shop in the Cyan Fish Mountain market to hear about it, then deliberately picked the right time to give Liu Wanhai a heads-up.

"No way!" Liu Wanhai immediately and reflexively denied it.

Even if Qing Wu was responsible for the cultivator disappearance case, he couldn’t let it become a talking point; otherwise, the auction house would be implicated, and he, as the head shopkeeper, would be held accountable!

"I’m not making things up. If you don’t believe me, go ask around; those who are spiritually communicative have known about this for a while!" She pouted, a bit aggrieved and defiant, "Someone has seen evidence in the black market! The Memory Stone recorded Qing Wu’s confession, how could it be fake?

It’s just unknown whether he escaped or was killed; anyway, Qing Wu has been missing for at least two days now, right? Liu Shopkeeper, I’m telling you this because we’re on good terms, you need to figure out a plan quickly.

With so many cultivators coming and going in the market every day, the Memory Stone could spread anytime, then the auction house will suffer because of Qing Wu, and be completely doomed!"

Liu Wanhai was in a great mood today; the owner was sending over a batch of weapons for auction, and he had already coordinated how the shills would bid to ensure every piece fetched a sky-high price.

Therefore, he was in a good mood, calmly sipping tea and listening to the gossip-loving little fox’s chatter.

Unexpectedly, hearing such rumors suddenly turned his face dark, "What Memory Stone? Did Hu Jiu actually witness it firsthand?"

"No, but supposedly a cultivator selling information in the black market is asking five hundred Spirit Stones for a copy." Hu Jiu sighed while playing with a pipe, "I spent all my Spirit Stones buying Elixirs earlier, and my third sister hasn’t given me pocket money yet; I can’t even afford the five hundred Spirit Stones to join the fun."

Liu Wanhai’s thoughts were spinning with anxiety, realizing there could be real trouble.

Qing Wu indeed hadn’t been seen for several days, and regardless of whether the disappearance case was related to him, rumors like this throwing dirt on him would still implicate the auction house, leading to him being questioned!

"Earlier you said the money shop owner is Qing Wu’s senior brother? Is this true?"

Seeing he was hooked, Hu Jiu slowly exhaled a smoke ring and lowered her voice, "Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. But that’s what the rumors say, and coupled with the money shop owner always being so mysterious, who can say for sure? So..."

She gave a sly smile and continued in a lowered voice, "Why doesn’t Liu Shopkeeper go check if the stock in the auction house’s treasury has been tampered with, then it will be clear? I’ve also heard that the goods are living organs excavated from cultivators’ bodies..."

As she spoke, she secretly observed his expression.

Sure enough, Liu Wanhai’s face turned pale immediately, "Who says that? Impossible! Someone is deliberately smearing our auction house; haha, definitely because our business is thriving..."

"Why are you yelling at me?" Hu Jiu replied, looking aggrieved, "That’s what the rumors say; they claim your auction house deals with buyers who can’t pay by removing their hearts and livers and selling the corpses to Ghost Cultivators and Demon Cultivators. If you don’t believe me, step outside and see what kind of looks the shopkeepers give you!"

She pouted and her eyes were slightly red, "Many people speculate that Liu Shopkeeper is not only involved but also the mastermind behind Qing Wu’s assassinations of cultivators. We’ve known each other for so many years, I believe in your character, that you’d never do such a thing, which is why I came to tell you this news. Liu Shopkeeper, stop arguing with me and hurry to gather information to see if you can clear the auction house’s suspicions."

Seeing the little fox’s aggrieved pouting, Liu Wanhai’s mind buzzed, quickly thanking her, "Thanks to Hu Jiu’s spiritual communication for bringing me news; earlier, I was too hasty, not intending to blame you. Who the heck did this? How dare they besmirch our good name? Turning our legitimate auction house into a murder gang, how can we continue our business?"

But the "rumor" clearly described the treasury having organs, so the little fox wasn’t lying; it’s highly possible Qing Wu tried to steal but got caught, exposing the auction house’s secrets entirely!

He gritted his teeth in anger, worried that an incriminating Memory Stone might be circulating; he had to deal with the treasury’s contents immediately.

"Hu Jiu, Liu knows you’re kind-hearted and spiritually communicative." Liu Wanhai stood up, took out a silver note from his Storage Bag, and handed it over with a smile, "I’m tied up by the rumors and can’t gather more information; even going to the black market wouldn’t necessarily net me the insights that you could quickly uncover.

Now, considering our long-standing connection, you trust me and tell me the news; I also trust you. Could you please go to the black market to buy a replica of the Memory Stone for me?

You know that Memory Stones can be edited, possibly misleadingly used by Qing Wu to smear our auction house; I need to see the physical evidence to identify flaws and restore our reputation."

He bowed deeply, "Besides buying the Memory Stone, use what’s left to buy yourself some tobacco, and I promise a generous reward later!"

"Hehe, you see? He still has to thank us!"

Hu Jiu was delighted inside, but her face showed concern as she nodded, "I don’t know whether the seller is still in the black market; I’ll do my best to find them for Liu Shopkeeper. You should also hurry to find Qing Wu’s whereabouts or discuss with the owner how to handle this matter; it seems these troubles are aimed directly at you.

I suspect Qing Wu has discreetly offended someone, and you must investigate if he has any enemies causing trouble. Additionally, the money shop owner is always elusive; none of the old acquaintances in the market have seen his true face, it’s baffling that he’s dragged into this now."

She stood up, glanced at the silver note, and saw the text stating it could be exchanged for one thousand Spirit Stones at any money shop, immediately feeling delighted inside while still putting on a polite front. "I really didn’t have the funds to gather intelligence, otherwise I would have bought the Memory Stone to show you. I’ll take this money now and return what’s left after purchasing the Memory Stone to Liu Shopkeeper."

Liu Wanhai was impatient inside, thinking this little ancestor, silly fox, it’s just a few bucks, hurry and buy it!

Delays with the market closing would waste another day; time is more precious than a thousand Spirit Stones now!

But he dared not show any impatience and smiled, "Thank you for your effort, take the money for tobacco. As long as you can quickly bring the Memory Stone to clarify the source of the rumors, you’ll be the benefactor of me and the auction house!"

"Liu Shopkeeper, you’re too kind, I’ll head to the black market to find the seller; if they’re not there, I’ll seek someone who bought the Memory Stone, and find a way to bring a copy back!"