154: A change in mindset

Half a month later.

White Crane Lake.

A maid led Xu Bin to Lake Heart Island. Xu Bin looked ahead and saw a small pavilion floating on the lake, connected to Lake Heart Island by a water corridor.

Lu Ping had returned to her Nether Fire Sect Disciple's five-colored magic robe attire and was currently sitting at a stone table in the pavilion, drinking tea.

The maid stopped opposite the corridor, and Xu Bin walked alone towards the small pavilion.

"Congratulations, Senior Sister! It seems you have successfully gained Liu Xuan's trust!"

Ordinary Cultivators could not enter Lake Heart Island. Previously, the Yu Lie and Yu Feng brothers always conducted their transactions at the Merchant Alliance branch by the lake.

Now, he was invited to Lake Heart Island, and judging by the attitude of the servants around, Lu Ping's status on the island should not be low.

In Xu Bin's opinion, Senior Sister Lu Ping was ruthless, cunning, and powerful. Taking down a young man like Liu Xuan would be effortless, wouldn't it?

"How is it? Has Senior Sister investigated Liu Xuan's background clearly?"

"Do we have a chance to make a move?"

"The Merchant Alliance gave me another procurement list, and the materials to be purchased are 30% more than before. This Liu Xuan is really rich!"

"Senior Sister, you understand the situation. Should we proceed cautiously in the next step, or should we go for a big score?"

...Xu Bin spoke with increasing excitement, as if he saw a large number of Spirit Stones entering his pocket.

"Enough!"

The more Lu Ping listened, the more irritated she felt, as if every word this guy said was mocking her.

With an angry shout, she calmed her breathing and said calmly, "The situation with Liu Xuan is quite complex. Everything still needs to be discussed at length!"

"Oh?"

"Could it be that there are other secrets about this Liu Xuan?"

Xu Bin was used to being scolded by Lu Ping, so he didn't feel anything was amiss. The more difficult the matter, the greater the underlying profit, and he became even more expectant.

"I said! The matter is quite complex. I will inform you when there's a result. Don't worry about anything else!"

She took out two stacks of Talismans and placed them on the stone table. "These are this month's fifty first-tier high-grade ice blue soul-stabbing talismans and one hundred first-tier mid-grade Talismans. Give me the Spirit Stones."

"Alright, alright, alright!"

Xu Bin was overjoyed and handed Lu Ping the Spirit Stone pouch he had prepared earlier.

'Senior Sister indeed has her ways. In just half a month, she managed to gain Liu Xuan's trust to this extent, with all the Talisman business handed over to her.'

Over two thousand Spirit Stones in a month! He looked enviously at the Spirit Stone pouch in Lu Ping's hand.

Putting away the Spirit Stone pouch, Lu Ping casually instructed, "If Revered Master asks, just tell him I have important matters to attend to and cannot return for now."

"Understood!"

"Also, do the Merchant Alliance business well. Don't cause any trouble for me!"

"Understood!"

Xu Bin thought Lu Ping wanted to further lull Liu Xuan into a false sense of security. Of course, he wouldn't ruin Senior Sister's important plans for a small profit.

Lu Ping gave many more detailed instructions, making sure there were no omissions, before waving her hand to signal his departure.

Watching Xu Bin's departing figure, Lu Ping's emotions were somewhat complex.

In half a month, her mindset had gradually changed because she found that becoming Liu Xuan's Dao Companion seemed better than returning to the Nether Fire Sect... In the Nether Fire Sect, she engaged in schemes and risked her life in battles every day, all for only two to three hundred Spirit Stones in resources.

But with Liu Xuan, as long as she gained his favor, she could obtain two to three hundred Spirit Stones just by lying down.

There were many women on the island, but most of them had low cultivation. If she gained Liu Xuan's trust, she could easily gain great power and control over a large amount of resources.

Xu Bin was right, Liu Xuan was really rich!

Only by truly living with Liu Xuan did she realize how wealthy he was.

Lu Ping had roughly calculated that the daily food for everyone in the Liu Family, plus the salaries of nearly a hundred maids, and various miscellaneous expenses, probably amounted to no less than three hundred Spirit Stones a day.

It was said that Liu Xuan also gave a large one-time reward for each child born, at least dozens of Spirit Stones.

Liu Xuan had over a hundred children, so this single expense alone was no less than ten thousand.

Being rich was secondary; the main thing was that Liu Xuan was truly willing to spend on his children and Dao Companions!

Spirit Stones and resources were, to some extent, equivalent to one's cultivation path. No Cultivator, regardless of their Realm, ever thought they had too many.

Even Cultivators whose cultivation path was cut off would carefully plan and concentrate resources to cultivate one or two Geniuses for their offspring.

Liu Xuan was completely different; as long as you pleased him, he was never stingy.

Rich, promising, and generous—who wouldn't want such a Dao Companion?

Reaching out to touch her lower abdomen, Lu Ping's expression became even more complex. Another important reason for her rapid change in mindset was this.

She was pregnant.

Recalling half a month ago.

'At that time, I probably never would have imagined I'd be pregnant now!'

'Liu Xuan values his descendants extremely highly. Once the child is born, the past grievances might be resolved.'

...A few months later.

Xu Bin came to Lake Heart Island every month to trade ice blue soul-stabbing talismans, and each time, Lu Ping would placate him with vague promises of long-term planning.

Gradually, he also began to realize that something was amiss.

Given Lu Ping's personality, how could she stay on the island for such a long time without leaving a single step?

Also, no matter how deep Liu Xuan's secrets were, it shouldn't take several months to figure them out, right?

"Senior Sister, Revered Master has been worrying about you lately. Do you have anything you need me to tell him?"

Using this transaction as an opportunity, Xu Bin transmitted his voice to probe.

Lu Ping frowned slightly. She knew Xu Bin was becoming suspicious and guessed that she might be controlled.

"Junior Brother, I advise you not to meddle!"

Lu Ping said indifferently, "The Talisman business and the Merchant Alliance business are already in hand, and you also get a good share of the profits from them."

"If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will!"

"Understand?"

Xu Bin's mind raced, pondering whether Lu Ping was controlled by Liu Xuan, or if Lu Ping wanted to monopolize greater profits and exclude him.

"Senior Sister is joking!"

"I, your Junior Brother, am just concerned about you."

"Don't worry, I'll do whatever you instruct and will never act on my own, ruining Senior Sister's important plans."

Lu Ping was right; with the Talisman business and Merchant Alliance business in hand, Xu Bin's objective had actually been achieved.

Whether Liu Xuan was controlled, or if there were greater profits Lu Ping wanted to monopolize, it didn't have much to do with him.

Although he was greedy, he knew his limits and only took benefits within his capabilities.

When he discovered the anomaly with the Yu Lie and Yu Feng brothers, he reported it to Lu Ping immediately for this very reason.

His probing today was merely out of concern that Lu Ping's demise might affect the business.

If Lu Ping truly asked for his help, then it would depend on whether saving her was good or bad for the business!

How could Lu Ping not see what he was thinking? She picked up her spiritual tea and took a sip, saying indifferently:

"It's good that you understand!"

"I have already sent someone to Revered Master to explain the situation. My people will assist you with the Merchant Alliance matters. You should know what to do, right?"

Seeing Xu Bin's grim expression, Lu Ping continued to reassure him, "Don't worry! As long as you don't play any tricks, the share I promised you will not be withheld!"

"Senior Sister is joking again!"

"Don't you trust my character?"

...After expressing his loyalty, Xu Bin left happily.

Looking at Lu Ping's current state, she probably wouldn't die anytime soon, and the business could continue steadily.