With a casual sweep, Li Yan took in the shop's situation. The storefront was not large, and at this moment, there were no other customers.
There was only this one assistant in the shop. Previously, he had been looking out the door in boredom. Seeing a customer come in, he quickly put on a smile and came up to greet him.
Li Yan just nodded and began to carefully look around.
Against the back wall of the shop were three shelves, on which were displayed some demonic beast hides, bones, and other such things in an orderly fashion.
There were also some spirit artifacts, talismans, and other items that did not look very high-grade.
In front of the shelves was a long crystal counter. Through the hazy light, one could also see the things below.
They were just some yellowed blank jade slips, dozens of sample herbs, and some small porcelain bottles that should have contained medicinal pills.
The whole shop gave off an extremely ordinary appearance, very similar to some of the private shops Li Yan had seen before.
"It's really simple, a world of difference from a large shop like 'Gui Qu Lai Xi'!"
Seeing this scene, Li Yan was instantly reminded of "Gui Qu Lai Xi," and the incomparably beautiful Su Hong.
In this great war with the Demon Clan, he had not seen Su Hong's figure either. He did not know if the cultivators in a shop like "Gui Qu Lai Xi" would be conscripted.
For a moment, Li Yan's thoughts drifted.
"Patron, what might you be looking for?"
The shop assistant's voice brought Li Yan back to reality. The assistant in the shop was a handsome White Demon Clan mortal, and at this moment, he was looking at Li Yan with a brilliant smile.
It had to be said that the White Demon Clan were truly natural beauties. This sentence could even be applied to the men. Just this smile alone made Li Yan feel happy.
Li Yan had already seen this situation in other shops, but at this moment, he still felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze.
'If I could bring a few members of the White Demon Clan back to the Desolate Moon Continent and sell them to 'Gui Qu Lai Xi' as assistants, I estimate I could make a fortune.'
For a moment, Li Yan actually had this absurd thought, but he immediately reined in his mind.
He had already been asking around outside about the Hundred Dao Heavenly Treasure Pavilion for half a day, so he already had some understanding of this place before coming in.
Whenever those people mentioned the Hundred Dao Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, many of them had a so-so expression.
Now that he saw it for himself, it was indeed so. No matter how hard the assistant tried, he could not hide the fact that the shop was as ordinary as it could be.
In Li Yan's inquiries, the origin of the Hundred Dao Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was also very simple.
The owner of the shop was a retired cultivator from the army. It was said that in his early years, in a battle with the Black Demon Clan, his acupoints were severely damaged after he risked his life to block a fatal blow for his squad leader.
After his injuries had slightly improved, he retired from the army and came to settle in Mingdu City.
This person's background was just that simple. The spirit stones used to open the shop were said to be compensation from the army, as well as some gifts from that squad leader.
But such a simple origin, with Li Yan's suspicious nature, made it seem even more impossible. He only felt that this was a clumsy attempt to hide something.
"Oh, is your master in? I have some matters I would like to ask about."
Li Yan withdrew his gaze and said softly.
"You're looking for my master? But... my master rarely comes out unless an old customer is here. You can state your purpose first, maybe this little one can help. If..."
The assistant said with a hesitant look on his face.
And at this moment, a somewhat hoarse voice came from behind, interrupting the shop assistant's words.
"Oh, you don't need to worry about this. I know! Fellow Daoist, you are here to deliver a jade slip, right?"
As this voice fell, the curtain hanging at the back was lifted, and a middle-aged man in black walked out.
The first half of his sentence was addressed to the shop assistant. By the time he finished speaking, his gaze had already turned to Li Yan.
While he was sizing up Li Yan, Li Yan was also looking at the middle-aged man in black.
The middle-aged man in black was somewhat thin, his face had an abnormal, sickly yellow color, and his body was slightly stooped.
At a glance, he looked like he was ill.
Li Yan was not very surprised by the other party's sudden appearance, because he had sensed it before. But the other party's words made Li Yan's heart jolt.
'This person has been waiting for me for a long time!'
As the curtain behind the other party fell, a thought moved in Li Yan's heart, but his expression remained as usual.
Li Yan cupped his hands towards the middle-aged man in black and also asked directly, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. May I ask, have you seen a portrait jade slip of me, that you are so sure of my purpose in coming?"
The middle-aged man in black waved his hand at the still-dazed assistant to the side, signaling him to go about his business.
Then, he smiled.
"That, I have not. It's just that a few months ago, someone came here and said that a human cultivator would be depositing a jade slip here soon, and asked me to accept it."
"And here, apart from some familiar fellow daoists, very few people come directly to look for me, especially a human cultivator."
"If you were here to buy things, you would at least ask about the situation first. That's all!"
"Oh, the cultivator who could have you accept a deposited jade slip must be very familiar to you, Fellow Daoist. Otherwise, you wouldn't have just settled it here..."
A bright light flashed in the depths of Li Yan's eyes, and he also smiled and said.
But before he could finish speaking, the middle-aged man in black was already smiling and shaking his head, and had interrupted Li Yan's words.
"Fellow Daoist must be wanting to ask who that person is, right? It seems this is destined to disappoint you. It seems you are still not very clear about the situation here."
"The large and small shops in our Mingdu City will all deposit some things for people and then charge some fees."
"It's just that a small shop like mine usually only takes deposits of some less important things."
"Unlike those large shops, they are more powerful, and their reputation may be more trustworthy. It's even possible for people to deposit cultivation methods with them."
"And they can guarantee that when the cultivation method is taken out again, there will be no loss, and no one will have peeked."
"The restriction marks set on it can be repeatedly checked by the customer to determine if anyone has touched it."
"However, if it's just for depositing some small things, of course, a small shop like ours is more convenient."
"So, if this Fellow Daoist wants to ask who left a message and has something deposited here, I don't know them. That is a matter between you two."
Upon hearing this, Li Yan thought to himself, 'As expected, this is exactly the same as one of the results I had predicted.'
He had, of course, also inquired about things like shops depositing jade slips, but he had just said it deliberately.
Li Yan nodded, but still continued to ask, "Was the other party male or female, old or young? Can you tell me this, Fellow Daoist?"
The middle-aged man in black took a deep look at Li Yan, then pondered for a moment.
"Hmm, this, I should be able to tell you. The other party did not request to deliberately hide their identity, so I can also briefly say a few things."
"How about this, Fellow Daoist, please first tell me who the jade slip is to be delivered to, and who are you? So that I can verify your identity and not make a mistake. That would not be good."
"Zhao Min! My name is Li Yan."
Li Yan said without hesitation.
Since Zhao Min did not hint in the jade slip that he should use a pseudonym, then for now, both parties were definitely using their real names.
"Hehe, that's it then. Fellow Daoist Li has come several months later than expected."
"However, in these few months, no familiar human cultivators have come here. I really did not mistake you."
"Hmm, the person who requested to leave the jade slip was a large man who looked to be in his thirties."
Having said this, the middle-aged man in black's words came to an abrupt end, and he closed his mouth.
Li Yan couldn't help but frown.
"That's all?"
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Li, I'm really sorry. Although the other party did not instruct me to keep his information confidential, it's clear that you and this person did not make an appointment in advance. At least you did not know of the other party's existence. As for the rest, please forgive me for not being able to say."
"How many spirit stones? What is his cultivation realm? Does he have any distinguishing features or any sect emblems on him?"
This time, Li Yan's questioning was even more direct.
"Fellow Daoist Li, this is not a business that can be done."
"We open shops here, and we must abide by the rules of this trade. Whoever breaks the rules, don't even think about staying here in the future."
"I think Fellow Daoist Li wouldn't want to smash my rice bowl, would you?"
The smile on the middle-aged man in black's face gradually faded. He didn't know if the other party really didn't know the rules of the trade, or was just pretending. He had already given him a lot of face by telling him this much.
Those who opened a business, originally did not want to offend anyone.
Seeing this, Li Yan helplessly cupped his hands.
"It was indeed I who was rash. I really don't know the rules here."
"Then, this next question, I wonder if it goes against your rules, Fellow Daoist. If I say something wrong, please forgive me."
"After I deliver the jade slip here, when will that person come to pick it up?"
The expression on the middle-aged man in black's face finally softened a little.
"This I cannot be sure of. When we deposit things here, it is all based on the number of days of deposit and the importance of the item to pay the spirit stones."
"Usually, you just need to prepay the most basic fee. Later, however many days it is deposited, the final calculation will be made when you come to pick it up."
"If Fellow Daoist believes in the reputation of my shop, even if you put things here for several decades, it's no problem, as long as you pay the corresponding spirit stones then."
"Of course, if the item is lost, we will also pay compensation according to what was agreed upon beforehand."
"However, shops generally will not accept deposits that they are unable to compensate for."
"But in the past, it has also happened in the city that a customer deliberately deposited a valuable treasure as an ordinary item to divert attention."
"It's just that when it was lost in the end, we would only pay compensation according to what was agreed upon beforehand, and would not compensate according to the true value of the treasure. After all, verbal claims are no proof."
"Having said all this, I just want to tell Fellow Daoist Li that when the other party comes to pick it up is entirely up to the customer to decide."
"Hmm, this time should be what you and the other party have agreed upon."
"It's just that in the past six months, the other party has already come twice. Both times, because Fellow Daoist Li had not yet arrived, the other party left empty-handed."
"Oh, the other party has already come twice!"
After hearing this, Li Yan thought for a moment in his heart. This time, he surprisingly did not continue to ask about the times of those two visits.
Instead, he directly took out a light yellow jade slip and handed it to the middle-aged man in black.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist!"
After the middle-aged man in black took the jade slip with some surprise, Li Yan did not linger for another moment. He turned and left, quickly disappearing into the vast crowd on the street.
The middle-aged man in black held the jade slip and looked at Li Yan's disappearing back, his eyes slowly narrowing, and he sneered in his heart.
"This kid really doesn't give up. I heard that that young girl's cultivation is progressing rapidly now, which makes General Shanggong very happy."
"General Shanggong has sent messages several times, precisely because she does not want you to know the situation. How could she let you have any further connection with her disciple?"
"I hope that after you deliver the jade slip this time, you will obediently return to your original sect. After all, we have already treated you with the utmost benevolence."
"Otherwise, if General Shanggong finds out that you are still searching for her disciple everywhere outside, then you will truly be not far from death."
"I heard that your sect now only has you left alone. It's not some famous sect of the Human Race. If you die, you die. Who would come to seek justice for you?"
These thoughts quickly passed through the middle-aged man in black's mind, but he still felt that Li Yan would not give up.