At this moment, Xu Changge was discussing matters with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
They seemed to be from the other three Families of the Xingluo Archipelago.
Su Bai did not disturb them; she simply waited outside.
Su Bai didn't have to wait long.
Soon, the people inside came out.
First to emerge was Old Ancestor Song Ping of the Song Family from Tianxing Island.
Then came Old Ancestor Ding Hao of the Ding Family from Taiping Island.
And Old Ancestor Wang Shui of the Wang Family from Guanyue Island.
However, each of them wore a slightly displeased expression.
When these people came out and saw Su Bai standing outside, they paused for a moment, but then quickly brushed past her.
Neither side exchanged any words.
They naturally recognized Su Bai.
Before the market was established, it was Su Bai who accompanied Xu Changge to meet them.
They also knew that Su Bai and Xu Changge were both Cultivators from Ebony Island.
Seeing Su Bai here, they knew she had something to discuss with Xu Changge.
Xu Changge didn't mind the departure of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
She merely leaned against the doorframe, smiling as she looked at Su Bai.
"What, are you here to see your elder sister about something?"
Su Bai nodded.
Looking at the departing Cultivators, she asked Xu Changge with some curiosity, "Why do those old guys look so displeased?"
Regarding Su Bai's curiosity, Xu Changge simply chuckled twice.
"The Xingluo Market belongs to the Six Upper Sects, and my Xu Family only managed to secure one street in the inner circle."
"They got the businesses in the outer circle, and they'll even have to compete with other affiliated Families of the Sect for territory in the future, so they set their sights on my Xu Family."
"Little sister, do you think I'm a soft persimmon?"
Naturally, she wasn't.
It was no simple feat for Xu Changge to gain the support of the Green Bamboo Sword Sect.
Not to mention, she virtually rebuilt the Xu Family from scratch.
Although Xu Changge took over the inheritance left by Xu Jing, those resources originally belonged to Xu Changge's father.
She merely reclaimed them.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Come in and sit. Little sister, are you here to see me about something today?"
"Mm, yes, there's something I need to tell you."
Su Bai followed Xu Changge into the room.
Inside the main hall for discussions, there were still a few steaming cups of tea.
It seemed the argument had been quite intense, leaving no time even for a drink of water.
She couldn't imagine how fierce the competition between Family businesses could be.
As soon as Su Bai sat down, Xu Changge personally served her a cup of tea.
Su Bai picked up the cup and took a sip.
"You know there are Cultivators: Jie Xiu outside the market, right?"
"Mm, I know."
"They sent someone to find me today and offered some bribes."
Xu Changge showed no reaction to this.
She simply leaned gently against the back of the chair where Su Bai was sitting.
"That's normal. I've heard news about this before."
Xu Changge reached out and gently stroked the top of Su Bai's head.
"Little sister, are you asking me for advice?"
Su Bai coming here likely meant it was her first time encountering such a situation, and she might not know what to do.
Haha, she's starting to come to her elder sister for advice when she encounters problems now.
This little head feels really nice to touch.
Xu Changge was getting a bit addicted to stroking it.
Su Bai's body swayed slightly with Xu Changge's caresses.
She glanced sideways at Xu Changge.
"Looking at you now, it seems you don't mind me accepting their bribes."
Getting a bit annoyed by the stroking, Su Bai reached out and patted Xu Changge's arm.
Xu Changge reluctantly withdrew her arm.
Then she walked towards her own seat.
Since she couldn't stroke Su Bai's little head anymore, it was naturally more comfortable to sit down.
"Take it. It's like paying protection fees when crossing mountain roads in the mortal world."
"They give you money, hoping you'll turn a blind eye to the matter."
"Anyway, both sides benefit. As long as you keep your hands clean and leave no evidence, it won't implicate you."
Xu Changge said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
These words made Su Bai lower her head in thought.
Then Su Bai looked up and asked, "Have you never considered completely eliminating them and making the area around the market completely peaceful?"
Xu Changge shook her head slightly.
She pointed to a screen behind her.
It was a map of the Xingluo Market.
Although the market wasn't completely built yet, the topographical map was already finished.
"Little sister, how could such a vast place ever be completely peaceful?"
"Besides, being a robber cultivators is a highly profitable venture with just a little risk."
"And anyone can be a robber cultivators, including you and me."
"How do you know that the robber cultivators organization called 'Night Owl' is robbing on their own accord, or if they're acting on someone else's behalf?"
"Just make sure you don't get involved."
Xu Changge's meaning was simple.
The Xingluo Market was so large that managing it was already very troublesome.
And outside, it was either deep mountains and old forests or the boundless deep sea.
They usually hid in unknown places.
Who had that much energy to manage so much?
Su Bai only needed to do her job, go out on patrol and slack off as usual every day.
Then, upon hearing news about Cultivators: Jie Xiu, she could go and deal with them.
If she encountered Cultivators: Jie Xiu, she would slay them; if not, then there was nothing to worry about.
Generally, Cultivators: Jie Xiu acted very cleanly.
When they planned to make a move, they would investigate the background of their target beforehand.
They knew whether the person had any backing, their cultivation level, and what they bought in the market.
This showed how well-informed they were.
"Understood, then I know what to do next."
After seeing Su Bai nod, Xu Changge also nodded.
"Mm-hm, it's good that little sister knows. Oh, and when they give you benefits later, don't forget to ask for a share for your elder sister too."
"Huh?"
After Su Bai understood what to do, she planned to leave.
But then Xu Changge suddenly said that.
Seeing Su Bai's somewhat confused expression, Xu Changge stretched, highlighting her graceful figure, truly befitting an Old Ancestor.
"Heh heh, your elder sister is still the nominal owner of the Xingluo Market. If they want to operate here, they naturally have to offer tribute to me."
"Otherwise, could I let them be so peaceful right under my nose?"
"Not increasing patrols and forcing those Cultivators: Jie Xiu to hide in the gutters is already being polite."
After hearing Xu Changge's words, Su Bai nodded and left.
Now Su Bai only felt that running a market was truly profitable.
Xu Changge was profiting from both sides!
Not only did the merchants in the market and Loose Cultivators renting Immortal Caves have to give Xu Changge Spirit Stones, but the Cultivators: Jie Xiu outside also had to give her Spirit Stones.
Xu Changge sat on the chair, watching Su Bai leave.
She raised the hand that had just stroked Su Bai's head, slowly brought it to her nose, and sniffed.
A faint herbal scent still lingered on it, emitting a subtle sweetness in her nasal cavity.
"I should write to Master and have those Outer Sect Disciples accept School trial missions and then send them to be stationed in the Xingluo Market."
Xu Changge, as the manager of Su Bai's Patrol Team, could not only manage the Disciples of the four Foundation Establishment Families but also the Outer Sect Disciples of the Sect.
Moreover, bringing Sect Disciples over now was also sending a signal to the outside world.
The Six Upper Sects saying they would hold an Immortal Ascension Assembly in the Xingluo Market to recruit Disciples wasn't just talk.
They were very serious.
While Xu Changge was busy, Su Bai walked out of the Xu Family's station.
She reached up and smoothed down the hair that Xu Changge had ruffled.
"Well, then, it's time to see how many benefits I can get."
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