Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

"Still not willing to give way?" Chu Xunfeng asked calmly.

This time, no ghost dared to stubbornly block Chu Xunfeng's path in such a clear situation.

Looking at the open road ahead, under the bright gaze of hundreds of ghosts, the young man took a step and walked towards the Seven Star Tower.

Along the way, all the demons quietly watched the calm-looking young man, who kept his eyes straight ahead, until he disappeared from their sight.

Now, the roads leading into the inner city have been opened.

Next, it's time to fulfill the agreement with the manager of Qixinglou.

Then it was time to go and discuss business with the person in charge of Dark Star Pavilion.

Chapter 53, Controlling the Dark Star Pavilion

On the top floor of the Seven Star Tower, Chu Xunfeng walked to the screen, his nostrils twitching slightly.

The last time I saw the manager of the Seven Star Pavilion here, the whole room was filled with a rich, subtle fragrance, as if it were hinting at something.

Upon entering the top floor, Chu Xunfeng smelled the scent of grass and earth, mixed with the fragrance of wood. At first glance, the scent was refreshing.

Chu Xunfeng slightly channeled his spiritual power, using the wind to make the screen in front of him rustle, and then spoke loudly, "Shopkeeper?"

"Cold gentleman, please come in." A woman's voice, now less alluring, rang out from behind the screen.

Chu Xunfeng stepped around the screen and looked at the completely changed living room, walking towards the octagonal table placed in the center of the main hall.

Chu Xunfeng pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at the innkeeper without any formalities or hesitation. He gazed into the innkeeper's phoenix eyes and said calmly, "The curtain rises, the story begins. I wonder if the innkeeper thinks what has happened recently is worth the spirit stones?"

The shopkeeper smiled without saying a word and pushed a cup of tea in front of Chu Xunfeng.

Seeing Chu Xunfeng pick up his cup, the shopkeeper tapped the table with his finger. "To be honest, I'm not very satisfied."

"What does the shopkeeper hope to see?" Chu Xunfeng asked calmly, looking at the woman who was dressed formally in a simple dress.

“Of course, it will be a much more intense conflict.” The shopkeeper smiled. “A play should have a beginning, development, climax, and conclusion. The beginning that Young Master Chu presented to me was rather bland.”

Chu Xunfeng didn't take it seriously, blew on the calm surface of the tea, and took another sip. "The shopkeeper should know what happened in the inner city, right?"

The shopkeeper rested his chin on his hand, looking at Chu Xunfeng, waiting for him to continue.

"No matter how much chaos erupts in the Ghost Market, the Black Forest won't be thrown into disarray." Chu Xunfeng remained unfazed, calmly observing the woman sitting opposite him. "My focus isn't on the Ghost Market, so naturally I won't set my sights on it."

"So your big show is in the inner city?" The shopkeeper tapped his forehead with his finger. "Although..."

"Everything I've done, and the information I've brought, is enough to pay back the money I owe you, shopkeeper." Chu Xunfeng interrupted the shopkeeper, who seemed to want to raise the price, with a calm sentence.

Chu Xunfeng was certainly confident. His focus was never on the immediate events, but rather on the various chain reactions they brought about.

Just like he said, it wouldn't make a big fuss in the ghost market, and he didn't need to make a big deal out of it.

In the ghost market, all his actions were basically kept within the limits that the foreign council could accept.

How did he determine this bottom line?

This line of communication could quell the storm without the foreigners even needing to look at it, but the only unusual thing was that the formation capable of creating Yin Sha Pearls was completely exposed just now.

However, the Westerners' council can also accept this.

Because he gave that formation to Prince Zou.

Prince Zou had the strength and influence to directly negotiate with the Westerners' Council, but he distanced himself from the situation.

Chu Xunfeng's actions, along with the message conveyed by Gui Yi, the chief of the Foreigners' Council and the person Jiang Ni served, clearly expressed their attitude.

If things are done within the rules, the Foreign Council can cover for you. If Chu Xunfeng insists on breaking the rules, the Foreign Council will turn a blind eye, but it will not give him any special treatment.

In other words, the preferential treatment is for themselves, so on the other hand, perhaps the Yan people in the inner city have already worn down the patience of the foreign council.

And the one in front of us...

"The transaction is complete." Chu Xunfeng put down his teacup, tapping the table with his finger. "A grand show has indeed taken place, and things will get even more intense in the inner city. How Seven Star Tower views this show is a problem that you, the manager, should be concerned about."

The smile on the woman's face gradually faded. She looked deeply at Chu Xunfeng, and after a long silence, she suddenly laughed again, "Young Master Chu has indeed completed the transaction. Raising prices on the spot is certainly not the style of Seven Star Tower."

"Alright, now that we've finished discussing the Seven Star Tower matter," Chu Xunfeng said calmly, looking at the woman whose enthusiasm for him had suddenly diminished. "Next up is the new business: the Dark Star Pavilion business."

The woman's expression changed slightly. She narrowed her phoenix eyes, a sharp glint in her pupils. "I wonder what kind of business Young Master Chu wants to discuss this time."

"I need to borrow ten to twenty people from the Dark Star Pavilion, the most elite assassins capable of intelligence gathering and assassination."

"What is Young Master Chu willing to offer?" The woman raised an eyebrow at Chu Xunfeng's exorbitant demands. Since it was a business negotiation, they naturally had to agree on a price.

"Since you put it that way, then I'd like to ask, what does Dark Star Pavilion want from me?" Chu Xunfeng raised his eyebrows, looking at the shopkeeper who hadn't immediately refused him.

Is he still trying to scam me?

The woman suppressed her heart pounding, but her expression showed great interest. "Young Master Chu doesn't even know what price he can offer, yet he comes to Dark Star Pavilion to discuss business?"

"Since there's nothing to talk about, then let's not talk about it." Chu Xunfeng was straightforward; without a word, he flipped the table, left a nonchalant remark, and got up to leave without any hesitation.

The manager of the Seven Star Pavilion froze, suppressing the urge to call out to Chu Xunfeng. He stared intently at Chu Xunfeng's back, betting that the information Chu Xunfeng possessed was far inferior to that of the Dark Star Pavilion.

But as Chu Xunfeng walked further and further away, half of his body had already gone around the screen and was about to disappear from her sight, she finally couldn't hold back the desperate thought in her mind and called out to Chu Xunfeng, "Young Master Chu, please wait."

Chu Xunfeng paused, leaned back slightly, and looked at the woman. "Does the shopkeeper have any further instructions?"

"Business always has to be discussed." The woman gestured, "Young Master Chu, why don't we sit down and talk it over?"

“But I don’t want to pay Dark Star Pavilion anything; I just want to get it for free.” Chu Xunfeng hid half his face behind the screen, his gaze deep and unfathomable. “Even so, is there still anything to discuss?”

Upon hearing Chu Xunfeng's words, the woman's mood plummeted. She wiped away the fake smile from her face and stared at Chu Xunfeng with a deep gaze. "Young Master Chu knows more than I imagined."

"I probably know less than you think, but I'm just too good at understanding human nature." Chu Xunfeng shrugged. "So, are there any points to discuss regarding my demands?"

The shopkeeper remained silent for a long time before finally uttering a single word with a helpless, bitter smile.

"Have."

Chapter 54, Guards

Chu Xunfeng had already made it clear that he wanted to get it for free, but the shopkeeper still gritted his teeth and agreed.

Since that's the case, Chu Xunfeng naturally softened his aggressive stance and properly negotiated a business deal with Dark Star Pavilion. After all, he genuinely wanted to get things done, not extort money from them.

Although Chu Xunfeng was the one making the demands throughout the process, to be honest, his requests were so simple that the shopkeeper thought she would be ripped off by Chu Xunfeng after she reluctantly gave in. However, she never expected to get such a huge advantage for free.

As a result, the subtle antagonistic atmosphere that had previously emerged between the two completely dissipated, and in the end, Chu Xunfeng was even personally escorted down from the Seven Star Tower by the shopkeeper.

After all, if Chu Xunfeng really does keep his promise and is willing to personally visit the Seven Star Tower after the Black Forest incident is resolved, then the manager who facilitated this outcome will also see his status within the Seven Star Tower rise significantly.

How could I not be happy?

As for whether Chu Xunfeng would keep his promise, the shopkeeper never had any doubts from beginning to end.

After all, he was a cold and aloof gentleman who always kept his word.

No... If Chu Xunfeng shines again in the conflict between Yan and Xu in the Black Forest, and Chu Xunfeng breaks through the Mirror Realm, perhaps the title of "Cold Gentleman" can drop the "zi" (子) part.

The manager of the Seven Star Tower leaned against the doorpost, gazing at the receding figure, and took a long breath. This time, the curtain had truly risen.

That day, at dusk.

Chu Xunfeng returned to the post station where Prince Zou was staying an hour early.

Before Chu Xunfeng even stepped into the inn, the system had already reminded him that there were many auras recorded by the system not only inside the inn, but also outside the inn, many auras had been marked by the system.

Some are ghosts, and some are humans.

It seems that the commotion this morning was very successful, and Chu Xunfeng has indeed achieved his goal, attracting all the hidden demons and monsters out of hiding.

Perhaps they thought they were very well hidden, and the system's feedback also proved that those methods were indeed advanced. At least Chu Xunfeng's own wind-sensing technique failed to detect that there were so many demons and monsters watching outside the post station.

However well they try to hide, they can't escape the system's notice.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door of the post station. When no one answered, Chu Xunfeng pushed the door open and entered.

Looking around, on the first floor of the inn, three groups of ghosts occupied three tables. At this moment, the gazes of nearly twenty ghosts were all fixed on Chu Xunfeng, who had just entered through the door.

"Brother Chu, you've kept us waiting." Jiang Zhou, holding a folding fan, stood up with a smile. His first words were so striking that half of the ghosts turned their gazes to him.

"You madman who just arrived less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and you dare to say you can wait?" Sure enough, as soon as Jiang Zhou finished speaking, someone interrupted him.

Chu Xunfeng's gaze naturally turned to the unfamiliar ghost clan who had dismantled Jiangzhou's platform with a single sentence.

"Greetings, Mr. Leng. I am the seventh executive of the Foreigners' Council, Xinwen." The man, whose appearance and demeanor clearly indicated a burly, square-faced man, uttered a name that was quite incongruous with his appearance.

Chu Xunfeng nodded slightly, but did not reply. His gaze finally fell on an old acquaintance, Ya Zai.

Compared to Jiang Zhou's eight ghost clansmen and the seven or eight ghost clansmen led by the stranger Xin Wen, Ya Zai's group seemed much more meager, consisting of only three people, including Ya Zai himself.

Facing Chu Xunfeng's gaze, Ya Zai sighed helplessly, "Greetings, Young Master Chu. Boss Li was worried and insisted that I accompany your team."

"Not at ease?" Chu Xunfeng raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Zhou and Xin Wen. "Is it the same reason you two have?"

"That's certainly true in words, but it's not entirely accurate," Jiang Zhou said, gently waving his folding fan.

Their purpose in coming was less to protect the safety of Prince Zou and his entourage, and more to ensure that Chu Xunfeng could safely enter the inner city with Prince Zou's group.

After all, Chu Xunfeng is still a wanted criminal of Xu State, and it is too dangerous for him to stay in the army of Prince Zou. The formation that can create Yin Sha Pearl has been confirmed to be real, so Chu Xunfeng is too important to the foreigners.

Prince Zou should be able to clearly ensure Chu Xunfeng's safety, but adding an extra layer of insurance is always a safe bet.

Moreover, doing this favor now, regardless of whether Chu Xunfeng likes it or not, is still a gesture of goodwill, and in the future, this favor might come in handy.