The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

Upon arriving at the inn where Hong Xing was staying, Li Ping told the five people to wait outside while he went in alone.

They found Hong Xing's room and pushed the door open to enter.

Inside the room, a large bucket was steaming, and through the mist, a smooth back could be vaguely seen.

Li Ping coughed lightly, and the beauty in the bucket immediately screamed in panic.

"Who?"

Hong Xing turned her head and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Li Ping.

Just as she was about to get up, an idea suddenly came to her mind, and she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Master, could you please hand me the clothes?"

Li Ping smiled slightly and flicked the tiny spring between his fingers.

With a loud crash, the wooden barrel burst open, splashing water everywhere.

Hong Xing stood there, stunned and at a loss for what to do.

It wasn't until Li Ping reprimanded her sternly that she came to her senses, got dressed, and sat down obediently.

Li Ping glared at her coldly and slowly asked, "How's the matter with the Tide-Growing Vine?"

Hong Xing sighed, lowered her head, and dared not reply.

Seeing this, Li Ping frowned and said in an unfriendly tone, "There are several businesses on Crescent Island that deal in beast taming. What's going on with you?"

"It's true that it is," Hong Xing said aggrievedly, "but these companies either have a fixed source of goods or they don't care about the little bit of tidal vine on our island."

"What about the other small, sporadic businesses?"

"There are a few beast-taming cultivators who are willing to buy Tide-Growing Vine, but their quantity only accounts for one-tenth of the island's total. Moreover, they want to lower the price by 10%."

After Hong Xing finished speaking, seeing Li Ping's furrowed brows, she added, "Master, given your status, if you were to go and negotiate, I think those families wouldn't refuse."

"You've heard the rumors on the island too?" Li Ping suddenly realized.

Hong Xing felt a chill run down her spine and immediately retorted, "Master, I know the inside story. I was the one who watched you break through back then."

Li Ping waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

Hong Xing was right. If he took out Mu Yuebai's jade token, those companies would definitely buy the Chaosheng Vine.

But wouldn't that be bullying others by abusing one's power and confirming the rumors?

After a moment's thought, he immediately decided: "I'll figure out a way to sell the products."

"Go back first, and take the five people I hired to take good care of this year's hygroscopic vines."

"Don't worry, sir, this matter will not trouble you at all," Hong Xing said confidently.

Li Ping nodded, then reminded him, "Keep a close eye on that Xie Yu. If he makes any unusual moves, immediately send me a message."

"Isn't the master going back to the island?" Hong Xing asked.

"I'll be going, but I won't stay long. You can send messages to Xikou Market later," Li Ping said.

Hong Xing nodded, then checked out of the room and left.

But then she suddenly remembered something and turned back: "Master?"

"Is there anything else?" Li Ping asked, puzzled.

"Expenses for food and other necessities on the island..." Hong Xing stammered.

Li Ping sighed and immediately gave her one hundred spirit stones: "Use this first, and come to me if you need more."

Watching Hong Xing leave with her people, he shook his head, feeling that being in charge was not easy.

Qing Teng Island is a tiny place with hardly any people, yet it emptied out all the savings he had painstakingly accumulated.

In the days to come, I'll have to worry about spirit stones.

Back in the house, after tidying up, Li Ping found Xiao Qing: "Miss, are you inside?"

"I've always been here," Xiaoqing said.

Li Ping nodded and went to the door of the main house: "Yuebai, I have accepted the mission to guard Xikou Market and will be gone for a while."

"You... focus on your cultivation. If you feel stuffy, come out for some fresh air."

After waiting for a while and seeing no response from inside, Li Ping turned around helplessly.

After leaving the courtyard and walking a short distance, I suddenly heard shouts from behind.

Li Ping turned around and saw Xiao Qing hurriedly chasing after him.

As she approached, she handed over a bag of spirit stones: "These are from Miss."

Li Ping opened it and found that there were two hundred spirit stones inside.

Previously, when Hong Xing asked for spirit stones, he had always reluctantly given them to her.

After giving it to him, his pockets were completely empty; he had no money left.

These two hundred spirit stones were like a timely gift, relieving his immediate crisis.

Looking towards the courtyard, Li Ping felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"Take good care of my wife."

Xiaoqing nodded and watched Li Ping leave.

After saying goodbye to everyone at Li's shop, he turned around and went to his father-in-law's residence.

Unlike before, this time the father-in-law gave him neither spirit stones nor talismans or other means of self-defense, but instead gave him a wooden plaque.

Looking at the words "smell the fragrance" on the sign, Li Ping couldn't help but recall his father-in-law's meaningful words.

"If you're under a lot of pressure, don't bottle it up, go out and have some fun."

"It's your own business, so don't worry."

Li Ping initially thought his father-in-law was testing him, but his father-in-law remained firm, saying it was nothing and that he often went there himself.

Reluctantly, he had no choice but to accept it.

As for whether to go or not, we'll see.

Upon arriving at the treasure vault, Li Ping announced Mu Rou's name and, under Mu Tongshou's unfriendly gaze, obtained the Cold Pool Dew for free.

With everything settled, Li Ping arrived at the seaside.

She called out softly, but Tie Fuhai was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did you go to play again?"

Li Ping sighed inwardly and began searching around.

Thinking of the places Tie Fuhai used to frequent, he walked along the coast.

Soon, he spotted activity in a certain sea area.

Beneath the surface of the sea, schools of fish swam in formation, like a long snake, all heading in the same direction.

Li Ping concealed his presence and followed them to a cave entrance.

Inside the cave, a sea monster sat upright, blowing bubbles one after another at the fish that kept coming.

"Tie Fuhai, what are you doing?" Li Ping's expression darkened.

The sea creature in the cave was startled and looked in his direction.

Upon seeing that it was Li Ping, Tie Fuhai immediately transformed into a swimming fish and came to his palm.

"I'm praying for them."

Tie Fuhai's tone was unfriendly, with a hint of blame.

"A prayer for blessings?" Li Ping looked doubtful. "Are you sure you're not just playing tricks?"

"You've wronged me," Tie Fuhai said. "That Great Sage Fuhai is exactly like that."

"real?"

"Why would I lie to you? Is this how he controls the East Sea?"

Strange things have been happening lately, and Li Ping dared not take it lightly. He asked seriously, "Where did you hear about this?"

Tie Fuhai didn't speak, but pointed to his head.

Wow, it's memory inheritance again.

Li Ping sighed inwardly, not daring to stop it any longer, and could only let it go back, continuing to pray for the fish.

He was curious and quietly observed from the side, but he could not sense anything extraordinary.

After nightfall and the prayers were completed, Li Ping couldn't help but ask, "What benefits do they get after the prayers?"

"The benefits are enormous," Tie Fuhai said smugly. "Everyone I've blessed can send me messages."

Li Ping was shocked to hear this and found it hard to believe.

These fish, though not demonic beasts, are so numerous that they are the best eyes and ears in the sea.

To control them is to control the ocean.

"How far can you transmit messages?" Li Ping quickly asked.

Tie Fuhai shook his head: "At most a hundred li."

One hundred li is enough for Tie Fuhai now.

Li Ping nodded, then asked, "How many fish have you prayed for during this time?"

"Probably a few thousand."

"So little?"

"Blowing bubbles to pray for blessings takes energy."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Li Ping said discontentedly. "Praying for blessings here is such a waste."

"I've seen you stay here for so long, I thought you were going to live here from now on."

Li Ping shook his head and chuckled, instructing, "Next time you pray for blessings, ask me first."