Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Merchant Xiao, thank you for everything you've for the Shuiyue County. Please rest assured that this Marquis will not forget you when our territory expanded." Qin Lan thanked the merchant after the 500 Qiankun Pouches were given to him without needing him to pay a single cent.

"Marquis, your humble words were all I need. As a part of the Shuiyue County, it was my responsibility. Furthermore, you've given me quite a profit. It was reasonable for me to contribute a little back to the place I came from." the person called Merchant Xiao said.

"Hahaha, then in the future, I will be relying on you again. Please have a safe journey home while we waited for the Hall of Treasure's next move." Qin Lan said.

Since their meeting tonight was in secret, it was best to keep their conversation short and precise. As for what kind of dealing the two had in between, it was better if no third person knew about it.

The one called Merchant Xiao left the Magistrate Building discreetly at night. His actions were no different from a man coming here secretly to have an affair with another man's woman.

The 500 Qiankun Pouches of Mineral Ores was the last batch of resources the county needed to finish the construction of Shuiyue Military Academy. At the start of Qin Lan's fourth month as the landowner of Shuiyue County, the academy finally opened.

High-potential students from all over the county, along with some students from the other three provinces. Everyone was here with the hope that this place will be as good as they expected.

The opening ceremony was a humble one. It started with some fireworks before Qin Lan, Elder Yang Wen, and the teachers walked up to the stage to introduce themselves to those attending the ceremony.

After all the speeches session was over, the main attraction came.

Dances, Martial Art performances, and guidance to the visitor for the day in their cultivation were provided on the spot. Miraculously, Qin Lan's booth was the busiest because his lecture managed to bring over ten half-step Bone Experts to achieve their breakthrough.

Even those that barely reach the pinnacle of Flesh Refining Layer was benefited from Qin Lan's insight on cultivation. It was to the point that some were blaming themselves for being born too many years earlier.

If they were five to ten years younger than now, perhaps breaking through the half-step Bone Layer was just scratching the surface of what they can achieve.

"Headmaster, will the Shuiyue Military Academy extend their hand to those unfortunate people like us?" some veteran soldiers that weren't chosen to enroll in the academy asked. They were skeptical at first about getting enrolled, but it all changed right now.

They were regretful for not getting selected.

On the contrary, those who changed to the academy's uniform looked proud while walking around the premises.

"Everyone, I understand that many people would like to be given a chance, but I do hope for your understanding. Right now, the enrollment is indeed only for the invited candidates."

"But that doesn't mean we're closing our door for the others. What we need now is time, experience, and also the confidence to groom our talents. With such a force of educators coming from all over the Country of Wu, I believe that it won't take us too long to reach that stage we hope for."

"For now, please have confidence with our educator and the Shuiyue County. For those interested, you can also wait for a chance while you're employed as a cadet's training officer. If any of you is interested, please look for Secretary Qian for more details." Qin Lan said.

The opening ceremony lasted until night. It ended with a banquet and gift to both teachers and students before they retreated to their accommodation.

By the time Qin Lan returned to his room, he was exhausted.

"Milord, can Lian-Er come in?" the sweet voice that belonged to a maiden came from the outside as it echoed seductively around his ears.

Surprised and shocked by her sudden visit, Qin Lan quickly prepared himself and showed up by the door with a smile.

"To have Beauty Yan's visit at such an hour really made this Marquis don't know what to do. What brings Beauty Yan here today?" Qin Lan greeted her and allowed Yan Yi Lian to come inside his room.

And to make sure that he kept himself in control, Qin Lan left the door into his room open wide as there's no secret talk between them that cannot be eavesdropped on by the others.

"Heh... You're just like what senior sister Zhou said." Yan Yi Lian chuckled as Qin Lan was behaving just like Zhou Mei said. From the look of it, it was not just a mere conversation but a lengthy one.

"What did your senior sister said?" Qin Lan asked and filled the two teacups. His hand gestured to Yan Yi Lian to enjoy the cup of tea he just served.

"She said that even if you were allowed to do so, you wouldn't take advantage of a female until she volunteered herself to your lap." Yan Yi Lian seems to be bringing up the incident between him and Zhou Mei back in Fu-Rong Town.

That time, Qin Lan did take advantage of Zhou Mei. But it was done moderately without getting too intimate to the point of running her modesty as a maiden. It ended at most at the level of flirting.

"Ah... This Marquis really have to search for a hole to hide his embarrassed face now..." Qin Lan lowered his head slightly. It was only proper to act a little at a time like this.

"Anyway, I am here for two reasons." Yan Yi Lian covered her hand that holds the teacup with her sleeve as she took a sip of the tea Qin Lan presented to her. It was to show her politeness and respect towards Qin Lan as she was here uninvited.

"Beauty Yan, please continue." Qin Lan said.

"First of all, I am here on behalf of my sister. She wanted me to bring you these things." Yan Yi Lian hovered her hand above the table and brought out two precious items.

It was a platter of three beautiful, jeweled-like fruit known as the Maiden Fruit. The three fruits here were three times more expensive than what it cost for the Wuyue County Lord to spend on his soldier's protection gears.

As for the second item, it was a roll of ten blades of herb that was known as Spiritual Serenity Grass.

"Please help me to say thank you to your senior sister when you return to the Ice Maiden Temple. I am unsure if you fancy these as a gift in return, but please let me know. If you prefer something else, I will try my best to search for them." Qin Lan got on his feet and cupped his hands together while responding.

With a wave of his hand like Yan Yi Lian just did, he took close to ten Luminescent Lotus Blooms out for Yan Yi Lian to choose from.

"What???" Yan Yi Lian was surprised by how many Luminescent Lotus Bloom Qin Lan got in his hand. If the Lianshui Village could have these from a wave of a hand like him, won't it help to sustain the village for the next few months?

"Where did you get these from? You're making me getting more and more interested in you, Chi-Lan Marquis..." Yan Yi Lian was staring at Qin Lan as she shows him her grinning face.

"Trade secret. But please understand that these will not be sold in the market. It was meticulously grown to be made into something else." Qin Lan replied.

"Oh? Except for decorative, the Luminescent Lotus Bloom actually have another use? I wonder what would it be..." Yan Yi Lian said. Her curiosity was prickled by Qin Lan's word. As a local from Lianshui Village, she should be the one that knows more about the flower.

"I will let you know when what I was trying to do is a success. By the way, what is Beauty Yan's second reason to come here? Is there something I can help with?" Qin Lan asked. Looking at Yan Yi Lian's graceful appearance in his room made him somewhat hard to control himself.

"There is. Recently, we found out that recreational drugs were distributed in Shuiyue County and Wuyue County. Although it was not really our concern, a few of our junior disciples that lack experience was raped under the drug's influence."

"I know it might be difficult for you, but can I ask you to pay more attention to this matter before it gets worst? As the one and only female-orientated sect located near to the southern provinces of the Shu, I'm afraid that our disciple will get targeted by people with hidden motives."

Yan Yi Lian stated as she revealed a worried expression. Although only two cases are happening right now, the moment such a piece of news was spread around, it will definitely cause misunderstanding between the people and the sect.

Worst of all, it will also make it more dangerous to the people from the Ice Maiden Sect if someone had an idea about them. To the female disciples practicing abstinence since the day they joined the sect, destroying their purity works more miraculously than killing them.

"Marquis, do you know why I was mentioning this to you?" Yan Yi Lian added. It seems that from her speech, there's something more behind this.

"You're worried that this is somewhat related with the Supreme Fist Pavilion and Xihou-Ren, correct?" Qin Lan smiled. He was secretly smiling because it seems that the time to start cutting down on smuggling is here.