In the Blood Saber Sect, Li Yuan might just be an unnoticed inspector, the weakest Ninth Grade Inspector.

But in Silver Creek Square, he truly became a master.

After entering the square, matters concerning taxes, martial arts shop, and Ming City's public order were left to his subordinates. He, wearing a profound robe with white-banded sleeves, headed straight to the entrance of Silver Creek Square.

This kind of attire is a representation of an Inner Sect disciple of the Blood Saber Sect. Those unaware of its value might mistake it for a regular Blood Saber Sect disciple, while the knowledgeable ones would hold their breath, salute with respect, and dare not stand too straight.

Li Yuan glanced around and gently said to the people behind him, "Go on with your work, remember to eat after you're done."

The outer disciples and miscellaneous task workers promptly replied, "Yes, Young Master Li."

Then they scattered like fish.

Li Yuan, on the other hand, strode directly towards Hengwu Restaurant.

As soon as he entered the restaurant, the entire place seemed to have a silencer applied, falling into complete silence.

Li Yuan glanced at the guests drinking and eating, waved his hand, and laughed, "It's almost time for the meal. I'll come by for a meal too."

Among the guests, there were those who were knowledgeable, and even those who were not knew about the "Young Master Li" from the Wangxi Building arena battle. As for those who knew nothing, they too were affected by the atmosphere and dared not speak.

At this moment, everyone paused mid-chew, stood up until Li Yuan was led upstairs by a waiter, and only then did they sit down and begin discussing.

"Why did Young Master Li come to the restaurant for a meal today?"

"You don't know?"

"I really don't know... please enlighten me."

"Hah, let me tell you, the Blood Saber Sect has set up an inspector, and from now on, Silver Creek Square will be under Young Master Li and another lord's management."

"Isn't there still the government?"

"Hey, brother, where have you been mixing? How come you know nothing?"

Meanwhile, after reaching the third floor of the restaurant, Li Yuan was shown into an elegant room with a good view, unobstructed by tall buildings in front, and with a view of the bustling traffic below.

"Young Master Li, the proprietress will be here soon." The waiter stood respectfully on one side.

Li Yuan smiled warmly and nodded, gazing absentmindedly at the scenery outside, and suddenly said, "Bring me a pot of wine."

The waiter hurriedly said, "We have sweet rice brew, pure rice brew, and medicinal millet brew. Which one does Young Master Li want?"

Li Yuan asked, "What's the selling price?"

The waiter quickly replied, "Please just order as you like..."

Li Yuan laughed, "I'm just curious about the prices."

Only then did the waiter say, "Grain prices are very high right now, so the wine isn't cheap. A pot of sweet rice brew costs three large coins, the same for pure rice brew, while medicinal millet brew, with added herbs, costs four large coins."

Li Yuan pondered for a moment, this really isn't cheap, but given the high grain prices, the wine prices aren't unreasonable either.

About half a year ago, when he brought a five-jin pot of rice brew to visit Cai Ze, it also cost fifteen large coins. So, the prices haven't fluctuated much.

Just then, the door opened, and a tall, elegant, beautiful woman appeared at the door.

"Xiaoliuzi, you may leave now. Later, bring a serving of each of the restaurant's specialties."

"Yes, proprietress." The waiter bent over, ready to leave, but then heard Li Yuan call out "Xiaoliuzi."

Hearing Young Master Li call him "Xiaoliuzi," the waiter's spirits were immediately lifted, and he hurriedly said, "Yes, master, what do you need?"

Li Yuan said, "No need for all the specialties, that's too wasteful.

Two dishes and a soup, one meat and one vegetable, make the soup vegetarian too. Then just bring a pot of pure rice brew."

The proprietress said softly, "Do as Young Master Li says."

The waiter acknowledged, hastily retreated, and softly closed the door, a smile on his face.

Perhaps people outside were still unaware, but anyone in the restaurant knew about the relationship between Young Master Li and the proprietress.

In other words, over Hengwu Restaurant had suddenly appeared a large protective umbrella.

Who working in the restaurant wouldn't be happy?

Inside, it became quiet, the hustle and bustle of the restaurant seemed to be left outside.

The proprietress sat down beside him with a smile, gently saying, "On your first day, you visited here, is everything alright?"

Li Yuan said, "I don't have to do anything specific, just oversee various places. If any major issues arise, I'll handle them, otherwise, I won't be hindered from cultivating."

"Hmm..." The proprietress responded softly, then added, "You asked me to nurture people from the beggars, but after thinking it through, I find them unreliable. Unless... we deploy our own people to play the role of beggars, mingle among them, and lead them. That might be reliable."

Li Yuan asked, "Do you have such people?"

The proprietress replied, "I have some loyal servants, but most are married. If I ask, they will go, but in their hearts, they would be reluctant..."

Li Yuan said, "Let me think about it some more."

After a while, the food was served.

A plate of braised bamboo shoots with pork, a plate of stir-fried chrysanthemum greens with dried tofu, a bowl of vegetable and shredded meat soup, along with a pot of pure rice brew.

Li Yuan didn't stand on ceremony, eating while asking, "Is the wine sourced from the outside?"

The proprietress said, "Yes, only a legitimate shop like Yichan Pavilion in Silver Creek can brew wine. Despite being sizeable, our Hengwu Restaurant is just a small shop, so we're not allowed to brew wine, and can only purchase, yet even then, we can only get some ordinary wine."

"Yichan Pavilion..."

Li Yuan recalled that just buying breakfast at this pavilion cost him two taels of silver, and he didn't know which sect member was backing it.

"Got it," he said calmly.

The proprietress suddenly realized something, worried, she said, "Please don't move against Yichan Pavilion right now, dear. We have plenty of time. In a few years when you're more powerful, we'll talk."

Li Yuan laughed, "I know my limits."

The proprietress chuckled in agreement, saying it out of fear that he might act impulsively and do something rash.

At that moment, Li Yuan glanced out the window, observing the hustling crowd below. While not the best view in Silver Creek, it was expansive enough.

The proprietress poured him a cup of wine, yet wasn't bothersome with questions, only after a while did she express concern, "I heard there are two inspectors set up, and Silver Creek Square is divided in half. I wonder about your other senior brother..."

Li Yuan laughed, "Not a senior brother, but a senior sister."

"Senior sister?" The proprietress looked surprised, her eyes wide.

Li Yuan laughed silently.

Originally, the other person in charge of Silver Creek Square was a senior brother, but Zhao Chunxin changed his mind at the last moment and swapped with that senior brother, making Zhao Chunxin the other inspector of Silver Creek.

Which shows that Zhao Chunxin is also a prominent figure among the Inner Sect disciples, probably only second to Fang Jianlong.

...

Moments later, having had his fill, Li Yuan asked for two more good dishes and a pot of fine wine to be prepared by Hengwu Restaurant, packed them in a meal box, and took a boat to the Black Market.

Soon, he arrived at the North City gate, walked briskly to a nameless small pavilion, saluted respectfully, and shouted, "Teacher," then smiled, "The food's made at my wife's restaurant, would you like to try?"

Master Li laughed, "You rascal, running around on your first day of office?"

Li Yuan also laughed, "My Silver Creek has nothing to worry about, unlike here where you need to stand guard at all times."

Master Li stood up, glanced at his disciple, stretched out his hand, and said, "Come, let your teacher have a taste."

Li Yuan placed the meal box on the side table, took out the two dishes and wine from inside.

Master Li took a couple of bites, savoring them, but upon tasting the wine, his brows furrowed though he swallowed it. Seeing Li Yuan about to speak, he waved a hand, "You rascal, the dishes are good, but this wine... certainly has a story."

After saying that, he raised his hand again, "Don't say, let your teacher guess."

Master Li closed his eyes, thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Understood, testing waters, clever enough.

Let your teacher speak plainly. The owner of the Yichan Pavilion is the brother of Black-faced Elder."

Black-faced Elder?

Li Yuan remembered that elder and said, "The student understands."

Master Li said, "You came here because you wanted to see if there are any new goods, right?"

"There's nothing I can hide from you, teacher," Li Yuan laughed.

Master Li pulled a thin booklet from under his seat, tossed it over, and said, "Take it, see for yourself. These are the newly arrived goods recently."

Li Yuan took it, skimmed through, and casually asked, "Teacher, has there been any more disappearance cases in the Black Market?"

"No," Master Li continued eating voraciously, then said, "Don't overthink..."

Li Yuan smiled wryly, "With such terrifying and mysterious things, how can I not think about it?"

Master Li lowered his voice, chuckled, and said, "It can't get out, what are you afraid of?"

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