It was precisely here that they had encountered the Assassin Supreme, Chu Qihun.

Back then, the sky was filled with white snow and the earth was gripped by biting cold; now, the autumn winds were mournful, sending golden leaves scattering. Many mountain forests were blazing crimson, the scenery beautifully dreamlike, as if not of this mortal world.

The four travelers, despite their heavy hearts, found themselves unexpectedly refreshed and uplifted by such scenery as they journeyed along.

They moved on, frequently stopping, appearing as if they were merely sightseeing, yet they covered ground several times faster than ordinary people.

In just a few days, they could vaguely make out the long-unseen Tianxiang City.

Jun Moxie gazed at the majestic city, and a sudden surge of complex emotions overwhelmed him.

He stood there from afar, staring blankly for a long while.

Mei Xueyan and the others could sense what he was feeling, and they stood quietly with him for a time.

After a long pause, Jun Moxie finally sighed and said, "Let's enter the city. We'll see Tang Yuan... and pass straight through."

Without alerting anyone, the four slipped into Tianxiang.

The scenery of their long-absent old home, Tianxiang City, remained unchanged, the faces familiar; the only difference lay in their state of mind!

Three of the four took immense interest in the hometown of the Evil Monarch. Miao Xiaomiao longed to understand the home of the man she loved, Qiao Ying was deeply curious about the birthplace of the Evil Monarch, and as for Mei Xueyan, although she had lived in Tianxiang City for a period, she had always been mired in countless affairs, spending over ninety-five percent of her time confined to the old Jun residence, never having truly appreciated the capital city. Following that, she had moved away in haste. This rare opportunity, with time now available, was the perfect chance to fulfill her long-held wish!

Young Master Jun experienced the bitterness of accompanying women shopping for the first time!

Even with Jun Moxie's exceptionally powerful physique, after spending a full day accompanying the three beauties through streets and alleys, his legs were trembling. Young Master Jun cursed his predicament inwardly, but this tour undeniably eased the pent-up frustration in Qiao Ying’s heart, and as for Miao Xiaomiao, much of the anxiety that had accumulated along the way dissipated by six or seven-tenths after this outing. For the sake of these benefits, the exhaustion was worth it!

The instinct of women to shop is truly formidable. By the time they had worn out the peerless expert, Young Master Jun Moxie, they were still unsatisfied. It was the beautiful Mei who knew to be considerate; seeing his legs visibly shaking and his face pale with exhaustion, she decisively persuaded the other two beauties to conclude the day's tour!

That night, the four arrived at the most confidential location in Tianxiang—the Noble Hall—without anyone noticing.

The Noble Hall's defenses were notoriously stringent, considered among the best across the entire continent. But what sort of people were these four? At least peak powerhouses at the Saint Emperor level. To them, the continent’s supposedly most impenetrable defenses were riddled with flaws and presented no obstacle whatsoever.

The four silently bypassed the layers of defensive lines set up by Hai Chenfeng and Song Shang, walking directly into the inner sanctum... arriving at Tang Yuan's study. Not a single person detected them throughout the entire process.

There was simply no helping it. Human effort has its limits. Asking mortal experts to guard against the world's ultimate experts who stood at the apex of this world was akin to a computer novice trying to defend against the world's top hacker—their levels of comprehension were simply not on the same plane!

The four reached the Fatty’s study and hadn't decided how to enter when they were first assailed by a strong, rich meaty odor pervading the room.

They saw several large bookshelves, and on one, there was even a basin of uneaten fatty meat... partially covered with a silk cloth, suggesting Tang Yuan intended to continue eating it...

The four exchanged glances, unable to suppress their amusement.

Miao Xiaomiao and Qiao Ying knew less about the Fatty and were somewhat more composed. Mei Xueyan, knowing that Jun Moxie rarely approved of friends, and Tang Yuan was the foremost among the few he acknowledged, was quite familiar with Fatty Tang and naturally aware of some of his habits.

Seeing this situation, even though Tang Yuan had succeeded in losing weight, he was still utterly devoted to the pleasures of the palate, always thinking of food, though eating fatty meat in a study seemed a bit too uncivilized. Although the Fatty had never cared for civility, and Young Master Jun seemed much the same, just then, footsteps were abruptly heard outside the door, sounding like two people approaching the location one after the other.

Jun Moxie signaled with his eyes, and the four figures drifted away rapidly, swiftly concealing themselves behind a large bookcase without the slightest sound. Never mind that the two outside were ordinary people; even cultivators with profound powers would have been unable to detect them. Tang Yuan’s study seemed to have been decorated in the style of a small reception hall rather than just a study. The four could conceal themselves behind the large bookcase with plenty of room, feeling no crowding at all.

The surrounding bookshelves were crammed full, many volumes being rare, incomplete, or unique treasures, giving the impression that the owner was highly cultured. Who would have known that the owner, Fatty Tang, likely hadn't read a single character in any of them...

"...I still haven't grasped the purpose behind your seeking me out," Tang Yuan’s voice rang out, tinged with an undertone of arrogance and condescension. Clearly, the person accompanying him into the room was someone he didn't deem worthy of much attention. In truth, looking around the world today, there were very few individuals whom the World's God of Wealth, Tang Yuan, would truly value.

"This humble official comes to seek the Great Official Tang only to pledge allegiance to your esteemed service, sir, and for no other reason. I beg the Great Official to understand," came the subsequent voice, surprisingly that of an official. The voice was somewhat stiff; even though the tone was submissive, the underlying core lacked the fervor Jun Moxie had expected.

Jun Moxie couldn't help but be startled: Hmm, this fellow must be seeking a favor from the Fatty, yet he acts so aloof?

Still, judging by the voice, this person was probably not one given to fawning or obsequiousness. Let’s see how the Fatty handles this...

"Oh?! You say you wish to join my ranks? Heh heh heh, your words are rather amusing... but I wonder what your intention is, for a high-ranking official in the capital's government office to repeatedly speak of submitting to a mere merchant like myself? It truly confuses me!" With a creak, Tang Yuan settled comfortably into his specially designated armchair, which immediately began to squeak rhythmically, suggesting Tang Yuan was rocking back and forth on it...

"The Great Official Tang may not be part of the officialdom, perhaps not even the court, but currently, you are the most powerful man on the entire continent!" The person’s voice carried a note of grievance, mixed with resolve: "It is common knowledge across the continent that it is better to simultaneously offend the monarchs of the Eight Nations than to ever offend the World's God of Wealth. Because offending the monarchs of the Eight Nations might at worst lead to death, and even those with high Xuan power might escape calamity. But those who offend the World's God of Wealth are destined for a life worse than death! This statement has been made by more than just me. It is a widely known fact!"

Jun Moxie grew increasingly curious. This person, based on his voice, was clearly not someone inclined to humble himself or flatter the powerful. Yet, such a person was actively seeking to join Tang Yuan's service... for what reason?

And another point: from Tang Yuan’s tone, this man must be a high-ranking official within the Tianxiang Prefecture government office!

This made the whole affair seem utterly bizarre.

"Oh?" Tang Yuan lifted his eyelids slightly and grunted an acknowledgement. "Continue. I enjoy hearing such things the most. Say a bit more... let me revel in it!" With that, the Fatty chuckled: "In this world, the greatest pleasure is sitting comfortably in a nice chair while listening to someone flatter you. It is simply a life fit for immortals."

With a gulp, the person opposite Tang Yuan swallowed, his breathing instantly growing ragged. He was undoubtedly quite angered by Tang Yuan’s statement. I too wish for such a leisurely and comfortable life of being flattered! But the problem is, right now, I’m the one giving it to someone else—you are pleased, but I am in agony...

As the chair creaked once more, Tang Yuan straightened up, and his voice suddenly turned heavy: "Tie Huaili, I know you. You are an upright official; that fact is widely praised in the Tianxiang Nation. The reputation you hold in Tianxiang City is very good, especially among the common people, where your prestige is extremely high! The real reason I personally agreed to receive you is precisely because you are genuinely upright, incorruptible, and clean of hand—only people like you are truly respected by me, Tang Yuan!"

It turned out this man was Tie Huaili.

A thought stirred in Jun Moxie's mind. Tie Huaili was originally a great general under Murong Fengyun and was considered a man of iron resolve. Later, due to circumstances, he left military service, and his official rank rose steadily. But after Murong Fengyun retired, perhaps due to the 'when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter' phenomenon, this man also lost his influence; his rank plummeted, and rumor had it he ended up as a powerless, idle minor official in the capital. Who would have thought he would be seeking help from Tang Yuan today.

However, Tang Yuan’s assessment of him was undeniably accurate.

This man was not naturally inclined to bow and scrape before the powerful. His actions today were exceedingly irregular.

Tie Huaili sighed deeply. Hearing Tang Yuan’s words of praise only seemed to deepen his dejection. He remained silent for a long moment.

"Tie Huaili, I, Tang Yuan, originally respected men of character like you the most. That is why I am exceptionally angry that you seek my help today! Does our Tianxiang Nation have no upright officials with backbone left? Must everyone resort to pulling strings and running around begging for office just to serve for a term?"

Tang Yuan asked, somewhat annoyed, "I, Tang Yuan, am just a merchant, an utterly shrewd one at that. I only know how to earn silver. You and I are fundamentally on different paths. It would have been best if we had stayed out of each other’s way. Why are you acting like this today?"

"The Great Official Tang is correct; we were originally not on the same path. If there were any other way, how could I resort to such a drastic measure, coming to beg a copper-smelling merchant? But today, I must seek your help! I must seek help from this copper-smelling merchant whom I have always looked down upon!" Tie Huaili's voice was steeped in bitterness.

"Tell me your reason!" Tang Yuan said coolly. "Your coming to me today has truly disappointed me. If your reason isn't good enough, I will disappoint you even further, even driving you to despair! Then I will make you vanish completely from Tianxiang City."