Mana condensed in his eyes, and he immediately saw the person's face clearly.
"Here comes trouble!" Zhou Xun secretly alerted himself.
It was indeed Wei Shangren.
"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, you finally returned. Wei has been waiting for you for a whole hour!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun slightly raised his eyes and casually clasped his hands in greeting:
"It's Brother Wei, what brings you to my humble abode?"
"When I didn't see Brother Zhou go to work yesterday, Wei was quite worried. After inquiring, I learned that you had been dismissed. Thus, I came to visit and check on Brother Zhou!" the young man said with a cheerful smile.
"I appreciate Brother Wei's kindness!" Zhou Xun perfunctorily replied and wanted to take out his token to open the door.
Seeing this, Wei Shangren laughed heartily:
"Why keep people a thousand miles away, Brother Zhou? Although we've had some conflicts, we've worked together for a time. Won't you invite me in for a cup of Spirit Tea?"
"Why pretend, Brother Wei? If you're an unwelcome guest, I won't keep you, please go!" Zhou Xun couldn't be bothered to pretend any longer.
Wei Shangren's face was full of smiles, his eyes flicking toward the west, full of smugness:
"It seems Brother Zhou came from the West Plaza, presumably looking for work, right? How did it go? If you're not too proud, I can introduce you to one or two opportunities!"
"After all, I'm now a Talisman Apprentice; I have that bit of influence!"
"No need to trouble yourself with such matters, Brother Wei!" Zhou Xun replied calmly, holding the token with his left hand, infusing it with mana, casting a cyan light at the door.
Seeing that Zhou Xun was unperturbed, his expression unchanged, Wei Shangren couldn't help but feel a trace of anger and lowered his voice to provoke:
"Aren't you curious about why you were dismissed, Brother Zhou?"
Zhou Xun chuckled lightly upon hearing this:
"Besides you, Brother Wei, who else could it be!"
Wei Shangren nodded proudly:
"Brother Zhou is indeed wise. Four days ago, my elder brother was promoted to Tier One Rune Master. Upon receiving the news, I immediately approached the steward to get you dismissed. With my brother's standing, he naturally didn't dare refuse!"
Every Rune Master is a core figure in Miaofu Pavilion, let alone his brother, who is only in his early twenties and has the potential to advance to Tier One High-Grade, thus significantly increasing his status, far above those stewards.
Even the steward who once favored Zhou Xun didn't dare to speak up.
Zhou Xun heard this and smiled faintly, completely indifferent.
He possessed the "Spring Condensation Scripture" and was destined for greatness in the future. A minor setback was merely a small interest on his path to the heavens.
Upon seeing this, Wei Shangren became annoyed and said:
"Zhou Xun, you really know how to pretend. Without the shop work, you probably can't even afford this house,"
"When you're eventually evicted from Red Leaf Square, you'll have to live with those Wild Cultivators outside, unsure if you'll survive the next day. Someday you might just drop dead in a gutter, and Wei will make sure to burn a couple of extra incense sticks for you!"
"But I'm different now, having become a Talisman Apprentice, and soon to be a Talisman Master, becoming a standout in Red Leaf Square!"
"Then I'll congratulate Brother Wei in advance!" Zhou Xun laughed heartily and immediately took a large stride through the door.
Watching Zhou Xun's back, a look of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
"As my elder brother said, leaving a snake alive will bring trouble. If you strike, do it thoroughly to eliminate the threat. Only a dead enemy is a good enemy!"
"If I could kill your uncle, I can certainly kill you too!"
Wei Shangren turned and walked away in a certain direction.
Upon returning to his room, Zhou Xun appeared thoughtful!
Wei Shangren's visit indeed reminded him,
With his character, he wouldn't stop at this, sure to have further plans.
Fortunately, Wei Shangren's brother is currently just a Tier One Low-Grade Rune Master, not yet a force, with limited influence.
As long as he had enough Spirit Stones to live in Red Leaf Square, they couldn't do anything to him.
Red Leaf Square forbids magical combat, with extremely strict rules, and enmities must be resolved outside the square or on the Life and Death Platform of Red Leaf Square.
Otherwise, magical combat within the square is punishable by execution.
Two hundred years ago, an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, relying on his cultivation, secretly killed an enemy.
The cultivator died in Red Leaf Square, and the Four Great Clans took action, eventually tracing the murderer to that Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The patriarchs of Red Leaf Square's Wu, Lin, Sun, and Li clans captured and publicly executed him.
Since then, Red Leaf Square became solemn and a mass of cultivators settled in, making Red Leaf Square even more prosperous, ranking among the top five in Xui Country.
Thinking of this, Zhou Xun felt somewhat at ease.
After a simple dinner, he entered the Quiet Chamber with a sense of anticipation to begin his daily cultivation.
...
The next day, just after Zhou Xun finished drinking Spirit Rice Porridge, there was a knock on the door.
Zhou Xun got up, went to the door, and opened it—a plump silhouette squeezed in.
"So it's Steward Lin, what brings you to my place?", Zhou Xun quickly invited him to sit down and brewed a cup of Spirit Tea.
The area Zhou Xun lived in belonged to Luliu Lane in the Southeast District of Red Leaf Square, and Steward Lin was responsible for the housing management of this lane, with Fifth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation.
Zhou Xun had no dealings with him.
Besides collecting rent, this steward never came by.
"I heard you were expelled from Miaofu Pavilion?" Steward Lin picked up the Spirit Tea that Zhou Xun brewed for him with his left hand, gently blew on it, then took a sip.
"Indeed, Steward Lin is well-informed!" Zhou Xun replied calmly.
Steward Lin nodded and got straight to the point:
"I suppose you can guess my purpose, I'm here to collect next year's rent, but..." The fat steward paused, showing a trace of complexity in his eyes as he glanced at Zhou Xun.
"But someone sent me a message from above not to rent this house to you,"
"However, I, Lin, am not one to be easily controlled. As for this house... I'll still rent it to you, but the rent must increase by fifty percent, or I can't properly explain myself!"
"Rent it or not, consider it!"
He then picked up the Spirit Tea again and took a gentle sip.
"Fifty percent!" Hearing this number, Zhou Xun remained silent before speaking for a long time:
"I wonder, is the person who sent the message surnamed Wei?"
"Yes! At the age of twenty-three, he advanced to Talisman Master, in the limelight, with a high probability of being upgraded to Tier One High-Grade in the future. I advise you not to oppose him!"
"Talisman Master?"
"Yes, three days ago, that person successfully advanced to Talisman Master!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun instantly understood, being from Miaofu Pavilion, how could he not know the status of a Tier One High-Grade Talisman Master?
They are certainly not below those who have reached Qi Refining Perfection.
No wonder he was so quickly dismissed.
"Thank you for the warning, Steward. Zhou Mou will remember it, as for the house... I'll rent it!"
Red Leaf Square's houses in the Southeast District were the cheapest. Besides living here, he couldn't afford anywhere else.
Zhou Xun made a bow and immediately took out 150 Spirit Essence, gently placing them down.
Steward Lin counted them accurately, collected them, and turned to leave.
After Steward Lin left, Zhou Xun fell into contemplation.
Indeed, once the Wei Brothers made a move, they struck at his weakness.
Fortunately, Steward Lin was reliable; otherwise, without a house to rent, he would have to live outside of Red Leaf Square with his Second Layer Qi Refining cultivation.
The Wei Brothers only needed to spread that he was from the Hundred Talisman Pavilion, accumulating a large amount of Spirit Stones, surely leading to his certain death.
Thinking of this, Zhou Xun felt a chill in his heart.
"Still underestimated them, who would have thought that the usually scheming Wei Shangren had such a mind!"
"If there's an opportunity, they must be removed, or I will never have peace!