Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 4 Perfume Moves the Heart

By the time Zhao Sanchong had departed with a thousand expressions of gratitude, Zhao Xiaobao’s face was etched with concern. "Young Master, perhaps you should think this over once more," he urged. "The Wang Family may be a local cultivation clan in Ganzhou, but they are notoriously bloodthirsty. Fifty years ago, they completely wiped out the Cultivating Chen Family. Not a single soul survived that massacre, and it nearly brought ruin upon our own Zhao Family as well."

Zhao Sheng dismissed the concern with a calm wave of his hand. "There is no need for further thought. Ganzhou is a barren land with thin spiritual energy and few cultivators; the Wang Family stands as the sole cultivation power here. If I do not seek them out, who else is there to turn to?"

Zhao Xiaobao opened his mouth to argue further, but ultimately held his tongue.

He was well aware that once the Young Master set his mind on a course of action, no force on earth could sway him.

"Can the Young Master truly succeed in marrying a woman from the Wang Family? When the moment comes, you must not push too hard!"

Reflecting on his Young Master’s usual methods, Zhao Xiaobao felt his anxiety growing.

Zhao Sheng, however, was oblivious to his loyal servant’s lack of confidence, as his mind was occupied with his own strategy.

Following three years of solitary, intense cultivation, he had pushed his Emerald Tide Technique to the Great Achievement Realm. His Internal True Qi had reached thirty years of maturity, making him the equal of any top-tier expert in the Martial World.

He felt certain that if he restored a few of his peak-tier Martial Arts, he could hold his own against any martial artist below the Innate level, save for an actual Innate Grandmaster.

He had already verified this strength against the Zhao Family Town’s Clan Leader, Elder Zhao Taizhen, who was a Half-step Innate Realm expert.

Zhao Sheng was a man who calculated every move before acting. Naturally, he had come to Moling City fully prepared.

The opening move of his plan centered on a fragrance shop.

...

Three days later, a long-standing Moling City fragrance shop known as Zhenxiang Pavilion quietly came under new ownership.

Ten days after that, Zhenxiang Pavilion introduced a revolutionary product: perfume.

This was unlike traditional scented powders; perfume required no dabbing, as a simple light spray on the skin was sufficient.

Furthermore, it possessed a long-lasting aroma and featured a variety of natural floral scents.

The debut of the perfume caused an immediate sensation. Every noblewoman and lady who sampled it became instantly obsessed, turning into fanatical devotees of the scent.

However, very few female customers could actually afford the luxury,

as the price was exorbitant.

A single small vial was priced at twenty taels of silver.

The mastermind behind this perfume was, of course, Zhao Sheng. This was the "secret weapon" he had crafted for this specific purpose.

No woman is indifferent to beauty, and likewise, few can resist the allure of a fine perfume.

What separated the women of cultivation families from those of the Mortal World?

Three words described it perfectly: "wealthy beyond measure."

Thus, Zhao Sheng deliberately set the price at a staggering level. His goal was to "filter" the masses and draw out his specific targets.

The Wang Family could not remain entirely sequestered from society; the women of the clan would occasionally venture out to shop. Moling City, being the nearest hub to Fragrant Swallow Valley, was the natural choice.

Time flew by, and a month later,

within a picturesque and refined courtyard, Zhao Sanchong—now the Shopkeeper of Zhenxiang Pavilion—was delivering a report to Zhao Sheng.

"Young Master, our primary and secondary targets have returned to purchase perfume for the third time recently. Both identified themselves with the surname Wang, so I am convinced there is a high probability they belong to the Wang Family."

"Oh? They returned and bought out the entire stock?" Zhao Sheng asked, his interest piqued.

"Indeed. Those two women treat silver like dirt, spending so lavishly it is shocking. Every time they visit, they refuse to leave until they have emptied our shelves," Zhao Sanchong replied with excitement.

He marveled at his master’s brilliance, using such a straightforward lure to draw the Wang Family women out into the open.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng decided the timing was perfect to initiate the second phase of his plan.

He leaned in and instructed, "The next time they appear, mention the arrival of a new, special perfume. Then, proceed to do this..."

Zhao Sanchong nodded repeatedly, then hurried off with excitement to carry out the orders.

Three days later, a grand carriage pulled by four majestic horses came to a slow halt in front of Zhenxiang Pavilion.

The driver, a stern-faced, tall middle-aged man, reached back to pull the curtain aside.

Two young women stepped down from the carriage—one wore red and possessed an oval face with delicate features, while the other was dressed in sky-blue, boasting a curvaceous figure and a strikingly cold aura.

The shop girls at Zhenxiang Pavilion were instantly energized; they knew a wealthy customer had arrived. An alert attendant immediately sprinted to the back to fetch the shopkeeper.

Zhao Sanchong’s intuition had been correct; both women hailed from the Wang Family of Fragrant Swallow Valley. The girl in red was Wang Yu Yan, and the one in blue was Wang Yuqi—half-sisters sharing the same father.

Wang Yu Yan led the way. The moment they stepped inside, she demanded to see the perfume.

The attendants had already received their orders, so they intentionally stalled for a few moments.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Sanchong rushed out into the main hall.

Catching sight of the pair, he immediately bowed with his hands clasped. "Honored guests, I am the shopkeeper here. I am deeply sorry! Our perfume has just sold out; we are temporarily out of stock."

Wang Yuqi, known for her short temper, knit her brows and barked, "Shopkeeper, we do not lack silver; do not attempt to play games with us. Is it truly sold out?"

Zhao Sanchong vowed, "It is the absolute truth! I swear to the heavens, the perfume is gone. However..."

"However what?" Wang Yuqi cut him off impatiently.

Zhao Sanchong feigned hesitation until the two women were on the verge of losing their tempers. Finally, he said reluctantly, "Actually, there is one specific perfume that is unique in all the world. However, it is not for sale."

"Not for sale?"

Wang Yu Yan gave a cold smile. "There is nothing in this world that cannot be bought; there is only the issue of the price being too low. Fortunately, silver is the one thing we have in abundance. Shopkeeper, state your price!"

Zhao Sanchong’s face immediately crumpled into a look of distress as he bowed even lower, pleading, "My lady, you misunderstand this old man. My master has given strict orders that this particular perfume is only to be gifted to one with whom he shares a destiny. It cannot be sold for any price."

A woman’s curiosity can be more persistent than a cat’s.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuqi’s interest was thoroughly piqued. "Who is your master? Why would he make such a claim?"

Zhao Sanchong spoke with a note of pride. "My master hails from the Nanyang Zhao Family. He is not only exceptionally brilliant but is also a master of both the brush and the sword—a true genius favored by the heavens."

Wang Yu Yan remained unimpressed by the description. What did it matter if his master was a genius? He was still just a mortal; how could he ever compare to a true cultivator?

Wang Yu Yan asked, "Your master claims he will only gift the perfume to those with destiny. Do you think we look like people of destiny?"

Internally, Zhao Sanchong was jubilant, but he masked his excitement with a troubled expression. "Honored guests, you put this old man in a difficult position. How could I possibly know who my master considers a person of destiny?"

"Hmph, what a pretentious mystery! Where is this master of yours? Take us to him immediately," Wang Yuqi declared impulsively, walking straight into the trap.