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

By the time Zhao Sanchong had departed, overflowing with gratitude, Zhao Xiaobao’s face was etched with concern. "Young Master, perhaps you should reconsider this," he urged. "The Wang Family may be a local cultivation family in Ganzhou, but their reputation is one of extreme ruthlessness. Fifty years ago, they completely annihilated the Cultivating Chen Family. Not a single soul escaped, and the fallout nearly brought ruin to our own Zhao Family as well."

Zhao Sheng dismissed the concern with a calm wave of his hand. "There is no need for second thoughts. Ganzhou is a land where spiritual energy is scarce and cultivators are far and few between. The Wang Family stands as the sole cultivation family in this region. 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 path, no one could sway his resolve.

"Can the Young Master truly marry a woman from the Wang Family? When the moment arrives, you must not force the issue!"

Reflecting on his Young Master’s unpredictable methods, Zhao Xiaobao felt his anxiety deepen.

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

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

He estimated that if he restored a few of his peak-tier Martial Arts, he could confidently face any martial artist below the Innate level, excluding only an Innate Grandmaster.

He had already confirmed this strength against the Clan Leader of Zhao Family Town, Elder Zhao Taizhen, who occupied the Half-step Innate Realm.

Zhao Sheng was a man who planned meticulously before acting. Naturally, he had come to Moling City fully prepared.

The opening move of his plan involved a fragrance shop.

...

Three days later, Zhenxiang Pavilion, a long-established fragrance shop in Moling City, quietly transitioned to a new owner.

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

Unlike traditional scented powders, this perfume required no dabbing; a simple, light spray on the skin was all that was needed.

Furthermore, it boasted a lingering fragrance and offered a diverse range of natural floral scents.

The debut of the perfume caused an immediate stir. Every female customer who sampled it became captivated, transforming into a devoted follower of the scent.

However, very few could actually afford to purchase it,

as the price was exorbitantly high.

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

The creator of 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 by that same token, few can resist the allure of a fine perfume.

Was there truly a difference between women of cultivation families and those of the Mortal World?

Three words were enough to define the distinction: "plenty of money."

Thus, Zhao Sheng deliberately set the price at a staggering level. His intention was to "filter" through the population to find his specific targets.

The Wang Family could not remain entirely secluded from society; the women of their clan would eventually venture out to shop. Moling City, being the closest hub to Fragrant Swallow Valley, was the most likely destination.

Time flew by, and one month later,

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

"Young Master, our first and second targets have returned to purchase perfume for the third time recently. Both claimed the surname Wang, leading this subordinate to believe 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 as if it were mere scrap, spending with shocking extravagance. Every time they visit, they refuse to leave until they have cleared out every bottle we have," Zhao Sanchong replied with excitement.

He marveled at his young master's brilliance, using such a straightforward tactic to draw out the women of the Wang Family.

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

He gave his instructions: "The next time they appear, leak the news regarding a new variety of perfume. Then, proceed as follows..."

Zhao Sanchong nodded repeatedly, then hurried off with enthusiasm to carry out the plan.

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

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

Two young ladies stepped out—one in red with an oval face and delicate features, the other in sky-blue with a curvaceous figure and a piercingly cold gaze.

The shop girls at Zhenxiang Pavilion were instantly alert; wealthy patrons had arrived. A sharp-witted servant immediately ran to the back to inform 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 born to the same father.

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

The shop girls, following their orders, intentionally hesitated and stalled for time.

During this brief delay, Zhao Sanchong hurried into the main hall.

Seeing the pair, he immediately offered a respectful bow with clasped hands. "Honored guests, I am the shopkeeper here. My deepest apologies! Our perfume has just sold out, and we are currently out of stock."

Wang Yuqi, known for her short temper, knit her brows and barked, "Shopkeeper, we have no shortage of silver; do not try 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 in sharply.

Zhao Sanchong feigned hesitation until the two were nearly at the limit of their patience. Finally, he said reluctantly, "Truthfully, there is one specific type of 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; it is simply a matter of offering enough silver. Fortunately, silver is the one thing we possess in abundance. Shopkeeper, name your price!"

Zhao Sanchong’s face immediately twisted into an expression of misery as he bowed repeatedly in appeal. "Miss, you misunderstand this humble old man. My master gave strict orders that this perfume is only to be gifted to one who is destined, and never to be sold for a price."

A woman's curiosity can often outweigh that of a cat.

When Zhao Sanchong spoke those words, Wang Yuqi’s interest was instantly piqued. "Who is this master of yours? Why would he make such a claim?"

Zhao Sanchong replied with visible pride, "My master comes from the Nanyang Zhao Family. He is a man of immense intellect, a master of both the brush and the blade—a true genius gifted by the heavens."

Wang Yu Yan remained unimpressed by these words. What did it matter if his master was a heaven-sent genius? He was still just a mortal; how could such a man ever be compared to a cultivator?

Wang Yu Yan then asked, "Your master claims he only gifts this perfume to those with destiny. Tell me, do we look like people of destiny to you?"

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

"Hmph, what a pretentious mystery!" Wang Yuqi blurted out, falling straight into the trap. "Where is this master of yours? Take us to see him this instant."