A Letter For Xiao

"And for the cultivator that brought in cryo vines yesterday, I gave him a total of 57 spirit stones."

Giving her report, Chen faced Yanmei at her desk. The masked cultivator looming from behind her boss.

"Good work. Although I would have haggled a bit lower, we can mark up the price of these icy plants to make up for it."

Giving praise when it is due, Yanmei simply let her protégé know there is room for refinement. The aspect of increasing one's mastery does not solely apply to cultivation. As long as you allow yourself to take on criticism, the door to improvement will always be open. Becoming a better merchant, a better alchemist, and even becoming a better lover...

The moment Chen bowed to take her leave, the masked woman wasted no time in rubbing Yanmei's shoulders.

The mental stress of having to track every inventory and sales had been melted by the firm but soft touch of Xiao.

Yanmei touched the hand hand that touched her, "I know I promised to spar with you today, forgive me, I had not anticipated we would have this many customers and sellers for today."

"Don't beat up yourself about it." Xiao smiled. "We can always make room for an evening spar."

"Oh, what kind 'sparring' are we talking about here?" Yanmei's coy grin told of another kind, one that might involve their bodies contacting still, but on a more intimate note.

Xiao chuckled, "I am down for whichever."

As their giggles fade, Yanmei arched her neck, ready to receive her lover's lips. Removing her mask, Xiao descended for a kiss tender and sweet.

Even with their senses both on the decline during their kiss, the both detected on the knick of time Chen's reentry, slamming open the door to Yanmei's office.

Both straightened themselces, pretending as if they were not indulging each other moments prior.

"Miss Yanmei! This is bad!" Chen cried out in urgency."

"Calm yourself, what bothers you this much?"

"It's a letter given to us by the alliance!"

Handing the letter to Yanmei, both her and Xiao read its contents.

"Dear Miss Yanmei,

For your association with this Xiaoyu, we are revoking your privileges to supply our Alchemy branch. As an esteemed merchant, it would do you no favors to have ties with the sect butcher Fang Xuan. However, if you can squeeze from Xiaoyu the whereabouts of Fang Xuan, we will gladly restore our severed business relationship.

Head of the Sect Alliance, Taolao"

Crumpling the piece of letter indicated how Yanmei felt about this whole debacle. No stand will be made, her allegiances now lie with Xiao and her harem. She must tank the 28% loss of profit that comes with supplying the alliance but her store will still thrive.

This calm of Yanmei contrasted the stormy rage brewing within Xiao. Of course, they cannot take her on directy, they will retaliate in other ways. Xiao grit her teeth, such cowards! She should've killed them during their encounter at the inn!

"What are we going to do, Lady Yanmei!?" Chen asked.

"Well, what will you do about it? In a month's time, the management of this shop will fall on you."

"I'm sorry, Lady Yanmei, but can you repeat whay you have just said?"

"You heard me right. You shall become this store's manager while I am away. And let's just say I shall take my leave for a long long time. Once I depart, deal with this issue however you may wish. For now, we continue our operations as is."

Dropping in Chen's lap that she will soon become the full-time manager rendered her speechless.

As Chen took her leave once again, it fall on Yanmei to assuage Xiao that there is no need to be troubled by this circumstance.

Yanmei stood, her arms wrapping around Xiao's shoulder.

"I have made my choice, this matter is most unfortunate but we must turn our attention to other matters. Like we will survive in Hell Island."

Her decision made, the fact that Yanmei will accompany Xiao in her perilous journey eased her troubled mind for a bit.

It's such a shame that Yanmei cannot bring out her true form, but she would truly love for all seven of her tails to envelop Xiao right now in a reassuring embrace.

Of course, this gesture of not letting an ounce of blame fall on Xiao was much appreciated.

"Thank you, Yan yan."

"There is no need to thank me. This shop is important to me, yes, but you and the rest are the ones I truly treasure."

The rest. Now that Xiao has been reminded of the matter, she must take into account Yanmei's input.

Freeing herself from Yanmei's embrace, Xiao paced towards the center of the room, deep in thought about the other members of their harem.

"Yanmei, you know the dangers that Hell Island has in store for us. Do you think it wise for me to bring Liuming and Lin along?"

"To be honest, I think you should not. I don't want any harm to come for them, and with us being cultivators, it will not be a matter of 'if', but only 'when'. Have you already spoken to Luqing about this?"

"I...I already have."

"Then I was too late. That woman, her answer will no doubt differ from mine."

There was no need for any foresight technique on Yanmei's part, merely knowing how her lover's mind tick was enough to predict how Luqing would answer.

2 to take the married couple with them, 1 to leave them here in Jiangshian. The vote edges on the entir harem leaving for Hell islan together. Only one answer left to tip futher or even the scale.

"Then I must ask Lin directly about this. She is not impulsive like Luqing and Liuming. I trust that Lin's judgement will help me in making one of my own."

Rather than completely roping in the married couple to her master's vendetta, Xiao will have to listen to what Lin has to say. Leave or stay, Xiao will honor Lin's decision.