Starting as a supporting character in Doupo

Page 228

Although the waiter only offered a few words of advice, Xiao Fan gleaned a great deal from his brief remarks.

"Thank you very much."

Xiao Fan nodded to the waiter, then took out a cloth bag from his storage ring and tossed it to the waiter.

The waiter, beaming with delight, took the cloth bag Xiao Fan had thrown, shook the jingling gold coins inside, and then excitedly stuffed it into his pocket.

"Sir, you flatter me. There's no need for thanks. It's my honor to entertain you."

Xiao Fan looked at the waiter, noticing his excited expression as he took the cloth bag, and asked curiously, "So, you figured out my identity, why did you warn me? Aren't you afraid I might kill someone in a fit of anger, or do something detrimental to your empire by hiding my identity?"

"Oh, not at all. When we receive guests, we only say a few words when we meet kind people like you two. We wouldn't dare to say anything to other people. As for your purpose, for us ordinary people, no matter who is above us, our daily lives are the same. We just want to eat our fill and live well. It doesn't affect us at all."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, the waiter said apologetically, then a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.

Not everyone has the talent for cultivation, nor does everyone have a powerful force behind them. Without talent or background, ordinary people like them can only use their wits to survive, and that's already a blessing from heaven.

Xiao Fan nodded after hearing the waiter's words and remained silent.

After the waiter placed Xiao Fan and his group's dishes, he bowed respectfully to them and then withdrew. Just as he turned to leave, he seemed to remember something and said to Xiao Fan, "By the way, sir, if you're looking for information, you might want to check out Tianxiang Tower. Tianxiang Tower is an organization within the Chuyun Empire that makes a living by selling information. Generally speaking, the information obtained from them is guaranteed."

After speaking, the waiter bowed slightly to Xiao Fan again and left.

"Tianxianglou?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fan turned to look at Yun Yun, "Do you know about this organization?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Yun shook her head and said, "No, but since it's an organization that makes a living by selling information in the Izumo Empire, it must have considerable backing."

If it weren't for the considerable strength of the forces behind them, no one would allow such an organization, which could potentially expose their sect's information, to exist so openly.

Chapter 3 Old Wan of Tianxiang Tower

After Xiao Fan and Yun Yun finished their meal, they left the restaurant directly. On the way, they saw the waiter attending to other customers, so Xiao Fan didn't ask him for directions to Tianxiang Restaurant.

Since he said that Tianxianglou is the largest information-selling organization in the Chuyun Empire, it should be common knowledge.

Having learned about the methods of the locals in the Chuyun Empire, Xiao Fan took out several medicinal herbs from his storage ring when he left the restaurant. He casually put them into two sachets and hung the sachets (no, they should be called poison sachets now) on his waist.

Although it wouldn't affect Xiao Fan and his companions at all if others knew they weren't locals of the Izumo Empire, it was still better to be a little cautious since they were already on someone else's territory. After all, Xiao Fan's main purpose in coming here was to find information about Little Fairy Doctor, and he didn't want to cause any other complications.

Yun Yun curiously took the poison sachet from Xiao Fan and then, following Xiao Fan's example, hung it on her waist.

Although their aura remained unchanged after they adorned themselves with poison sacs, to those who "know their stuff," Xiao Fan and his companion exuded a faint aura of danger—a threat that only those facing truly threatening poison masters could detect.

With the sachet as cover, as long as they don't reveal any major flaws, in the eyes of ordinary people, Xiao Fan and his group are just slightly stronger poison masters. No one is willing to provoke a poison master whose strength is unknown when there is not enough benefit. This is a consensus among everyone in the Izumo Empire.

After all, the methods of poison masters are unpredictable, and no one wants to become mortal enemies with them.

Xiao Fan asked a few people on the street for directions to Tianxiang Tower. After passing through several streets, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun finally arrived in front of a huge building with luxurious decorations and nine stories high.

After making inquiries, Xiao Fan also obtained some information about Tianxiang Tower.

Tianxiang Tower is scattered throughout major cities of the Chuyun Empire, with its headquarters located in Tianrong City, the capital of the Chuyun Empire.

Regardless of where it was built, Tianxiang Tower was a nine-story building.

The first and second floors of Tianxiang Tower are where goods are sold. After all, Tianxiang Tower cannot make a living solely by selling information. They also purchase all kinds of goods, such as magical beast cores, medicinal herbs, pills, cultivation techniques, and combat skills, which are a huge market.

The first and second floors of Tianxianglou are filled with numerous cabinets, inside which are displayed materials for sale.

The third floor is a place specifically for purchasing goods, but when some big customers offer valuable items, they will be invited to a secluded room on the fourth floor to discuss specific cooperation.

The fifth floor is reserved for different people depending on the location of each Tianxiang Tower. It is specifically opened to powerful forces within the city where the Tianxiang Tower is located, to provide them with a special status and as a means of winning over local power.

The sixth floor is the true core of Tianxiang Tower, a place dedicated to selling information. All sorts of news within the Chuyun Empire can be obtained on the sixth floor.

As for the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors, they are shrouded in mystery. Apart from the people of Tianxiang Tower, no one outside knows what is inside.

Although some people had once managed to break into the upper three floors of the Tianxianglou branch, they found that it contained only some messy scrolls, resembling a warehouse, which was very disappointing.

But that makes sense, it's just a branch of Tianxianglou, it's impossible for it to keep anything valuable there.

Because of its mysterious nature, people are even more curious about the headquarters of Tianxiang Tower located in Tianrong City. There are even rumors that the seventh, eighth and ninth floors of the Tianxiang Tower headquarters are a database of information about the various forces within the Izumo Empire.

Looking at the enormous structure before them, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun exchanged a glance before stepping inside.

"Welcome! May I ask what you two gentlemen would like to purchase? I can show you our various materials sales area."

As soon as they entered, a young woman whose face was not particularly striking but whose demeanor was very proper approached them and asked what their purpose was.

Xiao Fan glanced at it indifferently, then shook his head and said, "No need, let's wander around on our own first."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, the shop assistant maintained a polite smile, nodded slightly, bowed to the two of them, and then went to serve other customers.

After the shop assistant left, Xiao Fan led Yun Yun to wander around the lobby. The lobby on the first floor mainly displayed common medicinal herbs or monster hides, and there was nothing particularly attractive about them.

After taking a short walk around, Xiao Fan led Yun Yun straight to the second floor.

Compared to the noisy first-floor lobby, there were far fewer people on the second floor, and the exhibits there were in much better condition than those on the first floor.

Most of them are parts from first-tier magical beasts, while a small area is dedicated to displaying the magic cores of second-tier magical beasts or medicinal herbs of the same level.

"What would you two gentlemen like to purchase?"

As soon as Xiao Fan and his companion were on the second floor, a middle-aged man who had been sitting behind the counter immediately got up and walked towards them.

Xiao Fan sized up the middle-aged man in front of him. The middle-aged man had a kind smile on his somewhat fat face, with a small mustache at the corner of his mouth. He was a bit overweight, wearing a loose brown robe, and holding a fan in his hand, which looked extremely comical.

"I am Wan Zuochen, the person in charge of this branch of Tianxianglou. Everyone usually calls me Lao Wan. If you two need anything, please feel free to ask."

Xiao Fan sized up the shopkeeper, Lao Wan, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, a mere branch of Tianxiang Tower has a Seven-Star Grand Dou Master in charge. Such strength is not something you can find easily. In many places, a Grand Dou Master is already the top combatant of a small force.

Like the Xiao family in Wutan City back then, the Xiao family patriarch Xiao Zhan was only a Great Dou Master.

"I came to Tianxianglou to inquire about something."

Xiao Fan didn't observe Lao Wan too much, since no matter how strong he was or what he was planning, it wouldn't affect him.

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Lao Wan's face instantly broke into a wide smile. His already small eyes were squeezed into slits as he grinned at Xiao Fan and the other man, saying, "I was wondering why the magpies outside had been chirping all day. It turns out we have distinguished guests. Please come upstairs."

Old Wan's chubby face scrunched up like a chrysanthemum, and he then led Xiao Fan and the other man upstairs.

It's important to know that although Tianxiang Tower is a place that sells information, only a handful of people come to buy information each day. Most people come there to buy various resources and materials because of Tianxiang Tower's reputation.

After all, the information within Tianxiang Tower is extremely valuable, and many people are unwilling to pay such a high price just to get a few words.

That's why Lao Wan was so happy when he heard that Xiao Fan had come to inquire about information. After all, just by looking at Xiao Fan and Yun Yun's clothes, they were clearly wealthy people. Such customers were the main ones that Tianxiang Tower cultivated relationships with.

Chapter 4 Asking for information

Xiao Fan and Yun Yun followed behind Lao Wan and went directly up to the sixth floor through a special staircase inside Tianxiang Tower.

This staircase doesn't go through the lower floors; it only connects the second and sixth floors. It seems to be a special feature designed to protect the privacy of those who purchase the information.

Upon reaching the sixth floor, Xiao Fan was greeted by a series of strange cubicles. Old Wan led Xiao Fan and Yun Yun into one of the cubicles.

Xiao Fan's gaze swept over the cubicles. Each cubicle was connected to the main structure of Tianxiang Tower, and special materials were added to the wooden panels inside to prevent sound transmission, ensuring that conversations inside would not be leaked. Of course, such measures would have no effect on a powerful expert like Xiao Fan, but even ordinary Great Dou Masters would find it impossible to detect what was happening inside.

Inside the cubicle, two large sofas were placed on either side, and in the middle of the sofas was a solid wood table. The table was entirely black, except for a small red area around the center.

The red area has a ring of cracks around its edge, which appears to be assembled from multiple parts.

"Please sit down, both of you!"

Old Wan gestured politely to the two of them, then sat down opposite Xiao Fan and the others.

After Xiao Fan and Yun Yun were seated, Lao Wan placed his folding fan on the table, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Xiao Fan and said with a grin, "I wonder what information you two have come to Tianxiang Tower to seek out?"

Xiao Fan smiled upon hearing Lao Wan's words, and then said to Lao Wan, "Two things. The first is the reason why the royal family of the Izumo Empire is recruiting poison masters this time, and the second is the death of the Wanxie Sect's hall master."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Old Wan, sitting opposite him, raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Xiao Fan discreetly before speaking, "Alright, please wait a moment, but the price for these two pieces of information..."

Price is not an issue.

Xiao Fan smiled faintly. Perhaps it was Xiao Fan's calm demeanor that put Lao Wan at ease. He nodded, then took out a jade tablet and a piece of paper from his storage ring. He wrote what Xiao Fan had just said on the paper, and then gently tapped the red area in the center of the table with his finger.

As Lao Wan moved, the red area on the table suddenly rose slowly, opened from the middle, and revealed a small box.

Old Wan smiled at Xiao Fan and the other person, and put the jade token and the paper into the box together.

After the box was closed, it sank back into the wooden table, and the table returned to its original state.

"What an ingenious mechanism."

Looking at everything that had just happened, a glint appeared in Xiao Fan's eyes. He hadn't expected that in this world where strength was paramount, there would be such exquisite mechanical arts.

"Hehe, these are just some petty tricks, nothing to be so surprised about."

When Lao Wan heard Xiao Fan's words, he looked up and laughed, pretending to be calm, but his eyes, which were now just slits, betrayed his inner smugness.

Xiao Fan didn't have to wait long before the red area on the table suddenly made a "clicking" sound, and then rose up again, just like before.

Old Wan opened the box, took out the jade pendant, and then held the newly appeared piece of paper in his hand. He hesitated and said to Xiao Fan, "This...you two..."

Seeing his expression, Xiao Fan reached into his pocket, took out a bag, and tossed it to Lao Wan with a half-smile.

Old Wan caught the cloth bag that Xiao Fan threw to him with one hand. A faint blue light flashed from the bracelet on his wrist. He tossed the bag in his hand, nodded in satisfaction, and then handed the paper with the information recorded to Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fan took the paper from Lao Wan and began to examine the information on it.

After reading the message, Xiao Fan handed it to Yun Yun.

The note stated that the reason the Izumo Empire's royal family recruited a large number of powerful poison masters was because the current sixth princess of the Izumo Empire, Sikou Ning (whose surname was Sikou and was created by herself), had recently been poisoned by a strange toxin.

This toxin continuously eroded Si Kou Ning's meridians, and whenever she tried to mobilize her battle qi, she would experience excruciating pain all over her body, as if her bones were being ripped out.