Chapter 3: Jade pavilion
Chapter 3: The First Strike
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The Calm Before the Storm
The deal with Yan Jing had been struck, but Bai Zhi knew better than to fully trust a man like him. Powerful men never gave anything for free. His investment in her teahouse was not an act of generosity; it was a calculated move.
He was watching her. Studying her. Testing her.
Bai Zhi, however, did not mind. She had played this game before—in another life, in another world. The key to survival was simple: never become a chess piece. Always be the player.
As she stepped out of Phoenix Pavilion, the cool night air brushed against her skin. The streets of the capital had quieted, the distant clatter of merchants packing up their stalls the only sound lingering in the air.
Beside her, Xia Qian remained silent, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"You trust him?" Xia Qian finally asked, her tone edged with skepticism.
Bai Zhi let out a soft chuckle. "Trust? No. But I trust that he wants something from me. And as long as I'm useful, he won't betray me."
Xia Qian frowned. "That's a dangerous way to do business, Bai Zhi. What if he decides you're no longer useful?"
"Then I'll make sure he regrets it before he gets the chance to act."
Xia Qian let out a quiet sigh. "You make it sound so simple."
"It is," Bai Zhi said, eyes gleaming. "The world only respects power. And I intend to have enough of it that no one will ever dare to discard me."
Her fingers clenched briefly.
This is just the beginning.
---
A Visitor in the Night
Later that night, as Bai Zhi rested in her private study within the Moonlit Teahouse, she heard it.
A soft knock on the window.
She paused, setting down the book she had been reading. Her instincts sharpened.
It was a strange place to knock. If it had been a servant or one of her staff, they would have used the door.
Xia Qian, who had been sitting in the corner sharpening her dagger, immediately tensed. Her eyes flicked toward the window, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her blade.
"You expecting someone?" Xia Qian murmured.
Bai Zhi did not answer. Instead, she studied the silhouette behind the thin paper window.
A silent visitor in the dead of night.
No one should have been able to get this close without her noticing.
Which meant this person was skilled.
After a beat, Bai Zhi spoke, her voice calm. "If they wanted to kill me, they wouldn't be knocking."
Xia Qian scoffed but didn't lower her guard as she stepped forward, unlatching the window.
The moment it opened, a figure slipped inside—a shadow with golden eyes.
Bai Zhi's gaze sharpened.
It was a woman.
She had sharp, fox-like features, dressed in all black, a hood covering most of her face. But it was the way she moved that caught Bai Zhi's attention—silent, smooth, predatory.
Someone powerful. Someone dangerous.
The woman smirked. "You don't know me," she said, her voice soft and silky, "but you will."
Bai Zhi leaned back in her chair, expression unreadable. "You went through quite a bit of trouble to visit me like this. What do you want?"
The woman let out a quiet laugh and tossed a small, sealed letter onto Bai Zhi's desk.
"Read it," she said.
Bai Zhi reached for it carefully, her eyes flickering over the wax seal.
The intricate insignia did not belong to any noble house she recognized. But the design was deliberate, crafted by someone who wanted to remain hidden.
She unfolded the letter. Her eyes flickered across the words—sharp, clean handwriting.
And then, she stilled.
This…
This was not about Wu Fei.
This was something far worse.
A hidden force in the city was watching her. Waiting. Planning.
They had not moved against her yet. But when they did, it would be a killing blow.
Bai Zhi's fingers curled around the edge of the parchment, but her face remained impassive.
She had suspected something like this.
She had felt the weight of unseen eyes.
But now, she had confirmation.
And confirmation meant preparation.
---
A Dangerous Game
Bai Zhi carefully folded the letter, placing it on the table. "Who wrote this?"
The woman's golden eyes gleamed. "An old friend."
Bai Zhi tilted her head. "Old friends don't send vague warnings in the dead of night without reason. What's your stake in this?"
The woman stepped forward, just close enough that Bai Zhi could catch the faint scent of night jasmine clinging to her cloak.
"You're interesting," she murmured. "And I don't like wasted potential."
Bai Zhi let out a soft chuckle. "I should be flattered, then?"
"Be cautious," the woman corrected.
She turned, slipping toward the window once more.
"Wait." Bai Zhi's voice was sharp. "Tell me one thing. Who should I be watching?"
The woman paused at the windowsill.
Then, she smiled.
"Not Wu Fei," she said.
And just like that, she disappeared into the night.
Bai Zhi stared at the empty window, the words echoing in her mind.
Not Wu Fei.
Xia Qian finally let out a breath, rubbing her temples. "I hate this. I hate mysterious people. I hate cryptic messages."
Bai Zhi didn't respond immediately. Her gaze remained fixed on the letter.
Her mind was already moving.
If Wu Fei wasn't the true enemy… then who was?
And why were they waiting instead of attacking?
That meant one thing.
They were testing her.
Seeing if she was worth eliminating.
Bai Zhi smirked.
"Let them try," she murmured.
She had survived one lifetime of betrayals. She could survive another.
And this time, she would be the one pulling the strings.
---
A Storm on the Horizon
As dawn broke, Bai Zhi stepped out onto the balcony of her private quarters, watching as the first rays of sunlight touched the rooftops of the city.
Xia Qian joined her, still looking troubled.
"So, what's next?" she asked.
Bai Zhi exhaled slowly. "First, we pretend we don't know anything. Let them think we're oblivious."
"And then?"
A slow, dangerous smile curved Bai Zhi's lips.
"And then, we strike first."
The Letter's Contents
When Bai Zhi unfolded the letter, the words were written in sharp, deliberate strokes, as if the writer wanted their message to be read with urgency.
To the one who thinks herself a predator, beware—there are bigger beasts lurking in the dark.
Your moves have not gone unnoticed.
Your alliances are being watched.
And your enemies are not who you think they are.
You have been marked, but the knife has not yet fallen.
If you wish to survive, look beyond the obvious threats.
The first strike will not come from Wu Fei.
Do not be reckless. Do not be careless. Do not trust so easily.
Or you will not live long enough to play the game you think you've mastered.
At the bottom, there was no name, no signature, only a single red ink mark—a symbol that Bai Zhi did not recognize.
But the message was clear: someone was watching. Someone powerful. And they did not intend to let her rise so easily.
The Game of Power Begins
System Profile Update: Bai Zhi
Name: Bai Zhi
Age: 16 (mentally 35)
System: Money-Spending System
Current Level: 5
Wealth Points: 7,320 silver taels
Stats:
Charm: 85 → (Increased due to beauty enhancements)
Wisdom: 75 → (Enhanced with 100 silver taels)
Luck: 60 → (Influenced by spending habits)
Business Aptitude: 80 → (Boosted due to strategic spending)
Influence: 50 → (Affected by reputation in noble circles)
Skills Unlocked:
Heaven's Eye Appraisal: (Treasure identification, hidden effect analysis, enhancement function, mission rewards, and luck manipulation)
Tea Mastery: (Level 3 – Enhances her tea-making skills and reputation)
Negotiation Tactics: (Boosts persuasion and business deals)
Hidden Influence Analysis: (Unlocked through Wisdom upgrade – allows her to see hidden forces behind her enemies)
Current Mission:
Unravel the Hidden Faction (Reward: Enhanced Perception Skill +10, Secret Faction Map)
A Cryptic Warning
Bai Zhi tapped her fingers against the lacquered surface of her desk, her sharp eyes studying the cryptic letter in front of her. The ink was slightly smudged, but the message was clear.
"The first strike will not come from Wu Fei."
"Do not trust so easily."
Her heart pulsed with an unsettling realization—someone was watching the game unfold from the shadows.
Ding!
[Alert! System Warning: A Hidden Danger Has Been Detected!]
[Host's Wisdom Stat is insufficient to fully analyze the threat. Would you like to spend 100 silver taels to enhance Wisdom by +5?]
Bai Zhi smirked. Even my system thinks I'm missing something important?
100 silver taels was a small price to pay for knowledge.
"Do it," she murmured.
Ding!
[100 silver taels deducted. Wisdom +5. Analyzing current situation…]
[Analysis Complete: The letter writer is neither an enemy nor an ally. Their intent is unknown, but their knowledge surpasses that of your current foes. This individual belongs to a hidden faction within the city.]
Bai Zhi's eyes gleamed. A hidden faction? How interesting.
She traced the strange red ink mark at the bottom of the letter. The design was unfamiliar—not a noble crest, not a merchant's seal, not even the mark of an underground gang.
"Whoever they are… they want me to know that I'm playing a much bigger game than I thought."
Xia Qian's Concern
Xia Qian, Bai Zhi's sharp-tongued but fiercely loyal friend, leaned against the doorway, sipping her tea with a frown. "You look way too entertained for someone who just got a death warning."
Bai Zhi folded the letter carefully. "It's not a death warning. It's an opportunity."
Xia Qian raised a brow. "An opportunity to die?"
Bai Zhi chuckled. "An opportunity to gain information."
Xia Qian exhaled sharply, setting her teacup down. "Alright, genius. What's the plan?"
Bai Zhi tapped her fingers rhythmically against the table. "First, I need to confirm if Wu Fei really isn't the first strike."
As if on cue, a servant burst in, panting. "Miss Bai! Something's happened!"
Xia Qian shot Bai Zhi a look. "You just had to say that out loud, huh?"
Wu Fei's Challenge
By the time Bai Zhi and Xia Qian arrived at Moonlit Teahouse, the news had already spread.
Directly across the street, a brand-new establishment stood gleaming under the setting sun. Jade Pavilion—a fully renovated teahouse with grand golden lettering and an unmistakable air of arrogance.
A group of wealthy merchants and noble heirs were already streaming inside, their chatter filled with curiosity and excitement.
Xia Qian's eyes darkened. "That bastard copied your entire concept."
Bai Zhi smirked. "He tried to. But let's see how well he executes it."
Ding!
[Business War Event Detected!]
[Host has entered a Competitive Business Battle.]
[New Objective: Defeat Wu Fei in revenue within 10 days.]
[Rewards: Special Business Skill Unlock, Money-Spending Boost +10%.]
Bai Zhi's pulse quickened. A competitive business battle? The system really knows how to make things exciting.
She turned to Xia Qian. "Tell the staff to prepare something special. We're going to show the city what real tea mastery looks like."
A Dangerous Investor
Later that night, Bai Zhi sat in the private VIP section of her teahouse, waiting.
The scent of high-grade moonflower tea lingered in the air when Yan Jing arrived.
Yan Jing, the third son of the city's wealthiest merchant family, walked in with an easy grace, silver accessories gleaming. He took a sip of the tea she had prepared, his lips curving. "Impressive. You've improved your recipe."
Bai Zhi rested her chin on her hand. "You didn't come here to drink tea."
Yan Jing chuckled. "No. I came to warn you."
Bai Zhi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Yan Jing leaned in, his voice low. "Wu Fei isn't acting alone. He's backed by a powerful noble faction."
Ding!
[Alert! System Analysis: A Hidden Noble Family is Interfering. Host must uncover their identity to counter their influence.]
Bai Zhi's fingers tapped against the table. "Which noble family?"
Yan Jing smirked. "That's for you to figure out."
She met his gaze. "And what do you want in return for this information?"
Yan Jing tilted his head, amusement flashing in his eyes. "Nothing… yet."
Bai Zhi exhaled slowly. He's testing me.
He wanted to see if she was worth betting on.
Her lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "Then let's play."
Yan Jing's laughter was soft but filled with amusement. "I like you more and more, Bai Zhi."
The war had begun. And she had no intention of losing.
To be continued...