Chapter 17: Who Is the True Distinguished Guest

“Do you really need a VIP card to buy first? Isn’t it possible to purchase without one?” Qin Lang asked with a puzzled expression.

The woman in front of him, Xiao He, smiled and gently shook her head. “Not exactly. Our Phoenix Pavilion has a rule: first come, first served, but those with a VIP card get priority.”

Hua Manlou, standing by, worried silently for him. After all, he didn’t have a VIP card either.

He had come here many times to buy clothes, but his purchases were always modest, so he never qualified for a VIP card.

Those who spent lavishly or made large purchases naturally received a VIP card, which allowed them discounts.

Upon learning the Phoenix Pavilion’s rule, Qin Lang fell silent immediately.

Slap!

Seeing Qin Lang’s silence, Li Jian seized the opportunity and produced his VIP card—a silvery card resembling a bank card—and slapped it down on the counter.

“See, kid? This is a VIP card.” As soon as he finished, Li Jian scrutinized Qin Lang and mocked him with icy scorn. “Judging by your attire, I bet you don’t even know what a VIP card is. You probably don’t have one either. Why don’t you just get lost?”

“Who says I don’t have a VIP card? If I took mine out, I’d scare you into barking like a dog,” Qin Lang’s eyes narrowed, his aura undiminished.

“Uh—”

Hua Manlou’s face twitched at that, internally speechless. Qin Lang was indeed wealthy, but he had lived in the Supreme Celestial Prison for years.

This was his first time entering the Phoenix Pavilion; how could he possibly have a VIP card?

“If you can produce a card more prestigious than mine, I’ll bark like a dog right here,” Li Jian retorted, undaunted and icy, his demeanor fierce. “But if you can’t, don’t blame me for breaking your legs.”

Slap!

Without further ado, Qin Lang drew a black-gold card from his storage ring and placed it on the counter.

The black-gold card looked much like Li Jian’s silver card; both bore a phoenix emblem. But upon closer inspection, differences emerged.

The black-gold card had a phoenix, special runes, and a string of mysterious inscriptions, hinting at a uniquely noble status.

The silver card, by comparison, had the phoenix and special runes as well, but its inscriptions denoted a status less prestigious than the black-gold card.

Rustle—

The sudden appearance of the black-gold card stunned everyone present. Eyes widened in disbelief; some people rubbed their eyes, unable to trust what they saw.

Having revealed the black-gold card, Qin Lang stared coldly at Li Jian. “I’ve shown my card. Are you ready to honor your wager?”

“I—” The words stuck in Li Jian’s throat, his face blanching as if he wanted to die.

---

The black-gold card, also known as the Supreme Card.

The Phoenix Pavilion’s most coveted card.

In the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty, only a handful possessed it—not even ten people. Yet, before them stood a young man, about their age, who owned such a card.

The humiliation was so sudden that Li Jian’s face flushed crimson, feeling as though he’d been slapped.

“My god—”

“This—”

Hua Manlou burst out in disbelief, staring at Qin Lang. “Brother Qin, how do you have such a card?”

He thought Qin Lang was just bluffing, unwilling to lose. Who could have guessed he actually had one?

And not just any card—but the highest level. It dazzled Hua Manlou’s eyes.

“Hehe—” Qin Lang chuckled. “Brother Hua, I’ll tell you later how I came by it.”

He then turned to Xiao He and smiled, “May I use this card to purchase the Southern Silk?”

Xiao He quickly regained her composure and nodded with a smile. “Absolutely. Please, gentlemen, follow me upstairs—I’ll lead you to select your cloth.”

This was the first time she had seen someone actually use a black-gold card.

She’d seen it before, but only when the Pavilion Master showed it to her, likely as a reminder to treat holders with utmost care.

Never had she imagined someone would bring it today.

“Very well.” Qin Lang nodded, then glanced at Li Jian. “Come now. Let’s hear you bark, as promised.”

“You—” Li Jian’s anger surged, his face twisted, eyes gleaming with murderous intent. “You dare make me bark like a dog? Do you know who I am? Do you believe I can summon eight hundred men to kill you in a minute?”

“I don’t care who you are.” Qin Lang’s expression turned cold, his tone deadly, eyes sharp as ice. “Honoring one’s wager is a principle as old as time. Today, you’ll bark whether you like it or not.”

“You—” Li Jian trembled with fury, and the two guards behind him readied themselves for a fight.

“Are you planning to start a fight?” Hua Manlou’s gaze turned icy, his formidable presence overwhelming.

“This is the Phoenix Pavilion. I advise you to behave—accept your loss, or this black-gold card will be enough for the Pavilion to sever all business with your Li family.”

Feeling Hua Manlou’s gaze and glancing again at the black-gold card, Li Jian’s anger deflated, his back chilled. He swallowed his rage and then—

---

“Woof, woof—”

“Woof, woof—”

Qin Lang: “……”

Hua Manlou: “……”

Xiao He: “……”

Xiao Lan: “……”

Everyone present: “……”

He actually barked like a dog?!

After barking, Li Jian’s eyes burned with hatred, his face cold as he turned to leave.

As he departed, he swept his icy gaze over them, as if to say he would remember this grudge.

Qin Lang remained unperturbed, his eyes calm and disdainful, full of mockery.

To challenge him—this fool was still too green…

With Xiao He leading the way, they headed upstairs. As they climbed the stairs, Hua Manlou looked at Qin Lang with curiosity. “Brother Qin, how do you have the Phoenix Pavilion’s black-gold card? Don’t tell me you’re secretly a tycoon.”

“It’s not mine,” Qin Lang denied with a gentle shake of his head.

“What—?” Hua Manlou stared at Qin Lang, confused. “It’s not your black-gold card? Brother Qin, if it isn’t yours, whose is it? How did it end up in your hands?”

“It belonged to the man I killed a little over a month ago.”

“Hmm!” Hua Manlou’s expression changed subtly, his eyes narrowed, gazing quietly at Qin Lang. “You mean this black-gold card was—”

He stopped mid-sentence, as if there was a secret too dangerous to voice.

…

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