Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Open and Hidden Struggles_1
"Something seems off about you?" Jiang Zhengyi asked, looking at Qin Feiyang with a hint of suspicion.
Qin Feiyang laughed dryly. "No, it’s nothing. I’m just a little embarrassed by your praise."
"You? Embarrassed? That’s a surprise." Jiang Zhengyi shook his head teasingly and said, "I’ve got some business to take care of. If you don’t have anything else to do, stay here and dedicate yourself to your cultivation."
Qin Feiyang nodded.
Jiang Zhengyi turned and left.
Qin Feiyang also stepped out of his room onto the corridor. He looked at Jia Hei and Elder Lin in the grand hall, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. He didn’t dare say anything about Elder Lin, but this Jia Hei definitely wouldn’t let him return to Yan Province easily. It seemed he would need to be cautious of this man in the future.
Just as he was about to return to his room, the doors to a few nearby rooms opened. The Crown Prince and his companions emerged, all dressed impeccably.
The Crown Prince smiled. "Brother Qin, we’re going out for a stroll. Would you like to join us?"
Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "You all go ahead. I’d like to rest."
"Alright, then. Rest well. Let’s go, everyone!" The Crown Prince called out, then led Xue Yang and the others towards the first floor, laughing and chatting.
Qin Feiyang returned to his room, closed the door, and shook his head. They’re still in the mood to wander about leisurely. They really have no sense of urgency.
"You’re aware, alright, but you’re also incredibly dull," the Wolf King scoffed.
"For me, nothing is more important than increasing my own strength." Qin Feiyang chuckled, sitting beside the Wolf King. He grabbed a Qi Gathering Pill, tossed it into his mouth, and entered a state of cultivation.
He hadn’t been idle during their eight-day journey, cultivating constantly. He felt that his cultivation level was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Not long after, Ling Yunfei, Feng Ling’er, Lo Qingzhu, and Zhao Shuang’er came looking for him. They had also planned to go out and explore. However, upon seeing Qin Feiyang cultivating, they changed their minds. They asked Qin Feiyang for some Qi Gathering Pills, then returned to their respective rooms to make their final efforts.
「At the same time.」
A man and a woman with unfamiliar faces entered the Treasure Pavilion in Pan County. It was Fatty and Lu Hong in disguise. Both had altered their appearance to look middle-aged.
"How may I help you, esteemed guests?" an employee greeted them with a polite smile.
"Master Fat—" Fatty began, but Lu Hong cut him off with a light cough. She then smiled at the employee. "We have a big transaction to discuss. Could you please take us to your manager?"
"A big transaction?" The employee eyed them suspiciously, but seeing they didn’t appear to be lying, he smiled. "Please follow me."
The employee led the way, with Fatty and Lu Hong following close behind.
Lu Hong whispered, "Get rid of that catchphrase, quickly! If you mess this up because of it, don’t blame me for getting rough!"
"Got it!" Fatty chuckled sheepishly.
On the second floor, in a VIP room, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk. He wore a well-fitted white robe and appeared to be around thirty years old, with strands of white at his temples that gave him an air of experience.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The employee stopped outside the door and knocked lightly.
"Who is it?" the man in white asked.
"Chief Wang, there are two guests who wish to see you," the employee said.
"Let them in," Chief Wang replied.
Once Fatty and Lu Hong entered, Chief Wang looked up and smiled. "How can I help you two?"
Lu Hong closed the door, clasped her hands in a polite gesture, and smiled. "We are here to purchase some medicinal herbs."
Chief Wang said, "Show me the list."
Lu Hong glanced at Fatty.
Fatty approached the desk, took three blank sheets of paper, and began writing swiftly. On each sheet, he listed eleven different medicinal herbs.
After examining the lists, Chief Wang remarked in surprise, "These herbs are all very precious!" Can they even afford them? he wondered.
Lu Hong smiled. "We’ll take whatever quantity you have. As for the price, we just ask that you give us a reasonable discount, Manager."
So, they’re big clients after all! Chief Wang was inwardly startled but maintained a calm expression as he asked, "You both seem to be new faces. Is this your first time in King Pan City?"
"We’re from Sea Cloud City, and yes, this is indeed our first time in King Pan City."
"May I ask the reason for your inquiry, Manager?"
"If I recall correctly," Lu Hong replied with a faint smile, "the Treasure Pavilion’s rules forbid prying into a guest’s private affairs."
Sea Cloud City was another city in Pan County, its status comparable to Star Moon City in Yan Province. Fatty and Lu Hong had learned this on their journey here.
"Then I have been presumptuous," Chief Wang said with an apologetic smile. "Please wait a moment; I will go make the arrangements immediately." He stood up, walked to the door, opened it, and strode out.
Lu Hong turned back, puzzled. "Fatty, why did you divide the ingredients for the Potential Elixir into three separate lists?"
Fatty smirked. "To throw them off the scent, of course."
Lu Hong immediately understood. The Potential Elixir required thirty-three ingredients. Listing them all together might have aroused Chief Wang’s suspicions, as a manager of the Treasure Pavilion would be very familiar with the components of various elixirs. Therefore, writing the thirty-three ingredients out separately could alleviate many of his doubts.
Before long, Chief Wang returned to the VIP room holding a Qiankun Bag. He placed it on the desk and smiled. "All the herbs you requested are in here."
Fatty carefully inspected the contents and frowned. "Is this all?"
"You think it’s too little?" Chief Wang was stunned for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "To be honest with you both, this is the entire current stock of our Treasure Pavilion."
Fatty looked somewhat disappointed.
Lu Hong chuckled. "Well then, Senior, please name your price."
Chief Wang held up one finger. "One hundred million in total."
"One hundred million!" Lu Hong exclaimed in astonishment, turning to look at Fatty. Didn’t he say it was a small amount? How could it be one hundred million? Last time, Chief Li brought out all his inventory, and it only cost thirty million!
Fatty waved his hand. "Give him the Gold Coins."
Lu Hong frowned slightly, took out a Qiankun Bag, and after settling the payment, she put away the lists and they took their leave.
They truly are big spenders, Chief Wang mused. But since when did Sea Cloud City have such wealthy individuals? Judging by their strength, they don’t seem that powerful. They’re probably members of a large family, sent out to procure medicinal herbs on the family’s behalf.
With this thought, Chief Wang felt at ease and smiled, not dwelling on it further.
The moment Lu Hong stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion, she snatched the Qiankun Bag from Fatty. She was incredibly curious—just how many medicinal herbs were actually inside? She hadn’t known what to expect, but one look inside gave her a shock! The Qiankun Bag contained at least several thousand medicinal herbs! Moreover, even the most precious items like Nine Suns Flower, Snow Crystal, and Fire Ginseng were included.
"If Master Fatty hadn’t said that, how would we know if he’d given us his entire stock?" Fatty chuckled slyly. "You’re still too naive, little girl. You have a lot to learn."
Lu Hong rolled her eyes. This damn fatty is so treacherous! Still, I never expected Pan County to have so many medicinal herbs. We’ve truly returned with a bountiful harvest this time.
Fatty was too busy gloating to notice someone approaching from ahead. That person also had their head down, seemingly absorbed in thought.
BANG!
The two collided forcefully.
"Who do you think you are? Are you blind?" Fatty exploded with anger, taking a step back and glaring at the person.
It was a middle-aged man dressed in an immaculate white robe, possessing a rather distinguished air.
"My apologies." The middle-aged man, however, appeared quite courteous and offered Fatty an apologetic smile.
With that, he walked past Fatty and Lu Hong, heading straight into the Treasure Pavilion.
Fatty frowned. "What’s wrong with that guy?"
Lu Hong glared at him. "Don’t just blame others. Weren’t you also not looking where you were going? Let’s hurry back and report to Qin Feiyang."
Fatty’s eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "Boss will be ecstatic when he hears about this!"
The two of them quickened their pace and soon disappeared into the crowd.
Meanwhile, after entering the Treasure Pavilion, the middle-aged man went directly to find Chief Wang.
Inside the VIP room, Chief Wang looked up at the newcomer, puzzled. "Sir, what business might you have with me?"
"I want these medicinal herbs," the middle-aged man said with a faint smile, taking two lists from his pocket.
Chief Wang took them and, after examining each one, a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes.
"Is something wrong?" the middle-aged man asked, appearing somewhat nervous.
Chief Wang replied, "The medicinal herbs on these lists... they were all just purchased by someone else."
"How is that possible?" The middle-aged man’s eyes widened.
Chief Wang asked suspiciously, "Sir, the herbs on your lists are identical to the ones they listed. Do you know them?"
Impossible! the middle-aged man thought, his gaze flickering. How could anyone in Pan County know the ingredients for the Potential Elixir? Could it be... him?
He then smiled at Chief Wang. "Yes, we know each other. I just didn’t expect them to get here first. My apologies for the inconvenience."
"It’s no trouble," Chief Wang said, shaking his head with a smile as he returned the lists to the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man immediately departed in a hurry, a hint of anger now visible in his eyes.
Not long after the middle-aged man left, a white-haired elder entered the VIP room.
Chief Wang hurried to greet him. "What took you so long?"
The white-haired elder sat down by the tea table and chuckled. "After leaving the Phoenix Tower, I paid a visit to the King’s Palace to discuss the timing of the Friendship Match with King Pan and the others."
Chief Wang nodded and asked, "So, did Qin Feiyang tell you the ingredients for the Potential Elixir?"
"That lad is very shrewd; he didn’t say a word," the white-haired elder replied, shaking his head with a sigh of helplessness. "And he refused to help us refine the Top Grade Vermilion Glazed Pill."
"You went to him personally, and he still refused to talk? That kid really doesn’t know what’s good for him!" Chief Wang frowned.
"What choice do I have?" the elder replied. "With Jiang Zhengyi around, I don’t dare to force him."
"However, if I’m not mistaken, Qin Feiyang likely intends to buy up all the medicinal herbs at a low price while we’re unaware."
"So, from now on, whether it’s Qin Feiyang or Jiang Zhengyi, if they come to purchase medicinal herbs, do not sell them anything."
"And if an opportunity arises, try to probe them again, see if you can get any information out of them," the white-haired elder instructed.
"Understood," Chief Wang nodded.
However, neither of them knew that their precautions had come too late.