"Phew..."
Reappearing in the study at Fang Mansion, the familiar scene caught his eye. Fang Zheng instinctively let out a breath of relief and showed a satisfied smile.
In his hand, he was still holding a heavy wooden box.
Clearly, the harvest was substantial.
"With great skill cos boldness, indeed not deceiving ."
After placing the box down, Fang Zheng clapped his hands and pushed the door open:
"Two years ago, if I knew there would be unrest in the city, I definitely wouldn't have co, at least I'd wait until the storm passed."
"But now,"
"Although Gu'an County is dangerous, it is also full of opportunities."
With a cultivation base of Three Blood, a Martial Arts Realm of Power into the Marrow, the ultimate move One-Character Heart-Clearing Slash at his side, and the hidden cards in his possession...
What is there to fear?
"Li San!"
"Here."
"Drive to the West Market."
"Master, now?"
Li San glanced at the sky; it seed a bit late to go to the West Market and return.
"Just go as I say." Fang Zheng brushed his sleeves:
"No need to dilly-dally."
"Yes."
Li San bowed his head in agreent.
......
The streets were still filled with refugees, and occasionally, passersby would walk by.
But it was different from before.
The city folks who looked at the refugees back then, with disdain, with disgust, with pity, with sympathy, were no longer there.
What remained,
was only vigilance and hatred.
The refugees' eyes were no longer numb, but cold, like a pack of hungry wolves eyeing passing 'prey.'
"In the two days you were away, there was another riot among the refugees in the city. It wasn't large, and was quickly suppressed."
Li San followed closely behind Fang Zheng, whispering:
"Our side had a nurse patrolling, so nothing went wrong."
"It's just..."
"During the riot, Evil Cult demons appeared, specifically targeting governntal officials and city guards. Now, people from the Governnt Office rarely dare to show themselves."
"Yesterday's heavy snow, who knows how many froze to death."
"Food prices are still rising, the Ren Family is making a fortune, and those demons, what's the point of targeting common folk?"
He mumbled on, giving Fang Zheng so insight into the current situation.
"The heavy snow has blocked the mountain roads, making the official roads difficult to pass. All the rchants are trapped in Gu'an County and are selling their goods at low prices."
"Hmm."
Fang Zheng nodded and stepped into a shabby shop.
This was an antique shop, its display not too eye-catching, but it was the only sales point of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Gu'an County.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had a deep background, allegedly related to the current National Religion, Profound Celestial Dao.
Even Linghu and the Ren Family dared not easily provoke it.
"Is Shopkeeper Ba here?"
"Young Master Fang." Shopkeeper Ba lifted the curtain leading to the back door and smiled:
"A rare guest!"
"Please co inside."
Fang Zheng nodded, leaving Li San outside, and entered the back hall with familiarity, sitting down at Shopkeeper Ba's invitation.
"Tis are tough."
Shopkeeper Ba tightened his otter fur robe, poured tea for Fang Zheng, and sighed:
"Recently, the food prices in the city have skyrocketed, and all the money made is thrown into buying food, leaving the post-opening profits empty."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have taken this job."
Previously, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion didn't have a branch in Gu'an County, and Shopkeeper Ba only moved from Zhaonan Prefecture six months ago to set up business.
After six months of hard work, with no profit, anyone would be upset.
"You're joking." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"With the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's reputation, even the Ren Family wouldn't dare go too far."
"The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion..." Shopkeeper Ba shrugged:
"A powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, and while the Pavilion is the Pavilion, Ba is Ba, and my own face doesn't work all that well."
He had his unspeakable difficulties.
Originally volunteering to co to Gu'an County to expand business for further advancent, but after six months, with no profit, he didn't know how to report back.
If he really angered those above, not to ntion advancing, he might not even keep his position as the shopkeeper.
"Isn't there a deal here now?"
Fang Zheng smiled:
"The calming incense you ntioned last ti, do you have any in stock now?"
"Hmm..." Shopkeeper Ba squinted:
"Does Young Master Fang really want it?"
"Could it be false?" Fang Zheng's expression turned serious:
"As long as the effect is as Shopkeeper Ba said, I won't be stingy with the silver taels."
"Wait a mont."
Shopkeeper Ba stood up and went to the backyard. After a while, he ca back with a brocade box, gently placing it on the table between them.
"Calming incense is a Spiritual dicine of the Daoist Sect. Various sects have similar items, but the calming incense from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is among the best."
He gently caressed the brocade box and said slowly:
"This incense contains musk, ginseng essence, antler, and over a hundred rare herbs, and it must be refined personally by a Mage who has cultivated Mana."
"Slling it refreshes the mind; inhaling it cures all ailnts..."
"Cough cough!" Fang Zheng lightly coughed:
"There's no need for Shopkeeper Ba to repeat those words. I just want to know if the calming incense really benefits the cultivation of the Observation thod?"
"Of course!" Shopkeeper Ba's eyes widened:
"Could it be false?"
"The reputation of the calming incense from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is known all over the world, and many Daoist sects purchase it specifically to assist their disciples in their practice."
"However..."
He pursed his lips and said:
"The calming incense can help the Divine Soul attain tranquility, and if you have the Divine Intent Visualization Image, the effect is optimal. Without it, the effects would be sowhat diminished."
"But for Warlocks, it's still a treasure not to be missed."
"Hmm." Fang Zheng was noncommittal and asked:
"The price?"
"Easy talk." Shopkeeper Ba's spirits lifted and he said:
"I have three sticks here, each priced at twenty silver taels. If you want them all, you can take them for fifty."
Twenty silver taels per stick?
Fang Zheng's mouth twitched.
Every ti he dealt with sothing used by Warlocks, he couldn't help but reflect on how costly it was, no wonder Zhang Mingrui went to such lengths to earn money.
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