After someone got lucky and bought good merchandise, it instantly stirred the gambler's mentality in everyone's hearts. What if they were the next one?
Though they all understood it was a scheme, that there could not be many good items and most of what they bought would be ordinary goods, the prices were fair. They had to buy somewhere anyway, and here they could still take a shot at their luck.
"Give me one."
"Me too. I want to pick two."
The stall instantly became bustling. Li Han and Qi Feng stepped forward to help out, while Zhang Qing, seated at the table, could not help giving a thumbs-up when he saw this.
"Junior Brother Lin, brilliant! That move of yours was brilliant!"
This time, Zhang Qing truly admired his junior brother. "Junior Brother Lin, you were simply born to eat from this bowl. If you had been born here earlier, you would definitely be this."
Watching Zhang Qing's raised thumb, Lin Chang'an's mouth twitched. Why did that sound like an insult?
"It's just making use of their mentality. Everyone knows perfectly well that there are only a few lucky ones, but they have to buy somewhere anyway."
Lin Chang'an said with a smile. Zhang Qing nodded with feeling. "Right, and we haven't raised our prices anyway."
"But we need to take advantage of today and sell as much as we can. Otherwise, they'll be hard to sell later." Lin Chang'an spoke with a hint of emotion, and Zhang Qing nodded admiringly.
"Junior Brother, you're still too kindhearted."
This was not sarcasm. Just as Zhang Qing finished speaking, the two gaunt figures who had just been sold dropped to their knees before Lin Chang'an with a thud.
"Thank you, Second Master Lin."
"Wuwu, Second Master is merciful."
The two gaunt figures wept bitterly as they kowtowed in thanks. No one thought they were being insincere, because if no one bought them, their final fate would be even more miserable.
At least now, bought at this price, they could live a few peaceful days. If they were lucky, they might spend the rest of their lives in bed and close their eyes with a smile.
Even ants clung to life. Lin Chang'an was their benefactor.
"Look, look at Elder Lu's disciple. He's just too kindhearted to bear seeing these people suffer." Zhang Qing slapped the table and spoke along with the others, his face flushed.
He had truly never experienced such a rush before. In the past, whenever he sold people, they would all look as though their parents had died, making him feel like some utterly conscienceless bastard. Yet now, these people had been sold and still turned around to thank him with heartfelt gratitude.
"All of you, open your eyes and look carefully! This is Elder Lu's personal disciple, my junior brother, Lin Chang'an!"
Having said that, Zhang Qing turned toward his subordinates with a look of disappointment, as though iron had failed to become steel. "Look at you lot. You've followed me for so many years, so how come none of you have any brains? Now look at my Junior Brother Lin—he's only been here for a few days."
"Open your eyes and take a good look. What is this called? This is called professionalism!"
As Zhang Qing berated his men for failing to meet expectations, Lin Chang'an was left speechless. What professionalism? He simply could not bear to witness the suffering of the world.
Just as the trading was in full swing, a sudden commotion rose in the crowd. A figure with unsteady steps and a pale face strode out arrogantly, followed by two attendants.
"I heard Baldy Zhang of the Great Sword Sect is even selling alchemists here. Today, I've come to see whether this is a swindle, or whether someone intends to ruin our Market's reputation."
Before the man arrived, his voice came first. Zhang Qing, who had been all smiles moments ago, gradually lost his smile when he saw the troublemaker, cold light gleaming in his eyes.
"Well, if it isn't someone from the Beast Taming Zhou Family—no, that's not right!" Just as Zhang Qing was about to mock him, he seemed to recall something and showed an annoyed expression. Shaking his head, he said, "My apologies. Look at this memory of mine—I forgot your surname is Wang."
But the apology on Zhang Qing's face turned into naked mockery the next moment. "Though it's about the same. You could send your own wife to a Zhou Family elder. Perhaps tomorrow, you'll kneel before them and change your surname to Zhou."
Zhang Qing's subordinates immediately burst into laughter. The mocked young man's face darkened. With a cold snort, he snapped his folding fan shut and said coldly, "Baldy Zhang, it's been many days. Your skill with that mouth has improved. Looks like the hair on your head has grown back."
At this moment, Lin Chang'an also saw that the two sides had history. Clearly, Zhang Qing had suffered at this man's hands before.
"Heh, what? You still dare make a move here?" Zhang Qing sneered directly. The other man did not take the bait. As their gazes met, it was obvious their grudge ran deep.
"Zhou Youyun—no! Wang Youyun." A mocking smile appeared on Zhang Qing's face. "Could it be that you want to send your wife to me?"
Every sentence Zhang Qing spoke tore open old scars. Yet Lin Chang'an, standing nearby, frowned gravely. This man's self-restraint was truly remarkable. He could still endure this?
Wang Youyun, dressed all in white, swept his gaze around with a cold smile. "You've opened your doors for business. Could it be that you, Baldy Zhang, intend to drive customers away?"
Zhang Qing snorted and sat back down. Having gained the upper hand, he did not want to continue arguing with the other man. If he got talked down, he would be the one losing out.
After Wang Youyun arrived, hushed discussions spread through the crowd. Quite a few people showed looks of sudden realization. Clearly, Wang Youyun's identity had already spread among them.
The spectators around them all widened their eyes. Sure enough, no matter what world one was in, watching a spectacle was practically carved into people's bones.
"This man has quite the background. He is a distant relative of an elder from the Beast Taming Zhou Family. Later, in order to curry favor and cling to the Zhou Family, he offered his own wife to that elder..."
As Zhang Qing's mocking voice echoed, Lin Chang'an suddenly understood. So that was what had happened. This Brother Endurance was truly impressive.
Wang Youyun, clad in white, snorted coldly. He did not even need to look to know what this group was doing, but he had come today to find trouble.
"Baldy Zhang, a person can live without integrity, but business cannot."
Wang Youyun coldly swept his gaze over the sacks one by one. Zhang Qing was unafraid, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. "I heard you borrowed quite a few Spirit Stones from that Zhou Family elder, intending to make a fortune in one stroke. Have you got quite a few human tickets piling up now?"
Beneath that derisive smile lay the truth: when the Market expanded, many of them had secretly been itching to make a fortune. Who would have thought that while the Purple Copper Mine had indeed drawn many people in, it had also attracted many of these rule-breaking outsiders who treated the business like a game?
The human-ticket trade had instantly swelled, while orders from above had been absolute: for the sake of the Market's expansion, no one was allowed to cause trouble. He had nearly ended up with everything stuck in his hands.
"Baldy Zhang, I heard you're even willing to sell alchemists here!"
Though he was asking, anyone could hear the mockery and disbelief in his tone. Wang Youyun sneered as he looked at everyone, as though saying, There must be something fishy about this alchemist, right?
"Fellow Daoist Wang, the alchemist is among them."
At this moment, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, forced a smile onto his face, and respectfully pointed to the sack on the left. With people like this, either beat them to death in one stroke, or never offend them.
You could call someone who gave his woman to another man cowardly, call him anything you liked. But if he could do such things and still dare to show his face openly with his head held high, then one had to be careful around him.
Because such a person no longer had any bottom line.
It was Tuesday. Fellow Daoists, please keep reading.
Before you continue