Most people capable of becoming swindlers were clever. They knew what to give up and what to keep, and would not lose the big picture for small gains.
Clearly, the cultivator before them named Pang Shan was a clever man.
Knowing that this matter would not be easily glossed over, he straightforwardly took the initiative to apologize and offer compensation.
Seeing that this fellow had actually taken out a pill, Yang An did not know its exact value, but the pained look on Pang Shan's face did not seem fake. He turned to look at Pan Shi beside him.
After all, Pan Shi and his junior sister were the ones who had nearly been deceived. Yang An had only intervened to help them, so how to handle the matter naturally depended on Pan Shi's decision.
"Is this truly a Substance Transformation Pill?"
Having nearly fallen for this fellow's trick just now, Pan Shi had become somewhat suspicious and clearly did not trust him.
Pang Shan nodded repeatedly.
"It truly is a Substance Transformation Pill. I would never dare deceive you again, Fellow Daoist."
Pan Shi accepted the pill from his hand with some doubt. Just as he was about to inspect it carefully, he suddenly remembered his own limited ability. There was an expert standing right beside him.
So he handed the pill over to Yang An instead.
"Fellow Daoist Yang, take another look. Is this Substance Transformation Pill real or fake?"
In truth, Yang An knew the pill was most likely genuine even without looking. But since Pan Shi wanted his help, he might as well examine it again, so he accepted the pill Pan Shi handed him.
The instant he took it, an information panel appeared before Yang An's eyes.
Substance Transformation Pill: Produced by the Golden Wash Sect. Refined from the essence of the Form Tree, supplemented with the heart's blood of a hundred beasts. Upon consumption, it allows one to temporarily transform into the form of a hundred beasts, or assume the state of a spirit tree. Cost of use: When the transformation ends, any part of the physical body may retain remnants of the transformation, and they cannot be reversed. Status: Can be purified!
This thing... was rather interesting.
Yang An looked at the pill in his hand. He had not expected it to be used for transformation, though the price of using it was indeed quite severe.
"It is indeed a Substance Transformation Pill!"
After he told Pan Shi the result, Pan Shi nodded and tossed the Exquisite Flower Illusion Jade back to Pang Shan without making things difficult for him.
Just as he had said before, the Communal Feast Convention was a mixed bag of fish and dragons. Cultivators from all sides who came here had their own immortal mountains and sectarian roots; even the lowest Rogue Cultivators had forces they relied upon.
Unless there was some deep-seated blood feud, there was no need to make an enemy of the other party.
Even the lineage of Mother Diviner True Person, the hosts of the Communal Feast Convention, was not overly harsh toward these people. There was naturally no need for them, mere visitors here to join the excitement, to stand out.
In any case, they had not suffered any loss from beginning to end. Instead, they had gained a fairly valuable Substance Transformation Pill, enough to serve as compensation. There was no need to keep harping on the matter and insist on making trouble for the other party.
"Good thing we have an expert by our side. We will let this go today, but next time, I advise you to keep your eyes open."
Although Pan Shi did not intend to pursue the matter, he could not help giving the man a verbal warning in the end.
"You are absolutely right, Fellow Daoist. Thank you all for showing mercy! Thank you!"
Pang Shan was tactful enough not to argue. Instead, he gratefully bowed to the three of them.
Who could have expected him to capsize in a gutter and see an old horse stumble? He had run into an expert—whether he accepted it or not, he had no choice but to submit.
That these people had not made a big fuss over the matter was the best possible outcome for him.
Though losing a pill pained him somewhat, fortunately his location was rather secluded. Not many cultivators passed by, and he had not attracted anyone's attention. He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
From now on, he truly needed to keep his eyes open, just as the man before him had said.
With the matter settled, Yang An and the other two acted as though nothing had happened, leaving the place to browse elsewhere.
Yang An greatly approved of Pan Shi's way of handling things. No matter where one was, dealing with people was an art. Better one trouble less than one trouble more; fewer entanglements meant a little more freedom.
After they left, Yang An handed the Substance Transformation Pill back to Pan Shi, but Pan Shi waved his hand.
"If not for Fellow Daoist's help this time, my junior sister and I would likely have been deceived. This item should rightfully belong to Fellow Daoist, so please do not stand on ceremony with us over such matters."
Pan Shi knew very well that compared with owing Yang An a favor, it was better to give this item to Yang An directly. Otherwise, the favor would only grow larger and larger, until perhaps he could never repay it.
Seeing Pan Shi put it that way, Yang An did not stand on ceremony. After hesitating briefly, he put the pill away.
He might not have any use for this thing, but having one more valuable item on him meant he might be able to trade it later for something he needed. Who asked him to be so poor?
"Then I shall thank Fellow Daoist Pan."
"Haha, you are being too formal. Fellow Daoist Yang, do not keep being polite with us. We will still need much of your help later. If it is only my junior sister and me, I fear we will inevitably fall for someone else's tricks again."
Pan Shi laughed, while also making a decision in his heart.
"Of course, I will not let Fellow Daoist help for nothing. If Fellow Daoist sees anything you fancy later, just tell me. I will certainly satisfy you!"
When he and his junior sister had left Three Pine Mountain, their master had given them quite a few good things. Thus, Pan Shi appeared quite wealthy and generous.
Of course, compared with those resources, what he valued more was getting to know Yang An.
If their master learned of this, their master would certainly approve of his approach as well.
Sometimes, equal mutual assistance and mutual benefit were the greatest form of respect for the other party. Blindly satisfying the other's every demand and exhausting everything one had would instead demean oneself in pursuit of the other's approval.
That was not making friends. That was currying favor.
Although Pan Shi did not think these things of his amounted to much in Yang An's eyes—after all, Fellow Daoist Yang was a disciple of a great sect, and perhaps would not even care for them—
Still, where there was a will, there was a way. Only by letting Fellow Daoist Yang see his sincerity could the friendship between them go one step further.
Hearing Pan Shi's words, Yang An was quite surprised, but he quickly understood Pan Shi's intentions.
The other man sincerely wished to befriend him, which was why he placed them on equal footing instead of blindly using offerings to earn Yang An's approval.
Through their interactions over the past few days, Yang An had come to understand the temperaments and conduct of Pan Shi and his junior sister. They were indeed people worthy of being considered friends, so Yang An did not refuse.
"Good. Then if Fellow Daoist Pan encounters something you cannot judge later, just speak up. I will certainly help you."
Yang An did not put on airs. He nodded in agreement, also committing Pan Shi's goodwill to heart.
He knew that Pan Shi might still see him as wearing the skin of some great sect's disciple. Perhaps in Pan Shi's eyes, these resources could not count as much help to him.
But in truth, these things were like sending charcoal in the snow to Yang An. They relieved his urgent need, and their value could not be considered small.
This favor was precisely what he needed. He would naturally remember it in his heart and repay it someday.
"With Fellow Daoist Yang's help, I can rest much easier. We will certainly reap great gains this time."
Pan Shi laughed heartily, feeling very pleased.
Yang An had agreed with barely any hesitation, which meant that in Yang An's eyes, he acknowledged Pan Shi and his junior sister as friends.
Their relationship had drawn another step closer. This was precisely the outcome Pan Shi wanted.
"Let's go. There are more and more people now, and this is the liveliest time. Let's go take a look over there."
Pan Shi called out, and the three of them quickly headed elsewhere.
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