Two Hundred Gold, Not a Coin Less

Divine Weapon Pavilion was highly efficient at appraising goods. Lin Changqing had barely sat down and had not even finished a pot of tea.

The waiter soon came over carrying Lin Changqing's long saber, then leaned close to Chen San's ear and whispered a few words.

Though the waiter's voice was very low.

Ordinarily, even an average Martial Artist would have been unable to hear him clearly.

But Lin Changqing possessed the power of the mind, and his five senses far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Even typical Eighth Rank or Seventh Rank Martial Artists might not match him, so he heard every word the waiter said.

"Shopkeeper, Master Yun said this saber is exceptional. It is absolutely among the finest of Ninth Rank Divine Weapons; its sharpness may even rival an Eighth Rank..."

"Oh..."

Chen San's eyes lit up, and joy surged in his heart.

Yet his face remained impassive as he said to Lin Changqing, "Young Master, our Divine Weapon Pavilion's master has already appraised your saber. It is indeed quite good.

"If you sincerely wish to sell it, Divine Weapon Pavilion can offer twenty gold..."

"Twenty gold!"

Lin Changqing raised his eyebrows and immediately gave a light laugh. "Shopkeeper Chen, isn't that price a little low?"

"Young Master, it is not low. Your saber is indeed good, a fine piece even among Ninth Rank Divine Weapons, but that is all.

"There are certainly better ones than yours.

"Twenty gold is already a very high price. If you do not believe me, feel free to ask around. Chen guarantees that this is absolutely the highest offer you will get."

Chen San chuckled.

"Is that so?"

Lin Changqing's expression did not change, but inwardly he sneered.

Chen San truly was a crooked merchant.

For a top-tier Ninth Rank Divine Weapon, one whose sharpness even rivaled an Eighth Rank, he was only offering twenty gold. What a black-hearted bastard!

Most importantly, the fellow truly deserved to be called an old fox. His acting was first-rate.

If Lin Changqing had not overheard the waiter, he might really have believed his nonsense.

But now...

Naturally, he would not bother with this old fool.

Lin Changqing did not expose Chen San's little scheme. He merely smiled, rose to his feet, put away the saber, and said, "In that case, I'll follow Shopkeeper Chen's advice and take a look at some other places..."

With that, he turned and left with the saber.

There was not the slightest hesitation.

For a moment, Chen San and the waiter were both dumbfounded.

Their faces blank with shock.

Damn it, this brat did not play by the usual rules!

Only when Lin Changqing had reached the doorway did Chen San finally come to his senses. He immediately sprang up and shouted as he hurried after him.

"Young Master... don't be hasty! If the price is unsuitable, we can discuss it further. Isn't business something to be negotiated?"

Chen San strode over, smiling as he caught hold of Lin Changqing. "Young Master, twenty gold truly is not a low price.

"How about you name your price and tell me what you consider suitable?

"If the difference is not too great, then let us consider it the start of a friendship, and Chen will take it..."

"Two hundred gold. Not a coin less."

Lin Changqing smiled as he held up two fingers, his expression calm.

"Two hundred gold..."

Chen San was instantly stunned. The waiter beside him cried out in shock, inwardly cursing Lin Changqing for being truly black-hearted—he had raised the price tenfold the moment he opened his mouth.

Why not just go rob someone?

"Young Master, your price is simply too high. This is only a Ninth Rank Divine Weapon." Chen San's expression darkened. "Two hundred gold is worth twenty thousand taels of silver!"

"An ordinary Ninth Rank Divine Weapon is naturally not worth that price, but my long saber is."

Lin Changqing sneered. "Shopkeeper Chen, I believe you understand that clearly as well.

"You and I are both sensible men, so there is no need to speak in riddles.

"Two hundred gold. Are you buying it or not? Give me a definite answer. Do not waste each other's time..."

Chen San's expression shifted between light and dark.

He knew he had encountered an expert today. Trying to fish in muddy waters was impossible. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll take it..."

A top-grade Ninth Rank Divine Weapon, with sharpness that even rivaled an Eighth Rank.

Such fine goods were rarely seen. Even Divine Weapon Pavilion had never possessed one.

Though Lin Changqing's asking price was rather high, if handled properly, Chen San could buy it for two hundred gold and sell it on for three hundred gold without difficulty.

One transaction, and he would make a clean profit of one hundred gold.

Where else could he find a deal like that?

"Shopkeeper Chen is generous."

Lin Changqing smiled faintly. "I do not want gold notes or silver notes. Give me one hundred taels of silver, and settle the rest entirely in gold..."

The Great Zhou Imperial Court issued gold notes and silver notes.

However, few people used them, because exchanging gold notes and silver notes for gold or silver at a money house required paying a tax.

Five out of every hundred.

For two hundred gold, ten gold would be taken as tax—equivalent to losing one thousand taels of silver for nothing.

Naturally, he would not make such a deal.

After a stick of incense.

Lin Changqing left Divine Weapon Pavilion with a small chest strapped to his back.

He then headed straight for the largest pharmacy on the street. If he wanted his Martial Cultivation to advance further, he needed the aid of medicinal baths and medicinal cuisine.

The medical texts Daoist Yunyang had given him contained records of such methods.

Returning Origin Powder.

Qihuang Black Ginseng Soup.

These were the medicinal bath and medicinal cuisine formulas Lin Changqing had chosen.

The required medicinal ingredients were extremely precious; a single dose cost twenty or thirty taels.

Even with only one medicinal bath and one meal of medicinal cuisine a day, that would cost more than fifty taels. Over a month, it would be at least one thousand five hundred taels of silver.

His two hundred gold, even by the fullest calculation, would only last a little over a year.

"With my comprehension, my Martial Cultivation should improve quickly. The consumption will only grow greater. I'm afraid it will not even last a year."

Lin Changqing muttered to himself. "Damn it, poverty in scholarship, wealth in martial arts. The ancients truly did not deceive me."

As he spoke.

Lin Changqing entered Fengle County Town's largest pharmacy, Hundred Herbs Hall.

At the same time.

Divine Weapon Pavilion, Backyard.

Chen San was drinking tea in the courtyard when a man hurried over to report, "Shopkeeper, after that brat left Divine Weapon Pavilion, he entered Hundred Herbs Hall.

"He should be buying medicinal ingredients.

"I had the brothers Du Hu and Du Bao keep watch over there..."

"Mm!"

Chen San nodded slightly, a gleam flashing through his eyes. "Though that brat carries himself with uncommon bearing, his clothes are very ordinary.

"He should be a villager from around Fengle County.

"Tell Du Hu and Du Bao to keep a close watch. They must find out this boy's true identity."

"Yes, Shopkeeper..."

The man nodded, then hesitated before saying, "Shopkeeper, why go through so much trouble? Once he leaves the town, we can simply..."

"Shut up!"

Chen San shot the man a fierce glare and said coldly, "A mere two hundred gold is not worth tarnishing Divine Weapon Pavilion's reputation.

"The long saber this boy brought was newly forged.

"It was definitely forged less than a month ago. That means there should be a Divine Weapon Forgemaster behind him.

"That is my true objective.

"Find this Divine Weapon Forgemaster and think of a way to invite him to Divine Weapon Pavilion."

Chen San understood very clearly that compared to the value of a Divine Weapon Forgemaster, a mere two hundred gold was nothing.

That was also why, when Lin Changqing named the sky-high price of two hundred gold, he had agreed without much hesitation.

Since Lin Changqing could bring a Divine Weapon here to sell, Chen San believed his relationship with that Divine Weapon Forgemaster must be far from ordinary.

As long as they uncovered Lin Changqing's specific information, they should be able to find the Divine Weapon Forgemaster behind him.

Of course!

Chen San could never have imagined it.

That Ninth Rank long saber had actually come from Lin Changqing's own hands.

The Divine Weapon Forgemaster he had deduced was none other than Lin Changqing himself.