The Pawnbroker's Letter

"Senior, this... is the karmic opportunity you bestowed upon me?"

Dongguo Feng asked.

Old Shopkeeper took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the resentment and fury in his heart, and smiled. "Of course. Guest, hurry and take this thing with you. Little Old One is about to close up for the night."

At a glance, Dongguo Feng could tell that the short old man's smile was exceedingly forced and stiff at this moment, nothing like the warm and kindly one from before.

What exactly happened? Why has this Old Shopkeeper's attitude changed so drastically?

Dongguo Feng was puzzled.

Yet in the end, he did not ask, worried that some further twist or accident might arise.

"One does not accept rewards without merit. I cannot accept such a treasure. Farewell, Senior."

Dongguo Feng turned to leave.

But Old Shopkeeper panicked and cried out, "Guest, you must accept this treasure! Otherwise, Little Old One will be struck by bad luck!"

As he spoke, he grabbed the Bronze Box and tossed it to Dongguo Feng.

Then Old Shopkeeper swept his sleeve.

Dongguo Feng's vision blurred. Before he could even react, an invisible force enveloped him and swept him out of the pawnshop, where he vanished without a trace.

"This deal... I've suffered a massive loss!!"

At that moment, Old Shopkeeper seemed to collapse completely. Unable to hold back any longer, he fiercely slapped the scale, so furious he felt like crying but had no tears.

The scale pan and weight swayed and trembled, as though they, too, were incomparably wronged.

"Old profiteer, who are you putting on that funeral face for?"

A calm voice rang out.

Beneath the orange-yellow glow of the lamp hanging from the pawnshop's eaves, a tall, upright figure stood with his hands behind his back, arriving uninvited.

Old Shopkeeper froze.