The next afternoon, the sun was shining brightly.
Xia Qi'an stepped into the Treasure Pavilion right on time.
As soon as he entered, a maid with half her ample bosom exposed and her skirt slit high up twisted her serpentine waist and sashayed over to greet him.
"Young master, you're incredibly handsome... Is this your first time at our Treasure Pavilion?" The maid smiled like a blooming flower, warmly linking her arm through Xia Qi'an's and speaking with a coquettish air.
Xia Qi'an shook off the maid's hand without leaving a trace and said in a deep voice, "Where's the manager of your Treasure Pavilion? I'd like to pay her a visit!"
"Young master... may I ask who you are?" The maid's expression changed when she heard this, and she asked cautiously.
"Wei Dao Si's Xia Qi'an!"
Upon hearing this, the maid immediately became respectful and fawning. "So you're Lord Xia! I've long admired your great name!"
"The head manager heard from the caravan that you were coming today. She even specifically told us to make sure we served you well!"
Xia Qi'an gave a slight nod. "Mm... Then sorry for the trouble. Take me to see your head manager."
"Yes... Lord Xia... this way, please!"
The head manager of the Treasure Pavilion was naturally the person in charge of the Jinling City branch.
Xia Qi'an was looking for her simply because he wanted to buy High Mountain Slave in advance, so nothing unexpected would happen during the auction.
Afterward, the maid led Xia Qi'an into the inner hall of the Treasure Pavilion.
This inner hall had always been where the important personnel of the Treasure Pavilion came and went.
However, what Xia Qi'an had never expected was that the head manager of the Treasure Pavilion was actually a woman.
And an incomparably alluring woman at that.
The woman had an exceptionally voluptuous figure. Every place that should be plump was rounded, while every place that should be slender could be encircled with one hand.
Her clothes were even more daring and uninhibited. The hem of her skirt was slit extremely high, revealing glimpses of her two long, fair legs, while her neckline was wide open. Compared with Si Nanyue, she was in no way inferior.
The Treasure Pavilion maids' bold attire seemed to have been influenced by this head manager as well.
"Ahem..."
After a light cough, Xia Qi'an awkwardly withdrew his gaze.
"Young Master Xia, I've long heard of your great name... I'm the Treasure Pavilion's head manager, Hong Xian. I hope you'll look favorably upon our business in the future!" Hong Xian rose and gave a slight curtsy, causing the fullness before her chest to tremble gently.
Seeing this, Xia Qi'an's heart nearly went mad.
There was actually such an exaggerated and towering bosom in this world!
There was nothing he could do about it. He had absolutely no resistance to women with ample breasts and broad hips.
Not to mention that this woman had a face that was seductive yet carried a hint of purity. She was undoubtedly a peerless beauty.
In his previous life, he had never seen such an exaggeratedly perfect figure. Only in this world, where everyone cultivated martial arts, could he have the good fortune to behold one.
"Shopkeeper Hong, you're too kind! To be able to see the true face of the Treasure Pavilion's head manager is truly a blessing earned over three lifetimes!" Xia Qi'an replied courteously.
Hong Xian smiled faintly at this. She signaled for the maid to leave with her eyes, then continued, "Young Master Xia has recently become quite the prominent figure in Jinling City. The businesses of scented soap and refined salt have even made me rather envious!"
"I heard you were coming, so many members of the great families and the various merchant guilds came to the Treasure Pavilion today. They all want to get acquainted with Lord Xia!"
There was no need to think about it. This sort of gossip had obviously been spread by the Treasure Pavilion's caravan personnel.
"Shopkeeper Hong, you flatter me... With the Treasure Pavilion's vast wealth and influence, how could you care about such meager profits?" Xia Qi'an joked after taking his seat.
As the head manager of the Jinling City Treasure Pavilion, Hong Xian naturally had no shortage of silver.
But among those who did business, who would ever complain about having too much money?
"Young Master Xia! These two businesses may not amount to much in Jinling."
"But what if you add the whole of Da Li, or even the whole of You Province? Have you ever considered how terrifying the profits would be, Young Master Xia?" Hong Xian had accepted Xia Qi'an's visit naturally because of business. She wanted a share of the pie.
"I've naturally thought about all that... However, these two businesses are currently operated by the Wei Dao Si! I'm only responsible for providing sufficient goods!" Xia Qi'an was unwilling to discuss business matters at the moment, so he brushed her off.
After all, he had come today for nothing else but to purchase High Mountain Slave.
"Young Master Xia, you've misunderstood... I naturally can't stick my hand into these two businesses within Da Li. What I mean is that I want to sell these two products in more distant places."
"For example, the Qiluo Kingdom, Great Xia, and even... beyond You Province... Ya Province..."
Hong Xian moved with dainty steps and personally brought Xia Qi'an a cup of tea.
She deliberately leaned her delicate body close to Xia Qi'an.
At once, an enticing fragrance that set the imagination racing wafted over. Xia Qi'an inwardly exclaimed, Well, look at that!
Seated in his chair, Xia Qi'an's view was completely blocked by the two enormous mounds.
He had to lean back slightly to see Hong Xian's face. Without changing expression, he said, "I naturally trust the Treasure Pavilion's business methods and channels!"
"But if Shopkeeper Hong truly wants to do these two businesses, you should go discuss it with Lord Sinan! I don't handle business operations at present!"
Hong Xian turned slightly sideways and folded her arms across her chest. Her beautiful eyes were as captivating as autumn water, and as her gaze shifted, it seemed capable of ensnaring the soul. Her tone carried a teasing note. "Lord Sinan and I are as close as sisters! I'll naturally go speak with her."
"But... you were the one who created scented soap and refined salt. If I want to join in... I naturally need your approval!"
Although Xia Qi'an's thoughts were churning, he remained quite restrained on the surface.
After all, he was still a child.
Moreover, before a martial artist broke through to the Spirit Condensation realm, it was best to preserve his virginity.
That would benefit his future martial arts cultivation.
Otherwise, with Xia Qi'an's vigorous young blood and the soul of an old hand, he might already have been unable to restrain himself from visiting a brothel.
With the conversation having reached this point, Xia Qi'an had nothing else to say.
After all, expanding his business would benefit him as well, and he could sit back and collect even more silver.
"If Lord Sinan has no objections, then naturally I have no reason to oppose it!" Xia Qi'an said, which amounted to agreeing to Hong Xian's request to join the venture.
Seeing Xia Qi'an nod, Hong Xian happily said, "Good!... Young Master Xia is indeed forthright... I know you came today for High Mountain Slave."
"Then I'll take the liberty of deciding on this matter and gift High Mountain Slave to Young Master Xia! Are you satisfied with that?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Qi'an no longer refused. "Then thank you, Shopkeeper Hong!"
Afterward, guided by the maid, Xia Qi'an arrived at the cell where High Mountain Slave was being held.
The people of the Treasure Pavilion had followed Xia Qi'an's instructions and refrained from beating or scolding him. They had even given him food.
High Mountain Slave seemed to remember Xia Qi'an's appearance, probably because Xia Qi'an had given him food.
High Mountain Slave rose and crawled over to the iron bars, babbling, "Aba... aba..." at Xia Qi'an as though saying something.
Xia Qi'an figured he was expressing his gratitude.
"If you can understand what I'm saying, nod. If you can't, shake your head. Understand?" Xia Qi'an couldn't make out what he was saying, so he took the initiative to speak to him.
High Mountain Slave nodded vigorously, indicating that he could understand Xia Qi'an.
"What's your name?" Xia Qi'an tried asking.
"Ba... Babata!" High Mountain Slave said indistinctly.
Seeing that he was somewhat adorably honest and simple, Xia Qi'an said, "Your name is Bata, right?"
Bata blinked his tiny, bean-like eyes and nodded hard.
"From now on, you're my servant... My name is Xia Qi'an!" Bata continued nodding.
Xia Qi'an sighed faintly. No wonder the High Mountain Tribe was always being trafficked.
They were just too damn easy to deceive!
"Let him out!" Xia Qi'an waved a hand at the cell guards.
The iron chains on Bata's hands and feet were removed, and he walked out of the cell.
Bata seemed to have made up his mind to follow Xia Qi'an. Like a loyal servant, he stayed close behind him as they left the Treasure Pavilion.
Before you continue