Noon, Thieves' Den.
There was still some time before the meeting, but all the thieves had already arrived. Yaoshi Yuan pulled out a chair and sat down, resting both elbows on the table with her fingers interlaced and her head slightly lowered. Even with her mask on, everyone could tell from her body language that she was saying, I'm very unhappy.
No one had wanted to provoke her, but she kept stomping her feet, and her anger continued to rise. It was obvious that she would remain uncomfortable unless she vented, so Ying Ru Shi had no choice but to ask, "Black Wolf, did something happen? Let me guess... Were you unable to get the saber technique manual?"
"Damn those merchant dogs!" Yaoshi Yuan slammed her fist into the round table and said through gritted teeth, "They should have their homes searched and all their money stolen... Manuals are strategic resources. How dare they reach their hands out for them? They're asking to die!"
"I originally wanted to buy one too, but even the cheapest one cost over five thousand spirit jades. I'm really too poor for that," Ying Ru Shi said with a laugh.
Hearing that, Yaoshi Yuan's mood improved considerably. She said resentfully, "It's not that I lack money. I just don't want to be a sucker and spend so many spirit jades on a Basic Saber Technique manual. There might be another chance to bid in the future. Did you also see this manual auction from somewhere else?"
"Of course. There are seven or eight Trading Boards in the main city—one at each of the four city gates, and one at each major transportation hub. It's practically impossible not to see them." Ying Ru Shi remained extremely cautious and revealed none of her specific information. "There was