Jubaozhai
On the sixth floor, inside a private room.
Three people sat facing one another, with Lu Yuan at the head of the table.
Manager Lin sat on the right, pouring tea with a deferential air.
On the left sat a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with thinning hair and a large belly. His face looked rather kindly, but the glint in his eyes now and then betrayed a merchant's shrewdness.
"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Lu, and this is Boss Wan, Wan Fuda."
After pouring the tea, Manager Lin spoke up, giving the two men a chance to get acquainted.
It was clear, however, that he treated Lu Yuan with greater respect.
He called him "Mr. Lu."
Whereas he simply called the man beside him "Boss Wan."
Of course, most people would have a hard time noticing the difference.
"Hello." Lu Yuan nodded, cutting straight to the point. "I believe Boss Wan knows why I asked you here?"
"Of course. Mr. Lu has his eye on my Eleven-story Blood Futu." Boss Wan smiled, then continued, "Mr. Lu certainly has a good eye. That piece has been in my collection for many years. Its condition and age are both top-notch."
He kept talking, praising his prized possession with obvious pride.
"Boss Wan, I'll grant you that it's old, but as for its condition..."
Manager Lin spoke up. "Pardon my bluntness, but pagodas usually come in sevens, nines, or twelves. Yours has eleven stories. If we're being honest, that doesn't make it especially precious. Perhaps it's even missing a story."
As the intermediary, he shouldn't have spoken up at a time like this.
But Manager Lin knew Lu Yuan was determined to get the pagoda, and he was more than willing to lend a hand.
As for Wan, although he was also a VIP, he had never bought anything at Jubaozhai, not once.
Even the one piece he had brought in wasn't something he was genuinely looking to sell.
Manager Lin had long held that against him.
It was different with Lu Yuan. He had received real, tangible benefits from him.
"You... you... Xiao Lin, you don't understand." Wan Fuda was left momentarily speechless, and couldn't help trying to explain.
"Enough."
At that moment, Lu Yuan cut him off. "I want your item. Name your price."
He was short on time and needed to settle this quickly.
"Mr. Lu, I haven't even said I'm willing to sell it..." Wan Fuda began, trying to say more.
"Twenty-five million."
Lu Yuan knew the man had previously asked for twenty million, so he raised the offer outright.
Beside him, Manager Lin opened his mouth, thinking that he had only just begun to bargain the price down.
There was nothing he could do. Now he could only watch from the side; he couldn't interrupt.
"Mr. Lu, I told you, it's not about the money."
"Thirty million."
"I've had this in my collection for years."
"Forty million!"
"Mr. Lu, you see..."
"Fifty million."
As Lu Yuan named his price once more, he continued, "This is your last chance. If Boss Wan won't sell, I'm walking out."
He had money, but that didn't mean he would throw it around without thinking. If the man still hesitated, he had other ways to get what he wanted.
"Deal."
Boss Wan stood up at once.
The price of fifty million had far exceeded his expectations.
He also understood that if he kept dragging things out, the deal would fall through. They were all smart people; they knew when it was time to give a little.
"Mr. Lu, you truly have an excellent eye. In your hands, this pagoda can finally serve its true purpose. I brought it with me. Please take a look and see if there's anything wrong with it." Boss Wan took the Eleven-story Blood Futu out of his bag and placed it on the table.
He had completely changed from his earlier hesitation and was now quite cheerful, even speaking with respect.
His attitude before and after the deal was like that of two different people.
Manager Lin could only shake his head at the sight.
Lu Yuan carefully examined the Eleven-story Pagoda. It was about the size of his palm and had been preserved exceptionally well.
More importantly, every detail was exactly as he remembered it.
"Good. There's nothing wrong with it. I'll have the money transferred to you through Jubaozhai."
After confirming that everything was in order, Lu Yuan spoke.
Since the deal had been made at Jubaozhai, handling the payment this way would also give them a measure of security.
"Of course, of course." Boss Wan had no objections. After chatting for a couple more minutes, he promptly made an excuse to leave, afraid Lu Yuan might change his mind. Fifty million was no small sum, even after Jubaozhai took its cut.
"Mr. Lu, you were really too impulsive just now."
Only after Boss Wan had left did Manager Lin speak, sounding regretful.
In his eyes, this so-called Eleven-story Blood Futu wasn't worth that price at all.
He had meant to bargain the price down before letting Lu Yuan make his offer.
"I appreciate your good intentions, Manager Lin."
Lu Yuan smiled and continued, "But I know better than anyone whether it's worth the price."
Once it mutated, the Eleven-story Blood Futu would transform into a divine object and merge with his internal organs. The benefits were beyond counting. How could that be compared to a mere fifty million?
"As long as the deal goes through smoothly, I'll be satisfied."
Manager Lin didn't say much more, knowing that this was someone else's business.
Lu Yuan didn't linger either and prepared to leave.
But then Manager Lin seemed to remember something and called out, "By the way, Mr. Lu, make sure you don't go out for a while."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Lu Yuan's heart stirred. Did Jubaozhai know something too?
"I can't say exactly what's going on. At a meeting a couple of days ago, the big boss said as much. Things are a little chaotic outside right now, and all sorts of strange events have been happening. I'm sure you've seen it on the news." Manager Lin's "big boss" was the person who controlled Jubaozhai from behind the scenes.
"Thank you."
Lu Yuan nodded.
The global upheaval was drawing closer and closer.
All sorts of strange and bizarre events kept appearing, accompanied by earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and more.
They could once have been explained as natural phenomena, but lately they had been happening far too often. He saw them on television every day.
And it wasn't just happening at home. The situation was the same all over the world.
He had thought he was the only one paying attention.
But now it seemed...
Certain people in high places had realized that something was wrong, too.
Of course...
Unlike them, Lu Yuan knew exactly what was going to happen.
He said nothing more and drove away from Jubaozhai.
"With the Eleven-story Pagoda in hand, there's only one thing left to take care of in Shanghai City. I have to deal with it as soon as possible." Lu Yuan drove while thinking. The only things he still hadn't obtained were the Heavenly Sword Embryo and the Wordless Stone Tablet.
He would have to retrieve both of them himself.
There was still a month left.
If he delayed any longer, he definitely wouldn't make it in time.
So Lu Yuan decided to drive to Old Master Ge's house.
Of course, on the way, he remembered to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables.
However...
When Lu Yuan arrived at Old Master Ge's home and was about to enter the courtyard, he heard a heated argument.
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