Ya Fei

After leaving the street-side snack stall, Ya Fei followed closely behind Hun Han, feeling slightly nervous. Her jade-like hands were lightly clenched, beads of sweat appearing on them. For some reason, in the eyes of this boy who was clearly only six years old, Ya Fei seemed to see a maturity and wisdom that even adults did not possess.

I wonder whether his Way of Commerce is a scam. Never mind that. I've already paid the tuition, so there's no turning back. Without someone to guide me, I could never meet my targets or return to the Miter Family Main Branch on my own. If he can't teach me anything, I'll make him return every last coin. I refuse to believe that even if I'm not as clever as him, I can't be stronger than him! Ya Fei thought.

Following behind Hun Han, Ya Fei boldly studied the boy before her. He wore an aqua-blue outfit whose fabric looked exceedingly expensive. With every step, he carried himself with a refined elegance. Yet, rather incongruously, he held a lollipop in his hand and licked it with great relish. Ya Fei hurried forward to walk beside him, then secretly tilted her head and stole a glance at the little boy.

Though the boy's face was still childish, the faint curve at the corner of his lips and the gaze in his eyes that seemed to see through everything in the world felt utterly mismatched with his age.

Today, a boy of six or seven had actually run circles around her, a sixteen-year-old girl. Even now, recalling everything that had happened during the day, Ya Fei still found it hard to believe.

"Staring at your master like that... are you trying to etch my appearance deep into your heart?"

Just as Ya Fei's thoughts were running wild, the boy beside her spoke casually.

"M-Master, where are we going?" Ya Fei asked curiously.

"Here will do." Hun Han stopped walking.

"Here?" Ya Fei's eyes widened, and her cheeks gradually flushed. The place where they stood was actually a well-known establishment in Wutan City where couples came to satisfy their physical needs.

Ya Fei was already sixteen, yet she had never entered such a place with anyone before.

While Ya Fei hesitated, Hun Han had already swaggered inside and directly rented a room.

Ya Fei lightly bit her pearly lips and shook her head helplessly. Her cheeks were red enough to drip blood as she took small steps and followed Hun Han inside.

"Wow, seriously? He's that young and already coming here to play? Do the adults in his family know?"

"Hey, look! There's even a young girl following him. She's so shy—if you ask me, there's an eighty or ninety percent chance she's still untouched!"

As she entered the establishment, the whispers around her made Ya Fei lower her head even further. Along the way, she did not even know how she made it into the room.

Hun Han suddenly stopped.

Ya Fei, who had been following with her head lowered, walked straight into his back.

"Ah!"

The intimate contact made Ya Fei's pretty face flush even more deeply. She instinctively hurried back a step, her eyes not daring to meet Hun Han's gaze at all.

Hun Han stared at Ya Fei and smiled. "What, feeling embarrassed? Come, raise your head and look at me! Now, I'll teach you the third lesson of the Way of Commerce. Since you've chosen the profession of a merchant, you must grow a thicker skin. Matters of pride and dignity are trivial."

Hearing this, Ya Fei raised her head and looked at Hun Han curiously. "The third lesson? Then what were the first and second lessons?"

Hun Han replied, "I already taught them!"

Ya Fei asked in astonishment, "You did?"

Hun Han nodded and explained, "Yes. Our cooperation during the day, as well as that meal, were the first and second lessons I wanted to teach you. The marketplace is like a battlefield. You must understand that the world is dangerous, and every place may be a minefield. Even a business partner might catch you off guard and stab you in the back at any time."

Ya Fei nodded thoughtfully. "Then what about the fourth lesson?"

Hun Han smiled. "Don't rush. First, tell me: where did the pills you sold during the day come from?"

Ya Fei answered, "They were made by a friend. On my way to the Miterer Auction House in Wutan City, I met an uncle. Although he was only a Dou Zhe, he possessed the talent of an alchemist. Those pills were all refined by him. He originally wanted to look after me and give me some sales results, so I could obtain a good position at the auction house!"

Hun Han asked again, "What is his name?"

Ya Fei replied, "Gu Ni."

So it really was him. Hun Han then chatted with Ya Fei about some other matters.

Ya Fei's circumstances were just as described in the story. She had originally been a direct descendant of the Mittel Family in the Imperial Capital of the Gamma Empire. Because her talent was terribly poor, she was still only at the second stage of Dou Qi when she came of age at sixteen. Thus, she had been ruthlessly assigned by the Mittel Family to one of its businesses—the auction house in Wutan City.

The Ya Fei before him was not yet the Ya Fei who could navigate the business world like a fish in water. Moreover, Ya Fei's current identity was not that of an auctioneer, but merely an ordinary sales attendant.

After their conversation, Hun Han instructed, "Ya Fei, remember this: Heaven and Earth are heartless, treating all things as straw dogs; sages are heartless, treating the people as straw dogs. As merchants, customers are our straw dogs. As a woman, you possess unparalleled advantages in business. Come, sit down first. Your master will give you the fourth lesson!"

Following his words, Ya Fei sat down on a chair in the room.

Hun Han swept his gaze over the room, picked up a pair of scissors from a table, walked before Ya Fei, and crouched down. His left hand grasped the hem of Ya Fei's skirt by her leg.

"Hm?"

Ya Fei froze slightly, then moved her leg away in alarm, wanting to resist Hun Han.

Hun Han ordered, "Don't move. It won't hurt. It'll be over soon. If you want to establish yourself in business, you must listen to me."

Under Ya Fei's astonished gaze, Hun Han began using the scissors. Starting from below, he slowly cut upward along the side of her thigh.

Ya Fei's heart clenched. As Hun Han cut, a slit was made in her fine skirt, revealing her snow-white skin. More importantly, Hun Han's scissors continued climbing upward.

Ya Fei finally let out a breath of relief when Hun Han stopped after cutting the slit up to her thigh. He changed positions and began cutting the other side.

"Hm!"

Hun Han put down the scissors and ordered, "Take a few steps and let me see!"

"This..."

Ya Fei hesitated anxiously. With her skirt altered like this, not only her calves but even part of her thighs were exposed. Could she still face anyone?

Hun Han reprimanded her coldly, "Since you chose to become a merchant, having an innocent heart is a good thing. But an excellent merchant must be willing to cast aside pride. If you cannot even do this much, then you should stop being my disciple!"

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