It was the second day of the month.
Greenwood Market was still bustling with people.
Zhao Huaian had arrived early and claimed a stall not far from the entrance.
Thanks to its advantageous location and the reputation he had built up, in just over half an hour, Zhao Huaian had already earned dozens of Low-grade Spirit Stones.
"Little friend, you're early today... I thought that once you had some Spirit Stones, you'd go into seclusion to cultivate."
Just as Zhao Huaian was enthusiastically drawing in customers, a familiar voice sounded.
He looked up. It was Cheng Daqi, from the day before.
"I'm hoping to buy a powerful Dharma Artifact, but I'm still a little short on Spirit Stones. Besides, going into seclusion takes a lot of Elixir Pills, so I can only set up a stall for now."
Zhao Huaian smiled and suggested to Cheng Daqi, "We're both selling Spirit Talismans of the same quality. Why don't you set up farther inside? That way, our businesses won't interfere with each other too much."
"Indeed. Don't worry, little friend. I promised yesterday that I wouldn't set up near you. Besides, this spot is so ideal that there aren't any vacant spaces left nearby."
Cheng Daqi cupped his hands, then swayed as he made his way deeper into Greenwood Market.
Business might be a little worse farther inside, but he had no intention of setting up close to Zhao Huaian.
On the one hand, he wanted to avoid making things unpleasant for Zhao Huaian.
On the other hand, if the two of them set up in the same area, he would have little chance of competing with Zhao Huaian.
After all, Zhao Huaian had already made a name for himself in Greenwood Market, and the Spirit Talismans Cheng Daqi was selling had come from him in the first place.
If Cheng Daqi stubbornly tried to compete, he would likely suffer a crushing defeat. It would hurt his own business and Zhao Huaian's, too—a truly self-defeating move.
"Cheng Daqi knows how to play things right. I hope we can keep doing business for a long time."
Watching Cheng Daqi's figure recede into the distance, Zhao Huaian smiled and continued enthusiastically drawing in customers.
Time passed quickly.
Two days went by.
Amid the enormous crowds over those two days, Zhao Huaian had made a fortune. Thanks to the Spirit Talismans he had accumulated, his savings had reached more than four hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.
"I'm still short by a little over a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones! If I work hard today, selling a hundred Spirit Stones' worth of Spirit Talismans should be no problem."
Facing the rising sun, Zhao Huaian headed once more toward Greenwood Market, carrying the Water Arrow Talismans he had spent all night drawing.
But before he reached Greenwood Market, when he was only halfway there, the Communication Talisman at his waist suddenly flashed blue.
"Cheng Daqi?"
Feeling the message suddenly come through his Communication Talisman, Zhao Huaian raised an eyebrow, a smile creeping onto his lips.
After more than two days, Cheng Daqi had suddenly contacted him. It seemed he wanted to buy another batch of Spirit Talismans wholesale.
That suited him just fine. He still had some Spirit Talismans he had accumulated earlier, along with the Water Arrow Talismans he had drawn yesterday. He wouldn't have to go through the trouble of setting up a stall at Greenwood Market today.
Picking up the Communication Talisman, Zhao Huaian immediately got in touch with Cheng Daqi.
As he had expected, Cheng Daqi wanted to buy another batch of Spirit Talismans wholesale and had arranged to meet him outside Greenwood Market.
Zhao Huaian readily agreed.
He was already on his way to Greenwood Market, and soon he reached the entrance to West Street with practiced ease.
Cheng Daqi was already waiting there.
When he saw Zhao Huaian approaching, Cheng Daqi's face immediately broke into a broad smile. He stepped forward to greet him. "Little friend, you're quick! I only just contacted you, and you're already at the meeting place."
"Not at all. I was planning to set up a stall today anyway, and I just happened to be on my way."
Zhao Huaian smiled.
His words put a bit of pressure on Cheng Daqi.
The Spirit Talismans they sold were of the same quality and grade. No matter how far apart they were, their businesses would inevitably affect each other to some extent.
Cheng Daqi understood this, of course.
He looked at Zhao Huaian and hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "How many Spirit Talismans do you have on you, little friend? I'll take them all. From now on, you don't need to set up a stall with the Spirit Talismans you draw. Just sell them all to me."
Over the past two days, Cheng Daqi had come to understand just how popular Zhao Huaian's Spirit Talismans were.
Their superb quality had already helped him build up quite a reputation, and he had gained a few regular customers over the past two days.
What was more, as business picked up, sales of the other goods at his stall had risen as well.
For all these reasons, he naturally wanted to buy every Spirit Talisman Zhao Huaian drew.
Besides, if Zhao Huaian stopped setting up a stall at Greenwood Market, Cheng Daqi's business would have a great deal more room to grow.
Hearing Cheng Daqi's offer, Zhao Huaian smiled. "And what about the price...?"
"Of course, it'll be the same as before! I'll buy them at eighty-five percent of the market price!"
Cheng Daqi hurriedly replied.
"Very good. Then we'll stick to that price from now on."
Zhao Huaian nodded readily. It was exactly what he had expected.
"Of course, if my Art of Drawing Spirit Talismans improves in the future—for example, if I bring the quality of my other first-tier, low-grade Spirit Talismans up to the level of my Water Arrow Talismans—their prices will naturally rise as well."
Then, to avoid any disputes down the road, Zhao Huaian added this clarification.
Cheng Daqi nodded as if it went without saying. "Naturally. I'd be more than happy if you could draw all your Spirit Talismans to the same quality as your Water Arrow Talismans. That would bring me more profit and attract more customers."
"Hahaha, then we have a deal!"
Zhao Huaian laughed heartily and gladly took all the Spirit Talismans he had accumulated out of his Storage Bag.
After counting them up, Cheng Daqi bought them at eighty-five percent of the market price.
Once the Spirit Talismans he had stockpiled were gone, Zhao Huaian had more than five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones to his name.
The deal was done, and both Cheng Daqi and Zhao Huaian were pleased.
"Little friend, from now on, let's trade on the first day of every month. No matter how many Spirit Talismans you have, I'll buy them all."
As they parted, Cheng Daqi turned back and reminded him with a broad smile.
"Of course!"
Zhao Huaian waved and strode away.
He was in high spirits.
With Cheng Daqi buying his Spirit Talismans from now on, he would be able to devote himself to cultivation once he obtained the Sword Dao inheritance.
If he ever ran short on Spirit Stones, he would only need to hand over all the Spirit Talismans he had accumulated at the start of the month.
Leaving the area,
Zhao Huaian took a winding route. By the time he appeared again, he had returned to his original appearance.
Residential Area.
"Brother Liu, open up!"
Zhao Huaian knocked on the door next to his.
A burst of hurried footsteps came from inside. A moment later, the door opened.
Liu Bohu appeared, looking tired.
When he saw Zhao Huaian, he asked eagerly, "Brother Zhao, how did it go?"
"Fortunately, I didn't let you down!" Zhao Huaian smiled, confidence showing on his face.
"Excellent. Then let's hurry and make the trade!"
Liu Bohu immediately took Zhao Huaian by the hand and was about to head out of Greenwood Sect.
But Zhao Huaian discreetly slipped free and shook his head. "Time is tight. My friend is already waiting for you on a hillside five li east of Greenwood Sect. I won't go with you. I need to hurry and prepare the other things. If we delay even a moment longer, Senior Brother Liu will be in greater danger."
"I see... All right, I'll find someone else to go with me. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Zhao. Please go prepare the other items."
Liu Bohu trusted Zhao Huaian and didn't suspect that he had any ulterior motives.
Besides, the meeting place was close. As long as he brought along a cultivator from the Task Team, he wouldn't have to worry about anything unexpected happening.
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