Zhang Zhi was overjoyed. "If the True Essence Blood Refining Pill had existed before, I wouldn't have been stuck at the Second Blood Change. Forget Blood Qi Like an Ox—even Qi and Blood like a Tiger would've been within reach!"
"Second Brother, do you have any more? Give me a few more." Lu Cheng's face lit up.
"I figured you'd ask. Here, I prepared these for you."
Lu Yuan tossed three porcelain bottles to them. Each contained two True Essence Blood Refining Pills.
He had already taken three over the past few days, leaving him with four. At this rate, they would be gone in less than ten days.
The gold bars worth ten thousand taels that Lu Longjing had given him were almost spent, too. But he wasn't planning to ask his family for more money; he intended to earn it himself.
The obvious way to make money was to sell True Essence Blood Refining Pills.
Blood Replenishing Pills could sell for two hundred taels. Surely he could get a thousand taels for a True Essence Blood Refining Pill?
The cost of making one was already close to four hundred taels.
Although the True Essence Blood Refining Pill was only twice as effective as a Blood Replenishing Pill, the price of a pill couldn't be calculated solely by its medicinal effects.
The next day, Lu Yuan once again said goodbye to his father and brothers before heading to Leiji Mountain's Ghost Market.
Once he reached the Six Doors outpost, Xu Ziyi came out shortly after being notified. Seeing Lu Yuan, he paused in surprise, then smiled. "Brother Qiao, I didn't expect you back so soon."
Lu Yuan got straight to the point. "Brother Xu, I want to sell some things at the Ghost Market. Could you find out when it'll open next?"
Xu Ziyi understood. "Some things really are only suitable for selling at the Ghost Market."
When he'd gone after criminals in the past, he'd sold the spoils and stolen goods he obtained at the Ghost Market.
"Sure. I'll look into it now and get word to you within an hour. You're still staying at the Four Seas Inn, right? I'll have someone bring you the news."
"Thanks, Brother Xu."
Lu Yuan thanked him, once again glad that he had saved Xu Ziyi's life that time. He had not only received a generous reward, but also gained a great deal of help.
"No need to thank me. Not between us." Xu Ziyi shook his head, then changed the subject. "Tell me, Brother Qiao, what do you think of the Six Doors?"
"What do I think?"
Lu Yuan smiled and replied slowly, "Backed by the imperial court, teeming with experts, and feared by everyone in the Jianghu. That's what I think."
Xu Ziyi smiled. "That's what most people think of the Six Doors, too. So, Brother Qiao, would you be interested in joining? With your abilities, becoming a Bronze Badge Constable wouldn't be difficult. It's just..."
He paused.
"Constables in the Six Doors must have an unblemished background."
Lu Yuan's heart stirred. He understood what Xu Ziyi was getting at.
They both knew that Xu Ziyi was aware his name was fake, his appearance disguised, and his identity unknown. But since their interactions had never touched on much of that, they had both chosen to overlook it.
"What benefits come with becoming a Bronze Badge Constable?"
Xu Ziyi replied, "For starters, my monthly salary includes Blood Replenishing Pills and Trauma Healing Pills. Silver is neither here nor there; we're not short of it. But Blood Replenishing Pills and Trauma Healing Pills are treasures. Wherever you go, they're more valuable than gold and accepted everywhere."
"And like you said, the Six Doors are teeming with experts. Unless someone is truly wicked and ruthless, most people wouldn't dare offend us. Join the Six Doors, and you'll have the mightiest backing imaginable."
To be honest, after hearing him out, Lu Yuan was tempted.
But he still hesitated at the thought of revealing his identity.
After all, he had a cheat, and the last thing he wanted was for anyone to spot a flaw.
Besides, though he was tucked away in one corner and couldn't take in the whole world at a glance, he could still tell that Great Sheng seemed to be in its twilight years. He didn't know how much longer it could last.
What he feared most was joining the Nationalist Army in '49.
If Great Sheng was at the point of the Ming dynasty under the Jiajing Emperor—its strength waning, but still able to endure for a century or more—then joining wouldn't be a problem.
But if Great Sheng was at the point of the Ming dynasty under the Chongzhen Emperor, with its fall just around the corner, then anyone who joined the Six Doors would have to be out of their mind.
Lu Yuan said gravely, "Could you give me some time to think it over?"
"Of course. Whether you join the Six Doors or not, it won't affect our friendship." Xu Ziyi laughed heartily.
Less than an hour after Lu Yuan returned to the Four Seas Inn, Xu Ziyi sent someone with word: the Ghost Market would open again tomorrow.
The night passed without incident.
At three in the morning, Lu Yuan finished disguising himself. He donned a conical hat, changed his clothes, covered himself from head to toe, and put on a ghost-face mask.
After entering the Ghost Market, Lu Yuan made a round and found four stalls selling pills.
He found a place to set up his own stall, hanging a piece of white cloth with a line written on it:
"Selling True Essence Blood Refining Pills. Connoisseurs welcome. Guaranteed genuine."
There were plenty of connoisseurs. The moment he hung up the cloth, someone came to ask the price.
"How much for one?"
The man wore a tiger-face mask and spoke in a sharp voice, probably deliberately forcing his voice lower.
"Two thousand taels each."
In his previous life, pills would've been considered high-end goods. Five times the cost seemed reasonable to Lu Yuan.
"Too expensive."
The man in the tiger-face mask shook his head. He said no more and turned to leave.
Partly, he thought the price was too high. And partly, he wasn't sure the pills were genuine. It wasn't worth the risk; he still had his doubts.
Lu Yuan didn't pay it much mind. There were still three or four hours until dawn. He could wait.
Lord Lu went fishing; those willing to bite could take the hook.
Time trickled by, second by second. An hour passed. Six people had asked the price. When the seventh arrived, a man wearing a conical hat like Lu Yuan's came over to inquire.
"True Essence Blood Refining Pills are effective, but two thousand taels is too much. How about fifteen hundred?"
"Eighteen hundred."
"Let's each give a little. Two for thirty-four hundred taels."
"Deal!"
"But I want to inspect them first."
The Conical Hat Man clearly knew his stuff. He gave the pills a quick sniff, then nodded. "They're genuine."
They exchanged the money and goods, and Lu Yuan immediately packed up and left. Beneath his mask, his face darkened. He'd keenly realized: "That Conical Hat Man is following me..."
The Conical Hat Man had seemed agreeable enough. Lu Yuan had thought he was simply flush with cash, but it turned out he planned to take both the goods and the money.
The Ghost Market seemed to have powerful backing. Everyone acted furtively, and plenty of precious goods changed hands, yet no one caused trouble.
Even the group following Lu Yuan didn't dare make a move inside the Ghost Market.
After leaving the Ghost Market, both sides seemed to have reached an understanding, each holding back from attacking. Only when they were three or four li away did Lu Yuan turn to face the four people following him. "That's far enough, gentlemen. No need to see me any farther."
The Conical Hat Man chuckled. "Brother, hand over the True Essence Blood Refining Pills, the Pill Recipe, and the silver, and I might just spare your life. Don't even think of resisting. There are four of us, and only one of you. Two fists can't fight four hands. You can earn more money, but once your life's gone, it's gone for good."
Lu Yuan sighed. "Why are there always so many people in this world who don't know when to quit?"
"Don't know when to quit? You talking about yourself?"
A Gray-robed Man to the Conical Hat Man's left shot back, raising the sharp sword in his hand and pointing it straight at Lu Yuan.
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