How come I'm the one being conquered?

The attendant took the tea and placed it on a tray, respectfully serving it.

After thanking them, Tingyun picked up a cup. The tea was mellow and sweet, with an orchid-like fragrance, reminding Tingyun of Meng Ming, the young owner of the Evernight Inn. She remembered that the tea she brewed tasted just like this. It was quite surprising that Shen Sha, merely a foreigner, could achieve this level.

Suddenly, Tingyun's peripheral vision caught sight of Bai Jun beside her. He wasn't tasting the tea Shen Sha had brewed. Instead, he was lazily sinking into the soft sofa, his legs stretched out carelessly, his posture languid and comfortable, his eyes narrowed comfortably like a pampered house cat.

If no one else were around, Tingyun would have indulgently placed his head on her lap and let him do as he pleased. However, with important matters at hand, she had to playfully pinch Bai Jun's waist, telling him to be serious.

Bai Jun jolted, instinctively covering his side. His sapphire-blue eyes, like cornflowers, cast a displeased glance at Tingyun, but he still obediently sat up straight.

Shen Sha took a sip of tea, her heart touched by how good their relationship was. However, the positions they represented meant this was no leisurely afternoon tea between nobles.

"Miss Tingyun is incredibly busy, and I'm sure you're not one for tedious, drawn-out conversations. Therefore, let's dispense with the unnecessary pleasantries and get straight to the point," she said, her smile fading as she calmly placed her teacup on the table.

"I assume your purpose is related to the ore I have?"

Author's Note: This is a friend's work, check it out if you're interested.

Chapter 15: See, this is what professionalism looks like.

The world bustles, all for profit; the world flocks, all for gain.

Law, morality, faith, reputation—nothing in this world cannot be accounted for. This is a universal truth.

Shen Sha had been repeating this since the first day she learned business from her grandfather, and it was this principle that had earned her many enemies, including her own father and brothers.

Now, as the head of the family, she had to adhere to this as her guiding principle. Shen Sha, who had taken over the family business at a young age with lightning speed, was not as simple and gentle as she appeared. Relying on a merchant's keenest sense of smell, how could she not know about the company's recent actions? She could deduce that Tingyun's visit was likely about the Sky-Jade Ore she possessed.

Tingyun, while fanning her exquisite folding fan, looked at the curious Shen Sha before her and said, neither subservient nor overbearing, "As expected of the sharpest merchant in the market. Since Ms. Shen Sha is so forthright, I'll be direct: 'Minghuo' wishes to acquire the Sky-Jade Ore you hold at a price no lower than the company's offer."

As expected, this matched Shen Sha's earlier guess and was exactly what she wanted. Her decision to keep the Sky-Jade Ore instead of selling it to the company had proven to be incredibly correct.

Having navigated the Xianzhou for over a decade, she had long understood the most fundamental tenet of the society that had persisted through thousands of years of its history: favor. As the saying goes, "A debt of money is easily repaid, but a debt of favor is hard to repay." The most difficult debts to repay in this world are certainly not monetary debts, but debts of favor. This was precisely why she hadn't sold it directly to the company.

For the same price, if a transaction with the company only yielded money, it would bring the most basic form of benefit.

However, if she seized the opportunity of the Luofu's acquisition of Sky-Jade Ore to sell her own holdings, she would not only fetch a good price but also gain a significant favor. With the vastness and influence of the Xianzhou Luofu, the benefits brought by the weight of this favor would be unimaginable.

With that thought, Shen Sha nodded and replied, "Not at all. Isn't what businessmen do simply moving things from one hand to the other? They say great merchants are silent, relying on their finely honed senses. I just thought 'Minghuo' dealt in hoarding and reselling. Are you planning to use the Sky-Jade Ore to break the company's monopoly in the transportation industry? Tell me, how many tons do you need?"

"As much as you have," Tingyun said calmly, closing her folding fan.

"Straightforward. I have about 3 million tons of Sky-Jade Ore stockpiled here. What do you say?" Shen Sha crossed her legs, her pale face maintaining a smile. The situation was unfolding exactly as she predicted, meaning the most crucial bargaining chip in the negotiation remained firmly in her hands. For a merchant, this was as good as it gets.

"3 million tons?" Tingyun frowned slightly, closing her fan in confusion. "With Ms. Shen Sha's resources, the output from five planets in a year should be far more than 3 million tons, shouldn't it?"

"That's why I said stockpiled," Shen Sha replied with a wry smile, shaking her head. She snapped her fingers at an attendant and continued, "It seems Miss Tingyun isn't very familiar with the ore sales situation. Sky-Jade Ore has never been a popular commodity; in fact, it's often a loss-making material. The cost of excavation is usually higher than the profit from sales, so in a sense, it's quite a rare item."

"Alas, all calculations are futile against fate. What I mean is, if I could have anticipated the company's actions a year in advance, I could have provided Miss Tingyun with at least 30 million tons of Sky-Jade Ore by now. After all, no one would turn down money."

At this moment, the attendant who had left earlier hurried back, carrying a bag. He bent down and opened the cloth bag, revealing fine, crystalline sand like grains of rice – the Sky-Jade Ore.

"Take a look. While I don't have a large quantity, what I have is top-tier quality," Shen Sha said calmly, picking up her teacup. Her words carried a hint of pride.

As Tingyun rose to inspect it, Bai Jun grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"A sample of the ore isn't very informative. I believe Ms. Shen must have storage warehouses for it. Even a workshop-sized one would suffice. We'd like to take samples there," Bai Jun, who had been silently playing the role of ambiance, suddenly spoke up. His expression and tone had become slightly more serious.

Shen Sha's expression shifted slightly but was well concealed. She chuckled softly and stood up, saying, "Of course. Your thoughtfulness, Mr. Guard, makes me feel rather inadequate. Please follow me." With that, she led the way.

Tingyun's emerald eyes held a hint of confusion. She subtly poked Bai Jun's hand with her fingertip, only to earn a displeased glare from him.

"Ah, this is so troublesome..." Bai Jun grumbled inwardly, then raised a finger to his lips, signaling Tingyun to speak less later.

Although Tingyun didn't understand Bai Jun's intentions, she subconsciously nodded and obediently followed behind him.

It took some time to walk through the spacious hall. Led by Shen Sha, they arrived at a rather plain room. The words "Sky-Jade Samples" were prominently displayed on the door.

"This is it," Shen Sha said, pushing open the wooden door. As soon as they stepped inside, the previously cramped feeling vanished. The room was surprisingly vast, with a ceiling ten meters high. On the floor, spanning hundreds of square meters, were mountains of Sky-Jade Ore. The ceiling and walls were embedded with ever-burning oil lamps, their bright, white light making it feel as if they were back in the spacious hall, creating a peculiar sense of two worlds within one.

Blinking in confusion, Tingyun pondered for a moment before quickly realizing the unusual nature of this space. "An artificial grotto-heaven?"

"Precisely. This is a storage facility for some of the ore. I'm impressed that Miss Tingyun recognized it so quickly; your knowledge is truly admirable," Shen Sha said, nodding with a sigh.

"Not at all. I merely heard of it by chance while passing through Penacony. It's nothing worth boasting about."

While Tingyun and Shen Sha were exchanging pleasantries, Bai Jun walked to the base of the Sky-Jade Ore pile and quietly bent down to pick up a handful of ore for examination. Legend has it that skilled chefs possess the ability to analyze the preparation and ingredients of food just by tasting it. While this might be an exaggeration, Bai Jun had indeed met people with such talents. Similarly, there were experts who could assess the quality of ore at a glance. Bai Jun wasn't that skilled, but after spending so much time on the Luofu, he had picked up a thing or two.

After a moment, Bai Jun rubbed the crushed stone between his fingers and turned to Shen Sha, "May I ask what price you intend to sell this batch of Sky-Jade Ore for?"

"The price per ton fluctuates between 110,000 and 130,000 credit points. However, considering 'Minghuo's' reputation, and as a gesture of our friendship, I can offer you the lowest price," Shen Sha replied seriously.

"Overpriced, not worth it," Bai Jun shook his head, flicking away some dust that fell from his fingertips and slowly dissipated into the air.

"You jest. Have you heard that the company is offering 100,000 credit points per ton for Sky-Jade Ore from various sources? Moreover, the ore I have here is of the highest quality grade. By any measure, this price isn't inflated, is it?"

Shen Sha's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing the most cunning and dangerous side of a merchant. Her words became sharp and aggressive, "Furthermore, if you two truly believe I'm trying to make things difficult and seize the opportunity to make a fortune, you're welcome to turn around and leave. I'll gladly sell the Sky-Jade Ore directly to the company, which would save me a lot of trouble. Wouldn't you agree, sir?"

"The company's official policy states that prices are determined by quality, with a maximum of 100,000. You have no objection to this, Ms. Shen, correct?" Bai Jun didn't rush to refute but continued to question.

"That's right. But as I said earlier, this batch of Sky-Jade Ore is genuinely top-grade. In layman's terms, it's the highest quality. Is the pricing perhaps not unreasonable?" Shen Sha didn't humble herself and stated directly.

"If it is indeed top-grade Sky-Jade Ore, then this price is indeed fitting."

Despite the insistent questioning, Bai Jun's expression remained surprisingly calm, devoid of any particular emotion, though his lips twitched slightly. His tone carried a hint of helplessness. While he didn't want to waste too much time on such matters, he couldn't just stand by and watch Tingyun be deceived.

"Are you perhaps suggesting I'm trying to trick you two?" Shen Sha asked, her outward demeanor still calm, but her tone clearly unfriendly.

"Sky-Jade Ore is typically found deep within the rock strata of large ore veins. Theoretically, it's a rather common mineral. However, because its primary use is to strengthen and reinforce building structures, it's a cheap function that's disproportionate to its rather expensive mining costs. This makes it an object many mine owners avoid. Few people actively mine it, so the current supply on the market is considered scarce. Moreover, most of it is used by wealthy families as a higher-grade alternative to marble."

Bai Jun picked up a handful of Sky-Jade Ore and slowly stood up. Although he still exuded a faint, lazy aura, the moment he opened his usually half-closed azure eyes, his presence subtly shifted.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Shen Sha felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest upon hearing such a rigorously professional introduction, a bad premonition creeping in.

"Hold on, my point is, precisely because Sky-Jade Ore is scarce on the market, many people harbor some misconceptions about it. For instance, they can't distinguish between Sky-Jade Ore and Li-Ying Stone," Bai Jun explained unhurriedly. However, upon hearing the words "Li-Ying Stone," Shen Sha, standing beside him, quietly swallowed. Beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

"Honestly, even many experienced craftsmen can't tell the difference between the two, because Li-Ying Stone looks so much like Sky-Jade Ore in appearance. They even have similar uses. If there's any difference, it's probably that Sky-Jade Ore has more stable strength and is more expensive."

"Y-you mean to say..." Shen Sha casually pulled up her sleeve to wipe away the sweat on her forehead. Perhaps even she hadn't noticed how much her voice was trembling.

Bai Jun, having already caught the flicker of emotion on Shen Sha's face, continued speaking regardless, "Although the two are very similar, it's not impossible to distinguish them. For example, Sky-Jade Ore is often granular and irregular, while Li-Ying Stone is usually dense and blocky. And the most crucial point: Sky-Jade Ore is a mineral formed by magmatic hydrothermal activity and is almost always found alongside sphalerite. This means that no matter how perfect the quality of Sky-Jade Ore is, it will inevitably be mixed with amber-colored lead ore."

With a bang, the Sky-Jade Ore, crushed into dust, scattered like fine sand from his fingertips, showing no trace of dark yellow or mottled patina.

"Ms. Shen, if ten percent impurities can be considered first-grade quality, I have nothing to say. But if it's forty or even fifty percent, calling it first-grade is a bit much, wouldn't you agree?" Bai Jun casually shook the powder in his hand, his tone flat, not aggressive.

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, churning up a terrifying tidal wave in her mind, making Shen Sha's already pale face even more ghastly.

Complete defeat. This was undoubtedly complete defeat.

Her lips trembled, but she was unable to utter any defense. Finally, she forced a weak smile, her throat squeezing out a dry sound: "I thought my only opponent from the beginning was Miss Tingyun. I never expected the most dangerous person to be you. I was careless..."

"Alright, I admit this batch isn't first-grade quality, and calling it second-grade is a stretch. I apologize for deceiving you both about this. How about this: the company's estimated acquisition price was 80,000 credit points. I'll sell it to you for 80,000 to show my sincerity."

Experiencing the bitter taste of defeat, something she hadn't felt in years, Shen Sha shook her head with a wry smile. "I apologize to you both, but my health doesn't permit me to complete the remaining transactions. I'll have my attendant, Todd, draft the contract for me."

Before leaving, Shen Sha suddenly turned her head and earnestly extended an olive branch to Bai Jun: "Honestly, I wonder if you'd be interested in working for my family. If you're willing, sir, I can offer you the position of mining consultant for all five planets."

"That sounds like a very tempting offer, but please allow me to decline. Wealth, status, and fame are all meaningless to me. I've always just wanted to live life my own way." Bai Jun shook his head. His tone wasn't joking, and Shen Sha knew this, so she didn't press further and slowly left.

While Todd was drafting the subsequent contract, Tingyun couldn't wait and leaned in, her fair and beautiful face flushed with excitement. "Benefactor, you're amazing! I knew you were amazing before, but today you feel even more so!"

"Too close..."

Looking at the delicate face pressed so near, Bai Jun instinctively leaned back, a rare hint of a subtle expression on his face.

"Oh? Weren't you very imposing just now? Why are you acting like this now?" Having learned from the previous encounter, Tingyun deliberately kept her distance this time, lightly poking his shoulder with her finger, afraid of scaring Bai Jun away again.

"Tch..."

Seeing him awkwardly turn his face away, and then recalling his handsomeness just moments ago, the stark contrast made Tingyun's heart race. A soft, shimmering light appeared in her emerald eyes.

"By the way, what time is it now?"

"It's probably past Shen Shi, nearing half past?" Tingyun tilted her head in confusion, murmuring softly before responding after a moment of thought.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jun suddenly raised his left hand, his voice gaining a bit of confidence. "That's good. The two-hour limit we agreed upon has passed. Hurry and untie me!"

Tingyun froze, surprised that Bai Jun was still concerned about this. Did he really dislike being with her that much?

"Does Benefactor dislike this humble girl so much..." Though reluctant, a promise was a promise. Tingyun untied the Mystic Rope while glaring at him resentfully, as if trying to make him regret their agreement with her eyes.

Unfortunately, it had little effect on Bai Jun.

"That's that. I'll leave the rest to you. I have other things to attend to. If you really want to treat me to a meal, just send some money to my Jade Omen. Not much, just enough for a few days of steamed buns." Once untied, he rubbed his wrist and immediately left.

Watching his receding back, Tingyun reached out as if to stop him, but then her hand fell in disappointment. She had already troubled him enough today; she couldn't be too greedy.

To develop a closer relationship with him, it seemed she still had a long way to go.

Leaving the marketplace alone, Bai Jun gazed at the bustling streets of the Starcruiser Sea Hub. He had a vague feeling that he had forgotten something, likely something important, but he couldn't quite recall what it was.

"What else did I have to do this afternoon?"

As he pondered, he turned a corner, his gaze sweeping over the archway by the roadside, which bore the inscription "Xuan Ye Avenue."

The street was in the most prosperous area of the Starcruiser Sea Hub, with shops lining the way and lights burning late into the night. The faint sound of starcruisers passing could be heard from the sea. White spring flowers lined the road, scattering like rain onto the bustling thoroughfare.

His gaze shifted forward. Near a long bench under a bridge, many people were gathered. Bai Jun stopped, his expression one of surprise as he looked at the small figure with dark purple hair in the center of the crowd.

That person is...

I'm recommending a friend's work. If you're interested, feel free to check it out!

Chapter 16: The Medicine-Carrying Dragon Girl

Near a corner bench on the street, beneath the falling white blossoms, a large crowd had gathered for reasons unknown. Among them were many Xianzhou natives, Foxkin, and even Vidyadhara. Most of them had weary faces or looked tense.

In the center of the crowd was a petite and adorable Vidyadhara girl. She had a beautiful pale white dragon tail and vibrant dark purple hair playfully tied into braids that hung down her back. Her small face showed dimples on her cheeks, a slightly upturned nose, and her blinking, large eyes shone with the brilliance of blue crystals. A pair of tender dragon horns adorned her forehead.

A petal fell, landing precisely on her dark purple hair.

"Doctor, I accidentally ate a chocolate candy and now I'm terribly thirsty, my whole body aches, and the fur on my fox tail is even starting to fall out!" a Foxkin woman asked, hugging her tail worriedly.

"Food poisoning. How many times do I have to tell Foxkin not to eat chocolate! Go and decoct bitter herbs and raw licorice with five grains jade liquid until it's half concentrated. Filter out the dregs, and drink it freely as needed until you vomit. Additionally, copy the 'Common Sense of Dietary Taboos' five hundred times until you have it memorized."

Bailu removed a white petal that had landed on her hair and sat calmly on the bench. Unfazed by the stares of those around her, she didn't seem like a child at all, exuding the demeanor of a mature adult.

"Doctor, my tooth hurts," a Vidyadhara said, clutching his left cheek, unable to bear the pain.

"Pain from regenerating a broken tooth. Go to the pharmacy and get a packet of Shi Niu Sheng Ma San. Decoction with water, filter out the dregs, and drink it in three doses within a day. Its taste is fishy and bitter, so you can add a suitable amount of sugar powder according to your preference when taking it, but don't add too much." Bailu waved the medicinal gourd in her hand, speaking fluently and knowledgeably.

A Xianzhou citizen stood frozen, his face sallow and weak, his complexion dry and lusterless, his expression conflicted, hesitating to step forward.

"Come, come, let me take a look. What's wrong with you? Where do you feel unwell?" Bailu asked with slight confusion, beckoning him over.

"I, I'm fine..." Before he could finish speaking, Bailu reached out and interrupted his attempt to explain.

Hiding illnesses and avoiding treatment—this situation wasn't uncommon. Bailu already knew exactly how to handle it. She walked over to the Xianzhou citizen, placed her small hand on his wrist to feel his pulse, and in less than a moment, concluded, "This is due to accumulated liver fire, insufficient vital energy, blood deficiency leading to poor nourishment, deficiency of yang essence, and depletion of yin energy. In other words, kidney deficiency."

His sore spot hit, the man's face suddenly flushed red. He felt the gazes of everyone around him were strange, so he loudly retorted, "No, no, that's not true! I'm only three hundred and twenty years old, how could I have kidney deficiency? You little—"

"It can be treated," Bailu said calmly, her small hands clasped behind her back.

"A miracle doctor?"

Alas! To go from arrogance to deference, it's enough to make one laugh.

"A master of healing, Doctor Bai." Applause erupted around them, and the crowd gasped in unison.

The art of healing, known as Qihuang, is a medical system that summarizes the ancient healing experiences of the Xianzhou Alliance. Diagnosing cases involves the Four Diagnostic Methods: observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation, also known as traditional diagnostic methods.

Each medical practitioner would typically spend about ten to twenty minutes on a diagnosis, followed by prescribing medication according to the cause of the illness. Considering the varying physical characteristics of the many races on the Xianzhou Alliance, the inquiry process particularly tested a practitioner's energy and experience, a fact that was especially evident in small clinics run by individuals.

Decades ago, the Cold Spring Sect reformed the traditional diagnostic system by employing more modern and advanced methods like Shadow-Piercing Worms, significantly shortening the diagnostic time. This allowed less skilled practitioners to reduce their diagnostic time to five to ten minutes.

While it didn't substantially improve the quality of diagnoses, it was still considered a major advancement in modern medicine.

However, Bailu rarely needed those things when she went out to treat illnesses and save lives. Under her exquisite and unparalleled medical skills, the diagnostic process could even be compressed to within a minute. She could almost finish listening to a patient's symptoms, provide a prescription within about ten seconds, and send away a poor soul suffering from a chronic illness in just a few sentences, never dragging things out, without exception.

Before long, the originally crowded area had thinned out, leaving only three or five people. It was estimated that she would finish with everyone in a few more minutes. Bailu couldn't remember how many patients she had seen, nor did she bother to count. She only knew that treating illnesses and saving lives was a doctor's duty, and it didn't matter if it was tiring or difficult.

Bailu felt an unbearable thirst, licking her dry lips. She thought that once she had free time later, she would definitely buy a steaming cup of Immortal's Joy Tea to comfort herself.

"Doctor Bai, I've been feeling chest tightness, shortness of breath, drowsiness, and my eyes always feel too tired to open."

A gentle, pleasant voice suddenly came from her side. Although Bailu found it somewhat familiar, she didn't pay much attention. She habitually placed her small hand on the fair wrist that was extended towards her.

Feeling the steady and strong pulse in his wrist, Bailu's small face furrowed slightly. She placed her fingers on her lips in confusion, "Strange, the body's functions are robust, there are no unusual ailments, and not the slightest sign of a Mara-struck Body... Hey, are you playing a trick on me!"

Realizing this, Miss Bailu, who was tired from working all afternoon, frowned displeasedly. The medicine gourd in her hand gradually pulsed with purple lightning. If this person was truly here to cause trouble, she would definitely use her maximum current to loosen his muscles and bones.