A Dashing Young Gentleman, Gentle as Jade

The rear courtyard was elegantly furnished in an antique style, complementing the cloud-patterned banners outside the gate.

The shelves were gone, replaced by display cases filled with all kinds of goods. From precious medicinal herbs to finished pills, from famous paintings and calligraphy to rare antiques, every item was exquisite and unusual.

A yellow-clad attendant welcomed Xiang Yuan and led him to a private tea room. She lit incense and brewed tea, then smiled sweetly. "Please, enjoy a cup with me."

The attendant was reasonably pretty and wore clothes similar to a qipao, with a small sachet tied around her waist. She wasn't as dazzling or poised as Sima Qingyan, but she could definitely make Xiao He and Xu Jixian stop in their tracks.

No, those two weren't fools. They were just putting on an act.

Xiang Yuan rubbed his chin. So after all his grumbling, he was the only real fool among the three.

Between the front and rear courtyards, the attendant who had served Xiang Yuan earlier stood obediently before the shopkeeper, head bowed as he was scolded.

"You dared to sell it for three hundred and fifty taels? Why not just give it to him?" The shopkeeper was furious. The bottom price had gotten out. How could they do business in the future?

Hard to say. If he'd recited a couple more rhymes, I might really have given it to him.

The attendant looked glum and explained, "You don't know, Shopkeeper. He's got quite a way with words. After a few rhymes, I was completely confused."

"Even so, you can't sell it for three hundred and fifty taels!"

"I know I was wrong. That's why I sent him to the rear courtyard. Please make some arrangements, sir. Sell him a weapon at a high price to make up for what we lost. We can tell people the Acupoint Opening pill came free with the weapon," the attendant said.

"How much silver does he have left?"

"From the stack of banknotes I saw in his clothes, about a thousand taels."

"That's not much..."

The shopkeeper nodded. A thousand taels was more than enough to make up for the lost bottom price. He said, "The young master is here, so I don't have time to deal with that constable. Have someone else take him down. And be more careful from now on. Don't make the same mistake again."

"If the older sisters in the rear courtyard take him on, that little constable will be wrapped around their fingers," the attendant said happily.

Neither of them wondered where a little constable had gotten so much money. White Cloud Manor was in business, and as long as the money wasn't counterfeit, they didn't care whether a customer was a notorious bandit or an honorable gentleman. That was the court's concern.

Meanwhile, Xiang Yuan's yellow-clad attendant gazed at him with tender affection, as though she'd fallen in love at first sight. When she served him tea, their fingertips accidentally brushed, and her face turned red with shyness.

What are you blushing for, you teapot?

I'm only fifteen this year. You touched my hand, and I didn't even blush!

The woman across from him was in her late twenties and completely oblivious to how ridiculous she was being. Xiang Yuan put on a lovestruck expression, listened to the music playing around them, and pretended to exchange flirtatious glances with her.

Might as well use this as a chance to polish my acting.

After flirting with him for a while, the attendant decided the mood was right. If she didn't get down to business soon, he'd start wondering if she wanted to get down to business with him. Smiling, she invited Xiang Yuan out of the tea room and over to the weapon displays.

Eight Trigrams Purple-Gold Hammer, made by the Heavenly Thunder Sect, a masterwork forged with thunder and fire. Price: three thousand taels;

Golden Light Sword, made by the Golden Light Sword Sect using a secret method. When drawn, it shone like the rising sun. Price: eight thousand taels;

Water-Severing Saber, origin unknown, acquired by White Cloud Manor by chance. Forged entirely from frost-iron and set with a Heart-Awakening Stone. If its wielder knows the corresponding technique, the blade can wield ice and freeze flesh and blood, rivaling superior martial arts. Price: twelve thousand taels;

Great Harmony Sword, made by the Qingxu Sect. Perfected Master Great Harmony once wielded it against demons across the four provinces, creating the Great Harmony Demon-Subduing Sword art. Sold on behalf of the Qingxu Sect. Price: thirty thousand taels;

Azure Dragon Halberd, origin unknown. The blood of a great demon was mixed into it during its forging. It can summon clouds to shield its wielder and unleash shifting rainstorms. Price: priceless, negotiable, trade only;

Ghostshadow Hook, suspected to be from the Demonic Beings of the Southern Border...

The weapon display was dazzling. Xiang Yuan's eyes went wide. He wanted this one and that one, and only regretted that his uncle had died too thoroughly for him to summon the old man's spirit.

Otherwise, one gust of demonic wind could sweep all the treasures away. What a wonderful thought.

The fool's imagination ran wild, but with his purse strings so tight, he forced himself to look away from these tempting, wicked things and browsed the cheaper corner instead.

Tens of thousands of taels for a weapon? No fun. It was better to keep his feet on the ground!

"Miss, do you have anything cheaper? Something that costs a few taels, sold to a future great master to earn his favor?" Xiang Yuan asked with an innocent expression.

The attendant had never heard anyone make such a shameless request. She'd seen people try to hold her hand, but never anyone who wanted her to hand over her life.

Still, she was an experienced saleswoman. Her smile didn't falter as she replied, "We don't have anything that cheap, but we do have some pieces for two thousand taels. I'll go ask the shopkeeper and see if I can get you half off."

As she spoke, her eyes lingered on him, her expression that of a lovestruck woman whose heart had already been won.

If this had been some other fifteen- or sixteen-year-old, a poor country boy who'd just been appreciated by a beautiful woman, he'd already be hot-blooded and reaching for every last coin he owned.

Xiang Yuan was different. This fool thought he could let her deceive his heart, but not his money. If he lost his heart, there'd always be someone else. If he lost his money, it'd really be gone.

He understood what the attendant meant. Half off two thousand taels was a thousand taels. She'd already figured out how much money he had. No matter how long he browsed or haggled, as long as he made a purchase, he'd end up with a weapon worth a thousand taels.

This was tricky.

Xiang Yuan spotted a few good sabers. He'd meant to take a look and leave without lingering, but now he couldn't bring himself to go.

He should save where he could. A thousand taels in one go was far too much. He figured the best way to untie a knot was to find the person who'd tied it. He had to find a way to pry open the attendant's mouth and get her to lower the price.

After thinking it over, he could only bring himself to trade on his looks!

He'd already made a plan. If his looks didn't work, he'd recite a few love poems to fool the older woman and make her fall for him.

Two minutes later, Xiang Yuan gave up on using his looks. The attendant had seen and done plenty, just like him. She was willing to talk about feelings, but when it came to money, she wouldn't budge.

"Miss, this isn't how you do business at White Cloud Manor!"

Xiang Yuan complained, "Look, I've spent so much silver in one go, and all you've offered is a discount. You don't even have membership tiers for gold, silver, bronze, and iron. No membership prices, no points—how can you compete with Forget Sword Manor like this?"

The attendant stared at him, bewildered. She had no idea what the fool was talking about.

"Little brother, what are points? What are membership prices?"

A clear, mellow voice rang out. Though it was a man's voice, it flowed like a winding stream, refreshing the spirit and somehow inspiring goodwill.

Xiang Yuan turned around and saw a white-bearded old man dressed like a shopkeeper walking over with a young gentleman.

The young man wore white. His face was as beautiful as jade, his skin smooth as cream, and his features were even more delicate than a woman's. A fresh breeze seemed to follow his every step as his robes fluttered around him, elegant and otherworldly.

A dashing young gentleman, gentle as jade.

Xiang Yuan had never met a man with such a refined and elegant air. If not for the hint of sorrow between his brows, which marred his graceful bearing, he would have been perfect.

He heard someone's breathing quicken and turned to see the attendant beside him staring starry-eyed, entranced and practically melting.

Good grief. What kind of walking hormone was this? How could he be so powerful?

Xiang Yuan had been about to say that this man's charm almost rivaled his own. But then he thought better of it. He was only fifteen. Being too charming wasn't a good thing. Better to pretend to be modest and challenge him for the title in a few years.

"Little brother, I'm Yue Huanjiang, a disciple of White Cloud Manor. May I ask your name?"

Yue Huanjiang cupped his hands in greeting. He held a folding fan with a white-jade frame, and every gesture was as gentle as jade. Even if he offended someone, they'd probably just smile and make excuses for him.

"Xiang Yuan. A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Yue." Xiang Yuan returned the greeting. Yue was quite an uncommon surname.

"I overheard what you said just now and grew curious, so I came to ask. If I've offended you, I hope you'll forgive me." Yue Huanjiang smiled faintly, making the attendant's heart pound even faster.

Not bad. You seem to have a fair bit of influence. If you sincerely apologize with a ten-percent discount on everything and an unlimited interest-free loan, we can call it even.

Xiang Yuan thought of something. An opportunity had come his way. Whether it worked or not, he might as well try to talk his way into it.

"This is a business secret, and I learned it from an expert. If Young Master Yue wants to ask me about it, this probably isn't the place." Xiang Yuan lowered his voice.

"Quite right. This way, please."

Watching the two of them walk away, the shopkeeper followed in silence. The attendant from the front courtyard had said that the little constable was full of rhymes and could leave people confused with just a few words. At first, he hadn't believed it. Now, it seemed the boy really was a master con artist.

The young master preferred quiet and avoided conflict. He rarely traveled the jianghu and didn't understand how treacherous people could be. The shopkeeper had to stay close, lest the little constable dazzle him with honeyed words and lead him astray.