Transaction

Qingshan Town.

Looking at the small town built against the mountain, Xiao Ling glanced at the little beast in his arms and shook his head helplessly.

Afterward, he did not touch the corpse of the Jellyfish Lizard, nor did he even extract its magic core. It wasn't that he didn't value it, but there were some things he could swindle and deceive, while others he could not touch.

This was his own principle, but if someone tried to use his principles against him, he could only say sorry; his principles depended on the person.

"Chi chi..."

The Purple Sable King pointed a small claw at the little beast in Xiao Ling's arms, looking happy.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling rolled his eyes. He hadn't expected this little guy to ask him to let Xiao Ba consume a drop of Earth Core Life Pulse Marrow just to make communication easier. This little guy really didn't know how hard it was to make a living.

"No."

"Chi..."

The Purple Sable King shook its little head and pointed again at the jade ring on his finger, meaning that the Earth Core Life Pulse Marrow was right there, and there were many bottles of it.

"That's mine, and even you are mine... Besides, Xiao Ba is still young... Let's wait a while longer..."

Having said that, Xiao Ling walked toward the town. The Purple Sable King behind him hurriedly followed, grabbing the corner of its master's robe. The shadows of the man and the beast were stretched longer and longer by the setting sun.

"Greetings, Young Master Ling..."

Walking on the bluestone-paved street, Xiao Ling only nodded indifferently to the greetings from the mercenaries before heading toward Wanyao Pavilion.

He did not go to Old Liu's grocery store at the west end of town because Old Liu could not afford the goods he had in his hands.

After all: not everyone is the Shenqing Qishuang Heavenly Monarch.

After Xiao Ling left, the group of mercenaries sighed with emotion.

"Young Master Ling is truly a god-like man. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group hasn't even dared to let out a fart recently."

"That's right. I also heard they appointed a new leader, but I wonder if this leader knows how his predecessor died?"

"This... he probably doesn't know, otherwise how would he dare to join the Wolf Head..."

Just as everyone was discussing, Xiao Ling arrived at Wanyao Pavilion. As soon as he entered, he saw the pure and alluring young girl from last time walking gracefully toward him.

"Wan'er greets you, Young Master. Welcome to our Wanyao Pavilion. Are you here to buy or sell medicinal herbs today?"

Yao Wan'er looked at the young man in white before her with curiosity.

"Sell, but I'm not selling medicinal herbs... Do you accept materials from magic beasts above the second rank?"

Xiao Ling looked at the pure and alluring girl named Wan'er and asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Yao Wan'er's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she quickly replied with a smile.

"I wonder how much you have, Young Master? I will purchase them at the market price, how about that?"

In truth, if it were anyone else, she would have chased them out long ago, but the person before her was an exception.

After all, not only was he powerful, but his background was also unusually strong.

At the very least, it was not someone Wanyao Pavilion could afford to offend.

After all, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had lost a leader and still didn't dare to make a peep. If Wanyao Pavilion could build a good relationship with him, the benefits would be immense.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling's eyes lit up immediately. Adhering to the principle that only a fool would pass up a bargain, he took out the bone materials he had collected one after another. As for the flesh and blood, he had none, as it had all been devoured by him.

Seeing this, Yao Wan'er smiled and took them, ordering her men to store them away without even looking, before taking out a box of gold coins and handing it over.

"Young Master, this is a total of five thousand gold coins. Please keep them safe."

"Mm."

Xiao Ling accepted them with satisfaction, then looked at the pure and alluring girl and mentioned meaningfully.

"Are you going to gather herbs tomorrow? I happen to be free lately and plan to identify some medicinal herbs. Would it be convenient for me to go with you and take a look?"

Hearing this, Yao Wan'er was slightly stunned, then immediately replied with a smile: "Then I must thank you, Young Master. With you there, we will be much safer."

"You are too polite, Miss Wan'er. It is merely mutual benefit."

Xiao Ling smiled.

Afterward, he exchanged a few more polite words with her before bidding farewell to Little Fairy Doctor and leaving.

The next day, when the sky was bright, a knock on the door woke Xiao Ling from his meditation.

"Young Master, we happen to be going to the Magic Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs today. Are you free?"

Yao Wan'er asked softly, her expression respectful.

When she informed Mr. Yao about the matter last night, she only received a reply to advance the herb-gathering schedule. She didn't think there was anything wrong with this; after all, doing a favor for the young man before her was a gain for Wanyao Pavilion.

At this moment, the door was opened from the inside. Xiao Ling looked at the pure and alluring girl standing so close to him and quickly took a step back before smiling politely.

"Sorry to trouble you for making the trip, Miss Wan'er. Let's go."

As for this Miss Wan'er, he hadn't expected her to be the daughter of the Pavilion Master Yao... The father and daughter didn't look alike at all...

Hearing this, Yao Wan'er, who had come to her senses, blushed and nodded gently with a smile.

"Just call me Wan'er, Young Master. 'Miss' sounds a bit distant, and I'll need your help to hold the line today."

"Alright, Wan'er. Let's get going then."

Xiao Ling signaled.

He maintained a respectful distance from the girl named Wan'er, as her motives were far from pure.

However, if it could be mutually beneficial, he didn't mind her using his identity. It was all a facade anyway, and as for exploring the deeper meaning of life, he would pass on that.

And so, under Yao Wan'er's deliberate orchestration along the way, the two appeared to outsiders as a very sweet, love-struck young couple.

This shocked the mercenaries who saw them, leading them to secretly speculate about the nature of their relationship.

Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow at this. Amidst Yao Wan'er's gasp, he pulled her slender waist into his arm. The softness he felt made his heart flutter for a moment, and then a voice reached her ears.

"I don't mind you using my identity since we are helping each other, but you should at least give me some extra compensation."

Hearing this, Yao Wan'er quickly composed herself. Although she was confident in her looks, it was clear he wasn't that kind of person; his warning made it obvious that he was only holding her without any further intentions.

Thinking of this, Yao Wan'er giggled, "Forgive me, Young Master. My Wanyao Pavilion does have some potential enemies, after all. If you feel I've crossed the line, I can compensate you. I... I have never let anyone touch me before."

Xiao Ling: "???"

He hurriedly released her waist and changed the subject.

"Let's hurry up. Don't keep them waiting."

With that, he took the lead and headed toward the outskirts of the town.

He wasn't a fool; he knew exactly what she meant. But his heart wasn't in it. Since he had already taken advantage—bah, he had already received his compensation—he wouldn't pursue the matter of her using his influence any further.

After all, he still needed her to find that cave. Compared to the opportunities hidden within, her taking advantage of him was just a minor trifle.

Soon, Xiao Ling saw Little Fairy Doctor and her group waiting at the town entrance. He scanned them briefly; the Wanyao Pavilion team consisted of only a dozen mercenaries and five or six herb gatherers.

Clearly, this was specifically arranged by Mr. Yao for him, otherwise, there wouldn't be so few people.