Ye Qin was nothing more than an ordinary herb-gathering apprentice in the Herb Gathering Hall. With that status, he had no right to attend the Treasure Exchange on the third floor of Yongfu Restaurant, where the elders of all the major gangs had gathered.
He gave a helpless, self-mocking laugh and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He seemed to have a Treasure Token of some sort. Two months ago, Elder Huang of the Treasure Gang had personally given it to him, saying that as long as he carried it, he could come to see him anytime, anywhere. With this token, he should be able to attend the exchange.
He had a plan now, so he turned and left.
A quarter of an hour later, Ye Qin returned to Yongfu Restaurant.
He had changed into a different outfit: a black martial tunic, a bamboo hat pulled low over his face, and a three-foot-long, razor-sharp saber strapped to his back. He had also rubbed himself with a faintly scented herb to mask his smell. The mysterious man in black who had sold Clear Heart Pills to Elder Huang two months ago had appeared once more.
Ye Qin stepped into the bustling restaurant, passed through the floor for ordinary guests on the first floor and the honored guests' floor on the second, then slowly climbed to the third. Four brawny men in martial tunics stood guard at the top of the stairs, chests out and heads held high. They were all members of the Treasure Gang.
When the men saw a black-clad figure in a bamboo hat come up, they couldn't make out who he was and exchanged suspicious glances.
The burliest of them stepped in Ye Qin's way, cupped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "Brother,