No Room Left

"110 Foundation Strengthening Pills, 90 White Dew Pills, 60 Qi Recovery Pills..."

Zhu Hong'an sat behind the counter, clicking his abacus as he calculated the day's earnings from medicine sales.

Because his expression was rather sour, the four clerks in the shop kept their heads down, working diligently, with none daring to look at Zhu Hong'an.

"Damn it, it's getting less and less." Zhu Hong'an suddenly slammed his hand onto the counter and cursed.

Flying Horse Market was only so big, and the rogue cultivators were all penniless. With the hot sales of Deer Antler Powder and Heavenly Gui Pills, they naturally compressed their spending in other areas. It wasn't just pills; other businesses were inevitably affected, but the medicine shop took the hardest hit.

Zhu Hong'an turned his head to look at Yang An, who was fawning beside him, "What the hell are you grinning at!"

Yang An had tiny eyes, a flat, sunken nose, a face covered in dark spots, and a small, thin frame. Dressed in a black Daoist robe, he stood with a hunched back, looking just like a large rat.

Despite being berated and scolded by Zhu Hong'an, Yang An kept his fawning smile, his face full of humility and obsequiousness. He lowered his voice and said, "Shopkeeper, the spirit stones are all with Gao Xian. His spirit stones are essentially your money."

"Hahaha..."

Zhu Hong'an loved hearing that, and his mood improved instantly.

Originally, Zhou Ye selling Deer Antler Powder on the side hadn't affected him much. Zhou Ye's teacher was the Dharma Transmission Elder, someone not easily offended. The key was that when he went to see Zhou Ye, the other party's attitude was excellent, claiming they were only test-selling for a few months and would cooperate with him if business was good.

At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, but when Huang Ying came out to buy Heavenly Gui Pills, he knew something was wrong. After some investigation, it was indeed that brat Gao Xian pulling the strings! Upon learning this, he was not angry, but delighted.

As long as he held Gao Xian in his grasp, all that money would be his. Furthermore, Gao Xian would only be able to refine pills for him from now on.

Deer Antler Powder and Heavenly Gui Pills would become his cash cows. As for Zhou Ye and Huang Ying, without Gao Xian providing the pills, they were worth nothing.

Zhu Hong'an patted Yang An on the shoulder and praised him, "It's all thanks to you for finding out the truth. Don't worry, I won't treat you unfairly."

As for what "not treating him unfairly" meant, Zhu Hong'an felt that giving him a couple of compliments was already quite generous.

Yang An nodded repeatedly, beaming, "Many thanks, Shopkeeper."

As soon as Yang An looked up, he saw Zhu Qiniang entering from the back door, and the smile on his face instantly turned a bit stiff.

Yang An feared the perpetually cold-faced Zhu Qiniang from the bottom of his heart. He knew very well that Zhu Qiniang was the number one enforcer of Longevity Hall, possessing a cold personality and a ruthless, heartless way of doing things.

What was even more terrifying was that he could never read this woman's thoughts.

He had always kept a respectful distance from her.

"Boss Lady, you've returned." Yang An hurriedly greeted her respectfully, while also using the gesture to remind Zhu Hong'an.

Zhu Hong'an closed the ledger and turned to look at Zhu Qiniang, "Did you bring him back?"

"Mm."

Zhu Qiniang replied, "He's in the backyard."

"The brat is timid; let him stew for a while and he'll be terrified on his own."

Zhu Hong'an said with a chuckle, "Let's eat and drink our fill before we go deal with him."

Yang An whispered a reminder, "Shopkeeper, don't let him run away."

"He wouldn't dare."

Zhu Hong'an sneered, "In such a small place as Flying Horse Market, where could he run? If he dared to run, I wouldn't even need to lift a finger; his master, Xu Mingyuan, would beat him to death!"

He pulled a spirit stone from his sleeve and tossed it to Yang An, "Go to Old Li Wine Shop and buy some good dishes. Today is a good day; we must have a drink..."

By the time Yang An returned with the food and wine, the sky had turned completely dark.

Yang An sat in the lower seat, drinking with Shopkeeper Zhu and his wife. He didn't dare to eat much, instead diligently pouring wine for the Shopkeeper and keeping him company with chatter.

Zhu Qiniang ate a great deal but didn't touch a drop of alcohol. Once she was full, she left first.

After Zhu Qiniang departed, Yang An finally relaxed. He drank a few cups with Zhu Hong's, feeling a bit tipsy, and began discussing the beauties of the Flying Flower Courtyard with him.

Speaking of those soul-stirring slender waists and long legs, Zhu Hong'an grew excited, "Once Gao Xian signs the death contract today, I'll take you to the Flying Flower Courtyard to have some fun. Yun'er and Feng'er—their skills are truly remarkable..."

The two old men grew more excited as they talked, already beginning to imagine how they would go off to indulge in pleasure later.

It wasn't until the half-moon rose in the sky that Zhu Hong'an took Yang An to the back courtyard room.

It was mid-September, and the weather had already turned cold.

The room had originally been used for storing miscellaneous items; it didn't face the sun, and the paper on the windows was torn. As the night wind blew in, the room felt even colder.

The flickering light of an oil lamp swayed gently in the night breeze, casting light that waxed and waned. Gao Xian, sitting on the inner side of the table, had a face that looked neither dark nor bright in the shifting light—calm, yet carrying an indescribable, eerie quality.

Zhu Hong'an was somewhat surprised. In his impression, Gao Xian had always been very timid, easily flustered by a few threats.

Why was he so calm now?

He grew displeased; did this brat really think he wouldn't dare to take action?

Zhu Hong'an walked over with a dark face and slammed his hand onto the table, shouting, "Gao Xian!"

As a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, Zhu Hong'an's shout was full of vigor and high-pitched.

Gao Xian, however, remained abnormally calm. He sat still, his face showing no signs of fear.

He looked up at Zhu Hong'an and asked calmly, "Shopkeeper Zhu, what do you want by dragging me here?"

"You still have the nerve to ask!"

Zhu Hong'an had been putting on a bit of a show, but now he was truly becoming angry.

Seeing him arrive, Gao Xian actually dared to remain seated and even had the audacity to ask him why!

"I am asking you, were the Heavenly Gui Pill for Huang Ying and the Deer Antler Powder for Zhou Ye refined by you?"

Gao Xian nodded: "They were refined by me."

He then countered with a question: "Is there a problem with that?"

"You have the nerve to ask me that!"

Zhu Hong'an pointed at Gao Xian, cursing him with agitation: "The medicinal herbs are mine, the pill furnace is mine, yet you secretly refined pills to sell them outside. Is this how your master taught you?"

"In the entire Flying Horse Market, only I am permitted to sell medicinal pills. This is a rule set by the sect!"

"What you are doing is theft and betrayal. If I send you back to the Discipline Hall of the Lianyun Sect, you will surely die."

Having said this, Zhu Hong'an softened his tone slightly: "Out of respect for your master, and considering you are young, ignorant, and this is your first offense, I will give you a chance."

Gao Xian felt a bit conflicted. He had never known that Longevity Hall held the monopoly on pill sales. Such an important matter, yet Qiniang hadn't even mentioned it...

The problem was that he had no choice; Zhu Hong'an was too greedy, making cooperation impossible. The Deer Antler Powder and Heavenly Gui Pill were linked to his Humanity Aura and had to be sold in large quantities.

He recalled Qiniang asking him what he would do if Zhu Hong'an forbade him from selling pills. It turned out she had already warned him...

Gao Xian sighed softly: "Please, Shopkeeper Zhu, speak your mind."

Zhu Hong'an was about to say something when he noticed Gao Xian was still sitting there. He walked over, grabbed Gao Xian by the collar, and hauled him up: "You little brat, you still dare to sit in front of me? Who do you think you are?"

Gao Xian did not resist; he soothed the other man in a gentle voice: "Shopkeeper Zhu, don't get excited. Let's talk this over slowly."

Yang An watched from the side, feeling that Gao Xian was a bit too calm. Although he hadn't dealt with Gao Xian before, he felt something was off.

He suddenly sensed someone entering and glanced to the side; it was Zhu Qiniang.

Zhu Qiniang was a full head taller than him. She stood silently at the doorway, neither speaking nor moving, yet she naturally exuded an imposing aura.

Yang An hurriedly nodded and offered a fawning smile to Zhu Qiniang, then shifted two steps to the side.

Letting Zhu Qiniang stand behind him was not only impolite, but it also made him feel insecure.

Zhu Hong'an was still grabbing Gao Xian and ranting, his spittle flying everywhere, while Gao Xian wore a look of helplessness.

This middle-aged man's oral hygiene was poor, and having just consumed alcohol, his breath was foul to the extreme.

Zhu Hong'an assumed Gao Xian was afraid and felt a sense of triumph. This brat is quite good at putting on an act, but once he's in my hands, these little tricks are useless.

He pulled a contract from his sleeve and slapped it onto the table: "Sign this contract, and I won't hold the past against you."

Gao Xian took the contract and read it over. The content was simple: it was a hundred-year contract between Longevity Hall and him, stipulating that every pill he refined within those hundred years would belong to Longevity Hall.

Should he violate the contract, Longevity Hall would have the right to dispose of him as they pleased.

As for compensation and benefits, not a single word was written.

"Shopkeeper Zhu, this contract term is too long, and it doesn't state how the profits from the refined pills are to be shared..."

Gao Xian shook his head. The terms were too harsh; if he truly signed it, he would become a slave to Longevity Hall.

Zhu Qiniang really hadn't lied to him!

He hadn't fully trusted Qiniang's words, mainly because she clearly harbored deep malice toward the shopkeeper.

Now it seemed that Zhu Hong'an was truly greedy and truly ruthless, leaving no room for others.

Zhu Hong'an grabbed Gao Xian by the collar and pulled him close, face to face, eyes locked. Zhu Hong'an's small eyes were filled with murderous intent.

He sneered coldly: "You secretly used my herbs and furnace to earn so many spirit stones, did you really think I was running a charity!"

"Today, you either sign the contract or you die. Choose for yourself!"

Gao Xian sighed again. He glanced toward the door at Zhu Qiniang. She was pursing her lips slightly, her expression cold, her eyes carrying a chilling murderous intent.

Zhu Qiniang noticed Gao Xian's gaze and gave him a slight nod.

Zhu Hong'an had his back to Zhu Qiniang and did not see her movement.

Yang An, standing to the side, saw the interaction between Zhu Qiniang and Gao Xian. His heart was filled with suspicion and unease: What are Gao Xian and Zhu Qiniang up to? The situation seems a bit wrong...