Spirit Liquid

"Sir Guard, this fellow dared to snatch things at Heavenly Fragrance Market. He is clearly challenging Heavenly Fragrance Market's authority. I beg Sir Guard to uphold justice for me!" The fat middle-aged man spoke with a miserable expression, though his eyes gleamed with cunning.

The leading guard glanced at Lin Xuan. Seeing no formidable spiritual energy fluctuations on him, he immediately sneered. "Men, take him down!"

After speaking, he gave the fat man a meaningful look. An imperceptible smile appeared at the middle-aged man's lips as four Heavenly Fragrance Market guards, sabers hanging at their waists, strode toward Lin Xuan.

"Ah, this guy actually dared to cause trouble at Heavenly Fragrance Market. He's afraid he's in for bad luck this time!"

"He must be new here and doesn't know how formidable Heavenly Fragrance Market is..."

Lin Xuan watched the four approaching guards and secretly circulated his spiritual energy. He had not expected to run into such a situation the moment he entered, but he was never one to suffer a loss quietly.

Just as Lin Xuan was about to attack, Wine Lord's voice sounded in his heart. "You're still too young. Something this small is enough to make you act rashly?"

Lin Xuan rolled his eyes. "They're already bullying me right over my head. How can I not act rashly?"

Wine Lord smiled mysteriously. "Watch me!"

Lin Xuan felt an inexplicable force surge from within his body and drift toward the fat middle-aged man.

The next moment, the fat middle-aged man shuddered, then burst into wild laughter.

"Ha ha ha, Brother Leopard, this went so smoothly! That black-robed man was such an easy mark—he didn't even resist! We brothers will split whatever he has on him. Once I find another fat sheep, I'll come looking for you again, Brother Leopard!"

As he spoke, the fat middle-aged man grabbed the leading guard and kept calling him Brother Leopard over and over.

The surrounding crowd immediately understood what had happened and glared furiously at the Heavenly Fragrance Market guards. The four guards who had been preparing to seize Lin Xuan were so frightened that they kept backing away.

Brother Leopard's face went pale with fright. He swung his hand and slapped him.

Smack!

The fat middle-aged man spun around three times on the spot. His already plump face was now horribly swollen. That slap thoroughly knocked him awake.

"B-Brother Leopard, why did you hit me?" the fat middle-aged man asked bitterly.

"Get lost! I don't know you! Men, seize this fat man!" Brother Leopard wished he could tear him apart.

With things having escalated to this point, the owner of Heavenly Fragrance Market had long since been alerted. A beautiful woman in a pink gown slowly approached.

She first had Brother Leopard taken away, then apologized to the people around them, declaring that such a thing would never happen again. Finally, she came to Lin Xuan's side and said in a sweet voice, "Sir, we are truly sorry about what happened. Heavenly Fragrance Market failed to receive you properly. We hope you can forgive us."

"To make up for this misunderstanding, everything you purchase this time will be sold at a thirty percent discount!" the woman in pink said.

Lin Xuan lowered his voice. "Since your establishment is so sincere, there is no point in pursuing the matter further. Does your establishment sell century-old spirit fruits?"

"This way, sir." The woman in pink smiled like a blooming flower, swaying her waist as she led Lin Xuan into an imposing shop.

"This is a Century-Old Flame Fruit. It contains powerful fire energy and is highly suitable for martial artists cultivating fire-attributed martial arts. It costs one thousand Spirit Stones. This is a Frost Fruit, containing tyrannical frost power..."

The woman in pink introduced seven or eight spirit fruits in succession, each of them over a century old and incomparably precious.

"Which one has caught your eye, sir?" the woman in pink asked with a smile.

Lin Xuan's gaze flickered. These spirit fruits all cost around one thousand Spirit Stones, or roughly seven hundred after the discount. He did not know how much his spirit wine could sell for, but he assumed it would not be worth less than these spirit fruits.

"I want these three." Lin Xuan extended a finger and said in a lowered voice.

Lin Xuan had pointed at the Flame Fruit, Frost Fruit, and Lightning Fruit. Each of the three fruits cost one thousand Spirit Stones, for a total of three thousand Spirit Stones—a far from small sum.

"Do you purchase Spirit Liquid here?" Lin Xuan suddenly asked.

"Spirit Liquid?" The woman in pink froze, then looked at Lin Xuan in surprise. "What grade of Spirit Liquid does sir wish to sell? Please wait a moment. I'll invite an appraiser."

The woman in pink brought Lin Xuan to a luxurious room, then left with her water-snake waist swaying. Before long, she returned with a white-haired old man.

"This is Master Yuan, the appraiser of our Heavenly Fragrance Market. Elder Yuan, this gentleman wishes to sell Spirit Liquid," the woman in pink said.

Elder Yuan had a head full of white hair, and the wrinkles on his face resembled dried orange peel. Yet his eyes shone as brightly as stars, with sharp glints flashing through them from time to time.

Lin Xuan smiled faintly and flipped his hand over. A small white porcelain bottle appeared in his palm, and he placed it on the table. Then he leaned back against the chair.

Seeing this, Elder Yuan did not stand on ceremony. He grabbed the white porcelain bottle and carefully opened it. At once, a clear fragrance drifted out, leaving anyone who smelled it feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

Elder Yuan's eyes lit up. He quickly sat down and began examining it carefully. Even the woman in pink looked at Lin Xuan with slight surprise.

She was one of the managers of Heavenly Fragrance Market, responsible for the entire medicinal herb district. She had seen plenty of Spirit Liquid in her time, but this was the first time she had encountered one that could refresh the mind merely by being smelled.

As a manager of Heavenly Fragrance Market, she had already decided to build a good relationship with Lin Xuan and make him a regular customer of Heavenly Fragrance Market.

At this moment, Elder Yuan finished his appraisal. There was a trace of excitement in his eyes; clearly, the grade of this Spirit Liquid had exceeded his expectations.

"It is Grade-Two Spirit Liquid." Elder Yuan's voice was somewhat hurried. "And superior Grade-Two Spirit Liquid at that!"

Lin Xuan was delighted. From Elder Yuan's expression, he could tell that this Spirit Liquid should be quite valuable, but he truly had no idea what Grade-Two Spirit Liquid was worth.

Fortunately, Elder Yuan spoke at that moment. "How does sir wish to sell it?"

"How much is Heavenly Fragrance Market offering?" Lin Xuan asked in return.

"Our preliminary estimate is around one thousand Spirit Stones. Of course, if it is auctioned, the price should be higher."

"One thousand Spirit Stones—enough to match a spirit fruit!" Lin Xuan was astonished. He knew what the Spirit Liquid was made from: merely some spirit herbs worth only two hundred Spirit Stones in total. He had never expected it to become so valuable after being refined into Spirit Liquid.

Looks like that drunkard uncle is pretty capable. I won't need to worry about Spirit Stones in the future! Lin Xuan thought joyfully.

"I have another bottle. Can these two bottles of Spirit Liquid be exchanged for three century-old spirit fruits?" Lin Xuan asked calmly.

The three spirit fruits cost three thousand Spirit Stones, or two thousand one hundred after the thirty percent discount—roughly the same as the value of two bottles of Spirit Liquid.

"You have more?" Elder Yuan and the woman both froze for a moment. "Does sir have any more?"

"No. You should know how precious this stuff is. Two bottles are already my limit," Lin Xuan said. In truth, he had kept one bottle aside, and there was still quite a bit left in his Purple Gourd—probably another three bottles or so.

However, seeing Elder Yuan's expression, he did not dare take them out. He understood the saying: a common man commits no crime, but possessing a jade makes him guilty.

If you like it, please save it. Your support is my greatest motivation!