Something's Wrong with Your Goods

That afternoon, Zhou Muyun arrived at the East Market station.

He began the day's street patrol with Lu Ming and the others.

East Market was quiet during the day to begin with, and nothing much ever happened. As they patrolled, they chatted on and off.

"Brother Lu, I'd like to ask you about someone from East Market."

"Go ahead. I can't speak for other areas, but I know East Market inside out." Lu Ming patted his chest confidently.

"Have you heard of a man named Ying Tianlong?" Zhou Muyun asked after pondering for a moment.

"Ying Tianlong?" Lu Ming frowned and thought for a moment. "He's scum among martial artists, a thuggish swindler who specializes in cheating people. He's at mid-stage Bone Tempering."

Mid-stage Bone Tempering was nothing to worry about, Zhou Muyun thought.

"What, did this man offend you, Brother Zhou?" Lu Ming asked curiously.

"No, I was just asking."

"No problem." Lu Ming pulled Zhou Muyun aside and lowered his voice.

"If that sort of trash provokes someone else, that's one thing. But Brother Zhou, while you aren't officially employed, you still represent the County Magistrate's Office. As long as you keep things clean..."

At that, Lu Ming gave Zhou Muyun a knowing look.

So the authorities treated this kind of human scum much the same as the gangs did. Zhou Muyun understood.

The World-Saving Sect had wiped out the gangs in the Outer City, and the authorities had merely gone to discuss matters with them. Once they confirmed that the sect was not another large gang—

By the standards of Zhou Muyun's previous life, the World-Saving Sect had become legitimate.

Still, they could only preach in the Outer City. That was the authorities' bottom line.

Zhou Muyun chatted idly with Lu Ming for a few more moments before ending the subject.

Once the patrol was finished, he returned home.

He had also learned from Lu Ming where Ying Tianlong lived, how many lackeys he had, and so on.

Lying on his bed and feeling his injuries improve, Zhou Muyun had already formed a plan.

Two days later, inside a shop in East Market, a man in a long robe holding a folding fan stood before several crates of medicinal herbs, looking every bit the merchant.

He pinched herbs from different crates, smelled them, then broke off small pieces and tasted them. He looked quite professional.

"Boss Ying, these herbs are of such excellent quality. You're really selling them to me at thirty percent below market price?"

"Boss Li, let's not beat around the bush. I truly need the money, or I would never sell them at this price. If you don't want them today, I'll have no choice but to sell them to another buyer."

A tall man dressed like a merchant spoke with a pained expression, as though he would regret it the next second. It was Ying Tianlong.

As for the Boss Li he addressed, it was Zhou Muyun in disguise.

The day after asking Lu Ming, Zhou Muyun had disguised himself as a businessman and approached one of Ying Tianlong's lackeys.

Just as expected, the lackey quickly took the bait, repeating the spiel about cheap goods and inviting Zhou Muyun to inspect the merchandise in person.

Zhou Muyun readily agreed and set the meeting for today.

As for why, naturally, it was easier to act after his injuries had fully healed.

"This..." Zhou Muyun hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind. "Boss Ying, I'll take them. One hundred taels, right? I'll pay you now."

"Boss Li, you're decisive. Then they're yours."

Ying Tianlong put on a pained look, as though he could hardly bear it, but when he turned his face aside, a triumphant smile appeared.

Another fool fell for it. This month has really been lucky!

Zhou Muyun also put on an excited expression and handed the prepared silver to Ying Tianlong.

Then, under their watchful eyes, he inspected every herb at the bottom and top of the crates. There was nothing wrong with any of them.

They're all genuine? Then how were Uncle and the others cheated? Zhou Muyun wondered in surprise.

His uncle could not possibly have taken the goods home without inspecting them. Something must have gone wrong somewhere in between.

"No problem, Boss Li? When I, Ying Tianlong, do business, everything is the genuine article. I would never pass off fakes because of the price," Ying Tianlong declared righteously.

With this whole performance, ordinary people really would be fooled.

Of course you didn't pass off fakes. Your goods were entirely fake, Zhou Muyun silently mocked.

"No problem." Zhou Muyun nodded.

"Someone, load Boss Li's goods."

Ying Tianlong clapped his hands, and several attendants stepped forward, carrying the crates of herbs outside.

"Boss Ying, this is...?"

"Boss Li, we'll personally deliver them to your residence. What if something happens to the goods on the way? Wouldn't that mean compensation?"

"Boss Ying is certainly thoughtful."

Seeing that Zhou Muyun did not object, Ying Tianlong finally revealed a satisfied smile.

Before long, the attendants finished loading the herbs and returned to report.

Zhou Muyun finally understood where the problem lay.

Ying Tianlong was clever. He never targeted major merchants, only small-time businessmen like Zhou Muyun and his uncle.

Hearing that delivery was included, they would naturally be eager to take advantage of it. The goods would be switched while they were being loaded, without anyone noticing.

When those attendants came in, they exchanged looks with Ying Tianlong. Zhou Muyun had seen it all clearly.

But Zhou Muyun did not intend to expose them yet. What he wanted was for the goods to be wrong!

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ying Tianlong, Zhou Muyun took his leave and boarded the delivery carriage as it slowly rolled away.

Once they confirmed Zhou Muyun had gone far enough, Ying Tianlong and his lackeys looked at one another and burst into laughter.

"Boss, did you see that look on his face? He even thanked us!"

"Exactly. You're still the best, Boss. This is much safer than joining a gang, and the money isn't bad either."

"Of course. Just look at who the boss is..."

"Enough, enough. Stop flattering me." Ying Tianlong waved a hand, signaling for silence.

"When that man discovers the problem and comes back to find us, you all know what to say, right?"

"We know. Payment and goods have both been settled, and he inspected the goods himself. Once they leave our door, we bear no responsibility," the lackeys answered in unison.

"Very good. This month's haul has been excellent. Tonight, we're drinking at the Drunken Red Pavilion!"

"Boss is mighty!"

Watching his delighted underlings, Ying Tianlong sat in his chair with a satisfied expression.

He had become a martial artist, yet those people still joined gangs and lived knife-edge lives. What idiots.

He was better. He had strength and brains. Even if someone discovered the switch midway, he could just apologize and compensate them.

If they did not discover it? Then it was his turn to make money.

Meanwhile, Ma Cai drove the carriage, but his mind had already wandered far away.

How he wished someone else had been assigned this delivery.

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. He wished he could hurry up and finish the delivery so he could return to eat and drink well with the boss and the brothers.

"Boss Li, where does your household live? You only told me to keep going earlier. Can you tell me now?" Ma Cai asked respectfully on the surface.

"No problem. Eighth Street in East Market, the innermost residence."

"Got it, Boss Li."

Hearing the location, Ma Cai was delighted at first. But after thinking it over, the more he thought, the more familiar it sounded.

Eighth Street, the innermost residence? Wasn't that our own shop?

"Boss Li, did you... perhaps remember incorrectly? Isn't that location..."

"That's right. It's your shop." Zhou Muyun's cold voice came from behind him.

Ma Cai immediately sensed trouble and turned around.

The crates inside the carriage had already been opened. Zhou Muyun held a handful of herbs and stared at him coldly.

The next second, darkness filled his vision, and he fainted.

Zhou Muyun had acted. With his Tempered Bone Realm Peak cultivation, dealing with a small fry was effortless.

"Brother Lu, you can come out now."

At Zhou Muyun's call, five constables emerged from a nearby alley, with Lu Ming at their head.

"Brother Zhou, what do you plan to do next?" Lu Ming asked.

"I'll leave the man to you. I'll drive the carriage back and settle accounts with Ying Tianlong."

"It won't turn into too big a disturbance, will it? Otherwise, it'll be hard to clean up afterward."

"Don't worry, Brother Lu. When you hear me imitate a bird call, come inside and reap the benefits."

"If that's the case, I trust in your strength, Brother Zhou."

Lu Ming took the carriage from Zhou Muyun, while Zhou Muyun casually grabbed a handful of herbs and rushed toward Ying Tianlong's shop.

Knock, knock, knock. Crisp knocking sounded.

Li Shi, one of Ying Tianlong's lackeys, opened the door.

"Boss Li, what is it?"

Looking at the travel-worn Zhou Muyun, Li Shi was somewhat confused. Hadn't he gone home with the carriage? Why was he back so soon?

"I have an urgent matter to discuss with Boss Ying." Zhou Muyun looked anxious.

His boss was a martial artist. What trouble could a powerless merchant possibly cause?

Li Shi said nothing and let Zhou Muyun inside.

In the main hall, Ying Tianlong frowned when he saw Zhou Muyun return shortly after leaving.

Where was Ma Cai? Why had he not come back with him? Had something gone wrong?

Still, Ying Tianlong greeted him with a smile. "Boss Li, didn't you just leave? Why are you back already? Is something the matter?"

Zhou Muyun took out some herbs from his pocket and threw them onto the floor.

"Is something the matter? Of course there is. Something's wrong with your goods!"