Qiao Household

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, outside the fish market.

Fang Han carried a wooden bucket of fish and spotted several Dragon King Gang members guarding the entrance from afar.

He paused, then immediately resumed his normal pace and walked over with the bucket.

"Well, if it isn't the Fang Household brat?" a shrill voice called out.

The speaker was a lean man in his thirties, dressed in gray work clothes with a short blade at his waist. He was Brother Jin, the manager of this section of the fish market.

Fang Han put on a smile and, as though accustomed to it, took three copper coins from his clothes and handed them over. "Morning, Brother Jin. Here's the stall fee."

Brother Jin pocketed the coins, tugging at the corner of his mouth in a false smile as his gaze fell on Fang Han's wooden bucket.

"Open the bucket. Let me have a look."

Fang Han's heart tightened, but his expression did not change in the slightest. He answered with a smile,

"If Brother Jin wants to see it, then of course."

With that, he set down the bucket and lifted the lid. A faint fishy smell of water wafted out.

Several palm-sized crucian carp swam amid the waterweed inside.

Brother Jin leaned in for a look and reached in to stir the waterweed.

Seeing that there was indeed nothing underneath, he impatiently waved a hand. "Fine. Get in."

"Thank you, Brother Jin."

Fang Han picked up the bucket and left. Only after entering the fish market did he secretly thank his own caution for hiding the Spirit Fish beneath the bucket's false bottom in advance.

Behind him.

Brother Jin cursed at the gang members beside him. "Damn it, didn't you say Spirit Fish were causing a stir in the river? I've been squatting here all morning and haven't seen so much as a fish scale! What kind of bullshit information did you idiots get?"

One gang member forced a smile. "Please calm down, Brother Jin. Maybe the news was wrong. If we wait a little longer, one might show up."

"Wait my ass!" Brother Jin spat, his face full of bad luck.

Fang Han made his way deeper into the fish market. Along the way, fishermen had set up stalls to sell fish, their cries rising and falling as a heavy stench of fish filled the air.

Fang Han could not say he felt much indignation toward the Dragon King Gang's exploitation.

This world had always been one where the strong devoured the weak. The Dragon King Gang had Martial Artists backing them—what could ordinary people use to fight them?

The lives of common folk at the bottom had never been worth much.

Only by becoming a Martial Artist could one claim a place in this world.

Otherwise, one would forever be fish on the chopping block, left for others to slaughter...

The farther he went, the livelier the fish market became.

Fang Han headed toward the busiest part of the market.

After turning a corner, he saw a huge crowd gathered ahead, dark with people. Their buzzing discussions were several times louder than elsewhere.

He squeezed forward and craned his neck for a look.

Several long tables had been set up in the center of the crowd. Moonwatch Tower's manager was purchasing fish there, and Qiao Huixin, the Qiao Household's young lady, was present as well.

Qiao Huixin's features were as picturesque as a painting. Her almond eyes were clear as water, and a faint smile rested on her lips. Every gesture she made was poised and graceful.

Fang Han recognized her at once.

The Qiao Household was renowned throughout the outer city.

The Moonwatch Tower operated by the Qiao Household was open only to Martial Artists!

It was said that any random dish inside cost two or three taels of silver, all made with premium ingredients and focused on nourishing the body through food. Ordinary people could not even reach its threshold.

"Everyone."

Qiao Huixin spoke with a bright smile, her voice crisp and pleasant.

"Moonwatch Tower is buying Spirit Fish at fair prices. As long as it's a Spirit Fish, we'll buy as many as you have. We certainly won't let anyone suffer a loss."

As soon as she finished speaking, a fisherman stepped forward to make a deal.

A Spirit Fish a foot long sold on the spot for twenty taels of silver.

The fisherman accepted the silver, beaming with delight as he repeatedly offered his thanks.

The crowd immediately erupted.

"Tsk, tsk! Twenty taels! That's no low price!"

"Isn't that so? I asked around elsewhere a few days ago, and they only offered thirty-five taels. The Qiao Household's price really is fair."

"The Qiao Household is loaded. Looks like they're planning to monopolize all the Spirit Fish."

"So what if they monopolize them? Their price is high. Selling to them is still selling, and we aren't losing out."

The crowd discussed it heatedly, their words full of praise for the Qiao Household.

Watching from the side, Fang Han had to admit that the Qiao Household truly had deep pockets.

This extravagant approach made it obvious that they intended to use silver to squeeze out all the other buyers.

Just as he was thinking this, a sudden commotion rose from outside the crowd.

"Make way! Everyone, make way!"

The crowd automatically parted to either side, opening up a path.

Fang Han looked over and saw two burly men approaching, one in front and one behind, carrying a gigantic fish on a shoulder pole.

The fish was enormous, weighing nearly a hundred catties at the very least. Its body was blue-black, its scales as large as copper coins, glinting with a cold sheen in the morning light.

Fang Han's gaze narrowed slightly. The two men walked with steady, powerful steps, landing without a sound, their breathing long and even. They were clearly Martial Artists.

"That fish is huge! It has to weigh a hundred catties, right?"

"I've fished for more than ten years, and this is the first time I've seen one this big. What an eye-opener!"

"What kind of fish is that? It looks like an ordinary black carp, but for it to grow that large... could it have turned into a demon?"

Qiao Huixin was also slightly startled. With just one glance at the giant fish, she understood the situation.

"Gentlemen."

She looked up at the two burly men and smiled.

"Though this fish is an ordinary black carp rather than a Spirit Fish, it is exceptionally rare for it to grow to such a size. The Qiao Household is willing to pay twenty taels of silver for it. What do you two think?"

The two burly men were immediately overjoyed and quickly clasped their fists.

"Young Miss Qiao is straightforward! Twenty taels it is. We brothers thank you!"

They had not caught any Spirit Fish to begin with. Being able to sell this large fish for such a price was already an unexpected windfall, so naturally they had no reason to refuse.

The manager immediately weighed out the silver and presented it with both hands.

The two burly men accepted it, happily split it between themselves, thanked her repeatedly, and turned to leave.

The watching crowd began discussing it again.

"Tsk, tsk, twenty taels! An ordinary giant fish sold for the price of a Spirit Fish. Their luck is incredible!"

"The Qiao Household really is generous. They were willing to pay that much even though it wasn't a Spirit Fish. Anyone else would be generous to offer ten taels."

"That's why they can make their business so big. There's a reason for it."

Watching from the side, Fang Han gained a higher opinion of Qiao Huixin.

She was young, but she handled matters with considerable shrewdness.

Buying an ordinary giant fish for twenty taels looked like a loss on the surface.

But with that one move, the Qiao Household's reputation for generosity would spread throughout the fish market. In the future, whenever fishermen caught Spirit Fish, Moonwatch Tower would be the first place they thought of.

This method of winning people over was far more brilliant than the tactics of those merchants who haggled over every last coin.

He withdrew his gaze, looked at the wooden bucket in his hand, and had already made up his mind.

Fang Han no longer hesitated. He stepped forward and stopped before the Qiao Household's manager.

"Sir, I also have a Spirit Fish to sell."

The manager looked up at him and nodded. "Open it and let me see."

Fang Han bent down, lifted the bucket lid, and reached inside.

He lightly pressed a spot at the bottom of the bucket. With a soft click, the hidden compartment opened, and he carefully took out the Spirit Fish.

The manager's eyes lit up. He took the Spirit Fish and examined it closely, then placed it on the scale and weighed it.

"Excellent quality. One foot two inches long, one catty seven taels in weight. Forty taels!"

With that, he fetched forty taels of loose silver.

Fang Han took the silver. It felt heavy and solid in his hand.

He clasped his fists in thanks and turned to leave.

The fish market was crowded and full of watchful eyes. Forty taels was no small sum, so he needed to leave before anyone with ill intentions noticed him.

"Young man, wait."

A crisp voice came from behind him.