Penglai Trade

"Purchases! The first floor mainly sells, the second floor buys, and the third floor has VIP rooms for transactions above ten thousand diamond coins! If honored guests wish to sell goods, please proceed to the second floor!"

The maid seemed to have long expected that Jian Shang and the others were not here to buy anything. She still answered with a bright, unconcerned smile.

"Oh? You should receive a reward for closing a deal, shouldn't you? How about you accompany us to the second floor?"

The maid did not mind, but Jian Shang felt a little embarrassed. Judging by her attitude alone, he would feel truly bad if he gave her nothing.

There were certainly attendants with such an attitude in reality, but Jian Shang had never encountered one—much less one who clearly knew you were not buying anything yet was willing to accompany you around for hours and provide such attentive service.

"As long as honored guests request it, our establishment will do its utmost to fulfill it!"

The maid's eyes lit up. She looked at Jian Shang with considerable gratitude as she replied, though her words remained rather formal. She did not dare flirt or ask for anything, likely because the shop rules did not allow it.

"Then lead us to the second floor!"

Seeing the maid's reaction, Jian Shang smiled and answered.

"This way, honored guests..."

The maid invited them with a sweet smile.

"They truly aren't here to buy things, though they may not be here merely to sell either. Treat them well. One must not judge a person by appearance; some of the people beside him are no ordinary people. There truly are not many Otherworlder forces with such a lineup. Give them a slight discount and forge a good connection!"

Glancing up at Jian Shang and the others following the maid toward the second floor, the beauty at the counter continued flipping through the account book in her hands. Without even turning her head, she spoke as though muttering to herself.

"Yes!"

The elderly man serving respectfully at her side answered with utmost deference, then turned to leave and carry out her orders, lest his subordinates ruin an important matter.

Of course, this important matter did not refer to Jian Shang and the others' transaction. Such a small deal was not worth the old man's notice; it referred to the beauty's instructions before him.

"Wait! Sell them a piece of information while you're at it. Ten diamond coins. See whether he buys it!"

After looking at Jian Shang and the others again, the beauty turned and beckoned. The elderly man hurriedly bent close to listen to her instructions.

"This... this violates the rules, doesn't it? If the Enforcement Hall finds out..."

After hearing her instructions, the old man's expression changed. His aged face twitched several times as he spoke with great difficulty and hesitation.

"What rules? My words are the rules!"

The beauty cast a sidelong glance with her bright eyes, continued reading the account book in her hands, and spoke lightly as if talking to herself.

"Yes!"

The old man's body trembled as he hastily answered. Cold sweat immediately beaded across his cheeks, yet he did not dare wipe it away.

"Hmm?"

The moment he reached the second floor, Jian Shang suddenly halted, his brow deeply furrowed.

What surprised Jian Shang was that there had been scarcely any players visible on the first floor, yet on the second floor, more than half appeared to be players. They gathered in groups of three or five at the various counters; if anyone paid attention or the transaction volume was large, there was no way to keep it hidden.

What he wanted to sell was no trifling amount. Jian Shang did not want the whole world to know. Yet the space was limited and there were many people, so it seemed he could not blame the Penglai Commerce Association either.

"Sister Xin! These honored guests asked me to bring them to the second floor!"

Leading Jian Shang directly to Counter Thirteen, the maid looked innocently at a mature woman behind the counter and spoke timidly.

"I know! You're always so full of tricks!"

Sister Xin discreetly looked around, shot the maid a warning glare, and replied in a low voice.

"It's true! If you don't believe me, ask him. I didn't hint at anything or ask for anything!"

The maid was speechless. Looking aggrievedly toward Jian Shang, she spoke.

"Yes, she treated us very well, so I asked her to bring us here!"

Seeing this, how could Jian Shang not understand? He could not help smiling as he replied.

"Shopkeeper Ji..."

Sister Xin broke into a smile and was about to speak when her face suddenly turned pale. She sprang to her feet and addressed someone respectfully.

"Shopkeeper Ji! I... I..."

Seeing Sister Xin like this, the maid jumped in fright. Turning around, she truly saw an old man in purple-gold brocade standing behind them. Her face immediately went pale. She pointed at Jian Shang helplessly, wanting to explain something, but was too nervous to speak.

"Uh..."

It was not only Sister Xin and the maid—even Jian Shang, Yang Ning, and the others were startled. They had not expected someone to appear silently behind them.

Yang Ning, the most sensitive among them, narrowed his eyes and continuously examined the old man from head to toe, as though trying to discern something!

Unfortunately, he could not see anything. He was merely an utterly ordinary old man, looking quite kind and approachable!

"I understand! Take them to Room One!"

Shopkeeper Ji maintained his harmless, kindly smile. He first nodded toward Jian Shang, then looked at the maid and Sister Xin as he instructed them.

With that, he turned and left on his own.

"Hmm?"

The maid and Sister Xin both breathed a great sigh of relief, then looked at each other in confusion before turning together toward Jian Shang.

Jian Shang was equally bewildered, so naturally they could not make sense of it either.

"This way, honored guests!"

Sister Xin hurriedly rose from behind the counter, walked around to Jian Shang's side, and warmly invited them. Her richly charming smile made one feel as though bathed in a spring breeze.

Jian Shang and the others followed. Sister Xin looked back and saw that the maid was still standing there dumbfounded. She could not help shaking her head slightly and sighing inwardly. "Xiao Lan, come too!"

Xiao Lan was still young and had not caught it, but Sister Xin had. The "you all" in Shopkeeper Ji's words referred to Sister Xin and Xiao Lan. Whether it was fortune or disaster, she did not know!

"Sit! Everyone sit, don't stand on ceremony!"

As soon as Jian Shang and the others entered the VIP room, Shopkeeper Ji warmly greeted them. Seeing that only Jian Shang had taken a seat while everyone else consciously stood behind him, he urged them again with enthusiasm.

Gao Gong, Gao Hong, Yang Ning, Luo Sheng, and the others were rather stunned. As subordinates, it was only proper for them to stand guard at the side.

However, seeing Shopkeeper Ji being so warm and cordial, Jian Shang nodded to signal them. They stopped being overly polite and took their seats. Only Sister Xin and Xiao Lan had it hard, needing to serve tea and water to every person.

"I wonder what this little brother wishes to sell?"

With what seemed like an inadvertent glance, Shopkeeper Ji committed everyone beside Jian Shang to memory, observing every detail. Unfortunately, even with his shrewd eyes forged through the vicissitudes of life, he could not see anything unusual about them. He simply stopped dwelling on it and looked to Jian Shang as he asked.

"Some antique paintings, bronze ware, and other antiques, along with some gold jewelry. They were all seized from barbarians, so their origins should count as clean, right?"

Jian Shang pondered for a moment before deciding to answer honestly.

"Hehe... Little brother misunderstands. Business is business. As for where the goods came from, either we do not accept them, or once we do, we do not question them! How much do you have? Rest assured, I will certainly give little brother a satisfactory price!"

Shopkeeper Ji waved his hand and explained with a smile.

As he spoke, he glanced at the variously sized bundles in Gao Gong's and Luo Sheng's hands, feeling rather puzzled. With so little merchandise, he truly had no interest.

"About half a cartload! Since that is the case, then please trouble Shopkeeper Ji to wait a moment while I send someone back to fetch it! Since we came to the Penglai Commerce Association, we naturally trust it!"

Jian Shang naturally noticed the shopkeeper's look. He did not explain, merely spoke directly.

"Half a cartload?!"

Shopkeeper Ji's expression froze slightly. He sized Jian Shang up and down, unable to tell what noble identity he possessed. He could not possibly be a general, could he?

With so much loot, Shopkeeper Ji truly began to suspect whether Jian Shang and the others had plundered an entire city!

*****

The third update is here...