Yi King Formula (Please Bookmark, Recommend)

"Luo Sheng, Shi Ji, you two go back and notify Commander Jiang. Have him lead the army to escort us!"

Jian Shang had no idea what Shopkeeper Ji was thinking, nor did he dwell on it. He simply turned his head and gave the order.

After a pause, he recalled that he had killed a batch of Xu Family Guild members during the day and would likely face retaliation.

Moreover, the Otherworlder Military Camp was in chaos. Some faction might very well see wealth and grow red-eyed with greed, so he added:

"Have the entire army escort us. Bring out the horses too!"

"Uh? But this is Central State City!"

Luo Sheng froze slightly and blurted it out without thinking.

"Human hearts are impossible to fathom! Does Central State City have rules forbidding riding horses?"

"The other logistical supplies, such as grain and military uniforms, can be left behind, but the warhorses must be taken along."

"Just leave two clever brothers behind to guard them."

"If anyone tries to seize them, remember not to get drawn into a fight. Just follow them, and we'll reclaim them later!"

Jian Shang shot Luo Sheng an irritated glare and added.

Call Jian Shang petty if you wanted, or call him someone who worried that the sky might fall.

The market price of Northern Plains Biao was eight gold per horse. More than three hundred horses came to roughly 2,500 gold coins—twenty-five Diamond Coins.

That was no small fortune.

They still did not know how much those antiques, gold ornaments, and other items could fetch.

Perhaps among the Black Wolf Cavalry's wealth, these warhorses were the most valuable of all.

"Yes!"

Luo Sheng and Shi Ji answered solemnly, then rose and left.

"Since you didn't bring them with you, it clearly will take some time."

"Come, come, come! Have some tea. There's no need to hurry!"

After the two left, Shopkeeper Ji lifted his teacup and greeted them with a kindly smile.

If only Sister Xin and Xiao Lan had been puzzled before, then now Jian Shang and the others also felt that something was off.

A shopkeeper might not need to do much personally, but surely he was not this idle?

More importantly, the Penglai Commerce Association was one of the three great commerce associations.

As the shopkeeper of a store on the scale of a giant city, he had no need to be so smooth and accommodating, much less so courteous when he had not even seen the goods being traded.

Of course, once they had entered a merchant house, good treatment from the other party was a good thing.

Jian Shang and the others naturally would not ask unnecessary questions and create trouble out of nothing.

"By the way, what are the names of you young brothers and this young lady? And where are you from?"

Jian Shang and the others were not talkative people.

Shopkeeper Ji merely mentioned the recent battle situation between Central State City and the barbarian tribes in passing, clearly just making idle conversation.

Then he abruptly changed the subject and looked toward Gao Gong, Gao Hong, Yang Ning, and the others.

"Uh..."

Everyone was stunned.

Shopkeeper Ji had not even asked the name of Jian Shang, the one leading them, yet he had asked about the others first.

Now everyone understood why Shopkeeper Ji's attitude had been so strange!

"Since Shopkeeper Ji is interested, answer him truthfully."

Unfortunately, Jian Shang had not spoken, so no one made a sound.

In the end, Jian Shang looked at everyone and said this.

Truthfully, he was rather curious as well.

"Gao Gong, Yongjia Shizhuang!"

"Gao Hong, Yongjia Shizhuang!"

"Yang Ning, Yongjia Shizhuang!"

"Shi Jin, Yongjia Shizhuang!"

"They're all from Yongjia Shizhuang?"

"Shizhuang does not seem to have produced any particularly prominent figures, and the Shi surname is useless!"

"As for the Gao surname... are you descendants of Gao Qumi, minister to Duke Zhuang of Zheng in the early Spring and Autumn period? Or descendants of Prince Gao of Qi State?"

Since his intentions had been seen through, Shopkeeper Ji no longer hid them and asked outright.

Seeing the baffled looks on Gao Hong and Gao Gong's faces as they both shook their heads, Shopkeeper Ji turned to Yang Ning and continued:

"The Yang surname is rare!"

"Are you a descendant of Yang One-Arrow, Yang Youji, the great general of Chu State?"

"Shopkeeper, you know my ancestor?"

Yang Ning, who had always been taciturn and expressionless, suddenly perked up and blurted out.

"Yang One-Arrow slew Wei Qi, the great Jin general, amid an army of a thousand troops and ten thousand horses with a single arrow."

"His name has been passed down in the annals of history. How could this old man not know of him?"

Shopkeeper Ji was puzzled inside, but outwardly he spoke with considerable admiration.

"Whipping his horse, his flying chariot raced as a tiger descended the mountain; at the sight of him, Jin soldiers felt cold fear rise in their guts.

"Amid ten thousand men, he slew a famed general; one arrow succeeded, and he returned in triumph."

"This poem speaks of my ancestor."

"The so-called Yang One-Arrow means that once his arrow left the bow, it would surely strike true. There was no need for a second arrow!"

But Yang Youji had merely been a Legendary Realm general with divine archery.

He did not seem to have such an astonishing background. Was he really worth his lord treating him this way?

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras, famous generals had emerged one after another.

Their descendants were everywhere now.

"By the way! Do you know the Yi King Formula left behind by your ancestor, as well as the training method for the Flying Swan Feather Cavalry?"

Puzzled though he was, Shopkeeper Ji held immense faith and reverence for his lord.

After thinking it over, he figured those were probably the only two things of value, so he suddenly asked.

Could it be those two men who just left? It couldn't be that much of a coincidence, could it?

"..."

Yang Ning's thick brows drew together as he narrowed his eyes and stared directly at Shopkeeper Ji.

"Hehe... don't misunderstand!"

"This old man is not coveting your inherited ancestral technique."

"I merely wish to forge a good connection. If you do not wish to speak of it, then forget it!"

Shopkeeper Ji waved his hand and spoke frankly.

"Little Yang, don't be rude!"

"What kind of existence is the Penglai Commerce Association? Why would they covet your inherited ancestral technique?"

Although Jian Shang knew Shopkeeper Ji was currying favor with an ulterior motive, he had never expected Yang Ning—who normally could not be made to utter a word even with three strikes of a stick—to have the greatest background among them.

Still, Jian Shang had quite a favorable impression of Shopkeeper Ji's character.

After all, he had not concealed anything. He had opened the skylight and spoken plainly.

"This unfilial descendant has let my ancestor down."

"Over the years, most of the ancestral technique has been lost. I only know a little of the surface now."

"Most importantly, the first volume has been lost, making it difficult to cultivate!"

Yang Ning thought about it and found that reasonable. His face darkened as he answered with considerable regret.

"Hehe... with wars raging year after year, losses are unavoidable."

"How about this? This old man happens to possess the first volume of the Yi King Formula and the training method for the Flying Swan Feather Cavalry."

"Would you trade me the middle or final volume for them?"

"Could there really be such a coincidence?"

"The Yang family lost the first volume, and Shopkeeper Ji just happens to have it?!"

Everyone was suspicious.

Even Yang Ning looked at Shopkeeper Ji with doubt filling his eyes.

"You may examine them first. If you think they are worth it, then trade."

"If you think they are not worth it, then forget it."

"I trust that the descendant of Yang One-Arrow has at least this much credibility!"

Seeing Yang Ning like this, Shopkeeper Ji spoke generously and without concern.

"Could such a good thing really exist?"

"Wouldn't that be the same as giving them away for free?"

Everyone was speechless again.

Especially Yang Ning, that stubbornly honest man—his face flushed red as he held himself back.

He clearly agreed a thousand times over, but was too embarrassed to say it aloud.

"Then thank you for your kind consideration, Shopkeeper. We will remember it in our hearts!"

Seeing that Yang Ning remained silent, Jian Shang was anxious on his behalf and simply answered for him.

"By the way! Our Penglai Commerce Association wishes to forge a good connection with you."

"I have a piece of information to sell you for ten Diamond Coins. Will you buy it?"

Shopkeeper Ji nodded slightly, finally turning to Jian Shang as he asked.

"Selling information?"

"What information could possibly be worth ten Diamond Coins?"

Jian Shang froze slightly.

This was a physical goods store—did it also sell intelligence on the side?

"What information it is, naturally I cannot tell you in advance!"

"You needn't rush to answer. I'll go fetch the first volume of the Yi King Formula first, and you can give me your answer when I return."

Shopkeeper Ji gave Jian Shang a meaningful look and answered with a smile.

After speaking, he nodded to Sister Xin and Xiao Lan, signaling them to attend to the guests properly.

Then he left the room by himself.

"What information could it be?"

"We've only just arrived. At worst, it's that because we showed too much edge, those Otherworlder Factions want to join forces to ambush or scheme against us."

"And this worthless information is worth ten Diamond Coins?"

"They've gone mad dreaming of money! What a profiteer!"

The moment Shopkeeper Ji left, Shi Jin—round-faced and fat-eared, and ignored by Shopkeeper Ji—immediately began shouting indignantly without any attempt to conceal it.

Sister Xin and Xiao Lan flushed bright red with embarrassment, yet they did not dare retort, afraid of slighting these "distinguished guests."

"Everyone saw the value of that technique earlier."

"Could the first volume of the Yi King Formula really be worth less than ten Diamond Coins?"

"As for the trade Shopkeeper Ji mentioned earlier, I think it was merely an excuse so that a merchant would not appear to be making a losing deal."

"He truly wants to forge a good connection, or perhaps he wants Little Yang to come back and buy the later volumes in the future."

"If that is the case, then he should be seeking Jian Shang."

"I think we should take a gamble!"

Gao Hong, who usually never joined discussions and merely worked in silence, suddenly looked at Jian Shang and offered her suggestion.

"That is a priceless treasure!"

Hearing Gao Hong compare his ancestor's technique to ten Diamond Coins, Yang Ning's face reddened as he hurriedly corrected her.