Forced Buying and Selling (Please Recommend)

"What? All the Medicinal Herbs were snatched? Where is the Second Elder? Where is he?" In the hall, the furious roar nearly blew the entire roof off.

A guard knelt trembling before Jia Lie Bi, his face full of terror, his voice shaking as he said, "The Second Elder is dead too!"

His furious face suddenly froze. Jia Lie Bi's heels abruptly went weak, and then he dropped onto the chair behind him, his face blank. Jia Lie Nu was one of the Jia Lie Family's only three Great Dou Shi. His death was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the Jia Lie Family.

Seeing Jia Lie Bi like this, the guard who had come to report also looked miserable, with a trace of fear. Even the Second Elder, powerful enough to possess the strength of a Three-Star Great Dou Shi, had only left behind a pile of ash on the ground. It was hard to imagine how powerful the person who had killed and robbed them was.

"Who killed the Second Elder?" After sitting in the chair for a long while, Jia Lie Bi finally slowly came back to his senses. His voice was somewhat hoarse; clearly, Jia Lie Nu's death had struck him hard.

This blow was even deeper than having his business stolen.

"This subordinate does not know. This subordinate was only... only someone sent to gather information," the guard said in a trembling voice, not daring to look up at Jia Lie Bi.

In his heart, he wanted to cry but had no tears. He had only been sent out to gather information. How could he know who had killed the Second Elder? Panic churned in the guard's heart, afraid that the enraged Jia Lie Bi would come up and slap him.

A slap from a Great Dou Shi could kill a man!

"Forget it, forget it!" Jia Lie Bi leaned back in his chair somewhat dejectedly. He also knew that violently striking a completely uninformed guard was nothing but a foolish act.

What he needed to do now was deal with what came next.

This batch of Medicinal Herbs was worth three hundred thousand, and because of the Xiao Family's counterattack, for the sake of caution, they had not paid the full amount in one go. This batch of Medicinal Herbs still owed the medicinal herb family in Trane City one hundred thousand gold coins.

One hundred thousand gold coins was one thing. Relying on selling Rejuvenation Powder, it would still be very easy to recoup the funds. But now that such a change had occurred, all his plans had been completely shattered.

The medicinal herb family cooperating with the Jia Lie Family also possessed considerable power in Trane City. Once they learned the news that the Medicinal Herbs had been destroyed, they would definitely send people to demand payment. Even if he paid that one hundred thousand gold coins, what awaited him would be the Xiao Family's fierce assault. Without funds to support the purchase of Medicinal Herbs for Rejuvenation Powder, how could he face the massive Xiao Family?

"Damn it!" Thinking of these irritating matters, Jia Lie Bi slammed a palm heavily onto the table beside him. Immediately, the hard mahogany table shattered apart, and wood chips struck the guard's face, yet the latter could only grit his teeth and endure it.

Taking a light breath, Jia Lie Bi forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart, waved his hand, and pretended to be calm as he said indifferently, "Distribute all the healing medicine remaining in the storehouse to the various Marketplaces. In addition, as for today's matter, make everyone who knows keep their mouths tightly shut. If word gets out, they will be dealt with by clan rules."

"Yes!" The guard's body trembled slightly. He immediately replied respectfully, then rose and quickly withdrew.

Looking at the empty hall, Jia Lie Bi leaned wearily against the back of his chair. This time, even if the Jia Lie Family could endure it, their strength would probably plummet, and from then on, it would be difficult for them to contend with the Xiao Family again. Thinking of this, Jia Lie Bi inexplicably sighed. For some reason, he now felt somewhat regretful over his original act of taking the initiative to provoke the Xiao Family.

Not long after the guard left, a fat figure suddenly appeared, running anxiously into the hall.

"What kind of behavior is this, panicking like that?" Jia Lie Bi, already impatient, immediately scolded.

"This is bad, Family Head. Our Medicinal Herbs are almost used up," Jia Lieku said, unable to wipe the sweat from his forehead, panting heavily.

"I already know about this. Is there anything else? If there is nothing, withdraw." Jia Lie Bi waved his hand, leaning back in the chair with some weariness.

"There is... there is..." Jia Lieku said, but he still did not dare open his mouth, his expression somewhat terrified.

"What else? Speak!" Jia Lie Bi shouted loudly, like a thunderclap that shook the heavens, making one's mind tremble.

"The Xiao Family's medicinal herb shop has started selling the Medicinal Herbs for Rejuvenation Powder. The boxes they placed out are ours... they bear the Jia Lie Family's mark." Jia Lieku gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and said it quickly. The fat on his face trembled wildly, and his entire body trembled with it, afraid what awaited him would be a slap.

"What did you say?"

Jia Lie Bi stood up directly, appearing in front of Jia Lieku like a gust of wind, his face twisted and terrifying.

"Xiao... Xiao..." Jia Lieku's voice trembled so badly that he could no longer speak.

"Xiao Family!"

Jia Lie Bi's eyes almost spat fire, crimson as if he wanted to devour someone. His roar could be heard even ten li away.

"They go too far! They go too far!"

Jia Lie Bi roared. He had never felt so furious before. They had snatched his Medicinal Herbs, killed his family's Second Elder, and now they were even selling the Medicinal Herbs they had snatched from his hands. This was simply killing the man and destroying his heart, pain like scraping bone and digging out marrow.

Outside the hall, before anyone knew it, many people had gathered to watch, all looking at Jia Lie Bi inside the hall with some fear.

"What are you looking at?" Jia Lie Bi's crimson eyes swept across them.

Immediately, many people outside the hall fled swiftly like frightened birds, but a few remained.

"Heh heh, Clan Leader Jia Lie, why be so angry? Weren't the Medicinal Herbs merely stolen? Just steal them back." Liu Xi walked over slowly, fanning himself with one hand while the other arm embraced a pretty woman.

Seeing who had come, Jia Lie Bi, who had been about to curse loudly, forced down the displeasure in his heart. His expression eased as he said, "Mister Liu, this matter is no small thing. Right now, the Xiao Family is strong. Forcefully snatching them back is impossible."

"And what if it is with my status?" Liu Xi chuckled.

"Mister Liu, this matter still needs long-term consideration." Jia Lie Bi shook his head, rejecting Liu Xi's proposal in one breath, and in his heart, he even deeply loathed this useless thing whose mind was filled only with women.

A first-tier alchemist? This status looked rather great, but the Xiao Family also had an alchemist! Would they care about you, a first-tier alchemist?

Liu Xi's face, however, turned cold. He put away his fan and said icily, "Hmph, could it be that Clan Leader Jia Lie looks down on my status as a first-tier alchemist?"

And Jia Lie'ao at the side also repeatedly echoed in a low voice, "Father, with Mister Liu stepping forward, the Xiao Family will definitely retreat in the face of difficulty."

Heh, Jia Lie Bi sneered inwardly and cursed him as an idiot in his heart, but on his face, he squeezed out a smile and said, "Mister Liu is absolutely right. It is just that we still need to make a little preparation."

"Hmph, taking kindness for malice!" Liu Xi gave a light snort, embraced the pretty woman in his arms, and walked toward the outside of the hall.

Whoosh!

Just as Liu Xi's front foot was about to step out, a cold gleam suddenly flashed, brushing past Liu Xi's ear.

Thunk.

At the sound of impact, those who reacted finally saw an arrow embedded in the front wall of the hall.

"Who exactly is it?" Liu Xi's face was gloomy as he touched his left ear, released the woman in his arms, and strode quickly toward the arrow.

Jia Lie'ao pulled out the arrow embedded in the wall. A white strip of cloth was tied to it.

"Father, there are words on it!" Jia Lie'ao handed the cloth strip to Jia Lie Bi.

Spreading it open and casually sweeping his eyes over it, Jia Lie Bi, whose brows had originally been tightly furrowed, took on an incomparably ugly expression. His low voice suppressed countless flames of fury.

"Xiao Family, I, Jia Lie Bi, cannot live under the same sky as you!"

"Xiao Family? What a fine Xiao Family!" Liu Xi also sneered.

"Clan Leader, if we do not come forward, our Jia Lie Family's reputation will be destroyed." At the side, a much older elder spoke indifferently.

The elder's face remained calm from beginning to end, showing neither joy nor anger. He was the Jia Lie Family's First Elder, Jia Lie Su, and also the strongest person in the Jia Lie Family. His strength was somewhat higher than Xiao Zhan's, having reached the Six-Star Great Dou Shi level.

"Naturally!" Jia Lie Bi nodded deeply. Originally, he did not want to become too entangled with the Xiao Family over this matter, but now he had been forced to do so, had he not?

If he did not go, the fact that the Medicinal Herbs had been robbed midway, such a shocking matter, would be made public. There would even be some ugly details about the Jia Lie Family, and the Jia Lie Family's face would not be preserved.

If he went, however, he might fall into a trap laid by the Xiao Family, exactly as the enemy wished.

But now that things had reached this point, there was no longer much choice.

"Let's go. I want to see exactly what tricks the Xiao Family plans to play."

At night, on the street that should originally have been packed with people, the Xiao Family's guards had cleared out a broad, empty path.

As the Xiao Family's largest medicinal herb shop, it should originally have been packed with people, yet at this moment, it seemed extremely deserted.

In the spacious hall, more than a dozen boxes were piled on the left side. Some bore the Jia Lie Family's mark; those were the stolen Medicinal Herbs. In the center of the hall was a long table. At the main seat, Xiao Zhan was already seated, with some people behind him.

"Qingyun, do you think that old fox Jia Lie Bi will really come?" Xiao Zhan turned his head and looked at Lin Qingyun, who stood behind him, as he spoke.

Having dealt with Jia Lie Bi for half his life, he also knew the former's character well. He was as sly as a snake, and he would think twice before doing anything.

Even if he knew the Medicinal Herbs had been stolen, he would not charge over directly in a rage. Instead, he would act with extreme caution.

"Don't worry. In the face of reputation, no amount of caution matters." Lin Qingyun patted his own chest and guaranteed it.

"I hope so!" Xiao Zhan nodded, but he still lacked some confidence.

"Brother Yun, do you think the people from the Jia Lie Family will really come?" Xiao Yan at the side also suddenly cut in.

"Why do you have to ask too?" Lin Qingyun rolled his eyes at Xiao Yan speechlessly. Out of the corner of his eye, he unconsciously caught sight of two hands with fingers interlaced, and immediately...

Why was there a sour smell?

"Also, why did you come along too?"

Xiao Yan smiled foolishly and thought to himself, Of course I came along to make my presence felt.

Then he continued being lovey-dovey with Xiao Xun'er.

"Awooo!"

The roar of a lemon spirit!

However, Lin Qingyun and the others did not wait long before a commotion came from outside.

Lin Qingyun could not help straightening his body, and Xiao Zhan also sat up straight, fully on guard.

"Miter Auction House's Miss Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni have come to pay a visit!"

When writing this section, in the original work, that guard was lucky enough to survive, but that would be unreasonable.

In the previous chapter of this chapter in the original work, it was already written that everyone was killed. How could there still be a survivor?

Moreover, the Jia Lie Family's First Elder had never appeared, so he also appeared here.