The Crooked Merchant

Purple Mist Shore was an island in the middle of the lake, not far from either bank. On the left bank lay a crescent-shaped beach.

Whenever the sun rose, wisps of purple mist drifted up across the entire area beneath the morning light, giving Purple Mist Shore its name!

At that moment, a steady stream of outstanding young talents was arriving at Purple Mist Shore. Boats of every size filled the water, while both banks were packed with spectators who never minded a little extra excitement!

Aboard the Shui Family's great ship

With Mu Xiaoyuan's disgraceful retreat, the atmosphere improved somewhat.

"This Heavenly Prodigy Gathering is a banquet organized by the City Lord's Residence, so outstanding young talents can get to know one another and hopefully stand together through thick and thin in the Misty Sect.

"After all, competition within the Misty Sect is brutal too. The strong survive and the weak are weeded out; the strong grow ever stronger, while the weak grow ever weaker. This gathering is being hosted by the City Lord's second son, Lu Yongfei.

"There's also an intention to win over Heavenly Prodigies from every faction, but not every Heavenly Prodigy will accept the invitation. Some exceptionally powerful ones disdain gatherings like this entirely. Those who are too weak won't receive invitations either."

Shui Ying'er explained earnestly to everyone. Her voice was clear and lovely, as though it could pierce their eardrums, making them turn to look despite themselves.

"Then, Ying'er, are you going?"

Ming Hao felt rather helpless too. Their group should have received invitations as well, but they had been staying somewhere so secluded that the people from the City Lord's Residence had failed to find them, and naturally hadn't been able to deliver the invitations.

He did rather want to attend. Surely a Heavenly Prodigy Gathering couldn't be without delicious food?!

"Young Master Ming Hao, didn't you receive an invitation? Would you like to attend?

"Each invited guest can bring any two companions.

"Huo'er, Furong, and I all received invitations.

"If you'd like to attend, you can come with us."

Ying'er looked surprised. She hadn't expected Ming Hao and the others to have no invitations; it truly astonished her.

Ming Hao considered it. A gathering where fish and dragons mingled and everyone sang one another's praises wouldn't be especially interesting. Going to nearby Crescent Bay to eat, drink, and have fun would be far more enjoyable.

"Ying'er, we won't be joining you. We're not particularly interested in this gathering!"

Miss Shui visibly froze. She hadn't expected Ming Hao to refuse to go with them at all.

After all, Purple Mist Shore was an exceptionally lively place. Not only did it bring together many gifted young beauties, it also offered all sorts of mouthwatering delicacies, along with exciting activities such as composing poetry and sparring.

Those should have been the two things this lecher loved most.

It was also undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to befriend Heavenly Prodigies from every faction. Since they had been invited, they naturally had to attend.

After all, they still had to show the City Lord's Residence some respect. Not going might invite needless trouble.

At that thought, Miss Shui's eyes dimmed slightly.

She had been eagerly looking forward to visiting Purple Mist Shore with Ming Hao and enjoying the feast together, but reality had left her somewhat disappointed.

"In that case, we'll head over first." Miss Shui collected herself and spoke softly.

With that, she left alongside Ying'er, Huo'er, and the several maids accompanying them.

Halfway there, Miss Shui suddenly seemed to remember something. She spun around and called, "Rake, I'll bring you something delicious when I come back! Remember to wait for me!"

Her voice was clear and lovely, as though it could pierce the soul.

Yet she paid no attention to whether Ming Hao had heard her call. Before her words had even faded, she turned and darted after the others like a bird in flight.

On the deck, Qing Yun watched Miss Shui's figure recede into the distance, a hint of concern rising in her heart. She turned toward Ming Hao and asked quietly:

"Young master, will you wait here for Miss Shui to return?"

Ming Hao shook his head slightly, a faint smile touching his lips as he said softly:

"No. We shouldn't get too deeply entangled. Come on, let's take a stroll around Crescent Bay over there." As he spoke, he pointed toward the beach a short distance away.

The crescent-shaped shoreline wound between the mountains and water. Green hills and clear waters embraced the long, silvery beach, which gleamed beneath the pale night light like a crescent moon inlaid in the earth.

Ming Hao and the others stopped before a vendor's stall, drawn by its dazzling array of paper sailboats.

The paper sailboats came in every color and shape, like a tiny ocean spread before them.

There were even many cultivators picking up sheets of paper and folding their own sailboats on the spot.

Their hands were clumsy, however, and before long, all manner of bizarre paper sailboats had appeared.

"Honored guests, come take a look at these Thousand-Sail Paper Boats!" the vendor called warmly to Ming Hao and the others.

"Just light a candle, set the paper boat on the water, and let it drift downstream. The wishes you make are wonderfully likely to come true! Would you like a few to try?"

Looking at these finely dressed people with their extraordinary bearing, the vendor secretly calculated how to fleece them for a hefty sum.

"How much for one?" Ming Hao was clearly interested in the paper sailboats and asked.

Seeing that Ming Hao intended to buy, the vendor rejoiced inwardly and hurriedly said, "Ten lower-grade spirit stones each."

"How much?!" Ming Hao's expression instantly turned to shock. His eyes widened as he stared at the vendor in disbelief.

"Ten lower-grade spirit stones each." Although a little guilty, the vendor steeled himself and repeated the price.

"Say that again?" Ming Hao's voice shot up an octave. His companions crowded around as well, rubbing their fists and flexing their hands, seemingly very displeased with the price.

Facing this menacing group, the vendor couldn't help swallowing, but he gritted his teeth and insisted:

"If you genuinely want them, I can give you my lowest price: eight lower-grade spirit stones each!"

"You motherfucker... Wang Yong, beat him up!" Ming Hao roared in furious exasperation, his face full of rage.

At the command, Wang Yong charged at the vendor without hesitation, like an enraged lion. With nimble movements, he beat the man into helplessness in just a few blows.

Seeing this, Ming Hao rushed forward and delivered another vicious barrage of kicks, cursing nonstop:

"Pah! You crooked merchant, do you think we're easy targets?!

"I just saw other people buy two boats for ten spirit stone fragments! How did that become ten lower-grade spirit stones for me? Do you think we're easy to fool?"

With that, Ming Hao kicked him hard a few more times, as though determined to vent every bit of his anger.

Qing Yun and Qing Ying seized the opportunity to step forward and add a few kicks of their own, echoing Ming Hao's words.

The vendor howled on the ground under their blows, pleading over and over, "Honored guests, stop hitting me! Stop! I know I was wrong! No charge, no charge! I'll give them to you for free! For free!"

Ming Hao ignored his pleas completely and kept kicking.

Only when the vendor shouted, "You can have the entire stall!" did Ming Hao finally stop, satisfied.

As though granted a grand pardon, the vendor felt reborn. Never had the air seemed so fresh.

With his nose bruised and his face swollen, he clambered up and tried to flee this unforgettable place.

"Stop."

At those words, the crooked merchant shuddered violently and all but sobbed, "What else can I do for you, honored guest?"

"Take out every valuable you have on you."

His anger still unspent, Ming Hao pointed at the Storage Ring on the man's hand and spoke sharply.

Before long, the nameless crooked merchant fled in a panic from the place that had broken his heart, weeping as though his very guts had been torn apart.

Ming Hao weighed the few Storage Rings in his hand. Looking at the stall before him, he had a flash of inspiration and shouted to the surrounding spectators:

"One Thousand-Sail Paper Boat, ten middle-grade spirit stones!"

"Boo!" A chorus of jeers rose from the spectators, who promptly turned to leave.

"Everyone, wait."

Ming Hao drew Qing Yun and Qing Ying in front of him, one on either side, and declared:

"One Thousand-Sail Paper Boat, ten middle-grade spirit stones. Choose either of these two ladies to fold it for you on the spot!"

With that, he pulled off Qing Yun's and Qing Ying's veils, one with each hand. Their peerless beauty was revealed in full, and their bearing seemed transformed, like heavenly fairies untouched by the mortal world!

Countless men immediately stood rooted to the spot, their faces blank and their mouths watering!

Ming Hao then turned and pulled Wang Yong and Meng Yi over as well. Grabbing the fronts of their clothes, he tore them open, exposing their solid muscles. Paired with their rugged faces, the sight made quite a few women scream on the spot!

"You can also choose either of these two to fold one for you."

"Limited stock! First come, first served! Move fast and get one; move slowly and miss out!"

Ming Hao shouted at the top of his voice.

"Young master, I don't know how..." Qing Ying said sweetly, looking troubled.

Hearing that, the crowd could no longer contain themselves and scrambled over one another to buy.

Many who lacked enough spirit stones called friends over from every direction to borrow the funds, all for a single smile from a beauty.

Watching the spirit stones pour in without end, Ming Hao planted his hands on his hips and laughed heartily. This was much faster than robbery.

Some cultivators who received Thousand-Sail Paper Boats personally folded by Qing Ying or Qing Yun

took deep sniffs, finding a trace of a unique fragrance still lingering on the paper boats,

then tucked them carefully into their robes, terrified of damaging them...

Not until midnight

did the gathering of Heavenly Prodigies finally end. Carrying armfuls of delicious food in packages large and small, Shui Furong flew swiftly back.

Her voice arrived before she did.

"Rake, look what goodies I brought you! These are my..."

With a thud, all the food in Shui Furong's arms fell onto the deck.

Staring at the deck, where there was no sign of Rake, she went utterly rigid.

Ying'er and Huo'er arrived shortly afterward, each carrying a bag as well...