The Xiao Clan's main hall.
Ever since Steward Wang's sudden death, Xiao Zhan had been so busy every day that he was at his wits' end.
"Clan Chief, Xiao Fan seems to have left Wutan City. Over the past few days, I've searched every corner of the city, but I haven't found any news of him." The man delivering the report was none other than Pain.
Perhaps because he had spent these past days constantly on the road, his skin was even darker than before, and the dark circles under his eyes had become particularly pronounced.
Xiao Zhan rubbed his aching brow and sighed softly. "All right, I understand. Thank you for your hard work lately. Go back and get some rest."
Bringing Xiao Fan back was not actually his ultimate goal. What he mainly wanted was to find out how Steward Wang had died.
"Clan Chief, there's one more matter I need to report to you."
Despite being granted time off, Pain did not leave the hall immediately. Instead, he cupped his hands and continued, "According to our men in the market districts, the Jia Lie Family recently recruited a First-Rank Alchemist from somewhere. They're now selling a healing medicine called rejuvenation powder in their market districts."
"Rejuvenation powder? Tell me more." Setting aside the matter of Steward Wang for the moment, Xiao Zhan asked with a grave expression.
Based on his many years of matching wits and crossing swords with the Jia Lie Family, he felt that they seemed to be making some extraordinary move this time.
"This healing medicine is cheap and produced in large quantities. It's extremely popular among the mercenaries around Wutan City. Because of rejuvenation powder, foot traffic in all the Xiao Clan's market districts has fallen by nearly half, and many merchants have moved to the Jia Lie Family's market districts."
"A First-Rank Alchemist... The Jia Lie Family really has poured in a fortune this time." In all of Wutan City, the only alchemist of any renown was Gu Ni, the Mittel Auction House's Second-Rank Alchemist.
Aside from him, there were virtually no other alchemists in the city.
In fact, Xiao Zhan had planned to train an alchemist for the clan long ago, but the profession simply burned through too much money.
"Clan Chief, I had someone buy a box of rejuvenation powder especially for you to inspect." As he spoke, Pain took out a small wooden box.
Xiao Zhan accepted it with both hands and carefully lifted the lid, revealing ten small bottles inside. The bottles were crudely made from the lowest-grade jade.
He opened one bottle, revealing the pale green liquid inside, and the smell of medicinal herbs wafted out.
"As expected of something made by a First-Rank Alchemist. How much does a bottle of this rejuvenation powder cost?"
"One hundred gold coins for ten bottles, which works out to just ten gold coins a bottle. Although it's very cheap, if the Jia Lie Family keeps selling it over the long term, the Xiao Family Market's economy will inevitably be shaken."
"Yes, I understand what you mean." Setting down the rejuvenation powder in his hand, Xiao Zhan asked in a low voice, "Do you know where the Jia Lie Family recruited this alchemist?"
"They say it was Dragon Tiger Mountain..." Halfway through, Pain seemed to remember something. His expression froze, and he asked blankly, "Clan Chief, you aren't planning to make a move against this alchemist, are you?"
When Xiao Zhan did not deny it, Pain hurriedly cried out, "Clan Chief, you absolutely must not do that! This alchemist's master is a Fourth-Rank Alchemist."
"Pain, you've followed me for so many years. Do you still not know what sort of man I, Xiao Zhan, am? No matter how foolish I might be, I wouldn't be foolish enough to attack an alchemist."
"Then what do you mean?"
"If the Jia Lie Family can recruit a First-Rank Alchemist, why can't we?"
Understanding immediately, Pain felt his eyes light up. He then said respectfully, "I'll go recruit a First-Rank Alchemist to take up residence with our Xiao Clan right away."
"There's no need to rush. This isn't something that can be accomplished in a day. Go back and get some rest first. It won't be too late to handle this once you've rested."
"Yes, Clan Chief."
The Jia Lie Family's council hall.
At that moment, Jia Lie Bi sat upright on a tall sandalwood chair, holding a ledger sent over from the market district in one hand and rolling two walnuts in the other, a blissful smile spreading across his face.
"Ao, you truly are a business genius our Jia Lie Family sees only once in a hundred years. If not for your suggestion, our market district's profits would never have grown so rapidly."
With the smile of a loving father on his face, Jia Lie Bi gazed at Jia Lie Ao, who sat in a wheelchair, brimming with pride and satisfaction.
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