The pill trade

"Didn't you notice?"

"I wasn't paying attention." Xu Jingyao closed his fan and thought for a moment. "The ring warmed up for a second. I thought it was acting up again. What happened?"

Shadow Douluo's mouth twitched. "Your ring rebounded his soul power back at him. Yan Shaozhe was seriously injured."

Xu Jingyao froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Huh? He hit himself?"

"More or less."

Xu Jingyao shook his head, raised his teacup for a sip, and turned his gaze back out the window.

"Then it's none of my business. He couldn't keep his hands to himself. Who else can he blame?"

Shadow Douluo said nothing more.

The fragrance of tea spread through the room. The sunlight outside was lovely, people streamed along the streets of Shrek City, and soul guidance lamps lit up one after another, painting the entire city in a riot of colors.

Xu Jingyao leaned against the back of his chair, his fan tapping lightly against his knee. The smile at the corner of his mouth never faded.

Shrek Academy.

The Golden Tree!

This trip was worth it.

"Shadow Douluo."

"At your service."

"Get ready. We're expecting guests!"

"Yes."

Outside the window, the setting sun was sinking toward Sea God Lake, setting half the sky ablaze in crimson.

Xu Jingyao stood before the window, his golden mask reflecting the sunset. The outline of the foremost academy on the Douluo Continent was reflected in his eyes, where violet and emerald green intertwined.

He watched for a long time.

Then he drew the curtains and turned toward the cultivation room.

Xu Jingyao did not have to wait long.

The next morning, Qian Duoduo came calling.

The Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion had personally come to run the errand, carrying a box of what was said to be Shrek City's most famous Osmanthus Cake. His smile was even warmer than at their last meeting.

Madam Zhou followed behind him, holding a new ledger whose cover was even thicker than the last one's.

"Pavilion Master Ziqing, forgive this unannounced visit. I hope you'll pardon the intrusion." Qian Duoduo cupped his hands as soon as he entered, bowing lower than last time.

Xu Jingyao sat by the third-floor window, his fan resting on the table. The tea had just been brewed, and wisps of steam curled upward.

He tilted his head to glance at Qian Duoduo without rising, merely lifting his chin toward the chair opposite him. "Have a seat, Pavilion Master Qian."

Qian Duoduo sat down. Madam Zhou stood beside him and set the ledger on the table.

Qian Duoduo rubbed his hands together, seemingly weighing his words. Only after a good while did he speak. "Pavilion Master Ziqing, Dean Yan has already investigated yesterday's incident thoroughly. That unscrupulous teacher, Zhou Yi, offended you without distinguishing right from wrong. The academy has already disciplined her: a six-month suspension, a year's salary docked, and a transfer to the Outer Court's logistics office to manage the storeroom. She will no longer teach."

Xu Jingyao lifted his teacup and leisurely blew on the foam floating on its surface.

"Did you come today just to tell me that, Pavilion Master Qian?"

The smile on Qian Duoduo's face stiffened for an instant before he plastered it back on. "Of course not. Dean Yan said that if there's anything about the partnership you find unsatisfactory, we can discuss it further. Scholarships, supply discounts, custom soul tools-everything is negotiable. Shrek Academy is entirely sincere."

Xu Jingyao took a sip of tea, set down his cup, then picked up his fan and tapped it lightly against his palm.

"Pavilion Master Qian, I made myself very clear yesterday. The partnership is canceled, and canceled means canceled. As for Zhou Yi, whether you discipline her has nothing to do with me. I'm not part of Shrek. She offended me, I slapped her back, and we're even. How you punish her behind closed doors is your academy's own business."

Qian Duoduo finally struggled to maintain his smile, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He had thought Xu Jingyao wanted a step down. Shrek Academy would discipline Zhou Yi and offer him that step, he would take the offered slope to dismount his donkey, and their partnership would resume.

But the young man before him had never taken Zhou Yi seriously at all.

Qian Duoduo fell silent for a few moments, then tried another tack. "Then, about the scholarships you mentioned yesterday..."

"Canceled."

"The supplies-"

"Withdrawn."

Qian Duoduo looked into Xu Jingyao's eyes, where violet and emerald green intertwined. There was no emotion in them, only a stillness like a deep pool.

He had spent more than half his life in business and dealt with all kinds of people, but he truly could not see through this young man.

"Pavilion Master." Qian Duoduo straightened a little, his tone growing serious. "You should understand Shrek Academy's standing on the Douluo Continent. Being on good terms with Shrek can only benefit the Carefree Pavilion's business. Why would you, over a single Zhou Yi-"

"Pavilion Master Qian." Xu Jingyao cut him off, setting his fan on the table, his voice neither loud nor soft. "I'll say it again. The matter of Zhou Yi is a closed chapter. Canceling the partnership has nothing to do with her."

He paused, picked up his fan again, and spun it once between his fingertips. "But since you've come in person, Pavilion Master Qian, I do have another deal I'd like to make with the Treasure Pavilion."

Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up. "Please, go ahead."

"The Carefree Pavilion would like to purchase a batch of special pills from the Treasure Pavilion." Xu Jingyao closed his fan, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. "Mystic Water Pills, Soul-Nourishing Pills, and Body-Tempering Pills. The best quality, sufficiently aged, and in large quantities. We'll pay market prices, with an additional ten percent from the Carefree Pavilion as an errand fee."

Qian Duoduo paused in surprise.

Mystic Water Pills, Soul-Nourishing Pills, and Body-Tempering Pills.

Mystic Water Pills cleansed the meridians, Soul-Nourishing Pills nurtured the mind, and Body-Tempering Pills strengthened the physique. Every pill was worth a considerable sum, and production was limited. They simply could not be bought on the open market. Only small quantities made their way out through Shrek Academy's internal channels and those of the Treasure Pavilion; the rest were kept under wraps.

"How many do you want, Pavilion Master?"

"One hundred Mystic Water Pills, fifty Soul-Nourishing Pills, and eighty Body-Tempering Pills each month. We'll order a year's supply to start."

Qian Duoduo quickly ran the numbers in his head.

With this deal, the Treasure Pavilion would not have to do anything, yet the errand fee alone would bring in a hefty net profit.

And Xu Jingyao had said they would pay market prices, leaving an even greater profit margin.

"No problem." Qian Duoduo barely hesitated before settling it on the spot. "When do you want them, Pavilion Master? The first shipment can reach your branch pavilion within three days."

"There's no rush. Just use the usual channels." Xu Jingyao opened his fan, half concealing his face, his eyes curving slightly. "But there's one thing. I'd ask the Treasure Pavilion to keep the Carefree Pavilion's purchase of these pills quiet. You understand what I mean, Pavilion Master Qian. As long as you can do that, I think our cooperation will be quite negotiable."

Qian Duoduo understood at once.

"Rest assured, Pavilion Master. The Treasure Pavilion's lips are sealed tighter than the stones at the bottom of Sea God Lake."

They discussed a few more details before Qian Duoduo rose to take his leave, his smile far more relaxed than when he had arrived.

Madam Zhou left the new ledger on the table, saying it contained the details of this supply order and that they would deliver the formal contract later.

Xu Jingyao saw them to the stairs, gently waving his fan as he watched Qian Duoduo and Madam Zhou disappear around the street corner.

Shadow Douluo flashed out of the shadows and asked quietly, "Pavilion Master, what do you need those pills for?"

"They have their uses." Xu Jingyao turned back into the room and pulled the door shut. "The Carefree Pavilion can refine them too, but Shrek Academy's pills have exclusive formulas and are considerably more effective than those sold in outside markets. This is a good opportunity to stock up."

Shadow Douluo asked no further questions.