We are all in the same profession!

The shopkeeper led the two of them upstairs. On the first floor, the shop was filled with all sorts of crude weapons—hunting bows, woodcutting machetes, skinning knives, and the like.

However, upon reaching the second floor, Xie Wuji was greeted by a dazzling array of display cases, each brimming with a variety of wares that broadened his horizons.

The owner, brimming with pride, declared, “You two seem unfamiliar—new arrivals to Qingpi County, I’d wager? But let me tell you, in this town, if my armory claims second, no one dares claim first!”

Xie Wuji’s eyes landed on a longsword in the distance. He asked, “How much for that sword?”

“Excellent eye, sir! That blade was crafted by a master smith from Cloudrise Sect—a standard-grade black-iron sword! I’ll let you have it for five hundred taels of silver!” The owner beamed.

“Five hundred taels? For an iron sword?” Xie Wuji exclaimed in disbelief.

The owner sighed, half amused, half exasperated. “Black iron and ordinary iron are worlds apart. Black iron is refined from essence iron—a hundred pounds of raw iron yields but a single pound of black iron!”

“So that’s how it is…” Xie Wuji mused, suddenly enlightened.

But the owner soon lost patience. “Take your time looking, gentlemen. The Celestial-tier display cases hold our finest treasures, mostly from the Cloudrise Sect. The Earth-tier cases are filled with goods bought from locals—some may be damaged, but if repaired, they’ll serve. As for the Human-tier… well, best not to mention them.”

“What do you mean, ‘best not to mention them’?” Xie Wuji pressed, stepping forward.

“They’re simply unsellable—every one a loss for me. I plan to bundle them up and have Cloudrise Sect disciples haul them away for smelting into new artifacts.” The owner shrugged helplessly. “Anyway, browse at your leisure. Everything is clearly labeled—honest prices and great discounts for bulk buys!”

With that, the owner headed downstairs, leaving Song Xiaoyu to excitedly peruse the surrounding treasures.

“These are truly wonderful! See that jade bangle? Wear it, and it calms the mind, purifies the spirit—don’t underestimate it. In secluded cultivation, sometimes a breakthrough hinges on just that sliver of tranquility!” Song Xiaoyu’s delight was evident as she admired the wares.

Xie Wuji, too, was awed. He thought to himself, everything here is a luxury—who’d have guessed even a simple iron sword would cost five hundred taels? Clearly, the little stash from Black Horse Village was nothing.

But then, Black Horse Village was poor to begin with—otherwise, why would they raid the surrounding eighteen villages? Rumor had it that even at home, they lived frugally; the underlings survived on coarse cornbread with a pinch of salt—barely enough to keep hunger at bay, but not to starve.

Leaving Song Xiaoyu behind, Xie Wuji wandered off to explore. Suddenly, the ancient mirror in his pocket grew warm, the heat sudden and intense. He hurriedly took it out and glanced around with it.

When the mirror’s light fell upon a pair of armguards—crudely made, meant to protect forearm and elbow—Xie Wuji paused. He thought, I’m a hand-to-hand fighter; a pair of armguards could conceal the glow from my fists. Perhaps this is just what I need.

Yet the armguards were battered, covered with engraved patterns, and looked utterly shoddy.

“Could the ancient mirror be playing tricks on me, telling me to buy this piece of junk?” Xie Wuji muttered, picking up the armguards. The moment they touched his hands, he felt a strange suction, stirring his blood and energy.

Alarmed, he tried to put them down, but no matter how he struggled, the armguards clung to his hands.

Just then, the ancient mirror flashed, casting a beam of light onto the armguards, which promptly fell off and clattered to the ground, cracking even further.

At that very moment, the owner passed by and saw Xie Wuji drop the battered armguards. Delighted, he thought, here’s my chance to squeeze a profit out of him.

Clutching his head, the owner ran over and wailed, “My precious! Sir, how could you treat my treasure so?”

“A treasure? It’s sitting on the lowest shelf and covered in dust, riddled with cracks—how can you call this a treasure?” Xie Wuji shot back, well aware of the owner’s intentions, though he had little to say since he had indeed damaged the item.

“It was only artificially aged, but after your treatment, it’s genuinely ruined! How am I supposed to sell it now?” the owner protested.

“Name your price,” Xie Wuji replied without fuss.

“Three hundred taels—not a copper less.” The owner held up three fingers.

Xie Wuji broke out in a cold sweat and pulled Song Xiaoyu away. “Let’s go—this shop’s nothing but a racket.”

“Wait! Two hundred taels, and not a wen lower!” The owner grabbed Xie Wuji. In truth, the Human-tier shelf had always been a thorn in his side. Selling anything from it was better than nothing—it was all profit.

Xie Wuji glanced at the jade bangle, then at Song Xiaoyu’s longing gaze, and his heart softened. “How about this—what’s your price on that jade bracelet?”

“That’s an Ice Crystal Jade Bracelet. Wear it, and it clears the mind, sharpens the senses, stabilizes the spirit, and helps the wearer better absorb ambient spiritual energy. It’s a genuine treasure. Since you’re straightforward, eight hundred taels!” the owner declared magnanimously.

Xie Wuji smiled, leaning in to whisper, “Brother, we’re in the same business. I used to do this myself—I know all about the markups. Give me a better price, and I’ll act as your shill, send you a few fat sheep.”

He’d once sold antiques—a trade not unlike this, but even more profitable. The saying went: ‘Six months without a sale, a sale feeds you for six months’—and it was true.

The owner was taken aback, then shook his head. “Fine, call it my bad luck. The bracelet and armguards together for five hundred taels—it’s the lowest I’ll go. Consider it making a friend.”

“Very well. I’m Xie Wuji!” he said with a laugh.

The owner grinned broadly. “And I’m Qian Duoduo!”

At that moment, Song Xiaoyu suddenly turned, covering her mouth in surprise. “You’re the legendary Qian Duoduo, the stingiest man in Qingpi County? They say your skills are unmatched—nothing escapes your grasp, not even a feather passing by the wild goose or a trace left by the wind! Even disciples from Cloudrise Sect never gain the upper hand here.”

“Haha, you flatter me. Those young pups don’t concern me. But Brother Wuji, your bargaining skills are impressive. I was just about to eat—join me for a meal?” Qian Duoduo laughed.

“My, Qian Duoduo treating us? I must give you face then!” Xie Wuji said.

But as soon as they reached the ground floor, Xie Wuji regretted it. Qian Duoduo had the waiter serve three bowls of noodles. His own was a grand seafood bowl, brimming with abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and crowned with a whole crab.

Meanwhile, Xie Wuji and Song Xiaoyu received only plain noodles with a single sliver of scallion—yes, just one!

After finishing, Xie Wuji, though five hundred taels poorer, sensed that the armguards hid some secret. Song Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was elated, endlessly admiring her bracelet—turning it this way and that, her face flushed with excitement.

Clutching the jade bracelet, her cheeks grew even redder. She remembered her father’s words: if a man gives a woman a gift, it’s almost always out of affection. Could Brother Wuji be fond of her?

Just then, Xie Wuji suddenly pulled Song Xiaoyu into his arms.

She was startled, her face turning scarlet as Xie Wuji drew closer, her heart pounding wildly. Was he about to kiss her? Wasn’t this too soon?

Her heart thudded like a wild boar stampede—far more intense than the fluttering of a timid deer.

“Don’t make a sound—something’s happening!” Xie Wuji whispered, pulling Song Xiaoyu into hiding.

Puzzled, Song Xiaoyu glanced over and realized the city gates were sealed. A group of twenty Cloudrise Sect disciples strode inside with urgent purpose.

“But this is Qingpi County—it’s normal for Cloudrise Sect disciples to be here…” she began.

“No, look over there—the bald one…” Xie Wuji replied.

Song Xiaoyu looked and nearly jumped. Wasn’t that the same bald man who’d been crushed to death by the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger? How was he alive now? She distinctly remembered checking his pulse—he’d had no heartbeat!

“Search everywhere! Those two troublemakers entered the city—now the whole county is under curfew. Check every corner! Damn it, if it weren’t for my Green Turtle demon spirit and the Turtle Breath technique, the young sect master would have died for nothing!” the bald man cursed loudly.