C15 What Kind of Demonic Technique Did You Use?(1)

Fufeng City, a quaint outpost, wasn't particularly large in size.

Once past the city gate inspection, a main thoroughfare wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side bisected the city. Perched atop his Unicorn Horse, Zhong Wen often felt he could see from one end of the town to the other in a single glance, a realization that left him somewhat deflated.

The day was young, and the streets were sparsely populated. A handful of breakfast vendors attracted a smattering of early risers, their stalls billowing with steam as the inviting aroma of food wafted through the air.

Thanks to Uncle Zhao's guided tour, Zhong Wen swiftly grasped the layout of Fufeng City. Despite its modest size, the city boasted a complete set of amenities: taverns, grain shops, apothecaries, stables, blacksmiths, and tailors, with no glaring omissions in its infrastructure.

"Here we have Yuan Tong ticket house," Uncle Zhao said, gesturing toward an elegantly fronted two-story building. "Mr. Zhong, if you could hold on for a moment, I need to go in and exchange these crystals for banknotes."

"Hold on, I'll join you," Zhong Wen interjected, reminded of the copious crystals stashed in his ring.

The ticket house's lobby was immaculate and spacious, with six sets of tables and chairs neatly arranged for patrons to lounge while they waited. At the far end, behind the counter, sat a young woman clad in a pale red uniform. She might not have matched Lau Qiqi's beauty, but she was quite fetching nonetheless.

"Good day, sir. How may I assist you?" she greeted Uncle Zhao with a warm smile, her gentle voice free of any disdain despite his worn attire.

"Miss, I'd like to exchange this for a Spirit Crystal Ticket and get ten silver coins as well," Uncle Zhao requested, presenting the spirit crystal and silver notes he'd received from Zhong Wen.

"Certainly, just a moment, please," the clerk responded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The ticket house offered both spirit crystal and silver coin banking services, yet in a small town like Fufeng City, clients needing spirit crystal transactions were rare. The prospect of early morning business in such currency had her spirits soaring.

Zhong Wen listened intently to the exchange between the two, his mind churning with thoughts.

Shortly thereafter, Uncle Zhao, brimming with satisfaction, left the bank with a spirit crystal ticket and ten silver coins in his pocket.

"Uncle, please head back to the carriage and wait for me," Zhong Wen instructed after they stepped outside. Once Uncle Zhao departed, Zhong Wen slipped into a secluded corner, retrieved a heap of spirit crystals from his ring, filled his bag to the brim, and re-entered the Yuan Tong Bank.

"Hello, how may I assist you today?" The young lady greeted him with an ever-sweet smile.

"I'd like to exchange for some spirit crystal tickets," Zhong Wen replied, smiling back at the beauty.

"Of course, how many spirit crystals would you like to deposit?"

Zhong Wen's natural good looks, coupled with the prospect of a substantial spirit crystal transaction, instantly elevated him to the status of a captivating prince in the eyes of the young lady.

"I need to exchange three hundred spirit crystals. Could you please issue me two tickets for one hundred spirit crystals each, and ten tickets for ten spirit crystals each?"

"Certainly, I'll get that processed for you right away... Wait, how many?" The girl paused, second-guessing what she had heard.

"Three hundred," Zhong Wen confirmed, opening the cloth bag and spilling out a cascade of spirit crystals.

"Sir, are you certain you wish to deposit all of these?" The girl was so astonished she began to stutter.

"What's the matter, is it too little? I just saw that uncle deposit a single crystal, and you accommodated him," Zhong Wen said, puzzled by the girl's reaction.

Too little? In all my life, I've never seen so many spirit crystals. How I wish I could marry this dashing magnate.

The girl's heart was utterly captivated.

"Esteemed guest, please hold on a moment. I need to consult with the manager," she said, rushing upstairs.

Soon after, a dapper middle-aged man in white descended the stairs with the girl, extending a hand to Zhong Wen with unguarded enthusiasm and engaging in a friendly conversation that was warmer than one with a long-lost father.

As Zhong Wen left the bank, he not only had the tickets for three hundred spirit crystals but also a jade token in his possession. The middle-aged gentleman had explained that this token signified VIP status with Yuan Tong Bank. With it, Zhong Wen could bypass queues at any Yuan Tong branch throughout the Great Qian Empire and even enjoy preferential interest rates on loans.

"Let's head to the trading company!" With cash lining his pockets, Zhong Wen's spirits soared.

As their carriage rounded the corner, a dazzling three-story edifice emerged before them.

"This is the Shengyu Trading Company's Fufeng City branch. It's said to be among the top enterprises throughout the Great Qian Empire—quite the powerhouse," Uncle Zhao remarked with a hint of reverence in his voice.

The trading company had just opened for the day, and the staff bustled about energetically. The saleswomen, striking in appearance, added to the allure of the place. Upon Zhong Wen's entrance, a fetching young lady approached with a warm welcome.

"Good sir, are you here to make a purchase or a sale?" she inquired, her demeanor extra cordial towards the dashing gentleman.

"I'm looking to buy some herbal medicines and Spirit Pattern materials," Zhong Wen replied, opting for stability by not using the rare herbs from his ring for his first foray into alchemy.

The thought struck her—this handsome fellow must be a cultivator!

Her enthusiasm grew as she pondered, "Which materials do you need? I'll gather them for you right away." She promptly fetched pen and paper, ready to jot down his list.

"I require top-notch White Cloud Wood, Spirit Ink Carbon, Spirit Pattern Plates, Spirit Brush Models..." Zhong Wen rattled off an array of Spirit Pattern materials as listed in the 'Spirit Pattern Pen Crafting Guide,' followed by a string of medicinal names, "and also superior Nine Leaf Spirit Grass, Spirit Melting Leaf, Earth Dragon Whisker, Four Nine Root..."

This was shaping up to be a substantial sale!

The girl's excitement mounted as she scribbled down the list.

"That will do for now. Please bring the items so I can inspect their quality," Zhong Wen concluded after an extensive rundown, his expression betraying his eagerness to see more.

"Certainly, sir. If you would follow me," she said, guiding Zhong Wen to a private booth where she promptly excused herself.

The booth was set with an assortment of snacks, and it wasn't long before another attendant arrived to serve tea, the attention to detail in their service quite touching.

Zhong Wen mused, half-hoping for a shoulder massage from one of the ladies.

To his surprise, however, it wasn't a lady who entered next but a portly middle-aged man.

"Greetings, esteemed guest. My name is Wang, and I have the honor of managing this establishment," the man said with a geniality that washed over Zhong Wen like a warm spring breeze, quickly dispelling any hint of his prior disappointment.

"Shopkeeper Wang, do you have enough stock of the items I'm looking for at your establishment?"

"Rest assured, Mr. Zhong. Spirit Pattern materials are far from scarce," Shopkeeper Wang assured, patting his chest confidently. "While there is a wide variety of herbal medicines, we're fortunate that Breeze Mountain, just a stone's throw away, is a rich source of medicinal herbs for hundreds of miles around. You've certainly come to the right place. Even the capital wouldn't have a more complete selection than here."

"That's a relief," Zhong Wen nodded, his worries easing.

"You've requested quite a variety of items, so I've dispatched people to gather them. Please, take a moment to enjoy some tea while you wait."

Zhong Wen nodded again and sipped his tea, engaging in casual conversation with Shopkeeper Wang.

Having held his position for many years, Shopkeeper Wang was adept at socializing and could easily connect with anyone. Noticing Zhong Wen's youth, he feared the wait might bore him, so he chose to entertain him with amusing local tales and juicy bits of gossip.

"Are you planning to stay in Fufeng City?" Shopkeeper Wang inquired suddenly. "The city isn't safe at the moment. If you're looking for accommodations, perhaps our trading company could arrange something for you."

"What happened?" Zhong Wen's curiosity was piqued.

"Just last night, the Deputy Leader of the Blissful Gang was assassinated, and the Leader was gravely wounded."

"The Blissful Gang?" Zhong Wen looked puzzled.

"You might not be aware, not being from around here. The Blissful Gang isn't a major force, but they're quite influential in Fufeng City. Both the Leader and Deputy Leader are Land Wheel-level experts. Leader Duan Changhong has even advanced beyond the sixth Land Wheel."

Seeing Zhong Wen's confusion, Shopkeeper Wang continued, "It's said that the assassin was injured by Duan Changhong's defensive strike. The Blissful Gang is now scouring the city to find the assailant. Given your distinguished status, Mr. Zhong, I'd advise caution to avoid any unintended entanglements. The Blissful Gang isn't known for their benevolence."

"Thank you for the heads-up," Zhong Wen nodded, taking the words "of considerable worth" to heart.

At that moment, several attractive women entered the booth, each carrying a finely crafted mahogany tray. The items Zhong Wen intended to purchase were arranged neatly upon them.

"Kindly review the selection, honored guest."

Zhong Wen rose to his feet, his gaze instinctively sweeping over the women.

He sighed inwardly; they paled in comparison to Lau Qiqi.

After silently appraising the women, his attention shifted to the merchandise.

The quality of the Spirit Pattern materials was satisfactory, meeting his requirements for crafting the Pill Fire Spirit Pattern, while the various medicinal herbs were of a notably higher caliber.

These herbs weren't cultivated by a master grower but rather by ordinary farmers, which spoke volumes about the exceptional quality of the soil near Breeze Mountain.

"Quite good. I'll take the Spirit Pattern materials, and as for the spirit medicines, I'll purchase whatever quantity your company has available. Please, provide me with a quote."