Chapter 75: Second Trade
Su Yan did not wait until night to go to the Black Market, but instead quietly entered Temple City in the evening and found a guesthouse to stay in.
Only when it was deep into the night did he change his identity and arrive in the Temple Market dressed as Feng Ruohan.
Not long after Su Yan entered the Temple Market, without deliberately wandering around, Lu Ba had already come looking for him.
“Hehehe, friend, you came so early, looks like you had some small gains.”
“My surname is Feng.”
Su Yan’s gaze swept over. This Lu Ba was still dressed in that black robe, but he had changed to a new mask, like the painted face in Peking opera.
“I’ve seen you, Brother Feng.”
Lu Ba was quite cooperative, then extended his hand and rubbed his thumb against his index finger: “That balance payment?”
Su Yan gave him the remaining fifty taels of silver and asked, “Since you’re from the real estate agent, do you take goods like this?”
Lu Ba’s eyes lit up: “Materials from Red Mountain Armadillo? Yes, of course we take them.”
Eight Directions Trading Company does intermediary business, but they are involved in all walks of life, with trade goods being the most common, making money by flipping them in the middle—how could they not do it?
“How much for a Red Mountain Armadillo cub?”
“What did you say? A cub?!”
Lu Ba looked at Su Yan in shock: “You mean a live one?”
Hearing his tone, Su Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly: ‘This cub is a bit hard to find, but not to this extent—there’s something fishy.’
“Of course it’s live, but it seems the market is a bit different.”
He looked at the other with a half-smile.
Lu Ba realized he had lost composure slightly and thought to himself: ‘This Feng guy is no brute; if I don’t reveal something, he probably won’t sell. Better to leak some info and see if I can get more feral beast cubs.’
He leaned in and lowered his voice: “Feral beasts can absorb and exhale spiritual power, especially adult feral beasts, which ordinary people have almost no chance of taming. But cubs are different; with secret technique training, they might become guardian battle beasts.”
“Beast King Sect?”
Su Yan’s eyes brightened slightly, piqued with curiosity.
“Right.”
Lu Ba nodded: “Beast King Sect’s contracted beast cultivation manuals are the most famous, but even if not from Beast King Sect, raising from young can still make a good helper. Thus, cub prices have always been extremely high.”
Su Yan showed a sly glint and pointed it out: “The prices lately should be even higher, right?”
Lu Ba’s earlier expression clearly indicated more than that.
Lu Ba looked a bit embarrassed and explained: “There is that possibility… a bit higher. Beast King Sect’s tribute collection is imminent, also a time for selecting talents; at this time, offering a powerful feral beast cub as tribute might get a few extra glances, even earning a registered disciple spot.”
Su Yan: Got it, gotta pay more.
Seeing Su Yan’s expression, Lu Ba played pitiful: “Brother Feng, I’ve spilled the beans to you, brother to brother—you spill some too: how many did you catch, and what’s their quality? These things are hard to sell singly; only big shots can buy them.”
Su Yan knew Lu Ba wasn’t lying; some things have high prices, but the buyers are just those few—you can’t price to the sky, and even he might not be able to sell them off.
This was also why Lu Ba dared to reveal so much to Su Yan.
Essentially conveying two core points:
One, I’m honest with you, have integrity, a good trading partner.
Two, these things are hard to offload; giving them to Eight Directions Trading Company is a good choice.
“A total of five, three about five months old, two less than three months.”
As soon as Su Yan said this, Lu Ba’s eyes lit up.
“Impressive haul.”
Lu Ba praised nonstop: “Looks like brother cleared out that whole nest of Red Mountain Armadillos.”
“Tell me the price.”
“This Red Mountain Armadillo feral beast race, adults are at least first-order mid-stage strength, equivalent to Muscle and Bone Realm; with proper resources and training, late first-order isn’t hard, equivalent to Blood Moving or Spirit Nurturing Realm strength.”
Lu Ba explained in detail to Su Yan: “Red Mountain Armadillos have mild temperaments and can dig ore, making them good tool beasts. I’ll give 500 taels of silver per five-month-old, 800 taels for three-month-olds.”
Skinning and dismantling one feral beast, accounting for sales process losses, wouldn’t fetch that much.
But Su Yan remained unmoved: “I spent three days and nights at White Stone Mountain for these feral beasts, without sleep or rest.”
Gotta pay more.
“Six hundred for the big ones, nine hundred for the small ones.”
“Beast King Sect’s attention doesn’t come cheap.”
“They value second-order feral beast cubs mostly; these are just extras. Six hundred sixty for big ones, one thousand for small ones.”
“Deal.”
After some bargaining, they settled the price; Lu Ba showed a pained expression—five cubs totaling 3980 taels of silver, not a low price.
Even some Spirit Nurturing Realm martial artists couldn’t cough up that much at once.
They could indeed go into the mountains to fight feral beasts for money.
But martial artists have high consumption; pills for body tempering daily, inner armor, even outer armor, plus weapons—all cost a lot, so they can’t save up that much at once.
Just about to hand over the silver, Su Yan suddenly said: “No rush, you should take Blood-Strengthening Pills too—check the quality.”
Su Yan handed over a porcelain bottle; Lu Ba took it and looked, showing shock.
“You really succeeded; you know alchemy too?”
Su Yan smiled without speaking; Lu Ba knew the rules: “I’ll try one.”
He wasn’t afraid of poison; he had that much courage.
One Blood-Strengthening Pill went down, and he immediately felt a surge of qi and blood flowing into all parts of his body.
The pill quality was not bad.
Lu Ba was knowledgeable and could tell at once that this Blood-Strengthening Pill was top-tier among its kind.
In a small place like Yun Cang Town, few could concoct pills, all in Hundred Herbs Hall.
Other factions trying to train their own pharmacists or pill masters were stretched thin, without a system.
Thus, though Su Yan’s Basic Alchemy was only at minor accomplishment, just shy of great accomplishment, it was still very good in Yun Cang Town.
“For this quality of Blood-Strengthening Pill, I can take them at two taels of silver each.”
“Hundred Herbs Hall charges three taels per pill.”
“And the Blood-Strengthening Powder in Temple Market is only half a tael per bottle?”
Lu Ba countered, and both knew one bottle of Blood-Strengthening Powder might not match one Blood-Strengthening Pill’s potency.
“Good brother, Hundred Herbs Hall is three taels, true, but they have brand premium. Gotta give brother some profit margin.”
“Two and a half taels, ten pills per bottle totals 25 taels.”
Su Yan yielded only half a step: “Bottle’s yours.”
Lu Ba: Fuck.
His face full of pained expression— so you want money for the bottle too?
He reacted immediately: this was an excuse, no more haggling.
Unlike cubs that are hard to sell, pills can be used personally if not sold.
“Good, deal. How much stock do you have?”
“Thirty bottles for now.”
Hearing this, Lu Ba’s eyes lit up: in just three days since getting the pill prescription, he produced this much; excluding time hunting Red Mountain Armadillos, this guy was an alchemy expert.
This made him even more eager, seeing potential for deeper ties.
“Impressive skill.”
Lu Ba thought and said: “I’ll take all thirty bottles, equivalent to 750 taels. Total over four thousand taels of silver; even in gold, it’s a hefty sum. I figure Brother Feng doesn’t plan to take banknotes?”
Normally, banknotes are convenient for trade; secular martial artists usually use them.
Though rumors say high sects like Beast King Sect use other mediums, it’s just hearsay.
With Su Yan hiding his face, he naturally wouldn’t use banknotes to cash silver.
“What does Brother Lu suggest?”
“One, pick a hidden spot; I’ll arrange the handover to ensure your safety. Two, Brother Feng can check my wares here; if you need any, trade at discount.”
Lu Ba’s eyes flickered: “Shall we change spots to talk?”
They were still in Temple Market; though secluded, walls have ears.
Su Yan nodded.
The two left Temple Market, turned into a quiet corner; Lu Ba skillfully opened a place that looked like a civilian house, and they entered.
“This is one of Eight Directions Trading Company’s hidden spots.”
Lu Ba no longer hid his undercover identity, clearly wanting deeper cooperation with Su Yan.
This was also part of his duty as an undercover: finding excellent clients in the Black Market.
“Eight Directions Trading Company has quite the setup; what goods have you prepared?”
Lu Ba confidently pulled out a small booklet and said: “Though Eight Directions Trading Company isn’t as specialized as Tian Feng Weapon Shop or Hundred Herbs Hall, we deal in all sorts; we have ties to the county city, so we can get miscellaneous stuff—even if not in stock, we can find a way.”
This was his confidence.
He paused slightly, then said: “The booklet lists common items: first-order pills like Bone Forging Pill, Xuan Shen Pill, Spirit Nurturing Pill; ranked sharp weapons, armor; medicinal herbs, tools also listed. If you want to trade, just subscribe. Even some special things, we have ways.”
“What about visualization diagrams?”
Lu Ba’s pupils contracted sharply, awkward smile: “Those are key to breaking into True Intent Realm; naturally hard to produce. But martial skills, hardening cultivation techniques—we can get those.”
Saying this, he wondered inwardly: ‘Casual mention, or has he reached Spirit Nurturing Realm and just needs a trigger?’
Su Yan shook his head: “No need for martial skills. How many pill prescriptions like Blood-Strengthening Pill do you have? Bring them out.”
This suited Lu Ba perfectly; he chuckled: “Actually some: first-order Jade Skin Powder, Body Tempering Pill, Bone Forging Pill prescriptions—we have them. Brother, if you want, 500 taels of silver per prescription.”
These weren’t common goods like Blood-Strengthening Pill, which anyone versed in pharmacology could refine from feral beast blood.
Efficacy varied, but finished products could be made.
But these prescriptions circulated less, sold only by Hundred Herbs Hall, Little Mountain Association, Lin Family, etc.
One, they control most medicinal herbs; two, only their people can refine them.
“You want me to refine pills, earn my money—Eight Directions Trading Company schemes well.”
Lu Ba’s thoughts exposed, he laughed dryly: “No way, discount, discount—one prescription 400 taels. We’ll want to cooperate with Brother Feng later, but prescriptions aren’t common goods.”
“Three hundred taels; refined products supplied to you first.”
“Deal.”
Three prescriptions totaled nine hundred taels of silver; excluding Jade Skin Powder for Skin Refining Realm martial artists, which Su Yan couldn’t use at his realm.
The remaining Body Tempering Pill and Bone Forging Pill were perfect for him.
“Primordial Snake Poison Stem, viper poison gland, blood essence, bone forging grass, Earth Blood Vine…”
Su Yan listed many medicinal herbs at once, mixing in Poison Dragon Powder materials and adding some treasure plants.
Lu Ba didn’t know medicine refining but recognized many as ingredients for Bone Forging Pill and Body Tempering Pill.
He tallied: “Total two thousand two hundred forty taels; I’ll round down to two thousand two hundred taels, so Eight Directions Trading Company still owes Brother Feng one thousand six hundred thirty taels.”
“I’ll buy some news too.”
Su Yan raised his gaze slightly and said: “Clues on insect-type feral beasts, the rarer, higher rank the better.”
“Insect-type?”
Lu Ba frowned slightly: “Does something like snake-type long insects count?”
Su Yan shook his head slightly.
Fierce Insect Cauldron is named for fierce insects, but what counts as an insect? No definition.
By the five insects theory—winged, hairy, shelled, scaled, naked—humans are just top of naked insects.
For now, what he controlled was under shelled insects, the insect category, but whether Fierce Insect Cauldron defines it that way was uncertain.
Only if insect master level keeps rising might there be changes, including snake-type long insects.
But currently, what he could refine was purer insect types.
“Those are hard to find.”
Lu Ba looked troubled; among feral beasts, insects exist but are rarer than average.
“I’ll have people keep an eye out, if you need.”
“If live insect-type feral beasts are captured, I’ll buy at high price; spread the word.”
The desolate mountains are vast; there will be insect-type feral beasts.
“Easy to say; insect-type feral beasts are hard to find but easier to capture and control. As long as you’re willing to spend, there’s a way.”
Transaction complete, Su Yan took gold from Lu Ba and left the room.
In the room, Lu Ba removed his mask, stroked his small mustache, pondering: “Where’d this rogue cultivator pop up from, with such alchemy skill? Good thing; with Pang Tianfeng going mad, disrupting Little Mountain Association and Hundred Herbs Hall’s herb lines, Eight Directions Trading Company can grab some market share.”
Next night, as agreed, they met at a desolate mountain outside Tiger God Mountain to exchange goods; Su Yan delivered Red Mountain Armadillo cubs, Lu Ba the full set of medicinal herbs.
Though the traded items were pricey, neither side set any traps.
Handover done, they left one after the other.
Su Yan stored part of the goods in Insect Realm Space, carried part, and hurried into the forest.
He circled several times around Tiger God Mountain before returning to his base.
Su Yan removed his black robe, looked at the supplies before him, and mused: “Blood-Strengthening Pill, Bone Forging Pill, Body Tempering Pill, Poison Dragon Powder—even popping pills could reach Spirit Nurturing Realm, but still need to launder the money, turn some into overt resources.”
