Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A mermaid much akin to the ones in fairytales swam out from the backroom.
âSteward Pi, why did you bring people here?â she asked.
Her tail was covered in pink scales that glittered like gems and gave off an opalescent hue. The upper half of her body was slender and her exquisite facial features were complemented by her long, wavy hair and fair skin. She was, in other words, a gorgeous, flawless lass.
âGreetings, your royal highness!â Steward Pi saluted her.
âWho is this?â The pretty mermaid regarded Chen Xiaobei uneasily due to Chen Xiaobeiâs peculiar manner of gawking at her.
âAhemâ¦â Steward Pi coughed. âAllow me to introduce to you â this is a friend of Prince Liancheng, Childe Chen!â
âChilde Chen, can you please stop looking at me like that?â The little mermaid was not pleased.
âChilde Chen⦠Childe Chenâ¦â Steward Pi tugged at Chen Xiaobeiâs sleeve nervously. âI know the princess is good looking but you cannot stare at people like that!â
âHuhâ¦â Chen Xiaobei snapped out of his stupor. âI apologize! Iâm very sorry, princess. Itâs just that you look very much like a character from the stories of my childhood. I was so surprised that I was completely bewitchedâ¦â
The mermaid pursed her lips, still half-suspicious.
To ease the awkwardness, Steward Pi quickly jumped in, âChilde Chen, please allow me to introduce to you Neptuneâs youngest little princess, Ao Chunâer!â
âHow do you do, princess!â Chen Xiaobei smiled as courteously and as gracefully as he could.
Ao Chunâerâs furrowed brows seemed to ease a little. âHow do you do? I overheard that you want to try your luck at Ambergris gambling.â
âYes, I do! Because Childe Liancheng is busy, I was hoping to have a flutter of two to pass the time.â Chen Xiaobei shrugged.
âIâm afraid you canât!â Ao Chunâer shook her head. âThis Ambergris Corner operates under my name. Iâve come here today to shut it down temporarily!â
Ambergris were a rare and valuable resource. Only a member of the imperial family could afford running a business like that.
âIs it because of the problem with the supply?â Chen Xiaobei asked.
âYesâ¦â Ao Chunâer answered frankly. âThereâs problem with the supply. So, our business of Ambergris gambling will only be a liability. If the business continues to run, weâll go bankrupt real soon!â
Chen Xiaobei blinked, activating his Golden Gaze Fiery Eyes to survey the rocks. âItâs not all that bad, the merchandise here! Iâve spotted a few that Iâd like to buy. How many Spiritual Stones would they cost?â
Ao Chunâer and Steward Pi shared a look, furrows in their brows.
Chen Xiaobei had chosen the largest stone in the corner of the store.
âChilde Chen!â Ao Chunâer said solemnly. âFirst of all, there really is a problem with the supply and you really are such an amateur! When it comes to Ambergris gambling, bigger is not always better! Thereâs nothing inside! Itâs been in the store for three years and no one has ever been interested in it!â
âSince it hadnât been sold for three years, why donât you just get rid of it?â Chen Xiaobei asked, smiling cheekily.
Ao Chunâer sighed. âThe shopkeeper I hired is a little superstitious. He hired a Feng Shui master to inspect the shop, and was told to put that grounding rock at that corner to maintain luck and prosperity. Thatâs why we havenât thrown it away yet!â
âSince itâs not important, give me a price and sell it to me!â Chen Xiaobei smiled.
âChilde Chen! Are you even listening to what Iâm saying?!â Ao Chunâer was getting frustrated. âI already told you that there wonât be any Ambergris inside that rock. Why do you still want to buy it?â
Chen Xiaobei grinned, âWe have this saying in our family that a guy who likes to smile would have good luck! I believe in my luck!â
âYouâ¦â Ao Chunâer stared at Chen Xiaobei like he had lost his mind.
Steward Pi also advised against it. âChilde Chen, just listen to the princessâ¦â
âDonât try to convince me!â Chen Xiaobei said firmly. âI want that rock!â
âYou know whatâ¦â Ao Chunâer sighed. âUgh⦠you know what? Iâll just give this rock to you. Iâll ask the shopkeeper to find us another grounding rock!â
âGive it to me? How can I accept it?â Chen Xiaobei smiled. âPrincess, just give me a price. If thereâs Ambergris inside, Iâm afraid youâll regret it!â
âNo, I wonât.â Ao Chunâer shook her head. âFirst, thereâs no way that thereâs any Ambergris inside, and second, I care a lot about my reputation. I would not want to take it back after giving it to you!â
âAlright! Iâll take your word for it!â Chen Xiaobei walked over to the rock, formed a blade with his Ethereal Force and cut the rock.
In a blink of an eye, the rock was split in half.
And in the middle of that rock was a coal-black Ambergris the size of a basketball!
âThatâ¦that that thatâ¦â Ao Chunâerâs big beautiful eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfectly round O.
âMy goodness⦠Am I dreamingâ¦â The steward was befuddled and was left dumbfounded. He even pinched his chubby cheeks to convince himself that he was not dreaming.
âThe both of you, donât get distracted. Tell me, did I hit the jackpot?â Chen Xiaobei smiled.
âChen⦠Childe Chenâ¦â Ao Chunâer bit her lip. âHow did you know that thereâs an Ambergris inside?â
Chen Xiaobei shrugged. âI am an amateur. Thatâs probably just dumb luck.â
âImpossible! Thereâs no way youâre an amateur!â Ao Chunâer said in disbelief. âYou must have been able to tell, or you wouldnât have been so adamant in wanting this rock!ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIt was really just a blind guess!â Chen Xiaobei said. âBecause there are problems with the recent supply, I decided to go with this one which has been here for three years! I thought that itâd be interesting to try my luck. I really didnât expect to have guessed correctly!â
Chen Xiaobei could not reveal the secret which was his Golden Gaze Fiery Eyes.
Ao Chunâer frowned as she stared hard at Chen Xiaobei, obviously doubtful over his stroke of luck.
Chen Xiaobei smiled cheekily. âYour royal highness, please donât stare at me like that. People might get the wrong idea!â
âYou must be hiding something!â Ao Chunâer pouted, dewy eyed. âCan you please, please, please tell me? Iâve been in the Ambergris business for so many years, but Iâve never seen anyone quite as skilled as you!â
Seeing the adorable puppy-dog expressing the pretty Ao Chunâer put out, Chen Xiaobei suddenly felt a burning desire to add this mermaid into his harem.
âChilde Chen! Finally! Iâve found you! Prince Liancheng requires your presence in the palace immediately!â Octopus man came running into the shop, shouting. But he was suddenly distracted. âMy god⦠How⦠How is it that thereâs a 100,000-year-old Ambergris here???!â