Chapter 23

Shi Hong continued to stroke his beard, his face revealing a bitter expression: “To help Your Highness obtain this Two Qi Marrow Fruit, Thousand Gold Pavilion has lost many good hands, and it took a lot of negotiation to deliver it to me.”

Shen Yian raised an eyebrow, thinking that the effects of washing the marrow and harmonizing yin and yang were indeed remarkable, but saying it was a rare find in a thousand years was an exaggeration; a hundred years would be more accurate. Shi Hong was simply trying to increase the price.

“I still need to inspect it.”

“Please, Your Highness!”

Shi Hong placed his hand on the jade box, clearly feeling the heavenly energy contained within the Two Qi Marrow Fruit.

Shen Yian withdrew his hand and nodded: “Pavilion Master Shi has done a good job.”

Inside the jade box, there was another extremely precious cold jade, which guaranteed that the spiritual energy of the Two Qi Marrow Fruit would not be lost.

With this Two Qi Marrow Fruit, paired with the dual cultivation method, during the wedding night, not only could it help the foolish girl break through to the Free Realm easily, but he could also try to challenge the Divine Wandering realm.

Cough, no mistake, everything was part of his plan.

Shi Hong smiled: “Your Highness is too kind, this is all part of Shi’s duties.”

After the polite conversation, it was time to get down to business.

“Your Highness, the total comes out to be 17,000 silver taels!” Shi Hong moved his abacus, his eight-bearded chin trembling slightly as he spoke.

This was a staggering amount, considering that the annual revenue of the Great Qing dynasty was only around 10 million silver taels, and that was after many years of peace and prosperity under Emperor Wu’s rule.

“Is there anything else included?”

Shen Yian picked up his teacup again, knowing that Thousand Gold Pavilion’s nature was to drive a hard bargain, and that haggling was impossible; he could only try to get more things out of it.

“Uh…” Shi Hong hesitated.

“I saw a jade flute outside when I arrived, I wonder if the Pavilion Master Stone could give it to me?” Shen Yian’s eyelids drooped, and he gently scratched the rim of the teacup with the lid.

The foolish girl had entered the martial arts world through music, and her qin skills were unparalleled; her flute skills were also exceptional.

Although she had Ye Tiance’s fist technique, when going out, she needed at least one reliable companion; she couldn’t carry a guqin everywhere, could she?

Most importantly, the foolish girl’s fist technique, paired with her current realm, was quite lethal, but in front of a true expert, it was more like a “thug’s excited fist.”

That jade flute, if he wasn’t mistaken, was carved from golden star white jade, with a hardness comparable to diamond, which showed the extraordinary skill of the craftsman.

“Your Highness, that jade flute is not cheap, and it is not inferior to the Two Qi Marrow Fruit…” Shi Hong wiped the fine sweat on his forehead and forced a smile.

“Oh? Has anyone used that jade flute before?” Shen Yian furrowed his brow, his tone suddenly turning cold.

If someone had used it, he wouldn’t buy it, no matter how clean it was; he just couldn’t accept it.

Golden star white jade was easy to find, but finding someone who could carve it was difficult; he could learn how to carve it himself if needed.

“Your Highness, Shi can swear on his life that the jade flute has never been used by anyone.”

Shi Hong vowed solemnly.

Because this jade flute was something he had collected himself, and he vaguely remembered it was a rainy night…

“Then please, Pavilion Master Shi, take an oath.”

Shen Yian raised his eyes, interrupting Shi Hong’s reminiscence.

No matter whether it was a blood oath or the most ruthless heavenly oath, an unspoken oath was no different from idle chatter.

“Good!”

Shi Hong was also pleased, and he called over a servant girl to bring a bowl filled with wine.

Shen Yian was no stranger to this kind of scene, and he had grown accustomed to it.

“Drip!”

A bean-sized drop of blood fell into the bowl, sealing the oath!

Seeing this, Shen Yian didn’t waste any words, and he put down his teacup, laughing lightly: “I’ll take that jade flute.”

“Your Highness is so generous!” Shi Hong burst into loud laughter.

One hand handed over the money, and the other handed over the goods.

Shen Yian lightly waved his hand, and the gifts and jade box on the table disappeared, as he performed a sleeve technique for Shi Hong’s benefit.

Outside the private room, Shi Hong personally put on a pair of silk gloves and carefully took out the jade flute with both hands, presenting it to Shen Yian.

“Your Highness, please.”@@novelbin@@

Shen Yian received the jade flute and first blew two notes, “Woo woo”.

“Ah, it’s truly like listening to heavenly music! No wonder it’s Your Highness!” Shi Hong immediately began to flatter.

“Pavilion Master Shi is too kind.”

Shen Yian put away the jade flute, smiling awkwardly.

“Does Your Highness want to see anything else?”

“I’ll just go downstairs and take a stroll, no need to trouble Pavilion Master Shi.”

“Very well, Your Highness can call for me anytime if you need anything.”

Shi Hong cupped his hands and watched Shen Yian and Cheng Hai go downstairs.

After the two figures disappeared around the corner, the fifth-stage responsible person on the side couldn’t help but ask, “Pavilion Master, why are you being so courteous to the King of Chu?”

It wasn’t just courteous, it was more like fawning.

Shi Hong smiled mysteriously: “Because he can reach the sixth stage.”

――――――

“This fox fur has already been taken by my mistress, what right do you have to snatch it?”

“What’s the point of taking it? You haven’t paid yet! The highest bidder gets it!”

“Sorry, miss, but there’s no such rule in the pavilion, and this fox fur has indeed been purchased by this miss.”

“Ahhhhh!! I don’t care! Waaaah! Brother, look! They’re all bullying me!”

As soon as Shen Yian arrived at the third stage, he heard that soul-shaking scream.

This drama, he felt like he had seen it before. He glanced sideways, and indeed, it was Gu Ruoyi and her maid, who was in a standoff with a young couple.

According to the original story, he, the protagonist, should have made a heroic entrance at this point.

But now, it was none of his business, so he might as well just walk away and take the foolish girl out for a stroll!

Shen Yian was about to continue downstairs when he saw a familiar figure standing in the distance, eating melon seeds with great interest.

“Let’s go, Cheng Hai, come with me to eat some melon seeds.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shen Yian brought Cheng Hai and intentionally took a big detour to arrive at the familiar figure’s side.

“Fourth Brother!”

Shen Jingyu was slightly surprised: “Sixth Brother? You’re here too?”

“I’m just taking a stroll because I’m bored.” Shen Yian smiled.

“Sixth Brother, I heard you closed down the Dingfu Building. What’s the reason?”

“I want to open a hot pot restaurant, so I closed it down for a simple renovation.”

“Hot pot restaurant?” This term touched on Shen Jingyu’s knowledge blind spot.

“It’s actually just a warm pot, but with some differences.”

“I see.”

“Remember to invite Fourth Brother to try it out when you open for business.”

“Of course, I won’t forget.”

After chatting for a bit, the two of them just stood there, continuing to “eat melon seeds”.

“What are you doing?!” Qi Yun slapped away the girl’s fist, furious.

“How dare you! Do you know who my father is?! Zhao Erhe!”

The young man suddenly shouted loudly, his nose almost pointing towards the sky.

Shen Yian’s eyes twitched twice at this scene. This was the legendary wise and powerful villain? Indeed, very wise!

Slapping someone in the face is just dirtying your hands.

Shen Jingyu’s face darkened when he heard the name Zhao Erhe.

Shen Yian stood on the side, smiling faintly without leaving a trace.

According to seniority, isn’t Zhao Erhe Shen Jingyu’s second uncle?

“Sixth brother, I’m afraid I’m going to make you laugh today.”