Wang Changqing heard Han Li’s question, and a bitter smile spread across his face.
“Immortal Master, you jest. While some Immortal Masters possess storage bags, they treasure them deeply and would never lend them to us mortals for storing mundane items. Moreover, each trade between the major islands involves entire ships and vast quantities. Even the miraculous storage bags of Immortal Masters can’t hold that much. And the Immortal Masters would certainly not lower themselves to the manual labor of loading and unloading!” Wang Changqing explained carefully to Han Li.
Upon hearing this, Han Li nodded silently, half-closing his eyes as he fell into thought.
After a long moment, he said calmly:
“Matters the Shopkeeper Gu wishes me to handle, I am powerless to address. My cultivation level is truly not high enough. Even if I agreed, I would only humiliate myself. Please inform Shopkeeper Gu truthfully, Master Wang, and let him seek out someone more capable. As payment for your ship carrying me to Kuixing Island, I will provide some spirit stones as compensation.”
Han Li spoke slowly and clearly, but his voice was even colder.
The old man’s face paled noticeably upon hearing these words of refusal.
Then, he pleaded bitterly:
“Immortal Master, please help our shopkeeper! You must know, in order to secure this trade, Shopkeeper Gu has already lost two full ships and their crews. Furthermore, to gain the qualification to challenge, he spent a large sum of spirit stones. If he fails to obtain the qualification for inter-island trade, the Gu family will certainly go bankrupt. We, the workers, will also lose our jobs and have no choice but to seek our fortunes elsewhere.” The old man’s face was full of entreaty.
“My cultivation is indeed low, and I am unwilling to attract any trouble right after arriving on Kuixing Island.” Han Li shook his head without any emotion, his refusal absolute.
Seeing that Han Li’s mind was made up and his tone stern, Wang Changqing didn’t dare say anything more in persuasion. He could only muster his spirit and chat with Han Li about some local customs and matters Han Li urgently needed to know.
Half a shichen later, Han Li saw the old man’s spirit flagging and let him go back to rest first, telling him to return the next day to teach him some of the local language.
Wang Changqing had long been feeling exhausted. Seeing Han Li considerately release him, he didn’t decline and withdrew.
Han Li, watching the old man leave and respectfully close the wooden door, couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Although he carried some spirit medicine that could refresh the mind and even benefit a mortal’s body, he had no intention of offering any to the old man.
In a strange place, it was best not to reveal one’s wealth! Otherwise, it could very easily attract unnecessary trouble. It wouldn’t even be strange if it led to a life-threatening danger.
After thinking this, Han Li sat cross-legged on the bed, then took out a bottle of “Yellow Dragon Pills” from his person, poured out one pill, and placed it in his mouth, beginning to refine Qi.
He absolutely had to recover his cultivation as soon as possible. After all, no matter where in the world of immortal cultivation one was, it was still strength that spoke!
But after only sitting in meditation for a short while, faint footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Although Han Li didn’t open the door, his spiritual sense had long since drifted out, imprinting everything outside in his mind. It was the old man called Wang Changqing, returning, followed closely by that Shopkeeper Gu, who looked heavy-hearted.
Han Li’s brows furrowed slightly.
It seemed trouble had arrived. Clearly, this Shopkeeper Gu hadn’t given up and wanted to pester him again.
If he were still in Tian Nan, Han Li would have given a single cold sentence to stop them and wouldn’t have let these two enter the room at all.
But now, having just arrived in a strange place, it was best not to appear overly unkind.
Thinking of this, Han Li didn’t wait for the two to knock on the door. He transmitted his voice calmly and evenly:
“Please enter! The door isn’t locked!”
Shopkeeper Gu and Wang Changqing were startled when they suddenly heard Han Li’s voice sound in their ears. But they immediately realized it was the Immortal Master inside summoning them. They hurriedly straightened their clothes, responded respectfully, and pushed the door open gently to enter.
Han Li had already gotten off the bed and was standing in the room with his hands behind his back.
“Immortal Master, Shopkeeper Gu wishes to speak with you personally about that matter. May I ask the Immortal Master to give the shopkeeper a chance?” Having interacted with Han Li before, Wang Changqing already knew this Immortal Master was not someone to be trifled with, so he stated their purpose directly.
Upon hearing this, Han Li glanced at the old man and said with a smile:
“Of course. However, I advise you, Mr. Gu, not to place too much hope in it!” Han Li put on an air of indifference.
Hearing Han Li say this, Wang Changqing looked a bit embarrassed, but still explained the situation truthfully to the middle-aged man.