This old man had forced him to bring him here. Jiang Ya was only at the first turn of cultivation, and being of a younger generation, he was naturally inferior to Gu Yue Ye, so he had no choice but to comply.
But seeing him so humiliated now, Jiang Ya inwardly envied Fang Yuan's nonchalance.
Gu Yue Ye wanted to slap Fang Yuan countless times, to teach this arrogant junior a proper lesson. But for the sake of the Vitality Leaves, he swallowed his anger and said, "Young friend Fang Yuan, you can't say that. You are still young and don't understand the importance of connections and relationships. There will be times when you need to ask for favors. Imagine if someday you come to me for help and I treat you the same way—how would you feel?"
"Bullshit connections!" Fang Yuan sneered inwardly with disdain.
So-called unity is only because people are weak.
Connections might be necessary on Earth. After all, between people, there is no qualitative difference in individual power. But this world is a world of cultivation, fundamentally different.
Connections are merely an appendage of power. As long as one is strong, connections will cling to them.
Those who pursue connections are always those who need something from others.
One doesn't even need connections—if one is overwhelmingly powerful, one can take anything at will; if not given, just rob or kill. What use are connections?
Such demonic thoughts, Fang Yuan naturally would not openly advocate.
However, since he had been disturbed, he might as well do some business.
So he spoke: "I can sell to you, but it's not impossible. One Vitality Leaf costs sixty-eight yuan stones. How many do you want?"
"Uh!" Gu Yue Ye outside the door was taken aback by this seller. He quickly said, "Young friend Fang Yuan, this price is too expensive."
Fang Yuan snorted coldly: "If it's too expensive, you don't have to buy. The family supplies also include Vitality Leaves for sale. You can also trade meritorious deeds for them."
Gu Yue Ye smiled bitterly: "Don't you think I know that? But those Vitality Leaves in the supplies are all sold to people with connections. The Medicine Hall Elder Gu Yue Yaoji has a stranglehold over this matter. How could I get involved? Young friend Fang Yuan, why not do me a favor, and I will surely repay you in the future. In my opinion, sixty yuan stones is a fair price."
"I never expect repayment from others. You have wasted enough of my time. Seventy yuan stones. If you don't buy, then leave," Fang Yuan replied.
Gu Yue Ye stomped his foot in anger: "Young friend Fang Yuan, what kind of business is this?"
Fang Yuan chuckled: "Times change. It's now seventy-two yuan stones. Every time you speak, I waste some time, and my displeasure makes me raise the price. I advise you to take heed."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yue Ye's face showed extreme fury. He wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth several times without managing to speak.
His old face flushed red and pale, which made Jiang Ya laugh inwardly.
Finally, Gu Yue Ye gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll buy. I need five Vitality Leaves."
"You can give the yuan stones to Jiang Ya now. As for the leaves, come to him in three days to collect them," Fang Yuan said.
This was also unreasonable: exchanging payment for goods on the spot is basic fairness.
But Gu Yue Ye still paid. Right there, he handed several bags of yuan stones to Jiang Ya.
His movements were faintly trembling—this was his meager savings, scrimped and saved over time. Now it was being squeezed out by an unscrupulous profiteer!
Finally, with endless frustration and resentment, he walked out of the bamboo building.
"Lord Fang Yuan, you really know how to settle a score! But I'm afraid you've offended Gu Yue Ye deeply. That old man, when he was young, would seek revenge for the smallest grievance. He probably won't let this go easily," Jiang Ya said cautiously outside the door.
"Let him be. An old man who presumes on his age will eventually be weeded out by the family," Fang Yuan said as he opened the door. Jiang Ya quickly handed over the money bag.
When a family resists a wolf tide, vast resources are consumed. With fewer resources, a large organization cannot sustain itself and must naturally downsize.
These old men, by living, waste precious resources and are destined to be phased out.
In a wolf pack, the old and weak are directly driven out. In human society, it's not done so blatantly; evil deeds are always coated with a veneer of righteousness. So they conscript these old Gu masters.
Even if Gu Yue Ye sees through this state of affairs, so what?
Within a system, one has no control over one's actions.
The family, invoking the great cause of protecting the clan, conscripts them and demands their sacrifice. Who dares to disobey?
There is a saying on Earth: "If the ruler wants the subject to die, the subject must die." Even one's own life and death cannot be controlled, yet countless people still vie to be officials. Such is the charm and cruelty of the system.
"After every wolf tide in history, how many of the old Gu masters who come out of retirement survive? This Gu Yue Ye, forget about five Vitality Leaves—even with fifty, he may not survive," Fang Yuan stood at the door, sneering.
Jiang Ya, hearing this tone, felt a chill in his heart.
He felt an aura about Fang Yuan, cold and icy, like a whistling north wind, making him afraid to lift his head.
Fang Yuan looked at Jiang Ya, his eyes deep and dark, and continued: "From now on, you are not to seek me out except at prescribed times. If you violate this, you will bear the consequences. Allowing you to act as my agent for selling Vitality Leaves is only out of respect for your brother. But respect is given and can also be lost. You must conduct yourself well."
Jiang Ya listened to Fang Yuan's reprimand and did not dare to make a sound. Thinking of Gu Yue Ye's miserable state, his forehead even beaded with cold sweat.
"Also, from now on, the price of Vitality Leaves will be raised to seventy yuan stones per leaf," Fang Yuan added.
"Seventy yuan stones?!" Jiang Ya swallowed in shock, his eyes lighting up as if seeing a stream of yuan stones flowing in.
But he also felt some fear and said cautiously: "Lord Fang Yuan, if we raise the price so openly, won't people think we are profiting from the war? Couldn't it be seen as taking advantage of the crisis? If we do this, I'm afraid it will incur public anger."
"Public anger? Hmph, what does that matter? I told you to do it, so do it. Where do these complaints come from? If someone causes trouble, just tell them I'm the one selling these Vitality Leaves," Fang Yuan snorted coldly.