“Hello, young Gu Master. Is there a problem?” Jia Fu walked to the center of the crowd and asked warmly.
The young Gu Master felt flattered and bowed again. He looked at his clansmen, took a deep breath, and spilled everything in one go.
“So that’s how it is!” Jia Fu nodded after listening. He turned to ask Jia Jinsheng, “Little brother, is it really like this?”
Jia Jinsheng turned his head away, snorted coldly, and refused to look at him.
Jia Fu sunk into contemplation.
The crowd grew silent, not daring to disturb his thoughts. They were all eagerly waiting for his judgment.
Fundamentally speaking, this was Jia Jinsheng’s business fraud. However, the young Gu Master also carried some fault. If greed hadn’t clouded his mind, Section 45: Seeing Through the Schemes, Already Caught in the Snare, how could he have fallen for it?
If Jia Fu insisted on protecting his brother, relying on his Rank Four cultivation, even the Gu Yue clan leader would be helpless.
Jia Fu pondered for a long time before speaking. “I understand the matter now. The fault lies entirely with my brother, causing this young friend to suffer a loss. Buying fake goods is truly unacceptable!” Saying this, he cupped his hands in apology to the young Gu Master.
“Lord Jia Fu!” The young Gu Master was shocked and quickly waved his hands. “You are a Rank Four Gu Master, while I’m merely Rank Two. This isn’t right, I can’t accept this!”
Jia Fu waved his hand dismissively. “Hehe, this has nothing to do with Gu Master ranks. I’ve always judged right and wrong based on the matter itself, not the person involved. Wrong is wrong. On behalf of the merchant caravan, I apologize to you. As for compensation, you lost two hundred and fifty Primeval Stones. On behalf of the Jia family, I will compensate you double.”
He was true to his word. His attendant immediately took out five money pouches and handed them to the young Gu Master in front of everyone.
Each pouch was plump and filled with a hundred Primeval Stones.
The young Gu Master took the pouches and was so moved that he couldn’t say a word.
“But young friend, this old brother has a piece of advice for you, Section 45: Seeing Through the Schemes, Already Caught in the Snare,” Jia Fu added. “The Black Boar Gu is very rare. It can fundamentally increase a Gu Master’s strength. Although it is only Rank One, it’s hard to find on the market. It’s bought up as soon as it appears. The price is usually around six hundred Primeval Stones. Buying one for just over two hundred stones is not realistic.”
“I am honored to receive your teachings!” The young Gu Master bowed deeply to Jia Fu out of heartfelt respect.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
“Lord Jia Fu is wise!”
“Incredible! Worthy of being Lord Jia Fu!”
“As a Rank Four Gu Master who doesn’t bully the weak, Lord Jia Fu is truly a paragon of the righteous path!”
...
“Not at all, not at all.” Jia Fu smiled, cupping his hands to the crowd in humility. “Our Jia family's business has always been based on honesty, cheating neither old nor young. Dear villagers, my brother is just young and ignorant and likes to make fools of others, but he is kind at heart. I hope you can be tolerant and forgiving, everyone!”
The cheers grew even louder.
“Hmph!” Jia Jinsheng’s face turned green. He stamped his foot in anger, turned around, and went straight into the tent. He then passed through the tent and exited through the back flap.
Fang Yuan watched coldly from the side and felt a great sense of relief. “It seems the Shadow Wall left by the Flower Wine Traveler is ready to be sold.”
The Flower Wine Traveler used an Image-and-Sound Recording Gu to capture the shameful scene of the fourth generation Gu Yue clan leader.
Before his death, holding a grudge, he activated this Gu, slapping it onto a stone wall, forming a Shadow Wall.
The images on the Shadow Wall played in an endless loop, showing the world the most truthful scene of that time.
Following the principle of maximizing benefits, Fang Yuan had long wanted to sell this Shadow Wall. He was certain that the other two settlements on Qing Mao Mountain, the Bai Family Settlement and the Xiong Family Settlement, would be very interested in it.
However, having him personally sell it was very inappropriate. His cultivation was too weak. If he went to another settlement carrying the Shadow Wall, he might very likely be killed for it.
Even if the transaction succeeded and he safely returned, walls have ears. If news leaked to the upper echelons of the Gu Yue clan, at the very least, he would be expelled from the clan.
According to Fang Yuan’s plan, he still needed the protection of the Gu Yue clan for now.
Therefore, the safest method was to sell it to one of the merchants in the caravan. These merchants were outsiders, uninvolved in the power struggles of Qing Mao Mountain, and were the most ideal choice.
In another day, this merchant caravan would set off, leaving the Gu Yue Village, heading to the Xiong Family Settlement, and then the Bai Family Settlement.
Selling it to them would minimize the risks for Fang Yuan, making it the safest and most secure method.
...
“Another drink!”
“Wine! Where is my wine?”
“Bring it to me now! Afraid I won’t pay your boss?”
Jia Jinsheng pounded heavily on the mushroom table, shouting loudly.
“Young Master Jia, your wine!” The waiter quickly served the wine.
Jia Jinsheng grabbed the bamboo cup, tilted his head back, and downed it in one go.
“Good wine!” He laughed heartily, his voice desolate and hoarse.
*Bang!* He slammed the cup onto the table and roared again, “Pour me another! No, bring it all, just keep bringing it!”
The waiter in the tavern naturally didn’t dare to offend him and had to comply.
Fortunately, the tavern was packed. Not only were the mushroom tables and stools surrounded, but even the aisles were crowded with people. Jia Jinsheng was throwing a drunken tantrum, shouting and yelling, but amidst the din in this packed tent, it wasn’t particularly conspicuous.
Jia Jinsheng drank cup after cup, trying to drown his sorrows. His back was to everyone, and no one noticed the two streams of tears flowing silently down his face.