"Hello, young Gu Master, is there a problem?" Jia Fu walked to the center of the crowd and asked amiably.
The young Gu Master was somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and bowed again. He glanced at the clansmen around him, then mustered his courage and revealed the whole matter completely.
"So that's how it is!" Jia Fu nodded after listening. He then asked Jia Jinsheng at the side, "Little brother, is there such a matter?"
Jia Jinsheng turned his head away, coldly snorted, and did not look at him.
Jia Fu began to ponder.
The surrounding crowd was entirely silent, not daring to disturb his thoughts, and also waiting expectantly for his judgment.
Speaking of this matter, overall it was still Jia Jinsheng's commercial fraud. But this young Gu Master also had faults; if his mind hadn't been blinded by greed, how could he have fallen for the trick?
If Jia Fu was determined to protect his younger brother, relying on his Rank four cultivation, even the Gu Yue clan leader could do nothing to him.
Jia Fu pondered for a long while and finally spoke: "I have understood this matter. The fault lies entirely with my brother, causing this little brother to suffer a loss and buy fake goods. I am truly sorry!" Saying so, he cupped his hands in a salute to the young Gu Master.
"Lord Jia Fu!" The young Gu Master was greatly surprised and hastily declined modestly, "You are a Rank four Gu Master, while I am merely Rank two. This absolutely cannot be done, it cannot be done!"
Jia Fu waved his hand: "Hehe, this matter has nothing to do with Gu Master cultivation. I have always dealt with the matter, not the person. A mistake is a mistake; I apologize to you, little brother, on behalf of the caravan. As for compensation, let's do this: you lost two hundred and fifty primeval stones, so on behalf of the Jia family, I will compensate you double."
He was as good as his word. Immediately, an attendant beside him took out five money bags and handed them to the young Gu Master in public.
Each money bag was fully bulging, containing exactly one hundred primeval stones.
Receiving the money bags, the young Gu Master was instantly so agitated that he couldn't say a word.
"But little brother, I, as an older brother, also have a word of advice for you." Jia Fu looked after him again, "The Black Boar Gu is extremely rare, capable of fundamentally increasing a Gu Master's strength. Although this kind of Gu is only Rank one, it is hard to find on the market. As soon as it appears on the market, it is often purchased immediately. The price is around six hundred primeval stones. Wanting to buy a Black Boar Gu with just over two hundred primeval stones is not very realistic."
"This junior has received your teachings!" The young Gu Master bowed deeply to Jia Fu in heartfelt admiration.
A burst of cheers came from the crowd.
"Lord Jia Fu is wise!"
"Amazing, as expected of Lord Jia Fu!"
"Being a Rank four Gu Master yet not bullying the weak, Lord Jia Fu is truly a paragon of the righteous path."
…
"Not at all, not at all." Jia Fu smiled beamingly, cupped his fists to all directions, and said modestly, "Our Jia family does business entirely based on honesty and integrity, treating the old and the young equally. Elders and fellow folks, this younger brother of mine is merely young and ignorant, fond of playing tricks on others, but his heart is actually kind. I hope everyone can be magnanimous, please be magnanimous."
The surrounding cheers became even more enthusiastic.
"Hmph!" Jia Jinsheng's face was ashen. He stamped his foot hatefully, turned around directly, and entered the tent. Then, passing through the tent, he walked out from the back curtain.
Fang Yuan watched coldly from the sidelines. Seeing this, his heart settled greatly: "It seems the shadow wall left by the Flower Wine Monk can be sold now."
The Flower Wine Monk used the Photo-audio Gu to record the ugly states of the four generation clan leaders of the Gu Yue clan.
Before dying, harboring resentment, he used this Photo-audio Gu and slapped it onto the stone cliff, forming a shadow wall.
The images on the shadow wall looped continuously, presenting the most authentic scene of that time to the world.
Adhering to the principle of maximizing profit, Fang Yuan had long thought of selling this shadow wall. He was certain that the other two families on Qing Mao Mountain: Bai village and Xiong village, would be very interested in this shadow wall.
But for him to personally sell this shadow wall was highly inappropriate. His cultivation was still too weak. Bringing the shadow wall to other villages would very likely result in him being silenced.
Even if the transaction was successful and he returned safely, there were no walls in the world that didn't leak wind. Once the news reached the higher-ups of the Gu Yue clan, at the very least, he would be expelled from the family.
According to Fang Yuan's plan, he still needed to utilize the Gu Yue clan right now.
Therefore, the safest method was to sell it to a certain merchant in the caravan. These merchants were outsiders, not participating in the power struggles of Qing Mao Mountain, making them the most ideal choice.
In one more day, this caravan would set off, leave Gu Yue village, head to Xiong village, and then Bai village.
By selling it to them, Fang Yuan could reduce the risk in the transaction to the minimum; it was the safest and most reliable method.
…
"Bring another cup of wine!"
"Wine, where's the wine?"
"Serve it up to me quickly, are you afraid this young master can't afford to pay?"
Jia Jinsheng slapped the mushroom table top vigorously, roaring from his mouth.
"Young Master Jia, your wine!" The shop assistant hastily served the wine.
Jia Jinsheng immediately grabbed the bamboo tube wine cup, tilted his neck back, and finished it in one gulp.
"Good wine!" He laughed loudly, his voice desolate and hoarse.
With a bang, he slammed the wine cup onto the table top and roared again: "Bring this master another cup, no, bring as many as you have!"
Naturally, the shop assistants in the tavern didn't dare to offend him and had to comply.
Fortunately, this tavern was already overcrowded. Not only was there a circle seated around the mushroom tables and stools, but even the surrounding aisles were packed with people. Jia Jinsheng acting crazy drunk and shouting loudly was not very prominent in this clamorous tent.
Jia Jinsheng drank cup after cup, wanting to drown his sorrows with alcohol. With his back to everyone, no one noticed that as he drank, two trails of clear tears flowed down.
Who could know his bitterness, who could know his sorrow?
A pitiful person must have a hateful aspect, and vice versa.
Everyone had their own story behind them.
Among his brothers, he was the youngest, the most handsome, and resembled his father the most, thus receiving his father's doting. But unfortunately, heaven played a trick on him, granting him merely D grade aptitude.
From childhood to adulthood, he lived under the suppression and marginalization of his older brothers. He was unwilling, he wanted to resist, but hindered by his aptitude, he couldn't do it.
His father felt his end was near and wanted to divide the family property. He let his sons each lead a caravan in pairs, promising to divide the family property according to their respective achievements.
Jia Jinsheng wanted to use his own methods to obtain family property and the family's recognition. But he hadn't expected to once again become his brother Jia Fu's stepping stone.
The moment Jia Fu appeared, he knew he had fallen into a trap again. This whole matter was a conspiracy from start to finish. But what could he do? Ever since joining this caravan, he had been firmly suppressed by Jia Fu. The massive gap between Rank four and Rank one rendered him even more powerless to fight.
"Jia Fu!" He squeezed this name through his teeth, the flames of hatred burning in his eyes, he was truly unwilling!
"Want to deal with your brother? I can help you." A voice fell into his ears right at this moment.
Jia Jinsheng was stunned for a moment. Turning his head to look, he found that at some point, a person was sitting beside him.
He shook his head a few times, blinked, and finally saw this person clearly.
If not Fang Yuan, who else?
"It's you!" He glared at Fang Yuan, somewhat irritated, "I remember you! Lucky kid, to actually open a Mud Skin Toad from my casino! Are you here to make a fool of me?"
Fang Yuan looked at Jia Fu, his gaze cold as water: "I have a big business deal. If you want to achieve better results and get a larger share of the family property, you might as well listen."
A look of surprise and doubt instantly appeared on Jia Jinsheng's face. He straightened his back and sat upright: "How do you know about the family property?"
This matter was kept secret; outsiders couldn't possibly know. Yet Fang Yuan had laid it bare with a single sentence.
"These messy affairs of the Jia family aren't some top secret, how can they be hidden from those in the world who pay attention?" Fang Yuan sneered, unable to help but recall the matters of his previous life from his memories.
The head of the Jia family was a legendary figure, starting from scratch, making his fortune through caravans, and revitalizing the Jia village. Growing old and feeling his end approaching, he had his children lead caravans in pairs, dividing his massive family property based on their achievements. Naturally, the better the achievement, the more property they would receive.
But his eldest son, Jia Fu, and second son, Jia Gui, were both extremely outstanding. They competed endlessly for six or seven years without a clear winner, remaining tied until the Jia family head died of old age without deciding a victor.
After the Jia family head died, he left behind an extremely massive amount of family property. Competing for the inheritance, Jia Fu and Jia Gui fought each other, escalating their internal conflict and bringing in foreign aid. This triggered a large-scale Gu battling tournament, ultimately leading to mutual destruction. The once powerful Jia village rapidly declined, leaving the world sighing with regret.
Jia Jinsheng narrowed his eyes, noncommittal to Fang Yuan's explanation. He secretly pondered: Father announced the rules for dividing the property last year; this is already the second year. There are no walls in the world that don't leak wind; it's not strange for this matter to leak out.
What he was truly worried about was whether this could be another trap set by Jia Fu. But regardless, there was no harm in listening first.
Fang Yuan did not speak immediately. He looked around; this tavern was exactly the one he had entered at noon. The tavern's manager ran it uniquely, and the nighttime business was almost bursting. The tent was noisy and overcrowded.
Talking here was actually safer than in a secluded place, able to avoid the eavesdropping of certain Gu worms.
He beckoned to Jia Jinsheng with his finger: "Lean your ear over."
Jia Jinsheng coldly snorted with displeasure, but his upper body still leaned over.
After listening to Fang Yuan's narration, his brows instantly furrowed tightly, cold light flashing in the gaze he directed at Fang Yuan: "This business involves the three major villages of Qing Mao Mountain. What we merchants taboo the most is getting involved in the internal struggles of local factions. Hmph, were you sent by Jia Fu to frame me?"
Fang Yuan had long anticipated he would have this suspicion. He didn't offer the slightest explanation, standing up to leave: "Hehe, since that's the case, then I'll just go talk to your brother."
Jia Jinsheng narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at Fang Yuan all along. It wasn't until Fang Yuan was about to walk out of the tavern that he finally couldn't sit still. Getting up to chase him out, he caught up to Fang Yuan outside the tent: "Don't leave, we can talk some more."
Fang Yuan put his hands behind his back, cast a sidelong glance at him, and said frostily: "I know you harbor some doubts about me, but right now you are suppressed to death by your brother, and are about to lose everything clean. If you believe me, there's still a sliver of hope; if you don't, there is no hope at all. It just depends on whether you dare to make this bet."
Jia Jinsheng's expression changed, and he corrected: "Jia Fu is just older, I have never admitted he is my brother! But you are right, I'll make this bet."
Fang Yuan said solemnly: "Two thousand primeval stones, non-negotiable."
Jia Jinsheng smiled bitterly: "This price is too high; this deal carries risks after all."
"The higher the risk, the higher the return." Fang Yuan shook his head, his attitude resolute, "If you sell it to those two villages, I guarantee you will earn much more."
Jia Jinsheng nodded, a trace of seriousness appearing on his face: "This point I do believe. In recent years, Bai village's strength has expanded very quickly, and they even produced an A grade genius named Bai Ning Bing, with great prospects. The power structure on Qing Mao Mountain is already gradually changing. The dominant position of your Gu Yue village has been shaken. If I sell it to the Bai family, I believe I can at least double my profit!"
Hearing Jia Jinsheng grasp the situation on Qing Mao Mountain so thoroughly, Fang Yuan couldn't help but re-evaluate him, thinking to himself: "This Jia Jinsheng, after all, has a background of birth and the influence of his family; he is not the kind of completely useless playboy."
Jia Jinsheng sighed: "Whether this time is a pitfall or not, I'm jumping in. I agree to your terms, deal at two thousand primeval stones! However, I need to see the goods first."
"As you should, come with me." Fang Yuan chuckled and immediately turned to lead the way. Jia Jinsheng had already entered the urn; everything was firmly within his grasp.