The narrator apologizes for the unstable updates due to a recent vacation, promising to make up for lost time.
...
Xu Mu had originally intended to use the Ye family's saber to calculate the price. However, fearing exposure, he substituted it with the root of a Red Spider Lily.
But even the root could easily reveal his identity.
Manager Liang held the root of the Red Spider Lily for a long time, as if recalling something. He then asked nervously in a low voice, "Is your name, esteemed guest, Xu Mu?"
Hearing this, Xu Mu's eyebrows twitched slightly. He then replied calmly, "Why, do all people dressed like this go by the name Xu Mu?"
Manager Liang fell silent, shook his head, and then gritted his teeth. He took out a section of root from his pocket. It was indeed the root of a Red Spider Lily.
Xu Mu looked surprised.
"This thing was given to me by an old friend in Black Horn City. He said it could help one comprehend the Great Dao of Death." Manager Liang smiled at Xu Mu. "He didn't say who gave it to him, but I suspect it's related to that Xu Mu. It's the only major event that has happened in Black Horn City these past few years."
"And now, a young man dressed exactly like the rumored Xu Mu appears with this item. Do you think I shouldn't be suspicious of your identity?"
"Suspicion is warranted, but without concrete proof, it's best not to speak rashly." As Xu Mu spoke, the Qilin in his embrace yawned, its sharp claws extending from its fluffy forelimbs.
Manager Liang's expression immediately changed. He remembered the rumors of the Ye family guard who was burned to death by a burst of flame from the white tiger cub that Xu Mu carried.
His own strength was only at the intermediate stage of the fourth level. Although he could defeat most people at the upper level, his strength was far inferior to that of the Ye family guard. If Xu Mu truly intended to kill him, he would be dead in the next second!
"Fortunately, this is the Silver and Gold Trading House." Manager Liang's heart settled a little as he thought this. He looked at Xu Mu's cold eyes and smiled, "Rest assured, esteemed guest, our Silver and Gold Trading House only values profit."
"Since you are willing to exchange this large section of root, which can help comprehend the Great Dao of Death, for these metals, why would I reveal your secret?"
Xu Mu was silent for a moment.
"Is this your price for keeping my secret?"
"This is your price for me to keep your secret," Manager Liang said, feeling a twinge of nervousness.
With such a huge profit in front of him, even at the risk of death, he had to try. He had to swindle Xu Mu this once.
After all, he had spent 350,000 gold ingots, nearly emptying his coffers, for that small section of root. Now, with such a large section in front of him, after deducting the cost of the metals, he would profit at least two million gold ingots. He had to try!
"I hope you will keep your word." Xu Mu remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand, collecting all the metals before him into his spatial ring. Manager Liang felt a great weight lift from his heart.
"Heh heh, rest assured, old Liang always knows how to keep his mouth shut."
Xu Mu nodded, then turned and left. At the same time, he used his peripheral vision to etch every detail of the Silver and Gold Trading House's warehouse into his memory.
"If there's a chance, I'll pull off a big score here," Xu Mu murmured. Charles cheered excitedly, "Yay!"
...
After exiting the warehouse, Xu Mu did not immediately go upstairs to find Jiang Sheng. Instead, in front of Manager Liang, he collected all the ordinary weapons on the first floor into his spatial ring.
"Hey, what are you doing!" The guards here immediately approached with an imposing demeanor.
"Manager Liang won't begrudge me these trivial items, will he?" Xu Mu asked indifferently.
"Heh heh, it's just small change." Manager Liang narrowed his eyes. Xu Mu's actions were undoubtedly an attempt to recoup some losses, but compared to what he had just obtained, this was nothing.
"Everyone, stand down. This is an esteemed guest of our Silver and Gold Trading House, and he has already paid." Manager Liang called out loudly. The menacing guards faltered, then respectfully stepped aside.
"Who is this person? Why is he buying so many ordinary weapons?"
"I don't know, but he seems to have just come out of the main vault. His status should not be low. We should not provoke him."
A group of onlookers whispered amongst themselves. Xu Mu's expression remained calm. After giving Manager Liang one last glance, he turned and went up the stairs.
...
Upon reaching the third floor, Xu Mu was immediately enveloped by the rich aroma of herbs.
Before he could even look for Jiang Sheng, several figures moving at extreme speed flashed past him. Among them, he recognized one.
"Ye Han." Xu Mu identified the young man standing in the middle. It was indeed Ye Han.
Xu Mu frowned slightly. Meeting members of the Ye family just by buying some materials was truly bad luck.
But what were they rushing to do?
Xu Mu squinted, then quickly saw the group stealthily approaching Jiang Sheng, who was buying herbs.
The space magic bag, filled with life-saving money, was hanging from Jiang Sheng's waist. Then, as Ye Han deliberately stumbled and bumped into Jiang Sheng, his accomplice, with extreme speed, snatched Jiang Sheng's money bag.
"Who is it, not watching where you're going!" Jiang Sheng shouted angrily, clutching his head as he stood up.
"Young Master Jiang, don't get so angry. It's me." Ye Han got up with a cold smirk. He exchanged glances with the person beside him, confirming the successful theft. His smirk then turned into a triumphant grin.
Qian Qian stood to the side, his eyes warily scanning Ye Han and his companions. He then noticed that one of them had a space magic bag in his hand, which flashed by.
Looking behind Jiang Sheng, the space magic bag had already vanished.
"They stole your money," Qian Qian said calmly, stopping Jiang Sheng's outburst.
Jiang Sheng's face paled with shock. He frantically patted his lower back. Upon discovering the money bag was truly gone, his eyes immediately turned blood red.
"Ye Han, you bastard, give me back my space magic bag! That's my mother's life-saving money!" Jiang Sheng grabbed Ye Han's collar and roared.
The next moment, he was kicked several meters away, knocking over numerous medicine racks.
*Bang!*
The toppling medicine racks startled many esper users.
"Who dares to cause trouble here? Don't you want to live!" A hoarse voice rang out as an elder slowly approached, exuding a Fourth Level pressure that sent shivers down one's spine.
"I am Ye Han of the Ye family. He provoked me first, and I was merely defending myself. Everyone else here can testify for me," Ye Han said, cupping his fists towards the elder.
Upon hearing that it was someone from the Ye family, the elder's expression softened considerably.
"Youngster, why are you causing trouble in the Silver and Gold Trading House? Don't you know that fighting is strictly prohibited here!" the elder sternly rebuked Jiang Sheng.
"We are from the Jiang family. This Ye Han stole our space magic bag, and we were merely retaliating," Qian Qian said earnestly, helping Jiang Sheng up from the ground.
"Yes, that's my mother's life-saving money. Ye Han, you'd better return it to me quickly!" Jiang Sheng grunted, standing up and shouting.
"The Jiang and Ye families." The elder's brow furrowed upon hearing this. He was well aware of the animosity between the two families and did not wish to get involved.
Since the incident had already occurred, he would have to make a fair judgment.
"Since you claim he stole your space magic bag, I ask you, do you have any evidence?" the elder asked Jiang Sheng.
"The space magic bag I had on my waist was there just moments ago. After he bumped into me, it was gone. Isn't that enough evidence?" Jiang Sheng asked, his eyes wide.
Qian Qian, standing beside him, looked exasperated. He quickly pulled his mentally challenged brother behind him and cupped his fists. "Reporting to senior, I personally witnessed the person next to Ye Han holding our space magic bag just now. I implore you to investigate."
"Oh, really?" The elder let out a cold laugh, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the person beside Ye Han, appraising him. He then turned away and shook his head. "I did not see any magic bag."
"Your testimony cannot be considered evidence."
"You didn't see it, but did he not steal it? Can't you search him?" Jiang Sheng shouted angrily. The elder frowned again and said sternly, "Youngster, I don't care who you are from the Jiang family, this is the Silver and Gold Trading House, and it is not a place for you to run wild!"
"If you have no evidence, do not cause a scene here. I am giving your Jiang family some face; I hope you do not misjudge the situation!"
"Yes, Jiang Sheng, what does your mother's death have to do with me? If you have no money, don't take medicine. You can't just rob people, can you?" Ye Han said mockingly.
Jiang Sheng suppressed his rage and shouted at Ye Han, "Ye Han, I'm telling you one last time, return my belongings."
"Otherwise, I will risk my life to kill you!"
"You, a mere nobody from a collateral branch, dare to boast like that? Do you even know where you are!" Ye Han retorted sharply.
"I would like to see who you intend to kill in the Silver and Gold Trading House," the Fourth Level elder said with a cold snort, his confidence bolstered by Jiang Sheng's status as a collateral relative.
"This matter has been judged. Since you asked me to preside over justice, and I did not see anyone from the Ye family steal your belongings, then naturally, nothing was stolen. If you continue to make a fuss, do not blame me for being impolite!"
"You didn't see it, so it didn't happen?" Just as Jiang Sheng and Qian Qian were about to speak, a familiar young voice suddenly came from behind the elder.
The two looked up and saw the person who had a deep connection with the Nangong clan, the powerful prodigy, Mu Xu.
"Who are you?" The elder, startled by the voice, immediately turned around and met Xu Mu's gaze.
"You don't need to know who I am. You just need to answer my question," Xu Mu said softly, his eyes calmly fixed on the elder.
"Yes, I didn't see it, so it didn't happen. Is there a problem with that?" The elder, sensing Xu Mu's extraordinary aura, suppressed his anger and replied.
"Is that so? Then did you see me appear behind you just now?" Xu Mu asked indifferently.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" The elder frowned, his impatience growing.
"I mean, you didn't see me appear behind you, but I am indeed here. So please answer me, does something that you didn't see truly exist?" Xu Mu asked.
The elder's expression and movements stiffened. His face then turned instantly grim.
"How dare you, you young brat! Don't try any rhetorical tricks with me. If you have the ability, then produce the evidence of them stealing!"
"Yes, if you cannot provide evidence, you will have to pay the price!" Ye Han and the others said fiercely, looking at Xu Mu.
"Evidence? I have none, but my eyes are evidence," Xu Mu said, pointing at the person next to Ye Han. "I saw you steal his belongings. Hand it over."
The person looked at Xu Mu with a mocking expression. "I didn't steal it, and I won't hand it over. What can you do to me?"
Hearing this, Xu Mu glanced at the elder, then his body flashed forward, kicking the person several meters away. Along the way, he knocked over many medicine racks, raising a cloud of dust.
"What can I do? Just kill you."
...