CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 155 MYSTERIOUS JEWELRY MERCHANT (FIFTH UPDATE)

The quick reflexes of Jiang Yuan’s mind were matched by his body’s even quicker reactions, as he tried to dodge aside from the reckless onslaught.

Hu Jiu, with a face full of smiles and inward joy, was expecting a "heroic rescue of a beauty" scene to unfold. Little did she expect the young gentleman to avoid her as if she were something filthy; she couldn’t stop herself in time and instinctively reached out to grab his cloak as she began to fall uncontrollably.

Everything happened in a split second. Despite Jiang Yuan’s rapid evasion, the proximity was just too close. Although she couldn’t grab his cloak and fell with a splat, her delicate jade-like hand brushed against him lightly.

In that less than a second, a gust of wind lifted a gap in Jiang Yuan’s cloak, and a familiar scent rushed directly into Hu Jiu’s sensitive fox nose.

"Thud!"

She hit the ground hard, stunned to the point where she couldn’t even cry out in surprise. Her eyes full of disbelief, she watched as the young gentleman gathered up his cloak and vanished into the twisted cluster of shadows.

Hu Jiu couldn’t calm her emotions for a long time. Ignoring the pain from her fall, she scrambled to her feet and dashed toward her family’s cloth shop.

"Xiao Ba! Xiao Ba, open the cabinet for me, quick!" Her voice preceded her as she rushed in.

"My dear Ninth Mistress, could you keep it down!" Xiao Ba peeked out from behind the embroidered curtain, a hand raised to her lips in a silencing gesture. "You’re always shouting for the cabinet to be opened. What if someone hears!"

"So what if they hear? Hurry up, I’ve got something urgent, open it now!" She ran upstairs, her long skirt trailing behind her.

Xiao Ba pouted helplessly, grabbing a rope with her other hand and pulling it down.

In Hu Jiu’s upstairs room, a secret cabinet opened. She darted inside, grabbed an intricate wooden box from the deepest compartment, and opened it. With trembling hands, she rubbed a Communication Stone smooth as jade, and spoke in a low voice, "Third Sister, today at the market I caught a whiff of the aura you left behind!

It’s definitely related to the goods the Lady lost! It’s exactly the same scent I caught on that human young gentleman. What do I do now?"

This Communication Stone was a Supreme Treasure highly valued by her Third Sister. If not for the urgent need to convey the information immediately, she would be reluctant to use it. Its energy was limited; each use consumed a portion, and once exhausted, it would turn into dust and disperse.

Having informed her Third Sister, she was now deeply disheartened. She had painstakingly chosen a dual cultivation partner to her satisfaction, and yet... he was somehow connected to the Lady’s stolen goods.

Recalling the Foundation Establishment Pill that suddenly appeared last night, Hu Jiu’s expression grew serious—Third Sister hadn’t divulged exactly what essential goods were lost; only that they bore the Lady’s scent. Could it be precious Elixirs?

But yesterday’s Foundation Establishment Pill hadn’t borne any identifiable scent. What exactly was lost?

Judging from the faint detection of the scent, the young gentleman must have it with him, probably stored in his Storage Bag. Known for their beauty and keen sense of smell, the Snow Mountain Fox Race remains entrusted by the Lady to track the lost goods under the direction of Third Sister.

Thanks to her keen sense of smell, Hu Jiu could accurately tail targets amidst a bunch of shadows. After thinking it over, she grabbed a cloak from her wardrobe to disguise her form, intending to circle the Black Market again, hoping to find the young gentleman and keep an eye on him before Third Sister arrived!

Even though the other party was her long-desired ideal dual cultivation partner, between a man she never met before and her dear sister and the Snow Mountain Fox Race’s protector, Lady Yin Mountain, Hu Jiu clearly knew which held more weight.

Changing her attire and setting off again, she soon followed the distinctive scent exclusive to the human young gentleman. He was standing in a corner examining the spices being sold.

[Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance: Also known as Dragon Urine, an animal fragrance with a unique scent, usable in medicine and incense making.]

[Agarwood: A traditional fragrance, usable in medicine and incense making.]

[Imitation Celestial Frost Fragrance: Fake goods]

[Imitation Nine Nether Fragrant Jade: Fake goods]

...

"These are the finest spices I have, perfect for either incense making or alchemy!" The vendor, with a small wooden box hung around his neck, enthusiastically introduced the expensive Spirit Plant Herbs to him.

Jiang Yuan’s system already auto-locked and identified the dozen or so spices in the box; apart from two real, rare, and valuable spice varieties, the rest of those fragrant Spirit Plants were all fake, yet they dared to demand two to three hundred Spirit Stones each.

"What’s the price for these two?" he asked, searching for the ’Night Acacia’ raw material, which didn’t include Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance and Agarwood, but since he found real goods, if the price was right, he’d buy them, sure they’d be useful later.

The vendor, eager to promote the fake Spirit Plants, frowned upon finding his interest was in seemingly mundane goods devoid of Spiritual Energy, assuming his customer had no expertise. "Sir, these two spices merely have distinctive aromas, lacking any trace of Spiritual Energy, unusable in medicine. Look at this Nine Nether Fragrant Jade, full of Spiritual Ener—"

"I want them to scent my clothes. Why would I need Spirit Plant Herbs with Spiritual Energy for that?" Jiang Yuan, annoyed by the slick sales pitch, interrupted, "Are you selling or not? If not, I’ll check elsewhere."

"Five thousand Gold Coins!" The vendor lowered the price slightly, lowering his tone, and said, "A bit cheaper for you, make a sale tonight."

In the real world, five thousand wouldn’t even buy about five grams of artificially cultivated goods. This piece of Agarwood, although only Mahjong-sized, was top-quality, naturally formed. Coupled with a white piece of Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance the size of a walnut, it was a jackpot!

But Jiang Yuan didn’t whip out his money just yet. Buying and selling always involved bargaining, something he wasn’t good at, so he resorted to his usual method, "Make it cheaper."

If the other retorted, "Can’t go any cheaper, yada yada yada," he’d be at a loss.

Nurtured from a young age, he never learned his mom’s bargaining skills, preferring online shopping or supermarkets where prices were fixed and haggling was unnecessary.

"Forty-eight hundred, can’t go lower. Despite lacking Spiritual Energy, these still gather Essence of Heaven and Earth, especially this Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance—it’s a rare find dredged from the sea, fit for an Imperial Palace!"

Jiang Yuan employed his ultimate tactic and stepped back slightly as if contemplating departure.

"Forty-five hundred, no less!"

"Deal!"

Money handed over, goods received—the two spices, worth a fortune in the real world, were now in his Storage Bag.

The vendor, pocketing the money, beamed with joy and shouted loudly, "Herbs for alchemy, this discerning guest has an eye for quality. All my goods are genuine, come take a look!"

"Someone really bought some? Are they genuine?"

"Let’s go see, it might be true merchandise."

...

Naturally, many shadows surrounding them gathered around to catch the excitement of the deal.

Jiang Yuan suddenly realized the vendor had dropped the price for the opening sale to attract more customers and lower their guard; with even one gullible enough, he’d hit the jackpot.

As for those two spices, they might not hold much value in a Cultivator’s eyes.

[Mysterious Jewelry Merchant: Randomly appears in various markets; if you’re interested in buying jewelry, you could ask him.]

Scanning the distorted shadows of the Black Market, the system abruptly highlighted "Mysterious Jewelry Merchant" in large, conspicuous characters atop a certain shadow’s head. Thanks to this obvious marker, Jiang Yuan didn’t even need to follow intentionally, quickly reaching the merchant.

"Care for some jewelry, sir?" The merchant’s voice, old yet gentle, asked as he unfurled his cloak to reveal rows of dazzling jewelry and ornaments.

[Exquisite Sapphire Necklace, wearable]

[A high-quality creation by an Artifact Refining Master, sold by the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant; cannot be upgraded. Attack Power +800, Speed +80, Critical Strike +65%]

[Exquisite Diamond Ring, wearable]

[... Attack Power +1000, Speed +100, Critical Strike +45% ...]