CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: GRACE

More money?

Chen Ku furrowed his brows. He had requested a White Ape, not a Spirit Ape. However, it wasn’t entirely the other party’s fault, as the ten days hadn’t yet passed. The hunters of Hunter’s Forest had captured a pair of Spirit Apes ahead of schedule, so they decided to ask him if he wanted something better...

This Spirit Ape might not even have been hunted by the hunter I commissioned, Chen Ku guessed. Perhaps some more formidable hunter captured it by chance, just when I needed one.

Comparing the White Ape with the Spirit Ape: the White Ape could be considered Ferocious Beast Level, while the Spirit Ape was Demon-level, having cultivated Demonic Qi.

Naturally, the Spirit Ape is more precious. Anyway, what I need is Evil Qi. If there’s a transformation later, of course, a Spirit Ape Transformation would be better than a White Ape Transformation...

But then he thought of his financial situation.

Chen Ku cautiously asked, "How much more money? What is the price for a Spirit Ape?"

Seeing Chen Ku take the bait, the clerk’s smile widened. "As a Demon-level beast, an adult Spirit Ape won’t cost less than six hundred taels of silver."

"Six hundred taels?" Chen Ku’s face darkened.

Even if I sold myself, I wouldn’t be worth six hundred taels. It’s true I just received one hundred and fifty taels in reward money a couple of days ago. Over this long period, my harvested Herbal Medicine, plus everything from that tiger, could sell for perhaps eighty to a hundred taels of silver. Additionally, the Tiger’s Head Ginseng I haven’t completely consumed yet is also valuable. But that means I’d have to spend my entire fortune, and it might still not be enough.

Noticing Chen Ku’s expression and inferring his financial straits, the clerk’s expression didn’t change; he maintained his shrewd, commercial smile and said, "Of course, that’s the price for an adult Spirit Ape. As you just heard, sir, this time we unexpectedly captured a mother and child pair of Spirit Apes. Although the young ape is small, it possesses a Demon bloodline and is quite spirited, unlike ordinary apes. However, since it’s only a juvenile, it naturally isn’t worth that much. So, if you are willing, sir, you could purchase the young ape for three hundred taels of silver."

Three hundred taels... I can indeed scrape that much silver together, Chen Ku thought.

While he was hesitating, he saw the clerk glance at something, his eyes lighting up. The clerk immediately apologized to Chen Ku and then hurried over, saying, "Young Master Jiang has arrived."

Chen Ku turned to look.

He saw a handsome young nobleman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, walking into Hunter’s Forest from outside. The nobleman held a fan, wore a jade thumb ring, and had a sachet hanging from his waist.

The key is, this person looks familiar. Chen Ku thought for a moment and recalled the young man’s identity. Isn’t he the young Owner of Tongwen House, one of those pushed in by several other major city factions on the day of the apprentices’ monthly assessment? He seems to be called Jiang Shaoyou.

Lately, he had joined the Jinshi Academy.

After Jiang Shaoyou entered, greeted by the clerk, he tapped his fan against his palm, smiling warmly, and said, "The efficiency of Hunter’s Forest is indeed impressive; just a month after I placed the order, they’ve already caught a Spirit Ape."

"How could we dare neglect Young Master Jiang’s affairs? Although Spirit Apes are not easy to hunt, Hunter’s Forest deployed three Inner Qi experts this time, and eventually, we captured them easily—a mother and child," the clerk replied with a respectful and smiling demeanor. "Just so, thinking you wanted the adult, we planned to offer the juvenile to someone else."

As he said this, he looked towards Chen Ku.

Jiang Shaoyou also turned to Chen Ku, showing slight surprise. "Junior Brother Chen Ku."

Chen Ku cupped his hands, not having expected the other party to remember him, and said, "Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Shaoyou came over, smiling, and said, "What ’Young Master’? We’re all apprentices of Medicine King Hall, so naturally, we’re martial brothers. Indeed, only our Medicine King Hall’s Martial Arts would require Spirit Apes."

So, this Spirit Ape was ordered by Jiang Shaoyou, Chen Ku realized, listening to the conversation between Jiang Shaoyou and the clerk.

Jiang Shaoyou looked between the clerk and Chen Ku, seeming to have understood something.

Approaching, he asked Chen Ku in a low voice, "What price did the clerk quote you?"

Chen Ku’s heart stirred, and he honestly replied, "Six hundred taels for the Great Ape, three hundred taels for the small one."

Jiang Shaoyou pondered for a moment and said, "They charge ordinary customers that much, but for me, they only charge five hundred taels. Do you know why?"

Chen Ku didn’t understand why the other was telling him this, but still asked, "Why?"

Jiang Shaoyou smiled and explained, "As a regular customer, I always get some special privileges. Esteemed establishments like Medicine King Hall, my Tongwen House, and several other major powers frequently purchase beasts from Hunter’s Forest. The more transactions we conduct, the cheaper the unit price becomes for us. That’s why there’s a ’Hunter’s Command’ token, which allows me to buy various beasts here at a discount."

Chen Ku exhaled. I see. It’s like a membership system.

"I’ll just say this, and if you’re unwilling or think otherwise, pretend I didn’t mention it..." Jiang Shaoyou drew even closer, whispering, "Since I enjoy a discount, why don’t we combine our orders? Buy this Spirit Ape together, and there will be no need for you to spend that extra money. If you are unwilling, then forget I said anything. What do you think?"

Chen Ku’s heart stirred. Six hundred taels down to five hundred... that’s a huge discount. Calculating it out, I can actually afford it. But he looked at Jiang Shaoyou and asked, "Why help me?"

Jiang Shaoyou laughed. "To make a friend."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ku pondered for a moment, then said, "Then, I’ll gladly take advantage of Senior Brother Jiang’s kind offer. It’s just, I don’t know if Hunter’s Forest can do this since I’ve already paid a deposit."

When he heard the words ’Senior Brother Jiang,’ Jiang Shaoyou smiled with satisfaction and said, "Leave that to me."

So, Chen Ku watched as Jiang Shaoyou walked towards the clerk. Clearly, the clerk looked somewhat troubled and glanced over at Chen Ku. Ultimately, Jiang Shaoyou must have said something persuasive, because the clerk ended up agreeing with a smile.

Soon, two apes were led out from the depths of Hunter’s Forest, confined in cages. They were covered in silver fur, their eyes gleaming, yet their expressions were fierce as they clutched the cage bars and roared.

Jiang Shaoyou walked over and laughed. "The bigger one is mine; the smaller one is yours. You just need to pay an additional one hundred and ninety taels, and Hunter’s Forest will personally deliver this ape to you."

One hundred and ninety taels... That’s acceptable, Chen Ku thought.

Chen Ku cupped his hands towards Jiang Shaoyou. "Senior Brother Jiang, for your help today, I shall definitely thank you properly in the future."

Jiang Shaoyou laughed. "We’re martial brothers; no need for such words. Alright, with the Spirit Ape in hand, we can both use it to practice our Cultivation Technique. Hopefully, our progress in our Cultivation Techniques will see a great improvement by the monthly assessment a month from now."

Chen Ku watched as Jiang Shaoyou left with the Great Ape, a thoughtful look in his eyes. No matter what, he did help me. I must remember this favor.

「At night, in Chen Ku’s courtyard.」

[A Spirit Ape intends to harm the Master. The Diagram Master kills it, obtaining Evil Qi...]

[Spirit Ape Juvenile Form (Ferocious Beast Level): Spiritually enlightened, greedy and lustful. Adept at climbing and fond of brewing. Feeds by Air Swallowing dew. Though not yet fully grown, its bloodline contains the ’Spirit Monkey Submission’ Talent. If allowed to mature naturally, it can become a powerful Demon.]

[Spirit Ape Transformation! Transform!]

[Shape Shifting Part: Ape Feet (Enables Mountain Climbing)]

[Nine more strands of Ferocious Beast Level Evil Qi are required to achieve the second Shape-Shifted layer.]

[Thirty-six more strands of Ferocious Beast Level Evil Qi are required to achieve the third layer of Transform.]

Chen Ku felt the changes in his feet. My grip on the ground seems to have strengthened more than tenfold. I feel that if I were to practice the Spirit Ape Stance now, I’d instantly enter the right state of mind. But I don’t want Ape Feet. I want the Spirit Ape’s breathing. For that, I’ll need at least nine strands of Ferocious Beast Level Evil Qi to manifest the young ape’s abilities...

Chen Ku’s eyes flickered. Starting tomorrow, I’ll ask Master Ke to give me the chance to slaughter Ferocious Beasts. I’ve now cultivated Force Power. With maximum enhancement, I possess over four thousand catties of strength. In terms of power, having passed the Fierce Tiger’s test, I’m now qualified to slaughter Ferocious Beasts.