259: Chapter 257 Protection

Seeing that Yun Ming ignored them, the two of them...

scanned the shop once more and stopped simultaneously.

The woman snapped her folding fan shut, tapped it twice against her palm, and narrowed her eyes slightly.

The man stood with his arms crossed, his gaze slowly sweeping across the shelves, his brow twitching imperceptibly.

The shop was not large, and there weren't many items on the shelves, but every single one of them exuded an air of the extraordinary.

The row of Medicinal Pills near the entrance, ranging from the first to the fourth grade, was arranged neatly in various bottles and jars. The fourth-grade Xuan Ying Pills and Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pills were of excellent quality; their fragrance could be smelled even through the stoppers.

Both the Vermilion Tower and the Shanhai Society had their own Alchemists, but even they couldn't produce many fourth-grade Medicinal Pills of such quality.

The woman walked over to the Magical Artifact shelf and picked up a Flying Sword. The blade was entirely azure with wave-like patterns on its spine; it was a Third-grade High Grade artifact with an awe-inspiring Sword Intent. She then picked up a small tripod with three legs and two handles, its body engraved with intricate formation patterns. It was a fourth-grade Low Grade artifact that combined offense and defense. Her eyes brightened further.

The man walked over to the Materials shelf. He picked up a fist-sized Ore that was entirely crimson with golden patterns on its surface, feeling slightly hot in his hand. His pupils contracted slightly. This was Crimson Flame Gold Crystal, a fourth-grade High Grade Artifact Refining material. He had seen it in the Shanhai Society's warehouse; there were only two pieces, locked away in the deepest treasure chest by President Qian.

To think there was one here, just casually placed on a shelf. He then picked up a petal as large as a palm, pure white with a faint golden glow at the edges. His fingers paused slightly—the petal of an ancient spirit flower, fourth-grade High Grade. The Shanhai Society had nothing like this. He set the petal down and picked up a Yao Beast horn, a foot long and curved like a hook, pitch-black and emitting a cold glint. Fourth-grade Low Grade, specifically for breaking Restrictions.

Many things were also available at the Shanhai Society, but their quality wasn't as good as those here.

And some things, the Shanhai Society didn't have at all.

The man turned his head to look at Yun Ming. The woman also turned around, her folding fan tapping gently against her palm.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same realization in each other's eyes—this shop was not simple.

This shopkeeper was even less simple.

He truly was someone who could survive that ruthless Zhao Shisan.

"Shopkeeper," the man spoke first, his voice deep with a rugged quality, "is everything in this shop yours?"

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, holding a teacup. "Yes."

The man nodded and didn't press further. He took out a token from his robe and placed it on the counter. The token was made of iron, with the character for 'Mountain' engraved on the front and a wave on the back. "Shanhai Society, under President Qian. My surname is Bai, given name Shan. Shopkeeper, a pleasure to meet you."

The woman also took out a token and placed it alongside. The token was copper, with the character for 'Vermilion' on the front and a blooming peony on the back. "Vermilion Tower, under Madam Liu. My surname is Liu, given name Ruxu. Shopkeeper, I have heard much about you."

Yun Ming said nothing.

Liu Ruxu placed her folding fan on the counter, crossed her hands, and leaned forward slightly to look at Yun Ming. "Shopkeeper, let's not beat around the bush. You've offended Zhao Shisan. Zhao Shisan is the cousin of the Xuanming Hall Master. The Zhao family has operated within Xuanming Hall for many years and is deeply rooted. You made him lose so much Face today; he won't let it slide. So many fine treasures are about to gather dust or even change hands."

Bai Shan nodded and took over. "Zhao Shisan is narrow-minded and vindictive. You are alone, with only a young disciple at the Qi Refining Stage and a Nine-Tailed Fox. In a place like Tianyuan City, you might be able to block the Zhao family once, but not ten times. Xuanming Hall has operated in Tianyuan City for over a century and is deeply entrenched. As an outsider Loose Cultivator, how can you compete with them?"

Yun Ming took a sip of tea and set the cup down. "And so?"

Liu Ruxu and Bai Shan exchanged a look. Liu Ruxu spoke first. "So, you need a backer. Shopkeeper, you should have heard of the Vermilion Tower's reputation." Bai Shan followed immediately, "The same goes for the Shanhai Society. President Qian said that if you are willing, the Shanhai Society can provide you with protection."

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping gently on the table. "Protection? On what conditions?"

Liu Ruxu smiled. It was a faint smile, carrying a certain confident, victory-in-hand composure.

"The condition is simple. Hand over that Nine-Tailed Fox of yours to the Vermilion Tower."

She paused. "During the Longevity Festival, the Princess Royal is collecting rare and exotic beasts. The Vermilion Tower wants to present the Nine-Tailed Fox to the Princess Royal to gain her favor. Don't worry, you won't be mistreated. Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts—just name your price, and the Vermilion Tower won't haggle."

Bai Shan shook his head and cut in.

"The Shanhai Society doesn't just want your Nine-Tailed Fox. We also want priority purchasing rights for the Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts in your shop in the future. The price is negotiable. Furthermore, the Shanhai Society can provide you with protection, and not just on the Heavenly Street. If you run into trouble anywhere in Tianyuan City, the Shanhai Society can intervene. We will protect your shop and your disciple. Our terms are much more generous than those of the Vermilion Tower."

Liu Ruxu's smile didn't change, but the light in her eyes grew a bit colder.

"Brother Bai, don't you understand the rule of 'first come, first served'?"

Bai Shan glanced at her. "In the world of business, there is no 'first come, first served.' There is only who offers better terms."

The two stared at each other for several breaths, a subtle sense of confrontation filling the air.

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, watching them, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop.

"Are you finished?" he spoke. Both looked at him simultaneously. "The terms sound good, but I accept neither."

Liu Ruxu's fan stopped for a moment. Bai Shan's brow furrowed slightly.

"Shopkeeper, won't you reconsider?" Liu Ruxu's voice lowered slightly. "The protection offered by the Vermilion Tower isn't something just anyone can get. Madam Liu herself spoke; this is a huge amount of Face."

Bai Shan added, "The same goes for the Shanhai Society. President Qian said that as long as you nod your head, you can walk through Tianyuan City without fear, and no one will dare stop you."

Yun Ming shook his head. "My fox is not for sale. Not for giving away. Not for lending. Not for exchange. No matter what terms you offer, I will not hand her over to anyone. She is my friend, not a piece of merchandise."

The shop fell silent for a moment.

Liu Ruxu and Bai Shan exchanged a look, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

This was the first time they had seen someone in Tianyuan City who offended Xuanming Hall while simultaneously rejecting both the Vermilion Tower and the Shanhai Society.

Bai Shan was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on the treasures on the shelves, before he suddenly spoke. "Shopkeeper, let's set aside the matter of the fox for now. Regarding the items in your shop—I would like to make some trades with you. The Shanhai Society has some Materials that can't be bought on the market. Likewise, many of the things you have here are not in the Shanhai Society's possession. Even if the deal fails, friendship remains; we can cooperate in another way."

Liu Ruxu's eyes also brightened. She had been so focused on the fox that she almost forgot the value of the shop itself. A Loose Cultivator who could produce so many high-level treasures and an Alchemist who could refine fourth-grade High Grade Xuan Ying Pills was a massive resource in himself.

"Shopkeeper," Liu Ruxu spread her fan and fanned herself gently, "Brother Bai is right. If you're unwilling regarding the fox, we won't force it. But the Vermilion Tower is also interested in the Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts in your shop. In the future, if you have any good items, save a portion for the Vermilion Tower first. The price is negotiable."

Yun Ming looked at the two of them. One from the Shanhai Society, one from the Vermilion Tower—both were local powers in Tianyuan City. There was no harm in maintaining good relations with them.

"Very well," he said. "In the future, if there are good items, I will notify you first. But there is one rule—fair trade, no credit, and no price-gouging. If we can agree, we do business; if not, we part ways."

Bai Shan nodded. "Fine. The Shanhai Society's business rule is honesty for all." Liu Ruxu also closed her fan. "The same for the Vermilion Tower."

Yun Ming took out his shendu token from his sleeve and placed it on the counter. Bai Shan and Liu Ruxu also took out their own tokens. The three tokens touched lightly, a faint light flashed, and transmission information was inscribed into each other's tokens.

Bai Shan put away his token and cupped his hands toward Yun Ming. "Shopkeeper, until we meet again." Liu Ruxu also nodded slightly to Yun Ming. "Shopkeeper, farewell."

The two turned and walked out of the shop one after the other.

The door curtain fell, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded, disappearing into the bustle outside.

The shop grew quiet. Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, holding the cup of tea that had already gone cold. He looked down at the tea, its dark color reflecting his own Face. The Vermilion Tower and the Shanhai Society had both come. Their target wasn't him, but Xue Ji. A Nine-Tailed Fox, a rare and exotic beast—there wasn't a second one to be found in Tianyuan City. They wanted to use Xue Ji to curry favor with the Princess Royal. The terms offered were good, but he wasn't interested. Xue Ji was not a piece of merchandise, not a bargaining chip for exchange. She was his friend. From Qingyao City to Tianyuan City, from human form to fox form, she had always been by his side. He would not hand her over to anyone.

He stood up, walked to the door, lifted the curtain, and glanced outside. The Heavenly Street was still lively, with crowds flowing like silk and lights shining brightly. Above the distant imperial palace, auspicious clouds were still churning, and immortal light continued to circulate. The Longevity Festival celebrations were ongoing; no one noticed the small Sundries shop on this street. He watched for a while, then let the curtain fall and returned to sit behind the counter.

"Should I find some remote wilderness and hide away to live my life?" he whispered to himself.

When Yun Ming returned to the small courtyard in Huai Tree Alley, Ah Yuan was still in the room refining a Magic Treasure. He pushed open the door and saw Ah Yuan sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, with the array-breaking sword floating before her. The blade was transparent, formation patterns circulating, and its spiritual light pulsed as if something were breathing inside. Her Face was covered in fine beads of sweat, but her aura was steady; she had already reached the threshold of refinement. Ah Yuan opened her eyes, saw Yun Ming, and quickly stood up.

"Master, you're back."

Yun Ming nodded. "How is the refining going?"

"The array-breaking sword is mostly refined; I can already manifest the sword light. I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the xuanming heaven-covering umbrella and need a few more days of practice." Ah Yuan's tone carried a hint of excitement, clearly satisfied with her progress over the past few days.

Yun Ming looked at her and suddenly spoke. "Stop refining. I'll take you out for a stroll today."

Ah Yuan was stunned. "Where to?"

"Outside. The Longevity Festival," Yun Ming said. "Since we're here, we might as well do as the locals do. We should see what the festival in the capital of the Immortal Dynasty is like."