183: Chapter 183 From Bicycle to Motorcycle, All In!

Kyoto's most bustling Zhuque Avenue is prime real estate.

This is the distribution center for martial arts resources in all of China, where flagship stores of major families, top-tier auction houses, and pill pavilions stand side by side.

At the core intersection of the street, a magnificent nine-story pavilion stands proudly, with three grand, flowing characters written on a massive plaque: Shenbing Pavilion.

This is the face of the Qin Family and one of the largest weapon markets in Kyoto. Martial artists stream in and out every day, and its daily turnover is an astronomical figure.

However, today, the manager of Shenbing Pavilion, Qin Fu, felt his eyelid twitching.

Early in the morning, the restaurant directly opposite Shenbing Pavilion, which had originally closed due to poor management, was suddenly surrounded by a group of people in military camouflage. Soon after, various heavy construction machines rumbled in; the setup didn't look like a renovation but rather like they were building a fortress.

"Manager, what are they doing across the street?" a young clerk approached and peered over curiously.

Qin Fu frowned, rotating two iron balls in his hand, and snorted coldly. "Who cares what they're doing? The rent in this area is terrifyingly expensive. Aside from our Qin Family, who can afford to stay? It's probably some upstart who doesn't know the height of the heavens trying to piggyback on our popularity. Ignore them and focus on our business."

Before his voice had even faded, a harsh sound of metal scraping came from across the street.

The originally quaint exterior of the restaurant was completely stripped bare in just half an hour. In its place, cold, shimmering black metal plates were installed.

This style was completely out of place with the surrounding traditional buildings with their carved beams and painted rafters, looking like a steel beast had suddenly barged into an antique market.

"This... what material is this?" Qin Fu's eyes widened. As the manager of Shenbing Pavilion, his discernment was naturally sharp. Those black metal plates looked exactly like the high-strength alloys used exclusively by the military!

Just then, a heavy truck stopped at the entrance of that strange building.

The door opened, and Lin Fan, wearing a sharp Major General uniform and a pair of sunglasses, jumped down swaggeringly. Behind him followed a despondent Zhao Wujing and a dozen or so second-generation heirs from minor noble families who were also dressed in designer brands but performing manual labor.

"Hurry up! Haven't you eaten?"

Lin Fan held a large megaphone and shouted at the group of young masters who were usually pampered. "That sign, hang it straight! If it's off by even a millimeter, you're doing five hundred extra push-ups tonight!"

Zhao Wujing gritted his teeth while carrying a massive plaque. In his heart, he cursed Lin Fan's ancestors back eighteen generations, but his body responded honestly, "Yes! Brother Fan!"

Under the shocked gazes of the surrounding passersby, the massive plaque was slowly raised and hung above the main entrance.

Red background with yellow characters, simple and blunt: [New Martial Arts Special Strategy Department · Kyoto First Resource Supply Station]

And below this line of intimidating official text, there was another line of small, flashing neon characters:

[Myriad Treasures Pavilion · Kyoto Flagship Store]

"Myriad Treasures Pavilion?" As Qin Fu read the name, his expression suddenly changed drastically. "Is this the store opened by that Lin Fan the Second Elder mentioned?!"

Before he could react, Lin Fan directed Zhao Wujing and the others to pull out a twenty-meter-long giant banner that stretched across half the street, nearly blocking the entrance to Shenbing Pavilion.

The banner read:

[New Store Opening! All blind boxes starting from 90% off! Military-grade quality, honest prices! A chance to get S-grade divine weapons and crush the competition across the street!]

"Pfft—"

A passing martial artist who was drinking tea and watching the commotion spat it out.

Crush the competition across the street?

Across the street was the Qin Family's Shenbing Pavilion! This was practically pointing at the Qin Family's nose and cursing them!

"Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!" Qin Fu's beard trembled with rage. He rushed out the door and pointed at Lin Fan, shouting, "Lin Fan! What is the meaning of this? This is a commercial street, not a wet market! Are you trying to start a conflict by hanging such a banner?"

Lin Fan took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of smiling eyes, and sized Qin Fu up.

"Oh, isn't this Manager Qin? What, is my banner blocking your sunlight?" Lin Fan spread his hands with an innocent look. "This is normal commercial promotion; how is it starting a conflict? Besides, it says 'crush the competition across the street'—it doesn't mention your Shenbing Pavilion by name. Could it be that Manager Qin feels your Shenbing Pavilion is that 'competition'?"

"You... sophistry!" Qin Fu's face turned red with anger. "This is malicious competition! I'm going to complain to the Chamber of Commerce!"

"Go ahead." Lin Fan shrugged indifferently and pointed to the official plaque above his head. "Look closely, this is a 'Strategy Department Supply Station,' which falls under military franchise. The Chamber of Commerce? Do they have the authority to manage me?"

"You!" Qin Fu nearly choked on his breath.

Just then, more and more people gathered to watch. After all, someone who dared to so blatantly provoke the Qin Family on Zhuque Avenue was the first in years.

"Who is this Lin Fan? So fierce?"

"You don't know? He's the ruthless man who shattered the hand bones of the Qin Family's Second Elder. I heard his background is immense!"

"Myriad Treasures Pavilion? Selling blind boxes? What on earth is that?"

Listening to the surrounding discussions, the corners of Lin Fan's mouth curled up slightly.

Traffic—isn't it coming?

He turned and snapped his fingers at Zhao Wujing. "Old Zhao, set up the speakers! Play our prepared slogans on loop! Maximum volume!"

Zhao Wujing covered his face in despair, but he still obediently pressed the play button.

The next second, a burst of energetic, tacky dance music echoed throughout the street, followed by Lin Fan's voice, distorted by a voice changer into something hauntingly catchy:

"Don't pass by, don't miss out! Is Qin Family's weaponry too expensive? Can't afford an A-grade combat saber? No problem! Myriad Treasures Pavilion's blind boxes will fulfill your dream of becoming a powerhouse! For just 9,900, take home an S-grade divine weapon! Take a chance, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle! Gamble a bit, turn scrap metal into divine weapons!"

"As long as your mindset doesn't slip, there are always more solutions than problems! All in!"

The massive sound waves made the glass of Shenbing Pavilion vibrate.

Qin Fu stood at the entrance, watching the chaotic scene across the street. He was shaking with rage but was powerless.

"Fine, Lin Fan!" Qin Fu gritted his teeth, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "You want to play a price war? You want to steal business with these attention-grabbing tricks? I'll see what kind of trash those so-called blind boxes of yours really are!"

He turned back into the store and roared, "Pass down the order! Everything in Shenbing Pavilion is now 20% off! Also, bring out those A-grade combat sabers that are our store's treasures! Let the customers see what a real divine weapon is and what the foundation of a great family looks like!"

Across the street, Lin Fan looked at Qin Fu's exasperated back, the coldness in his smile deepening.

"20% off?"

Lin Fan took a pitch-black metal box from his pocket and tossed it in his hand.

"Manager Qin, you still don't understand."

"In this world, the most addictive thing is never a bargain."