At night, in the abandoned Yellow Bud Rice fields, within the Shang Huan estate.
Old Hao mixed homemade bone powder into a pile of True Bone Powder, while anxiously looking at Shang Huan, “Are we really doing this?”
The small-eyed, chubby Shang Huan wielded an iron shovel, turning and stirring relentlessly.
“Hundred Herbs Pavilion sells bone powder, five White Jade Coins can only buy five hundred catties.”
“We, for the same five White Jade Coins, provide five hundred and fifty catties.”
“If we don’t adulterate it, how can we make any profit!”
Old Hao muttered for a while before sighing, “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?!”
Shang Huan chuckled slyly, “I’m only mixing in eighty catties into the five hundred and fifty; I haven’t added that much.”
“As long as the entire batch of fertilizer is used over ten acres of Yellow Bud Rice fields.”
“That’s merely two catties less True Bone Powder per acre, how could that change anything for the Yellow Bud Rice fields.”
“Rest assured, the buyers won’t have any reduced yield due to the fertilizer.”
“Even if there’s a slight decrease in yield, it wouldn’t fall below the fluctuation limit for Yellow Bud Rice harvest.”
“If someone complains, then it’s their farming techniques to blame!”
Old Hao looked at Shang Huan with a complex expression.
“You swindler…”
Yet Shang Huan was full of pride, “So tell me, are you in or out?”
Old Hao sighed and shook his head, “I’m in!”
Chen Mu, hovering outside over the Yellow Bud Rice fields, “…”
“Is this the fraudulent practice of those fertilizer workshops in my previous life, mixing inferior products with good ones?”
“Different world, same greed,” Chen Mu lamented.
“Sure enough, one can’t expect much change from these guys.”
Just yesterday, Old Hao was still recommending a cheap bone powder to him.
Now, it was clear it must have been this very product.
Chen Mu almost couldn’t restrain himself from storming in and giving them a good thrashing!
Some people just never learn!
Inside the room, the two men worked with fervor.
“Will we make any money?” Old Hao was still somewhat worried.
“Relax, this bone powder was sourced from a Ghost Ship,” Shang Huan confidently declared, “one hundred and twenty catties for just one White Jade Coin.”
“Add in the bone powder we mix, roughly five hundred and fifty catties cost around four White Jade Coins.”
“We earn one White Jade Coin per batch sold.”
“Sell a hundred batches, and we make a hundred White Jade Coins!” Shang Huan exclaimed excitedly.
“Also, for every batch you sell, I’ll give you half of a White Jade Coin,” Shang Huan eyed Old Hao eagerly.
The old man had been farming Yellow Bud Rice all his life, and he knew a lot of farmers; if sales channels could be opened, it would mean a massive order!
“Are you sure the Ghost Ship’s bone powder is fine?” Old Hao hesitated.
“Of course!” Shang Huan confirmed vehemently.
Immediately, Old Hao clenched his teeth, “It’s just a slight reduction in yield.”
“I’m in!”
Shang Huan was overjoyed, “Isn’t this a sure thing now?”
Just as they were enjoying their moment, a familiar numbness spread through their entire bodies.
Shang Huan’s eyes bulged in alarm, “Again?!”
…
Chen Mu walked in, looking at the two men lying on the ground in a deep sleep, shaking his head.
Who would have thought that Old Hao, who seemed honest and simple, would also engage in fraudulent business?
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Chen Mu mused. It seemed the lesson he taught them last time was warranted. Both deserved to be punished.
Chen Mu’s gaze wandered over the two men.
He wanted to use the Calming Pill, but he couldn’t do it in person.
“This chubby one will do.”
…
Shang Huan slowly awoke from his daze.
“Awake?” A gentle voice emerged beside his ear.
Shang Huan jolted up suddenly.
He saw a burly man standing two steps away, next to the unconscious Old Hao.
The man wore a black Daoist robe, with a jade belt around his waist.
His face was hidden behind a pure white mask, and he wore a pair of brown gloves with greyish-black spots.
He crouched leisurely down, casually rifling through Old Hao’s belongings.
Shang Huan paid no attention to the person standing beside him.
With an expressionless pure white mask, calm and indifferent gaze, adept and graceful movements when searching the corpse, and those old gloves stained with mottled blood.
This person…
For no reason at all, a chill ran down Shang Huan’s spine.
The words he wanted to shout to question his origin got stuck in his chest, and he found himself unable to utter them.
Soon, Chen Mu had searched all over Old Hao’s body.
The smoking pipe, Silver Tael, White Jade Coins, all were thrown on the ground, but he did not pick up any of them.
Just as Shang Huan was about to speak, he saw Chen Mu remove his right-hand glove and lightly press and tap on Old Hao’s arm with his index finger.
It was like testing the tightness of Exotic Beast meat by touch when purchasing it.
Then he withdrew his right hand, slightly tilting his head and staring at Old Hao, a strong devouring emotion suddenly emerged in his eyes, making one’s scalp tingle.
Gulp!
The loud sound of swallowing saliva abruptly pierced the silence of the room.
Standing beside, Shang Huan felt a shiver down his spine.
This person… this person isn’t crazy, right?
Shang Huan’s legs trembled involuntarily, and he couldn’t help but think of fleeing through the window.
Yet, Chen Mu slowly stood up and looked at Shang Huan with those eyes filled with the devouring emotion.
His throat moved, gulp…
Shang Huan: “…”
“You… what do you want to do?” Shang Huan’s voice sounded dry and hoarse.
“Straight to the point, I like that,” Chen Mu said with a smile.
Bang!
A sudden collision sounded.
Startled, Shang Huan trembled and then realized that a grey wooden cabinet had appeared out of nowhere, crashing to the ground.
“I have some stuff I no longer need, can you help me sell them?”
“This is mine!” Recognizing the familiar cabinet, Shang Huan couldn’t help but shout out loud.
In the next moment, a cold breath suddenly enveloped him.
A sense of fatal danger took over his heart.
I will die!
If I move, I will die!
Shang Huan instantly froze in place, daring not to move.
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But he felt indescribably aggrieved in his heart.
Stealing my things and then asking me to sell them for money, you’re really bullying people too much!
The Five Ghosts Yin Spirit surrounded Shang Huan, as Chen Mu tried his best to control the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain.
But his crazed desire to devour was blatantly evident in his eyes.
Chen Mu slightly turned his head, revealing his left ear, and continued in a gentle voice, slowly saying, “Yours?”
Shang Huan almost instinctively shouted out loud, “Yours, yours, yours…”
“Very well,” Chen Mu nodded leisurely.
“Also, help me sell these Elixir Pills.” Six vials of Calming Spirit Pill abruptly appeared above the wooden cabinet.
Shang Huan immediately nodded vigorously as if pounding garlic.
Chen Mu, satisfied, withdrew the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain.
Turning around, he pushed the door and left, his figure slowly vanishing amidst faint whiffs of black smoke.
Shang Huan, intently watching Chen Mu’s retreating figure, couldn’t help but bug out his eyes.
…
At night, after sending the restless Old Hao away,
Shang Huan closed the door and silently stared at the cabinet in the corner.
“Find a protector?” Shang Huan narrowed his eyes: “I heard that Dong Cheng has a Prefect backing him.”
“But would such a character really stand up for me?”
He looked up at the wooden cabinet, contemplating the six porcelain vials.
“It seems, this is the key point!”
Shang Huan’s eyes lit up.
“The crazy Daoist himself knows how to make medicine and practice Alchemy?”
“Or has he got someone under his control to do it for him?”
“This is an opportunity!” Shang Huan’s eyes sparkled.
Having no talent for farming, the small profits from the buying and selling weren’t much, but if he could connect with this crazy Daoist for a long time…
“Fortune favors the bold, let’s do this!”