In the thin morning mist of Guyuan, mingled with a hint of earthy scent, Chen Ji strode swiftly out of the Dragon Gate Inn.

Wu Yun gracefully padded along the rooftops, keeping pace with him. One man and one cat moved in tandem, disappearing into the mist. In the dim alleys of Kucha Street, the local thugs, who had been lying in wait, began to follow.

Moments later, Chen Ji turned out of Kucha Street and vanished from everyone’s sight.

The thugs quickened their pace, but to their surprise, Chen Ji was waiting for them around the corner. The first man, caught off guard, stumbled into Chen Ji, and before he could react, Chen Ji dislocated his shoulder instantly.

Chen Ji held the man by the neck and slowly backed away.

He stared at everyone with icy eyes. “Gentlemen of the jianghu, why are you following me?”

A man in gray, seeing his comrade clutched by Chen Ji, quickly explained, “You’ve misunderstood, we mean no harm!”

Another man also explained, “Sir, you’re someone Third Master has looked after; we would never dare to harbor ill intentions. It’s just that we’ve been pushed to our limits—no food, no way out. We just want to buy some information, to find out what Guyuan’s situation truly is right now!”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “I don’t know either.”

The man in gray grew anxious. “Yesterday, someone saw General Hu invite you to the city gate tower. You must know more than us. Please, be charitable, even if it’s just a small hint of information, we’ll pay silver for it!”

Chen Ji suddenly understood.

No wonder the Dragon Gate Inn was packed with people trying to buy information last night; no wonder these people waited outside all night. But what Hu Junxian had told him was deeply sensitive, and he couldn’t sell that information.

Chen Ji slowly released the man he held, saying in a low voice, “I don’t have the information you’re looking for. Don’t follow me again; next time, I won’t be so polite.”

With that, he pushed the man he had restrained, turned, and sprinted into the mist. The thugs ignored Chen Ji’s prior warning and still tried to catch up, but after just two street corners, they completely lost him.

After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, Chen Ji stood outside the grain and oil shop’s courtyard wall, glancing left and right down the alley.

From the wall eaves above, Wu Yun meowed, “No one nearby.”

Chen Ji lightly leaped, his hands gripping the wall eaves as he vaulted into the courtyard. The house inside was already empty; tables, chairs, and cabinets had all been dismantled and used as firewood. This single grain and oil shop had been searched countless times by who-knew-how-many people, until there was absolutely nothing left to scavenge.

He slid down the well rope into the well, and only after confirming the grain was still there did he feel relieved.

He carried sack after sack of grain to the surface, a full hour of labor. Even with his Inspector’s physique, his arms ached and his back was sore.

Chen Ji looked at the mountain of grain. “Wu Yun, you stay here and guard it. If anyone comes…”

Wu Yun quickly responded, “I understand. Kill anyone who tries to steal it.”

Chen Ji looked up at him. “What if a Great Inspector of the Dao-Seeking Realm comes?”

Wu Yun said nonchalantly, “It’s no trouble at all.”

Chen Ji was speechless.

He shook his head. “If a truly powerful Inspector comes to take it, don’t risk your life fighting him. Just give him the grain. Your life is more important than anything.”

Wu Yun responded with an “Oh,” then added, “Understood!”

Chen Ji patted its head, then with a flick of his wrist, sent Wu Yun onto the rooftop before turning and vaulting out of the courtyard himself.

Yuancao Hall.

Third Master Hu sat in a grand armchair in the main hall, his legs crossed.

He picked up his teacup, lightly blew on it, and after a small sip, smiled. “The shopkeeper certainly knows how to enjoy himself. This excellent Pu’er from Yunzhou has a floral aroma upon entry and a rich, sweet aftertaste. I presume it’s new tea brought by the horse caravan from Bingdao Village?”

The shopkeeper, however, was not in the mood for leisurely tea. He walked out from behind the counter, placed three gold bars on the table, and whispered, “Third Master, you’ve had your tea, and here are the gold bars for your respect. Can you please return my grain first?”

Third Master Hu, feigning innocence, blew on his teacup again, then quietly asked, “Why can’t I understand what the shopkeeper is saying? What grain? Did your grain go missing?”

Seeing his denial, the shopkeeper immediately grew angry. “Third Master, it’s rather pointless if you do something but refuse to admit it!”

Third Master Hu chuckled. “Shopkeeper, don’t be so hot-tempered. I don’t even know where you hid your grain, so how can you say I took it? I’m just an innocent customer buying ginseng!”

The shopkeeper was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, “Who in Guyuan doesn’t know Third Master Hu’s capabilities? If you want to find something, you naturally will.”

Third Master Hu put down his teacup and slowly said, “Shopkeeper, last time you seemed to have little regard for me, but today you think my capabilities are great again? Strange, are my capabilities truly great, or not?”

The shopkeeper’s face twitched. He bowed and cupped his hands. “Consider my words from back then ill-chosen. I beg Third Master to be magnanimous and not stoop to my level. Those ginseng roots are the foundation of my life’s work; I implore you to show mercy.”

Third Master Hu chuckled. “I’m not taking your ginseng for free. Ordinary wild ginseng is five taels a catty, and old ginseng is eight taels a root. This is already a good price in a year of great disaster. I’m helping you, actually.”

The shopkeeper angrily retorted, “Third Master, there’s no need to pretend ignorance when you clearly understand. If I were to sell it to you at this price, my ten years of work in Guyuan would have been for nothing. How is this any different from robbery?”

Third Master Hu ignored him, instead counting on his fingers to himself. “The border army has requisitioned the camels, mules, and horses. Even if the entire city’s population starves to death, they can at least hold out for ten days to half a month. By then, your large family will probably all starve to death…”

The shopkeeper muttered, “It is said that Third Master is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness, the steadfast pillar of Guyuan. I never imagined you to be such a scoundrel, resorting to deceit and force to seize from innocent common folk?”

Third Master Hu sneered, “You know perfectly well whether you’re an innocent commoner or not. Do you really think we don’t know your background?”

The shopkeeper chuckled awkwardly. “What do you mean, Third Master? If I’m not an innocent commoner, what am I?”

Third Master Hu said with a flat expression, “Longhua Prefecture, Tokyo Province, Jing Dynasty… do I need to continue?”

The shopkeeper’s face changed, and then he said fiercely, “Those are all old stories, what do they have to do with my business now? Third Master, do you really think that if you steal my grain, I’ll just swallow my anger? I told you, I’d rather burn it all down than give it to you. If everyone thinks my Yuancao Hall is weak and easily bullied, how will I ever hold my head high in Guyuan?”

Third Master Hu said, “Oh? Then burn it.”

The shopkeeper’s voice faltered, then he angrily rebuked, “If you do that, who will still come to Guyuan to do business in the future? Third Master Hu, please leave. I’m doing this for principle, not for profit—I’ll sell this ginseng to anyone but you.”

Third Master Hu simply said, “Oh? Then sell it to others. But others don’t have any grain. They’re all on the verge of starving to death themselves; who would bother buying ginseng?”

The shopkeeper felt a tightness in his chest. Just as Third Master Hu said, he truly couldn’t buy any more grain; he had silver but nowhere to spend it.

Just then, someone stepped over the threshold and calmly asked, “Shopkeeper, what’s the price of ginseng today?”

The shopkeeper turned in surprise, realizing it was the young man who had inquired about the prices a while ago.

Before he could speak, Third Master Hu’s face darkened as he addressed Chen Ji, “A new face, just arrived?”

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

Third Master Hu stated calmly, “Hu Junyuan of Guyuan.”

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. “My apologies, I haven’t heard of you.”

Third Master Hu immediately sat up straight, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The shopkeeper, whose eyes had brightened, eagerly asked, “Sir, are you looking to buy ginseng? Are you interested in ordinary wild ginseng, or aged mountain ginseng?”

Chen Ji politely replied, “Only aged mountain ginseng.”

The shopkeeper then asked, “How much would you like, sir?”

Chen Ji suddenly asked, “How much do you have?”

A big deal!

The shopkeeper replied, “My Yuancao Hall has a total of eight hundred aged mountain ginseng roots!”

“Eight hundred roots?” Third Master Hu glanced at the shopkeeper. “To my knowledge, your Yuancao Hall has thirteen hundred aged mountain ginseng roots.”

The shopkeeper’s face changed. He had originally intended to sell only eight hundred roots to get through the difficult period, but he hadn’t expected his true inventory to be so thoroughly known.

He cast a sidelong glance at Third Master Hu, then looked at Chen Ji, his thoughts swirling between the two as he pondered how to use this newcomer to negotiate with Third Master Hu.

At this point, Third Master Hu picked up his teacup and unhurriedly said, “Young man, this shopkeeper is currently preoccupied with his grain supply; I’m afraid he won’t be in the mood to do business with you.”

The shopkeeper’s expression darkened. Third Master Hu taking his hidden grain was clearly a stranglehold on his lifeline.

“Grain?” Chen Ji turned to the shopkeeper. “What’s wrong with your family’s grain?”

The shopkeeper said savagely, “The grain my family stockpiled was stolen by a scoundrel. My family of dozens now has no means of livelihood.”

Chen Ji said, surprised, “Grain… I have some.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. “Is that true?”

Chen Ji smiled. “Shopkeeper, how much grain do you want to buy? Rice, millet, corn, pickled vegetables, cured meat—I have it all.”

The shopkeeper was overjoyed and quickly said, “You truly are a heaven-sent savior! I don’t need much, just enough for my whole family to eat their fill for a few days. I’ll have my assistant go get your aged mountain ginseng right away.”

“Hold on!” Chen Ji raised a hand, stopping the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper turned back, puzzled. “Hmm? What is it, sir?”

Chen Ji leisurely asked, “May I ask, shopkeeper, how much do you sell your ginseng for?”

The shopkeeper stated matter-of-factly, “Wild ginseng is thirty taels a catty, and aged mountain ginseng is thirty taels a root.”

Chen Ji turned to leave. “Then you can keep your ginseng. I’ll come back in ten days.”

“Let’s talk, let’s talk,” the shopkeeper hurriedly grabbed Chen Ji.

Chen Ji immediately turned back. “Shopkeeper, I am sincere about buying. As for your aged mountain ginseng, I’ll take as much as you have.”

Hearing this, Third Master Hu narrowed his eyes at Chen Ji. “Young man, don’t misunderstand yourself. The ginseng business isn’t something just anyone can do.”

Chen Ji smiled slightly. “What, you can do this business, but others can’t? Business relies on mutual willingness. A twisted melon isn’t sweet.”

Third Master Hu was so infuriated he laughed. “Where did this greenhorn come from? Go on, try it.”

Chen Ji calmly said, “Then let’s try.”

The shopkeeper had been hesitant, but hearing this, he immediately cupped his hands to Chen Ji. “Sir, I truly find your price difficult to accept, but I’m genuinely interested in making this deal. How about you add a little more?”

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. “Shopkeeper, six taels a root. If you’re unwilling to sell, I’ll turn around and leave. There aren’t many people with grain in Guyuan City right now, and I’d make more money by exchanging my grain for silver instead.”

The shopkeeper felt as if he had swallowed a fly. Had someone even more ruthless than Third Master Hu appeared?

Third Master Hu laughed heartily. “How about that? It’s still better to sell to me; my offer is even higher.”

Chen Ji shot him a sidelong glance. “How much are you offering?”

Third Master Hu’s smile faded. “Eight taels a root.”

Chen Ji calmly stated, “I’ll offer nine taels.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes shone as he looked at Third Master Hu. “Third Master, it seems our paths were not meant to cross.”

Third Master Hu sneered, then stood up and walked towards the door, shaking his hand dismissively. “You want us to raise the price? What a pipe dream!”

The shopkeeper watched Third Master Hu leave, then spat at his retreating back.

Chen Ji asked, “Shopkeeper, nine taels a root. Are you selling or not?”

The shopkeeper said with difficulty, “Sir, this price is truly too low. How about you raise it a bit more?”

Chen Ji turned to leave, but the shopkeeper hastily grabbed his arm. “Please, sir, have a seat. Everything can be discussed!”

Chen Ji turned back. “Shopkeeper, if you are sincere about selling, then we have room for negotiation.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes darted around. “Can you really take all thirteen hundred aged mountain ginseng roots, sir? That’s over ten thousand taels of silver. Do you have enough?”

Chen Ji leisurely replied, “I only brought seven thousand taels of silver.”

The shopkeeper chuckled. “That’s not enough; you’re short by four thousand taels!”

Chen Ji also laughed. “Aren’t there still provisions? Without grain, how will your large family survive? Is a whole family’s life not worth four thousand taels of silver?”

The shopkeeper’s face fell. “Sir, you’re not joking with me, are you?”

Chen Ji spread his hands. “So, shall we just forget about it?”

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and chuckled, “How could we? My large family is waiting to eat. Deal!”

With that, he turned and called to the back courtyard, “Serve the sir good tea, and bring out all our aged mountain ginseng for him to inspect!”

The shopkeeper entered the back courtyard. His assistant leaned close and asked, “Shopkeeper, are we really selling it to that young man at this price? We acquired this aged mountain ginseng from Tokyo Province for twelve taels of silver a root, and the escort and transport costs along the way were huge. Won’t we be selling at a terrible loss? We might as well have sold it to Old Third Hu.”

The shopkeeper sneered, “What’s the rush? If we sold it to Old Third Hu, we’d truly never get it back. This young man is a greenhorn, a simpleton. Later, you take some men, load the ginseng onto a cart, and deliver it to him. Then, just wait outside his door. When night falls… with so much ginseng, he won’t be able to handle it all at once. Sooner or later, it’ll have to come back to me. Remember, act quickly, don’t let that Third Hu cut us off!”