Free Web NovelChapter 136: Chapter 136: Great Fortune
A string of a hundred firecrackers popped and crackled, and the smell of gunpowder thickened.
The shop doors were thrown open, with red lanterns hung high on either side.
Bai Mo’s shop was finally open for business.
Aside from the acquaintances who had received invitations, a bustling crowd from half the street had been drawn over.
"A grand and auspicious opening! Starting today, this humble shop welcomes guests from all corners. May the paths of all my fellow cultivators be prosperous..."
Bai Mo had only spoken a few pleasantries when many cultivators from the Demon Hunting Teams chimed in.
They had long known of this place’s famous pills, but few cultivators had yet to enjoy such a perk.
Today, they would finally see what kind of stuff Lanshan and his crew were popping!
"Shopkeeper Bai, may your business prosper!"
A young master in brocade robes randomly shouted a couple of times from the crowd before continuing:
"The real business today is to see the pills! Do you still have those pills that cost twenty Spirit Stones apiece?"
An uproar!
Pills that expensive!?
The crowd was in a tumult. They had heard Bai Mo was a Pill Master, but what grade could a twenty-Spirit-Stone pill possibly be?
Beside the young master in brocade, his friend coughed twice and pulled on his sleeve.
"Keep it down."
"Why? I’m buying a precious cultivation pill!"
Bai Mo gave a wry smile and cleared a path.
"Everything you’re looking for is here today. If we run out, I’ll just have to refine some more for all of you!"
"Go on in and take a look!"
And so, the crowd surged inside.
Most were cultivators from Demon Hunting Teams. Clutching their Spirit Stones, they had come looking for the pills that Lanshan and his people were taking.
They had seen it on the mountain: a huge group of people, each with a small pouch, popping pills like they were eating beans.
They heard it was the pill for dispelling the Blood Curse, and it was supposedly quite cheap.
As for the neighbors from the street, they were just there to show their support.
There was no need to squeeze inside right now. If they were interested, they could just wander over tonight after dinner.
If they happened to see a suitable pill, they might buy some for their children and grandchildren.
They were all familiar with the quality of Bai Mo’s pills. Lately, aside from some complaints about the price, no one had ever found fault with their effects.
Wei An was rather flustered.
Hearing someone call his name, he hurried to greet the customer.
From watching Bai Mo perform alchemy these past few days—alternating between blasts of fiery energy and dousings of cold water—the already frail Wei An had been feeling quite groggy.
But today, the sheer energy of the crowd jolted him awake, and his grogginess vanished completely.
"Heh, that’s youth for you. A bit of excitement and a surge of vigor is all it takes to sweep away the sluggishness!"
Xu Ruyuan said, standing beside Bai Mo.
"Brother Bai, I’ve brought over some good families that supply medicinal ingredients."
"You can handle them as you see fit!"
Bai Mo turned his head to look. Indeed, he saw many unfamiliar faces in the crowd who looked rather timid in such a scene.
Seeing Shui Ziming walk over, Xu Ruyuan immediately said:
"I’ll go help Brother Bai keep an eye on things."
He was helping Bai Mo now, so he had to pay close attention. Wei An alone couldn’t possibly handle collecting all the Spirit Stones.
Tai Ming and the others were also there, exchanging pleasantries and accepting the gift boxes people brought.
Wherever Shui Ziming passed, people around him unconsciously made way.
It was only after he passed that people belatedly realized what had happened.
"Who pushed me?"
Shui Ziming’s Spiritual Qi pushed them aside, using a soft force. Because his control was so adept, it was as natural as flowing water.
Bai Mo had heard from Lanshan that some cultivators were skilled at using such methods. In battle, they were like fish in water, pressuring their opponents and gaining the upper hand.
However, this technique was quite draining. An ordinary cultivator could never be as natural as Shui Ziming.
"Junior Brother, it’s quite lively here,"
Shui Ziming said.
Qin Yu squeezed out from the crowd behind him. He had just been pushed aside and hadn’t kept up with his senior brother’s steps.
Bai Mo smiled. "After working on it for so long, it’s finally getting a bit of a crowd."
As he spoke, he turned aside and reached out to accept a congratulatory gift from the servant of a Pill Master in the city.
"Alchemist Bai, may your business flourish!"
Bai Mo smiled and returned the pleasantry.
"Send my regards to your master for me."
The servant walked past with his head bowed, not daring to even glance at Shui Ziming.
As for this person’s identity, the cultivators of any standing in the city were all well aware.
Lanshan squeezed over, with Lan Ru by his side.
"Ha! Shopkeeper Bai, I’m late! Ru’Er got back a little late!"
He said, handing over the gift box in his hand.
"Nonsense, Brother Lanshan."
Bai Mo accepted it with a smile.
"Shopkeeper Bai, long time no see! Congratulations on the grand opening!"
A smile played on Lan Ru’s lips. Returning to her old stomping grounds, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Just as she finished speaking, she saw the man beside Bai Mo looking at her.
Lan Ru felt that this person looked somewhat familiar.
Shui Ziming thought for a moment.
"Oh, you’re the disciple Steward Luan brought into the sect."
Lan Ru finally remembered who this person was.
"Ah, you’re the Eldest Brother!"
Shui Ziming nodded.
"Today is Junior Brother Bai’s big day. Let’s not stand on ceremony."
Lan Ru had only seen him a few times from a distance and wasn’t familiar with him. Hearing this, she quickly nodded, not daring to say more.
At this moment, a cultivator finally noticed the five large black vats inside the shop.
"Hey! What is this?"
Wei An quickly grabbed a scale and hurried over.
Shui Ziming only needed a single glance to roughly understand the situation.
The spiritual presence of the pills in the vats was faint, and he easily discerned their nature.
"Junior Brother Bai, going for a low-profit, high-volume strategy?"
Bai Mo nodded.
"Loose Cultivators are hard-pressed for cash, unlike sect cultivators. My approach is more suited to the market in Immortal Arrival City."
Lanshan had no idea what they were talking about. Hearing the exclamations of the Demon Hunting Team cultivators inside the shop, he pulled his sister and headed inside.
"I’ll help you keep an eye on things, Shopkeeper Bai!"
Shui Ziming glanced at Qin Yu and saw the excitement in his eyes.
"I’m going to sit in the back. You stay here and help out."
He nodded to Bai Mo.
"A guest has arrived. Junior Brother Bai, don’t worry about us."
Bai Mo followed Shui Ziming’s gaze.
He saw an old man with salt-and-pepper hair, and with a slight stir of his thoughts, he recalled the man’s identity.
"Elder Pu, what brings you here?"
He was a cultivator from the Chaoyun Commerce Association, one of the old veterans who held down the fort there.
Elder Pu had the servant behind him present a gift box and said with a smile:
"I heard my fellow Daoist’s shop was opening, so I came over to have a look since I was free."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, then Elder Pu looked toward the departing Shui Ziming.
"Is that Daoist Shui from the Xuandao Sect?"
"Daoist Bai, do you have a history with him?"
Bai Mo smiled.
"Brother Shui has looked after me a great deal. I am very grateful."
Elder Pu was surprised.
"So you two are actually from the same sect!?"
Not far away, several men who had been observing the scene exchanged a look and quietly retreated from the crowd.
’Is that a cultivator from the Xuandao Sect?’
’How are we supposed to do this job now? Return the Spirit Stones. We can’t afford to provoke those people.’
’Seriously, they didn’t tell us about his background beforehand. Were they trying to set us up?’
Clutching the smoke-stink bugs in their sleeves, they began to weave through the crowd, preparing to leave.
WHAP!
A large hand suddenly landed on one man’s shoulder.
"Leaving so soon, brother? Not going to look around a bit more?"
The man who spoke was expressionless, giving off a cold feeling. Just from the lingering stench of blood on him, you could tell he was a cultivator from a Demon Hunting Team.
And a low-ranking one at that—a poor fellow who spent his years butchering Demon Beasts.
The stench of blood seemed to have seeped into his very bones.
The man being held forced a smile.
"It’s too crowded. I have important business today. I’ll come back tomorrow."
He looked to his accomplices for help, only to see brawny cultivators approaching them from behind as well.
"Let’s have a little chat!"
The group walked off as if they were the best of friends, with arms slung over each other’s shoulders.
’Damn it, why’d they make us act as security?’
’It’s a celebration, after all. We should have been showing our faces in front of Alchemist Bai!’
’I’ve still got some Spirit Stones on hand. I’ll go take a look tonight...’
