Refining the Mountains and Rivers

After a moment, Qin Yu and the shopkeeper headed back to the first floor. Rourou had picked out another two items.

Shopkeeper Zhou glanced over and smiled, “The customer has sold a few good items to our Surplus Shop. Give them a thirty percent discount on all their items, including the Sun Moon Stone. Just sell them at cost price.”

Rourou did not say anything as she did not care. Qin Yu had a good impression of this smart shopkeeper and smiled as he nodded.

After paying, the three of them were about to leave when Shopkeeper Zhou hit his head and smiled, “Dear customers, you almost forgot something.”

Xu Zhiruo walked over with a wooden box. It was completely sealed shut except for a small round hole for one’s hand. There was a faint glow around the box and a restrictive aura could be felt.

Shopkeeper Zhou explained, “Every time the Lantern Festival is held, it is to cater to the County Lord as well as to make customers happy so that shops like us can tap on the atmosphere. All customers who buy something will have a chance to participate in the lucky draw. It is nothing very precious. It is purely for fun.”

Rourou would definitely not do it, and neither would White Iris. Hence, Qin Yu did it personally. He extended his hand into the wooden box, which had a seal around it to prevent anyone from using their divine sense. He retrieved a white ball.

After the item was taken out of the box, it shattered with a ‘pak’. A red skirt appeared in midair, shining brilliantly.

Xu Zhiruo exhaled and could not stop her eyes from widening.

Shopkeeper Zhou laughed bitterly, “I regret reminding the customers.” He pointed at this beautiful red skirt that had appeared in midair. “In this wooden box, there are a few thousand white balls. However, there is only one of this red skirt. The chances of picking it are extremely slim.”

He could not help the pain that filled his eyes. The real value of this skirt was almost equivalent to the combined price of the three items they just bought.

It was no longer just for fun!

Qin Yu thought about it and said, “We already got the discount and should not take too much from you. I will draw again and leave the red skirt.”

Shopkeeper Zhou immediately waved his hand, “No no. Surplus has existed for over a hundred years because of the trust our customers have in our reputation. Since you are lucky, the red skirt is yours.”

Qin Yu smiled and did not say more. He put his hands together, “Thank you.”

Taking the red skirt, the three of them left Surplus and Shopkeeper Zhou personally sent them off. His face was filled with ache as he waved them goodbye. He really regretted placing that red skirt in the wooden box.

The only consolation was the purchase of the three passes. This was extremely rare and he would be able to earn a lot from this.

But time was tight and he needed to work fast in order to complete the business.

Qin Yu stretched out his hand and handed the red skirt to Rourou, “I am a man and don’t have any use for a long skirt. This is for you.”

Rourou rolled her eyes, “A gift that you got from a lucky draw and you almost gave it back. Now, you are giving it to me. Do you think I will take anything?”

Qin Yu raised his brows, “You don’t want it…then I will find a chance to sell it. I can probably buy a good robe with the money.”

“Hmph!”

Rourou snatched it away, “Thinking of selling? Do you know how much you owe me? Let me remind you, don’t think that because we are on good terms now, you don’t have to repay me. This red skirt can only cover the interest. I will slowly get everything back!”

Qin Yu smiled and nodded, “Okay!” He looked up at the sky, “It is quite late. Why don’t we find a place to stay? Though there is no curfew in East Pole County, it is not good to sleep on the streets.”

Rourou stretched, “I have already chosen a place. Let’s find somewhere to sit and wait for a while.”

She randomly pointed, “The scent of wine is average, but I guess I could force down a sip.”

The three of them entered the restaurant that Rourou chose. If they were able to set up their store along the main street, they must be selling well.

A waiter in clean clothes moved nimbly to them and smiled to greet them. He invited them to have a seat and asked them what they would like to eat.

But in the end, only two of them sat. White Iris stood with a calm expression beside Rourou.

“Just send over a few dishes. Give us two bottles of your best wine.”

“Okay, please give me a moment!” The waiter turned and left without hesitating.

Very soon, the dishes were served. They were simple but exquisite. Two dusty jars of wine were brought to the table. When they were opened, the scent of wine filled the air. But to the two of them, who were used to consuming wine fruit, this was just passable.

After drinking a few mouthfuls and casually picking up some food, before Qin Yu could talk about the passes, there were sounds of fighting from the first floor.

The commotion quickly grew bigger. Two parties were fighting and there were cheers all around the restaurant. It was obvious that everyone just wanted to watch the show.

‘Bom’ A person was thrown onto the floor and a window shattered. He spat out blood and seemed to be badly injured.

Woosh –

Woosh –

A few figures flew in and rushed to help their comrade up. The others that followed all looked icy and fierce.

A white gown flashed past and a fan was opened. There was a slight wind from the fan as the man chuckled coldly, “Which bastard dares to create trouble in East Pole City. I will show you all who is boss!”

It was the second young master from the Li Family, the one who had wanted to snatch the Sun Moon Stone at Surplus earlier, Li Yuantai. A few more figures appeared behind him and surrounded the young man that was spitting blood.

“Young Master Li!”

“Tsk tsk, you foreigners, you can mess with anyone but…I am afraid today you are going to suffer.”

“In this county, whoever dares to insult the Li Family will not have a good ending. It doesn’t matter if the County Lord is involved.”

Seeing that the people from the Li Family were about to make a move, a young man gritted his teeth as he walked out from the crowd. He smiled and put his hands together, “Young Master Li, I am Xu Xianglin and I work with Mister Sun. They are currently discussing a deal with me and are Mister Sun’s guests. Young Master Li, please be gracious and don’t pick a fight with them.”

The corners of Li Yuantai’s mouth pulled up, “People of Mister Sun?”

Xu Xianglin felt his heart contract as he nodded.

With a flying kick, Li Yuantai’s sinister laugh could be heard, “A dog of Mister Sun dares to make noise in front of me. I am just kicking it to teach it a lesson!”

Two people beside him rushed forwards to throw punches and kicks. Though their hits were not hard enough to kill, they were not light either. Xu Xianglin was soon throwing up blood.

“Brother!”

With a shriek, Xu Zhiruo pounced forwards. She had changed her clothes. “Why are you all hitting him? Leave my brother alone!”

Li Yuantai lifted his hand and smiled, “Oh, it is Sister Xu. I almost could not recognize you. What are you two doing, hurry and help Young Master Xu up. If he is really injured, you all will pay!”

Xu Zhiruo helped her brother up. She looked at how pale he was and the bloody streaks from his mouth and nose. Her heart ached as a tear rolled down her face; she shouted with red eyes, “The county is a place with laws. The County Lord will definitely not let you all do this!”

Li Yuantai narrowed his eyes as his smile intensified, “We did not hurt him without reason. Your brother created trouble for himself. Sister Xu, don’t talk nonsense and sully the Li Family’s name. It will make things difficult for me.”

He took two steps forwards and reached over, “Why don’t you follow me back to my residence today. We can talk about this. After everything is settled, we will be one family and small things like this can be overlooked. I will not press this matter further.”

“Don’t touch my sister…” Xu Xianglin struggled and pushed him.

‘Bom’, another person was sent flying. A jade pendant fell out of Li Yuantai’s clothes and broke into two with a ‘crack’.

He lowered his head to look at it and a mischievous look took over his features, “Young Master Xu, this is your problem now. This jade had been passed down the Li Family by my ancestors. Though the quality was nothing great, it held great meaning. It is something that is irreplaceable to my Li Family. Today, you broke it. If you cannot account for it, even your sister will not be able to save you.”

Xu Zhiruo held onto her brother and she looked anxious, “You are the one who dropped it; my brother did not touch you!”

Li Yuantai said slowly, “Sister Xu, although I like you, I cannot allow you to slander me like that. Our county is a place with laws, and if you ruin something of mine, you need to pay. You have to be clear on this.”

Xu Xianglin gritted his teeth, “Give a price!”

Li Yuantai threw him a glance and the corners of his mouth pulled up, “This jade is really very expensive, are you sure you can pay? Or do you want to use your life as payment?”

Just when the Xu siblings were helpless, the three people sitting by the window on the second floor were watching all this. Both parties in the argument were somewhat considered acquaintances of theirs in this city.

There was no need to mention Li Yuantai and Xu Zhiruo. Even Xu Xianglin and the young man earlier had bumped into them at the peak of East Pole Mountain.

Rourou had even commented on what the man said. From this angle, it seemed like the argument today was closely fated.

Qin Yu looked over at Rourou, who appeared calm. She has never done something without reason and disliked being involved with people she had no relation to. Her behavior at Surplus Shop today was already unusual.

However, she did not have any connection to the current situation. Qin Yu thought about it and smiled slightly as he continued observing. There were many unfair things in the world; he was not able to get involved with all of them.

If not, even the endless cause and effect could be forcefully broken.

“Stop!”

The young man who had vomited blood earlier was the one who had spoken rashly on the mountain peak and eventually invited Xu Xianglin to drink after getting reminded to watch his words. He struggled to stand and there was a conflict in his eyes. He said slowly, “Today’s situation has nothing to do with the siblings of the Xu Family. Let them go.”

Li Yuantai sneered, “Take care of yourself first.”

Ssss –

The young man tore his shirt at the chest area and silence filled the air. On the young man’s bruised chest, there was a birthmark in the shape of a fire dragon. The scales on the dragon seemed to be moving as if it would come out of his body at any moment.

“The Fire Dragon of the Yang Family!”

There was a shout before dead silence. Everyone was staring and the whole situation seemed to have been blown bigger.

Li Yuantai’s face stiffened and his fan was no longer moving. He stared at the Fire Dragon on the young man’s chest and confirmed that it was real. His mouth twitched and he forced out a smile, “Brothers of the Yang Family, we all know each other…I am very sorry for today!”

He admitted defeat immediately.

It was not that he was not tough enough, but he was not qualified to act tough in front of the city’s Yang Family.

If he did not admit defeat, he would die!