Gong Zi Xin Yue Hu

Chapter 12 Emptying the Flowing Cloud Pavilion

The Flowing Cloud Pavilion had a total of four floors. The first floor was exclusively for commoners and families with little to no status, offering items of low quality. The second floor catered to officials and nobles, with items far superior to those on the first floor. The third floor was for distinguished guests to conduct business. The fourth floor was for storage, inaccessible to guests. The fifth floor was the personal residence of the Pavilion Master.

They were currently on the third floor. The person on the fifth floor was none other than…

Thinking this, Steward Han’s eyes widened as he stared at Ling Luo Yi. She could sense that person’s aura!

He knew the rumors circulating outside, but that person was actually…

“Hehehe…” A burst of laughter suddenly echoed from the doorway, followed by the sound of a door opening. Ling Luo Yi looked over to see a man in blue robes, embroidered with bamboo patterns, walk in. The man appeared to be around twenty-four years old.

Upon seeing the man, Steward Han immediately rose and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Young Pavilion Master.”

The man waved his hand, and Steward Han stood up. After the man sat down, he introduced them, “Young Pavilion Master, this is the eldest daughter of the Ling family, Ling Luo Yi, the second daughter, Ling Luo Qian, the third daughter, Ling Luo Fu, and the fourth daughter, Ling Luo Ran. Ladies, this is the Young Pavilion Master of our Flowing Cloud Pavilion.”

Ling Luo Qian and her two sisters greeted in unison, “Greetings, Young Pavilion Master.”

Ling Luo Yi nodded at him as a form of greeting.

“There is no need for such formalities, three young ladies.” The Young Pavilion Master sat in the main seat and said, “Eldest Miss Ling mentioned wanting to discuss business with the Flowing Cloud Pavilion. Li Shu does not know what kind of business Eldest Miss Ling wishes to discuss?”

Ling Luo Yi took out the storage ring again and retrieved a medicinal bottle, handing it to Li Shu.

Li Shu took it, opened the bottle, and examined it carefully.

Upon seeing what was inside, Li Shu’s expression turned serious. He said to Steward Han, “Go and invite Master Yan.”

“Yes.” Steward Han, observing his Young Pavilion Master’s expression, understood the gravity of the situation and quickly went to fetch the person.

In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to steep, Steward Han returned with an elder whose hair was entirely white.

As soon as he entered, the elder exclaimed, “This is the scent of high-grade pills! Where did these high-grade pills come from?”

“Elder Yan, first, greet the Young Pavilion Master.”

“Young Pavilion Master, you sent for this old man,” the elder said after bowing.

“Elder Yan, please take a look at this.” Li Shu poured a pill from the bottle.

Elder Yan took the pill and examined it meticulously for a long while before saying, “It is this one.”

“Elder Yan, how is it?”

“Young Pavilion Master, this is a fourth-grade pill, of supreme quality. Its efficacy is in no way inferior to a mid-grade fifth-grade pill. Furthermore, supreme quality pills have no pill poison, so one can consume as many as they wish without issue!”

“Elder Yan, are you certain?”

“This old man is certain. Young Pavilion Master, allow this old man to ask, where did you obtain it? As far as this old man knows, supreme quality pills are not only rare in this Tian Wu Kingdom, but even throughout the entire Ancient Spirit Continent, only the Dean of the Ancient Spirit Academy possesses them.”

“Eldest Miss Ling provided it.”

“Eldest Miss Ling? Is it the Eldest Miss Ling who returned yesterday?”

“It is her.”

“Elder Yan, Eldest Miss Ling is here to discuss business with the Young Pavilion Master. Please do not disturb them for now.” Steward Han, seeing Elder Yan about to speak with Ling Luo Yi, quickly pulled him aside.

“What does the Young Pavilion Master think?” Ling Luo Yi asked after observing their conversation.

“The quality is excellent. May I ask how Eldest Miss Ling wishes to sell them?” Seeing that Ling Luo Yi seemed not to understand, Li Shu continued, “The Flowing Cloud Pavilion has an auction house. Eldest Miss Ling’s pills can be sent for consignment auction or sold downstairs on consignment. How does Eldest Miss Ling wish to sell them?”

“I do not wish to consign them for auction or sell them on consignment. I wish to sell them directly to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion. Does the Young Pavilion Master wish to purchase them?”

Li Shu was somewhat bewildered. Most people who came to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion to sell items used these two methods, as they would receive more money. Ling Luo Yi’s method of selling was rather uncommon.

“Meaning, I sell the items to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, and then you can do with them as you please. Is that acceptable?” Ling Luo Yi explained, thinking they hadn’t understood.

“However, by doing so, you will receive less money than with the previous two methods.”

“It’s alright, I have quite a lot to sell.”

“Very well.” Li Shu was not one to procrastinate. Since the other party had agreed, he had no reason to refuse. “May I ask what items Eldest Miss Ling wishes to sell?”

Ling Luo Yi took out a storage ring, the same one she had produced downstairs, and placed some of the items from within onto the table.

“Please, Young Pavilion Master, make an offer first.”

“Certainly. Elder Yan, please proceed.”

“Fourth-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill, supreme quality, priced at nine hundred orange crystal coins; Fourth-grade Heart Protection Pill, supreme quality, priced at eight hundred and fifty orange crystal coins; Fourth-grade Soul Cleansing Pill, supreme quality, priced at one thousand orange crystal coins; Fourth-grade Yin Yang Bone Cleansing Pill, supreme quality, priced at one thousand two hundred orange crystal coins…”

Ling Luo Yi presented a total of eighteen types of pills, and Elder Yan quickly estimated their prices.

After finishing his estimations, Elder Yan stared intently at Ling Luo Yi with his starry eyes, as if she were a treasure.

Ling Luo Yi truly dared not meet Elder Yan’s gaze, yet Elder Yan’s presence was so strong that it was impossible to ignore. Fortunately, Steward Han quickly pulled Elder Yan aside.

Ling Luo Yi cast a grateful glance at Steward Han, who found it somewhat strange.

“Ahem, ahem.” Li Shu looked at the table with Elder Yan’s estimated prices and coughed a few times, asking, “Does Eldest Miss Ling truly wish to sell all of them to our Flowing Cloud Pavilion?”

“Yes.”

“Then Li Shu will make an offer. Marrow Cleansing Pill at nine hundred and fifty orange crystal coins each, Heart Protection Pill at nine hundred orange crystal coins each, Soul Cleansing Pill at one thousand one hundred orange crystal coins each, Yin Yang Bone Cleansing Pill at one thousand three hundred orange crystal coins each…”

After speaking, Li Shu took a sip of tea and asked, “What does Eldest Miss Ling think?”

Li Shu’s offered prices were considerably higher than Elder Yan’s estimations, and Ling Luo Yi was very satisfied with them.

“I find the prices offered by the Young Pavilion Master acceptable. However, I may be selling quite a large quantity. I wonder if the Flowing Cloud Pavilion has sufficient liquid funds?”

“Oh? Eldest Miss Ling, perhaps you could state the quantity?”

“I have a total of eighteen types of pills, with two thousand three hundred bottles of each. Each bottle contains ten pills. At the price offered by the Young Pavilion Master, the total comes to four hundred and fifty-five million forty thousand orange crystal coins. I’ll round it down for you to four hundred and fifty-five million orange crystal coins. I wonder if the Young Pavilion Master has this much capital?”

Li Shu was stunned. This was indeed beyond his expectations.

Elder Yan and Steward Han, standing nearby, were also astonished. This amount was nearly equivalent to the profit of their branch for two years.

Steward Han wiped the sweat from his forehead. This was certainly not a decision he could make. To acquire so many items, they would have to empty all the crystal coins from this branch.

“Does the Young Pavilion Master still want them?”

“Yes,” Li Shu stated affirmatively. Although they would have to empty the branch, with these items, their Flowing Cloud Pavilion’s strength could be significantly enhanced.

“Straightforward,” Ling Luo Yi’s smile deepened. “Young Pavilion Master, I hope our cooperation will be pleasant.”

“Eldest Miss Ling, I wish to discuss another business deal with you,” Li Shu said, his eyes gleaming.

“Oh?”

“Eldest Miss Ling must surely be an alchemist. Li Shu wishes to establish a long-term cooperation with Eldest Miss Ling under the name of the Flowing Cloud Pavilion. Henceforth, please prioritize selling Eldest Miss Ling’s pills to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion. Whether for consignment auction or consignment sale, our Flowing Cloud Pavilion will not charge any fees. What do you say?”

The rules of the Flowing Cloud Pavilion stipulated that they would charge twenty percent of the proceeds from consignment auctions and thirty percent from consignment sales.

Elder Yan and Steward Han listened and found nothing amiss. Although they would forgo the twenty percent from consignment auctions, if supreme quality pills were auctioned through them, cultivators from all over the continent would likely come. In that case, even the entrance fees could double their profits.

“This is so generous? It sounds like I cannot refuse. Very well, I agree.”

“Then, Eldest Miss Ling, may our cooperation be pleasant.”