Heavy rewards bring forth brave men, and as expected, with the price increase, news soon came back.
It turned out that the old man with the white beard had found a seller who possessed Chan Ji Sha!
The seller looked somewhat dull, and his clothes seemed a little ill-fitting. After approaching Ying Chen, he kept his head down and did not make eye contact with Ying Chen.
Ying Chen was initially surprised, thinking that the seller's materials might be problematic.
However, when the seller handed over the materials, Ying Chen instantly determined: this was Chan Ji Sha!
There were no issues at all!
This made Ying Chen somewhat bewildered.
Since the materials were not problematic, why was this person acting in such a manner?
However, Ying Chen was too lazy to care about these matters. Having obtained the Chan Ji Sha was enough!
Therefore, Ying Chen gave the remaining Jiaoxue to the seller, "The remaining Jiaoxue is all here, no more, no less. You two can divide it however you wish; I will not interfere."
Seeing this, the seller was overjoyed. He quickly took the Jiaoxue and hurried out.
As if afraid that Ying Chen would go back on his word.
Ying Chen, however, paid it no mind and simply put away the Chan Ji Sha.
Although some materials on the list were still missing, they were no longer important.
The missing materials could be replaced by other methods.
The item Ying Chen had envisioned could finally be crafted!
Of course, it could not be crafted in the Ghost Market.
With so many eyes and ears here, even if Ying Chen was not worried about stirring up trouble, it would be easy to get distracted, leading to flaws in the crafting process.
He had to return to Xiangjiang first and find a quiet place to begin in earnest.
Just as Ying Chen stood up to leave, He Chongxu suddenly frowned and said, "Master Ying, that person just now... I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
Ying Chen looked at He Chongxu in surprise, "Your friend?"
"No, no... I just find him familiar. Let me think..."
"I've got it! He looks like a bodyguard of the youngest daughter of the Xie family! He's just changed his clothes and deliberately disguised his face, making me not recognize him at first!"
"Is that so?" Ying Chen raised an eyebrow.
He never expected the seller of Chan Ji Sha to be a bodyguard of the youngest daughter of the Xie family.
However, was it a personal act by the bodyguard, or was he instructed by the youngest daughter of the Xie family?
This was quite intriguing.
"Master Ying, the Xie family's actions are rather unethical. You gave her medicine to save her life without asking for a single coin. Yet, she hoarded the Chan Ji Sha, deliberately waiting for you to offer a high price before bringing it out. Such behavior is truly despicable!" He Chongxu said indignantly.
Ying Chen waved his hand, "The petty squabbles of the world are not worth wasting your thoughts or getting angry over. Not to mention, you have no proof, and you cannot confirm that the youngest daughter of the Xie family is aware of this matter."
"The schemes of ants may win for a moment, but can they win forever? It's not worth it, not worth it."
After saying that, Ying Chen got up and walked out.
He Chongxu looked at Ying Chen's retreating back and sighed.
Although he understood that Ying Chen was right, the calculations of the youngest daughter of the Xie family were indeed mere "schemes of ants" that could only gain a temporary advantage.
There would be repercussions in the future.
However, he still felt indignant.
"Hmph, don't fall into my hands in the future, or you'll regret it!" He Chongxu vowed silently.
Then, he followed.
The two walked out of the Ghost Market one after another.
Not long after they left, in a corner of the Ghost Market, several pairs of eyes stared at their retreating figures, flickering incessantly.
It was the youngest daughter of the Xie family and Song Cai, along with others!
"Miss Xie, they have left. Shall we..."
The youngest daughter of the Xie family seemed hesitant and said, "By deliberately hiding the Chan Ji Sha, we have already acted unethically. If we do something further, wouldn't that completely ruin the reputation of my Xie family?"
Song Cai chuckled, "Miss Xie is still too kind! Do you know what your father relied on to build his empire back then?"
"If your father had been as kind as you back then, he would have probably died at the docks long ago! His first pot of gold was accumulated by sacrificing the lives of thirteen boatmen!"
"Did those thirteen boatmen ruin the reputation of your Xie family? On the contrary, to this day, no one mentions it! Not only is it not mentioned, but there are even people who actively help your father whitewash this matter! They loudly proclaim that the thirteen boatmen deserved their fate, and your father repaid their kindness by taking care of their families!"
"What?" The youngest daughter of the Xie family was shocked by Song Cai's words.
She never expected her father to have such a past.
No wonder she had always heard people say how ruthless her father was, but she never believed it. Because in her impression, her father had always been a benevolent and kind-hearted person.
Only now did she realize that it wasn't that her father had changed, but rather that his past misdeeds had long since been whitewashed!
Money and power were more terrifying than flowing water, capable of washing away all darkness in the world!
"Miss Xie, if you want to be a good person, then I have nothing more to say."
"But if you want to become the future head of the Xie family, if you want to become a phoenix among men, if you want to become someone whom even the King of Siam would show courtesy to, then you cannot be so soft-hearted!"
"Propriety and morality are only for restraining ordinary people. Have you ever seen someone who achieves great things being constrained by propriety and morality?"
Song Cai's eyes flickered, his deep gaze seeming to possess some magical power, causing a hint of daze to appear on the youngest daughter of the Xie family's face.
A moment later, the youngest daughter of the Xie family suddenly made up her mind, "Master Song Cai, you are right! Those who achieve great things do not quibble over minor details! If I can return not only with the medicinal ingredients to treat my mother's illness but also with a large quantity of Jiaoxue, my father will surely look at me with new eyes!"
"After all, Jiaoxue is an important raw material for making medicine. When the Xie family's pharmaceutical laboratory makes a breakthrough in life sciences, I will be credited with great merit! I will have a chance to become the successor of the Xie family!"
"Therefore, this endeavor is completely worth a shot!"
"Let's do it!"
Seeing the youngest daughter of the Xie family's declaration, Song Cai could not help but praise her, "Good! This is the Xie Wen Fang I know! This is the mistress worthy of my following!"
Hearing Song Cai even utter the word "mistress," the youngest daughter of the Xie family became even more determined.
So, she strode towards the exit of the Ghost Market.
...
Outside the Sand Sea Ghost Market.
Many people were gathered here, waiting for the ships to leave the Ghost Market.
Ying Chen and He Chongxu were also sitting nearby, waiting.
Some people recognized them and pointed at them.
Some even had a hint of greed in their eyes.
Although Ying Chen had publicly exchanged all his Jiaoxue, who knew if he had any extra?
Moreover, if Ying Chen could obtain one bottle of Jiaoxue, he could certainly obtain two.
If they could take down Ying Chen, it would be equivalent to owning a treasure trove of Jiaoxue.
Wouldn't that make them rich?
However, while many people held such thoughts, none dared to act.
Because everyone knew that He Chongxu was not to be trifled with.
He Chongxu's reputation in Xiangjiang was not just for show; it was earned through bloodshed.
Especially the fact that Master Yin Long had been actively hunting down Feng Shui masters to feed to the Azure Dragon had indirectly helped He Chongxu's fame.
Everyone believed that those Feng Shui masters had disappeared because they had offended He Chongxu!
Facing such a "god of slaughter," no one dared to act rashly.
There were also some who had witnessed Ying Chen's incredible technique of condensing blood into drops inside the tent, knowing that Ying Chen was likely a martial arts master of the seventh rank or higher.
They dared not even harbor any covetous thoughts.
After all, Ying Chen and He Chongxu, one a master of arts and the other a martial expert, could at least walk freely in the Sand Sea Ghost Market, if not invincible throughout the land.
"Master Ying, the gazes of these people are truly annoying. How about I teach them a lesson, so they don't get any wicked ideas?" He Chongxu said, looking at the surrounding people's stares.
Before Ying Chen could reply, a voice suddenly rang out from behind He Chongxu.
"Master He, benefactor! So you are also waiting for a boat here!"
"How about this, our Xie family's ship will arrive soon. Why don't you take our Xie family's ship back to Xiangjiang? It will be more convenient, and it will also avoid some trouble."
"What do you two think?"
It was the youngest daughter of the Xie family.
Hearing the invitation from the youngest daughter of the Xie family, He Chongxu looked at Ying Chen.
He was clearly tempted.
After all, waiting here for a ship and being stared at by surrounding people like flies was truly bothersome.
"Then we will trouble you," Ying Chen said calmly, nodding.
Seeing this, the youngest daughter of the Xie family was overjoyed.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all. This is my honor. After all, I can never repay your great kindness. I am happy to do even a small thing for you; how could I dare to complain about being troubled?"
Saying that, the youngest daughter of the Xie family led the way, guiding Ying Chen and He Chongxu towards another pier.
Soon, a cruise ship appeared at the pier.
The Xie family's crest was printed on it.
It was the Xie family's private cruise ship!
Its luxury was no less than Huo Sheng's previous one.
"Benefactor, Master He, please come aboard!" the youngest daughter of the Xie family invited.
Ying Chen and He Chongxu seemed to have no reservations and stepped onto the cruise ship.
With a roar, the cruise ship started and headed towards Xiangjiang.
Everything seemed normal.
However, a few nautical miles after the cruise ship sailed away, the youngest daughter of the Xie family, accompanied by Song Cai, came to Ying Chen and He Chongxu's rest room.
The youngest daughter of the Xie family was holding the bottle of Jiaoxue.
However, the color of the Jiaoxue seemed a little off.
Originally, Jiaoxue should be red with a hint of blue, and blue with a hint of gold. But now, the Jiaoxue was dark red, with blackish-brown spots in some areas.
It looked more like pig's blood or duck's blood.
"Benefactor, I apologize, it's not that I insist on disturbing you, but there is something I must ask."
The youngest daughter of the Xie family appeared very polite on the surface.
"May I ask if this bottle of Jiaoxue was obtained from you?"
Ying Chen glanced at the youngest daughter of the Xie family, seeming to see through her intentions at a glance. A half-smile appeared on his face as he said, "That's right. What's wrong?"
"Alas!" The youngest daughter of the Xie family sighed intentionally.
"Actually, I'm reluctant to believe it, but they insisted that you did it... Said... said you swapped the Jiaoxue!"
"They said this bottle is actually pig's blood! You used half a bottle of pig's blood to exchange for the Chan Ji Sha passed down from my bodyguard's ancestors!"
"As the owner of this bodyguard, I have no choice but to stand up for him and seek an explanation from you, benefactor..."
Before the youngest daughter of the Xie family could finish speaking, He Chongxu could no longer stand it.
He Chongxu suddenly stood up, glaring angrily at the youngest daughter of the Xie family, and said, "Xie Wen Fang, not only are you shameless, but you have also perfectly inherited your father's dark and cruel nature!"
"It's one thing that you deliberately hoarded goods, but you've also turned around and tried to frame us? No wonder you were so eager to invite us onto the ship; you had this idea in mind!"
"Next, are you going to pretend to be a peacemaker and demand that Master Ying compensate you with a new bottle of Jiaoxue?"
"Bah! Shameless! Vulgar!"
Faced with He Chongxu's exposure and scolding, the youngest daughter of the Xie family remained unmoved.
She seemed determined to go all the way.
She glanced at He Chongxu lightly and said, "Master He, this matter has nothing to do with you. I advise you not to meddle in it."
"Otherwise, your previous grievances with our Master Song Cai will inevitably have to be resolved on this cruise ship!"
As the youngest daughter of the Xie family's words fell, a dark shadow appeared strangely.
It was Song Cai!
Song Cai looked at He Chongxu with a sinister smile, hooked his finger, and said, "Old Ghost He, I've been coveting you for a long time. If I could refine you into a flying zombie general, dress you up in pretty clothes and put on beautiful makeup, that scene would surely be beautiful, Hahahaha..."