A man held two blood-red pearls, within which a phoenix and a male phoenix were vividly depicted, as if they could fly out at any moment.
"Possessing only a treasure map without the Phoenix Pearls, you cannot open the treasury," the man declared loudly. "Phoenix Pearls, one thousand taels of gold, anyone interested?"
The crowd exchanged glances. Most were common folk, and one thousand taels of gold was an astronomical sum they could not afford.
"Is no one interested?" the man asked with a smile. "If not, I'll have no choice but to destroy these Phoenix Pearls."
"I want them," a voice called out from the crowd. "One thousand taels of gold, I'll buy them."
"Excellent," the man said, raising the pearls. "Do you want the male phoenix pearl or the female phoenix pearl?"
"Aren't one thousand taels for both pearls?"
"No, no, no. One thousand taels per pearl," the man's smile remained unchanged, his voice a low murmur. "So, customer, which one do you want?"
The man took a deep breath. "I'll take both. Two thousand taels of gold, correct?"
"No, no, no. The first is one thousand taels, the second is three thousand taels of gold."
"You're price gouging."
"Esteemed customer, if you can find the treasure of the Former Qin dynasty, three thousand taels of gold will be but a drop in the ocean to you," the man said at an unhurried pace. "You must understand, the treasury of the Former Qin housed all the world's rare and exotic treasures. Any single item from it would be priceless."
The originally restless populace, upon hearing that any item from the Former Qin treasury was priceless, became incredibly enticed. However, they still lacked the money to purchase the Phoenix Pearls.
"Customer, do you want them?"
The man wanted to buy them all, but he lacked the funds. While instructing his attendant to fetch money, he said, "Yes, but I don't have enough money on me right now. I'll send my servant back to retrieve it. Once the money arrives, I'll buy them, is that acceptable?"
"If no one buys them in the meantime, then yes, it is."
"Three thousand taels, I'll buy them." A voice rang out, and Yan Yuqing, clad in red, emerged from the crowd. He held out a voucher to the man on the city wall. "A voucher from Tianbao Bank, for three thousand taels of gold."
The man examined the voucher and immediately flicked the remaining pearl in his hand to Yan Yuqing. Yan Yuqing caught it. "Phoenix Pearls, one male and one female, both are indispensable. Sell me the one you hold, too. I'll give you two thousand taels."
The man gritted his teeth. He had intended to wait for his servant to bring the money to buy the other pearl, but Yan Yuqing had intervened and bought it.
"An innocent man's treasure is his undoing. You must understand this principle, sir."
Yan Yuqing toyed with the blood-red pearl in his hand. "What, do you intend to snatch it from me?"
The man looked around. Those who couldn't afford the Phoenix Pearls were now looking at the two of them like prey, rubbing their hands together, ready to make a move to rob them.
Yan Yuqing's smile was inscrutable, the pearl spinning on his fingertip. The gazes of those around him followed the movement of his finger. Su Dan Novel Network.
Suddenly, the Phoenix Pearl in Yan Yuqing's hand flew from his grasp into the sky. Those who were poised to act lunged forward to snatch it. Some recognized Yan Yuqing's identity and avoided attacking him, instead targeting the mysterious man.
Countless people surged forward, attempting to overwhelm them with numbers. However, neither Yan Yuqing nor the mysterious man were simple individuals, and they were not easily dealt with.
Yan Yuqing's figure became a blur of afterimages. Not only could no one snatch the pearl from him, but they couldn't even touch the hem of his robe. As for the other man, he had vanished amidst the chaos, leaving only Yan Yuqing and the male phoenix pearl in his possession.
With the other man gone, Yan Yuqing became the sole target for everyone's attention. The male phoenix pearl in his hand was something everyone desired!
"Idiot!" Du Gumingyu couldn't bear to watch. Yan Yuqing, that scamp, always stirring up trouble, had landed himself in a predicament.
Seeing everyone looking at him like prey, Yan Yuqing suddenly laughed, his smile wicked and chilling. "It's been so long since I've been preyed upon, or perhaps it's been so long since I've shown myself. Now, no one recognizes me, and they dare to treat me as prey."
When Yan Yuqing revealed his weapons, two curved sabers, those who were about to charge faltered. Only a few who were ignorant of his identity continued to rush forward. However, before they could even approach Yan Yuqing, they felt a flash of blade and shadow, and then knew nothing more.
Those who had retreated watched as the attackers fell in an instant, losing their lives. Trembling, they backed away. The Red-Clad Demon Lord, who killed without drawing blood. "You are Yan Yuqing, the Palace Master of the Demonic Palace!"
"Oh, there's someone who knows their goods," Yan Yuqing's long, phoenix-like eyes were filled with teasing. "Do you still want the Phoenix Pearl in my hand?"
The crowd exchanged glances, unwilling to be the first to charge, yet also unwilling to let Yan Yuqing leave. After all, this was related to the Former Qin treasure. If they obtained even one or two items, they would never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of their lives!
As the saying goes, man dies for wealth, birds die for food. Even though they knew Yan Yuqing was terrifying, under the immense temptation of profit, some still charged forward. And then, Yan Yuqing, by accident, lost his grip on the Phoenix Pearl. It was immediately snatched away by someone. With so many people, weaving and ducking, Yan Yuqing flipped over several individuals but could not find any trace of the Phoenix Pearl.
Once the Phoenix Pearl was seized, those who had been圍攻 Yan Yuqing scattered like birds. In an instant, only Yan Yuqing remained at the city gate, save for the corpses on the ground.
Yan Yuqing flicked his curved saber. The blade was unstained by blood, sharp enough to cut a hair and kill without drawing blood.
Du Gumingyu breathed a sigh of relief. He had genuinely worried that Yan Yuqing would bring the Phoenix Pearl back. Given his sister's temper, she would have surely made Yan Yuqing suffer.
Yan Yuqing put away his weapons and turned to enter the city, a wicked smile still on his face. "As always, a masterful manipulator. Feng Moran's decision to become her enemy was likely the worst mistake of his life."
"He probably thinks he should have strangled her earlier," Du Gumingyu followed, walking alongside Yan Yuqing. "How does it feel to be back in Yunqi?"
"It feels like yesterday, as if she were still the powerful Empress Dowager Du Guming, and I, the Palace Master of the Demonic Palace, still constantly being manipulated by her. It feels as though nothing has changed, yet everything has changed," Yan Yuqing said unhurriedly. "And you, returning to your homeland, how do you feel?"
"Feel?" Du Gumingyu's voice was a low murmur. "This place only brings me a feeling of endless cold. My parents, my family, all perished here. If not for her still being here, I probably would never have set foot here again."