BXBX NOVEL Chapter 96 A Different Kind Of Hunt
"Let the Hunt begin!"
Zhen Ya's voice resounded in the stadium. These words spurred the teams into action.
They gathered and started to make last-minute revisions to their plans to suit their new circumstances. Gathering their supplies, the teams set off.
The departing figures of the teams could no longer be seen with the naked eye. Zhen Ya came down from the air and returned to the City Lord's Pavilion.
Once the intimidating figure of the Chakra Sensing Realm disappeared from view, the spectators relaxed a little. They began to gossip and chat.
After a few took the initiative, others lowered their inhibitions, and the atmosphere soon turned lively.
Even in the City Lord's Pavilion, the gathered acquaintances began to loosen their tongues.
"Hey did you hear the Herb Garden has a new owner?"
Ikasa's attention was attracted by the mention of Herb Garden. He began to pay attention.
"Hmph! Might be another sucker who wants the Spirit Herb. He will also leave soon when he can't get anything."
"That might not be the case. Do you know that after the new owner took over there was a huge energy storm? Since people have started living there, the rumors of the place being haunted might also be false."
"Is your family eying the property?"
"Of course. My husband is going to buy that estate and add one more industry to our Family."
Ikasa turned to look at the speakers. It was a couple of women who looked to be in their 40s. Their appearance indicated an abundance of wealth.
"What will you do about the current owner?"
"We will throw a few thousand coins in his face and tell him to get lost!"
Xin Ruo scoffed when she heard their ridiculous presumptions. This attracted the attention of the two ladies. The one with the hook nose narrowed her eyes at Xin Ruo and took in her outfit.
It was barely worth 3 gold. Xin Ruo's simplicity played against her in this instance.
"What are you laughing at, you low-born?"
With a scathing tone, she lashed at the girl. Her eyes exuded contempt as if looking at a piece of trash.
The woman assumed Xin Ruo was a nouveau riche who barely had 1000 gold to her name. Whatever she assumed, she had earned the ire of Ikasa with her insult.
"I laughed because your joke was hilarious. There is no way you can buy the Herb Garden for a few thousand coins."
Xin Ruo mocked the lady for her ignorance.
That woman haughtily sniffed her nose as if smelling something unpleasant and said to her friend, "These low-born… They don't understand what we mean by a few thousand coins."
She condescendingly looked at Xin Ruo and explained, "I meant a few thousand silver coins… not copper ones."
Rather than being insulted, Xin Ruo was amused.
She pointed at Ikasa and said, "He is the owner of the Herb Garden. Show this low-born how much wealth you can afford to throw around."
Her challenging tone irked the lady. Determined to trample on her dignity, she checked out Ikasa.
'Clothes are hardly worth 4000 silver. No accessories. Hmph! Another low born.'
Ikasa felt like he was underdressed under her evaluative gaze. He checked his fabric, and it indeed was not as nice as others in the pavilion. But it definitely was not the worst.
Puzzled, he peeked at other men in the pavilion. After taking a look around, he noticed what he lacked.
Rings! Earrings! Necklaces! He lacked the garish accessories that would highlight his wealth.
'I'd rather be treated as poor, but I won't wear those freaking rings and gaudy earrings!'
That woman had approached him while he was lost in thought.
"I want you to vacate the Herb Garden. What is it gonna take?"
The lady demanded without any courtesy.
"It is not for sale, Madame."
Ikasa replied sternly, still trying to maintain a semblance of politeness.
"5000 Silvers!"
He was nonplussed by her rude attitude. When she received no response, she doubled the price.
"10,000 Silvers."
Ikasa stared at her, treating her like a pitiful fool. The woman was already at her limit. She panicked, seeing the contemptuous gazes of these two commoners directed at her.
She brought up her connections to pressurize Ikasa.
"My husband is the largest textile merchant in this City. Every clothing that City Lord wears comes from our loom. If you know what's good for you, accept my offer."
Before Ikasa could retort, the man himself arrived.
"Ikasa! There you are!" Turning to his sister, the City Lord whispered, "He is the capable helper I mentioned."
Zhen Ya glanced at Ikasa, but her expression didn't change. Only now did Zhen Wu notice the woman standing before Ikasa.
She was stunned into silence by the friendly way he had greeted the young man before her.
If she could rewind time, she would have never mentioned their non-existent relations with the City Lord at all!
"Is there a problem?" Zhen Wu asked with a frown when he saw the lady avoid meeting his eyes.
Ikasa smirked and explained.
"This nice lady just offered to buy my Herb Garden for 10,000 silver. We were in the middle of the talks when you arrived, Lord."
Zhen Wu misunderstood what Ikasa meant by 'in the middle of the talks'.
'Does he need money so direly that he wants to sell the Herb Garden dirt cheap? No, I should offer him a helping hand.'
"Brother Ikasa, if you needed gold, why didn't you tell me? I will have Mo Fan expedite the procedures and deliver the remaining 10,000 Gold coins by the end of the week."
Who would say no if the Goddess of wealth knocks on your door? Ikasa humbly smiled and accepted the City Lord's goodwill.
On the other hand, the lady went into shock.
"T-Ten Thousand Gold!"
Hearing the amount, she felt like she was struck by lightning. After apologizing to the City Lord, her friend dragged the woman away from the location.
Zhen Wu threw a weird glance at the departing women and turned to Ikasa with a raised eyebrow. Ikasa could clearly see the question written on his face, "What is wrong with them?"
After a brief explanation, City Lord laughed hard while slapping his back.
"She mistook you for a low-born! Hahaha!" Then he looked at Ikasa and Xin Ruo's clothing with a critical gaze.
"You do look underdressed. I'll have Mo Fan introduce you to my tailor."
Every skilled professional in this world was respected. May it be a Chef, a Cobbler, or a Tailor.
They might not be as popular as Cultivation-related professions, but their clients belong to the upper echelons of society. These clients provided the strongest backing for the professionals.
Getting an appointment with any of these artisans was a hassle and they mostly worked based on introductions. Like Rolls Royce or other premium brands on Earth, they served an exclusive group of customers.
City Lord's introduction meant he had a chance to be a member of that exclusive group!
Ikasa beamed with joy.
"Thank you, City Lord. I appreciate your favor."
Zhen Wu waved it off as if it was not worth a mention. Instead, his attention was focused on the other two pavilions.
"The Hu Clan and the Monstrous Flame Sect, both sell two types of low-grade cultivation techniques in their stores."
Ikasa already knew this information from the market survey he had done on his arrival. He couldn't understand why the City Lord brought it up.
"If you open a store, are you sure of taking over the entire cultivation manual space?"
Zhen Wu's question made his eyes light up.
'He is planning to hunt the industries of the other two powers! If I play my cards right, I can be the sole owner of the entire cultivation resource market of Birch City!'
Ikasa contained his excitement and put on a serious face before answering.
"City Lord Zhen, the worst of my manuals is a mid-grade cultivation method. I sell a single use for 20 Gold. Do you think I can drive their businesses into the ground?"
A smirk appeared on City Lord's lips. Ikasa matched his smirk with one of his own. But then he was reminded of the Chakra Sensing Realm Expert who had arrived at the Monstrous Flame Sect causing his smile to disappear.
The Lord of the City noticed his apprehension.
"Is there a problem?" He asked.
"A Chakra Sensing Realm Expert has arrived in the Monstrous Female Sect. I am afraid he will not let our plan succeed."
Ikasa explained the reason for his doubts. Zhen Wu looked at his sister and saw her pay close attention to the young man after hearing the news.
Finding news about a Path Finder from a sect under lockdown was no easy feat. Even her brother was unaware of it until she told him her conclusions based on information gathered by the Governor.
Zhen Wu smirked, seeing her interest, and proudly exclaimed, "See? I told you I have found a capable helper!"
She subtly glared at him, and her face once again became devoid of emotions.
Moving his attention back to Ikasa, he clapped on his shoulder to reassure him.
"You don't have to worry about their Chakra Sensing Expert," He said. Pointing his thumb at the beauty beside him, he whispered, "We have one of our own."
Then he looked him in the eyes and said with conviction, "You just need to snipe their businesses."