"Who are you? I don't know, and I don't want to know." Su Yu shook his head, unperturbed.
"You've crossed the line! At most, I won't eat this porridge! The Spirit Medicine Pavilion's people will be coming soon. Let's see for how much longer you can be smug!" Bai Xiaolong was so infuriated that he began stomping his feet.
He then crossed his arms and glowered at Su Yu.
Standing at the side… Han Dapeng was boiling with fury. He had just received a report that someone had been using agarwood and selling a bowl of porridge at the sky-high price of 2 mid-grade spirit stones in broad daylight! The culprit clearly didn't take him, the outer sect deacon, seriously!
This cannot be tolerated. I must punish him! I must punish him severely!
He had made a huge blunder when he caught Mu Xiaoxiao the previous day and was feeling extremely frustrated about it. Yet, there was a report about a swindler today. Han Dapeng was continuously thinking about how he should deal with it.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks as an intoxicating fragrance overwhelmed his senses. The lingering aroma seemed to have been deeply etched in his heart, refusing to fade.
The subordinates behind him were mesmerized too. They sniffed and seemed to be intoxicated.
"Boss, this aroma…"
"Surely you don't think that this aroma is from a bowl of plain porridge alone? This unethical vendor must have tampered with the porridge. Follow me to take a look!" Han Dapeng said righteously with a sneer.
He then looked over at the corner of the market, where the fragrance was coming from.
"No one will buy your porridge at such a high price. Since it costs 1 mid-grade spirit stone per bowl, I shall buy one and give it a taste." Bai Xiaolong was frustrated.
As the only successor of the Bai Clan, everyone in the East Delta County knew who he was. However, he encountered a dimwit who didn't show him any respect at all and even tried to sell him porridge for a whopping price of 2 mid-grade spirit stones. If not for the porridge's heavenly aroma, he would have definitely turned around to leave.
Han Dapeng is such an unreliable fellow. Why isn't he here yet? I can't stand it anymore!
Su Yu shook his head and said in a calm tone, "No. 2 mid-grade spirit stones per bowl, not a single stone less." He now only had one unit of land for rice, and thus his supply was limited. If the rice earned a good reputation, he would definitely have to increase the prices.
Outrageous, arrogant!
Bai Xiaolong resisted the urge to holler at him. He had never seen such a dauntless vendor before. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Just you wait! The outer sect deacon, Han Dapeng, will be arriving in no time. I don't believe that you didn't add anything to your porridge to make it smell so heavenly!"
"I have my reasons for such a high fixed price. So what if he comes?" Su Yu was composed and confident.
Hah! So what if I come? I shall see who you are!
Han Dapeng happened to reach the crowd. Upon hearing those words, his face grew sullen immediately, and he squeezed in between the crowd. He questioned fiercely, "Who's selling—"
However, when he saw Su Yu, he immediately ate his words. He opened his mouth a little and pointed at Su Yu, seemingly at a loss for what to do.
"Han Dapeng! Good that you're here. There's definitely something wrong with the porridge that this guy is selling. I think we have to check it," Bai Xiaolong said gleefully, trying to make himself seem righteous. He had long wanted to try the porridge, but there were too many people watching, and Su Yu was adamant about the price too. Hence, he did not want to embarrass himself by bargaining.
Hah, how dare a porridge vendor be so arrogant with me? I must give him a hard time!
"It's you, Young Master Su. You told me a long time ago that you wanted to sell porridge. Had I known it was you, I'd definitely have reserved a good store for you." Han Dapeng's expression changed, and he seemed to be respectful and supportive of Su Yu. "Young Master Su, since you're the vendor, there must be nothing wrong with the items. The porridge is so fragrant, and it's definitely worth this price. There's no need to check!"
"What? Han Dapeng, what's wrong with you? This porridge costs 2 mid-grade spirit stones per bowl. This is at least 100 times more expensive!" Bai Xiaolong widened his eyes in shock and stared at Han Dapeng in disbelief.
"2 mid-grade spirit stones? That's not expensive at all! I'd like to have a bowl," said Han Dapeng and handed 2 mid-grade spirit stones to Su Yu straightforwardly.
Not expensive?
Bai Xiaolong was staring at Han Dapeng, unable to recover from the shock for a long time. He was the Bai Clan's Young Master, whom everyone would suck up to as soon as they saw him.
Bai Xiaolong was not very talented in martial arts, so the two became friends who did not positively influence each other. Thus, he understood Han Dapeng's character well. Han Dapeng was stingy and usually liked taking advantage of him by using his spirit stones. Yet, he actually was willing to spend 2 mid-grade spirit stones on a bowl of porridge without finding it expensive at all.
"Young Master Su, where's Elder Zhao?" Han Dapeng asked Su Yu softly when the latter was scooping some porridge.
"Haha, Elder Zhao is living on the Great King Mountain now," Su Yu replied with a smile.
Han Dapeng frowned. He had not heard anything about this so-called Great King Mountain before. He asked, "Young Master Su, can you tell me where the Great King Mountain is?"
"To the south of East Delta County. The largest mountain range is the Great King Mountain."
"Thank you for informing me, Young Master Su. I'm very grateful to you!" Han Dapeng's heart almost jumped out of his chest while his face turned red out of agitation. Indeed, he managed to buy some information about Elder Zhao using 2 mid-grade spirit stones.
I've really struck a fortune. From now on, I must visit him whenever I can. If I can receive Elder Zhao's guidance, I'll definitely be at a huge advantage!
Elder Zhao must have left in a hurry yesterday to take Su Yu and Mu Xiaoxiao as his disciples.
Since Su Yu knew where Elder Zhao was, didn't that mean that they had already become Elder Zhao's disciples? He'd definitely have to cozy up to the powerful Su Yu, who was standing before him!
"Han Dapeng, what are you muttering to him? Are you also in cahoots with him?" Bai Xiaolong immediately interjected upon seeing that Han Dapeng was talking chummily with Su Yu.
No wonder he behaved so abruptly. Turns out he's a part of them.
"This porridge is so fragrant, it's really a pity not to try it. It costs only 2 mid-grade spirit stones. It's considered nothing to Young Master Bai." While holding the bowl of porridge, Han Dapeng began promoting it for Su Yu. Since he knew of Su Yu's identity, he naturally had to find a way to please him.
He was hired, indeed! Han Dapeng is really getting from bad to worse. He actually colluded with an unethical vendor.
"Psht, I can't afford such porridge," said Bai Xiaolong, pursing his lips in disdain.
Han Dapeng guffawed and thought to himself that he just wanted to do Su Yu a favor. Although the porridge was quite fragrant and looked presentable, he did not have high hopes for it. He decided to have a mouthful to give it a try.
As soon as he took a mouthful, he seemed to have melted with the porridge's broth as his entire body became lithe, feeling an urge to fly into the sky.
Damn it! Is this really porridge?
Han Dapeng's eyes suddenly widened, and he almost moaned.
"Han Dapeng! How many benefits did this treacherous merchant give you to make you put on such an act!?" Bai Xiaolong couldn't help but swallow his saliva and ask as he couldn't stand it any longer.
It couldn't be helped. Han Dapeng's expression was too eye-catching. Whenever he took a mouthful, he would smile blissfully and beam with joy. The look of enchantment on his face was definitely what an artiste in an advertisement would look like.
Put on an act?
Han Dapeng snapped back to his senses and looked at the empty bowl in his hands, reminiscing its flavor. He did not expect to finish it so soon.
"Han Dapeng! Enough!" Bai Xiaolong flew into a rage.
Are you bullying me because I can't get a taste of it? Are you deliberately tempting me? Okay, congratulations, you succeeded!
He tossed 2 mid-grade spirit stones at Su Yu and gnashed his teeth. "Serve me a bowl of porridge too!"