Gao Yang was already awake when Liang Yi entered the room, and was merely pretending to sleep now.
"Hmm? What business have you brought to this old man?" the elder stood up energetically, his hair was graying but neatly styled. Despite his age, his posture was still upright.
"This, to be made into a lady's necklace, I know you can do it." Liang Yi took out the All Living Beings Willow Wood Stone and tossed it to the elderly man in front of him.
"Hisss, such a large piece of All Living Beings Willow Wood Stone, top quality and rare indeed!" Gao Yang pinched the stone between his thumb and forefinger, held it up against the sunlight streaming in from the window above, and observed it closely.
"Hmm, consider it my good luck." Liang Yi was non-committal.
"I'll take the job. The price is five thousand spiritual coins, is that acceptable?" Gao Yang set down the stone and asked the handsome young man standing before him.
"That's fair. How long will it take?" Liang Yi nodded and asked.
"Let me think."
"About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. It's not a difficult task. The main raw material is already provided by you, the five thousand spiritual coins are mainly for the cost of that Demon Spider Flame Crystal Silk." Gao Yang gave a definitive response.
"Okay." Liang Yi was aware that the spider silk alone cost three thousand spiritual coins, and the two thousand spiritual coins for labor was excessively cheap for a master class jewel craftsman, probably thinking he was recommended by someone familiar.
Indeed, this elder, even in the entire Xuanzhou Immortal Dynasty, there are few craftsmen who can craft various exotic treasures into the desired form without harming its attributes.
"Then, please go ahead." Gao Yang courteously replied, then lifted the curtain to the backyard and took the Willow Wood Stone inside.
Liang Yi wasn't worried about him fleeing with the stone; Gao Yang's reputation was quite trustworthy, and there were even rumors that Emperor Zhou had asked for his assistance in crafting things. His own piece of Willow Wood Stone was rare, but it was an exaggeration to assume it would compel Gao Yang to abscond.
The five thousand spiritual coins were forcefully given to him by Zhang Feng after he saved him, and Zhang Feng didn't possess any exotic treasures or unparalleled cultivation techniques that could tempt Liang Yi, so he just gave him some solid currency.
As for Yin Lu who he had captured, he indeed had some assets. But because of the Divine Soul devouring issue, he had stored all his assets in the Storage Ring at the Divine Wind Commerce in Xunyang City, which he would retrieve later when he visited the City Lord's mansion.
Liang Yi casually opened a travelogue, lying in the specially reserved rocking chair, and comfortably basked in the sun.
By the time Liang Yi was getting sleepy, the craftsman finally returned from the backyard, holding an extremely simplistic and plain necklace.
"Here's your item, check it out." Gao Yang handed the finished product to the young man in front of him, finding it very simple to create such items, just unclear which old-timer revealed his identity to this youngster.
Liang Yi took it, the necklace was primarily made of Flame Crystal Silk, the spider silk was snow-white yet warmly radiant, extremely strong, often used for weapons, and had a minor effect of restoring Spiritual Power. The highlight of the necklace was the All Living Beings Willow Wood Stone that Liang Yi provided, originally the size of a quail egg, now refined by Gao Yang using Secret Technique into a fingernail-sized translucent green gemstone.
Overall, the necklace appeared elegantly plain, yet exquisitely noble.
"Wearing this necklace will greatly enhance the safety of my junior sister." Liang Yi contemplated and then tucked away the necklace, turning to Gao Yang, saying, "The master truly is a master, your work leaves one utterly satisfied!"
"Hehe, this old man loves to hear the truth!" Gao Yang accepted nonchalantly. "If there's nothing else, sir, please settle the bill and feel free to leave, as I need more sleep due to my age."
"Master Gao, what are you saying, you're in your prime aren't you?" Liang Yi skillfully began to flatter him.
"It's just that when you were in the backyard, I saw a little trinket in your store that I found very interesting, and wanted to ask the master how much for it?" Liang Yi took out that chunk of wood.
"That thing, I've had it for quite a while, and I'm not clear on what it is exactly, but if you want it, I'll include it for you." Gao Yang, cunning from age, already knew this was the young man's true intent.
But as he said, he is already old, so might as well form a good connection. After all, doesn't that young man look pleasing and speak pleasantly?
"Then thank you, Master Gao!" Liang Yi bowed and transferred the spiritual coins to Gao Yang. "Farewell, Master Gao, until we meet again."
Liang Yi solemnly bid farewell to Gao Yang, who had already lain back down on his rocking chair and casually waved his hand to indicate he heard.
After buying a hollow-carved warm jade box from an unknown stall, Liang Yi placed the necklace inside, then cheerfully stepped out of the street, ready to go find his junior sister.
But unexpectedly, just as he turned a corner, someone crashed into him.
The ones who bumped into Liang Yi were just ordinary people, so he was fine, but the two of them fell to the ground together.
"Grab those two, don't let them get away!"
"Damn it, the young master said, keep the woman alive, the man's fate doesn't matter!"
"Little bastards, keep running, will you!"
A slew of vulgar words followed from behind them, a group of servants dressed men, each holding a thick stick, surrounded them.
"Big brother, help!"
"Big brother, please save us!"
Two young faces hurriedly climbed up from the ground and hid behind Liang Yi, speaking timidly.
"Big brother, it was our fault just now, I apologize. But please, save my sister. I don't mind, just save her," said the boy on the left.
"Ding! Congratulations on triggering the task [Injustice Seen on the Road]!"
[Task Reminder: As a bystander male protagonist, you accidentally stumbled upon an injustice on the street. Shocking! Such evil deeds should not be happening in broad daylight, surely as a just person, you'd intervene, right?]
[Task Requirement: Help the victims fend off the bully.]
[Task Completion: 0%]
[Task Reward: 10,000 Experience]
"What kind of ridiculous task prompt." Liang Yi complained in his heart, only then he looked down and saw that the two who bumped into him were a boy and a girl, probably only about seven or eight years old.
"My young master, I know this has nothing to do with you, you can leave these two here and go on your way, our young master Zhang might even treat you to a drink if he sees you," the leading stout man, noticing Liang Yi's posture and appearance being exceptional compared to the young masters from Central State he had seen, bowed to Liang Yi and after revealing his background, his men cleared a path for him.
The two children behind Liang Yi had eyes filled with despair. Zhang Family of Xunyang City, other than the City Lord lineage, was the biggest power in the city, dominating Xunyang City for countless years and closely associated with the aristocratic families of Central State; even a powerhouse visiting from across the river would give it some face.
"Ah~" Liang Yi sighed, originally he did not want to get involved, he is not some perennially kind person, and he was the one who was crashed into.
But the children came up and apologized sincerely, spoke politely, obviously not some unruly kids, and moreover, a task appeared—if he ignored it, wouldn't his junior sister get upset?
"Accept." Liang Yi silently decided.