The white gourd was merely decorative due to its pleasing shape, and it wasn't worth much. However, upon seeing Jiang Ming, a prime target for exploitation, the shopkeeper jumped at the chance to gouge him, starting the price at a hundred taels. After some haggling, Jiang Ming bought it for twenty taels. The shopkeeper couldn't help but grin; twenty taels could buy several carts of gourds.
As Jiang Ming walked away, he muttered curses under his breath. Finding a bargain was nearly impossible. Even if something was worthless, as long as someone showed interest, the seller would sell it at a price comparable to gold. Fortunately, he had recently made a good profit from storytelling, so twenty taels were still within his budget.
According to Chong Heihu, it was best if the gourd had some spiritual energy. Jiang Ming wasn't sure if this white gourd qualified, but its unusual appearance made it stand out from regular gourds. Carrying the large gourd attracted the attention of passersby, but Jiang Ming ignored them as he continued searching for a hawk or falcon.
These birds were favorites among the wealthy young nobles. Whenever a majestic bird appeared, it was usually snapped up quickly. Jiang Ming found it harder to buy one than the gourd; having money wasn't enough. The birds that the wealthy didn't want were not appealing to him either.
Chong Heihu had warned him that the first hawk or falcon was particularly important. It was like a queen bee or ant queen—the first one was the king of the eagles. If it was extraordinary and spiritual, it could lead a flock of eagles and help him refine many iron-beaked divine eagles with less effort.
At that moment, Jiang Ming arrived at a bustling dock filled with people eagerly awaiting something. Suddenly, someone shouted, "It's here!" Jiang Ming leaned forward to look at the river, spotting a large ship approaching. Everyone was waiting for this vessel.
"The merchant ship from the East Sea has returned! I wonder what rare treasures it has brought back?" one person remarked. A portly merchant, grinning as he stroked his jade pendant, said, "I hope there's a dragon maiden or maybe a mermaid!"
The nearby merchant shook his head and laughed, "Forget about dragon maidens. The East Sea's dragon clan has been on good terms with us for years. Besides, we wouldn't dare go after one unless it was from the East Sea Duke's household."
Jiang Ming quietly absorbed the conversations around him when suddenly, a large hand reached for his waist. "Young master, your outfit is quite unique!"
Unbeknownst to him, a flamboyantly dressed man had appeared beside him, wearing a flirtatious smile and throwing him a wink.
Jiang Ming kicked out in surprise, but the man was surprisingly agile, quickly dodging to his back. Realizing this was a bad situation, Jiang Ming pushed through the crowd to escape.
"An interesting little boy, just to my taste. Someone, come here!" the flamboyant man called out. Instantly, two young men, both fair-skinned and clean-shaven, emerged from the crowd, almost unnoticed.
"Did you remember what that young master looks like?" one asked.
"Yes," the other replied.
The flamboyant man nodded, "Then find out who he is. I need to know more about him."
"Understood."
The two men vanished into the crowd, leaving no trace, and Jiang Ming sighed in relief. That flamboyant man's sudden appearance had been unsettling; he needed to find a way to grow stronger. This wasn't the right setting to call on Chong Heihu or Daji since summoners weren't known in the Great Jin.
Furthermore, the flamboyant man's appearance was too suspicious. His speed was beyond Jiang Ming's comprehension, far exceeding even that of his bodyguard, Fu Bo.
At that moment, the merchant ship began to dock, and the crowd surged forward. Thankfully, there were enough dock workers and patrolling guards to maintain order and prevent chaos. Jiang Ming spotted a large cage tightly wrapped in black cloth and chained with iron as it was hoisted off the ship by a dozen muscular men.
Just then, a squad of armored cavalry arrived to escort the cage away. "Those are the Iron Riders under Duke Dongfang. What could be so important that they need a military escort?"
The crowd murmured, hesitant to approach, knowing the soldiers' long spears were nothing to joke about. Meanwhile, a variety of exotic goods began to be unloaded from the ship, attracting a throng of eager buyers. The prices were exorbitant, some items selling for more than the entire Teahouse of Taihe. Jiang Ming worried about whether he had enough money for what he needed.
Then he spotted a cage containing a majestic eagle. The bird had golden eyes and blue feathers, with blood on its claws and feathers, yet its proud and fierce gaze remained unmistakable. Jiang Ming was instantly captivated.
He pushed through the crowd and asked, "How much for this eagle?"
The busy owner barely glanced up, his head still down as he replied, "A thousand taels, no haggling."
Jiang Ming gasped at the high price. He had only brought eleven hundred taels with him, having spent twenty on the gourd earlier, leaving him with only eight hundred taels.
Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a banknote. "I'll take it."
The owner accepted the note, checked the seal, and casually handed over the cage. Just then, a voice called out, "Wait! I want that eagle!"
Without needing to turn around, Jiang Ming knew it was a spoiled noble. In situations like this, it was best not to argue; fleeing was the smarter choice, especially since he already had the eagle. Spoiled nobles didn't follow rules, after all.
Clutching the gourd and the birdcage, Jiang Ming bolted through the crowd. He guessed correctly; the nobleman was indeed dressed in fine robes, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and servants trailing behind him.
The nobleman, momentarily stunned by Jiang Ming's swift escape, quickly shouted, "Damn it! Go catch that guy and bring back the golden-eyed eagle!"
A muscular man behind him immediately cupped his fist in acknowledgment and dashed after Jiang Ming.
Unbeknownst to the noble, his day was already ruined by being outsmarted by a commoner. No amount of exotic treasures could cheer him up now.
Though Jiang Ming had gained the upper hand, the large gourd and the golden-eyed eagle were too conspicuous. The muscular man, a ninth-grade warrior, quickly caught up with him.
Seeing this, Jiang Ming darted into an alleyway filled with garbage and foul odors. He didn't care about the stench, especially with a pursuer behind him.
He reached for Chong Heihu's character card and tossed it onto a clean spot.
"Master."
Moments later, the muscular man entered the alley, covering his nose. As he spotted Jiang Ming, he said, "Brother, it's just a small misunderstanding; can you give me a chance?"
The muscular man sneered, "Who do you think you are—"
Suddenly, a powerful fist swung from the side, striking him. He barely had time to react and could only defend himself. To his surprise, it was a strangely large man.
Chong Heihu had been itching for a fight with the world's warriors, and this was the perfect opportunity.
A ninth-grade warrior was stronger than an ordinary person because they had developed internal energy. A single punch could incapacitate Jiang Ming.
However, Chong Heihu's skin and bones were remarkably tough; the internal energy that seeped in was greatly reduced. The man struck ten times, and soon his arms were sore, leaving him disoriented.
Suddenly, Chong Heihu grabbed him and slammed him down.
Bang!
The man instantly lost consciousness.
Chong Heihu frowned, "This guy is weaker than Fu Bo. Too many useless tricks."
Jiang Ming stepped forward, muttering, "Is it really that hard to give me a chance?"
He searched the man's pockets and soon found a few pieces of silver and a token from the Donghai Duke's estate.