Treasure Grass Garden.
Here is Qingzhou's largest underground medicine market, also known as the medicine black market.
Forbidden medications that are banned from sale can be found here.
Moreover, sometimes precious and rare medicinal herbs appear in this market; although it's an underground medicine market, the name "Treasure Grass Garden" carries considerable weight throughout Lingnan Province.
Besides medicinal herbs, one often sees some "Divine Doctors," who use various herbs to create prescriptions with impressive effects.
Therefore, underground fighters, people of the martial world, and even wealthy tycoons sometimes come here in search of medicine and treatment.
Consequently, the prices in "Treasure Grass Garden" are much higher than outside, but the business is exceedingly booming.
Chen Yuan looked around, and in the bustling medicine black market, he found the department overseeing the vendors. He paid a deposit with the few hundred he had left, securing a conspicuous spot at the entrance. He laid the Body Refinement liquid he was carrying on the ground, quietly waiting for customers to inquire.
At the same time, Chen Yuan surveyed the nearby stalls and found them overflowing with all manner of medicinal materials, busy with people coming and going, very lively indeed. In comparison, the number of items on his own stall seemed rather lonely.
Just as Chen Yuan had finished setting up his medicines, the vendors around him who had been continuously calling out to customers suddenly stopped and looked at him. First there was panic in their eyes, then quickly replaced by sympathy and pity, and then, deliberately or otherwise, they rapidly created some distance from him.
As Chen Yuan was feeling puzzled, a vendor next to him made a gesture with his eyes and whispered,
"Young brother, is this your first time setting up a stall here?"
Chen Yuan nodded to confirm.
"I thought so," the vendor said with an unsurprised expression. He looked around cautiously, then lowered his voice, "This is Yang Lin's stall. His big cousin is a big shot in this medicine black market, and he also manages things around here on this turf."
"Isn't this stall available for anyone to use once they've paid?" Chen Yuan asked.
"Everyone can use it, but this spot is the most visible. Otherwise, do you think such a good location would be empty? It's just that Yang Lin hasn't arrived yet. I suggest you find another stall," explained the vendor.
"I paid the fee, and now that the stall is empty, that means I have the right to use it," Chen Yuan replied nonchalantly.
"Heh, suit yourself," said the vendor, seeing that Chen Yuan wouldn't take the hint. He gave him a disdainful look and walked away.
Before long, a burly man with a hint of ferocity in his face, followed by another man of similar build, came to Chen Yuan's stall.
Seeing the imposing burly man, the vendor shook his head. Young people these days, each more ignorant of the world than the last. Wait until he gets his legs broken, then he'll know what regret means.
Upon reaching the stall, the burly man paused, clearly surprised that someone dared to set up shop in his spot. His subordinate, noticing his boss's discontent, hurried forward, pointing at Chen Yuan's nose, shouting,
"Who the hell do you think you are? Don't you know whose turf this is? You've got some nerve setting up here. Get lost!" The burly man was indeed Yang Lin, the one the vendor had mentioned; his subordinate, seeing Yang Lin not looking pleased, started to curse.
Chen Yuan, looking at the two men in front of his stall, already knew this was the Yang Lin mentioned by the vendor. He leaned back in his chair nonchalantly, stretched his back, and said indifferently,
"I paid for it, why can't I set up here? First come, first served. Please come earlier tomorrow."
Yang Lin's subordinate, seeing Chen Yuan's unmoved stance, grew colder, contemplating whether to take more forceful measures when he looked down at the two bottles of medicine on the stall and suddenly laughed,
"Just selling these few things at your stall? Don't tell me you filled empty bottles with beverages? Or herbal tea? Hahaha."
"Shortsighted fool, you know nothing; this medicine can cure all diseases. It's pointless to explain to an idiot like you," Chen Yuan sneered dismissively.
Hearing Chen Yuan's retort, Yang Lin smiled, "Cure all diseases? Well then, I won't say I'm unreasonable, if you claim your medicine is that good, why don't we have a little competition?"
"A competition? Why should I compete? This spot is already mine," Chen Yuan looked at Yang Lin as if he were looking at a fool.
"You..." Yang Lin didn't expect Chen Yuan to ignore his face so blatantly, and in a fit of anger, he said, "We can wager something else, how about that?"
"What wager?" Chen Yuan lifted an eyelid.
"The one who loses must give the other fifty thousand, and then they have to roll from this entrance all the way to the back door," Yang Lin said, his face filled with anger.
"Alright." Chen Yuan, now interested upon hearing about the wager, especially since he was penniless.
Upon hearing Chen Yuan's acceptance, a smile crept across Yang Lin's lips.
He didn't believe a greenhorn could come up with any miraculous elixir. Even if there was some effect, he was unfazed because the finished pills he sold had quite a few banned substances added to them, especially stimulants, and he didn't skimp on the dosage.
Although the overall efficacy of his medicine wasn't great, the initial sensation after ingestion would make one feel invigorated. That was the reason he managed to make sales.
Another reason Yang Lin dared to bet with Chen Yuan was that having hung around here for so long, he'd gotten to know quite a number of people. It would be a breeze to get a few shills and pocket the fifty thousand, wouldn't it?
At this point, the surrounding street vendors and passersby crowded around at the sight of an argument, in search of some entertainment.
Soon enough, the place was packed, three layers of people inside and three layers out.
Seeing the crowd grow bigger, a wider grin formed on Yang Lin's face, 'Since he wants to make a fool of himself, I'll make sure he loses face completely and never dares to set foot in Treasure Grass Garden again.'
With that in mind, Yang Lin 'randomly' picked five people from the crowd, along with five other volunteers, totaling ten.
He turned to Chen Yuan and said, "Let's have them try our medicines and see who has the better one, shall we?"
"Whatever you say," Chen Yuan replied indifferently, immediately spotting three or four familiar faces among the people Yang Lin had selected.
But was his medicine anything like Yang Lin's sham pills?
Yang Lin took out his pills and gave them to the ten people, a sleazy smile playing on his lips as he spoke:
"This is my latest product—Power Pill. It can enhance one's physique after consumption, treating colds and fevers with ease, and it even has some effect on internal injuries. Furthermore, it can help maintain one's... vigor."
After hearing this, the onlookers became curious, wanting to know if the effects were genuine. If that were true, it would be remarkable, as elixirs that could treat internal injuries were highly sought-after and rare. Plus, the mention of additional benefits sounded quite impressive.
Among the ten who tried the pills were two underground fighters. Their biggest challenge was always treating internal damages, so they became excited upon hearing Yang Lin's pitch.
The ten people swallowed the pills, and within less than a minute, Yang Lin's shills were first to break the silence:
"It's truly a miracle medicine. I feel like I'm filled with strength."
"I didn't have much energy today, but now I suddenly feel much more spirited, and the lingering pain in my chest is also much better."
After the two fighters finished their pills, they glanced at each other. They indeed felt a sudden surge of excitement and a notable reduction in the pain from their injuries. Speaking softly, they said:
"It sure seems like my spirit and strength have improved."
Upon hearing the testimonials from the pill testers, the crowd burst into a vibrant discussion, with some already clamoring to know the price, wanting to make a bulk purchase.
Seeing the reaction of the crowd, pride washed over Yang Lin's face. Then he mocked, "Don't rush, folks. This young brother here hasn't tried his medicine yet. His is a cure-all, and he only has two bottles. The effects are far more potent than mine."
A chorus of snickers rippled through the crowd.
Chen Yuan ignored the laughter, took out a vial of elixir, and stepped forward, placing a small drop of Body Refinement liquid on the fingertip of each tester.
The onlookers, after seeing Chen Yuan's stingy act, were initially taken aback and then erupted into roaring laughter.
"Is this guy out of his mind? Treating his medicine like a treasure, huh?"
"A drop? What can you taste with that, an egg?"
"Thinks it's menthol, a drop and you're flying high?"
"Young man, are you planning to give up?" Yang Lin caught Chen Yuan's maneuver and his smirk grew, as if victory was already in his grasp.
"Why the rush? Try it first, then talk," Chen Yuan responded lazily, casually cleaning his ear, looking utterly nonchalant.
The ten testers exchanged glances, skeptically taking that small drop of liquid on their fingers and bringing it to their mouths.
Moments later, a strange expression crossed the faces of those testing the medicine…
......