Since all the shops in Chihu Rock were keeping their distance, after some consideration, Nathan and Ningguang left without looking back.
Passing through the bustling streets, they arrived at the Liyue wharf once again.
Compared to the streets above, the dock was even more lively.
The sounds of trading and arguing filled their ears.
Ships entering and leaving the harbor were orderly preparing for their journeys.
Instead of permanent shops like on the streets, there were more temporary stalls.
The goods for sale were diverse, ranging from artwork to daily necessities.
However, despite the variety, almost all vendors chose to keep their distance after seeing Ningguang beside Nathan.
After repeatedly hitting dead ends, they still returned empty-handed.
"It seems this place... has also been arranged by that noble family's daughter!"
Returning empty-handed, Nathan shook his head helplessly at Ningguang.
"Don't worry, there's still that last merchant over there!"
But Ningguang maintained her calm expression, pointing ahead.
There was a stall near the harbor where an adult man stood, surrounded by many stones.
"What do you think, Nathan?"
"We're being taken for fools!"
The key point was that even though the man sensed Ningguang's presence, he didn't show that usual look of dislike.
"Hehe, isn't this clearly a trap!"
When everyone else keeps their distance, but one stall shows kindness, isn't that itself unusual?
Anyone could see that this stall was a trap set for them.
"So, Nathan, shall we go over? This might be the last stall open to us!"
Even knowing it was a trap meant for them, Ningguang's tone remained relaxed.
"Of course we'll go... this is getting interesting!"
Nathan nodded, leading Ningguang toward the stall.
Even the adult man at the stall hadn't expected them to be so decisive.
As they approached, they could see surprise flash across his face.
However, after a brief daze, the stall owner chose to greet them with a smile.
"Welcome, customers, to the Jade Mystery Shop! Would you like to try your luck with some rough stones today?"
Seeing Nathan and Ningguang not speaking, the adult man added:
"Breaking open rough stones is cheap and fun, you might even make a fortune!"
"Can you really make a fortune?"
To the stall owner's words, Nathan responded calmly.
The so-called rough stone breaking was actually similar to jade gambling from before his transmigration.
Jade gambling, commonly called stone gambling, was an ancient way of trading jade materials.
Buying potentially jade-containing ore with large sums of money, after the transaction, one cut could reveal high-quality jade.
Buyers could either become instantly wealthy or lose everything - for jade gamblers, they were betting on their judgment and luck.
Even with the location changed to Teyvat, this traditional trading behavior hadn't changed at all.
"Of course... many people have made money at our store.
However, how much money depends on the customer's own ability."
No matter how much the adult man boasted, Nathan wouldn't believe his claims.
No matter what, this was still gambling, and with particularly rare odds.
Plus, since this was that noble family daughter's trap, Nathan believed there was no way they'd get valuable stones.
However, even so, after exchanging glances with Ningguang, Nathan prepared to take the initiative.
Trap or not, never mind... he would handle it.
"Well then boss, let me ask you, how much does one rough stone cost?"
"Hehe, customer, we're honest merchants here. One rough stone costs one thousand Mora!"
Seeing Nathan finally taking the bait, the adult man became even more enthusiastic.
"That's too expensive, boss, can you make it cheaper!"
Hearing the price, Nathan furrowed his brows.
Since the starting funds for this second examination were determined by the amount completed in the first examination.
This meant their available funds were only the Mora from Ningguang selling two hundred Qiankun Mora Meat.
With only twenty thousand Mora total, Nathan wished he had let Ningguang raise the prices earlier.
After all, it was just moving money between hands, in the end all profit would go to Nathan and Ningguang.
"Haha, what's wrong, can't even afford one thousand Mora?"
Just as Nathan was preparing to haggle with the vendor over the price, a mocking laugh came from the other side of the dock.
It was the noble family's daughter who had left earlier, accompanied by the stoic elder, now walking over haughtily.
"What... if you can't do it, just admit defeat!"
As soon as this rival came close, she immediately started taunting Nathan and his companion.
After they had hit dead ends everywhere, the noble family's daughter was now like a victorious general.
As if wanting to vent all the frustration she had suffered at Yujing Terrace plaza earlier.
"..."
To this, neither Nathan nor Ningguang responded to her performance.
This feeling was like punching a cotton ball.
Not only did it fail to vent her grievances, but it made her even angrier.
"Heh, I've already earned one million Mora, let's see how long you can hold out!"
Trying hard to suppress her anger, the noble family's daughter sneered while applying pressure about the Mora.
Even so, Nathan still didn't make any response.
He merely gave her a contemptuous look, as if watching a circus clown.
"Boss, your price of one thousand is too expensive, can you lower it more!"
Contempt aside, Nathan couldn't ignore the number mentioned by the noble family's daughter.
One million Mora, while he could only use twenty thousand Mora now.
Even if he activated his Golden Rule ability, after a tenfold return, it would only be two hundred thousand Mora.
Compared to the noble family daughter's million Mora, that was an enormous gap.
Because of this, Nathan tried hard to get the vendor to lower the price.
If his guess wasn't wrong, during this stone gambling process, there might still be some clever moves he could make.
"Customer... we're running a small business, it's not good to haggle like this!"
The adult man responded with a bitter smile, but his attention remained on the noble family's daughter.
This further proved that this jade store was a trap left by her.
"Lower the price a bit, or we'll leave!"
Nathan was certain of the noble family daughter's intentions, she definitely wanted them to fall into this trap.
[During the process of buying and selling, you've been constantly haggling with the merchant, awakening the talent "Bargaining"!]
While the real haggling hadn't ended, the life simulation system in his mind suddenly brought Nathan an unexpected surprise.