Chapter 115
The aged wooden floorboards creaked softly underfoot as Ji Wuye ascended the narrow staircase to the second floor of the Medicinal Herb Shop.
The aroma of various dried herbs and tinctures permeated the air, mingling with the scent of old parchment and musty tomes.
Warm, golden sunrays filtered through the latticed windows, casting a gentle glow upon the cluttered yet meticulously organized room. In one corner stood a long, plush chaise lounge with ornately carved armrests and deep crimson cushions that seemed to beckon for a moment's rest.
At the heavy oak table near the window, the stout, middle-aged shopkeeper sat hunched over, his brow furrowed in concentration as his calloused fingers nimbly sorted through a pile of glinting copper Qián coins.
Beside the disarrayed stacks of currency rested a simple ceramic cup, the surface beaded with condensation and emitting wispy tendrils of fragrant vapor—the lingering remnants of freshly brewed green tea.
Across the table, Ji Wuye, waited with practiced patience. His form was poised with an air of quiet dignity, betraying not a single fidget or restless shift. Only the faint crinkling at the corners of his eyes hinted at his alertness as he studied the shopkeeper's every movement, committing the details to his keen senses.
A contented smile tugged at the shopkeeper's lips as he completed his tally amidst the distant clamor of the bustling street below. "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Warrior of Kunlun!" he exclaimed, his voice rich with warmth as he pocketed the total sum of 375 Qián.
With a subtle grunt, the shopkeeper rose to his feet, gesturing for Ji Wuye to follow as he made his way downstairs.
The rhythmic tapping of their footsteps echoed through the cramped stairwell, heralding their arrival in the main shop area where a lanky young man—the shopkeeper's assistant—awaited them.
The youth's eyes danced with an eager curiosity as he offered a polite smile and an appraising once-over him. "This way please,"
Descending further into the musty depths of the basement storeroom, Ji Wuye found himself surrounded by an eclectic array of containers.
Long, sturdy wooden crates brimming with fragrant dried herbs lined the walls, interspersed with larger rectangular boxes that surely housed more sizable wares. Ceramic pots and metal tins of various sizes were meticulously arranged in tidy rows, each bearing faded labels hinting at their exotic contents.
The shopkeeper and his assistant set to work, carefully examining each item with a practiced efficiency. After a brief, murmured exchange, the shopkeeper turned to Ji Wuye, his jovial countenance unwavering as he rubbed his calloused palms together in anticipation.
"Before we check the items, may I ask if you have a handyman or a way to transport these items?" he inquired, his tone laced with genuine concern.
A fleeting look of realization crossed his features before he hastily added, "Ah, but if you don't, don't worry. Given our long-standing partnership with the prestigious Kunlun Sect, not to mention your significant purchases, I will personally handle the delivery."
To emphasize his point, the shopkeeper pivoted and extended a gnarled finger toward one of the larger rectangular wooden crates.
"For example, like this," he declared, his voice tinged with pride. A faint bluish aura, akin to the manifestation of his very Qi, began to emanate from his body, coalescing around his outstretched digits.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, the crate defied gravity itself, rising effortlessly into the air as if buoyed by an unseen force.
Ji Wuye remained unperturbed by the shopkeeper's display of skill, his expression betraying not a flicker of surprise as he calmly awaited the wooden crate to descend once more.
When the shopkeeper turned to face him again, Ji Wuye spoke in an even, measured tone that commanded respect. "Thank you, Big Brother, but I have my way."
As he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, the shopkeeper's smile broadened, his eyes sparkling with unabashed delight at Ji Wuye's implied capabilities.
"As expected from a warrior of Kunlun!" he exclaimed with an approving giggle before beckoning Ji Wuye to follow him toward another long, rectangular wooden box.
"Here is the Fossilized Tree Bark you requested," the shopkeeper announced, deftly unfastening the lid to reveal the precious cargo nestled within.
Ji Wuye's gaze swept over the contents, and he offered a succinct nod of confirmation, his steely eyes already assessing the next item to be inspected.
The methodical examination continued, with the shopkeeper and his assistant meticulously unveiling each package—from ceramic pots brimming with viscous Pine Resin and pungent Ox Gallstones, to tightly woven cloth sacks bursting with Deer Antler Powder, Volcanic Rock Dust, and Black Mustard Seeds. Gnarled Ginseng Roots and a myriad of other exotic ingredients were carefully catalogued and presented for Ji Wuye's discerning appraisal.
At last, they reached the final item—a heavy metal container that gave the shopkeeper pause. His brow furrowed ever so slightly as he regarded the unassuming vessel with a hint of trepidation.
"This is Scorpion Venom," he began, his tone laced with caution. "Though we could use a cloth bag instead, it is believed that this would decrease its potency to a safer level and reduce its value."
The shopkeeper's gaze flickered toward Ji Wuye, gauging his reaction to the potent toxin's presence.
Ji Wuye, however, remained unfazed, his expression inscrutable as he offered a simple, "Thank you very much, Big Brother."
In the span of a single blink, the cluttered storeroom—previously overflowing with crates and containers meticulously assembled for Ji Wuye's order—was rendered utterly bare.
The shopkeeper and his lanky assistant could only gape in stunned disbelief, their eyes wide and jaws slackened as they beheld the extraordinary sight before them.
"It's gone!" the youth exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe as he hurried to the vacant space, as if to confirm the jarring absence with his own senses.
Undeterred by their amazement, Ji Wuye snapped his fingers, effortlessly commanding the shopkeeper's undivided attention once more. "Big Brother, do you perhaps have any cauldrons for sale?" he inquired, his words cutting through the weighted silence with crisp clarity.
The shopkeeper blinked rapidly, his gaze darting between the empty storeroom and the unruffled young warrior standing before him, as if struggling to reconcile the surreal scene that had just transpired.
"Warrior, no, Young Master, please teach me that art!" he implored, bowing his head reverently and cupping his hands in a pleading gesture.
The implications of the skill Ji Wuye had demonstrated were staggering—not only a tremendous boon for himself but a paradigm shift that could upend the entire system of trade and transport that had been entrenched for generations.
No longer would they need to hire martial artists as escorts or rent cumbersome carriages to ferry their wares. The ability to seamlessly store and transport goods in such a manner would revolutionize the very foundations of commerce as they knew it.
Ji Wuye's perceptive gaze did not miss the crestfallen expression that clouded the shopkeeper's features, nor the way his assistant's eyes danced with unbridled excitement at the mere notion of possessing such an skill.
However, Ji Wuye's measured response swiftly extinguished the spark of hope that had ignited within the shopkeeper's breast. "Unfortunately, Big Brother, this is not a martial art, but rather, you know... a skill."
A skill... One of the strange, mystical arts brought from the Tower. Powers that rivaled even the most accomplished martial artists, yet the cost of wielding such abilities was...
As natural as breathing for mortals, these skills were indelibly etched into the minds of the challengers, making the prospect of imparting them to others a near-impossible endeavor.
'Well, the inventory feature... it's just as dangerous as it sounds,' he mused inwardly, recalling the tumultuous events of the previous timeline.
Mere months after the Tower's emergence, the existence of the inventory skill had been unveiled, spreading like a wildfire that consumed entire industries in its wake—including the once-thriving escorting sector.
It was indeed a great power, an innate gift bestowed upon all of the challengers. But as with all such blessings, it came at a steep cost.
For when a challenger's journey met its end, the contents of their inventory would scatter at spot.
The plummeted demand for martial artists' services would inevitably surge anew.
'Initially, I had no intention of revealing this fact so early,' he pondered, his brow furrowing ever so slightly.
To divulge the existence of such a game-changing ability could potentially alter the course of pivotal events that had yet to unfold—events that represented his strongest weapon in this timeline.
Though this timeline had strayed ever so slightly from its intended course, it still that the situation remained within manageable parameters.
However, as his gaze met the shopkeeper's imploring eyes, an idea sparked to life within the recesses of his mind.
"But, there is another way," Ji Wuye stated, his tone carrying a measured finality that seemed to igniting the shopkeeper's hopes momentarily. Yet, as the man became overly excited, Ji Wuye offered a tantalizing proposition. "How about we discuss this matter more privately?"
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