strictlysupreme Chapter 123 There are tricks everywhere in the world
Chapter 123 There are tricks everywhere in the world
Speaking of treasure-hunting rats, Fang Yunni, whom Yun Yici encountered in the Rakshasa Illusion Sea, had one.
However, Fang Yunni's treasure-hunting mouse was a golden satin mouse with a long tail and was very intelligent.
The five mice on the male cultivator's stall in front of him had short tails and different colors of fur—white, black, yellow, and gray—unlike Fang Yunni's mouse, which had glossy, shiny fur.
Yun Yici was highly skeptical that this was a real treasure-hunting rat.
However, the male cultivator continued to boast: "Fairy, this treasure-hunting rat can not only find treasures for you, but it is also an adorable and intelligent spirit pet. You can keep it by your side to amuse yourself and relieve boredom."
As he spoke, he picked one up and showed it to Yun Yici in his palm.
The treasure-hunting rat, no bigger than his palm, actually bowed to Yun Yici in a human-like manner, its two little paws clasped together, looking quite comical.
Huai Chuan said, "This should be a spirit rat hybridized from the treasure-hunting rat. When I was still traveling around, the treasure-hunting rats, depending on their quality, would cost at least 10,000 spirit stones."
Yun Yici suddenly realized, "What do you mean by 'carefully nurtured for fifty years'? Isn't this a lie?"
She immediately lost interest and said, "You just mentioned a good place to buy demon birds..."
Yun Yici was about to try and get some information out of the male cultivator in front of her when she suddenly heard a girl's scolding voice: "Hu San, you're lying again!"
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful young woman in a light blue, flowing dress walking briskly toward them from across the street.
At the same time, the male cultivator who had been setting up his stall saw the girl as if he had seen a ghost. He quickly grabbed the cloth spread out on the ground, slung it over his shoulder, and then slipped away like a grease on the ground!
Yun Yici and Rong Xuan exchanged a glance, unsure of what was going on, so they chose to wait and see.
The pretty and charming young girl arrived in front of the two in a short while.
She took the initiative to speak, saying, "My name is Yu Suqing. My father was the former manager of this Spirit Beast Workshop. Have you suffered any property loss?"
Yun Yici said, "Fellow Daoist Yu, my senior brother and I happened to be traveling here. We originally wanted to buy some spirit bird food, but that male cultivator suddenly spoke up and caught my attention. I saw that the small mice he was selling were very rare, so I couldn't help but take a look."
"Fortunately, you reminded us in time, and we did not suffer any financial loss."
Upon hearing this, Yu Suqing breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sincerely: "That's good."
"Are you looking to buy Spirit Bird Grain? I'll take you there."
"I grew up in this spirit beast workshop, I wouldn't cheat you."
Seeing that she spoke and acted with grace and poise, and that her eyes were clear and didn't seem like those of a bad person, Yun Yici was already mostly convinced.
She looked at Rong Xuan, who nodded slightly. Yun Yici then said, "Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Yu."
Yu Suqing led the two from the wide street into a dark, deserted alley.
Perhaps fearing that Yun Yici and the other person might have doubts, she explained to them as she led the way: "The shops on both sides of the street charge extremely high rents, and some old shops have been squeezed out and have no choice but to open in places like this."
"The place I'm taking you to is a long-time friend of my father and the owner. The prices are fair, and they've been raising birds for generations, so they know the most about birds."
Yun Yici and the other person followed behind her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Yun Yici asked curiously, "Was that male cultivator named Hu San a fraud? Was there anything wrong with the spirit rats he sold?"
Yu Suqing became furious upon hearing the name Hu San.
She said, "It's more than just problematic! It's a hybrid spirit rat with impure bloodline, specifically designed to bully you outsiders who don't know its value."
"That's not all. Those hybrid spirit rats still obey his commands, but once you pay and let your guard down, those spirit rats will find a chance to sneak back to his side."
Yun Yici understood that this scam first used hybrid spirit rats to impersonate treasure-hunting rats and then rip off cultivators.
After selling out, the male cultivator named Hu San would then direct the spirit rat to sneak back to his side and trick the next cultivator.
This kind of risk-free business is all about scamming whoever you can.
Yun Yici finally realized how treacherous the world was, and that she was still too naive.
She said, "Isn't Hu San afraid that the people who were deceived will come back to retaliate against him for doing this?"
Yu Suqing sighed and said, "He doesn't just lie to anyone. He won't lie to those he can't afford to offend. Young people like you who are unfamiliar faces are his easiest targets."
"Moreover, he would disappear for a while after making a scam, and then come back after he had spent all the spirit stones."
“It’s impossible for outside cultivators to stay here and wait for him forever, which allowed him to succeed many times.”
Rong Xuan said, "You just said that your father was the former manager of the Spirit Beast Workshop. Who is the current manager? Doesn't he handle such matters?"
Even their small market town at the foot of Nanhua Mountain is a place that follows rules.
Rong Xuan frequently visits the magical artifact shop to sell magical items, and she understands the intricacies of the business better than anyone.
The market manager has the right to expel swindlers like Hu San.
Yu Suqing, who was walking in front, stiffened for a moment.
She didn't turn around, and her voice was somewhat muffled: "My father was the most upright and incorruptible man, but because he didn't collect enough offerings, he offended the new city lord, who then had his concubine's brother take over the Spirit Beast Workshop."
"Since then, there have been many more people like Hu San. They would pay a bribe of spirit stones to their superiors after each deal, and the higher-ups would turn a blind eye."
Yu Suqing only gave a reminder because she happened to see it; in fact, she had no way to deal with people like Hu San.
As the three chatted, they arrived at the shop that Yu Suqing was taking them to.
It's called a shop, but the exterior signs have all been taken down.
The only thing that brings vitality to this place where the sun doesn't shine is the free-spirited birds in the sky.
They are different from the birds that are kept in cages outside for people to admire.
Their feathers are bright, they are free and full of energy, and they fly around the shop with agile movements.
Yun Yici didn't recognize these birds, but she sensed that Xiao Ba was itching to fly.
She reached into her sleeve and touched Xiao Ba, signaling him not to act rashly.
Yun Yici and Rong Xuan followed Yu Suqing into the shop.
The lobby was fairly bright. Upon entering, Yun Yici saw a handsome young man behind a large table facing the door, his head bowed, seemingly doing something. Occasionally, she could hear soft sounds like the turning of abacus beads.
Hearing the noise, the boy looked up and saw Yu Suqing. He relaxed at first, but when he saw the two strangers behind Yu Suqing, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who did you bring?"
Yu Suqing said happily, "Ah Zhao, I brought you some guests. We met them by the roadside. They want to buy grain from the spirit bird."
The wariness in the boy's eyes lessened slightly, and he said to Yun Yici and the other person, "What kind of spirit bird is it? Tell me its species, and I'll know what you want to buy."
Yun Yici really couldn't answer what kind of bird Xiao Ba was. She thought for a moment and said, "Do you sell clean food here?"
The boy said speechlessly, "I see you're a sword cultivator. You didn't just pick up a demon bird egg and think it was a divine bird egg, did you?"
"If you don't know what kind of bird you have, you can bring it to me to take a look, or describe its characteristics."