165: Do you have any way to disperse?

Facing the fierce newcomer, Xia Zhijie said with a wronged expression, “Sir, I was the one who sent someone to report to the officials. You can’t accuse me wrongly.”

The leading man released his grip. Indeed, someone had reported to the officials, which was why they were here.

Hearing that someone might have died, they came directly without bringing the person who made the report.

“Sir, was the person who reported to the officials wearing a gray long gown with a pockmarked face?

Did he say that people were fighting here, and it was about seizing a shop?”

Before the leader could reply, Xia Zhijie pointed at the distant corpse and continued, “I was afraid of dying, so I asked him to report it!

This man, Dong Kui, has always worked for my boss. My boss found him too greedy and asked me to replace him.

He not only refused to acknowledge it but also tried to kill me, trying to usurp the position.

If you don’t believe me, ask the others. If I hadn’t been lucky, he would have killed me long ago!”

Seeing Xia Zhijie’s tattered clothes and bloodstains, along with his recent description, the few men believed him seven-tenths.

“Where is your boss?” the leader continued, his face cold.

“I… I don’t know. He gave me the deed and left, saying he’d be back in a few days and that I should report to the officials if I couldn’t make up my mind.”

At this, Xia Zhijie lowered his head in shame, “I was afraid my travel expenses wouldn’t be enough to bother the officials, so I didn’t dare disturb them—”

The Xunwu Guard exchanged glances. Travel expenses?

Your boss told you to use money to settle things, but you, kid, value money over your life and are unwilling to show respect, aren’t you!

The leader pointed at the shop and said, “Where’s the deed?”

“Oh, oh, oh, it’s here!”

Xia Zhijie took out the deed from his storage ring and handed it to the leader. Along with the deed, a half-ounce gold bean was also handed over.

The moment he saw the storage ring, the leader immediately abandoned the idea of extorting him further.

That item, worth tens of thousands of silver, he didn't even possess one.

The fact that the person in front of him wore one proved the trust and strength of his boss.

Their position could indeed extort many people, but there were also many they couldn't provoke.

Didn't he say that his boss would return in a few days?

If they arrested someone now, and the boss returned, with so many people watching, if something went wrong with the extortion, none of them would be able to escape responsibility.

It was important to have self-awareness. The deed's location was correct; it was indeed this pharmacy.

With conclusive evidence, what else was there to manage?

Acting dutifully, the leader asked two neighboring shopkeepers and confirmed that the deceased was indeed the pharmacy owner.

The truth of the matter could be deduced: this young man came to take over, the old man was unwilling, acted arrogantly, the two fought, and the old man was accidentally killed.

The leader clenched his fist and accepted the gold bean.

“Deal with the body properly. Armed combat is not allowed in City Name City. This is a one-time warning; otherwise, you will be questioned at the City Lord’s Mansion.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I will remember it. Thank you, sirs.”

“Go, return to formation!”

They came quickly and left just as quickly.

Amidst the clatter of hooves, the five Xunwu Guard departed.

Xia Zhijie paid two ounces of silver to two beggars to carry the corpse away, closed the pharmacy door, and walked directly towards the second floor across the street.

Pushing open the door, he saw that the room was empty. There was only a plate of peanuts arranged in the shape of the character “good” (good) on the table… Jiang Hanwen walked along the road, secretly recalling Xia Zhijie’s actions.

This kid was a natural for intelligence work, truly.

Dong Kui, after all, was old, and his Qi and blood were declining.

Every time he thrust his spear, there was inertia. Xia Zhijie grasped this point, and combined with his ability to read minds to a certain extent.

Those previous injuries were clearly preparation for the subsequent instant kill and the Xunwu Guard' investigation.

Planning ahead, feigning weakness, assessing the situation, and leveraging circumstances.

Jiang Hanwen felt delighted. Indeed, there was only a thin line between a madman and a Genius. He was very satisfied with this subordinate of his.

Returning home, he changed his identity, transforming into the old man with eagle eyes, and Jiang Hanwen arrived at Black Wind Martial Hall.

If one were to ask where in City Name City one could best digest his “hard dishes,” it would undoubtedly be here.

Not being able to accurately practice punches and kicks would leave hidden injuries, let alone Cultivating with inferior Cultivation Techniques.

This was like drinking raw water and taking cold medicine; whether the cold would get better was uncertain, but the stomach would definitely start rumbling.

“Senior, have you come to the Martial Hall for something?” The Mortal Shedding Ninth Level instructor stepped forward, cupping his hands, his face respectful.

The old man with eagle eyes in front of him did not conceal his aura in the slightest. That oppressive feeling from a strong person could only come from Qi Induction.

“Is Master Feng here?” Jiang Hanwen asked with an arrogant expression.

“Senior, you are looking for Third Master. Would you mind revealing your esteemed name so that this junior can report it?”

“No need. Take this to him and tell him it’s for treating hidden injuries. It’s twenty taels a bottle, and I have five thousand bottles. Ask him if he wants them.” Jiang Hanwen handed out a palm-sized porcelain bottle, then turned and left.

Following the same method, not only Black Wind Martial Hall, but other halls, various pharmacies, and several Families were all prepared by Jiang Hanwen as the arrogant old man with eagle eyes.

Three days later, Jiang Hanwen chose five pharmacies on the edge of the city for transactions, selling two hundred bottles to each, but only a thousand bottles in total.

“What a pity, our Lu Family only got two hundred bottles. I heard that someone in the west of the city got five hundred bottles.

Selling each bottle for thirty-five taels, that’s a profit of seven thousand five hundred taels in an instant.”

“What’s that? I heard the Huang Family got twenty thousand bottles!”

“Hiss~

As expected of the Huang Family, they’re rich.”

Rumors spread. Jiang Hanwen actually gave out very little.

Sometimes, he traded a few hundred bottles with pharmacies; other times, Jiang Hanwen traded with Mortal Shedding Eighth or Ninth Level Loose Cultivators, selling only twenty or thirty bottles.

In just ten days, a medicinal liquid capable of healing hidden injuries, called immortal water, began to circulate in the market.

Various Families rigorously investigated who was supplying the goods, but there were too many suppliers, and none of them were the source, making it impossible to trace.

Five days later, something even more disgusting appeared. Knowing that this item sold well, various fake and shoddy products flooded the market like mushrooms after rain… Jiang Hanwen sat on the third floor of Xia Zhijie’s newly renovated teahouse, drinking tea by the window.

At the next table, two black and white Dragons were fiercely fighting, neither giving way to the other, battling intensely.

“This little teahouse of yours is not bad; you must have spent a lot of money, right?” As he spoke, Jiang Hanwen waved his hand, and a golden flash appeared, placing ten thick, long gold bars on the table.

“Thank you for your consideration, Shopkeeper.” Xia Zhijie happily accepted the money without any embarrassment. After all, they were both Shopkeepers; he had given his life, so what was there to fear?

“Shopkeeper, you asked me to sell fake immortal water, but selling fake goods won’t last long. You wouldn’t happen to know who has the real stuff, would you?”

Xia Zhijie asked suspiciously.

Jiang Hanwen smiled without speaking, and the table was instantly filled with blue porcelain bottles.

“I bought ten thousand bottles of the real stuff. Do you have a way to distribute them?”