Chapter 178
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 178: The Shopkeeper Who Seeks Trouble
Fang Lie paid no attention to the stares directed at him. With hands clasped behind his back, he strolled down the long street while surveying the shops on both sides. His eyes soon settled on Mo Fang Shop at the central location.
From afar, Fang Lie’s brows furrowed involuntarily.
The shop appeared shockingly dilapidated—a two-story wooden structure with peeling paint, cracked doors and windows, and weeds sprouting from gaps in the walls. Had he not been informed earlier, Fang Lie would never have believed this crumbling establishment belonged to the revered Mo Sect.
Surrounding shops stood fresh and well-maintained, making Mo Fang Shop’s decay all the more glaring. No customer would willingly enter such a derelict place. Fang Lie couldn’t fathom how the Shopkeeper had let things deteriorate so badly.
Stepping inside deepened Fang Lie’s dismay. Bare shelves held sparse first-rank and Second-tier materials alongside dusty porcelain Bottles presumably containing spirit pills. The grimy containers alone made the pills within seem untrustworthy.
Behind the counter, a white-bearded old man in patched Dao Robe dozed. His disheveled appearance more resembled a beggar than a Shopkeeper. The sight confirmed Fang Lie’s suspicions—this assignment was clearly the sect’s way of exiling him.
Resigned to his duty, Fang Lie approached and rapped the counter. "Shopkeeper!"
The old man jolted awake, bleary eyes blinking. "Who…?"
Without ceremony, Fang Lie presented his jade token.
"Ah! You!" The Shopkeeper’s face lit up. "Liu Dingyi at your service! The information said you’d come, but not this soon!"
"Fang Lie." He returned the greeting with a fist-palm salute. "Why is this place in such disrepair?"
"A complicated tale." Liu Dingyi gestured toward the back. "Let’s discuss inside. There are matters to hand over since you’re replacing me."
As they moved to the courtyard, Fang Lie noted its relative tidiness—a stone table beneath an ancient tree stood as the only furnishing.
"Forgive the simplicity," Liu Dingyi said while preparing tea. "But our local specialty sea tea might surprise you."
The brackish brew proved mediocre compared to the spirit stone-infused tea Fang Lie now enjoyed as a privileged disciple. He forced a polite "Not bad" before steering the conversation: "Senior, why has the shop fallen into such ruin?"
"Sigh, what else could it be?" Liu Dingyi said lightly. "Business is bad, we can’t earn money, and we’re constantly extorted. It’s a miracle things have lasted this long!"
"Hmm?" Fang Lie froze momentarily before frowning. "I understand poor business, but what do you mean by extortion?"
"This Qingyu Island belongs to Purple Beard Master at Purple Palace Peak. He and his four sons live in Purple Beard Villa on the main peak. Every month, they demand management fees, protection fees, and taxes from our shops," Liu Dingyi explained bitterly. "Even this shabby shop must pay one hundred thousand spirit stones monthly, regardless of business."
"Hmph, such tyranny!" Fang Lie scoffed.
"They’re the local snakes here," Liu Dingyi shook his head. "The five of them constantly invent excuses – rotating birthdays, taking concubines, childbirths, festivals. Each time they demand gifts worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones. Refusal isn’t an option!"
"We’re extorted over two million spirit stones annually. Yet this shop hasn’t profited for years due to mismanagement!" Liu Dingyi sighed.
"No profits? So you’ve been paying them with the shop’s funds?" Fang Lie exclaimed.
"Naturally," Liu Dingyi chuckled. "Should I use my own savings? The shop’s already empty – bare warehouses, empty ledgers. Nothing remains!"
Fang Lie’s face darkened. "This sect shop should contain millions in spirit pills and equivalent spirit stone reserves! Did you squander them or pocket everything?"
His mission required managing this shop. How could he operate without resources? Though wealthy himself, Fang Lie refused to compensate for this corrupt shopkeeper’s massive embezzlement.
Seeing Fang Lie’s anger, Liu Dingyi shrugged. "Truthfully, some were gifted away, but most remain with me. An inner gate disciple like me, exiled here without family backing – shouldn’t I claim compensation?"
"So you admit embezzlement!" Fang Lie’s laughter turned dangerous. "Aren’t you afraid of sect punishment?"
"That’s why I’m fleeing," Liu Dingyi grinned. "After years here, I’ve made connections across Wanxing Sea. The sect won’t bother hunting a nobody like me."
"Yet you confessed everything. Do you truly think you can escape?" Fang Lie narrowed his eyes.
Liu Dingyi guffawed. "Foolish boy! Why do you think I waited for your arrival?"
Realization dawned. "You targeted me!"
"Clever!" Liu Dingyi gloated. "When I heard a Qi Sea realm disciple was coming, I knew fortune smiled! Only elite family disciples dare venture here so young. But you privileged fools share one flaw – naive arrogance despite your treasures!"
"Meaning what?" Fang Lie demanded.
"You’ve been poisoned!" Liu Dingyi crowed. "Magic-severing powder in your tea! Yet you drank it despite the saltiness when I called it ‘sea tea’! Now your treasures are mine!"
While the man ranted, Fang Lie checked internally but found no abnormalities. His Fourth-Rank Pill Furnace’s ancient medicinal essence had neutralized the crude poison.
Seeing Liu Dingyi’s theatrics as clownish antics, Fang Lie wordlessly produced the Demon-Subduing Golden Bowl. Caught off-guard, the corrupt shopkeeper was instantly imprisoned.
"Impossible!" Liu Dingyi screamed from the glowing vessel. "You should be powerless!"
"My poison-resistant treasure disagrees," Fang Lie smiled coldly. "Now, senior – choose your demise."
