Chapter 16

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Chapter 16: A Huge Fortune

A woman dressed in tight-fitting clothes stood tall, her sword strapped at her waist, and her hair tied in a ponytail. Her appearance carried a heroic charm.

Yi Qianmo glanced at her. From the side, she was undeniably a beauty.

However, the woman didn’t look his way. Instead, she crouched down, her hand reaching for the spiritual herb that Yi Qianmo had set his eyes on.

But she was a step too slow. Before she could grab it, Yi Qianmo had already plucked the herb from its place.

The woman straightened up, her expression shifting to anger. Her voice was cold as she said, “Are you deaf? I said I want that herb!”

Yi Qianmo remained unfazed. “Everything should follow the order of arrival. I saw this herb first, and I spoke up first. If you want it, you’ll have to ask for my consent.”

Beside him, Yi Lingyu tugged at her brother’s sleeve, signaling him to notice the guards standing behind the woman. Clad in black, swords hanging at their waists, the guards’ hands rested on their hilts, their strength palpable.

But Yi Qianmo didn’t care.

The woman sneered. “What a joke! You haven’t paid for it, so it’s not yours.”

Ignoring her, Yi Qianmo turned to the herbalist and asked, “How much for this herb?”

Before the herbalist could answer, the woman interjected. “Whatever he offers, I’ll pay double.”

The old herbalist looked troubled. He hadn’t expected such a confrontation. Both parties looked intimidating, and he, an old man, was caught in the middle.

Yi Qianmo noticed the hesitation in the herbalist’s eyes and declared, “One thousand gold!”

The words sent a ripple through the crowd.

The herbalist trembled in shock. One thousand gold coins? He had never even seen one gold coin before, let alone such an astronomical amount.

Gasps and whispers spread through the gathered onlookers.

“Isn’t that the young lady from the Yi family?”

“Yes, and the man beside her must be Yi Qianmo, Yu Youwei’s husband. They say he’s the one who killed an innate expert with the Yi family’s Great Sword Technique!”

“Do you think he’s not afraid of retaliation from the Lei family?”

“Afraid? He has the Yu family behind him, and his wife is already part of the Immortal Gate. Who’d dare touch him?”

The woman frowned slightly at the price, her curiosity piqued by the discussions surrounding Yi Qianmo.

“So, you’re the alchemical furnace of Yu Youwei?” she asked, eyeing him from head to toe. “The Yu family said you were useless, but here you are, wielding a sword and killing innate experts.”

Yi Qianmo’s expression remained calm. “Are you here to buy medicine or to gather information?”

The woman smirked. “I said I’d pay double, didn’t I? Two thousand gold it is.”

She turned to the herbalist. “I don’t have that much money with me, but if you trust me, I’ll write you a promise—”

Yi Qianmo cut her off. “Sir, I also don’t have that much money on hand. But if you follow me to the Yi family estate, you can collect one thousand gold immediately.”

The old herbalist hesitated but, after hearing the murmurs about Yi Qianmo’s identity, nodded. “Miss, I apologize, but Young Master Yi asked first. The herb is his.”

The woman’s face darkened, but she turned on her heel, ready to leave.

“Wait.”

She stopped, casting a sharp glance over her shoulder. “What do you want now?”

Yi Qianmo approached her with the herb in hand. “Here, take it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“I didn’t want to give it before, but I do now.”

The woman snatched the herb from his hand and sneered. “I’ll pay you two thousand gold.”

“No need,” Yi Qianmo replied calmly. “Sir, let’s head to the Yi family estate. I’ll pay you the thousand gold there.”

Pulling his sister along, Yi Qianmo walked away, leaving the woman standing amidst the crowd.

She watched his retreating figure, stroking her chin thoughtfully.

“Miss,” one of her guards whispered, “do you think he knows who you are?”

“Impossible,” she replied. “We’re just passing through. There’s no way he knows our background.”

“Then why would he spend so much just to give it away?”

“Personality,” the woman said with a chuckle. “He’s a swordsman. They have their pride. He probably didn’t want to back down in front of me.”

On the way back, Yi Lingyu couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Brother, why did you buy it and then give it away? Don’t you need it for refining medicine?”

“That woman is trouble,” Yi Qianmo said. “Did you notice her guards?”

Yi Lingyu nodded.

“Three of them are innate experts, and the other two are peak acquired.”

Her eyes widened. “Three innate experts? In Green Cloud City? Who is she?”

“She doesn’t belong here,” Yi Qianmo replied. “Her own strength is far beyond her guards. She’s not someone we should offend lightly.”

Yi Lingyu squinted at her brother suspiciously. “You didn’t just do it because she’s beautiful, did you?”

Yi Qianmo raised his hand to smack her playfully but stopped himself.

Sticking out her tongue, Yi Lingyu giggled. “She is pretty, though. As pretty as Sister-in-law, I’d say.”

“Don’t call that woman ‘Sister-in-law.’”

Yi Qianmo’s face darkened, the smile vanishing from his lips.