Chapter 290: Chapter 152: Divine Sense
Qin Fang himself had developed frozen shoulder from sitting in front of a computer for years. He had even tried treating it with bee stings, and the results had been remarkable...
...This Giant Bee was certainly not a honeybee, but he figured there must be some similarities.
"However, I’m afraid I cannot determine its price... Young Master Qin, if you trust Huichun Hall, you could leave this venom with us. I’ll have our appraiser examine it. Once we’ve determined a price, we can discuss the details. How does that sound?"
Shopkeeper Cui asked after a moment of thought.
Qin Fang nodded. "Alright."
Soon, an attendant returned with another exquisite wooden box. Inside was a Jade Bottle containing one mace of Soul Condensing Crystal Ointment.
This time, as Qin Fang took it, he subconsciously swept his Divine Sense over it... Sure enough, he could see the Soul Condensing Crystal Ointment inside the Jade Bottle, a faint fluorescence swirling within.
Qin Fang let out a soft breath, accepted the box, and asked, "Is this the only mace of Soul Condensing Crystal Ointment that Huichun Hall has left? You don’t have any more?"
Seeing that Qin Fang was clearly looking to acquire more, Shopkeeper Cui hesitated before saying, "This shop only has one mace left, at least... But Lanyang City is massive. There are a dozen or so branches in the Outer City alone, so the other storefronts should have some... Does Young Master Qin want more? If so, I can have it transferred over at any time. I could probably gather around ten mace... Any more than that, and you’ll have to wait until next year."
Qin Fang’s eyes lit up. After a moment’s thought, he exhaled softly. "Alright, we can discuss the specifics later. Let’s sort out this venom first."
"Very well." Shopkeeper Cui nodded.
Qin Fang didn’t stay any longer and took his leave.
Shopkeeper Cui personally saw him out of Huichun Hall.
He returned to the Post House a little after nine in the evening. Entering his courtyard, Qin Fang looked at the wooden box in his hand and let out a soft sigh...
...He had just finished his cultivation, and his Spirit was still somewhat weary. ’I’ll take this tomorrow.’
With that thought, he put the wooden box away and went to bed.
「The next morning.」
Qin Fang woke up early, ready to take the Soul Condensing Crystal Ointment and begin the day’s cultivation.
But just as he took out the wooden box, he heard a knock on his door.
Qin Fang froze for a second. He frowned, closed the wooden box, and put it away again before walking out. He opened the door, only to be taken aback. A servant was standing at the entrance.
Seeing Qin Fang, the servant bowed. "Greetings, Young Master Qin."
Qin Fang nodded. "Is something the matter?"
"Last night, someone delivered a challenge notice to the Post House, specifically calling you out. This is the letter of challenge."
The servant respectfully presented the letter.
Qin Fang was startled for a moment, then his brow furrowed.
’A challenge?’
...Ever since that challenge from Huang Shun, no one else had come looking for trouble.
He hadn’t expected trouble to arrive now.
He opened the letter and read it.
"Geng Ye of C Courtyard, Number 27, challenges Qin Fang, Number C-7. As per Post House rules, a martial arts sparring match to be held today at the third quarter-hour of Chen on the Post House’s north Martial Arts Training Ground. The match ends when a victor is decided. Witness: Li Yao. 16th day of the 3rd month, Year of Yihai."
’C Courtyard?’
Qin Fang’s brow furrowed deeply.
...’So someone from C Courtyard is challenging me.’
’Then he’s probably a Huajin practitioner?’
...’It seems the people Qian Ruhai mentioned are getting restless. They’re coming to test me.’
"Since Young Master Qin is new here, you may not be familiar with the rules for challenges between practitioners of the same rank. Allow me to explain."
The servant began to speak.
Qin Fang looked at him and nodded.
The servant said, "In a challenge between practitioners of the same rank, because the accommodations and benefits are identical, there is no change in lodging. But with that being the case, the one challenged might not fight with their full effort, since injuring the opponent is forbidden... and that would violate the original purpose for which these challenge rules were established."
"Therefore, a new rule was made. In a same-rank challenge, if the challenged party loses, they will be demoted one rank. For example, someone from B Courtyard would be demoted to C Courtyard, and someone from A Courtyard would be demoted to D Building. The winner, on the other hand, gains one victory. Accumulate ten victories, and you can be promoted a rank."
"And to keep things balanced, if the challenger loses, not only are they also demoted, but the disturbance compensation increases to 1,000 taels of silver..."
The servant’s words left Qin Fang stunned.
His eyes lit up, especially when he heard that last sentence...
...’Disturbance compensation, one thousand taels?’
"Is there anything else Young Master Qin doesn’t understand?" the servant asked.
Qin Fang shook his head. "No, that’s all... Tell the staff I’ll be there on time."
"In that case, I will not disturb you any further, Young Master Qin." The servant bowed, then turned and left.
Qin Fang narrowed his eyes, glancing at the challenge letter in his hand before turning and heading back inside.
’Looks like my period of peace is over,’ he thought. ’Those people are getting restless. They’re starting to seriously test whether I have the strength to be one of the Twelve Seats.’
After all, his fight against Huang Shun had been over too quickly. All anyone knew was that Qin Fang was also a Huajin Martial Artist, but there was no way of knowing his actual strength...
A gleam flickered in Qin Fang’s eyes.
’The disturbance compensation is a full one thousand taels?’
’If that’s the case...’
He narrowed his eyes.
’I happen to be a bit short on cash...’
’Good. This is a perfect chance to test my Mortal Martial Canon...’
A glint appeared in his eyes.
Since he’d already decided to vie for one of the Twelve Seats, it was about time he showed some of his Sharpness!
After Qin Fang went back inside, many people in D Building started whispering, "Someone from C Courtyard is challenging that Qin Fang... Come on, let’s go watch! It’s a fight between Huajin Powerhouses!"
Wang Qi and Brother Shen exchanged a look and also headed toward the Martial Arts Training Ground.
A flicker in his eyes, Huang Shun went with them.
「Meanwhile, in C Courtyard.」
"Geng Ye... Looks like someone couldn’t sit still any longer."
In C Courtyard, Residence 93, Chubby Qian squinted at the report in his hand.
He knew those people wouldn’t be able to resist making a move.
He immediately stood up and left his courtyard.
He had to go see for himself just what the man he was betting on was capable of... It would determine the scale of his future investment.
Many others were also stirred by the news.
Including some from A Courtyard.
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