Chapter Forty-Six: Manager Liao’s Business Philosophy

Time slipped quietly by.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Qin Ming did not leave his residence, dedicating himself from dawn to dusk to the arduous practice of the perfected Blood-Burning Blade Technique, engraving its insights deeply into his heart.

On the eleventh day.

After the effect of the entry had faded, Qin Ming tried cultivating the Blood-Burning Blade Technique again.

With firsthand understanding, it took him only two more days to restore his mastery from the proficient level back to perfection.

Thus, he fully grasped this blade technique!

On this day.

Qingyang Market.

Qin Ming once again visited Gathering Pavilion.

Manager Liao was at the first-floor counter reviewing the accounts. Glancing up, he saw his most valued patron approaching.

Instantly, his face lit up with a delighted smile!

He quickly set aside the account book, his trademark grin spreading across his face as he hurried out to greet him.

"Daoist Qin, your timing is perfect! Our shop has just received a batch of the newest Spirit Bamboo Wine. Please, come up to the private room on the third floor. I’ll let you be the first to taste it, hahahaha."

Qin Ming, surprised, replied, "Manager, I came here today specifically to purchase spirit wine, intending to gift it to someone."

Manager Liao paused for a moment, his smile growing even wider. "Oh! What a coincidence!"

Inside the private room.

Manager Liao invited Qin Ming to sit, then produced a jar of wine and poured him a cup, his eyes twinkling as he said,

"Daoist Qin, please!"

"Try and see how this Spirit Bamboo Wine tastes."

Qin Ming raised the cup, inhaled its aroma at the tip of his nose, then drained it in one swallow.

Immediately, a refreshing and mellow fragrance unique to spirit bamboo filled his mouth. As the wine entered his belly, it even seemed to slightly enhance his magical power!

"Excellent wine!" Qin Ming couldn’t help but praise.

"Hehehe, Daoist Qin, you may not know—the wine is brewed from spirit bamboo grown deep within the wilds of Cloud Marsh. Only bamboo aged fifty years or more is used. The brewing process is difficult, and the yield is scarce; it is truly a rare and exquisite spirit," Manager Liao explained with practiced ease.

"I’ll take it. How much of this wine do you have?" Qin Ming asked.

"This shipment brought twenty jars, but all have been preordered."

"I specifically reserved two jars for Daoist Qin, hehe."

With that, Manager Liao pulled two jars of Spirit Bamboo Wine from his storage pouch and placed them before Qin Ming.

Qin Ming waved his hand, storing the wine in his own pouch, then asked, "How many spirit stones for these two jars?"

---

"Ah, Daoist Qin, no need to be so formal! These jars were meant as a gift for you," Manager Liao replied, waving his hand dismissively.

Qin Ming did not protest. Last time, he’d spent over a thousand spirit stones on magical tools here.

No doubt this old fellow had received a hefty commission.

Qin Ming drank another cup of Spirit Bamboo Wine and asked, "Manager, do you have Cold Dew Extract, Jade Fire Liquid, Spirit Blossom Essence... these sorts of spirit materials?"

"Of course, but—aren’t those used for alchemy?" Manager Liao asked, puzzled.

"Exactly. I’ll take ten portions of each," Qin Ming answered calmly.

"So many? N-no problem!"

"Daoist Qin, forgive me for asking, but are these materials for Master Su the Alchemist?" Manager Liao ventured, still perplexed.

Out of regard for the gift of wine, Qin Ming did not conceal the truth. "No, they’re for my own use."

"Could it be..." Manager Liao’s mind raced, and he suddenly asked, "Daoist Qin, are you studying alchemy as well?"

"That’s right."

"I recently broke through to low-grade alchemist."

"Now, I’m purchasing these materials to attempt refining medium-grade pills," Qin Ming admitted, seeing no reason to hide it, especially as he would need to buy more materials in the future.

Buzz—

Manager Liao’s mind went blank.

‘M-medium-grade alchemist?’

He was momentarily speechless, realizing those two jars of wine were a most worthwhile gift!

He quickly recovered, his face brimming with a smile: "Congratulations, Daoist Qin! I never expected you to be so accomplished in alchemy as well!"

"Is it related to Master Su?" he asked cautiously.

Qin Ming nodded lightly.

Manager Liao finally understood. No wonder Qin Ming’s alchemical skills had advanced so rapidly.

‘It seems the Pavilion Master’s judgment was mistaken. Daoist Qin and Master Su are not mere acquaintances; Master Su personally instructs him in alchemy. Their relationship must be profound!’

‘If Daoist Qin advances to medium-grade alchemist, and I maintain good relations, the Pavilion Master will surely reward me handsomely!’

Manager Liao’s mind spun, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

"Daoist Qin, I’ll decide this batch of materials will be calculated at half price."

Qin Ming was taken aback, then smiled: "I’ll graciously accept."

Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Manager Liao knew his opportunity had come and quickly poured him another drink.

"Daoist Qin, I have a small request."

"In future, if you have surplus pills to sell, could you give our shop priority?"

---

Qin Ming smiled slightly, "Certainly, though for now I can only refine low-grade pills."

"Don’t expect too much."

"No matter, no matter! With your talent, Daoist Qin, I believe you will soon break through to medium-grade alchemist."

"Come, let me toast Daoist Qin!"

Manager Liao beamed with joy.

The transaction concluded.

The two continued to drink for a while.

Manager Liao suddenly remembered something, his expression turning serious. "By the way, Daoist Qin, the spirit fields have been unsettled lately. You should be careful and avoid wandering into the surrounding woods."

"I heard that a few days ago, four cultivators from Feather Gate were killed, their bodies destroyed. The incident happened in the forest behind your spirit fields."

"Oh? Has the culprit been identified?" Qin Ming asked, sipping his wine nonchalantly.

"It’s said the site was cleaned meticulously. If not for the soul lamps in the sect going out, they might not even have discovered who died."

"The four dead from Feather Gate were all mid to late-stage cultivators. The killer must be at least at the peak of Qi Refining."

Qin Ming felt reassured by Manager Liao’s account.

"But Daoist Qin, you needn’t worry too much. The market itself is quite safe. Especially since two powerful late-stage Qi Refining cultivators recently moved in next door to you—they’ll help deter any petty troublemakers," Manager Liao added, lest Qin Ming worry.

Qin Ming frowned slightly, puzzled. "Two new late-stage Qi Refining neighbors?"

"Yes. You’ve met them before in this shop—the two who came to sell beast carcasses the day we went downstairs together. They’re the Feng brothers," Manager Liao explained.

Qin Ming recalled two cultivators clad in beast-leather robes, one of them bald.

"So, it’s them," Qin Ming mused.

Seeing that Qin Ming hadn’t met them, Manager Liao said, "It’s normal not to see them; the Feng brothers are beast hunters, very strong, and only return to the market every ten days or so."

Qin Ming nodded.

With their conversation finished, Qin Ming left the shop.

Manager Liao escorted him to the door, watching as he walked away.

Unable to contain his excitement, he slapped his hands together, his face glowing as he muttered to himself,

"The chance to earn great merit has finally come!"

"I must hurry and report to the Pavilion Master!"