Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Xiao Yan, the Dependent Son-in-Law?
Xiao Yan spread his hands and seemed to speak offhandedly, "Oh, who would have thought that the so-called largest market in Wu Tan City would be one that picks and chooses its customers? Unlike the Xiao Clan's market across the street, they never turn anyone away. Every customer there is treated as if they were a Dou King."
Jia Lie Ao's face changed dramatically. If this rumor were to spread, the reputation of their market would surely be damaged.
"What should we do, young master?"
Jia Lie Ao looked at the surrounding customers and merchants. Many of them frowned when they heard Xiao Yan's words.
For merchants, of course, the more customers, the better. They had no reason to drive away customers. Especially someone like Xiao Yan, who was known to be a big spender. Needless to say, the customers also didn't want to be driven away for no reason the next time they were shopping.
Having said that, Xiao Yan ignored Jia Lie Ao's sullen face and turned to Xun Er, "Xun Er, we should avoid places that drive away customers like this in the future. Let's go back to our market instead."
Xun Er blinked her lively eyes and nodded her head like an obedient child, "Oh, Xun Er understands."
Jia Lie Ao's mouth twitched when he saw Xun Er nod her head in response to Xiao Yan's words, and the two of them even turned around and prepared to leave. His fists clenched so tightly they creaked. His gaze was dark and venomous as he stared at the talented young man.
"Wait a moment!"
Jia Lie Ao slowly stepped back, clearing a path, and said through gritted teeth, "Since you've come to the market to buy things, then please be my guest."
Xiao Yan and Xun Er shared a smile. Xun Er linked her arm with Xiao Yan's as they walked through the path made by the crowd into the market.
Jia Lie Ao watched Xiao Yan's back with a contorted face, his knuckles cracking in anger. Four years ago, he had been severely beaten up by the then-only ten-year-old Xiao Yan for harassing Xun Er.
It was from that incident that Xiao Yan's reputation as a genius started to spread. In other words, he, Jia Lie Ao, was his stepping stone!
However, four years had passed, and he had only become a 1-star Dou Practitioner, while Xiao Yan had already reached the 3-star Dou Practitioner stage.
Almost a star per year, such a rate of progress was terrifying!
"Have someone follow these two. Since they dared to come alone, there's a chance..." Jia Lie Ao made a throat-slitting gesture.
With his powerful Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan naturally knew that they were being followed. "Three 7-star Dou Practitioners. They are really underestimating Xiao Yan ge-ge," Xun Er also noticed that they were being followed, but she wasn't worried.
If Jia Lie Ao knew that Xiao Yan had defeated Nalan Yanran, who had learned the Xuan Class Dou Skills of the Misty Cloud Sect, in just one move yesterday, they would never have done such a stupid thing.
Not to mention Dou Practitioners, even Dou Masters without Xuan Class Dou Skills would be no match for Xiao Yan.
"You're saying they're planning to refine and sell medicinal pills?!"
Xiao Yan nodded, "I visited our clan's market this morning and noticed that all the merchants selling medicinal herbs had half of their usual stock of low-grade medicinal ingredients." "And in their market, the merchants have no low-grade medicinal ingredients at all." "Low-grade medicinal ingredients are usually used to refine 1st and 2nd-tier medicinal pills. If it's 1st-tier pills, it's still manageable, but 2nd-tier pills would be problematic." Xiao Zhan's face changed dramatically when he heard his son's analysis. If the Jia Lie Clan and the Ao Ba Clan truly could refine medicinal pills, it would be a devastating blow to the Xiao
Clan!
Indeed, the alliance between the two clans was not easy to deal with!
Xiao Yan patted his father's shoulder to comfort him, "Father, don't worry. A 2nd-tier
alchemist wouldn't just obey the orders of the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans."
"And if it really comes down to it, we could ask Elder Nalan Jie for help."
"So our top priority now is to have the herb gathering team collect more herbs and reduce the sale of those herbs so as not to be swallowed up by others. Having the raw materials in hand
also gives us some leverage."
Xiao Zhan sighed and nodded. Even though his father and Nalan Jie were life-and-death
friends, he had always been reluctant to ask for Nalan Jie's help. After all, the original agreement was that Xiao Yan would marry Nalan Yanran. If they asked Nalan Jie for help, wouldn't it look like the Xiao Clan was living off others?!
Wouldn't his son become a dependent son-in-law?
As a father, how could he allow his son to bear the stigma of living off others?
...
Xiao Yan ventured into a secluded cave on the back mountain alone and brought out a medicinal cauldron along with a large amount of low-grade medicinal ingredients and
several monster cores.
In truth, the reassurances that Xiao Yan gave to Xiao Zhan were nothing more than words of comfort. The person he cared for wasn't Nalan Yanran, nor did he wish to become overly
involved with the Nalan Clan.
Only being strong himself was the true path!
'It seems I need to practice alchemy more frequently now. If they really manage to hire a 2nd-
tier alchemist, just being able to refine 1st-tier medicinal pills won't be enough.'