Chu Li and Lee Yue stepped into the Floral Pavilion.
Across the street from the Floral Pavilion was the main street of Chong Ming Town. It was bustling with people and carriages, but the Floral Pavilion was quiet and cold. It was like two different worlds.
The entrance of the Floral Pavilion was old and dilapidated. The surrounding antique shops and jewelry shops were all similar in style, as if they were about to close down.
Chu Li would not underestimate this place. It was a place that did not open for business for three years, but once it did, it would eat for three years.
Lifting the curtains, their eyes widened. The spacious hall was fragrant, and pots of rare plants were placed on the shelves.
In the middle of the hall was an old man with white eyebrows and beard, leisurely drinking tea.
When he saw the two enter, he stood up with a smile and closed fist saluted, "Young brothers, feel free to look around."
Chu Li and Lee Yue's eyes were immediately attracted by the Moonlight Orchid. Its green leaves were curved, glowing with a warm luster. It was so beautiful that it did not seem alive.
The old man came over and laughed, "Young brothers, do you like the Moonlight Orchid?"
Lee Yue scoffed, "Of course, who doesn't!"
"Shopkeeper, how long does this Moonlight Orchid last?"
"It just arrived not long ago," the old man raised two fingers, "at least two months!"
"Ten days!" Chu Li smiled.
Lee Yue patted his waist and scoffed, "Shopkeeper, open your eyes wide!"
"Hehe, are you a man from the Public House?" The old man's expression changed. He closed fist saluted and smiled, "My apologies, my apologies … I dare not lie to you. It is indeed ten days, but this is the only one that came out of the island this year. The next one will be next year. I have to take care of my parents and children, and I have to support my family. I can't sell it at such a low price!"
Lee Yue waved his hand, "Stop acting pitiful, we don't buy it!"
Everyone who could open a shop here was not poor. They were all wealthy.
Chu Li touched the Moonlight Orchid casually, "Give me a price!"
The essence of the Moonlight Orchid flowed into his body, and he circulated the Minute Pulse Cleansing Technique once.
He spat out a mouthful of air, suppressing his ecstasy. Extremely pure spiritual energy! One year, he only needed one year to build his foundation!
Just as the old man opened his mouth to speak, the sound of footsteps rang out. A young man entered the room, lifted the curtain with both hands, and bowed respectfully. A voice came from outside the door.
"Sister Zhao, please!"
"Senior Brother Zhuo, after you!"
A handsome young man strode into the house. He had a jade-like face, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. A long sword hung from his waist. He was in high spirits, looking around proudly. It was Zhuo Feiyang.
Two beautiful girls followed behind him. One was delicate and pretty, and the other had skin as white as snow. It was Zhao Ying.
Chu Li and Zhuo Feiyang's eyes met and both of them frowned.
Chu Li looked at Zhao Ying.
He activated the Omniscient Mirror and breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Zhao Ying was not tempted and had purposely brought along another female companion.
Zhuo Feiyang scoffed. "Why are you here?"
Chu Li laughed coldly. "Interesting. Why can't I be here?"
Zhuo Feiyang scoffed, "A lowly servant who can't even afford to buy a single blade of grass. What a pity!"
"Young Master Zhuo is a busybody!"
Li Yue had a bad feeling about this. This was the genius Zhuo Feiyang. If the two of them really clashed, things would not end well for them.
"Hehe, Brother Zhuo, Miss Zhao, I am Li Yue from the East Garden!"
Zhuo Feiyang glared at him coldly and did not say anything.
Zhao Ying, who was dressed in a light green gown, smiled and returned the greeting. "Brother Li."
Zhuo Feiyang looked down at him from above. "Chu Li, get out of the way! A good dog doesn't block the way!"
"Zhuo Feiyang, do you really believe that people call you a genius?"
"Of course I'm a genius!" Zhuo Feiyang puffed out his chest. "So what if you're smart? You still haven't built your foundation yet!"
"Sigh … No matter how good your martial arts is, if you don't have a brain, you're still an idiot!" Chu Li shook his head.
Zhuo Feiyang gritted his teeth and looked at him with disdain. "In this world, martial arts is everything! … Chu Li, I'm rank eight now, and I'll reach rank seven this year. What about you? You're just a lowly servant. If you want to reach rank eight, you'll have to work hard for twenty years, and you can't even make a mistake. Do you really think you won't get into trouble with your stupid character? "
"With your brain, no matter how good your martial arts are, you'll only be able to guard the house. You won't be of much use!"
Zhuo Feiyang scoffed. "Even if I won't be of much use, I'll still be more useful than you!"
"Brother Zhuo, Brother Chu!" Zhao Ying stomped her feet.
Zhuo Feiyang's expression changed immediately. He smiled gently and said, "Zhao Ying, what do you think of this Moonlight Orchid?"
"It's beautiful, but it's too expensive." Zhao Ying shook her head and looked away from the Moonlight Orchid.
Zhuo Feiyang looked at the Moonlight Orchid and smiled. "Zhao Ying, let's go somewhere else. It's too unlucky to be with him. Let's go!"
"Brother Chu …" Zhao Ying smiled apologetically. She knew that it was not appropriate for the two of them to be together.
Chu Li waved his hand to indicate that it was fine. He looked at them with a gloomy expression as they left.
"Phew …" Li Yue let out a long sigh. He looked at Chu Li helplessly. "Brother, you …"
Zhuo Feiyang was a genius. He would definitely become a big shot in the future. It was best not to provoke him.
Chu Li waved his hand. "Shopkeeper, give me a price."
The old man laughed. "Thank you. Two hundred taels!"
"What an unscrupulous businessman!" Li Yue shook his head and took out some banknotes.
"Wait!" The curtain was lifted and a young man walked in. It was the Scribe who stood behind Zhuo Feiyang. He was slim and handsome.
Bai Zhijie was a rank nine Scribe. He smiled at everyone he met.
However, he stood in front of the old man with a cold expression. "I bid three hundred taels!"
Li Yue's eyes widened. "Xiao Bai?!"
This guy usually smiled at him and called him Brother Li. But now, his expression had changed. It was as if he was a completely different person!
"Shopkeeper, what do you think?" Bai Zhijie did not even look at Li Yue. He stared at the old man coldly.
The old man hesitated. "This …"
He looked at Chu Li and then at Bai Zhijie. The men of the House of High Duke were not to be trifled with. But with such a huge profit in front of him, he could not help but be tempted.
He turned his head and smiled apologetically at Chu Li.
Chu Li said, "Five hundred taels!"
"Six hundred taels!"
"Seven hundred taels!"
"Eight hundred taels!"
"One thousand taels!"
"One thousand taels!" Bai Zhijie stared at Chu Li coldly. "Brother Chu, I advise you to reconsider. Do you want to go against Master Zhuo?"
Chu Li stared at Bai Zhijie and suddenly smiled. "Ten thousand taels!"
Bai Zhijie stared at Chu Li. "Brother Chu, are you going to go down this path until the end?"
Chu Li smiled.
Bai Zhijie hesitated for a while and finally stomped his foot. "Eleven thousand taels!"
Chu Li closed fist saluted and smiled. "I'm impressed. You win!"
He turned around and left. Li Yue glared at Bai Zhijie and quickly followed him.
Central Street. Surrounded by a lively crowd, Chu Li's chest was filled with anger. He did not feel the joy of tricking Zhuo Feiyang.
There would only be a second Moonlight Orchid in a year. In a year, Gu Litong would be able to successfully cultivate it. Zhuo Feiyang would become a rank seven Protector. Chu Li himself would have no hope of advancing or building his foundation!
Li Yue looked at his gloomy face and helplessly said, "Brother, don't think too much about it. Zhuo Feiyang is rich. You really can't win against him."
Chu Li frowned and did not say anything. He no longer had the mood to play and went straight back to the Public House.
The next morning, Chu Li was cultivating in the mulberry parterre when Li Yue ran over. "Brother, bad news! Bad news!"
Chu Li frowned and looked at him.
Li Yue ran over and shouted, "Zhuo Feiyang is too much!"
"Spit it out!" Chu Li said impatiently.
Li Yue said angrily, "Zhuo Feiyang wants to change his Scribe!"
Chu Li's face darkened. "Me?"
Li Yue nodded and punched the ground. "That's too much!"
Chu Li's face darkened. His anger was boiling.
Although there was a difference in salary between a Scribe and a Protector, their status was similar. A rank eight Protector could be paired with a rank nine Scribe. Similarly, a rank eight Scribe could be paired with a rank nine Protector.
Zhuo Feiyang wanted Chu Li from the Herb House. The Herb House would not offend this genius for Chu Li's sake.
Moreover, being an imperial bodyguard was also a good job. Imperial bodyguards spent ten months out of the year on missions. Imperial bodyguards did not have any other errands in the mansion, so they could live leisurely and carefree. Imperial bodyguards who went on missions had generous bonuses and extra income. Just a little bit of money was enough for imperial bodyguards to eat and drink well.
If Chu Li rejected it, others would think that he did not know what was good for him.
Zhuo Feiyang had improved a lot. This move was ruthless and despicable!
"What should we do?" Li Yue asked anxiously.
Without Chu Li, he would not be able to sleep well. The flowers and plants in the East Garden were too delicate. They could easily cause problems.
Chu Li scoffed. "I'll have to use my last resort!"
"Tell me!" Li Yue asked.
Chu Li said, "I'll write a challenge. Brother Li, please help me deliver it."
"You want to challenge Zhuo Feiyang?" Li Yue hesitated. "Brother, isn't it too risky?"
Chu Li's swordsmanship was strong, but Zhuo Feiyang was not himself. He might not be able to win.
Chu Li smiled. "I'll give it a try."
"Sigh … You've got guts …" Li Yue shook his head helplessly. Chu Li did not care about anything.
Chu Li returned to the courtyard and wrote two invitations. One for Zhuo Feiyang and the other for Zhao Ying.
Li Yue was confused. "Why did you invite Miss Zhao?"
"If I don't invite Sister Zhao, Zhuo Feiyang will go back on his word!"
"Really?"
"This guy is not as righteous as you think. He's very despicable!"
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