Simply Trading

But the timid girl"s invitation to head upstairs restored his moderately tolerant mood once again, and he started up the stairs without the frown that had appeared on his brow earlier. He did give out a soft sigh, at having to waste his time like this. Something that made the teenage girl give him a stricken look, as if she had just been terribly wronged.

It seemed the ones running the shop had already left word with her to see to his well-being. Well, that was good to know, he decided. Not that he could be bothered. This place was far too busy, despite the season. And he wouldn"t have bothered to come again, if he had a choice.

But it would start to get cold soon, and he didn"t wish to delay his plans, just because of the cold Winter season. Which was why he decided to try his luck again, while he still could. And there was no point waiting for the Autumn Harvest, since most of the farmers and such would be busy with their fields. So he could only hope to settle this before then.

She did not stop on the Second Floor either, and he found himself raising his eyebrows in surprise. That was where the more expensive and prized herbs were stored and sold, after all. Not to mention, a place where most welcome guests were invited to wait and be served with tea, while the Medicine Hall dealt with their business.

Not that he had been there himself, of course. It was only what he had heard, from the descriptions of the way that Fu Lai Medicine Hall did their business. And he wasn"t going to be led there? To be dealt with by the ranking Elders of the place? Where was she leading him then?

It seemed not, as the girl was still continuing to ascend the stairs in the wide stairwell. Clearly, they were still going up. And that meant that he was being brought to the highest level of the building. Into truly rarefied territory! That was where the most powerful members of Fu Lai Medicine Hall held court!

So it seemed these idiots had learned their lesson from his last visit! Qin Feng made a point of controlling his expressions then, so that he did not give away the sense of glee that he was feeling at the moment. Finally! It looked like they had truly learned their lesson!

Then a shadow fell over the last stretch of the stairwell when they were just about to reach the top. Looking up, Qin Feng saw four figures, standing to the side of the entrance of the same, at the top of the stairs. Two of them were dressed like soldiers too, which made him frown again, momentarily.

What were soldiers doing in a Medicine Hall? And from the quality of their uniforms, neither of them were particularly high-ranked either. Indeed, the proud look that he had always a.s.sociated with the military was not present at all. So, they were some sort of bodyguard, perhaps? For that scrumptiously dressed fellow? Who was speaking to the old man in the blue over-robe?

The last had just clasped his hands in a rather blatant gesture that indicated that he was sending off a welcome guest, just as Qin Feng was about to pull his eyes away.

"Second Ducal Prince is being too courteous. This old man does not dare. I shall send word to the Palace, once we have any word of the medicines that you are looking for," the wizen old man with the white-hair and beard said with obvious dignity that somehow, did not look too out of place, given that he was dealing with Royalty.

The young man that was framed on either side with the big burly men in armor smiled back with a similarly dignified air, as he clasped his hands in an obvious farewell. Then he turned, and started down the stairs at once, without a second look at the old man or Qin Feng and the girl leading him.

But he froze just as he was about to take his fifth step down the stairwell, as he was pa.s.sing Qin Feng by. Or rather, pa.s.sing the bundle that the man was carrying on his back. His nose twitched then, and he turned to give the man in the faded cotton robe and the straw hat a second look.

Qin Feng, on the other hand, simply ignored him. He was already immune to these so-called Royals, who were scrounging around for medicines like hungry goats. They were none of them worth his time. After all, what could they offer in exchange for the medicinal herbs? How was mere money going to help him with his problems?

So he simply ascended, following the girl who was already showing signs of being under great stress. She was clearly sweating although the weather was not warm in the slightest. Especially when the interior of the Medicine Hall seemed to be amply ventilated and somewhat cool, given the seasonality.

The two burly guards were also careful to give way, although they remained close to the princ.i.p.al charge that they were protecting, and had their hands on their weapons. Neither of them made a move, although their eyes warned that they were watching his every move, even as they descended.

But it was the Second Ducal Prince who spoke then, much to everyone"s surprise. And his feet had clear come to a stop, there on the fourth step of the stairs. And his next words, apparently, were directed at the middle-aged man in the faded blue robe, that was pa.s.sing him by on the stairs!

"A moment, please, venerable sir. I seem to have detected an unusual medicinal smell from your body. It is possible for venerable sir to show me what you have brought into this place? If it suits my purpose, I might be willing to purchase the same from you, at a price that would certainly meet your satisfaction."

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