Chapter 52 Gong Fan's Ploys

Ren Ye didn't continue chatting with them anymore and eventually left the company, believing his trip there didn't bear any fruit. He planned to go out into the city and visit Old Fan's charm store.

He was planning to sell his Agility charm for a couple of bucks, hoping it will be enough. Considering charms are extremely sought after, he believed the price will go beyond his imagination.

He didn't hesitate as he used teleportation and arrived in front of the store. Although it wasn't even night yet, the street which the store was located on was usually quiet today.

Old Yi couldn't wait to get out of his state and extracted himself out of Ren Ye's body, he stretched his neck and complained.

"I haven't been out here in days now because of you having to surround yourself with other people. I'm afraid my presence would attract unwanted attention."

"Also, my power has somewhat stabilized but came to a halt since the system decided to ask you to power up instead of completing more missions."

Old Yi snorted with dissatisfaction as Ren Ye curled his lips into a half-smile, "Aren't you afraid others will find you here?"

Old Yi stopped talking before he shook his head with a funny expression, "Of course not."

"This store is covered in anti-detection aura and Old Fan's employees are technically ordinary people. Old Fan also seems to be someone knowledgable as well."

"They won't be able to discover me unless I uncover myself or they possessed the Seven Eye."

The Seven Eye is a unique S tier technique that could only be taught and passed to those who are in Venerable Realm. It is a much feared technique that allows the user to be able to see through the entire universe and ten seconds into the future.

Being able to see 10 seconds into the future was extremely powerful on its own as its characteristic belonged to the Time element.

Old Yi could only be discovered by those who possessed this unique set of eyes as he was a unique existence in this world.

Ren Ye was fairly educated on these things as Old Yi had given him a lot of information regarding his journey and past.

He nodded his head and entered the Charm Shop, the bells above his head suddenly rang to alert the employees that there was a visitor to their humble store.

Ren Ye had expected to see a lot of items placed on the desk and the youthful young lady from before but unexpectedly, they were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a frail elderly man sat in the front desk with squinted eyes. Gong Fan heard the noises and raised his head slightly, he appeared to figure out who it was.

"Ah, the young lad from before."

"And you bought in another guest."

Upon hearing this, Ren Ye couldn't help but turn to look at Old Yi, who was somewhat surprised. Old Yi didn't speak as Gong Fan let out a low chuckle.

"Another customer?"

"…"

It appeared Gong Fan was unable discern who it was as Old Yi turned to whisper softly in Ren Ye's ears, "He doesn't know me. He only hears my footsteps."

Ren Ye figured out and nodded his head.

As he was about to open his and speak, Gong Fan interrupted him indifferently, "Did the shards you bought last time worked?"

"Judging from the light-weightness of your walk and the wind surrounding your body, they must have been all used."

Ren Ye replied frankly, "Yes."

"Good…very good."

"You're probably wondering where did all of my things go? Well, this young man came here just now and bought everything in one go."

Gong Fan laughed in a low and throaty tone as he caressed his beard gently.

"He asked my granddaughter to help him carry them over to his office and asked to find a Spirit Master to cleanse his office. He found a corpse inside his building…"

Ren Ye was taken aback as Old Yi frowned and sniffed the air surrounding them, his expression turned grave and turned to look at Ren Ye.

"I have sensed the presence of another transmigrator."

"What is his name?" Ren Ye raised his question calmly, Gong Fan suddenly closed his mouth and his expression turned cold.

"I am afraid I cannot disclose his name."

"…"

"But I am willing to do so if you do him a favor."

"…"

Ren Ye choked, "What favor?"

"He is asking for a Spirit Master."

"Do I look like a Spirit Master to you?"

Ren Ye's eyes twitched as he caressed them, Gong Fan didn't seem offended as he continued to play with his beard.

"You don't have to be one, you can make a charm using my shards. Seeing that you came back empty-handed, you must have succeeded or perhaps the shards broke from your hands."

Ren Ye shook his head dismissively, "I cannot do that."

At least at this moment.

I am not an exorcist.

"Then why are you here for?"

Gong Fan said softly as though he had expected this answer from this hot-headed young man.

"I am here to ask you about Blueroots Ginseng and I am asking you if you know any place that accepts charms selling?"

"1k RMB for each question."

Gong Fan replied with a deadpan expression coupled with his squinted eyes, making him appear as a michevious old man. Ren Ye didn't speak as he had expected this sort of question appear somehow.

"I will help that young lad you talked about just now if you are willing to give me information and answer," Ren Ye bought up his own tactics to bring this old man down.

Gong Fan suddenly laughed out loud, "You waited to use that against me?"

Ren Ye didn't nod nor shake his head, he continued to look at Gong Fan indifferently.

"Smart lad. I like you."

"You helping him doesn't benefit me in any way but since he was willing to offer me a considerate amount of money to find a capable charm-maker and a Spirit Master, I couldn't refuse."

"I will take about a third of the money he pays you."

"…"

"This old man is scheming as always," Ren Ye didn't curse but his expression turned dark upon hearing his offer. But Ren Ye wanted to bring up another thing.

"I have a charm I made a couple of days ago, I am wondering if that young man is willing to purchase this charm."

"Mm? What type?"

Gong Fan was immediately intrigued by the offer as he had never had seen a daring young lad in his store before. Although he has seen different types of customers, he had never met one this hot-headed as Ren Ye.

"The kind that allows a person to move quickly."

Ren Ye spoke softly as Gong fan nodded his head with interest, his squinted eyes shifted slightly and he curled his lips into a wrinkled smile.

"Agility? I could use that for myself."

"…"

"I am afraid your body won't be able to handle it," Ren Ye replied with a sarcastic remark, he didn't know whether this old man would be offended by a mention of old age and weak physique.

Gong Fan didn't seem angered as he nodded his head in acknowledgement, "You're right. I might actually die if I use it on myself."

"Alright then, offer a price and I will discuss it with the young lad."

"My advice to you, you should offer a high price because that lad is extremely rich and won't refuse even if you offer a ridiculous amount of money."

Gong Fan didn't hesitate to throw the young lad under the bus and inform Ren Ye of ways to trick this young man into fooling another person. Gong Fan was glad he was a rather old man and the society held a high filial piety belief.

"It will be alright since charms are generally pricey."

"I offer the price of 1 Million RMB."

Ren Ye raised his voice a little higher than usual as Gong Fan rubbed his beard and nodded his head with an understanding expression, "Good."

"He will accept the price."

Ren Ye didn't want to waste his time coming here without finding out the full information of the ingredient he was coming here.

He lowered his head silently as he spoke in a low tone, "Do you know any places or any one who sells Blueroots Ginseng?"

"Mm?"

Gong Fan was vaguely taken aback from the sudden question, seemingly forgetting Ren Ye had asked him about it before. Gong Fan didn't impulsively inform at first as he made a thoughtful sound with his throat.

"Blueroots Ginseng?"

"Why have I not heard of it before?"

Old Yi snorted angrily as he wanted to reprimand this old man for his lack of knowledge despite being a merchant for a very long time, Ren Ye thought it must have been something not many people asked about.

"Isn't that one of the rarest Ginseng varieties in the world?"

Ren Ye nodded his head, "Sort of."

"Ah, I remember there was two types of Ginseng but I don't seem to remember the name."

Gong Fan admitted his short memory with a low chuckle.

"Redroots and Blueroots Ginseng."

"Redroots can be found and farmed near an active volcano whereas Blueroots tend to farmed up in the mountains, covered in layers of snow."

"No one ever looked for these types before but somehow you managed to remind me of these varieties."

Gong Fan tapped the ground with his cane, producing tapping noises as he thought deeply and tried to recall back his memories.

"Ah, I finally remember something."