He saw a middle-aged man wearing a cotton-padded jacket in front of a spacious medicinal shop. He was thrown out of the medicinal shop by two strong men.

"If you don't leave, the city guards will take you down. By then, you won't be able to leave even if you want to!"

A man wearing a fur coat, who was standing behind the two strong men, threatened the middle-aged man.

"Shopkeeper, how can you do this!"

The middle-aged man was thrown to the ground and refused to get up. His expression was anxious. "We did not agree on this price. If you refuse to pay me the agreed upon price, how can I explain it to the folks in the village!"

"Explaining is your responsibility, it has nothing to do with me."

The man called the shopkeeper, turned around and returned to the store.

The middle-aged man crawled and hugged the shopkeeper's leg.

'This asshole…'

The shopkeeper gave two strong men a look.

The two strong men nodded slightly in response. They then each took out a thick stick from their waist, about to swing at the middle-aged man.

However, just as the stick was about to fall on the middle-aged man's back, the shopkeeper shouted.

"Stop!"

The shopkeeper sternly shouted.

This was not because he was suddenly showing some kindness, but because he noticed that there was a young man dressed in the Black Armored Guards uniform in the crowd.

The young man looked calm as he looked at him with an expressionless face.

The shopkeeper's heart dropped. He wanted to kick the middle-aged man, but since he was being watched by a Black Armored Guard, he forced a smile from his face.

"My brother…"

The shopkeeper bent down and held the middle-aged man's arm. "I'm sorry, I suddenly remembered. I was mistaken."

"What?"

The middle-aged man looked at the shopkeeper who suddenly turned into a completely different person. He couldn't react for a while.

He was mentally prepared to be beaten for asking to pay their previously agreed upon price.

But the shopkeeper seemed to have suddenly changed his temper.

"It's just a few hundred taels."

With that, the shopkeeper took out three silver notes and handed them to the middle-aged man.

"Go back and greet your fellow villagers."

"Thank you shopkeeper, thank you shopkeeper!"

The middle-aged man was flattered. He stood up, bowed and thanked many times before leaving with gratitude.

The short debacle was over, and the pedestrians who surrounded this place had also dispersed.

But Xu Ning did not leave, he stood still in place.

Feng Sigua was behind Xu Ning.

'This person…'

The shopkeeper leaned forward with a smile on his face. "Are you going to buy medicinal materials?"

Xu Ning glanced at the shopkeeper and didn't answer.

He was watching the actions of the shopkeeper just now.

He also knew very well that if he hadn't been here just now, that man would have been beaten. He wouldn't be able to get the 300 taels of silver.

"Master…"

The shopkeeper saw Xu Ning ignoring him. He felt a little anxious.

He lowered his head and gave a look at the strong man. The strong man nodded and left quickly.

"Old Feng, let's go in and take a look."

Xu Ning also wanted to see what a Dayuan Trading Company store looked like.

Feng Sigua was 30 years old, much older than Xu Ning, so Xu Ning calling him Old Feng was appropriate.

However, Feng Sigua was stunned that Xu Ning gave him a nickname.

Xu Ning stepped forward, and the shopkeeper followed closely behind.

"There are a lot of medicinal materials…"

Inside the shop, there were many types of medicinal materials.

Xu Ning glanced at them briefly. The quality was not bad.

After walking around, Xu Ning went up to the second floor.

On the second floor, Xu Ning saw some spirit medicine.

'Swallowtail Flowers, 300 taels for one?'

Xu Ning stood still in front of a Swallowtail Flower and took a look at the price. He felt that the price was not cheap at all.

Being Guo Ye's friend and receiving a family discount, a Swallowtail Flower was only 180 taels.

Even for Tao Yungang, who supplied supplies to other medicinal shops in the county, the harvest price was just 200 taels.

Yet here, the price was raised by 50%.

However, Xu Ning could understand why. This was a store, and they had to pay rent and wages.

"Do you like the quality of this Swallowtail Flower? If you want to buy it, I will give it to you for half the price."

The shopkeeper saw Xu Ning lingering in front of the Swallowtail Flowers, so he said quickly.

Xu Ning did not expect this shopkeeper to be so generous.

"Half the price is only 150 taels. Are you sure that you are not selling at a loss?"

When the shopkeeper saw Xu Ning speak to him, he was obviously relieved. "No worries, we are backed by Dayuan Trading Company, so our purchase price is low."

When talking about Dayuan Trading Company, the tone of the shopkeeper was slightly more serious.

Xu Ning smiled and shook his head.

This shopkeeper seemed to be deliberately reminding him of this shop's background.

"I didn't bring enough money."

Xu Ning had not planned to buy this.

Xu Ning also didn't want to take advantage of the discount.

He hadn't figured out the details of Dayuan Trading Company, so he didn't want to get involved with them too soon.

"It's fine, we can write it in the books, and you can pay when it's convenient for you…"

The shopkeeper had intentions to give it to Xu Ning, but suddenly there was another voice.

"Look at how selfish you are, Master Xu is interested, so just wrap it up and give it to him. Don't embarrass the Dayuan Trading Company!"

An old man with a skinny figure and a moustache walked down from the second floor.

He strode towards Xu Ning, and unlike the shopkeeper, the smile on his face looked sincere.

"Deputy Manager Yu."

The shopkeeper quickly saluted.

"Who are you? Do you know me?"

Xu Ning asked.

The old man called out his surname, so he obviously knew him.

But Xu Ning had just arrived at Maple Lane.

"Yu Xinghe, Deputy Manager of Dayuan Trading Company."

As Yu Xinghe spoke, he was full of confidence. "We got news yesterday about Master Xu's arrival at Maple Lane. When you came to Maple Lane today, we should have taken the initiative to visit. Now you are here in person, please excuse our rudeness."

Xu Ning narrowed his eyes and took a look at Yu Xinghe.

Although Yu Xinghe looked skinny, he had his own aura. He looked like a martial artist.

He was extremely confident when he spoke just now. There was no trace of nervousness when facing a Black Armored Guard.

"Dayuan Trading Company is well-informed."

Xu Ning responded

"After all, we are the landlords of Maple Lane. When we have guests on our own site, of course we must know in advance."

Yu Xinghe smiled.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning's expression stiffened. He then laughed.

In Maple Lane, Black Armored Guards were outsiders, and he, the Deputy Manager of Dayuan Trading Company, was the real master.

'This Dayuan Trading Company is crazy.'

After Yu Xinghe spoke, he kept staring at Xu Ning's expression.

As a result, Xu Ning seemed to be a little surprised.

Yu Xinghe felt that this young man was more astute than he had imagined.

If another Black Armored Guard had heard what he said, they would either refute or question him. He didn't expect Xu Ning's nonchalantness.

However, Yu Xinghe's act didn't stop there. He clapped his hands and shouted, "Bring it over."

A young maid, holding a beautiful wooden box, walked forward.

She opened the wooden box, revealing three crystal clear dans.

"Please accept these Qinglu Dans, Master Xu."

Yu Xinghe said.

"Qinglu Dan?"

This was the first time Xu Ning had seen dans before.

He was going to wait until the end of the month when he was paid, to take a look at a Qinglu Dan, so he didn't expect to see it so early.

Xu Ning reached out and pinched a Qinglu Dan.

Sure enough, the Martial Arts Panel refreshed.

—

Discovered energy: 3 units

Absorb?

Yes/No

—

'500 taels for only 3 energy units?'

Xu Ning did not expect that the energy in this dan medicine was so little.

The Jasper Grass he had picked in the past was also worth 500 taels, but it had 6 energy units.

'It seems that dan medicine is not suitable for me…'

Xu Ning finally understood now.

When making dan medicine, the energy inside would not increase, only the utilization rate would increase. But since Xu Ning directly absorbed energy, he didn't have to worry about the utilization rate.

After seeing Xu Ning pinch a Qinglu Dan, a smile flicked across Yu Xinghe's mouth.

For warriors, resources are money. Anyone who loves money can be bought and used.

The Black Armored Guards in the Maple Lane Guard Station all loved money. They were all good friends with Dayuan Trading Company.