Chapter 54: Slaps in the Face, and Retribution for Good and Evil!

[🎉 Shoutout to OneTimeSkinny & JacksonR for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗 Do support my new work—"The Villain: Claiming Protagonist's Master"]

"If it's all hundred-year-level materials, then even the lowest quality ones, like the spiked dragon viper's horn, venom sac, and fangs, would be worth over 100 gold soul coins. The jade essence of the jade aurora bird should be valued at over 300 gold soul coins, and the mandrake serpent's fangs and venom sacs, at least 50 gold soul coins," the shopkeeper answered thoughtfully.

"But... why are you asking this?"

After answering, the shopkeeper shot a strange look at Lin Ye, clearly puzzled.

"I'm not done yet. Do you guys even buy these kinds of things?" Lin Ye cut him off calmly.

"We do, but we only buy venom sacs and jade essence. For fangs, you'd have to check with weapon shops or similar places," the shopkeeper replied.

"Hey, kid! You're asking all these questions, but do you really have those things on you? With that scrawny body of yours, you'd probably piss yourself if you even saw a ten-year spiked dragon viper or mandrake serpent, let alone a hundred-year one!" Mark sneered, dismissing Lin Ye's inquiries as mere bluffing.

Lin Ye simply chuckled, unfazed by Mark's disbelief. There was no need to explain to someone who refused to see the truth. The best way to shut Mark up? Hit him hard with cold, hard facts.

After getting the price estimates for the spiked dragon viper, jade aurora bird, and mandrake serpent materials from the shopkeeper, Lin Ye remained composed. He pretended to reach inside his shirt while, in reality, discreetly feeling for the jade pendant at his waist.

With a faint glow from the pendant, his hand suddenly produced a jade the size of a baby's fist from within his shirt. It was the precious jade essence of the jade aurora bird, known for its potent detoxification properties.

Holding the jade essence in his left hand, Lin Ye pulled it out from his clothes and, with a loud smack, placed it directly on the counter.

"This is…"

The shopkeeper and Mark both froze, staring at the jade in disbelief.

"It's... jade essence!"

Unlike Mark, the shopkeeper, who dealt with medicinal materials daily, immediately recognized the jade essence and was utterly shocked.

Most hundred-year jade essences were only the size of a dragon's eye, but the one Lin Ye placed on the counter was as large as a baby's fist.

A jade essence this size must've come from a nearly thousand-year-old jade aurora bird!

"The jade essence of a jade aurora bird?"

Mark suddenly realized what Lin Ye had just placed on the counter, his heart sinking as the shopkeeper's words confirmed his worst fear.

"Could it be that the kid wasn't bluffing earlier? Does he really have these materials?"

"What level is this jade essence?" Mark's face darkened as a wave of unease hit him, prompting him to ask hastily.

"This... this is close to a thousand-year level jade essence," the shopkeeper responded, still in awe.

Jade essence was one of the top-tier materials among soul beast herbs, and a nearly thousand-year-old jade essence would undoubtedly become the centerpiece of their store!

"Sir, would you be willing to sell this jade essence?" the shopkeeper asked, his voice filled with eagerness. In his mind, he was already dreaming of a promotion, envisioning himself as the store manager after securing this precious material.

"Not selling."

Lin Ye flatly rejected the shopkeeper's request without hesitation. He was not someone to forget slights easily. After the shopkeeper had insulted him earlier, it was already a stretch not to deal with him directly. Selling the jade to him? Lin Ye wasn't that foolish.

"As you mentioned earlier, this near-thousand-year jade essence is worth over a thousand gold soul coins. That should be more than enough to cover the cost of the hundred-year Vajra Bodhi Fruit. So, I'll be taking this fruit now."

As he spoke, Lin Ye swiftly retrieved the jade essence and reached out to pick up the Vajra Bodhi Fruit that sat nearby on the counter.

"Wait, no!" The shopkeeper, seeing Lin Ye's quick actions, panicked.

"What? You know the terms of the wager. This Vajra Bodhi Fruit is now mine. As for the payment, you should be asking that gentleman over there." Lin Ye held the Vajra Bodhi Fruit firmly in one hand and pointed at Mark with the other, speaking in a calm tone.

"If you doubt the authenticity of my jade essence, we can always take a trip to the Martial Spirit Branch Hall in Nuoding City. I know Master Matthew Nuo personally, and we can have him authenticate it."

Lin Ye's voice was composed, but the mention of his connection to the Martial Spirit Hall was not lost on those listening.

"Wait!"

Just as Lin Ye was about to leave, Mark's voice, heavy with anger, called out.

"What? Want to back out? Doesn't matter. Even if you try to backtrack now, I could always talk to Master Su Yuntao about it. I'm sure he'd love to spread the word to all the nobles in Nuoding City," Lin Ye said, a mocking smile playing at his lips.

"You—!" Mark's face turned as black as thunder.

But Lin Ye's threat wasn't one he could easily ignore. Su Yuntao was his rival, and if word of this incident reached him, there was no doubt that Su Yuntao would embellish the story and ensure it reached Sisi's ears. That would certainly ruin Mark's chances in their competition for Sisi's affection.

Despite his rage, Mark had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Sixty-six gold soul coins—that was several months of his allowance. If he had to pay for the Vajra Bodhi Fruit, he wouldn't be able to enjoy the carefree, luxurious life he was accustomed to for quite some time.

"Damn it!" Mark cursed under his breath, punching the counter in frustration. He grabbed the cloud-patterned white jade pendant from the counter and prepared to leave.

"Young Master Mark, no! Please don't!" The shopkeeper was on the verge of tears as he watched Mark take the jade pendant.

He knew all too well how Mark operated in Nuoding City. If Mark took back the collateral, there was no way he'd ever pay for the Vajra Bodhi Fruit.

"Let go of me! You said you wanted to pledge your loyalty to me, right? Here's your chance. Pay for the Vajra Bodhi Fruit on my behalf, and from now on, you'll be my man!" Mark barked as he flung the shopkeeper aside with his soul master's strength. Then, without another word, he and his lackeys stormed out of the store.

"I'm finished!" The shopkeeper's legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

He was just the manager of the shop—he didn't have the authority to handle something as valuable as the hundred-year Vajra Bodhi Fruit. Now, because of one careless mistake, the fruit was gone, and he would surely have to take the fall.

Lin Ye was a complete stranger to him, and Mark was a noble. There was no way the Thousand Treasures Herb Pavilion would offend a noble over this, so the shopkeeper knew he'd be the one held accountable.

He could already picture himself working to pay off the debt for the rest of his life.

But if Lin Ye had known about the shopkeeper's misfortune, he wouldn't have felt any sympathy at all.

People like this shopkeeper, who only sucked up to the powerful and looked down on the weak, deserved what was coming to them. Even if they didn't face consequences today, their fate would eventually catch up with them.

In the end, as the saying goes: "Good and evil will always be repaid."

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator

🥰 Support the translation and help me grow.🤓

Read upto 20 Extra chapter in Patreon