Chapter 53: Narrow Roads and Wagers

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"Hm?"

Hearing the voice, Lin Ye furrowed his brow and turned to look behind him.

A familiar figure had just walked into the herb shop with a group of followers. It was none other than Mark, the noble youth who had clashed with Su Yuntao back at the Martial Spirit Branch Hall.

"Well, well, we meet again, boy!"

Mark stopped in his tracks, flashing a grin at Lin Ye. But the smile was laced with malice, not the slightest hint of friendliness.

It really is a small world, huh? Running into you here of all places. Back at the Martial Spirit Hall, with Su Yuntao around, I couldn't touch you. But here? Let's see who can protect you now! Mark thought venomously as he stared at Lin Ye.

"It's you?"

Lin Ye's frown deepened at the sight of Mark.

"Well, isn't this Young Master Mark? What brings you to our humble Thousand Treasures Herb Pavilion?"

In stark contrast to his dismissive attitude toward Lin Ye earlier, the shopkeeper's face broke into an ingratiating smile the moment he saw Mark. He hurried forward, practically tripping over himself in his eagerness to please.

"Oh, just browsing."

Mark smirked.

"Ah, what an honor! Young Master Mark, your presence truly elevates our shop's humble status! Please, take your time. Anything that catches your eye, we'll give you a 20% discount, just for you!" The shopkeeper continued to fawn, rubbing his hands together as he tried to curry favor.

"No need for that. I'm more interested in seeing what this kid plans to buy." Mark shook his head, casting a mocking glance at Lin Ye.

"Oh, Young Master Mark, why waste your time on this boy? He's just a penniless country bumpkin. Imagine—he actually claimed he wanted to buy our Vajra Bodhi Fruit! Ridiculous, right? Our Vajra Bodhi Fruit is a hundred-year-old treasure, worth 66 gold soul coins! You could sell this kid, and he wouldn't be able to afford even a sliver of it!"

The shopkeeper shot a contemptuous look at Lin Ye, continuing to flatter Mark.

"Exactly! Just look at him—dressed in rags. If he can afford the Vajra Bodhi Fruit, I'll pay for it myself!" Mark added, snorting as if the mere thought was absurd. His eyes were filled with disdain as he glanced at Lin Ye.

"If I can afford the Vajra Bodhi Fruit, you'll pay for me?" Lin Ye suddenly smiled, his tone calm as he posed the question.

"Of course! A poor wretch like you? If you can buy it, paying for you would be nothing to me!" Mark scoffed, full of contempt.

"Hah, empty words. How do I know you're not just bluffing? Why don't you take out the gold soul coins to pay for the fruit first before you start boasting?" Lin Ye didn't seem the least bit angry, maintaining a faint smile.

"I could, but would you even be able to afford it?" Mark sneered, still filled with disdain.

"Sixty-six gold soul coins? That's nothing. It's barely one or two months' allowance for Young Master Mark. What's there to worry about?" One of Mark's followers chimed in, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"Exactly, our young master is a noble. Not like you, a penniless country boy!" added another, joining in the mockery.

Lin Ye remained calm, his eyes steady as he replied, "Noble, huh? So what? But if I can afford the Vajra Bodhi Fruit, what will you do if you back out of the wager?"

His words were measured, but they carried a hint of provocation. Lin Ye wasn't truly angry; he was just laying bait for something bigger.

"Hmph! Paying isn't the problem. But what about you? What will you put up as a wager if you can't afford the fruit?" Mark snorted, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Lin Ye.

"My wager? Name it." Lin Ye's voice was calm, his gaze steady.

"It's simple. If you lose, you get on your knees and call me 'father'!" Mark's malicious smile widened, his voice chilling as he laid out the terms.

Whoosh!

Hearing Mark's words, Lin Ye's face immediately darkened. Losing his parents at a young age, Lin Ye had always treated the memory of his parents as his greatest emotional boundary. For Mark to use this as a wager lit a fire in Lin Ye's heart.

"Fine. I accept. Now, show me your money," Lin Ye said, a cold smile forming on his lips.

"Hmph! I didn't bring enough cash today, but this jade pendant I'm carrying is made from the finest cloud-patterned white jade, worth thousands of gold soul coins. If I use this as collateral, it should be enough!" Mark pulled out a white jade pendant from his waist and slapped it onto the counter, smirking.

"Very well."

A faint smirk crept onto Lin Ye's face, one that carried a touch of mockery.

"I've put up my jade pendant, which is worth more than enough to buy the Vajra Bodhi Fruit. And you? Where's your money? Or have you already resigned yourself to calling me 'father'?" Mark's smirk deepened, his expression practically begging for a punch.

"Afraid I'll run?" Lin Ye shot back, the sarcasm in his voice unmistakable.

"Hah!" Mark laughed aloud. "Why would I be afraid? If you run, that'd be even better. I've been looking for an excuse to teach you a lesson."

If Lin Ye tried to run, Mark would just have his lackeys beat him to a pulp. That'd be much more satisfying than simply humiliating him.

"Good! Let's see if you can still strut around after this!" Mark said, his tone thick with mockery.

"You there! If you've got the money, show it! If not, accept defeat and don't make Young Master Mark wait!" The shopkeeper, eager to please, barked at Lin Ye, though deep down, he didn't believe for a second that Lin Ye could afford the fruit.

Lin Ye, however, ignored the shopkeeper's flattery and looked at him calmly. "The wager is simple and can start anytime. But before that, I have a question for you."

"A question?"

Mark, the shopkeeper, and Mark's lackeys all looked momentarily puzzled.

"Yes, a question," Lin Ye repeated. "Your store doesn't seem to have many spirit beast materials, either in terms of quantity or variety. So, I'd like to know—if someone had hundred-year-old spirit beast materials, like the horn, fangs, and venom sacs of a spiked dragon viper, the jade essence of a jade aurora bird, or the venom sacs of a mandrake serpent, how much would those be worth?"

Lin Ye asked, his voice steady.

"The horn, fangs, and venom sacs of a spiked dragon viper? The jade essence of a jade aurora bird? And the venom sacs of a mandrake serpent? All at the hundred-year level?" The shopkeeper seemed confused by the question, but he considered that it might have something to do with the wager. Wanting to stay in Mark's favor, he decided to answer.

"That's right. All at the hundred-year level," Lin Ye confirmed with a nod.

The tension thickened as everyone awaited the shopkeeper's response, the outcome of the bet hanging in the balance.

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