"Hello, young Gu Master, is there something troubling you?" Jia Fu asked kindly as he walked to the center of the crowd.

The young Gu Master was a bit taken aback by the attention and bowed again. Glancing at the surrounding clan members, he gathered his courage and recounted the entire incident.

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"So that's what happened!" Jia Fu nodded after listening. He then turned to Jia Jinsheng, "Brother, is this true?"

Jia Jinsheng turned his head away, snorted coldly, and refused to look at him.

Jia Fu fell into contemplation.

The crowd around them was silent, not daring to disturb his thoughts, all eagerly awaiting his judgment.

In essence, this was a case of commercial fraud by Jia Jinsheng. However, the young Gu Master was also at fault; if not for his greed clouding his judgment, how could he have fallen for it?

If Jia Fu were determined to protect his brother, with his Rank Four cultivation, even Clan Leader Gu Yue would be powerless against him.

After a long pause, Jia Fu finally spoke, "I understand the situation now. The fault lies entirely with my brother, causing this young man to suffer a loss by purchasing counterfeit goods. I sincerely apologize!" With that, he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the young Gu Master.

"Master Jia Fu!" The young Gu Master was greatly surprised and quickly protested, "You are a Rank Four Gu Master, and I am merely a Rank Two. This is too much!"

Jia Fu waved his hand dismissively, "Hoho, this matter has nothing to do with cultivation. I always address the issue, not the person. Wrong is wrong, and I apologize on behalf of the caravan. As for compensation, let's do this: you lost 250 pieces of Primordial Stone, and I will compensate you double on behalf of the Jia family."

True to his word, a servant immediately stepped forward and handed five money pouches to the young Gu Master in front of everyone.

Each pouch was bulging, containing a hundred pieces of Primordial Stone.

The young Gu Master accepted the pouches, too overwhelmed to speak.

"But young man, I have a word of advice for you," Jia Fu continued, "The Black Boar Gu is extremely rare and can fundamentally increase a Gu Master's strength. Although it's only Rank One, it's hard to find on the market. Whenever it appears, it's quickly bought up, with prices around 600 pieces of Primordial Stone. Trying to buy one with just over 200 pieces isn't very realistic."

"I have learned my lesson!" The young Gu Master bowed deeply to Jia Fu, sincerely convinced.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Master Jia Fu is wise!"

"Remarkable, truly worthy of Master Jia Fu!"

"Despite being a Rank Four Gu Master, he doesn't bully the weak. Master Jia Fu is truly a model of the righteous path."

...

"Oh, not at all." Jia Fu smiled warmly, cupping his hands in all directions, "Our Jia family has always valued honesty in business, honest to all. My brother is just young and naive, fond of playing tricks, but he has a kind heart. I hope everyone can be more understanding."

The cheers around grew even louder.

"Hmph!" Jia Jinsheng's face turned ashen, and he stomped his foot in frustration before turning and entering the tent. He passed through it and exited through the back flap.

Fang Yuan watched coldly, feeling assured: "It seems the Shadow Wall left by the Wine-loving Wanderer can be sold now."

The Wine-loving Wanderer had used the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu to capture the disgraceful behavior of the Fourth Generation Clan Leader of the Gu Yue Clan.

Before his death, filled with resentment, he used the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu, imprinting it on a stone wall, creating a Shadow Wall.

The images on the Shadow Wall looped continuously, showing the world the most genuine scene of that time.

With the principle of maximizing benefits, Fang Yuan had long intended to sell this Shadow Wall. He was certain that the other two villages on Green Reed Mountain, Bai Village and Xiong Village, would be very interested in it.

However, selling the Shadow Wall personally was not advisable. His cultivation was still too weak, and taking the Shadow Wall to other villages could easily lead to his demise.

Even if the transaction succeeded and he returned safely, there were no secrets that could be kept forever. If the news reached the higher-ups of the Gu Yue Clan, at the very least, he would be expelled from the clan.

According to Fang Yuan's plan, he still needed to utilize the Gu Yue Clan.

Therefore, the safest method was to sell it to a merchant in the caravan. These merchants were outsiders, not involved in the power struggles on Green Reed Mountain, making them the ideal choice.

In another day, this caravan would set off, leaving Gu Yue Village for Xiong Village, and then Bai Village.

Selling to them would minimize the risks of the transaction, making it the safest and most prudent method.

...

"Another cup of wine!"

"Where's the wine?"

"Bring it to me quickly, do you think I can't afford it?"

Jia Jinsheng slammed the mushroom table, roaring.

"Master Jia, your wine!" The shop assistant hurriedly brought the wine.

Jia Jinsheng immediately grabbed the bamboo cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one go.

"Good wine!" he laughed, his voice hoarse and desolate.

With a bang, he slammed the cup on the table and shouted again, "Bring me another cup, no, bring as much as you have!"

The shop assistant in the tavern dared not offend him and complied.

Fortunately, the tavern was already packed. Not only were the mushroom tables and stools surrounded, but even the aisles were crowded. Jia Jinsheng's drunken antics and shouting were not particularly noticeable amidst the noisy tent.

Jia Jinsheng drank cup after cup, trying to drown his sorrows. With his back to the crowd, no one noticed the two lines of tears streaming down his face as he drank.

Who could understand his pain, who could know his sorrow?

Where there is pity, there is often someone to blame, and vice versa.

Everyone has their own story.

Among the brothers, he was the youngest, the most handsome, and resembled their father the most, thus receiving their father's affection. But fate played a cruel joke, granting him only a Grade D talent.

From childhood to adulthood, he lived under the oppression and exclusion of his brothers. He was unwilling, he wanted to resist, but his aptitude held him back.

Their father, feeling his end approaching, wanted to divide the family assets. He allowed each pair of siblings to lead a caravan, promising to divide the assets based on their achievements.

Jia Jinsheng wanted to rely on his own methods to gain the family assets and recognition, but he didn't expect to become his brother Jia Fu's stepping stone once again.

When Jia Fu appeared, he knew he had fallen into another trap. This whole affair was a conspiracy from start to finish. But what could he do? Since joining the caravan, he had been firmly suppressed by Jia Fu. The vast gap between Rank Four and Rank One left him powerless to fight back.

"Jia Fu!" he spat the name through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with hatred, truly unwilling!

"Do you want to deal with your brother? I can help you." A voice reached his ears at that moment.

Jia Jinsheng was stunned for a moment, turning to see someone sitting beside him, unnoticed until now.

He shook his head a few times, blinked, and finally saw the person clearly.

Who else could it be but Fang Yuan?

"It's you!" He glared at Fang Yuan, somewhat annoyed, "I remember you! The lucky kid who opened a Lumpy Earth Toad from my casino! Are you here to mock me?"

Fang Yuan looked at Jia Fu, his gaze cold as water: "I have a big business deal. If you want to achieve better results and gain more assets, you might want to hear me out."

Jia Jinsheng's face immediately showed a look of surprise and suspicion. He straightened his back, sitting upright: "How do you know about the family assets?"

This matter was kept secret, outsiders couldn't possibly know. Yet Fang Yuan revealed it in one sentence.

"The affairs of Jia Village aren't exactly confidential, how could they be hidden from those with a keen interest in the world?" Fang Yuan sneered, recalling events from his past life.

The Patriarch of the Jia Clan was a legendary figure, starting from scratch, rising through the merchant caravan, revitalizing Jia Village. As he grew old and felt his end nearing, he allowed his children to lead caravans in pairs, dividing the vast family assets based on their achievements. The better the results, the more assets they received.

But his eldest son Jia Fu and second son Jia Gui were both extremely talented. They competed for six or seven years, without a clear winner, until the Patriarch of the Jia Clan passed away, leaving behind a massive fortune. Jia Fu and Jia Gui, in their struggle for the assets, turned against each other, escalating internal conflicts and bringing in outside forces. This led to a large-scale Gu Battle Tournament, ultimately resulting in both brothers perishing together. Jia Village, once prosperous, quickly declined, leaving the world sighing with regret.

Jia Jinsheng squinted his eyes, neither confirming nor denying Fang Yuan's explanation. He pondered: Last year, Father announced the rules for dividing the assets, and now it's the second year. There's no secret that can be kept forever, so it's not surprising if this matter leaked out.

What truly worried him was whether this was another trap set by Jia Fu. But regardless, it wouldn't hurt to listen.

Fang Yuan, however, did not speak immediately. He glanced around; this was the same tavern he had entered at noon. The tavern's owner had a unique way of running the business, and it was nearly full at night, the tent bustling with noise and people.

Talking here was actually safer than in a secluded place, avoiding eavesdropping by some Gu insects.

He beckoned Jia Jinsheng over with a finger: "Come closer."

Jia Jinsheng snorted in displeasure but leaned over anyway.

After listening to Fang Yuan's account, his brows furrowed tightly, and he looked at Fang Yuan with a cold gleam in his eyes: "This deal involves the three major villages on Green Reed Mountain. We merchants avoid getting involved in local power struggles. Hmph, were you sent by Jia Fu to frame me?"

Fang Yuan had anticipated his suspicion and made no explanation, standing up to leave: "Hoho, if that's the case, I'll just discuss it with your brother."

Jia Jinsheng squinted his eyes, watching Fang Yuan. As Fang Yuan was about to leave the tavern, he finally couldn't sit still. He got up and followed, catching up with Fang Yuan outside the tent: "Don't go, we can talk more."

Fang Yuan placed his hands behind his back, glancing sideways at him, speaking coldly: "I know you have doubts about me, but right now, you're being crushed by your brother, almost losing everything. If you trust me, there's still a glimmer of hope; if not, there's no hope at all. It's up to you whether you dare to take this gamble."

Jia Jinsheng's expression changed, correcting, "Jia Fu is just older, I've never acknowledged him as my brother! But you're right, I'll take this gamble."

Fang Yuan said solemnly, "Two thousand pieces of Primordial Stone, no bargaining."

Jia Jinsheng smiled wryly, "That's too high a price, this deal involves risks."

"The higher the risk, the higher the reward." Fang Yuan shook his head, his attitude firm, "If you sell it to those two villages, you'll surely earn more."

Jia Jinsheng nodded, a serious look appearing on his face: "That, I believe. In recent years, Bai Village's power has expanded rapidly, and they have a Grade A genius named Bai Ningbing with great potential. The power structure on Green Reed Mountain is gradually changing. Your Gu Yue Village's dominant position is already shaking. If I sell to the Bai Clan, I believe I can earn at least double!"

Hearing Jia Jinsheng's thorough understanding of the situation on Green Reed Mountain, Fang Yuan couldn't help but reassess him, thinking, "This Jia Jinsheng, after all, has a background and family influence, not just a useless dandy."

Jia Jinsheng sighed, "Whether this is a trap or not, I'm jumping in. I agree, two thousand pieces of Primordial Stone, deal! But first, I need to see the goods."

"Of course, follow me." Fang Yuan chuckled, immediately turning to lead the way. Jia Jinsheng was already in the net, everything under his control.