After the Xiao family received Xiao Yan's secret support, maintaining a large supply of healing medicine, it had not yet been revealed externally, but they had secretly begun to counterattack the Jia Lie family.
That day, in the family hall, Xiao Zhan and the three elders issued a secret order. Matters related to healing medicine were listed as the highest taboo. Any clansman who revealed it to outsiders would be dealt with according to family rules.
The Xiao family had been completely silent for the past two days, which only made the Jia Lie family more arrogant. They unscrupulously used various methods to lure away all of the Xiao family's loyal market vendors and merchants.
Regarding this, the Xiao family remained as silent as before.
Seeing the Xiao family's weak response, some smaller forces aligned with them began to feel disappointed, and a few astute individuals quietly prepared for contingencies.
The strange atmosphere of these two days quietly passed.
When the sun was high, the Jia Lie family's market was still bustling as before. People began to pour into the streets, and the area selling "Hui Chun San" was even more crowded. Shouts, curses, and fighting converged in one place, creating a deafening clamor that reached the sky.
At the medicine stall, the Jia Lie family members watched with glee as outsiders fought over healing medicine, their smiling faces showing a hint of smugness.
A core member of the Jia Lie family held a high position; he managed a very prosperous market district for the Jia Lie family.
Standing on the platform, Jia Lie Kuo looked down at the jostling crowd, a triumphant smile on his greasy, plump face.
During this period, the sales of "Hui Chun San" had far exceeded the Jia Lie family's expectations. With such great appeal, the Jia Lie family was not satisfied, so they directly tripled the price of Hui Chun San from one hundred gold coins to over three hundred gold coins.
Although the price increase caused resentment among many mercenaries, the Jia Lie family was the only one selling Hui Chun San. So, despite their extreme dissatisfaction, most mercenaries had no choice but to accept the reality.
Humming a little tune, Jia Lie Ke Ao's small eyes narrowed into slits. He said softly and smugly, "If you don't buy it, someone else will..."
Stretching out his short, chubby hand to block the sun, Jia Lie Ke Ao impatiently wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered, "Damn it, the sun is too strong today. It seems I'll have to cool down tonight. Tsk tsk, that little girl from last time, with her soft legs and slender waist, she'll be the death of me." Recalling this, Jia Lie Ke Ao felt a surge of heat within him. He wiped his sweat again, then suddenly frowned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the people at the end of the street seemed to be in chaos.
"Damn it, they're fighting again! These mercenaries are all muscle-brained idiots. Don't they have to pay for damaging things?" Looking at the chaotic scene, Jia Lie Ke Ao couldn't help but curse angrily.
"The Xiao family's market is also selling healing medicine!"
Just as Jia Lie Ke Ao was about to send guards to quell the disturbance, he heard a sudden loud shout.
Hearing the unexpected loud shout, the plump Jia Lie Ke Ao trembled violently. His expression changed slightly, and a moment later, he sneered, "The Xiao family is truly beyond saving. To actually come up with such a method is simply courting death."
The shouting made the noisy street momentarily quiet. Everyone looked at each other for a moment, then roared, "Damn it, don't think you can use this method to seize a spot! This old man waited half a day to get this position!"
Evidently, these people thought the loud shout was a trick to make others abandon their spots and flee. After all, such tactics were not uncommon during this period.
After cursing for a while, these people continued to wait to buy the Rejuvenation Powder.
Of course, not everyone shared this thought. A small group of mercenaries, disgusted by the tyrannical behavior of the Jia Lie family, hesitated for a moment, then half-believing, half-doubting, ran to the Xiao family market.
Upstairs, Jia Lie Ke Ao looked at the still bustling crowd, which was as lively as ever, and couldn't help but laugh, "The Xiao family? Heh, let's see how long you can last. Wu Tan City will soon be under the control of the Jia Lie family. One of the three great families? Heh heh, those days will never return!"
The earlier loud shout was like a leaf falling into the ocean amidst the clamor, creating not a single ripple. The Jia Lie family's popularity was not harmed in the slightest.
Of course... that was only temporary.
Half an hour after that shout, at the entrance of the Jia Lie family's market, more than ten burly men dressed as mercenaries pushed aside the guards at the door. With ecstatic expressions, they entered, holding up jade bottles, and shouted in unison, instantly overpowering the noise in the market.
"The Xiao family also sells healing medicine!"
The synchronized shout made the market inside suddenly quiet. All eyes turned to where the shouts originated.
A mercenary strongman looked around the market, then stepped onto a large rock. With a "clang," he drew the broadsword from his waist, then gritted his teeth and cut a bloody gash on his arm.
Raising his blood-soaked arm, the strongman held the green bottle in his hand, tilted it slightly, and a stream of crimson liquid flowed out, covering the wound.
The red liquid permeated the profusely bleeding wound. Before everyone's eyes... it slowly changed. In just a moment, the bleeding stopped, and the wound congealed into a thin layer of blood scab.
Witnessing such a scene with their own eyes, everyone's gazes instantly became fervent. Such rapid hemostasis was truly essential for completing missions!
"This is the latest product from the Xiao family market, called the Blood Coagulation Powder! Not only is its medicinal power excellent, but its price is also half that of the Rejuvenation Powder! What are you still waiting for? Are you so foolish from being mocked that you still want it? Why aren't you leaving quickly?" The mercenary strongman raised the jade bottle, laughed loudly, and spoke arrogantly with a sneer.
The street was momentarily quiet. A mercenary who had just entered the market stared intently at the jade bottle in the strongman's hand. A moment later, he instantly turned and fled at top speed...
Watching this figure desperately run out of the market, the crowd was momentarily stunned. Then, the ground trembled as a tide of people frantically rushed out of the market.
The strongman standing on the rock with the cut arm had a strange smile on his face. The wind blew through his clothes, vaguely revealing the emblem of the Xiao family...
The bustling and crowded market, after experiencing such a massive shock, seemed to empty out in an instant. Apart from a few gatekeepers standing outside with wide eyes and agape mouths, there were very few people walking on the streets.
"The Xiao family... has begun to counterattack."
Looking at the deserted streets where no merchants were to be seen, an idea quickly formed in his mind.
The merchants exchanged glances, then raised their heads to look at Jia Lie Ke Ao. The smug expression on his plump face had now contorted, turning pale and bloodless.
At the same time, a similar scene unfolded at the Jia Lie family compound in another market district that he managed...