The Trading Plaza was located in the northern plaza of Qingyang Town, serving as the very point of convergence for numerous factions. Due to the excessive disputes and the inability of any single entity to monopolize it, the Trading Plaza was established for this very reason.
Within the Trading Plaza, many powerful families owned businesses. Even as they sought to exploit one another, the majority of factions tacitly agreed to this arrangement, gradually forming a peculiar balance.
The Qingyang Town Trading Plaza was renowned within a hundred-mile radius. Not only did residents of the town come to trade, but also people from nearby villages, and even hidden bandit factions, frequently visited this place. This made the Trading Plaza in Qingyang Town a melting pot of all sorts of people. Even the Lei and Xie families, who were like venomous local tyrants, coveted the profits of the Trading Plaza, yet still dared not monopolize it.
Lin Dong and Qing Tan arrived before the grand entrance of the Trading Plaza. Gazing inside at the throngs of people and the cacophony of voices, they couldn't help but click their tongues. This Trading Plaza truly lived up to its reputation as the largest market in Qingyang Town and within a hundred-mile radius; the sheer scale of it was truly astonishing.
"Let's go."
Lin Dong also cast a somewhat curious glance at the Trading Plaza. He had rarely visited this place over the years. As a youth, he felt an added touch of curiosity towards this place.
With that, Lin Dong took Qing Tan's small arm and squeezed into the Trading Plaza.
Inside the Trading Plaza, shops lined up in dazzling array, a riot of colors that made one's eyes swim. Although the streets within the Trading Plaza were relatively wide, the sheer volume of people still made them feel a bit cramped.
Lin Dong and Qing Tan had only walked a single circuit, yet he was already drenched in sweat from the jostling crowd. Qing Tan, on the other hand, was brimming with excitement, her beautiful face glowing. Her cheeks were flushed pink from over-excitement, making her look utterly adorable. Her clear, crisp laughter and chatter drew many gazes. Upon seeing her picturesque face and snow-white skin, those gazes were all tinged with a flash of awe.
The two finally reached the end of a wide street and stopped. This area was considered the high-end section of the Trading Plaza. Here, the Lei and Xie families, the Mad Blade Martial Arts Academy, and even the Lin family, all had their own shops.
"Qing Tan, wait here for me first. I'll be back in just a moment..." Lin Dong's gaze swept around, and he reminded Qing Tan. Then he turned and plunged into the crowd, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Pushing through the dense crowd, Lin Dong casually bought a black hat from an inn. Only then did he calmly walk onto the main street. After circling for about two blocks, he finally stopped before a large black gate.
The Trading Plaza was frequented by all sorts of people, and some among them dealt in various illicit goods. Whether due to the origins of the items or the trouble selling them openly might attract, certain transactions were best kept discreet. Therefore, some dealings were established underground, precisely to accommodate these needs.
The place Lin Dong arrived at was an underground trading facility in the Trading Quarter. Here, no matter the item or one's background, nothing was clear or transparent; only smooth transactions mattered. Moreover, prices weren't much lower than those outside.
Outside the black door, people were continuously entering and exiting. However, just like Lin Dong, everyone wore a black hat, making it impossible for others to see their true faces.
Lin Dong subtly let out a breath, suppressing the nervousness in his heart. He then slowly walked towards the main gate. As his footsteps crossed the threshold, a wave of gloom enveloped him, sending a slight chill down his skin.
Behind the main gate was a long, wide corridor. Lin Dong walked along it, noticing many tightly shut room doors on both sides. He knew this was the trading area, so he immediately sought out a secluded room and entered.
After entering the room, the dim light made it somewhat hazy. Inside, there was a spacious table, separated in the middle by iron bars. Beneath the bars were several small hatches.
"Please sit. If you have anything to trade, just place it in the hatch." After Lin Dong entered the room, a seemingly aged voice emanated from behind the iron bars.
At this moment, Lin Dong was no longer flustered. He sat down directly and took out a jade bottle from his sleeve. The bottle contained ten drops of Shi Fu Ling Yi. These weren't very pure Shi Fu Ling Yi, because... Lin Dong had diluted them.
"A type of spirit medicine refined into a medicinal liquid, very beneficial for Body Tempering Realm cultivators, and its healing effect is also excellent." Lin Dong placed the bottle under the hatch. His voice had been deliberately suppressed into a hoarse tone; although a bit unpleasant to listen to, the difference from his original voice was not small.
From under the hatch, a skinny hand reached out and took the bottle. Afterwards, Lin Dong heard the dripping sound of the medicinal liquid, thinking that the person inside was examining its effects.
This examination lasted for nearly ten minutes. Then, the voice from behind the hatch spoke again: "This medicinal liquid's quality is almost equivalent to a Second-grade spirit medicine. Its medicinal properties are mild, making it very suitable for Body Tempering Realm cultivators. Considering its special healing effect, its value can be increased a little. What do you wish to exchange for?"
Lin Dong's fingers trembled slightly, a little surprised by the other party's appraisal ability. He then pondered for a moment before speaking: "Seven stalks of Third-grade spirit medicine."
"Too expensive. Your medicinal liquid, for Body Tempering Realm cultivators to consume, is too much of a luxury. While its healing effect does have some value for certain individuals, using it solely for healing is still—too luxurious. Therefore, it's not ideal." The person behind the iron bars fell silent for a moment, clearly a bit displeased with Lin Dong's exorbitant demand.
"How about this, three stalks of Third-grade spirit medicine."
"Six stalks," Lin Dong said, his expression unchanged.
"Five stalks, this is the absolute limit..." The person behind the window shook their head, their voice no longer relenting, clearly unable to increase the offer further.
"Deal."
Lin Dong shrugged, a smile appearing on his face beneath the black hood. Ten drops of diluted spirit liquid could be exchanged for five Grade-Three spirit herbs; this was indeed a very good haul. Regardless of whether the other party was playing tricks, he wasn't too concerned about this diluted spirit liquid.
The other party's efficiency was clearly exceptional. In a mere five minutes, a hand holding an exquisite box extended out from the small window. Lin Dong took it, then opened it to look. Five dark yellow fruits lay quietly inside, from which a faint, ethereal fragrance wafted.
"Grade-Three Spirit Herb – Earth Emperor Fruit."
Lin Dong, of course, recognized these dark yellow fruits. After taking them out and examining them for a moment, he nodded in satisfaction. He casually tucked the wooden box into his chest, and without another word, turned and left the room.
After Lin Dong had left the room, the iron bars slowly rose, revealing an old man in gray robes. The old man held a small bottle, sniffing its contents, and nodded slightly.
"Elder Gu, is this item really worth five Earth Emperor Fruits?" Behind the old man, a middle-aged man exuding a faint scent of blood glanced at the room's door and asked in a low voice.
"These medicinal liquids are extremely effective for those in the Body Tempering Stage. I believe the Lei and Xie families, or even the Mad Blade Martial Hall, would be very happy to acquire this type of medicinal liquid," the old man in gray robes said with a faint smile.
"Oh? Should we investigate that person then?" The middle-aged man was initially stunned, but as soon as his laughter faded, he saw the old man in gray robes' expression darken, and he immediately shut his mouth.
"Don't you understand our rules here? If you ruin our reputation, do you still expect to set foot in Qingyang Town?"
Hearing the old man in gray robes scold him, the middle-aged man could only hastily nod in affirmation.
"Hmph."
The old man in gray robes let out a cold snort, then stood up, picked up the bottle, and swept his robes as he departed.
***
After Lin Dong left the underground trading facility, he first wandered around this enormous Trading District. He discarded the black hood he was wearing, then swiftly fled down a street.
Running to the spot where they had previously separated, Lin Dong easily found Qing Tan waiting for him. Just as he was about to take Qing Tan to wander around again, she suddenly tugged at his arm.
Lin Dong was startled and looked up. He immediately saw a familiar figure emerge from a large doorway—it was Lin Shan.
When Lin Dong saw Lin Shan, Lin Shan had also spotted the two of them. A look of alarm first flashed in his eyes, then, as if realizing something, his expression changed, and he stood rooted to the spot.
Lin Dong glanced at Lin Shan. There were some bruises on Lin Shan's face; from his appearance, it seemed he had been beaten up, looking quite disheveled…
Lin Shan stood there, looking at Lin Dong. He seemed about to approach but hesitated, perhaps due to his pride. It looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself, appearing very conflicted.
Sigh.
Lin Dong let out a sigh. He pulled Qing Tan along and walked over, asking, "What happened?"
Lin Shan looked at Lin Dong, a hint of fear in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before speaking: "We had a run-in with those bastards from the Xie family, then Sister Lin He was humiliated by them, so we started fighting them... but, they had more people. We were at a disadvantage, so I ran off... to find some... reinforcements."
As he finished the last words, Lin Shan's face flushed red, and he couldn't help but lower his head.
"Sister Lin He was there too?"
Lin Dong was startled, then frowned, a thoughtful expression on his face, and waved his hand, saying, "Take me to see."
No matter what, his relationship with Lin He wasn't bad. Even if there had been past rivalries between him and Lin Shan and Lin Hong, those were merely internal family matters. He wasn't so narrow-minded. He couldn't just stand by and watch this happen.
Hearing Lin Dong say this, Lin Shan immediately looked up, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at Lin Dong, clearly not expecting Lin Dong to disregard their past grievances and offer help. His eyes instantly reddened slightly, and he nodded vigorously.