In less than a month after the Blood Clot Powder was released, the Xiao family had already captured seventy percent of the wound-healing medicine market in Wu Tan City. The huge profit brought great joy to the Xiao family, and the once sparse doorsteps were now bustling with people, as busy as a marketplace. Compared to the joyous Xiao family, the Geller family was immersed in gloom. Due to their previous excessive profits, they had aroused the strong displeasure of most mercenaries. Moreover, the Xiao family’s Blood Clot Powder was significantly more effective than the Spring Revival Powder. Therefore, the Geller family’s wound-healing medicine business was completely suppressed by the Xiao family. If not for the Xiao family limiting the daily supply of their medicines, the Geller family would have been left with nothing but soup to drink.
Although the wound-healing medicine business had shrunk, the profit was still considerable. However, what truly troubled the Geller family was the large amount of medicinal ingredients required for alchemy. As the city’s largest resource repository, the Mithril Auction House had refused to cooperate with them. The Geller family gnashed their teeth in hatred over this herbal blockade, but despite their burning anger, they did not dare to force the Mithril Auction House. After all, the Mithril Auction House was backed by a powerful force that ranked among the top in the entire Jia Ma Empire. A small family in Wu Tan City like the Geller family simply could not afford to provoke such a formidable entity.
Since the auction house route was no longer viable, the Geller family, in desperation, resorted to buying out the medicinal stores in Wu Tan City at several times the market price. However, this was only a temporary solution, as these stores did not have the capacity to supply such a large demand over the long term. Most importantly, everyone in Wu Tan City had noticed the tension and hostility between the Xiao and Geller families. Helping the Geller family now would be akin to offending the rising Xiao family. Therefore, after the first sale of herbs to the Geller family, many stores were too wary to sell on a large scale again, further exacerbating the Geller family’s predicament.
As a result, the Geller family’s access to medicinal ingredients in Wu Tan City was almost cut off by eighty percent. The remaining twenty percent was far from enough to meet the demand for their medicines. In dire straits, the Geller family had no choice but to buy herbs from other cities at high prices, barely alleviating the shortage crisis. However, this also caused their profits to shrink even further. Without the support of the profits from the wound-healing medicines, the Geller family might have already faced bankruptcy.
Now, the Xiao family was riding the wave of the wound-healing medicine’s success, their status soaring, even threatening to overshadow the other two major families in Wu Tan City.
…
Amidst the bustling market, Xiao Yan lazily strolled down the street. Behind him, seven or eight burly men in Xiao family guard uniforms followed. On each of their chests, there were four or more golden stars, indicating that these men possessed the strength of at least a four-star Fighter.
The streets were teeming with people, and many fierce mercenaries, who exuded a bloodthirsty aura, greeted the indolent youth with friendly smiles. Some, who were more familiar, joked with him, “Little Master, come to inspect the market again?”
Xiao Yan always felt a bit helpless whenever he heard such addresses. Half a month ago, Xiao Zhan suddenly put him in charge of this market, calling it an exercise. This decision caused quite a debate within the Xiao family, as managing a market at his age was unprecedented. However, in consideration of Xiao Yan’s current status, some members eventually agreed, and so Xiao Yan, who was enjoying a restful life at home, was thrust into this new role.
Although the market was large, Xiao Yan found solace in the fact that managing it was not overly burdensome. He delegated the tedious tasks of dividing the streets and negotiating with merchants to an old steward specially assigned by his father. His days were spent occasionally wandering the streets with a group of burly men, overseeing the safety of the market, living a comfortable and carefree life.
Despite his calm demeanor, Xiao Yan enjoyed discussing the thrilling adventures, strange beasts, and hidden power techniques with the mercenaries. These tales stirred the adventurous spirit in his bones, making him eager to venture into remote mountains to seek out those mysterious and powerful techniques.
Xiao Yan’s young age and amiable face made it easy for others to like him. Additionally, his habit of giving out limited edition wound-healing medicines during engaging conversations won him the favor of the mercenary men. Over time, the return rate of regular customers in Xiao Yan’s market became the highest among the Xiao family’s markets.
Recalling the events of the past half month, Xiao Yan smiled wistfully. Such days were few and soon he would leave with the Pharmacist Elder for training, and he would likely not return for a year or two. Shaking off his melancholy, Xiao Yan looked up to see a small, scruffy figure darting through the crowd.
Pausing, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and said, “Kro, why are you here instead of your grand scheme?”
The scruffy man before him was known as the Golden Finger in the market, a thief. Although Xiao Yan did not try to eradicate such shadowy professions, he understood that every coin has two sides. Though these thieves were despised, they had very efficient information networks and could know about anything happening in Wu Tan City.
“Hehe, Little Master.” The man named Kro, with a sycophantic smile, said, “I came to inform you that Miss Xuner and her companions were being harassed by an unknown man at the edge of the market. I came to report this to you immediately.”
“Oh, by the way, Galley Geller is also there. It seems he knows the guy in mourning clothes. There are quite a few of them.”
Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed, and his expression turned cold. Turning his head slightly, he said softly, “Xiao Li, gather everyone. Call them all here, no matter who they are!”
“Yes!” A burly man answered respectfully and quickly ran toward the market’s interior.
“Lead the way,” Xiao Yan said, turning to Kro with a slight nod.
Seeing the cold look on Xiao Yan’s face, Kro nodded hurriedly, not daring to say another word, and led the way.
“This scoundrel, daring to come to our Xiao family’s territory and insult… my Xiao family! If I let you walk out of here unscathed today, I’ll quit being the market master!” Licking his lips, Xiao Yan’s cold words made Kro shiver and quicken his pace even more.
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