Following the covert support from Xiao Yan, the Xiao Clan publicly kept a low profile despite an abundance of newly obtained healing medicinal supplies. Secretly, however, they’d already begun their meticulous preparations for retaliatory measures against the Jiali Family. That incident within the family hall had been declared a strictly confidential matter by Xiao Zhan and the three clan elders. Any discussion regarding those healing medicines was forbidden to all members at the highest level; any violation would result in disciplinary action as defined by the family rules. Meanwhile, as time passed with the Xiao family maintaining silence, the Jialitoo clan’s conduct became more aggressive, unreservedly employing every means possible to steal away the remaining shopkeepers within the Xiao Clan bazaar. The Xiao family responded only with silence yet again.
Observing the Xiao clan’s feeble inaction, several secondary allied powers began feeling disheartened and privately plotted to preserve their safety should disaster find the house. On this strange day, filled with an uneasy tension, two days passed quietly as if time had held its breath.
Yet again, the sky was radiant with a beautiful bright sunshine. Business continued prospering at Jialis’ bustling market, mirroring recent days’ energetic crowd upon the lively streets. Most clamorous of all was the zone selling “Hui Spring Medicine,” teeming with humanity. Cries, curses, fights—it surged into deafening echoes flying high into the skies.
Behind the pharmaceutical sales table, Jalias family salesperson wore a scornful smile, smugly eyeing mercenaries brawling fiercely over these rare remedies on display—so much so that their confidence rose, feeling powerful merely from holding such drugs.
Ga Lieku, one prominent and essential figure among Jialians, presided over one marketplace—the most thriving of all the inner domains. Standing proudly at the forecourt platform on the second floor where he gazed haughtily upon the thronged avenue, Ku wore a conceited grin on a sweaty, overweight face.
In the past days, “Hui Chun Powder’s” selling rate vastly overwhelmed earlier Jiali projections. Tempted by such grand profits, demand outstripped control—their original price set to one-hundred coins per casket, but now jumped overnight to three-times the value: selling a box now fetched three hundred gold coins. Although the escalation initially provoked a backlash of discontent from several mercenaries, their reliance upon “Hui-Chun Medicine” meant only they could obtain it. After initial outrage that soon died down, many accepted grudgingly these inflated prices with helplessly grimaced expressions.
Smirking as he softly hummed a casual whistle, Ga LieKo’s eyes—slitted and shrewd—drew shut into narrow crescents before uttering disdainfully: “If you won’t buy then someone else always will…” He extended a short, heavy palm to block the blazing summer rays overhead and mopped the sweat beading his forehead irritably while grumbling aloud:
“Mother, today sure burns mighty fiercely—I best remember to loosen the tension tonight when I visit some pleasurable company. Ah—last time’s fair lass, so delightfully supple, those swelteringly curved hips shaking their enchantment until one nears death!” He shuddered inwardly at fond remembrance of their carnality. The very thought sent shivers again down his back, yet another rivulet of sweat trailed anew while his brow furrowed as suddenly, Ga LieKo caught the shifting disturbance rippling from the distant crowds with his peripheral sight.
“Damns again! Fighting again out there? That bunch’s heads are stuffed completely with their own biceps… do I have pay again because they smashed something dear?”
Observing from above, the merchant Ga Lieku spat angrily while surveying that chaotic outbreak below.
“Xiao family themselves market medicines too!!” At this time, even before Ga Lieku gave orders for his guardsmen to intervene against said commotion outside, a loud cry broke out amidst the clamor. Its force struck the thoroughfare like lightning cracking the heavens.
Startled at the shout, Ku’s ample frame quivered uncontrollably—a quaking so intense as if shaken by massive waves. His color altered momentarily. Yet he smirked next, whispering chillingly beneath his breath, “So Xiao Clan finally gone beyond senseless to foolish… attempting this tactic? Such self-damnation is upon them indeed…” The clamour hushed the market slightly—a momentary pause wherein people looked puzzled, exchanged glances, then resumed their raucous abuse:
“Puh-leeez! No cheap schemer foolin’ us into movin’ forward! Step aside—nobody buys your clumsy stunts!”
Most mistook that shouting as another trick, one employed by opportunistic tricksters desperately vying for better purchase position near the forefront of the crowd—such tricks no oddity during these past weeks. After jeering their contemptuous remarks aside, they resumed scrambling greedily for what powder could still remain.
Certainly though, not everyone shared the exact skepticism. A handful from the rank who harbored distaste toward this Jialis’ monopoly and their excessive charging, exchanged hesitation-filled glances and warily exited the congested thoroughfaire heading toward Xiao bazaar with hesitant curiosity.
Above amidst his balcony suite, Ga Lieku smirked at his roaring market place as he chuckled nastily: “Xiao—bah, you hold not much longer. In Wuntam, from thenceforth, only one house thrives—only Jiali shall reign… the three mighty once parallel—Heh. Forgotten times of days gone forever…” That earlier clamorous holler, though shouted loud in the marketplace, disappeared as a mere drifting reed in an immense lake—nearly unnoticed ripples. As anticipated no dent appeared yet on their swelling tide.
Yet… for now, at least.
Half an hour later from that earlier shout, at Jialibroth’s gate appeared numerous large henchman clad in mercenary garb—rudely shouldering down guards and charging inside with ecstatic yells while swinging aloft their emerald-hued bottles in perfect rhythmic chants.
The Jaliashop grew still as silence seized it entirely—the gaze of every occupant turned toward the source with one simultaneous movement. Then one hulking mercenary, upon that stone platform nearby, waved his arm in signal to his crew while drawing forth a cleaver and without pretense, dragged the blade swiftly down his bicep—drawing crimson. Holding forth arms gushing with blood to show all, the man poured slowly an opulent viscous ruby substance across his cut’s weeping length.
Watchers witnessed in silence and wonder how that thick vermine oozed into the wound—streaming red blood halted in mid-motion, its heavy surge reduced within seconds to a fine trickle before ceasing as fully sealed scabs now hardened over fresh cuts upon exposed flesh!
Such astonishing clotting ability—clear evidence no longer doubted, for every warrior in hazardous employment would need such.
“The Newly-launched Xiao Clan creation ‘Congealing Scattered Powder’ is superior—not more effective than Hui Chundan, more reasonably priced!” the merc captain called out with fervor. “What more do you all await? Will you be continually cheated as fools for this Jialis gang any while longer?”
Instant hush blanketed the square. A lone arriving mercenary, still half-embarked in from main gate, gazed frozenly onto that bottle held up proudly—before instantly spinning to flee in a dash that matched wind.
Watching that escaping figure’s desperate haste ripple like wildfire across the crowd, the marketplace erupted—massive thunderous stampede surging outwards with earth-shaking speed, an inundation washing outwards past the exit ways.
Standing proud on the rock, this still-bleeding brute cast his glance across the rapidly empty space—a sly curl curling on his face now… as the gentle wind played his opened jacket revealing, slightly hidden—a Xiao Clan insignia emblem.
What remained of that congesting vibrant scene had all dissolved instantly, nearly like evaporating into mist—with only a few stunned shopkeepers left in eerie empty lanes where life had moments before pulsed so vibrantly.
“The Xiao Clan… has retaliated…” All traders present echoed that thought instinctively within.
Glancing at one another with disbelief, all raised their gaze towards Lieku atop his pavilion above. The former smirking Ga Lieku stood there—pale as snow with terror and paralyzed in sudden collapse.
Simultaneously at that moment, a similar dramatic scene repeated itself in other Jialis family markets across various parts of the city…
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