Goddess Painting

Qingyun Sect, Dan Pavilion.

Three waves of people sent to the Li family have returned, but none of them have been able to enter the Li family compound.

Chen Xiangdong paced anxiously behind the counter.

How long can the inventory last?

He turned his head sharply, staring at the clerk in charge of the warehouse.

The waiter shrank back, his voice trembling:

"Reporting to...steward, we've just counted them."

"If we sell at the normal rate, we can only last for three more days at most."

Three days?!

Chen Xiangdong felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and almost lost his balance.

If the supply runs out in three days, won't those disciples who are eagerly waiting for the pills to cultivate their skills tear down the Pill Pavilion?

"No! We can't sell it like this!"

He gritted his teeth, a resolute look appearing on his face:

"Pass down the order! From now on, all disciples who come to purchase pills will be subject to a limit!"

"One bottle per person per day! No exceptions!"

"I'll go to the Li family myself! I refuse to believe that the Li family would dare to completely disregard our Dan Pavilion's many years of being a major client."

……

However, as soon as the order was issued, the Dan Pavilion hall instantly erupted in chaos!

"What? Limited edition? Why?!"

"What's going on with your Dan Pavilion? You were just buying things casually yesterday, why are you suddenly doing this?"

"Get your manager out here! Don't interrupt my cultivation!"

"That's right! If we don't get an explanation today, I'll take it all the way to the Peak Master! I'll make sure your Pill Pavilion suffers a terrible fate!"

Hearing the commotion outside, Chen Xiangdong was extremely anxious.

If this matter blows up, and the higher-ups blame him, his job as a steward will probably be over!

"We must deal with the Li family as soon as possible!"

……

The gates of the Li residence were tightly shut.

Sweating profusely, Chen Xiangdong handed over a visiting card and a beautifully wrapped gift box, smiling obsequiously at the gatekeeper:

"Please inform him that Chen Xiangdong, the steward of the Dan Pavilion of the Qingyun Sect, has come to pay his respects to Patriarch Li!"

"I hope you can do me a favor and let me know!"

The doorman glanced at him sideways and slowly took the things:

"Just wait and see."

This wait lasted for an hour.

Chen Xiangdong was restless in the side hall. He had to go through three pots of tea, and it felt like he had nails stuck to his bottom.

Finally, the butler arrived late.

"I'm so sorry, Steward Chen."

The butler looked apologetic, but there was little sincerity in his eyes:

"The head of the family is currently entertaining distinguished guests and is unable to leave for the time being."

"As for the price of the medicinal herbs..."

The butler sighed and shrugged:

"This was a last resort!"

"Recently, the production areas have suffered from disasters, and there is a shortage of medicinal materials. The price increase and quantity restriction are unavoidable. We treat all customers equally and have no intention of targeting DanGe."

"Please understand our difficulties, Deacon Chen."

Understanding?

I'll never understand you!

Chen Xiangdong panicked and grabbed the butler's sleeve:

"Butler! Our Dan Pavilion and the Li family have been cooperating for so many years, and it's always been mutually beneficial!"

"How am I supposed to explain this to you all when you get back?"

"Besides, this price increase is outrageous! Thirty percent! How are we supposed to do business like this?"

The butler subtly withdrew his sleeve, his tone becoming somewhat indifferent:

"Deacon Chen, given the market situation, those of us in the medicinal herb business naturally have better access to information."

"The patriarch specifically instructed that if Dan Pavilion finds the price unacceptable, they can always look for other shops! Even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms!"

"Looking for other shops?"

Chen Xiangdong was almost in tears:

"Now all the medicinal herbs on the market have gone up in price because of your Li family! Where am I supposed to find them?"

"I'm sorry then."

The butler glanced at the sky and dismissed the guests:

"Steward Chen, I have a lot of things to do. How can a servant like me influence the decisions made by the patriarch?"

"No need to see me out!"

After saying that, the butler left without looking back, leaving Chen Xiangdong standing there bewildered in the wind.

Finished!

A very ominous premonition rose in Chen Xiangdong's heart.

This is hardly a price increase.

This is clearly targeted!

Undeterred, he rushed to the Shen family again, only to be turned away at the same door!

They wouldn't even let us in the door!

"It's all over, it's all over..."

Chen Xiangdong walked down the street, looking lost and dejected.

"Looks like I'll have to resort to buying medicinal herbs from individual farmers as a temporary measure! Otherwise, if we run out of supplies and the higher-ups blame us, I can't afford the consequences!"

However, when he ran all over the city's pharmacies, asking the individual pharmacies for information, the answers he received made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

"Prices have gone up! Everything's gone up!"

"There's no other way, Deacon Chen. The Li and Shen families have both raised their prices; if we don't, we'll lose money!"

"If you insist on buying it, then you'll have to pay the new price!"

Without exception!

Prices surged across the board!

Chen Xiangdong stood on the street, looking at the bustling crowd, and felt a chill run through his body.

What exactly is going on?

This is pushing Dan Pavilion to its death!

……

Meanwhile, at the Sun family mansion, a family of alchemists.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was so tense it was about to explode.

"Snapped!"

A burly shopkeeper slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump.

"Sun Changhai! I don't care what difficulties you have!"

"If you can't hand over those fifty bottles of Body Tempering Pills within ten days, we'll abide by the contract!"

"Triple compensation! Not a penny less!"

Sun Changhai's old face was full of bitterness, and he kept bowing and smiling apologetically.

"Manager Zhang! Please calm down! Please calm down!"

"It's not that I want to breach the contract! It's just that the price of medicinal herbs is outrageously high right now!"

"If we supply you at the original price, my Sun family... really can't afford it! We'd be bankrupt!"

"That's your Sun family's business! What does it have to do with me?"

Manager Zhang snorted coldly and stood up with a flick of his sleeve:

"I've already paid the deposit! If you can't deliver the goods, you can expect to go bankrupt!"

After saying that, Manager Zhang stormed off in a huff.

Sun Changhai slumped into a chair, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

It’s over.

With such limited resources, how could the Sun family withstand such a turmoil?

Just then, the Sun family's butler rushed in, panting:

"Master! Master! We've found out!"

"What did you find out?" Sun Changhai asked weakly.

"We found out why the Li family suddenly raised their prices!"

The butler leaned close to Sun Changhai's ear and whispered:

"I have a relative who works at Qingzhulou, and he said... yesterday Li Qingtian invited a master named 'Feng Qin' to Qingzhulou!"

"Even Shen Wanshan, the head of the Shen family, went!"

"And it was Master Feng Qin who cured the eldest daughter of the Li family, who had been in a coma for many years!"

"What kind of news is this?"

Sun Changhai looked puzzled: "What does this have to do with the rising price of medicinal herbs?"

"Sir! Please let me finish!"

The butler was so anxious he kept stamping his feet:

"My relative overheard something and said that the recent price increase of medicinal herbs was orchestrated by that Master Feng Qin!"

"And this Master Feng... seems to be doing this to protect Tian Shu Peak!"

"It's said that he and that Qin Feng... have quite a history!"

boom!

Sun Changhai's mind went blank for a moment, and he suddenly stood up, his face turning deathly pale!

"What?!"

"Is Master Feng protecting Qin Feng?!"

"Master, please don't get agitated! This news may not be accurate; it's just hearsay..." The butler quickly supported the swaying Sun Changhai.

Sun Changhai slumped back into the chair, his eyes glazed over, muttering to himself:

"Master Feng... Qin Feng..."

"How did these two completely unrelated people get involved?"

The butler hesitated for a moment, then analyzed:

"Master, I've heard that Master Feng has an eccentric personality and acts entirely on his whims."

"Could it be... that Qin Feng unintentionally helped the master in some way? Or perhaps the master takes a liking to Qin Feng?"

"Very likely!"

Sun Changhai slapped his thigh suddenly, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.

If I hadn't been so materialistic when Qin Feng came asking for the medicine, and had sold it to him...

Wouldn't they have already latched onto Master Feng's coattails by now?

How could things have ended up like this today?

"Well... Master, shall we go to Tian Shu Peak?" the butler asked tentatively.

Sun Changhai pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth:

"go!"

"Prepare gifts! Prepare generous gifts!"

"Let's go to Tian Shu Peak to apologize!"

"Regardless of whether Qin Feng is truly connected to the master, it's always good to make a statement first!"

"If it's true...it would be a lifeline!"