BXBX NOVEL Chapter 789: True Appearance
"What\'s the problem?" Han Li asked.
"The problem is that the batch of Purple Sun Warm Jade is currently in someone else\'s possession, and..."
"So you\'re negotiating a deal with me with someone else\'s stock?" Han Li interjected with a displeased expression. "On top of that, it sounds like they\'re not even aware of what we\'re discussing here, so it\'s yet to be seen whether they\'d be willing to go through with this deal."
A hint of fury surfaced in Hei Lang\'s eyes upon hearing this, and he slammed his fist down onto the table as he snapped, "That\'s not true! I have a share in the Purple Sun Warm Jade as well!"
All of the teacups on the table were knocked over, spilling tea everywhere.
"My apologies for losing my composure," Hei Lang said as he suppressed the fury in his eyes.
"It\'s fine, just tell me what\'s going on," Han Li replied.
"I can assure you that I can convince that person to agree to the price I stated and complete this deal with you. However, I\'m going to require your help. If you agree to help me, then we can continue this discussion, but if not, then let\'s end things here," Hei Lang said."Of course I\'m interested in such a favorable deal, but how exactly do you need me to help you? Surely you can\'t expect me to take a risk without knowing any of the circumstances involved," Han Li said as his brows furrowed slightly.
"There\'s no risk involved, all we need to do is use some negotiation tactics to force that person to agree to this deal. Just follow my lead, and I can assure you that there won\'t be any danger in the process," Hei Lang promised.
Han Li contemplated the offer for a moment, then replied, "I can help you, but under one condition."
"Go ahead, Fellow Daoist," Hei Lang prompted.
"I\'m sure that you\'re already aware that I\'m not acting alone. I have a companion who isn\'t with me right now, and if you want me to help you, you have to bring him along as well," Han Li said.
"If that\'s your condition, then that won\'t be a problem. As long as it\'s someone you deem to be trustworthy, the more people we have on our side, the better," Hei Lang replied without any hesitation.
A hint of surprise flashed through Han Li\'s eyes upon hearing this.
As long as he and Shi Chuankong were together, he was confident that they would be able to get themselves out of any sticky situation, as long as there weren\'t any Great Encompassment cultivators involved, and it was worth taking some risk for the Purple Sun Warm Jade.
"In that case, let\'s go," Hei Lang said as he rose to his feet with an eager expression.
Han Li didn\'t want to delay this matter, either, and the two of them promptly exited the teahouse to find Shi Chuankong already waiting for them outside.
"Why did you call me here in such a hurry, Fellow Daoist Li?" Shi Chuankong asked as he took a glance at Hei Lang.
Han Li gave Shi Chuankong a brief recount of his discussion with Hei Lang through voice transmission, and an elated look immediately flashed through Shi Chuankong\'s eyes as he said, "That sounds like a great deal for us! Please lead the way, Fellow Daoist Hei Lang."
"Please come with me, fellow daoists," Hei Lang replied with a nod, then began to make his way down the street without hailing a carriage.
Shi Chuankong followed along behind him while scouring his surroundings, seemingly worried that Hei Lang could be up to no good.
Han Li was just about to follow along as well when a thought sprang into his mind, and he beckoned to the nearby Lu Xie, then handed him eight top-grade devil stones as he said, "Thank you for your hard work these past two days."
Lu Xie was ecstatic to see so many top-grade devil stones, and he immediately replied in a grateful voice, "Thank you, Senior!"
Han Li waved a dismissive hand, then quickly caught up to Shi Chuankong and Hei Lang.
The three of them rounded a series of corners and made their way through several streets before arriving at a rather shabby-looking shop.
The shop was situated in a rather secluded location, but it was quite large and appeared a little out of place.
At the moment, business appeared to be rather slow in the shop, and there wasn\'t a single customer inside. There was only a thin middle-aged man seated behind the counter, looking down at something, and a young employee that was organizing the stock on the shelves.
The thin shopkeeper looked up at the sound of Han Li\'s trio entering the shop, then put on a smile as he greeted, "Welcome, esteemed customers. How can I help you today?"
Hei Lang paid no heed to the shopkeeper as he made his way toward the shelves in the shop.
Han Li also began looking around the shop to find that despite its unremarkable appearance, there were some decent items being sold.
Even though he had just been flatly ignored, the shopkeeper remained unbothered, and he emerged from behind the counter as he introduced, "Our shop specializes in selling materials. We\'re not exactly a top-tier shop in Black Weasel City, but we have an extensive catalog that I\'m sure will be satisfactory to you."
The shopkeeper was discreetly observing Han Li as he spoke, and Han Li was also watching him.
After walking through the shop for some time, Hei Lang stopped in a corner, then asked in a quiet voice, "Does your shop also purchase materials?"
"Of course, but we don\'t purchase everything that comes our way. It depends on what you have to sell," the shopkeeper replied.
Hei Lang slowly pulled out a black jade box, then opened it up just a sliver to reveal a length of black tree branch that was giving off astonishing devilish qi fluctuations.
The thin shopkeeper\'s eyes immediately lit up, but before he could get a closer look, Hei Lang had already closed the box, then took a glance outside, indicating that this wasn\'t the place to be talking.
"Come with me to the back, Fellow Daoist. As for these two fellow daoists, I\'ll have to get them to wait outside for a moment," the thin shopkeeper said.
"These two friends of mine have things that they wish to sell as well," Hei Lang said.
Han Li flipped a hand over to produce a wooden box upon hearing this, and Shi Chuankong did the same.
Even though the wooden boxes, one could sense formidable aura fluctuations coming from inside.
"In that case, all three of you can come with me," the shopkeeper said with a smile before leading the trio deeper into the shop.
Han Li and Shi Chuankong exchanged a glance with each other before following along, and the three of them soon arrived in an isolated room that was around seventy to eighty feet in size.
The thin shopkeeper made a hand seal, and an azure light barrier instantly appeared over the walls of the room, completely cutting it off from the outside world.
"Even a High Zenith cultivator wouldn\'t be able to eavesdrop on us through this restriction, so we can talk here without any qualms," the shopkeeper assured as he gestured for Han Li\'s trio to sit down.
Instead of sitting down, Han Li looked directly at the shopkeeper and said with a faint smile, "The restriction here is indeed quite remarkable, but before we begin, how about you present your true self to us? I don\'t have a habit of communicating with puppets."
Shi Chuankong and Hei Lang\'s expressions both changed slightly upon hearing this, and after a brief silence, the door of the room was opened once again, following which a thin middle-aged man emerged.
"You have a sharp eye, Fellow Daoist. I\'m even more looking forward to seeing what you have to offer now."
At the same time, a dazed look appeared on the face of the shopkeeper in the room, and it made its way out of the room in a mechanical fashion.
"Your soul control technique is quite profound. If it isn\'t for the fact that I\'ve cultivated a similar secret technique in the past, I wouldn\'t have been able to see through it," Han Li explained with a faint smile.
He could sense that the shopkeeper was at the Golden Immortal Stage, but he was carrying some type of aura concealment treasure that allowed him to display only a True Immortal Stage cultivation base.
This came as quite a relief to Han Li. If he was only dealing with a Golden Immortal, then there was no real danger here.
"You\'re far too kind, Fellow Daoist. Please take a seat," the shopkeeper said as he also sat down himself.
Both Han Li and Shi Chuankong also sat down, but Hei Lang remained standing.
"Is there something wrong, Fellow Daoist?" the shopkeeper asked with slightly furrowed brows.
"It sure was quite an ordeal just to secure an audience with you," Hei Lang said as a smile appeared on his face.
"What do you mean by that?" the shopkeeper asked in a bewildered manner.
"Long time no see, Brother Guan," Hei Lang said as he made a hand seal, and a series of writhing black feelers suddenly emerged over his body.
At the same time, his expression began to change rapidly, and he transformed into a dark-skinned young man who was looking exceptionally emaciated.
Simultaneously, his voice had also changed to become very sharp and raspy.
Both Han Li and Shi Chuankong had already noticed that Hei Lang was in disguise, so they weren\'t surprised to see this.
"Hei Lang? You\'re still alive?" the shopkeeper exclaimed with an incredulous expression.
"Of course I\'m still alive. I must say, you possess commendable courage for continuing to stay in Black Weasel City, Brother Guan. The Black Weasel Army is searching for us outside, yet you\'re hiding in the city. The most dangerous place really can be the safest place sometimes," Hei Lang said with a smile.
A hint of killing intent flashed through the shopkeeper\'s eyes upon hearing this.
"I suggest you don\'t get any funny ideas, Brother Guan. Prior to coming here, I\'ve already made preparations for a series of different outcomes, and if I don\'t walk out of this shop in two hours, someone will report all of your crimes to the Black Weasel Army. On top of that, with these fellow daoists here, you may want to think extra hard before you do anything," Hei Lang said as he casually sat down onto a chair.
The shopkeeper took a glance at Han Li and Shi Chuankong upon hearing this, and the killing intent in his eyes faded as he asked, "Why have you come to see me?"