The moment Xiao Fan saw Lu Cheng, his pupils constricted sharply.
New and old grudges, like molten iron, surged into his heart all at once.
It was him again!
This persistent bastard!
How could he be here?
Immediately after, his gaze fell on the petite woman beside Lu Cheng.
Xiao Fan's teeth gnashed loudly.
He recognized her at a glance!
Isn't this the woman who played tricks on Antique Street, claiming to be some archaeological expert?!
Sure enough!
She was indeed with Lu Cheng!
They must have colluded, put on a show, deliberately raised the price for him, and caused him to incur the system's double penalty loan!
He trembled with rage, almost exploding on the spot.
But he forcibly held back.
He took a deep breath, comforting himself in his heart.
Heh heh.
Do you think you've won?
You don't know that the true value of this medicine king cauldron in my hand is hundreds, even thousands of times greater than that so-called 'national treasure'!
When I refine divine pills, win the beauty, and become a Pill Refinement Grandmaster, all the humiliations you inflicted on me today will become stepping stones on my path to the top!
Thinking of this, the anger in Xiao Fan's heart strangely subsided a bit, replaced by a twisted, self-righteous sense of superiority.
Lu Cheng seemed not to notice the change in Xiao Fan's expression.
He walked straight to the counter, his gaze casually sweeping over the dazzling array of medicinal herbs.
Finally, his sight fell on a vine, entirely crimson, as if blood flowed within it, enshrined alone in a special glass case.
"Business is good."
Lu Cheng smiled faintly at the Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner with white hair and beard.
"This vine looks quite old."
The Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner's placid face immediately filled with respectful and enthusiastic smiles the moment he saw Mr. Lu.
He quickly came out from behind the counter and bowed slightly.
"Mr. Lu! What do you need? Next time, just give me a call, and I'll send someone to deliver it to you."
Are you kidding me? This place is Returning Spring Hall, and everyone knows who Mr. Lu is!
Xiao Fan, standing nearby, saw the Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner's shift from aloofness to deference, and a warning bell immediately rang in his heart!
He panicked!
Why was he trying to snatch things from him again!
He absolutely couldn't let the cooked duck fly away!
"There's always a first come, first served!"
Xiao Fan no longer cared about his demeanor, rushed to the counter, pointed at the dragon blood vine, and shouted.
"I saw this medicine first!"
Lu Cheng then slowly turned his head and glanced at him.
"Oh?"
Lu Cheng's face showed a perfectly timed surprise.
"So you also understand pharmacology?"
"I thought you only resold antiques."
Reselling antiques!
These four words were like a poisoned dagger, stabbing fiercely into Xiao Fan's heart!
He remembered the extra ten million he had spent, and the double penalty loan he had incurred!
"You...!"
Xiao Fan trembled with rage, his face turning a purplish-red, pointing at Lu Cheng but unable to utter a single word.
Lu Cheng looked at him in this state, about to continue 'teasing the dog' and buy it directly.
Just then.
Bai Zhi, who had been following behind Lu Cheng, trying to minimize her presence, heard the system's choice in her mind.
[Ding! Detecting that the Destined Arch-Villain 'Lu Cheng' is about to intercept the Son of Destiny's crucial opportunity, please make a choice, Host!]
[Option One: Severely reprimand Lu Cheng's thieving behavior, stand with the Son of Destiny, and uphold justice. Reward: Title 'Partner of Justice', System Points 100.]
[Option Two: Reason with Lu Cheng, appeal to his emotions, persuade him to give up the interception, and make him realize his mistake. Reward: Skill 'Master of Eloquence', System Points 500.]
[Option Three: Scheme with the tiger! Buy the [Millennial Dragon Blood Vine] before Lu Cheng! Since you cannot stop the villain from doing evil, then take control of the spoils yourself, absolutely preventing the villain's strength from increasing! Reward: Special Item 'Pill God Sachet' (Greatly increases pill refinement success rate and pill quality when worn), System Points 3000!]
Looking at these three options, Bai Zhi's breathing stopped once again.
Her gaze fell on the generous reward behind Option Three.
Pill God Sachet!
But she quickly realized that this was the Son of Destiny's opportunity.
No!
Cannot be swayed by rewards!
Although this Son of Destiny seemed stupid and impulsive, he was, after all, one of the protagonists of this world.
I should help him rise quickly to be able to contend with Lu Cheng!
But... Bai Zhi's gaze returned to the description of Option Three.
Scheme with the tiger!
Yes! The system is right!
This Lu Cheng, he is an unreasonable devil!
Is reasoning with him useful?
Useless!
He will only use his twisted logic to trap me, and even turn around and mock me!
Since I can't stop him from doing evil, the best way is to make his evil deeds fail!
If I buy this medicinal herb, doesn't that indirectly weaken him?
If he doesn't get this crucial medicinal herb, his schemes will not succeed!
I... I am pulling the rug out from under him!
I am doing this for justice!
Yes! That's it!
As for that Son of Destiny... Bai Zhi glanced at Xiao Fan, who was red-faced and on the verge of a cerebral hemorrhage from anger.
If he loses this herb, at most, his mission will fail, or his strength will increase a bit slower.
But if Lu Cheng, this great villain, gets it, who knows what harmful poisons he will refine to endanger how many innocent people!
Of two evils, choose the lesser!
I am saving the world!
As for that 'Pill God Sachet'... to better contend with the villain, I must also become stronger!
I, Bai Zhi, am upright and fear no shadows!
In a matter of seconds, Bai Zhi constructed a flawless and righteous logical loop for her upcoming actions.
She instantly made up her mind!
Do it!
Bai Zhi took a deep breath and stepped out from behind Lu Cheng.
She walked straight in front of Lu Cheng, then extended her fair little hand, spreading it righteously before him.
"I want an advance on my salary!"
Her voice was clear and loud.
"Give me money!"
The entire Returning Spring Hall fell into a dead silence.
Lu Cheng looked at her, not angry but smiling instead.
That smile contained only an unshakeable indulgence.
As if he was looking at a small pet that was acting spoiled and cute to the extreme.
"Of course."
Lu Cheng took out a black card from his pocket and placed it in Bai Zhi's palm.
"My employee wants to buy something, and as her boss, I naturally have to fully support her."
He looked at Bai Zhi's large eyes, hidden beneath the brim of her hat, filled with 'I am doing this for justice', and the smile at the corner of his mouth grew even wider.
"Swipe as much as you want."
"No password."
Bai Zhi held the cool card, her palms slightly sweating.
But as soon as she thought that she was performing 'justice', her back instantly straightened.
She held the black card, turned around, and under Xiao Fan's gaze, said to the Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner.
"I'll buy this Millennial Dragon Blood Vine!"
She paused, then extended a finger, pointing at the completely petrified Xiao Fan next to her.
"No matter how much he offers!"
"I'll offer a million more than him!"