Chapter 696: Compensation and the Marketplace

When the guards opened the door, Li Yi immediately saw the merchant lord Lie Hou and the Bloodline Warrior Dong Chong waiting outside—they showed no hostility at all, but instead carried a hint of reverence.

Indeed, after being beaten, even eyes grow clearer, people learn manners, and know to wait outside rather than storm in and attack like yesterday.

"Great Yi, as promised yesterday, I've prepared eighty thousand gold." Lie Hou gritted his teeth against the pain, lifting a chest before Li Yi.

When opened, under the sunlight, a crimson glow shimmered.

Eight hundred pieces of crimson gold were stacked together—though the quantity didn't seem large, each piece was incredibly heavy, like some rare divine metal, an ideal material for forging divine weapons.

Even if not currency, their value was immense.

"Eight hundred pieces of crimson gold—no more, no less. Please, Great Yi, count them," Lie Hou said seriously. "As merchant lord, I keep my word. So please, Great Yi, honor your promise and spare my life and Dong Chong's."

Li Yi grabbed a handful of crimson gold; the warm, heavy pieces clinked together with a crisp, pleasant sound, like music.

After crossing worlds so many times, he'd always treated money as dirt—but here, he couldn't help loving this currency, for it wasn't just money, but treasures themselves.

Remember, the two beauties E Ji and Su Ji were each worth only two pieces of crimson gold—eight hundred pieces here could fetch countless precious things.

"Since you've kept your promise, I'll keep mine. From today, I spare your lives and Dong Chong's—but only as my personal pardon. What happens afterward, whether Merchant Lord Xiu Xiang seeks revenge, I won't interfere."

Li Yi then stowed the chest of crimson gold directly into his Five Elements Bracelet, and fixed them with a serious gaze: "And this promise is a one-time thing. If you come after me again, I won't spare you."

"Of course," Lie Hou exhaled slightly in relief. "Thank you, Great Yi, for your mercy."

"Don't thank me. This was a transaction." Li Yi said. "You may leave now. I hope we never meet again."

Lie Hou gave a slight nod, said no more, and turned away with Dong Chong and several other servants. He didn't return to his former dwelling—it had been destroyed in battle—nor did he leave immediately, but went instead to other merchant lords nearby to make reparations.

Many places had been damaged in the fight; Lie Hou didn't want to offend other merchant lords over ruined buildings, so he had to spend gold to appease them.

In short, he'd suffered great losses today.

After securing the gold, Li Yi returned to his courtyard.

E Ji and Su Ji had already risen; they combed each other's hair and tidied their robes, presenting their most beautiful appearances. As courtesans, they never did labor—only adorned themselves and practiced music and dance.

But upon seeing Li Yi, they immediately dropped everything and knelt to bow: "Great Yi."

"Rise. Today, teach me to read." Li Yi said.

"Yes," E Ji and Su Ji replied.

"Great Yi, do you have any bamboo slips?" E Ji then asked.

Li Yi said: "I have no slips. You may write characters on the ground with arrows—teach me every character you know."

He then tossed out two golden arrows.

These were high-grade magic artifacts crafted by the Bald Daoist—extremely sharp, perfect for writing.

"Yes."

E Ji and Su Ji each picked up an arrow and began writing the simplest characters, teaching them to Li Yi.

The arrows were indeed sharp, leaving clear marks on even the hardest stone.

The characters of this world were ancient and primitive, resembling Earth's early pictographs—but different from them. Though Li Yi had little education and was a crude warrior, after cultivation, perfect recall was basic. If applied to learning, he could have passed any top university and become a lawyer or doctor someday.

"This is water. This is mountain. This is stone." Each time E Ji wrote a character, she pronounced it aloud.

Su Ji did the same, each writing different characters.

In moments, the courtyard ground was covered in characters.

Undeniably, even as slaves, they knew much. No wonder their master sold them for two hundred gold each—in this world, beautiful women who knew knowledge were truly rare.

And Li Yi's learning ability did not disappoint.

One character written, one learned. When they'd written every character they knew, he'd mastered the written language of this world and could now read some bamboo slips.

"Great Yi is truly a direct descendant of the gods—mastering every character in such a short time!" E Ji exclaimed, stunned after setting down the arrow.

"It's not hard—just good memory," Li Yi said. "Now that I've learned the characters, tell me: how much do you know about Divine Arts? Someone mentioned them yesterday—I want to learn."

But E Ji shook her head: "Great Yi, your slave is powerless. I know nothing of Divine Arts. We aren't Bloodline Warriors, and our former tribe never produced one, so we never gained such knowledge."

Su Ji whispered softly: "Perhaps the slave masters know. They've even sold Bloodline Warriors as slaves."

Slave masters?

Li Yi's expression shifted—he remembered.

In Beihuang City, the most powerful weren't merchant lords or warriors—they were the slave masters.

In any place, any world, those who trade in slaves are never ordinary—they wield immense influence.

He looked up at the sky.

It was still early—just noon.

Remembering he had eighty thousand gold, he decided he should visit the marketplace—to spend some, and to ask the slave masters about Divine Arts. As for Jiang Mingtian and Zhao Fangji, he'd wait until Hu Fei arrived in Beihuang City.

After all, before coming here, Li Yi had already sent Hu Fei a message. He'd come as soon as he had time.

"I'm going to the marketplace. You've worked hard teaching me to read—rest now," Li Yi said.

E Ji and Su Ji exchanged glances, then immediately said: "If Great Yi seeks Divine Arts, please take us. We know that slave master—we can introduce you."

Clearly, after last night's reflection, they'd grasped a truth: seize the chance to prove their worth.

Li Yi paused, then said: "Fine. Come with me to the marketplace."

Hearing his agreement, E Ji and Su Ji brightened instantly.

Soon.

Li Yi informed the others in the mansion he'd be going to the marketplace and would return by evening. The guards offered to escort him.

But Li Yi refused.

When he was weak, he needed guards for protection, fearing trouble in Beihuang City. But now—he was already at the Five Qi Realm, a Bloodline Warrior. None of these guards were stronger than him. Bringing them was useless.

He'd been to the marketplace once before—he knew the way.

Back then, he was poor, couldn't afford anything. Even when he saw something he desired, he could only stare longingly. But this time was different—he had wealth. If he saw something he wanted, he'd buy it without hesitation.

Soon.

Li Yi walked through Beihuang City's main road with the two courtesans, arriving at the marketplace.

His arrival drew attention from many merchant lords.

Li Yi wore the Crimson Feather and Purple Gold Armor, his body radiating crimson aura, accompanied by two beauties—he clearly was wealthy. No, he was a wealthy Bloodline Warrior.

Even from afar, the thick aura of Bloodline energy could be felt.

"At least a direct Bloodline heir," the merchant lords murmured, their eyes filled with reverence.

A direct Bloodline heir in Beihuang City still carried great weight.

Behind every direct Bloodline heir stood endless merchant lords eager to fund them—once the heir chose, a new Bloodline family would rise in Beihuang City.

In this world, direct Bloodline heirs represented wealth, status, power—and were deeply respected.

So someone like Li Yi would never become a slave, never fall into poverty—unless killed.

Of course, ordinary Bloodline Warriors were different—their bloodline couldn't be passed on, so their value was limited.

As Li Yi walked through the marketplace with E Ji and Su Ji, passersby deliberately gave them space, avoiding offense, showing respect to the Bloodline Warrior.

Moreover, merchant lords were eager to offer their finest goods to Bloodline Warriors.

In their view, fine goods belonged to strong warriors—not wasted on weak, useless people.

That's why every powerful merchant lord needed a Bloodline Warrior behind him—otherwise, he'd never grow large.

(End of Chapter)