Chapter 261: Who Is the Swindler

Then, the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau in Leitingcheng rode the watermelon hype, and with the escort masters' genuine martial strength, it became a hit in Leitingcheng, and every day on the streets of Leitingcheng some talk about the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau could be heard.

"Quick, go to the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau; the escort masters inside are strong and reliable, all go for me, ah!"

"Damn, why didn't I know about the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau when I delivered watermelons a few days ago?"

Seeing the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau's business booming, and the short‑range escort masters returning these days with the final payments, Jia Jian sat behind the counter calculating the profits, so delighted his mouth couldn't stay closed.

Hehe, three days, I made 9,899 gold coins in just three days—so strong! I ask, who can do that?

Even though it couldn't match the daily income of the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau in Kuangsha City, Jia Jian was in an excellent mood, confident that soon he could take a tidy ledger and the money back to Kuangsha City to report to the Lord and Lord Lin.

Deputy Escort Head Tuo Jia felt a little unhappy.

Although he was pained by giving away watermelon herbal plants, doing so made the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau attract the attention of Beastfolk from all over at the fastest speed, resulting in countless deals.

Thinking that way, Tuo Jia looked at the warehouse empty of watermelons, gloomily trailing behind Jia Jian.

Seeing this, Jia Jian immediately promised, "When I return to Kuangsha City, I will definitely report these over a hundred watermelons to the Lord, and I will also credit your merit."

Tuo Jia's eyes lit up, his mood soaring, "Those watermelons were grown by us in Kuangsha City! How could I be unhappy about watermelons? Take whatever you want, I fully support you."

Thus, the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau in Leitingcheng had a flourishing future, and everyone in the bureau lived in harmony.

Knowing the importance of 'building presence,' Jia Jian even wrote the situation of the Leitingcheng Fierce Sand Escort Bureau on a Thin Skin Scroll, and sent it off to Kuangsha City promptly.

When she received the news Jia Jian sent back, Lin Manzhi also learned of the high price of watermelons outside Kuangsha City.

She held the Thin Skin Scroll sent from Leitingcheng, eyes slightly widened in amazement, "Ah..."

Mo Lie asked beside her, "Did something happen over in Leitingcheng?"

"Nothing much happened," Lin Manzhi shook her head, "Well, I just realized my pricing was still too conservative; watermelons in Kuangsha City and Ansen City are priced at 2–3 gold coins each..."

She set the Thin Skin Scroll down, turned to Mo Lie, and her voice rose naturally, "Do you know how much Cangqiong sells them for on the Lei Ting Continent?!"

Mo Lie, indifferent, looked at the Little Female's dark eyes beside him and asked, "How much?"

Lin Manzhi: "Twelve gold coins! One hundred twenty thousand Beast Coins!"

She lifted her hand and pointed at the writing on the opened Thin Skin paper on the table, saying with a hint of anticipation, "Look, Cangqiong actually sells them so expensive!"

By this calculation, it seems that after all my hard work growing watermelons, I earn less than that second‑hand seller Cangqiong, as if I'm working for Cangqiong.

Mo Lie's voice was low, "Hmm, indeed pricey."

After receiving his agreement, Lin Manzhi withdrew her finger, and with a thoughtful expression said, "It's one thing that Cangqiong sets such a high price for a watermelon, but why would Beastfolk of Leitingcheng still buy them? Do they really have that many wealthy Beastfolk?"

Mo Lie thought for a moment, "It might be because Leitingcheng is close to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple island; many Shamaness go to Leitingcheng to shop for goods."

Lin Manzhi nodded in sudden realization, "I see! No wonder the Lei Ting Continent can be called the wealthy land in everyone's mouth; the people in the Wushen Temple have lots of money, so making money off them is indeed easy."

That made her realize how great the wealth gap is between the outside and Kuangsha City.

So, why not raise the price of a watermelon in Kuangsha City to twelve gold coins...?

Lin Manzhi, while pondering, reached out and re‑rolled the Thin Skin Scroll that Jia Jian had written on the table.

But...

Kuangsha City, built in the desert, had long lacked food and water; before a powerful Lord's protection, it was a lawless, riot‑ridden place.

Although many powerful races exist among Beastfolk, they live a terrifying life with knives strapped to their necks, ready to die at any moment, having no intention of saving money for a decent life—spending whatever they have.

Now water is no longer scarce, but the newly‑acquired Lord is still dissatisfied; the city lacks established aristocracy, and there are surely few Beastfolk with savings.

Spending that many days' worth of rations at once to trade for a watermelon that still doesn't fill a meal, only the legion's warriors in Kuangsha City could afford it.

But the legion is all our own people!

She also didn't need to give the legion members monthly pay earlier, only to immediately take all their money back!

Thinking that way, Lin Manzhi dismissed the idea of following the unscrupulous merchant Cangqiong to raise the watermelon price.

She set the Thin Skin Scroll aside; since the agreed trading date with Cangqiong hadn't arrived yet, she put the watermelon matter aside for now.

Earning money from her own people wasn't satisfying; Lin Manzhi wanted to earn from other Lords. Watermelons and other herbal plants and forage already solved her food problem.

She thought about what precious items she had that could make Beastfolk from other territories clamor with money to buy from her.

Six kinds of herbal materials?

No.

Herbal materials that cause such a sensation certainly couldn't be released now; their territory is still barely developing, and they don't want to become the public enemy of the other four major lands.

It would be best to have something that the Beast Continent has long possessed, precious enough to be lost, and selling it abroad would be...

At that moment, Lin Manzhi suddenly thought of something, looked at Mo Lie and said, "Speaking of which, among the six herbal materials we have, ginseng, Manjingzi, and Notoginseng's medicinal effects have already..."

Beastfolk who lose their human side in the later stages of rampage, after taking Manjingzi for more than a month, regained their sanity. Though still weak, they can now control the transformation back to human form; subsequent conditioning will gradually restore them, allowing continued observation for any changes.

The medicinal effect of Manjingzi is still under experiment, but it has already passed the first stage.

Lin Manzhi pulled out gastrodia elata and Eucommia from a pocket dimension; gastrodia elata is a yellow‑white, horizontally‑striated, flattened oval root, while Eucommia is a gray‑brown slab, its outer skin rough with grooves, and its inner layer smooth and purplish‑brown.

She reached for the Eucommia, gently snapped it, and looked down at the cross‑section of the bark in her hand.

Processed Eucommia, unlike fresh Eucommia bark which, when broken, releases countless silvery threads like natural rubber, was very brittle and darker in color.

Mo Lie lowered his eyes, looking at Lin Manzhi who had taken out the two herbal materials, his expression barely discernible.

"I say gastrodia elata and Eucommia could replace Concentrated Spirit Dew and Spirit Core, what do you think..."

A Little Female with smooth, thick black hair turned her head, her beautiful dark eyes showing a hint of anticipation, as if she had thought of something interesting, and a big smile spread across her face:

"If we manage to create the legendary all‑purpose Spirit Core potion—the Soul Cocoon Divine Pill—and sell it, even at a sky‑high price, countless Beastfolk would scramble to buy it, right?"