Chapter 100: I Do Have Evidence

The next afternoon.

Yan Buji saw Yang Yi'er return, his face beaming as he squatted to one side and continued setting up his stall.

Hmph.

Yan Buji shook his head; it seemed he didn't know how to explain why he had obtained such a large sum of Spiritual Stones to buy the other vendors' rare Spiritual Herbs.

"Eh? Where's Old Zhang?"

Yang Yi'er picked at his ear, flicked his finger, and said, "Who knows? He wasn't the one who left yesterday intending to go into seclusion?"

"That's right."

Yan Buji chuckled, thinking to himself: "Although he's bold and meticulous, his mind has a few loose screws; otherwise, he'd make a decent servant if trained."

Such people don't live long, for they have a little cunning but not much, are bold yet disregard rules and propriety; they are utterly reckless cultivators who pursue profit, destined not to go far in the world of cultivation.

The reason Yan Buji doesn't act personally is also here: those petty vendors, each one, could any of them be his match?

As long as one secretly follows them, learns their routes, and sets an ambush, how could what one wants not be obtained?

Isn't that something one must know?

Being able to obtain what one wants without harming one's own interests—that's true cleverness.

Even if one day Yang Yi'er's whereabouts are exposed and he's caught, claiming I ordered it, Yan Buji has never said to let him kill anyone.

Moreover, he left behind evidence.

A single unique First-Tier Spiritual Material Recording Stone would be enough to prove his innocence.

Let's see how efficient Yang Yi'er is; if he has worth cultivating, Yan Buji doesn't mind lending a hand at a critical moment.

Night.

Yang Yi'er stood at the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Shop for a moment, seeing a hand reach out from the window and gesture.

"Where's the Mysterious Jade Flower?!"

"Don't rush; the Mysterious Jade Flower is one of the guarantees of our transaction. Do you think I'd ruin our deal over such a trifle?"

"You weren't saying that yesterday."

"Hehehe, yesterday was yesterday, today is today. I'm not cheating you; I plan to use another fifty Spiritual Stones as a pawn to buy this Mysterious Jade Flower. What do you think?" Yan Buji reached out, took out one hundred fifty Spiritual Stones along with a pawn ticket, and threw them to Yang Yi'er.

Yang Yi'er glanced at the pawn ticket, puzzled: "What does this mean? Afterwards I still have to take fifty Spiritual Stones to redeem the Mysterious Jade Flower?"

"If you hold this, you needn't worry that I'll count this Mysterious Jade Flower as used; otherwise, when you come to the Enforcement Squad for help, I'll have to pay you triple compensation."

Yang Yi'er's eyes lit up; he thought likewise, laughing as he took a wooden box from his pocket and tossed it in.

"I'll come again tomorrow."

"Good, I hope your acquisition succeeds, Fellow Daoist Yang."

"Heh heh, we'll see, Fellow Daoist Yan!"

Yan Buji stood by the window, leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed, the wooden box in his hand giving off a faint fragrance.

He glanced aside, and Wei Zifeng appeared there at some point, glaring at him with a dark face.

"You brat, you actually hired an assassin to kill and seize spiritual herbs—don't you know this is taboo?"

"Boss, don't spout nonsense—I have evidence. I don't know by what means Yang Yi'er got me those Spiritual Herbs. Besides, we traded face‑to‑face; I gave him Spiritual Stones." Yan Buji held a recording stone resembling a cat's eye and laughed.

Wei Zifeng took a deep breath: "Your method is indeed something I hadn't thought of; it's impressive."

"However, if the Enforcement Squad insists on coming after me, I'll ask the boss to step in and help Yang Yi'er." Yan Buji straightened up and bowed with clasped hands.

Wei Zifeng raised his eyebrows: "You're someone I hired and signed an agreement with; if you get into trouble, could I really benefit? Besides, even with evidence, such tactics are bound to draw contempt."

"Contempt? Hahaha, boss, with your vast enterprise, you don't know the hardships of us loose cultivators. Besides, I'm engaged in normal business—when have I ever violated the market's regulations?" Yan Buji laughed loudly.

Wei Zifeng looked at Yan Buji; this was also the first time he had witnessed his methods.

First, with a few words he piqued Wei Zifeng's curiosity, had him sign an agreement, thus binding their relationship;

then, using a loss‑leading hype tactic, he drove away the surrounding vendors, securing a monopoly on the distribution of Spiritual Materials in the area;

then, he treated any thieves who broke into the shop as his own black‑gloved hands, having them gather rare Spiritual Materials to stock the store....

Wei Zifeng pondered, then involuntarily shook his head: "You're gathering so many rare Spiritual Materials—what's your purpose?"

"I've heard there's no Auction House in the Market Town, is that right?"

"You want to run an auction?" Wei Zifeng's pupils contracted.

"It's just a small Spiritual Herb sale; the highest bidder wins—what's wrong with that?"

"Hiss... your schemes are deep indeed; if you keep this up, this shop could truly become a flagship!" Wei Zifeng's eyes lit up.

"However, the Enforcement Squad needs the boss to give them a heads‑up; the auction business itself carries both risk and great profit, and even if the Flame Bear Sect's elders don't care about such trifles, they still must maintain the proper attitude." Yan Buji laughed.

Wei Zifeng chuckled: "Fine, I'll go let them know."

"Your connections are indeed broader than I thought; then, boss, just wait a few days to collect the money!" Yan Buji laughed.

"Someone like you, this shop really isn't big enough for you to stretch your fists and feet."

"Boss is truly a hidden expert; these past few days I've lost at least seven or eight hundred Spiritual Stones, and adding the losses expected over the next few days, my estimate is at least fifteen hundred Spiritual Stones lost—yet you let me act as I wish, truly making me look at you anew." Yan Buji laughed, raising a hand toward Wei Zifeng.

Wei Zifeng's face shone with pride, then he suddenly thought of something and said coldly: "Have you investigated me?"

"Of course I wouldn't dare; with my meager strength, what would investigating the boss accomplish? Do I want to die? I just want to earn a few Spiritual Stones to cultivate." Yan Buji sighed.

"And what else?"

"I also need a few stalks of relatively rare Spiritual Materials; I had thought that, since the boss wouldn't be back these days, I could fake the accounts using the sale event, but it seems that's no longer possible." Yan Buji helplessly took out the Mysterious Jade Flower and Black Snake Fodder he held, stared fixedly at the box of Black Snake Fodder, and tossed it over.

Wei Zifeng took the two boxes, his eyes shifted, gave a wicked laugh, and threw the Jade Box of the Mysterious Jade Flower over: "Hold onto it!"

"Huh? Boss, what do you mean?" Yan Buji blinked.

"Heheh, I still don't know you? You must be dealing with Yang Yi'er just for that Black Snake Fodder, right? I'll hold this for you first; when you really make big money, I'll reward you! The Mysterious Jade Flower has that pawn ticket, so you wouldn't dare misuse it—keeping it on you puts my mind at ease. After all, you still need to rely on it to put on an act with Yang Yi'er, don't you?"

Yan Buji helplessly rolled his eyes, unwillingly putting away the Jade Box: "Really, you can't hide anything from the boss."

"You little talent, I'm not worried you won't earn Spiritual Stones; I'm just curious how much you plan to make. Relying on those rare Spiritual Materials to recoup costs and fill the deficit—probably not that easy, huh?"

"Boss, do you think I can only earn Spiritual Stones by selling rare Spiritual Materials?" Yan Buji chuckled.

"Oh? You still have a method?" Wei Zifeng froze.

"After the auction is over, the boss will naturally find out."