Chapter 101: All Are Scheming

In this world, both mortals and cultivators abide by rules; the rules determine the flow of order.

But order is not immutable—each era has its own rules, just as mortals might one day, because someone takes a holiday, eat a customary dish to commemorate that person or what they did.

Before that person appeared, the rule did not exist.

Thus rules are made by people.

And order is what everyone must follow.

This makes Yan Buji sometimes wonder, why should I obey the rules?

Because I can find places within those rules that satisfy my own needs, like now.

Yan Buji's plan to get eggs from a borrowed chicken is basically a great success!

As Yang Yier's daily deliveries of rare Spiritual Materials have reached the quantity Yan Buji expected for the sale event, their transaction is now declared finished.

"When will you give me the Mystic Jade Flower? Is there really no next deal?" Yang Yier anxiously stared at the window, as if hoping to see Yan Buji's face and gauge his current attitude.

These past days, Yang Yier has done many things and gained benefits he never dared imagine before!

As for that Mystic Jade Flower, it no longer seems important.

If this transaction can keep going, so what if I hand over the ticket to Yan Buji?

As long as it continues, would I still value that tiny, fly‑head profit?

When Yan Buji heard Yang Yier's first sentence, he knew the other was a greed‑driven scoundrel, his avarice even beyond Yan Buji's imagination—refusing to maintain good cooperation over a mere Mystic Jade Flower?

Does he not realize that saying such words makes Yan Buji think he's merely a small‑profit‑grasping, unwilling‑to‑take‑any‑loss fellow?

No, he knows.

But he also knows his usefulness will vanish soon, so while unsure whether the cooperation will continue, he still wants to snatch back his Mystic Jade Flower immediately!

He doesn't understand reciprocity at all; if someone uses Yan Buji like that, Yan Buji wouldn't even mind being a dog for them, surrendering most of the profit just to preserve this rare, excellent deal.

What a pity.

He lost the chance I could have given him to survive.

Yan Buji said nothing, merely waiting quietly.

Outside the window, Yang Yier looked increasingly anxious and shouted angrily, "Speak! Do you still want to keep cooperating? Give me a sign!"

Thump thump thump!

Footsteps echoed as a large squad of Law Enforcement Squad cultivators surrounded Yang Yier.

Yang Yier froze, terrified, "Sir, you?"

"You're the demonic rogue who's been slashing wandering cultivators lately, right? How dare you come to our Huo Xiong Zong Fang Shi; this time you won't get away!"

"No, I'm innocent!"

"Hmph, still trying to resist? Grab them!"

"Stop, stop, stop!!"

Yang Yier forgot one thing.

He lacks the power to protect what he's obtained; in the cultivation world there exists a truth that can ignore rules, order, and etiquette.

That is force!

He, a mere third‑layer Qi‑refining cultivator, has been slaying so many wandering cultivators that he's already on others' radars; Yan Buji only said a few words to Wei Zifeng, who naturally knows what to do.

Yang Yier was taken away like that, and his shouting on the road was all at Yan Buji's command.

But what good does that do?

Yan Buji has already handed the Retaining Image Stone to the Law Enforcement Squad, trusting that the squad's officers, out of respect for Wei Zifeng, won't make things difficult for him.

Sure enough, nothing happened that day; passing wandering cultivators heard about it and even thought the Hundred Treasures Shop had turned into a black shop.

Later, an officer from the Law Enforcement Squad came in person, interrogated Yan Buji a few times, and Yan Buji seized the chance to reveal his plan to purchase spiritual herbs, along with the Retaining Image Stone, which dispelled the wandering cultivators' fear.

However, clever people could see that Yan Buji's move of borrowing a knife to kill was shrewd—he obtained what he wanted, though he lost many Spiritual Stones.

"So Yan Buji's deal is actually a normal transaction, really giving Spiritual Stones for Yang Yier to buy spiritual herbs, not a murder‑for‑hire?"

"Then what? Does Yan Buji hold a grudge against every vendor here? Even a few rare Spiritual Materials are worth hundreds of Spiritual Stones daily, yet we never see Wei Pangzi come after him."

"Hmph, I think Yan Buji deliberately set a trap for Yang Yier!"

"That's also because Yang Yier himself greedily coveted Spiritual Stones and killed, who's to blame?"

Everyone knows, as long as Yang Yier is willing to spend Spiritual Stones on Spiritual Materials, can a hundred Spiritual Stones still not buy those rare First‑Tier Spiritual Materials?

He can even make a profit by negotiating the price.

It's simply that his Spiritual Stones come from the Hundred Treasures Shop, and Yan Buji can't purchase directly, so he covertly commissioned Yang Yier to act as buyer.

That's just normal business activity, not particularly sinister; truly, does Yang Yier's matter have anything to do with Yan Buji?

Yes, but not much.

Who made Yang Yier want both Spiritual Stones and Spiritual Materials and then resort to killing?

But the Law Enforcement Squad letting Yan Buji off so easily has everyone speculating whether Yan Buji is actually related to Wei Pangzi.

Otherwise, aside from Wei Pangzi's connections within the Law Enforcement Squad, who could have the clout to make that bunch of vampire‑like officers release someone?

You should know that the old Law Enforcement Squad, if you had any link to a demonic rogue, would strip off three layers of your skin before showing any mercy!

Compared to now, that was truly a heavenly magistrate!

Yan Buji stood at the window, watched the drama end, then turned to see Wei Zifeng's face flushed, and said helplessly:

"Boss, can the Spiritual Stones Yang Yier hoarded offset my void......"

"Impossible! These Spiritual Stones were reclaimed through my contacts; what does that have to do with you?" Wei Zifeng said proudly.

You old slick, so shrewd, yet it's truly hard to see such a constipated expression on your face.

Yan Buji was speechless: "Then I have no merit but I've toiled; what about the Black Snake Pasture Herb?"

"That's a product of the sale event; you can buy it if you want, and I can give you an internal price," Wei Zifeng said with a smile.

Yan Buji rolled his eyes: "If I had that Spiritual Stone, would I be working for you?"

"It's supposed to be yours, right? This is your attitude? That's really chilling; I was still planning to give you this pawn ticket." Wei Zifeng snorted, flicked the Mystic Jade Flower pawn ticket in his hand.

This pawn ticket lacks private certification; anyone who gets it can redeem it at the Hundred Treasures Shop.

Yan Buji pouted: "What do I need the Mystic Jade Flower for, this...."

"Alright, don't be upset. I know you're not that kind of person; do a good job for me. I'll keep the Black Snake Pasture grass for you, and the Mystic Jade Flower will be your reward for these days of work. How about it, am I not treating you badly as a boss?" Wei Zifeng walked over, slapped the pawn ticket onto Yan Buji, and chuckled a few times.

Yan Buji caught the falling pawn ticket, resignedly put it away: "Fine, then I'll take the Mystic Jade Flower for now, okay?"

I was going to give it to you anyway.

Boss is generous, boss is righteous! Yan Buji chuckled.

Stop sucking up, prepare the auction; I still want to see how you'll make a 30% profit after the auction.

Hehe, boss, just watch.

The two exchanged a smile, then each went about their business.

Only Yan Buji tore the pawn ticket in his hand, then rubbed the Jade Box in his bosom.

This scheme ultimately succeeded thanks to Yan Buji's superior skill.

As one of the main ingredients of the Clear Vision Eye Liquid, Yan Buji had his eyes on Yang Yier from the start, and all his subsequent maneuvers were for this Spiritual Material. Including showing a desire for the useless Black Snake Pasture grass, just to confuse Wei Zifeng!

Wei Zifeng saw his own capability; wanting me to help him make money, he certainly wouldn't shortchange me.

After all, he's not someone lacking those few Spiritual Stones, and someone capable of helping him earn more Spiritual Stones naturally wouldn't be stingy.

Such a boss fits Yan Buji's wishes perfectly; naturally, the Mystic Jade Flower is also part of his plan.

Having obtained it now, Yan Buji felt no disturbance in his heart. It was as if, seeing Yang Yier sneakingly talking business with a passing rogue cultivator that day, he had already foreseen this scene.

Just missing one Blight-rupturing Fruit; I recall there's one in the storehouse. The remaining Spiritual Materials are ordinary and easy to find. By then I'll figure out how to coax Wei Zifeng into giving it to me, first concoct the Clear Vision Eye Liquid, then find a pair of special pupils, and mastering the Sanhua Tong pupil will be imminent!

This is also why Yan Buji is willing to work here for three years; the Sanhua Tong Secret Method determines whether he can see Spiritual Qi, and its importance for cultivation beyond the ordinary goes without saying.