Chapter 52: Jin Wuya

I turned my head to look at the clerk; a long queue had formed again in front of the counter, he was slowly handling business, not disturbed by the earlier minor incident.

It's no longer realistic to go back and ask now.

This also can't be done overnight; the clerk's mouth is clearly tight, we'll have time later.

Tonight I came to Gui Shi just for this matter, so I plan to go back with Li Qingying.

Just after walking out not far, I suddenly saw a familiar figure in the crowd.

Wearing a moon-white long robe, holding a folding fan in hand, standing with hands behind back—if not the Fox Lord, who else?

I was about to greet him when, on the other side, a girl in a black-red archery outfit with a high ponytail leaned over affectionately, holding a candied hawthorn skewer, saying: "Hu Dage..."

The two stood very close, I didn't know what they were saying.

The street was full of mixed faces; I only saw the girl's profile, inexplicably feeling familiar, as if I'd seen her somewhere before.

Li Qingying also saw the Fox Lord; she pulled me: "Don't stare, they're busy."

I also came to my senses, smiled, and said: "Alright, then let's not greet them; let's go."

Passing the stall where I'd previously exchanged a steel pen for a tiger's whip, we unexpectedly ran into that sturdy vendor again.

The vendor was packing up, his goods seemed to have always been selling well.

He also recognized me and immediately spoke up: "Boss, any good stuff left to trade today?"

I thought and replied: "There is, but it looks like you've already packed up, so probably nothing left to trade with me."

The man laughed: "No problem, trade doesn't have to be done at Gui Shi; there's a tea house over there, let me treat the two bosses to tea and we can chat?"

I and Li Qingying exchanged a glance; she nodded, and we went together to the tea house.

The man ordered three cups of plain tea, we found a quiet corner and sat down.

Each gave a brief self-introduction.

The man's surname is Jin, his name is Jin Wuya.

As soon as we sat down, Jin Wuya warmly said: "Miss Xiao Jiu, what good stuff did you bring to Gui Shi this time? Can I take a look first?"

I opened a corner of the black cloth wrapped around the "Chaste and Heroic" plaque and the pomegranate-carved item, let Jin Wuya glance at it briefly, then quickly covered it again.

Jin Wuya is knowledgeable; his eyes lit up immediately, lowering his voice he said: "If I'm not mistaken, this should have been cut from a chastity archway, right? At least over a hundred years old?"

I still admired Jin Wuya in my heart.

Even if this slender man isn't a crafty artisan, with his sharp eye, if he were hired at the pawnshop, I'd be adding wings to a tiger.

But...

Although I'm eager for talent, but right now the pawnshop isn't suitable for hiring, and Jin Wuya isn't someone who can be easily recruited.

Thinking this, I changed the subject: "Boss Jin, there's something I'd like to ask you first."

Jin Wuya's thoughts were all on my two items; he casually asked: "What?"

"About that steel pen from last time." I said, "I saw the news—within just a month, the lawyer named Chen Lu had huge ups and downs; is that because of the steel pen?"

"What could be wrong with a steel pen? I personally refined it." Jin Wuya said angrily, "When I sold it to that woman, I told her everything she needed to know; after having the steel pen, she could only file legitimate lawsuits, eliminate evil for the people, her fortune clearly improved—who let her be insatiably greedy, unable to resist money's temptation, go help others sue in black-market courts, and suffer backlash? She deserved it!"

So that's how it is.

I asked again: "And what do you plan to do with these two items I have?"

Jin Wuya's mouth twitched, and he didn't immediately respond.

I immediately understood, smiling: "Just asking casually, Boss Jin, don't be nervous—I'm not the type to casually sit and raise prices."

Then Jin Wuya said: "These two items have many uses.

Pomegranates have long symbolized many children and grandchildren; they can be sold to those who've long sought offspring without success; the 'Chaste and Heroic' plaque has even more uses, mainly for helping people stabilize relationships.

Of course, these two items must first be refined by my hand to develop their effects; putting them in Xiao Jiu Zhanggui's hands would actually be worthless.

Li Qingying told me that a crafty artisan's skill is the most valuable.

Jin Wuya is right; these two items in my hands would either be sold as antiques with Tang Tang's help—though not worth much—or be placed in the main hall to feed those dirty things.

But after Jin Wuya's remaking, they could sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands; anything is possible.

I want to cooperate with Jin Wuya, of course mainly not for money.

I patted the two items and said: "I hit it off with Boss Jin at first sight; our previous cooperation was pleasant, and I really want to give these two items to Boss Jin."

Jin Wuya raised his brow and asked: "Miss Xiao Jiu, what are your demands? Feel free to mention them."

I took out a sheet of paper from my personal bag, unfolded it, and pushed it toward Jin Wuya.

On that paper is the picture of golden scales I drew in advance.

On Liu Junyan's natal magic weapon, seven golden scales were once inlaid; I unintentionally obtained one piece, the other six I don't know where they ended up.

Although Liu Junyan doesn't let me search for them, I fully understand the meaning of a natal magic weapon for a cultivator.

Without Feng Wu's help, how could I have taken down those little troublemakers in the Wu family manor?

So, no matter what, I will do my best to help Liu Junyan find them.

Jin Wuya is well-informed; perhaps I could obtain some useful information from him.

This is also why I brought those two items to Gui Shi tonight.

Jin Wuya looked at the golden scale picture, brows furrowed: "If I'm not mistaken, this should be... golden scales? From a dragon's body?"

From a dragon's body?

This I hadn't anticipated.

Before I could answer, Jin Wuya shook his head on his own: "Miss Xiao Jiu, this is asking too much; although I have many friends on the path, where would you have me get dragon scales from?"

"Boss Jin misunderstood." I explained, "Between us, I offer good items, you exchange with pure yang or pure yin objects; of course, if you have any news about golden scales, you can trade for my items—this clause stands anytime, long-term."

Jin Wuya's eyes rolled back and forth, unsure what he was silently weighing; after a while he said: "Speaking of golden scales, I actually saw one more than twenty years ago..."

My heart stirred; I was about to ask specifically when the people around drinking tea suddenly rose hurriedly and walked out.

Li Qingying reminded: "Xiao Jiu, it's almost time to leave Gui Shi; we must go now."

Jin Wuya hurriedly said, "Miss Xiao Jiu, leave contact information; we'll get in touch outside."

I took out a pen and swiftly wrote down Dang Pu's address and my phone number on that Golden Scale picture.

Afterwards, I hurriedly left with Li Qingying.

After leaving Gui Shi, Li Qingying drove me back to Dang Pu, then turned around and was about to leave.

I repeatedly urged her to be careful and not come back covered in injuries.

Watching the off‑vehicle drive away, it was almost 4 a. m.; I closed Dang Pu's door, returned to the bedroom, and got ready to wash up and sleep.

After I finished tidying up, while sitting at the head of the bed blowing my hair, I glanced at the painting hanging in the room.

That painting was given by Feng Wu to Tang Xun, and Tang Xun then gave it to me.

Looking at the girl on it wearing a mask, holding a long bow, dressed in archery attire, my motion of blowing my hair suddenly stopped.

So alike!

Exactly alike!

The side profile of the girl in the painting is almost exactly the same as that of the girl beside the Fox Lord tonight…