Chapter 138: Arrogance First, Servility Later

The shopkeeper sneered, "A cursed magical item of ordinary grade costs one million taels of silver to rent for a single use, payable in full upfront. At the same time, you must leave collateral worth fifty million taels of silver here. Can you produce such a sum?"

Hearing this, not only was Chu Youcai taken aback, but the young women were also stunned. Such a massive amount for a deposit?

However, Chu Youcai immediately understood. How precious could a cursed magical item be? What if it were lost after being rented? Equivalent compensation was an absolute necessity. Though fifty million taels of silver was a vast sum, compared to the one-million-tael rental fee for a single use, it was not actually exaggerated.

Having gained a preliminary understanding of the pricing here, Chu Youcai continued to ask, "And what about a bronze-grade one?"

The shopkeeper's brows furrowed even deeper. Seeing the flush on the young gentleman's face, he assumed this must be some wealthy young aristocrat bringing a few women here merely to broaden their horizons and show off.

He sneered, "The price is three times that of the ordinary grade!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanru could not help but frown.

At that moment, a breeze drifted by, parting the light veil across her face to reveal a stunning visage—vigorous, spirited, and indescribably beautiful.

The shopkeeper's heart skipped a beat at the sight, finding her as breathtaking as an immortal, and he could not help but stare fixedly at Shangguan Wanru.

A cold expression settled over Shangguan Wanru's face as she rearranged her veil and walked straight toward the entrance of the shop.

Suddenly, a smile spread across the shopkeeper's face, and he said, "Honored guests, why not visit the second floor? The second floor is our shop's exhibition hall, filled with countless rare treasures and exotic curiosities. Who knows, your discerning eyes might just spot a gem."

Inside his mind, he was already scheming: Once you all go upstairs, I will execute a minor trick to make the numerous sea stones display a brighter hue. Women who have just arrived here like you will undoubtedly be dazzled and unable to look away. Then, I will quote an exorbitant price and lure you in with some trinkets—wouldn't you fall right into my hands?

At that very moment, a flicker of evil intent crossed his eyes, which happened to be caught by Shangguan Wanru. With a flash of her figure, she delivered a sharp slap that sent the shopkeeper flying to the floor.

Instantly, a heavy handprint marred the shopkeeper's face, blood poured like a torrent, and his cheek swelled up until he looked like a pig's head.

He immediately began to shriek like a slaughtered pig, crying out harshly, "How dare you commit violence and robbery on these premises! You have committed a grave crime, and I will drag you before the Crab King of this place!"

People in the distance, hearing the commotion and the sounds of shattering objects, furrowed their brows. That shopkeeper was always framing others, and the Crab King invariably shielded him—those newcomers were about to meet with misfortune!

***

Chu Youcai said calmly, "Very well, we shall wait right here. Let others come and verify precisely what robbery we have committed."

With the Sea Dragon Token in his possession, he feared no one.

Seeing the shopkeeper beaten into such a miserable state by Shangguan Wanru, he found the scene both exasperating and amusing.

Just then, the wind chime hanging by the front door began to ring urgently. Amidst the tense standoff among the crowd, the sound felt especially grating.

A look of sudden delight crossed the shopkeeper's face as he declared, "The master of the house has arrived!"

Yet the chimes continued to ring in a specific rhythm, seeming to convey a particular message. The shopkeeper cocked his head to listen, a look of mingled shock and doubt crossing his features. Enduring his pain, he told Chu Youcai, "Wait right here!" before hurrying upstairs on his own.

Before long, however, the shopkeeper descended even more hurriedly, bowing respectfully as he said to the group, "Honored guests, the master invites you up."

Chu Youcai was startled. "Aren't you going to summon the Crab King to deliver justice?"

The shopkeeper smiled wryly. "How could I dare? Our master extends a sincere invitation. Please forgive me for my earlier offenses."

The group had not expected the shopkeeper's tone to shift so drastically and looked at him in utter bewilderment. Raising their gazes to examine him closely, they realized his face was not only swollen, but even more so than before—as if he had been dealt a far more severe lesson on the second floor. For a moment, a sense of deep curiosity washed over them.

Seeing that they remained still, the shopkeeper whimpered, "This humble one was blind and failed to recognize esteemed personages. If the honored guests will not forgive me, I... I am finished!"

Shangguan Wanru sneered. "What despicable scheme are you plotting now? Trying to trick us upstairs?"

Color drained from the shopkeeper's face. Raising his hands, he began to beat his own cheeks fiercely, striking left and right with all his might. After half a dozen heavy blows that drew blood from the corners of his mouth, he gasped, "The master is truly sincere! I beg the honored guests to grant your forgiveness!"

At this, the group was genuinely startled. Just what manner of person was this master, that he would actively show deference to them?

Chu Youcai nodded after a moment's thought. "Since that is the case, let us go up." Having attained a decade of demonic arts, possessing numerous cursed magical items and external avatars, and noting that the women's physical bodies had grown much stronger, he naturally harbored no fear.

Only then did the group slowly make their way upstairs.

***

Upon reaching the second floor, they beheld numerous displays of merchandise glittering before their eyes—exquisite jades, precious pearls, and corals rarely seen in the mortal realm.

Red Jade's gaze shifted instinctively, looking around in wonder as a myriad of complex emotions filled her eyes.

At that moment, a voice drifted from the second floor: "The items here are actually nothing more than discarded trifles, unworthy of cherishing. Nearby shops have them in abundance; they can hardly be considered true treasures. I must apologize for making you all laugh."

A young gentleman walked slowly toward them, holding a folding fan.

Approaching Chu Youcai, the young man said, "I am the master of this establishment. Having just returned today, I am deeply honored by the auspicious arrival of you esteemed guests. Please, this way."

He invited Chu Youcai and the others to a pavilion ahead, then stated, "The rudeness of the shopkeeper just now has already been punished by me. If the honored guests still feel unsatisfied, please feel free to discipline him however you see fit."

Curiosity sparked within Chu Youcai, and he asked, "Esteemed sir, have we met before?"

The young man shook his head slightly. "We have never met. However, the great name of the Third Young Master Chu has reached my ears long ago."

Chu Youcai was taken aback. He had not expected the other party to know his identity, which only deepened his curiosity. "Since Your Excellency has heard of me, could you perhaps be from Yanzhou?"

The young man shook his head. "I am not from Yanzhou. However, I share an old acquaintance with the Ninth Young Miss of the Prince's Estate. Hearing that the Third Young Master was visiting, I was overjoyed, yet I never imagined I would find the shopkeeper behaving with such disgraceful arrogance. I am deeply ashamed. It is entirely my fault for being away so often and failing to return, which allowed this shopkeeper to grow increasingly lawless."

Only then did Chu Youcai understand the whole story, and he inquired, "May I ask how to address Your Excellency?"

The young man replied, "My name is Sun Yunnian."

With a faint smile, he continued, "I made a brief inquiry just now, and the shopkeeper mentioned that you, Young Master, seem very concerned with the rental of cursed magical items. Is there any way I might be of assistance?"

Chu Youcai had already swept his gaze across the second floor without spotting any rare treasures, let alone anything as extraordinary as a cursed magical item. He answered, "Indeed, I am looking to rent a cursed magical item."