According to the instructions, just five of these pills a month would significantly boost one's cultivation progress. If he could finish them all, he would certainly reach a Xiantian breakthrough within two or three months.
It was even possible he might achieve this transformation before finishing all of them.
After carefully stowing the pills away, Gu Gang walked into Gujin Pavilion. Gu Yi, trailing behind, hurried to follow. He felt no surprise at his master’s ability to conjure a bottle out of thin air; in his heart, his master was a divine being, and such minor feats of wonder were nothing to him.
Upon stepping into Gujin Pavilion, the first thing that caught one’s eye was a chubby man sitting lazily in a chair, dressed casually in a denim jacket. His expression betrayed a hint of impatience. Next to the counter, an elderly man in his sixties wearing spectacles was examining a jade pendant with a complex look on his face. Sitting in a chair on the other side was a youth of about eighteen.
The boy was observing the chubby man opposite him with great interest while occasionally fiddling with a short blade in his hand. The knife moved like a fish in water between his fingers, dancing over his palm a dozen times after a quick flick before being steadily retrieved, never once nicking his skin. Wang Fatty watched this display with his jaw dropped; had he not been so desperate for cash and afraid that offending a person of status would lead to further delays, he would have walked out long ago.
"Master!"
Upon spotting Gu Gang and Gu Yi, the youth’s face lit up with excitement. He stood up quickly and approached them with a respectful attitude.
"Gu San, stop showing off your throwing knives in public. Don't scare people."
Gu Gang shot a sidelong glance at Gu San, a trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes. This gaze made Gu San instantly flustered, and he could only scratch his head with an awkward laugh. He didn't understand why his master was glaring at him; he only vaguely remembered that during his time off from practicing the Gale Blade technique, he had been studying a new throwing method.
***
Gujin Pavilion
Wang Fatty stood to the side, feeling slightly awkward. What caught his attention more, however, was the strange term Gu San had used to address Gu Gang—"Master." What era was this? Why use such an archaic term?
Gu Gang couldn't help but smile wryly at this. At first, his four followers had insisted on calling him "Master," and no amount of persuasion would change it. It was only after much convincing that they changed it to the slightly more dignified "Master" (Zhushang). As time went on, he couldn't be bothered to argue and let them have their way.
"Boss Gu, I've looked at this jade pendant for a long time, but I haven't found anything particularly valuable about it. Even if it is ancient jade, it has no other significance. It’s hardly worth you making a personal trip, is it?" asked the elderly man with glasses, who had been looking down at the pendant the whole time.
This old man was Qi Yuanfu. His surname hinted at his background: he was a member of the Qi Family, one of the Nine Gates, though he belonged to a collateral branch. He was the appraiser for Gujin Pavilion and had a long-standing friendship with Gu Gang. They had met when they were young, and given his deep relationship with Granny Bai, a close bond had formed between them. After opening the antique shop, Gu Gang had specifically invited him to manage the daily operations and handle appraisals. Although Qi Yuanfu was not from the main line of the Qi family and had not inherited the family’s secret "Qimen Eight Calculations," he was a standout in the field of antique appraisal, skilled in everything from porcelain and calligraphy to jade and curios. With his help, the two shops had firmly established themselves in the Panjiayuan and Liulichang markets.
Qi Yuanfu was stunned by Gu Gang’s reply. "It’s not about the jade?"
Could it be that the special visit was for that fat man? He looked at the restless Wang Fatty, filled with doubt: Was there really something about this guy that Gu Gang valued?
The ancient jade in his hand was worth a few thousand yuan at most. However, its true value was extraordinary, especially given its connection to the long-lost Niya Ruins, and the fact that the characters inscribed on it were ancient Ghost Cave script. Now, at the dawn of the new century, a few tens of thousands of yuan was not a small sum for an average person, and anyone interested in that ancient city would never easily give up such an item.
"What is your name, brother?" Gu Gang asked, smiling at Wang Fatty.
"Ah... my real name is Wang Kaixuan, but my friends usually call me 'Wang Fatty'."
Facing the question, despite his usual uninhibited nature, Wang Fatty felt unusually constrained. Being in front of Gu Gang today made him feel a strange pressure, and he didn't dare to relax.
"Boss, are you still interested in buying this ancient jade?"
"I am." After giving a decisive answer, Gu Gang paused and added, "To be honest, I don't want to deceive you. The material of this jade is poor, and in Panjiayuan, it wouldn't be valued at more than three thousand yuan. But I am quite interested in the content inscribed on it, so I am willing to pay you thirty thousand."
To him, this deal was fair and just; there was no need for underhanded tactics.
"Thirty... thirty thousand?"
Upon hearing the amount, Wang Fatty’s heart pounded violently. He was pleasantly surprised, feeling as if he had won the lottery. He had already checked the market, and the highest offer he had received was from a man with a mouth full of gold teeth who had offered three thousand. Wang Fatty had planned to take that offer, but he had happened to walk into Gujin Pavilion and decided to ask inside while he was hesitating. He hadn't expected this young boss to offer thirty thousand right off the bat! Thirty thousand? Wang Fatty’s eyes nearly popped out of his head; he hadn't saved that much in his entire life. *This is great! When Old Hu gets here, I'll definitely have to treat him to something nice!*
"Are you not satisfied with the price?" Seeing Wang Fatty frozen in silence, Gu Gang raised an eyebrow.
"Satisfied! Of course I am! Thirty thousand it is, no argument!" Wang Fatty replied, nodding frantically as he regained his senses.
Gu Gang nodded calmly, then signaled to Qi Yuanfu, who placed a stack of cash on the table. "This is thirty thousand yuan. Please count it."
"Heh heh, no need, Boss. Your shop is so impressive, why would you try to cheat a little guy like me?" Wang Fatty’s eyes lit up as he stared at the cash. He laughed and reached for the money bag inside his jacket, clutching it tightly as if he were afraid it might fly away.
This action made Gu Gang think a little higher of Wang Fatty. Although this money meant nothing to him, it was a huge fortune for Wang Fatty. Yet, he didn't even bother to count it, clearly looking to build a relationship and show trust. Despite his rough-around-the-edges appearance, the man was quite sharp.
"You’re quite interesting." Gu Gang looked at Wang Fatty with a meaningful smile. "My name is Gu. In the future, if you find any other treasures, feel free to come to my shop. I won't let you down on the price."
"Alright, alright! I knew Boss Gu was a generous man. If I come across any valuable goods in the future, I’ll definitely bring them to you first," Wang Fatty replied with a silly grin.
"Since the jade is sold, I have some business to attend to. I'll take my leave." He patted the pocket full of money and turned to leave.
Watching his back disappear, Qi Yuanfu pushed up his glasses and looked at Gu Gang curiously. "Xiaoge, you seem to care quite a bit about this fatty?"
"I wouldn't say I care. He’s just an interesting character. I might have a use for him later."