"Alright… how will you pay for the Gu worms?"
Fang Gong asked after his ego had been satisfied by the flood of praise.
Jian Long replied with measured calm:
"I have already agreed with Fang Leng that he will buy some of my Gu worms… and with their price, I will purchase these two Gu from him. Any difference in price… I will make up for it, one way or another."
Fang Gong nodded slowly, then said in a formal tone:
"Very well… show me your Gu, and I will evaluate them at market price—before everyone."
He opened his hand, gesturing toward the crowd, as if turning the matter into a public judgment that could not be contested.
Without hesitation, Jian Long brought out his Gu worms and presented them.
Fang Gong examined them closely, then murmured:
"Hmm… this is the Lightning Moon Gu. In terms of power, primeval essence consumption, as well as its properties and usefulness… it is worth around four hundred primeval stones. But—unfortunately, since it is a Gu specific to the Bai clan… that means its food is rare."
His eyes narrowed slightly:
"And that reduces its value to three hundred primeval stones."
Several Gu Masters nodded in agreement, as his assessment was reasonable.
Then Fang Gong smiled faintly and added:
"But… to dispel any ill feelings between us—"
"I will count it as four hundred primeval stones for you."
"Thank you, Lord Fang Gong… your generosity is truly remarkable."
Jian Long praised him.
Fang Gong waved his hand dismissively.
"There is no need to thank me. This is the least I can do to help a brother like you."
In his eyes—
Jian Long had already shown strength comparable to Rank 3 at such a young age.
His future prospects…
were limitless.
And since they had reconciled, Fang Gong was now trying to build a good relationship with him.
In any case—
he wasn't losing anything.
After all, this wasn't his money…
but Fang Leng's.
Then he shifted his attention to the Earth Heart Gu:
"As for this Gu, it is worth 300 primeval stones. Adding both together, the total comes to 700 primeval stones."
He continued:
"In comparison, the Lightning Bubble Gu is worth 600 primeval stones, and the Blue Bird Gu is worth 700. You are still short by 600 primeval stones."
He looked at Jian Long:
"How will you pay?"
Without hesitation—
Jian Long took out the Greed Jar Gu and brought out 600 primeval stones.
This was…
most of his savings.
"I will pay immediately."
Zhou Quan: "…"
Jian Long noticed the dumbfounded look on Zhou Quan's face, which made him laugh internally, but he paid it no attention and acted as if everything was normal.
When Jian Long first joined the caravan, he had claimed that he had no money.
But now—
it was revealed that he possessed 600 primeval stones.
An enormous amount for an ordinary Gu Master.
Which meant—
he had lied.
But now, after revealing strength comparable to Rank 3—
Jian Long no longer saw any need to pretend…
or to hide it.
.....
Outside the shop—
Dozens had gathered, eagerly waiting for those inside to come out and reveal the outcome of the confrontation between Fang Gong and Jian Long.
In everyone's eyes—
The result was already decided.
Fang Gong, a Rank 3 Gu Master…
against a youth who had barely reached Rank 2.
There was no comparison.
And yet—
Their curiosity wasn't about who would win…
but about what would happen to Jian Long.
Would he come out alive?
Or as a lifeless corpse?
Among the crowd—
the most excited of all…
was Fang Leng.
His eyes gleamed with madness, and he was practically trembling with anticipation, wishing from the bottom of his heart that Jian Long would be utterly crushed.
Minutes passed—slowly, painfully…
Then—
Two figures stepped out.
Behind them followed several Gu Masters.
But—
The atmosphere around them…
was nothing like what anyone had expected.
There was no tension.
No blood.
No trace of battle.
Instead—
There was warmth.
Harmony.
As if they had just come out of a friendly meeting… not a life-and-death fight.
Silence fell for a moment—
Then whispers exploded:
"Why… are they acting like that?"
"Wasn't he supposed to kill him?!"
"Why does he look like… his friend?"
"What the hell happened inside?!"
As for Fang Leng—
He froze in place.
"…"
His eyes widened slowly, as if his mind refused to process what he was seeing.
"What… is going on here?"
He began pinching himself over and over—
as if trying to wake up from a nightmare.
But the pain was real.
And the scene…
far too real to deny.
He couldn't take it anymore.
He rushed toward them, anger boiling in his chest:
"Brother Fang Gong! What are you doing with this scum, Jian Long?!"
Fang Gong stopped.
Then slowly turned toward him—
his brows tightly furrowed.
A single glance…
was enough to choke his voice.
"Fang Leng."
His tone was cold. Firm.
"You represent our clan here."
He gestured toward Jian Long:
"And he is your client."
Then added clearly:
"It is not appropriate for you to address him like that."
Fang Leng's face stiffened.
But the words didn't stop:
"By doing this… you are tarnishing our clan's image."
A brief pause—
Then a direct order:
"Apologize to him. Now."
"What—?!"
Before he could explode—
Jian Long stepped in calmly, a faint smile on his face:
"No need for that, Lord Fang Gong."
Then he looked at Fang Leng as if he were a misbehaving child:
"This is normal… youngsters are always reckless."
He continued in a forgiving tone:
"I'm sure he'll learn in time."
"…"
Fang Leng froze where he stood.
Those words—
were like knives.
Not just because they were insulting…
but because they were said in front of everyone.
He had no choice but to remain silent.
But inside—
his blood was boiling.
He felt like…
he might cough it up at any moment.
After exchanging a few polite words, Fang Gong smiled and said in a friendly tone:
"Come have dinner with me tonight."
Jian Long tried to maintain his politeness and slightly shook his head:
"My lord is too kind, but I do not wish to trouble you—"
However, Fang Gong interrupted him, his calm insistence leaving no room for refusal:
"It's no trouble. Consider it a chance to talk."
Jian Long understood that refusing any further would be disrespectful.
So—
he had no choice but to accept.
"As you wish, my lord."
As time passed, the shocked crowd slowly began to disperse.
Their faces still carried traces of disbelief, and whispers hadn't ceased—
but no one dared to linger any longer.
As for Fang Leng…
he returned to his work in suffocating silence, his head lowered, his expression tense as if he were swallowing fire.
Meanwhile—
Fang Gong turned and left with steady steps.
Jian Long followed right behind him.
But after a few steps—
he stopped.
He glanced back slightly…
and noticed that Zhou Quan hadn't moved.
He was still standing there, frozen in place, his eyes unfocused—
trying to process everything that had just happened.
Jian Long let out a faint sigh, then called out to him with a smile:
"Zhou Quan, what are you doing?"
He gestured with his hand:
"Come on, come with me."
Then he added in a confident, almost teasing tone:
"Didn't I tell you… to trust me?"