"110 Solidifying Yuan Dan, 90 White Dew Dan, 60 Returning Qi Dan..."
Zhu Hong'an sat behind the counter, using an abacus to calculate today's medicine sales income.
His expression was not pleasant, causing the four assistants in the shop to keep their heads down, none daring to meet Zhu Hong'an's gaze.
"Damn it, it's getting less and less." Zhu Hong'an suddenly slammed the counter and cursed.
Feima City was small, and the wandering cultivators were all poor.
With the Deer Horn Powder and Heavenly Dew Dan selling well, they naturally had to cut back on other expenses.
Not only were the pills affected, but other businesses were also inevitably impacted.
It's just that the pharmacy was hit the hardest.
Zhu Hong'an turned to look at Yang An, who was smiling apologetically beside him, "What are you laughing at!"
Yang An had small eyes, a flat nose, black spots all over his face, a slender figure, and was dressed in a black Daoist robe.
He stood there hunched over like a big rat.
Despite Zhu Hong'an's scolding, Yang An continued to smile, showing a humble expression.
He lowered his voice and said, "Boss, the spirit stones are with Gao Xian. His spirit stones are your money."
"Haha..."
Zhu Hong'an liked hearing this, and his mood improved.
Originally, when Zhou Ye sold the Deer Horn Powder without much impact on him.
Zhou Ye's teacher was an elder in charge of transmitting techniques, not someone to offend easily.
Moreover, when he approached Zhou Ye, the latter had a good attitude, only agreeing to a trial period of a few months.
If the business went well, they would cooperate in the future.
At that time, he didn't think much about it.
But when Huang Ying came out to buy the Heavenly Dew Dan, he knew something was wrong.
After investigating, it turned out that Gao Xian, this kid, was up to something! Knowing this, he was not angry but rather pleased.
As long as he had Gao Xian in his grasp, all that money would be his.
Moreover, Gao Xian could only refine pills for him in the future.
The Deer Horn Powder and Heavenly Dew Dan would both become his cash cows.
As for Zhou Ye and Huang Ying, without Gao Xian providing pills, they were nothing.
Zhu Hong'an patted Yang An's shoulder and praised, "Thanks to you for finding out the situation. Rest assured, I won't treat you unfairly."
As for how not to mistreat him, Zhu Hong'an felt that giving a few words of praise was already quite good.
Yang An nodded happily, "Thank you, boss."
Yang An looked up and saw Zhu Qianniang entering through the back door, his smile becoming somewhat dry.
Yang An was somewhat afraid of Zhu Qianniang, who always had a cold demeanor.
He was well aware that Zhu Qianniang was the number one enforcer of Changsheng Hall, with a cold and ruthless personality.
What was even more frightening was that he could never understand this woman's thoughts.
He had always kept his distance from this woman.
"Madam, you're back." Yang An hurriedly greeted respectfully, also reminding Zhu Hong'an.
Zhu Hong'an closed the account book, turned to look at Zhu Qianniang, "Did you bring the person back?"
"Yes."
Zhu Qianniang replied, "In the backyard."
"This kid is timid. Leave him alone for a while, and he'll be scared on his own."
Zhu Hong'an said with a smile, "Let's eat and drink our fill before dealing with him."
Yang An reminded in a low voice, "Boss, don't let him escape."
"He wouldn't dare."
Zhu Hong'an sneered, "In this small Feima City, where can he run to? If he dares to run around, I don't need to do anything; his master, Xu Mingyuan, can kill him!"
He took out a spirit stone from his sleeve and threw it to Yang An, "Go to Lao Li's Wine Shop and buy some good dishes. Today is a good day; we should celebrate a bit..."
By the time Yang An returned with the food and drinks, the sky had already darkened.
Yang An sat at the lower end, accompanying the boss and his wife to drink.
He didn't dare to eat much, just diligently pouring wine for the boss and engaging in conversation.
Zhu Qianniang ate a lot but didn't touch the alcohol.
After eating her fill, she left first.
Once Zhu Qianniang left, Yang An relaxed.
He drank a few cups of wine with Zhu Hong'an, feeling a bit tipsy, and started discussing the beauties in Feihua Courtyard.
Talking about those enchanting slender waists and long legs, Zhu Hong'an also became excited, "After getting Gao Xian to sign the death contract today, I'll take you to Feihua Courtyard for some fun. Yun'er, Feng'er, their skills are truly extraordinary..."
The two old men became more and more excited as they talked, already thinking about how to have a good time later.
They continued drinking until half a month rose into the sky, and Zhu Hong'an brought Yang An to the backyard room.
In mid-September, the weather had already turned cold.
The room was originally used for storing miscellaneous items, not facing the sun, with torn window paper.
When the night wind blew, the room became even colder.
The oil lamp flickered gently in the night wind, casting a fluctuating light.
Gao Xian sat at the table, his expression neither happy nor sad, with a calmness tinged with an indescribable strangeness.
Zhu Hong'an was somewhat surprised.
He always thought Gao Xian was very timid, easily frightened by a few words.
Why was he so calm now?
He was starting to feel a bit unhappy.
Did this kid really think he wouldn't dare to act?
Zhu Hong'an walked over with a stern face, slammed the table, and shouted, "Gao Xian!"
As a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, Zhu Hong'an's voice was loud and powerful.
However, Gao Xian remained unusually calm.
He sat still, his face showing no signs of shock.
He looked up at Zhu Hong'an and calmly asked, "Boss Zhu, what do you want by bringing me here?"
"Do you still have the face to ask!" Zhu Hong'an, who had been somewhat pretentious, was now truly angry.
Seeing that Gao Xian was still sitting there calmly, still daring to ask why!
"I'm asking you, did you refine Huang Ying's Heavenly Dew Dan and Zhou Ye's Deer Horn Powder?"
Gao Xian nodded, "Yes, I refined them."
He then asked back, "What's the problem with that?"
"Do you still have the face to ask!" Zhu Hong'an pointed at Gao Xian angrily, "The herbs are mine, the pill furnace is mine, yet you secretly refine pills and sell them. Is this how your master taught you?"
"The entire Feima City, only I can sell pills. This is the rule set by the sect! This is theft, betrayal. If I send you back to the Discipline Hall of Lianyun Sect, you will undoubtedly die."
Zhu Hong'an's tone softened a bit at this point, "Considering your master's face, and your young and ignorant first offense, I'll give you a chance."
Gao Xian's mood was also somewhat complicated.
He had never known that Changsheng Hall held the exclusive rights to sell pills.
Such an important matter, yet Zhu Qianniang never mentioned it...
The problem was he had no choice.
Zhu Hong'an was too greedy and difficult to cooperate with.
The Deer Horn Powder and Heavenly Dew Dan were also related to the humane spiritual light and had to be sold in large quantities.
He remembered Zhu Qianniang asking him what he would do if Zhu Hong'an didn't allow him to sell pills.
She had warned him early on...
Gao Xian sighed softly, "Please speak plainly, Boss Zhu."
Zhu Hong'an was about to say something when he noticed Gao Xian sitting there all along.
He walked over, grabbed Gao Xian's collar, and lifted him up, "You brat, how dare you sit in front of me. What are you!"
Gao Xian didn't resist.
He gently pacified him, "Boss Zhu, calm down. Let's talk slowly."
Yang An watched from the side, feeling that Gao Xian was too calm.
Although he had never dealt with Gao Xian, he felt that something was not right.
He suddenly felt someone entering, turned his head to look, and saw Zhu Qianniang.
Zhu Qianniang was a head taller than him, standing silently at the door, exuding a natural aura of dominance.
Yang An hurriedly nodded and smiled apologetically at Zhu Qianniang, moving two steps to the side.
Having Zhu Qianniang stand behind him was not only impolite but also made him feel insecure.
Zhu Hong'an was scolding Gao Xian fiercely, spitting everywhere, and Gao Xian looked helpless.
This middle-aged man had poor oral hygiene, and having just drunk alcohol, his breath was unbearable.
Zhu Hong'an thought Gao Xian was scared, feeling somewhat smug.
This kid was quite good at pretending, but all these tricks were useless in his hands.
He took out a contract from his sleeve and slammed it on the table, "Sign this contract, and I won't hold you accountable for the past."
Gao Xian took the contract and read it.
The content was simple, a hundred-year contract signed between Changsheng Hall and him, stating that all pills he refined within a hundred years belonged to Changsheng Hall.
If he violated the contract, Changsheng Hall had the right to dispose of him as they pleased.
As for the treatment and rewards, not a single word was written.
"Boss Zhu, this contract is too long, and it doesn't mention how the benefits of refining pills will be shared..." Gao Xian shook his head.
The contract's terms were too harsh; if he signed it, he would become a slave of Changsheng Hall.
Zhu Qianniang hadn't lied to him!
He didn't fully trust Zhu Qianniang's words.
Mainly because Zhu Qianniang clearly harbored deep malice towards Boss Zhu.
Now it seemed that Zhu Hong'an was indeed greedy and ruthless, leaving no room for others.
Zhu Hong'an grabbed Gao Xian's collar and lifted him up, their faces inches apart, Zhu Hong'an's small eyes filled with a fierce light.
He sneered coldly, "You secretly used my herbs and pill furnace to earn so many spirit stones, thinking I'm running a charity? Today, you either sign the contract or die. Your choice!"
Gao Xian sighed again.
He glanced at Zhu Qianniang standing at the door, and she nodded slightly.
Zhu Hong'an couldn't see Zhu Qianniang's actions with his back turned.
On the other hand, Yang An saw the interaction between Zhu Qianniang and Gao Xian, feeling uneasy and suspicious, "What are Gao Xian and Zhu Qianniang up to? Something seems off..."
(End of this chapter)