Chapter 490 - 223: Trade and Mission
Chapter 490: Chapter 223: Trade and Mission
"Highest bidder wins."
To a Transmigrator, those three words were nothing special.
It was just an auction—a common concept. Even if one had never participated, one had surely heard of it.
But at this moment, when the words entered Xu Zhiyin’s ears, it was like a sudden, profound awakening.
When buying something, everyone knew to compare prices at several shops and buy from the cheapest one...
When selling something, they also knew to find multiple buyers and sell to whoever offered the highest price...
But how had she never thought of gathering all the potential buyers in one place, letting them bid freely, and ultimately selling to the highest bidder?
Under such circumstances, not only could you sell for a high price, but more importantly, once a competitive spirit took hold, you could probably get a sky-high price, far exceeding its normal value!
She looked at Fang Shuwen, her pupils trembling.
No wonder Fang Shuwen had never committed to selling the sword.
’So, after all this time, this was what he had in mind?’
She had a faint feeling that this was no coincidence.
Fang Shuwen certainly hadn’t come up with this on the spot.
He had merely used today’s opportunity to bring it up... The reason he hadn’t mentioned it before wasn’t necessarily because he hadn’t thought of it, but because he hadn’t wanted to.
Back then, he didn’t have a thirty-percent share of the Golden Bell Tower’s profits. If he had revealed this method, no matter how much silver the Golden Bell Tower earned, it would have had nothing to do with him.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhiyin no longer dared to see the young man before her as just a master of Martial Arts who killed without batting an eye.
She stood up and bowed deeply.
"I ask that Hero Fang teach me."
Fang Shuwen chuckled. This was why he loved dealing with smart people.
"I’m not taking this thirty-percent share from you for free."
"I can teach you... but you must promise me that you will not, for any reason, shorten the duration of my share of the profits."
"!!"
Xu Zhiyin’s eyes flew wide open.
However, looking at Fang Shuwen’s faint, unreadable smile, Xu Zhiyin quickly calmed down and nodded.
"I agree."
"Since that’s settled, let me explain it to you..."
The concept of an auction didn’t exist in the current world; Fang Shuwen had noticed this already.
Although the Golden Bell Tower was profitable, its business model was still simplistic.
He now began to explain it to Xu Zhiyin, breaking it down into simple terms.
Xu Zhiyin was already eager to learn, and as she listened intently now, her face flushed and her expression grew animated with excitement.
At the most exciting parts, she wished she could jump up on the spot, but she was, after all, the Young Tower Master of the Golden Bell Tower and couldn’t be so ill-mannered. Thus, she forcibly restrained herself.
Fang Shuwen started with just the Blood-Sinking Sword and the Soldier-Devouring Sword, then expanded the application to all sorts of Exotic Treasures. He covered targeting potential customers, the auction format, and even sourcing and profit-sharing... he explained it all, one point at a time, in a way that Xu Zhiyin could understand.
As Xu Zhiyin listened, she started to feel her mind couldn’t keep up and quickly had the old man behind her fetch a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.
She listened and took notes simultaneously. It didn’t matter if she didn’t understand everything now; she could just follow her notes later.
’She was already regretting it. Perhaps she shouldn’t have made that first demand.’
This auction model alone was enough to elevate the Golden Bell Tower’s reputation to another level, and the profits would flow like water.
’Since Fang Shuwen had a method like this, who knew what other skills he possessed?’
’If she let him participate in the Golden Bell Tower’s decision-making, wouldn’t its future be limitless?’
Of course, that was just a thought. Words, once spoken, are like spilled water—impossible to take back.
Besides, with Fang Shuwen’s unparalleled Martial Arts and such cunning abilities, if he were truly given decision-making power, who’s to say who the Golden Bell Tower would belong to in the end?
That was a gamble no one dared to take.
Fang Shuwen spoke nonstop for well over an hour before he finished explaining all the details.
Seeing Xu Zhiyin recording everything without even looking up, Fang Shuwen picked up his teacup for a sip. He frowned slightly—the tea had gone cold.
The old man hurried over and refilled Fang Shuwen’s cup with hot tea.
Fang Shuwen nodded, and his gaze drifted to the three people sitting nearby.
The trio had been like background props, remaining completely silent the entire time.
Initially, Fang Shuwen had assumed they were also from the Golden Bell Tower. But whether he was negotiating terms with Xu Zhiyin or explaining the auction to her later, the three of them had consistently acted like outsiders.
This made Fang Shuwen think they probably weren’t with the Golden Bell Tower.
"I have yet to inform Hero Fang."
Xu Zhiyin looked up for a moment, and following Fang Shuwen’s gaze, she quickly explained:
"These three are friends from the East Sea."
"This is the young lady of Mi Yin Island, Luo Shuqing. The two behind her are her guards, Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong."
Fang Shuwen was a little surprised. He glanced at the conical-hat-wearing Luo Shuqing and gave a slight nod.
Xu Zhiyin then said:
"Actually, I brought them along this time because I was hoping to ask a favor of you, Hero Fang."
"They wish to return to Mi Yin Island, but they’re currently mired in trouble. I’m afraid it will be impossible for them to get back in one piece."
"So, I was hoping to ask if you, Hero Fang, would be willing to escort them?"
"As for payment, the Golden Bell Tower can pay on their behalf—ten thousand taels of silver."
Fang Shuwen paused. ’What a coincidence.’
’He was just looking for a job that would take him to the East Sea, and now one had fallen right into his lap?’
Just as he was thinking this, the system popped up with a mission.
[DING! New escort mission detected.]
[Escort Luo Shuqing to Qingxiao Pavilion on Mi Yin Island!]
[Accept mission?]
Fang Shuwen stroked his chin. He didn’t rush to accept, because he suddenly felt that the name Qingxiao Pavilion... sounded familiar.
He actually didn’t know much about matters of the sea.
What little he knew came from two sources: the Vermilion Bird Hall Master and Chen Qi.
He thought for a moment and quickly recalled where he’d heard it.
When Chen Qi had told him about the route to Undying Island, he had mentioned Qingxiao Pavilion...
His exact words had been, ’If you could pass through Qingxiao Pavilion, it would save a lot of time, but Qingxiao Pavilion is one of the Eight Forbidden Areas of the East Sea and doesn’t allow outsiders on the island, so you have to take a detour.’
Thinking of this, Fang Shuwen nodded slightly.
"So, you three are from Qingxiao Pavilion."