Chapter 33: The Fish Has Taken the Bait...
Treasure Bowl was the largest equipment and material marketplace in the entire city of Luoyang.
Here, low-grade equipment could be purchased with gold and silver, while high-grade equipment could be exchanged through barter.
As soon as Xiao Wen arrived, he heard a burst of noisy arguing from the distance.
“What do you mean yours? I got here first and reserved these three bronze-grade pieces of equipment first! Liu Chu, don't go too far. They're only three bronze-grade items. Is it really worth a vice guild leader of Ironblood Alliance personally stepping in? That's beneath your status!”
A burly man shouted at the top of his lungs.
That person was none other than Meng Feng, vice guild leader of Ancient Profound Manor.
At this moment, these two figures had gathered inside Treasure Bowl and were actually fighting over three bronze-grade pieces of equipment, which was quite unexpected.
Meng Feng and Liu Chu were both staring at the three bronze-grade weapons displayed in the showcase, sharp glints flashing in their eyes.
Why had two vice guild leaders of such status gathered here to compete for three bronze-grade weapons?
Was it merely because of those three weapons?
Yes.
But not entirely.
Previously, more than twenty bronze-grade pieces of equipment had already been sold through Treasure Bowl.
However, all of them had been intercepted by Dongning Pavilion.
As for the reason...
At first, neither Meng Feng nor Liu Chu paid much attention to just two or three bronze-grade items, so they only sent subordinates to make the purchases.
While those subordinates were competing for the equipment, Wang Heng, vice guild leader of Dongning Pavilion, personally stepped in and directly snatched the equipment away.
Given Wang Heng's status, merely standing in front of the other guilds' members created natural pressure. Those players did not dare offend him and naturally did not dare compete with him.
As a result, all of the equipment ended up in Dongning Pavilion's hands.
Once this happened, the vice guild leaders of the other two major guilds could no longer sit still. Furious, they rushed to Treasure Bowl, happened to encounter each other, and both attempted to purchase equipment.
Thus, the current scene was born.
The two men glared at each other while secretly competing over the three pieces of equipment on the counter.
Meanwhile, the shop attendant behind the counter remained completely calm, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
After all, such entertainment was rarely seen.
At that moment, a series of footsteps sounded.
A figure quickly entered Treasure Bowl and immediately saw the arguing pair. Surprise appeared on his face as he said:
“Uh... did I come at the wrong time? Aren't you two fighting over equipment? Please continue. Pretend I was never here.”
The moment those words left Xiao Wen's mouth, both men turned simultaneously.
Cold gazes landed on him, and fierce auras radiated from their bodies.
“Kid, what did you say?”
“Half-Journey Through the Mortal World?”
“Interesting. The famous player who's been causing such a stir recently. Half-Journey Through the Mortal World. We remember you.”
Both Liu Chu and Meng Feng recognized Xiao Wen. Slight surprise appeared on their faces.
“You remember me? Not bad. Being remembered by vice guild leaders from two major guilds seems to prove my reputation has spread quite far.”
Xiao Wen looked equally surprised.
With a single sentence, he exposed both of their identities.
In his previous life, he had interacted with both guilds and naturally knew who they were.
Seeing him reveal their identities so easily, the two men became even more surprised.
“May I ask why a great expert has come to Treasure Bowl today? Buying equipment? If that's the case, we can give these three items to you.”
“We won't even ask for much. Just pay triple the original price. The extra amount can count as compensation for us protecting these items for you.”
Listening to the two men talk one after another, Xiao Wen merely raised an eyebrow.
Then he calmly replied:
“You've misunderstood. I didn't come here to buy anything today. I came to sell something. I have twenty sets of bronze-grade equipment. Is anyone interested?”
A grin appeared on his face as he displayed twenty complete sets of equipment.
Each set consisted of one Horse-Chopping Blade and one Brass Armor.
He only displayed them for a few breaths.
Once the two men finished examining the item information, Xiao Wen immediately stored everything back into his inventory and looked at them with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
“I wonder, Vice Guild Leaders, are you interested in the equipment in my possession?”
Interested?
It was far beyond mere interest.
They were extremely interested.
Earlier, Treasure Bowl had only sold a total of thirty bronze-grade pieces of equipment.
But Xiao Wen casually produced twenty complete sets.
Forty pieces of equipment in total.
Weapons and armor were fully matched, standardized, and possessed excellent attributes.
Most importantly, the Horse-Chopping Blade carried the special effect of increased damage against mounts.
The effect was exceptional.
It could practically be called a battlefield god-tier ability.
The only drawback was the quantity.
There were only twenty sets.
Even so, they had already made up their minds.
They had to obtain them.
These twenty sets alone could significantly strengthen their guild members and would be enough to conquer second-tier villages and even third-tier villages.
Therefore...
They had to compete.
“How much?” Liu Chu asked.
At this moment, his gaze toward Xiao Wen was unusually enthusiastic and respectful.
Meng Feng narrowed his eyes, shot Liu Chu a glare, and quickly added:
“Name your price. Ancient Profound Manor will take everything!”
Before Xiao Wen could respond, the two men were already staring at each other, sparks flying.
Xiao Wen remained calm.
He wasn't here for these two vice guild leaders.
He was here for Wang Heng.
Xiao Wen clearly remembered that in his previous life, Wang Heng once drunkenly mentioned a great opportunity he had encountered shortly after entering the game.
He had destroyed a mountain stronghold and obtained a treasure, along with a crucial token connected to future main storyline quests.
If Xiao Wen's timing was correct, that opportunity should appear around now.
Dongning Pavilion's recent large-scale purchasing activities only further confirmed his suspicions.
After all, the person personally conducting the purchases was Wang Heng himself.
The fact that even a vice guild leader had personally stepped in showed just how much Wang Heng valued this matter.
The bait had already been cast.
Now he simply had to wait for the big fish to bite.
...
“A treasure belongs to whoever is destined for it. Naturally, the highest bidder wins. If you want these items, then offer a fair price. Twenty sets, sold as a package.”
Xiao Wen revealed an extremely sincere smile.
However, in the eyes of Liu Chu and Meng Feng, that smile was infuriating.
The fellow was clearly trying to stir up trouble and provoke them.
“Old Liu, this brat obviously wants us to fight over the equipment so he can profit as the fisherman. Quite the scheme.”
“We can't let him fool us. So just let me have the equipment this time. Consider it settled between brothers.”
Without waiting for Liu Chu's response, Meng Feng turned toward Xiao Wen.
“Kid, the market price for an ordinary bronze-grade item is around three hundred taels of silver. Two items would be six hundred.”
“I'm an honest man, so let's skip the nonsense. Six hundred and fifty taels per set. I'll buy all twenty. How about it?”
Before Xiao Wen could react, Liu Chu immediately sneered.
“Meng Feng, six hundred and fifty? Do you think he's some clueless newcomer?”
“This is a genuine top-tier player. Do you think he doesn't understand the market?”
“Ordinary bronze-grade equipment might be worth three hundred taels. But the Horse-Chopping Blade is different. It has a special attribute that increases damage against mounts by fifty percent. In actual combat, its value far exceeds ordinary equipment.”
“Twenty Horse-Chopping Blades may not be a huge number, but it's already enough to form a small scale. With those attributes and that quantity, the blades alone are worth five hundred taels each.”
“And you want to buy a complete set for only six hundred and fifty?”
Then Liu Chu smiled at Xiao Wen.
“I'm the honest one. Eight hundred taels per set. I'll take everything.”
The moment he spoke, he directly stabbed Meng Feng in the back.
The atmosphere inside Treasure Bowl instantly became strange.
Xiao Wen had not even expressed his opinion.
The next stage naturally became a contest between the two men as they continuously undercut and outbid each other.
Eight hundred.
Eight hundred and twenty.
Eight hundred and fifty.
Just as the two remained deadlocked, another figure entered.
“Oh? What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you two here.”
“I heard someone was selling equipment. Twenty complete sets, no less. I rushed over immediately to take a look.”
“Isn't this the famous expert who's been making headlines throughout the game lately?”
“I never expected it would be you selling equipment here. I've heard much about you.”
The newcomer immediately mocked Liu Chu and Meng Feng before turning his gaze toward Xiao Wen.
At that exact moment, he discovered Xiao Wen was also staring at him.
Within those dark eyes flickered bloodthirsty light.
An icy aura erupted outward.
Countless strands of killing intent surged within Xiao Wen's body, though he forcibly suppressed them.
Stay calm.
You must stay calm.
Xiao Wen repeatedly warned himself as he suppressed the murderous intent within him.
Because the man standing before him was none other than the good brother who had betrayed him in his previous life—
Wang Heng.
The information he had received and the judgment he had made were both correct.
The man had indeed come.
The fish had taken the bait...
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