Chapter 31: Selling the Spirit Core Crystal

Zhao Erdong narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched the place where the Inferno Horse had vanished. In an indifferent tone, she said, “If you like it, I’ll capture one and give it to you someday. How does that sound?”

Baihe sighed softly and rubbed her stomach. “Miss, I think we should focus on something more practical—what to eat for dinner and where we’re going to sleep tonight.”

Zhao Erdong reached out and tapped her on the head. The girl clearly did not believe in her abilities. Unable to help herself, she laughed. “You silly thing. Do you really think I’d let you starve?”

“But, Miss, we’re completely penniless right now. If we eat without paying, they’ll break our legs.” Baihe stared at the restaurants lining the street and swallowed hard. The fragrance of food was mercilessly assaulting her empty stomach.

“Silly girl, didn’t we just acquire a Spirit Essence Crystal?” Zhao Erdong noticed that the attendants from the Lu Estate had already gone and led Baihe out of the alley toward a trading house nearby.

“Miss, have you gone mad? This Spirit Essence Crystal can help increase your strength. To you, it’s a priceless treasure. How can you sell it?” Baihe clutched the crystal tightly against her chest, utterly unwilling to take it out.

“If we starve to death, what use will the crystal or increased strength be?” Zhao Erdong rolled her eyes at her.

“Miss, why don’t you consider seeking refuge with the Duke of Yuan? He’s your own grandfather.” Baihe pouted, unable to understand what her mistress was thinking.

Zhao Erdong shook her head with a bitter smile. “Baihe, things aren’t as simple as you think. Zhao Tianjiang has never regarded me as his daughter. In his eyes, I’m worth less than a servant. The only reason he allowed me to live in misery all these years was that Mother was still alive, and he didn’t dare do anything to me. If Mother dies, I will be the first person he tries to eliminate. No matter what, he will never allow me to remain in this world and continue ruining his reputation under the name of a good-for-nothing.”

“Even if we sought refuge with the Duke of Yuan’s household, Grandfather and Uncle might protect me, but I would still bear the Zhao name and remain a member of the Zhao family. Even if I had to die, I would have to die in the Zhao household. If Zhao Tianjiang insisted on taking me back and brought the matter before the Emperor, then once His Majesty issued an order, even the Duke of Yuan could not defy it. If I fell into Zhao Tianjiang’s hands then, the consequences are easy to imagine!”

Baihe gazed at Zhao Erdong with aching sympathy. So she had always known. She had known everything. Her own father despised her and even wanted her dead...

It was now midday, the usual mealtime. There were not many people inside the trading house, only a few scattered about in small groups. A young attendant came forward with a broad smile.

“What can I get for the two of you?”

Zhao Erdong opened her palm. A brilliant orange Spirit Essence Crystal lay quietly in it.

“I want to sell this Spirit Essence Crystal.”

Her voice was not loud, but in the spacious, quiet trading house, it easily reached everyone’s ears.

Before long, the customers who had been browsing elsewhere gathered around her.

“Oh, this is a top-grade second-tier Spirit Essence Crystal! Young lady, how much do you want for it? I’ll buy it!”

“My son just advanced to the second tier. This crystal is exactly what he needs. I’ll offer fifty gold coins.”

“I’ll offer eighty!”

“Sell it to me for one hundred!”

“One hundred and twenty!”

“I’ll pay one hundred and fifty!”

...

The attendants and manager of the trading house were dumbfounded. Why were these people acting like bandits? The young lady had clearly brought the crystal to sell to the trading house, yet they were bidding among themselves right on the spot. If the sale actually went through, the trading house would not even earn a ten-percent commission. Wouldn’t that leave them bearing the loss?