Chapter 558 - 362: You Can’t Be Too Careful

Chapter 558: Chapter 362: You Can’t Be Too Careful

He then instructed his nephew to pack up Lin Li’s Spirit Stone ore. Afterward, he entered the room he had come out of earlier.

Seeing his uncle leave, the young clerk immediately pulled a burlap sack from a cabinet beneath the counter. He then gathered the Spirit Stone ore from the tabletop, placing it into the sack piece by piece.

Just as he finished putting all the Spirit Stone ore into the burlap sack, the Shopkeeper emerged from the room again, now carrying a wooden box in his arms.

"Sir, your three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones are all here. Please inspect them."

The Shopkeeper placed the wooden box on the counter and opened it. Inside was a pile of sparkling, translucent Spirit Stones, each about the size of a pigeon’s egg.

Since this was their first transaction, trust was low on both sides. As the Shopkeeper suggested, Lin Li began to inspect the Spirit Stones in the wooden box to ensure they were genuine.

After a few minutes of inspection, he confirmed there were no issues with any of the Spirit Stones. Lin Li then stored the wooden box and its contents into his Mysterious Small Island.

The Shopkeeper didn’t object to Lin Li taking the wooden box, as it was always intended to be included with the Spirit Stones.

"A pleasure doing business with you," Lin Li said to the Shopkeeper with a smile. "If I get more Spirit Stone ore in the future, I’ll come to you again..."

Then, after a warm farewell from the Shopkeeper, he left the shop.

"Uncle, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen a Cultivator with a Storage Space Superpower," the young clerk remarked, watching as Lin Li hailed a carriage by the roadside and departed.

"You’re not the only one. It was my first time, too," the Shopkeeper said with a sigh. "What’s more, I sensed the Spiritual Energy Wave of a Second Rank Initial Stage Cultivator coming from him."

"Second Rank Initial Stage? Uncle, are you sure?" the young clerk said in astonishment. "That guest looked so young! To have already reached the Second Rank Initial Stage at his age..."

"I’m not mistaken," the Shopkeeper stated. "If I can’t get an accurate Perception at such a close distance, then I’ve been running this shop all these years for nothing."

He then pulled his gaze away from the departing carriage in the distance, turned back to the counter, and picked up the burlap sack of Spirit Stone ore before entering the room he had been in earlier.

Seeing the Shopkeeper enter the room, the young clerk returned to his chair behind the counter.

He propped his cheek on his right hand and watched the pedestrians come and go on the street outside. As he recalled the young guest he had just served, he muttered to himself.

’Second Rank Initial Stage... If I could reach that level before I’m thirty, I’d thank my lucky stars.’

The carriage headed steadily toward its destination. Seated inside, Lin Li watched the bustling street scene outside the window as his thoughts began to wander.

’This treasure-hunting trip to Bibo Lake yielded three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. That’s sixteen million in cash.’

’Sixteen million earned in half a day’s work. Before, I couldn’t even have dreamed of such a thing. There really are so many opportunities to get rich in the Spirit Realm!’

Next, Lin Li would take the carriage to a restaurant that specialized in oysters. Following the plan he had come up with at lunch, he was going to buy a batch of pearls to keep on hand.

...

The sun was setting in the west. In just over an hour, night would fall.

The crimson sunset sank behind the distant mountains, painting their ridges in a brilliant hue.

More than half the sky was now dyed red by the sunset. Weary birds returned to the woods as flock after flock flew home against the fading light.

For caravans traveling through the wilderness, the encroaching dusk was a call to action. Those near a city would quicken their pace, hoping to make it inside the walls before nightfall. Those still too far to make it, however, began searching for level ground to make camp for the night.

On a stretch of level ground by the shores of Bibo Lake, a Large Trade Team of several dozen carriages came to a halt.

Unable to reach Dongwu City before dark, the caravan had decided to make camp here.

They arranged the wagons nose to tail, forming a large defensive circle. Inside, the caravan members pitched tents. Once their shelters were ready, they began lighting fires to cook dinner.

Large cauldrons were placed over the campfires. Water drawn from Bibo Lake was poured in and brought to a boil, after which the cooks, of no particular distinction, began adding noodles.

An energetic, distinguished-looking middle-aged man sat at a small round table. He picked up the tea his servant had poured for him, took a sip, and then spoke to the Guard Captain standing before him.

"Captain Wang, it will be dark soon. Have you assigned the men for the night watch?"

The Guard Captain, a burly man at the Second Order Middle Stage of cultivation, was responsible for the caravan’s security. Hearing his employer’s question about the night watch, he answered at once.

"Shopkeeper Wu, you’ve seen how we operate all the way here to Dongwu City. We’re professionals. You can put your mind completely at ease!"

"Captain Wang, I don’t doubt your professionalism, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Tomorrow, after sunrise, it’s only another half-day’s travel to Dongwu City. This journey is almost over, and I don’t want any mishaps in the final stretch.

Please remind your men to be on their highest alert tonight. There can be no slip-ups.

When we reach Dongwu City, I’ll find a good restaurant and treat everyone to a feast," the Merchant Team Leader said in a sincere tone.

He was so vigilant, even on the cusp of reaching Dongwu City, because he had learned a hard lesson in the past.

Once, when he was younger, he had been leading a caravan. On the night before they were to reach their destination, everyone let their guard down. As a result, they were successfully ambushed by Mutant Beasts, leading to significant casualties and loss of cargo.

Ever since that incident, the Merchant Team Leader never dared to lower his guard again. On every trade expedition, as night fell, he would repeatedly impress upon the guards the need for caution.

Hearing his employer’s earnest plea, the Guard Captain nodded. "Alright. I’ll go give my brothers a reminder."

The Merchant Team Leader smiled, satisfied. He then glanced at his servant, who understood the unspoken command. The servant took an envelope from inside his coat and presented it to the Guard Captain with both hands.

The Guard Captain took the envelope from the servant, opened it, and saw a stack of cash inside.

A brilliant smile spread across his face. He quickly stuffed the cash into his coat and turned to leave, apparently on his way to instruct his men about the night’s watch.

"Hopefully, tonight will be peaceful," the Merchant Team Leader muttered to himself, leaning back in his chair and gazing at the crimson sunset. "We just have to get through tonight. We’ll set out at dawn and reach Dongwu City by noon."

...

Under the brilliant red sunset, a horse-drawn carriage sped along a stone-paved road.

"WHOA..."

The driver of the carriage pulled on the reins, signaling the horse to stop.

The horse received the signal and immediately slowed its pace. The carriage stopped in front of a villa.

"Sir, we’ve arrived," the driver said, turning to the passenger in the carriage.

"Alright." Lin Li came out of the carriage, handed the fare to the driver, and then jumped down.

He had just come from the oyster restaurant where he’d gone to purchase pearls. Just like last time, the owner was away on business, so he had been assisted by the owner’s aide, Liu Yun.

They were old acquaintances, so the process of buying the pearls went very smoothly.

Liu Yun was quite curious, since Lin Li had bought a large batch of pearls not long ago and was already back for more. However, she didn’t ask any questions.

After the pearl transaction, Liu Yun warmly invited Lin Li to stay for dinner at the restaurant.

Unfortunately, Lin Li already had other plans, so he declined Liu Yun’s kind offer.

Having failed to persuade Lin Li to stay for dinner both last time and this time, Liu Yun wanted to make it up to him somehow.

So, she had the kitchen pack up a generous amount of food for him to take away.

It was an offer too kind to refuse. Besides, he could easily store the food in his Mysterious Small Island, so it wouldn’t take up any space. Lin Li smiled and accepted her thoughtful gesture.

...