Chapter 23: Huh, What’s This?
"Hey, Dazhuang! What’s up? I just got out of the car," Ye Xing said, cradling his phone between his neck and shoulder. He had a large bag in each hand and walked as he talked.
"Brother Xing, business is booming! Our fish are selling like crazy at the Jinsheng Hotel." Zhu Dazhuang’s voice on the other end of the line was filled with excitement. "Now that word has gotten out, several other hotels in Luoxian County have contacted me, wanting me to supply them with grass carp too. We’re talking big hotels and small food stalls. I estimate the demand is for at least a thousand fish, maybe more."
"Have you agreed to anything yet?" Ye Xing asked.
"Of course not. I wouldn’t dare without your permission, which is why I’m calling you now," Zhu Dazhuang chuckled. "Besides, with over a thousand fish, I don’t think I could handle it all by myself. Brother Xing, I figure we’ll need to hire a few more people. We’re really going to strike it rich!"
"Good," Ye Xing said, his expression turning serious. "It’s best you haven’t agreed. For now, turn down as many as you can."
"Okay, I’ll do my best. I’ll make the rounds to as many as I can, and I’ll even work overtime if I have to... Huh? What was that? Did you say turn them down?" Zhu Dazhuang was clearly stunned on the other end of the line.
"That’s right, turn them down!" Ye Xing said in a firm voice. "Decline as many as you can. For anyone you absolutely can’t refuse, just give them a few. For now, the total number of fish sold per day cannot exceed two hundred!"
"But... why only two hundred a day? That’s easy money we’re throwing away!" Zhu Dazhuang couldn’t help but exclaim. "Feeding and delivering the fish is actually pretty simple. I can handle several hundred by myself. If we just hire one or two more people, we could fill all of these orders."
"I’m not saying we won’t take them, just stall for now. For the time being, only supply two hundred a day. You can decide how to allocate them. I’m going to be out of town for a while," Ye Xing said. "Just get the contact information for all those owners. We can talk about the orders when I get back."
’On one hand, I only have a dozen pounds or so of Demon Beast Meat. If we start selling the grass carp in huge quantities, we’ll burn through it way too fast; it probably wouldn’t even last two weeks. My main focus right now is earning Gold Coins to build my estate, so making real-world money can take a back seat for a bit. On the other hand, this is also a chance to create market scarcity. If we sell too many of the carp, they’ll be in every hotel in Luoxian County and start to seem commonplace. After all, rarity creates value. Only when something is both delicious and scarce will people go crazy for it, which will in turn build up the reputation of the Immortal Flavor Old Fish. Letting this supply shortage continue for half a month could actually be a good thing.’
"Oh, alright then," Zhu Dazhuang said.
After hanging up, Ye Xing headed straight for his ancestral home with the two large bags.
’First priority is to build the estate, then buy a Secret Manual. Both of those things need tons and tons of Gold Coins, aaaargh!’
Upon returning to his ancestral home, Ye Xing immediately changed back into his ancient-style robes. He then carried the two large bags to the old well and plunged into the hazy orb of violet lightning.
His vision went black. The next moment, the scene shifted, and Ye Xing found himself once again in the cave on White Cloud Mountain.
The cave was dim and gloomy, with virtually no light penetrating its depths.
Ye Xing had one large bag slung over his back and another in his left hand. With his right, he switched on his phone’s flashlight.
A brilliant white beam shot out from his phone, and the cave instantly brightened.
The tunnel inside the cave twisted and turned. After about thirty meters, he pushed aside the weeds covering the entrance, and bright sunlight streamed in.
’Martial Arts Continent, I’m back! I have a feeling I’ll be staying for a while this time!’
Standing outside the cave, he gazed up at the sky. The sky of the Martial Arts Continent was a particularly brilliant blue. A cool breeze caressed his face, putting him in a wonderful mood.
Ye Xing set the two large bags on the ground and walked over to a nearby boulder.
The boulder was about waist-high and weighed at least two or three hundred pounds. In the past, Ye Xing definitely wouldn’t have been able to lift it. But ever since eating the Demon Beast Meat, his strength had grown by leaps and bounds. ’Of course, this minor achievement is nothing to be proud of. According to the legends, powerful Martial Artists can shatter boulders with a single palm strike, leap across rooftops, and even walk on water. The Martial Arts Continent is a world brimming with Spiritual Qi, unlike Earth, where it’s so thin.’
Ye Xing wrapped his arms around the boulder and, with a great heave, lifted it off the ground.
’It’s pretty heavy. If I could cultivate True Qi, this would be a lot easier,’ he thought. Ye Xing carried the boulder to the mouth of the cave and tossed it inside, then went back for the other boulders nearby.
One after another, he hauled boulders to the cave, quickly sealing up the entrance.
Ye Xing took a look and decided the blocked entrance was still too obvious. He began grabbing handfuls of dirt and gravel, plastering them over the sealed opening.
After a few moments, the entrance was completely and utterly sealed, leaving no trace behind. Now, even if someone were to pass by, they would only see a normal stretch of the mountainside, never suspecting that a mysterious cave was hidden within.
’The reason I have to seal the cave is that I’m planning to build a large estate here in the next few days. Once I finish today’s business, I’ll have enough money to hire local craftsmen to start construction. If I don’t seal the entrance, the builders might discover the cave while they’re working.’
’Now that the entrance is completely sealed, I’ll just have to tell the craftsmen which areas to avoid and which they can work on. That should basically make it foolproof. If I’m still worried, I can always just stand by and watch them myself.’
Once the entrance was sealed, Ye Xing picked up his two large bags and set off at a run towards Phoenix Town, located at the foot of White Cloud Mountain.
’Walking is exhausting. Next time, I’ll have to remember to bring a bicycle. No, wait, a bicycle is too small. It would be way cooler to bring a car. Then again, a car needs gas. For long-term use, I’d have to stock up on tons of fuel! Haha!’ Ye Xing couldn’t help but daydream as he walked.
Phoenix Town was as bustling and lively as ever. So far, it was the only place Ye Xing had been on the Martial Arts Continent. According to Xia Girl, the Martial Arts Continent was vast; a relatively nearby city—Sunset City—was said to be far more prosperous than Phoenix Town. Ye Xing was eager to get out and explore, but that would have to wait. ’Right now, the priority is to establish a foothold here in Phoenix Town. Only by getting on my feet, surviving, and building a solid foundation one step at a time will I earn the right to chase my dreams.’
He spread out his mat to set up his stall, laying out small trinkets one by one: lighters, mirrors, nail clippers, and more.
"Young man, I’ll take a mirror. Why weren’t you here this morning?" a woman in a silk skirt with a hairpin in her hair asked as she approached his stall.