Xue Ling silently held her breath, watching as the youth, foaming at the mouth, was dragged out of the great hall by the red-clothed person wearing a flame mask, as if he were dead.
Is it Dragon's Saliva Incense?
Xue Ling recalled Fang Bie's previous warning. Since Fang Bie's warning had been so understated, how could such a serious situation occur?
Is this person dead?
"Dragon's Saliva Incense?" Xue Ling asked.
Fang Bie nodded: "Dragon's Saliva Incense. The Dragon's Saliva Incense here has a certain hallucinogenic effect. One can suppress the diffusion of the incense through purposeful breathing and the depth of one's own cultivation. If people in this hall have not been instructed, or if they inhale too much because they find the fragrance comfortable and stimulating, they will become hallucinatory and go mad, just like this person, and then be knocked unconscious and thrown out."
"However, even so, the time each person can stay in this hall is limited. The longer you stay, the deeper your cultivation is, and the more you will be respected by others."
"But one must also act according to one's ability. After all, if you really go mad from accumulating toxins just to show off, you will become a laughingstock instead."
"After all," Fang Bie looked at Xue Ling: "Look, if you go mad, your mask will be knocked off by others."
Xue Ling shuddered.
Yes, that would be too embarrassing.
"Why is there such a design?" Xue Ling could not help but ask.
Because such a design is truly very strange.
"Because this is the Dragon King's Hall," Fang Bie replied.
"The Dragon King's Hall?" Xue Ling asked in return.
Fang Bie took Xue Ling's hand and continued forward: "Yes, the Dragon King's Hall."
"This is the Dragon King's territory. Everyone must act according to the Dragon King's will, just as the Dragon King provided this place for anonymous transactions, but does not allow anyone to hide here all day without leaving. This Dragon's Saliva Incense is also a threshold for elimination, ensuring that those who remain are not too weak."
Xue Ling bit her lips: "This is too complicated."
Fang Bie smiled: "Then, Green Fox, can you think of a simpler method?"
Xue Ling did not immediately realize who "Green Fox" referred to, then she reacted, and finally began to think about how she would achieve this effect if it were up to her.
Her first reaction was actually the official method of having everyone register their rank and name in a ledger.
At that moment, she even blushed a little; after all, if that were really the case, the anonymous trading of the Dragon King's Hall would lose its meaning.
On the other side, Fang Bie had already stopped in front of a stall: "Are these gloves Gold-thread Gloves?"
Fang Bie said this in a deep, mellow baritone voice.
Xue Ling bypassed Fang Bie's black-cloaked figure and looked forward. Sure enough, she saw various items displayed on the stall in front of Fang Bie, such as the glittering gloves Fang Bie had just picked out, a dagger shining with Cold Light, and a very Exquisite small box that seemed to be a mechanism for firing Hidden Weapons.
"This big brother is truly a connoisseur." The mask on the face of the shopkeeper opposite was a bewitching red fox, and her voice was light and charming, making one's bones feel soft the moment it reached their ears: "These gloves are made of Silkworm Silk mixed with Profound Iron. After putting them on, you can catch blades with your bare hands. They are impervious to swords and spears, and are the best companion equipment for those with excellent Kung Fu."
Fang Bie remained Calmly: "Impervious to swords and spears?"
Red Fox nodded repeatedly. She very Skilledly took out a piece of wrought iron, placed it on the table in front of her, and handed it to Fang Bie: "Guest, please check it. This is high-quality wrought iron, without a shred of deception."
Fang Bie took it casually, examined it, and handed it back: "It's real."
Red Fox laughed: "It seems big brother has extraordinary Eyesight."
As she said this, she put the wrought iron away, pulled out the dagger from the side, pressed it down, and like cutting a sausage, *clack clack clack* three times, she cut the wrought iron into three thumb-sized pieces.
"This dagger is called Fish Slicer. I picked it up as a bargain from a fisherman. It cuts iron like mud and can be called a Divine Weapon and Sharp Tool. If you want it, big brother, I can sell it to you for one thousand Silver."
"However," Red Fox paused as she said this, put on the soft Gold-thread Gloves, turned her slender fingers on Fang Bie's hand, then placed her hand on the cutting board, and at the same time took the Fish-Slaying Dagger that could cut iron like mud. She tilted her head and seemed to smile, and although the Red Fox mask covered her expression, one could hear the faint, crisp laughter: "Big brother, watch closely."
As she said this, she held the Fish-Slaying Dagger and lightly drew it across her fingers, then lifted her palm, only to see that there wasn't even a scratch on it.
"Gold-thread Gloves, impervious to swords and spears, catching blades with bare hands—they say it's a contradiction, yet my Fish-Slaying Dagger cannot cut my Gold-thread Gloves."
"These gloves are three thousand Silver, one price."
Xue Ling watched from the side, her heart pounding.
Yes, a pair of gloves that could withstand a dagger that cuts iron like mud actually only cost three thousand Silver.
If—yes, just if—Xue Ling had three thousand Silver, she would buy them without hesitation. That way, when she practiced her Soft Sword Sword Technique in the future, she wouldn't have to worry about her fingers parting ways with her.
But three thousand Silver is really just something to think about.
After all, the monthly salary of a First Rank Grand Tutor in the Great Zhou Dynasty is only eighty-seven shi of rice. In a good year, one tael of Silver can buy about two shi of rice, which means the Grand Tutor's monthly salary is forty-three taels and Five Qian Silver, and five hundred twenty-two taels of Silver a year. It would take six years of saving without eating or drinking to be able to buy these Gold-thread Gloves.
Of course, a Grand Tutor's annual income is certainly more than five hundred twenty-two taels of Silver, but these Gold-thread Gloves are truly very, very expensive.
Based on Xue Ling's current monthly allowance of Four Qian Silver, it would take her six hundred twenty-five years of not eating or drinking to afford these three thousand Silver.
As expected, the working class has a hard life.
While Xue Ling was envious on the side, Fang Bie had already spoken unhurriedly: "Can you let me try them?"
Red Fox looked at the monkey-faced guest in front of her: "No, these are valuable items. I cannot let you try them before you pay a deposit."
"How much is the deposit?" Fang Bie asked.
"The deposit is five hundred Silver," Red Fox replied decisively.
Hmm, a Grand Tutor's annual salary, Xue Ling thought to herself on the side.
Are people in the Jianghu really all that rich?
Fang Bie smiled: "Then I won't try them. I'll ask you to try them, Sister Fox."
"You are still wearing your precious gloves."
"Then use your precious dagger to slash both ways, how about that?"
Fang Bie's voice was still a deep, middle-aged tone, and he called her "Sister Fox" affectionately, but as soon as these words were spoken, Red Fox's movements suddenly froze.
"You..." She only said one word and could not continue.
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