Chapter 25: The King of Bargaining

“Oh my, young hero, you have a sharp eye indeed. You’ve managed to spot the greatest treasure of my humble shop. Just look at the material of this sword manual—finest quality silk, I assure you. And see this cover—so smooth, feel it, doesn't it exude quality? Now, look at the name stitched in gold thread: Peerless Sword Technique. What an imposing name!” The shopkeeper immediately began to extol the virtues of his martial manual, his gaze as if sizing up two lambs, ready for the slaughter.

Ye Qin, half-dazed, reached out to touch it, and indeed, it did seem rather impressive.

“How much is this?” Ye Qin asked instinctively.

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up—he sensed opportunity. He loved children like this: out shopping for sword techniques all by themselves, and the possibilities for profit were endless.

“Not expensive at all—just a hundred gold coins,” the shopkeeper said, smiling broadly. With those hundred coins, he could pamper himself a bit, perhaps even pay the rent.

Ye Kun was speechless. This was a scam fit only for children. But just as he was about to intervene, Ye Qin launched into the bargaining strategy that Dongmen Meng had imparted: always halve the price.

“Fifty gold coins,” Ye Qin said without hesitation.

Ye Kun was puzzled. Mother only gave them ten coins, didn’t she? Where would he get fifty? They didn’t even have the money.

The shopkeeper drew a sharp breath. This kid was a tough negotiator.

“My young hero, a hundred gold coins is the fair price—genuine and honest. I guarantee you won’t regret it,” the shopkeeper insisted, determined to hold his ground.

“Then I’ll pass,” Ye Qin replied.

Ten thousand lambs seemed to float through the shopkeeper’s mind. This child was no simpleton; he was already a seasoned bargainer.

Ye Kun was relieved—his little brother was clever after all.

“Alright, young hero, since fate has brought us together, I’ll give you a special price: seventy gold coins, but not a coin less,” the shopkeeper relented, thinking he’d retreated enough to tempt the boy.

“Thirty-five gold coins,” Ye Qin responded.

The shopkeeper was speechless.

Ye Kun was speechless.

Ye Qin was simply following his mother’s instructions—always halve the price, never back down midway.

The shopkeeper eyed Ye Qin curiously. From the boy’s serious expression, this was no joke—he was utterly sincere.

“Fifty! Not a coin less!”

“Twenty-five,” Ye Qin replied with perfect composure.

The shopkeeper’s jaw dropped. He’d never encountered haggling like this before. “Young hero, this isn’t how bargaining works.”

“Then I won’t buy it.”

Ye Kun nearly burst out laughing at his brother’s ruthlessness. He truly was a scion of the Ye family—such boldness must be hereditary.

“Fine! You win! Thirty gold coins!”

“Fifteen.”

Even Ye Kun, usually so serious and reserved, struggled to keep a straight face. But to laugh now would be unseemly; after all, they were here to buy sword techniques.

The shopkeeper, half exasperated, half amused, wanted to throw them out, but business was business. Torn and frustrated…

“Ten!” the owner said through gritted teeth.

“Five.”

“Are you trying to kill me?” the shopkeeper stared at Ye Qin, on the verge of coughing up blood.

Ye Kun couldn’t hold it in any longer, especially seeing the owner’s expression—he looked ready to expire from sheer indignation.

“No, I’m just bargaining. My mother taught me,” Ye Qin replied earnestly, his serious demeanor enough to drive anyone mad.

The shopkeeper’s patience snapped. What sort of mother would teach her son to bargain like this? If she came herself, would she buy out the whole shop?

He had thought they were two lambs, but who could have guessed they were two bald wolves?

Indeed, the truly ruthless often have shaved heads.

“Fine, five gold coins and it’s yours!” the owner agreed, practically coughing up blood at the thought, but after calculating, realized he’d still make a single gold coin—at least he wasn’t losing money.

Ye Qin was delighted, quickly stashing away the luxurious Peerless Sword Technique, grinning from ear to ear.

“Big brother, you should buy one too,” Ye Qin said cheerfully.

“Little brother, you’re incredible—help me bargain as well!” Ye Kun admitted his little brother was far more formidable; bargaining was not his strong suit.

Ye Qin found the process quite enjoyable, especially seeing the shopkeeper’s expressions—such a sense of accomplishment!

Thus was born a future master negotiator, one who would send shivers down the spine of any vendor.

“Shopkeeper, this one looks nice. Two gold coins?” Ye Qin pointed to another gleaming sword manual with a smile.

The owner’s face twitched. “Are you here to rob me?”

“No, just bargaining.”

The shopkeeper was so exasperated that his makeup began to flake—this child was a menace!

“Here, I’ll throw in a sword manual for free. This one’s five gold coins!” The owner grabbed a plain, ordinary manual from behind him—so low-quality it was hardly worth a coin.

Ye Qin frowned slightly, rubbed his bald head, and said, “But there are two of us, yet now there are three books. How are we supposed to split them?”

The bald little demon!

The shopkeeper produced another manual. “There, now you’re satisfied!”

“Hmm… how about four gold coins?” Ye Qin calculated, thinking it wise to save a coin for future purchases—mother was so stingy.

“I… you… fine, you win!” the shopkeeper surrendered, realizing he’d only made a single gold coin in profit—a humiliation in this line of work.

In all the years at his Sword Manual Bookstore, who hadn’t been fleeced for dozens of coins? Today he’d been utterly outmaneuvered by two brats!

Watching their cheerful little figures leave, the shopkeeper suddenly realized he could have simply refused to sell! Nine gold coins for four sword manuals…

Had he been possessed by an idiot just now?

Walking down the streets of the Western Market, Ye Qin was overjoyed, hugging his four sword manuals, practically flaunting them. In the eyes of ordinary folk, these would be worth at least a hundred gold coins.

Seeing his little brother so happy, Ye Kun couldn’t help but smile too—the first time in days.

Suddenly—

Ye Kun’s smile froze, his expression turning stiff.

Something wasn’t right! Things couldn’t be this simple! According to tradition, when one buys treasure disguised as trash…

But he hadn’t made the purchase, his brother had! Could it really be that bad? Those two luxurious manuals didn’t seem suspicious, but the two that were given as gifts…

This was risky. They needed their mother’s opinion.

“Little brother, let’s go home and show mother our spoils. It’s still early anyway.”

Ye Qin agreed immediately, convinced their parents would praise them. “Alright, let’s go home.”

Back in the Sword Manual Bookstore, the shopkeeper was still agonizing over his loss when a figure dressed in black entered, radiating an intimidating aura.

“I’m here to reclaim the sword manuals I pawned earlier.”