Chapter 204: Chapter 201- Far From This Surface-level Stuff

The middle-aged man was Yu Sang-Hun, the Patriarch of the Yu Clan, one of the Top Four Clans in Pearl City.

Sang-Hun grinned as he lowered himself in front of Park Yong.

“Bastard Park, who are you calling old? Did you forget your two decades my senior?”

Park Yong and Sang-Hun chatted casually as they entered the Pavilion to drink some wine.

Inside, Park Yong said after a few drinks.

“What a coincidence you came when you did, I was just about to go over to your Yu Clan.”

“Hm? Why?”

Sang-Hun asked as he took a sip of his wine.

“I’ll tell you the reason, but don’t feel too bad. I met that Monster-level genius that they’re saying is on par with the Huashan Sect’s Byeong-Ho.”

Sang-Hun paused drinking his wine and asked.

“Did he sell you medicinal plants and herbs?”

Park Yong froze but then said with a laugh.

“He did, quite a bit too. Don’t tell me he sold you medicinal plants and herbs as well?”

Sang-Hun nodded, and an ugly expression appeared on his face.

“To think you would be so lucky to accept his offer, I was initially about to laugh in his face and send him on his way until he took out a medicinal plant from one of those storage rings of his.”

“Hm, I almost dismissed him as well.”

“Do you think he sold them to the other bastards as well?”

Park Yong paused. He knew who Sang-Hun was talking about, the Lan Clan and the Lin Clan.

All of them were each other’s competitors, but his Park Clan and Sang-Hun’s Yu Clan had a somewhat friendly relationship, similar to that of the Lan Clan and Lin Clan.

Over the years, it had evolved into his Park Clan teaming up with the Yu Clan to fight against the Lan Clan and Lin Clan more often than not.

“It’s a given that he would go to them as well.”

Park Yong replied.

“Hmph, I suppose so, but I was planning to get some profit off of them by selling a few of the medicinal plants and herbs I purchased. I was actually planning on selling some to you, Brother Yong, that’s why I came here.”

A cold chill suddenly went down Park Yong’s spine. He gripped his cup and asked.

“Brother Sang-Hun, don’t tell me you borrowed Aether Stones from the Alchemy Pavilion to pay for the medicinal plants and herbs as well?”

Sang-Hun froze.

“Of course I did. How else would I be able to afford those expensive Tier 7 and Tier 8 medicinal plants and herbs? Did you take the Loan as well?”

Park Yong nodded solemnly.

“Looks like something is up. Did that brat actually trick us?”

Sang-Hun was relatively calm, but Park Yong’s brows were about to join together.

Seeing this, Sang-Hun asked.

“Bastard Park, how many Aether Stones did you borrow?”

Park Yong went silent and placed his head in his hands.

After a moment, Sang-Hun heard him whisper.

“Around six hundred million high-grade Aether Stones.”

“W-What??!!”

Sang-Hun couldn’t help but jump out of his seat.

“Bastard Park, why did you borrow so much?”

“How else was I going to pay for those Tier 9 medicinal plants?”

“You bought the Tier 9 medicinal plants?! No wonder your Loan came to so much. I only borrowed around three hundred million. I should be able to pay that off after we leave the City, but you’ll be stuck with that amount since that brat probably sold medicinal plants and herbs to the other Top Clans and Sects. Oh!”

Park Yong, hearing Sang-Hun’s sudden yell, looked up at him.

“What is it?”

“I heard a rumor coming here, that the Alchemy Pavilion from the Martial Alliance Academy is planning on holding an auction.”

Park Yong’s face turned ugly.

’Was this his plan? Forcing us to join their auction to sell our medicinal plants and herbs? Not only would they receive money from selling us medicinal plants and herbs, but they’d be able to take a cut of the profits if we sold them at their auction. But that money wouldn’t even go to us; it’ll just be going back to their pockets. No, why involve money at all? They will be taking back the medicinal plants they sold us. What a scheme, that brat completely played me.’

The more Park Yong thought about it, the more he realized how deep this plan ran. Their main goal was probably to send them into debt while siphoning as much money from them as they could.

’No wonder their interest rates were so high.’

Park Yong could only laugh at himself. In all his years in the cultivation world, he had never seen a scheme like this. He wondered who came up with it.

’Was it that brat? If so, was he acting all along?’

Park Yong poured himself another cup of wine and took a few sips. He was angry that he fell for such a treacherous plan, but it’s not like he hadn’t faced greater setbacks than this before. But he also realized they made sure not to go too far. They gave them an outlet to sell their medicinal plants and herbs to pay back some of the debt.

After the city opened, they would still owe them, but it shouldn’t hinder their ability to set up a footing in another city.

From Park Yong’s perspective, it was somewhat of a win-win situation for both parties involved. It was very similar to that child’s style.

’It looks like he was the one who came up with this scheme. What a terrifying brat. I shouldn’t provoke him in the future. I’ll accept this defeat since I’m benefiting somewhat.’

“Hey bastard Park, what are they like? Did you buy more than one? How about you give me one?”

Park Yong came out of his thoughts and sneered at Sang-Hun.

“Why don’t you go take out a loan and purchase them?”

“Huh? Do you think I’m crazy like you? I don’t want to leave this city with a mountain of debt hanging over my head. However, I hope that brat didn’t hold back on those bastards.”

Park Yong’s eyes narrowed.

“It would be great if the Lan and Lin Clans weren’t able to find a footing in another city. Even if we end up in different areas, our grudge runs too deep for us to be able to live under the same sky.”

“Right?”

Sang-Hun said as he gulped down a cup of wine.

Like this, the two chatted and drank their wine.

Without saying anything, they agreed to visit the auction of those brats to get rid of some of their debt. However, they had no idea how deep Sol’s scheme had truly dug itself. It was far from this surface-level stuff.

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