Chapter 3

The rules for the trade fair at the Qingyuan Grand Hotel were not strict, relatively casual.

This was naturally because those attending the trade fair were not ordinary people and generally did not like too many constraints and rules. If it were a formal trade fair hosted by a well-known international multinational company, stricter rules would be appropriate. At a certain level, one follows the rules of that level.

The key was that Chen Qiyue was not an international tycoon; he was a member of the袍哥 (Pao Ge, a secret society).

In Qingyuan, a place surrounded by mountains and inhabited by barbarians, a member of the Pao Ge who had fought through blood and fire, adhering to the principle of "three cuts and six holes," talking about aligning with international standards would make people laugh out loud.

Not having strict rules did not mean there were no rules.

There still needed to be a host.

The host of the trade fair was not a handsome man or a beautiful woman, but an old man over eighty years old, with white hair and a youthful face, looking spirited. He slowly walked out from behind the main door, leaning on a cane.

Compared to his physical and mental state, the cane was definitely a prop.

The moment the "tapping" sound of the cane echoed, the originally noisy trading hall instantly fell silent. Everyone turned their heads to look at the host platform, showing reverence.

Yin Zhengzhong, the old man, was a well-known figure in the Qingyuan medicinal market, whose name everyone had long admired.

Yin Zhengzhong was a living medical encyclopedia. During the Republic of China era, he traveled across the country with his master to purchase medicinal herbs. He could almost recite the "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" and the "Compendium of Materia Medica" by heart.

Some even said that it was because of Yin Zhengzhong that the Qingyuan medicinal market became so prosperous.

Most of the guests who came today were in the traditional Chinese medicine industry and held the old man in high regard.

Xiao Fan also looked at Yin Zhengzhong with great interest.

Xiao Fan was the young man in his late twenties, wearing a moon-white linen Tang suit and black cloth shoes, sitting at table number 27.

This was not his first time in Qingyuan, but it was his first time attending this precious medicinal trade fair, partly because of Yin Zhengzhong's reputation.

Yin Zhengzhong originally ran a pharmacy. After the Qingyuan medicinal market became prosperous, he closed his pharmacy, clearly stating that he did not want to compete with the younger generation for a living.

However, at every trade fair at the Qingyuan Grand Hotel, the old man was always invited to preside over.

With him there, the authenticity and age of the herbs were generally not disputed.

As for the price, the old man did not interfere, leaving it to the guests to negotiate. He only verified the authenticity and age of the herbs. Business was about mutual consent. Moreover, the same herbs could have very different prices depending on the demand.

For example, the price of wild ginseng could vary greatly depending on whether it was bought for collection or to save a life.

The old man was indeed a seasoned expert.

When Yin Zhengzhong appeared, it meant the trade fair officially began.

The guests took their seats, watching the old man with white beard in silence. The large trading hall became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

The old man, leaning on his ox-head cane, slowly walked to the host platform on one side of the hall, his eyes slowly scanning the entire hall.

This was the proper etiquette for a host.

The guests hurriedly nodded in greeting, but the old man's gaze only briefly passed over their faces, not lingering on anyone. At his current status and age, ordinary people were not worthy of his special attention.

When Yin Zhengzhong's gaze fell on Xiao Fan, it suddenly paused, his slightly squinted eyes suddenly widening, radiating a sharp light.

Everyone's gaze followed, most people puzzled, not understanding why the old man suddenly paid special attention to this young man. Apart from his refined appearance and elegant demeanor, which clearly indicated he was a well-read scholar, there was nothing particularly outstanding about him.

Yin Zhengzhong's eyes, however, were different from those of the merchants.

In his eyes, Xiao Fan's slightly pale face had a faint, gentle glow that slowly flowed, almost imperceptible. This was a clear sign of someone who had reached a very high level in internal martial arts.

Yin Zhengzhong himself was a great master of internal martial arts. At eighty, he still had a youthful face and abundant energy. This was partly due to his expertise in health preservation and partly due to his decades of practice in the Five Animal Exercises, passed down by Hua Tuo, without interruption. His internal energy was full, and his vitality was strong.

Even so, Yin Zhengzhong felt that in the cultivation of internal martial arts, he might not be as advanced as this quiet young man.

The term "three flowers gathered at the top, five energies converging at the origin" in internal martial arts probably referred to this state.

Daoist classics also recorded: "When the primordial energy is fully developed, the vitality is like the sea."

Looking at his face, he was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. How could he have reached such a high level? Even if he was a genius and practiced an extraordinary technique, it was still too young.

Could he have been mistaken?

Despite the dozens of gazes on him, Xiao Fan seemed oblivious, smiling gently at Yin Zhengzhong and nodding slightly in greeting.

Yin Zhengzhong, solemn, also nodded slightly and bowed slightly.

Everyone was shocked.

The old man's gesture was not something ordinary people could bear. Among the guests, there were several billionaires and several so-called "medicine kings" of a certain province. In front of Yin Zhengzhong, they all showed respect as juniors, and Yin Zhengzhong at most smiled and conversed briefly, never bowing in such a manner.

Was this young man a powerful figure with a significant background? Perhaps even from a prestigious family in the capital?

On the suspended corridor, Lao Liù hurriedly approached Chen Guo, whispering, "Seventh Master, we couldn't find anything..."

As he spoke, he observed Chen Guo's expression, feeling extremely nervous.

Having followed Seventh Master for so many years, Lao Liù knew very well that Seventh Master did not like to hear such words.

"What do you mean you couldn't find anything?"

Chen Guo finally turned his gaze from Xiao Fan, asking coldly.

Lao Liù's heart trembled, sensing that Seventh Master was indeed angry. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Seventh Master, it's like this. On our guest list, there is no name for the guest at table number 27. We don't know how they got in or who introduced them. I asked several supervisors, and they all said they don't know... This is really strange..."

Lao Liù wiped the cold sweat again.

Chen Guo sneered, "Lao Liù, you're getting more and more complacent. You can't figure anything out? I ask you, without an invitation, how did the security let them in? Most importantly, who arranged table number 27 for them? The guest at table number 27 can't be nameless, right?"

Lao Liù stammered, "Seventh Master, that's why it's strange. I checked, and table number 27 was reserved for an old customer from the south. He called yesterday, saying he would come. I just contacted him, and he said he had something come up and couldn't make it, and he had already notified the hotel. But when I asked, no one knew about this... When I asked the security, they all shook their heads, saying they didn't know... It's as if they were bewitched... Seventh Master, could it be that they really encountered a curse..."

As he spoke, Lao Liù couldn't help but shiver, looking at the young man and woman in the hall, feeling a chill and goosebumps all over his body.

Lao Liù was very superstitious.

Overall, Qingyuan was also a "barbarian land," filled with various strange rumors.

"Nonsense!"

Chen Guo glared at him coldly.

Lao Liù shrank back, his face contorted in distress.

This was really a bizarre situation. Two living people walked in, and no one in the entire hotel knew where they came from or when they arrived.

"Should I have them removed?"

Lao Liù asked tentatively.

"Do you think it's appropriate to remove them now?"

Chen Guo countered.

The trade fair had already officially started. Some guests, according to their table numbers, handed over the herbs they brought to Yin Zhengzhong for authentication of authenticity, quality, and age.

There was a reason for this.

Some guests were unsure about the "goods" they had and feared being cheated, so they traveled a long distance to Qingyuan to have Yin Zhengzhong authenticate them. However, such guests were a minority. Generally, those who could do such a large medicinal business were not beginners and had rich experience. They would only ask Yin Zhengzhong to verify the most valuable herbs for safety.

Most guests who brought their goods to the stage for authentication did so to gain trust and facilitate subsequent transactions.

Yin Zhengzhong only authenticated; he did not quote prices or auction.

This was a rule set by Chen Guo for the trade fair. All transactions were completed between the guests themselves. The trade fair only charged a certain service fee. Chen Guo did not make money from the trade fair; he relied on these guests. Not only did they eat and drink at the Qingyuan Grand Hotel, but they also bought herbs from several large pharmacies under Chen Guo's control.

Chen Guo did not monopolize the market or hinder guests from buying herbs from other pharmacies, playing fair competition.

Chen Qiyue was wealthy and powerful, controlling the largest pharmacies in Qingyuan. Fair competition was not a match for him. Why provoke public anger by monopolizing the market? Chen Qiyue did not plan to make all the money from the medicinal business in Qingyuan. It was too foolish. He wanted to enjoy the big profits and leave some small profits for others.

"Let it be. As long as they don't cause trouble, we'll deal with it after the trade fair. We'll figure it out eventually."

Chen Guo waved his hand.

"Ah, okay, okay..."

Lao Liù responded quickly, secretly relieved.

Chen Guo no longer paid attention to Lao Liù, leaning on the railing and watching the activities in the hall.

Suddenly, Chen Guo felt an extremely strange sensation surge in his heart, as if a pair of eyes was coldly staring at his back, making his hair stand on end.

Chen Guo slowly picked up his leopard-tooth pipe, took a deep breath, and his entire body instantly filled with strength. He abruptly turned around, bending his waist slightly, his whole body like a powerful bow ready to be released, on high alert.

But...

There was nothing.

Behind him, there was nothing at all.

Not even a shadow.

That strange sensation disappeared instantly.

Chen Guo felt his scalp tingling, the veins under his temples pulsing.

Just now, he had clearly felt the eerie sensation of being watched, as if a powerful enemy was ready to strike him from behind.

It was definitely not an illusion!

Perhaps, something might really happen tonight.