Chen Fan responded directly.
Without hesitation, An Ye said, "Boss, people in the martial arts world are buzzing about a Huo Lingzhi that's over three hundred years old appearing!"
Chen Fan's eyes lit up at the news. "Where!"
An Ye replied, "It's not confirmed yet, but the martial arts world is in an uproar!"
"It's very likely that many factions will fight over it this time!"
A Huo Lingzhi of three hundred years was an incredibly rare and valuable find.
If it were true, a scramble for it would be entirely reasonable!
Chen Fan stated, "Whether it's true or not, we need to investigate!"
"Do you understand?"
"Understood..."
An Ye continued, then added, "With this thing appearing, many martial arts factions are likely to show up, including some top-tier ones..."
She wanted to remind Chen Fan to be careful, but then she reconsidered. Chen Fan's capabilities were beyond her estimation.
She paused, then fell silent.
Chen Fan guessed what An Ye meant and didn't dwell on it, hanging up the phone.
Huo Lingzhi was yang in nature and could greatly help him in improving his cultivation.
If he obtained it, he might truly be able to break through to the Grandmaster realm in one go.
Lost in thought...
Thus, several days passed by unnoticed.
One day, feeling restless in his rented room, Chen Fan ventured out onto the streets.
Passing by an intersection, he heard a commotion and went to investigate.
It turned out a group of people were gathered around an old man, watching a scene unfold.
The old man was over sixty, with white, tousled hair and a hunched back.
Two young men stood beside him, sleeves rolled up, hands on their hips, looking ferocious.
Their faces were filled with anger.
"Everyone, come and see! This old geezer sold us melons that were short in weight!"
"We thought he was old and felt sympathetic, so we patronized his business. Little did we know, we ended up being the ones played!"
"You all be the judge!"
They cursed and gnashed their teeth.
The onlookers, hearing this, began to scold the old man.
"Is this what they mean by disrespecting the old?"
"Yes!"
"It seems age has made him wicked!"
"Sigh... trash, he's truly trash. Don't buy anything from him again!"
"Exactly!"
The old man's voice trembled. "I... I didn't. My scale is fine, not at all! In my life, I've never deceived anyone!"
"Heh heh..." one of the young men with triangular eyes cursed, "You old fossil, your words are like farts! Hurry up and compensate us!"
"That's right, if it's not a thousand, this matter won't be settled today!"
A thousand?
For the old man selling melons, this was no small sum.
He might not even earn a thousand in a whole day of selling!
"You, you, you... why are you being unreasonable!" The old man was close to tears. "You say my melons are problematic, and I said you can return them if they are. But what happened? You didn't bring the melons back and are just spouting nonsense about my melons being faulty. This is completely unreasonable!!!"
"Do you think this old man is easy to bully?"
As the old man defended himself, most of the onlookers merely watched, like spectators at a show.
They scoffed and mocked him coldly.
"Old man, I say, stop making excuses!"
"Alright?"
"..." The old man trembled with anger. He took two medals from his pocket. "I was a soldier back then. These are medals I earned. I... I am not as unbearable as you say!"
"I... I have not deceived anyone!"