Chapter 56
As the megaphone amplified his call, more and more people crowded around Tang Yu’an’s stall.
Salt was highly sought-after in the wasteland. Without enough salt, people would suffer from dizziness, and in severe cases, experience weakness and swelling. As an essential item, everyone needed it.
In this region near Jufeng Mountain, far from the sea, most people relied on licking rocks or eating plant ashes to get salt. No one in Jufeng Town had ever sold pure salt crystals like Tang Yu’an was doing.
Old Li naturally noticed the commotion.
Hearing that someone was selling salt, he immediately thought of Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, and his face changed slightly as he quickly pushed through the crowd.
When he saw the stall owner, a sturdy man in his thirties or forties, he let out a sigh of relief.
But he didn’t leave right away. Instead, he stood by and watched. Someone selling salt in Jufeng Town? This was the first time he’d seen it. And judging by the clean, well-fed look of this man, he likely came from a fortress.
Old Li frowned in suspicion.
Was something happening in the fortress? Why had he been running into so many people from the fortress recently?
Tang Yu’an, aware of Old Li’s presence, couldn’t help feeling nervous but maintained his composure. Noticing that Old Li didn’t seem to recognize him, he gradually relaxed.
“Boss, are you really selling salt?” Someone finally asked, unable to hold back. “How much for a spoon?”
Having worked a market stall before, and having led school assemblies in grade school, Tang Yu’an wasn’t fazed by all the eyes on him.
He scooped out a spoonful of salt, showing it to the onlookers.
“This much,” he said, lowering his voice and maintaining a serious expression to avoid being recognized, which gave him an air of authority and quieted the crowd.
Plus, the megaphone was still repeating his call, layering his voice for an even more authoritative effect. Many onlookers began to believe he had some kind of sound-based ability. Only survivors from before the apocalypse, like Old Li, recognized the device hanging around his neck.
A perfectly functioning, clear-sounding megaphone? It had been years since he’d seen one of those! This person must have come from the fortress!
Among the crowd, someone finally stepped forward.
“This is really salt?”
An old man with a slightly hunched back and a long beard approached, scrutinizing the clay jar with a sharp gaze.
Tang Yu’an didn’t waste words and picked up two grains of salt.
Because this was coarse salt, each grain was quite large, and even in the dim light, the crystalline clarity was visible.
“Feel free to try it.”
Tang Yu’an picked up one of the grains and licked it to demonstrate it was safe to consume.
The old man nodded, taking the remaining grain and cautiously tasting it. His cloudy eyes immediately brightened.
“Good, good. I’ll exchange two spoonfuls for these wild greens.” The old man didn’t hesitate, grabbing a handful of greens from his basket.
Tang Yu’an counted them, verifying there were exactly six plants.
“Do you have a container?”
The old man pulled a piece of cloth from his pocket, spreading it out. “Just put it on this.”
“Alright.”
Once Tang Yu’an poured two spoonfuls of salt onto the worn cloth, the system notification popped up.
[You have completed a profitable transaction with a new customer, +58 points, +3 experience points.]
Before he could respond, the bearded old man had quickly bundled up the salt, tucked it into his chest, picked up his basket, and disappeared into the crowd in an instant.
Apparently fearing he’d be robbed, the old man moved with unexpected speed, his brisk pace making him look much younger than he was.
As Tang Yu’an considered marking his location, the next customer approached.
“I’ll trade you five mushrooms for half a spoonful. How’s that?”
“Deal.”
Tang Yu’an accepted, exchanging half a spoonful of salt for five mushrooms.
[You have completed a profitable transaction with a new customer, +4 points, +3 experience points.]
Others quickly followed suit.
“I’ve got three fruits; give me a spoonful of salt!”
“I have mushrooms too; I want to trade! Don’t push; I was here first!”
“Can I trade for wild greens? Three spoonfuls, please!”
Soon, Tang Yu’an found himself surrounded by eager customers.
“Slow down, one at a time.”
As more people pressed in on him, some even trying to take his goods, Tang Yu’an quickly pulled the clay jar into his arms and raised his megaphone.
“Form a line, or I won’t sell!” he shouted.
Thanks to the megaphone, his voice boomed through the crowd, clear and unmistakable even amidst the noisy market.
The guards noticed the situation and began moving toward the commotion. With the guards approaching, those with wandering hands reluctantly pulled back.
But queuing up wasn’t something people in the wasteland were used to, so they still clustered around him, worried they’d miss out.
Seeing the chaos continue, Tang Yu’an pointed to a young man near the front and said in a steady voice, “You! Raise your hand!”
The thin, dark-skinned young man looked startled but, under Tang Yu’an’s firm gaze, hesitantly raised his hand.
Giving him an approving nod, Tang Yu’an raised the megaphone again. “If you want salt, line up behind him! I’ll only sell to those who queue up behind him!”
Wearing the guise of his “father,” Tang Yu’an exuded confidence and authority. Confronted with the chaotic scene for the first time, he remained calm and directed people with ease, instinctively commanding respect from townspeople used to obeying the guards.
Although organizing the crowd took some time, Tang Yu’an felt it was necessary.
Rules were essential for order. The chaotic scene made him feel insecure, and he couldn’t do business properly. Moreover, if he could set a good example today, he could keep selling salt tomorrow and even in the future. A little time wasted now was worth it.
Under his guidance, people began to line up. Once one person started, others quickly followed, forming a long queue in the market. Under Tang Yu’an’s firm commands, no one dared to cut in line, and soon, an orderly scene unfolded—a rare sight in the apocalyptic world.
All eyes in the market gradually turned toward him. Upon hearing that he was selling salt, people, whether or not they had goods that matched his requirements, rushed to join the line.
Tang Yu’an didn’t turn anyone away. Whether it was mushrooms, wild vegetables, or something else, regardless of quality, he agreed to trade with everyone who lined up. With limited time, he couldn’t afford to haggle with each customer. This strategy greatly improved efficiency.
“It’s really salt!”
“So salty! But there’s no bitterness!”
Those who received the salt tasted it in disbelief after leaving the line and, realizing it was the real thing, spread the word. Some, feeling they hadn’t traded enough, even rejoined the line. As a result, the queue didn’t shrink over time but grew longer, taking up nearly half the market.
“Each person can only buy once. If you’ve already bought, please step out of line!” Tang Yu’an announced.
He hadn’t expected such a large crowd, and he worried about what might happen if the salt ran out before everyone got their turn.
After his announcement, those still waiting supervised the repeat buyers, leading to some squabbles. Tang Yu’an, however, ignored the minor disturbances. He only needed order at the front of the line while trading. The remaining salt in his clay jar wouldn’t be enough for those trying to rejoin the line anyway.
When the alarm on Zhou Qi’s watch went off, the clay jar was nearly empty. Tang Yu’an turned off the alarm and gave the last spoonful of salt to the person in front of him.
Turning to those still waiting, he said, “That’s it for today. Come early next time!”
“What? It’s gone?”
“I’ve been waiting all this time, and now there’s none left?”
Even though the crowd’s appetite for salt was high, Tang Yu’an wasn’t about to conjure more salt from thin air with so many eyes on him. He understood the difference between simply owning salt and having an endless supply. He wouldn’t let greed cloud his judgment.
Tang Yu’an didn’t want to use the “father” disguise only once. He efficiently packed up the goods he’d traded, wrapping them in two cloth bundles. He had to redeem an additional cloth to wrap everything, as he’d collected quite a bit.
Seeing that he truly had no more salt, the previously orderly scene quickly returned to chaos. Some people eyed his bundles and the remaining goods on the ground with greed, clearly intending to rob him if not for the nearby guards.
He knew that if he left the market, those people would likely make a move.
Hidden in the crowd, Zhou Qi observed with concern.
But Tang Yu’an already had a plan.
“Thank you all for your support! This was my first time doing business in Jufeng Town, but I’ll be back!” Tang Yu’an hoisted the two bundles onto his back, making his way toward the nearby guards.
“Gentlemen, these remaining items are a small token of appreciation. Thank you for helping to keep order,” he announced through the megaphone, leaving no time for anyone to react.
Tang Yu’an activated Lightness on himself. Instantly, he felt the weight of his bundles lessen, and his body became lighter.
As the crowd processed his words, they saw the man in the black cloak, with two large bundles and a strange device in hand, suddenly crouch, then leap straight into the air—disappearing into the sky in the blink of an eye.
The crowd gasped, looking around in amazement.
They searched high and low, but he was nowhere to be found.
What speed! What an amazing ability!
The guards exchanged glances, glancing at the items he’d left behind. Then, with stern expressions, they began to disperse the crowd.
“Alright, alright, clear out! No more crowding here!”
Those who hadn’t managed to trade for salt left grumbling, while those who had quickly hid their salt and slipped away, knowing that outside the market, the guards wouldn’t protect them.
As for Tang Yu’an…
He had pulled out the Shadow Umbrella just in time. It opened right as he jumped, following him mid-air and shielding him from view. When he landed on the outskirts of the market, he stowed the bundles and the megaphone in his portable storage, easily fitting them into the two new slots he’d gained from recent upgrades.
Then, he casually strolled away from the market.
The cooperation between him and the Shadow Umbrella was flawless. Other than Zhou Qi, no one had the slightest idea of how he had left.
Tang Yu’an walked forward, pulling out a mirror from his portable storage.
In the mirror, his father’s face was reflected. His eyes turned red at the sight, but he quickly forced a smile.
Maybe it was because his dad was “with” him today that everything went so smoothly!
As he stepped out of the market, his body suddenly shrank; the once perfectly fitting cloak now dragged on the ground—his time with the Thousand Faces Cloak was up, and he was back to his usual self.
Taking a deep breath, he put away the mirror and cloak.
It’s okay, he thought. Someday, he’d become a top-dimensional merchant, and then he’d be able to reunite with his real mom, dad, and little sister!
*
With the help of the mini-map, Tang Yu’an quickly found a secluded corner. Confirming there was no one around, he folded up the Shadow Umbrella, reappearing as himself once more. He resumed his route to the meeting place with Zhou Qi, ready to join him.
Tang Yu’an walked lightly, his mood uplifted.
He’d just made trades with at least twenty new customers, probably earning close to a thousand points and seventy or so experience points!
In just half an hour, he’d gained so much!
Suddenly, he paused.
Wait a minute—he’d gained all these experience points, along with those from Zhou Qi’s side. So why hadn’t he leveled up?
Realizing something was off, Tang Yu’an quickly opened his panel to check.
[Merchant Level: lv5 (87/100)]
Tang Yu’an: …
Ah, so after reaching lv5, the experience needed for the next level had doubled!
No wonder he and Zhou Qi had both earned so many experience points, and yet there hadn’t been any system notifications…
He was a bit speechless but soon figured this was only natural.
The rewards for each level up were substantial, and the lower level requirements were probably to help beginners. The further he progressed, the tougher things were bound to get.
He quickly adjusted his mood and then glanced at his points balance.
4,836 points!
Wow, he was so close to breaking the 5,000 mark!
Feeling cheerful, Tang Yu’an hummed a tune as he reached the meeting spot. From a distance, he saw Zhou Qi waiting under a large tree.
Seeing the boy’s approaching figure, Zhou Qi, who had been frowning, finally let out a sigh of relief.
He hadn’t expected An’an to create such a big commotion. While the trading efficiency had improved, watching him surrounded by so many strangers made Zhou Qi nervous.
But thankfully, An’an had not only managed the situation but also left unscathed.
“Brother Qi!”
Tang Yu’an happily ran over.
Looking at his bright, bouncy demeanor, who would have guessed that he was the same person who had boldly sold coarse salt, caused a market sensation, and then successfully disappeared with his goods right before everyone’s eyes?
“Have you been waiting long?” Tang Yu’an asked with a smile.
Seeing his clear, sparkling eyes, Zhou Qi’s lips curved, and he reached out to lower An’an’s cap.
“No, I just got here too.”
“Brother Qi, did you see?” Tang Yu’an asked, holding his hand with an excited look.
“Mm, I saw it.” Zhou Qi nodded. “You almost scared me to death.”
Seeing his serious expression, Tang Yu’an scratched his head, quickly hiding his pride and lowering his head. “Sorry, I should have discussed it with you first…”
But Zhou Qi held onto his hand, gently pulling it back. “No need to apologize. I understand—there wasn’t time.”
Though he’d truly been worried to death, he admitted, “Your idea was great, and you handled it perfectly.” He squeezed Tang Yu’an’s hand lightly and said, “An’an, you did an amazing job.”
Hearing the praise, Tang Yu’an grinned widely.
“Thanks! I thought of it all of a sudden!”
Then, he shared with Zhou Qi how many experience points and points he’d gained and added, “And I can keep using this method to trade in the future!”
Although the time window was short, the speed was unbeatable!
Zhou Qi pondered for a moment and had to admit that Tang Yu’an had a point.
As long as he could ensure safety during the trades, with Lightness and the Shadow Umbrella, he could easily escape as he did today.
However…
“Is the Thousand Faces Cloak bound to you?” he asked.
Tang Yu’an instinctively shook his head, quickly realizing why he’d asked.
“Brother Qi, do you want to try next time?”
“Mm.” Zhou Qi nodded.
It was only right for him to take on the risky tasks.
Tang Yu’an looked up at him, then nodded. “Alright, you can try tomorrow.”
He’d be there to cover him anyway.
If anyone dared to make a move on Brother Qi, they’d be in for a little surprise with his marbles!
“We should hurry; Grandpa Li might be waiting.”
In no time, they reached the open market area where Grandpa Li was indeed waiting at the entrance.
He looked around, scanning the market, likely searching for them.
Tang Yu’an quickly ran over. “Grandpa Li!”
Old Li heard his voice and quickly turned around. Seeing that he was unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Where did you go?”
Old Li’s face was stern. Even with the protective aura of “Little Saviour,” he was still afraid his words might come off as too harsh.
Tang Yu’an pointed toward the mountain and replied casually, “I didn’t find much worth trading, so I went up to check out the lake.”
He then showed him a smooth pebble he’d picked up by the lake last night. “Look, Grandpa, isn’t this stone pretty?”
Old Li glanced at the stone and then back at the boy’s cute, cheerful smile. He felt a sense of helplessness and ended up withholding any reprimands.
Heavens knew he’d circled the whole market twice looking for him and had been worried sick, but…
“As long as you’re okay.”
He said gently, “Next time you want to go somewhere, remember to let me know first.”
Hearing the old man’s advice and feeling his care and worry, Tang Yu’an felt a pang of guilt.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa.”
Tang Yu’an’s smile faded, and he apologized sincerely, “I won’t worry you like this again.”
Old Li was unaccustomed to dealing with such a well-behaved and sweet-talking kid, so he cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Alright, if there’s nothing left worth trading, let’s head back; it’s starting to warm up.”
Tang Yu’an hesitated for a moment.
He’d been hoping to make a few more trades while the market was still busy to gain experience points. But he couldn’t take back what he’d already said, so he nodded, thinking he could always come back tomorrow. “Okay.”
“Let’s go.” Old Li led the way.
Tang Yu’an looked at his basket and couldn’t help but ask, “Grandpa, did you manage to trade for anything?”
“Just about.”
Old Li replied, “There was someone selling coarse salt earlier, but I couldn’t get any.”
Tang Yu’an tensed a little, sneaking a glance at him. Seeing no hint of suspicion in his expression, he smiled and said, “Grandpa, if you need salt, I have some. I can trade with you anytime.”
Old Li nodded, but his pace slowed down as he noticed the increasing number of people on their path. They all seemed to be discussing something.
Many residents stood at their doors, chatting with neighbors or looking on in curiosity.
Did something happen?
Tang Yu’an slowed his pace, listening carefully to the scattered conversations around him until he picked up a bit of information.
“The administrator has returned?”
He remembered how Mo Ke had mentioned that the administrator had left Ju Feng Town. Without the administrator’s presence, the mutant snake roaming Ju Feng Mountain had grown more brazen.
Now that the administrator had returned, the townspeople were buzzing with excitement, most of them looking quite pleased.
“It seems the administrator has a lot of respect here.”
Most residents referred to the administrator as the “Mountain Lord,” which implied a strong endorsement of his leadership over Ju Feng Mountain.
Old Li nodded, “Indeed.”
This administrator hadn’t been in charge for many years, but since she took over, Ju Feng Town’s order had significantly improved, and several new policies benefiting the people had been implemented.
However, she was also quite mysterious. Since Old Li mainly lived in the desolate city, he hadn’t actually seen him in person.
“Let’s head back to the Jade Pavilion.”
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi nodded, but as they got closer to the Jade Pavilion, they found the area increasingly crowded and the atmosphere even more tense.
From last night until they’d left earlier that morning, the Jade Pavilion area had been nearly deserted. Why were so many people gathering here now?
Old Li frowned slightly; it was indeed a scene he hadn’t encountered before.
He led the two boys through the crowd, and finally, an open area came into view right in front of the Jade Pavilion.
The mountain path on the other side was also completely blocked by people, and some were even climbing up the cliffside for a better view.
Why were all these people gathered outside the Jade Pavilion? Could something have happened to the innkeeper?
Tang Yu’an anxiously stood on his tiptoes to get a better look.
The Jade Pavilion’s main door was wide open, and as he watched, a group of people carried a stretcher out. On the stretcher lay a man, his entire body a startling shade of red.
