If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Qian Yishou's gaze fell on the ten-tael silver ingot, without even lifting his eyelids.

The smile plastered on his face looked like it was glued on, so fake it made your teeth ache.

"Sir, this money is probably too much for you."

He stretched out two fingers and pushed the silver ingot outwards. His fingertips were dry, and black dirt was embedded in his fingernails.

"Our shop is honest and straightforward; we don't sell frivolous things. If you need medicine, there are three clinics to your left. If you're looking for entertainment, there are plenty of pretty girls at the brothels in the south of the city."

Zhou Yang didn't move.

His hand remained pressed on the silver ingot, motionless.

"Manager Qian, I have a problem."

He smiled, but it was a faint smile.

"If I set my sights on something, I absolutely must have it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached into his robe with his other hand.

The movements were slow, as if they were taking out something important.

Qian Yishou's eyes narrowed slightly. The two men behind him also tensed up, their hands stealthily reaching for their waists.

What Zhou Yang pulled out was not a hidden weapon.

It is a gold ingot.

It was about the size of a fist, golden yellow, and quite heavy.

"Snap—"

The sound of the gold ingot hitting the counter was more than ten times louder than the sound of the silver ingot hitting the counter.

The entire inner room shook.

Qian Yishou's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he let out a hoarse gurgling sound. He instinctively reached out to grab it, his fingers trembling.

"this……"

"Fifty taels," Zhou Yang said softly. "For a piece of information."

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"What's the most valuable thing in that storeroom in the backyard?"

Qian Yishou's expression changed.

His previous smooth and worldly demeanor vanished as if blown away by the wind, replaced by an almost manic expression. His eyes were fixed on the gold ingot, like a hungry wolf eyeing a piece of meat.

But the next moment, he forcefully tore his gaze away.

"Sir, you're trying to kill me!"

His voice was very low, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

"That storeroom in the backyard is a forbidden area of ​​the Eastern Palace. Even if it were worth fifty thousand taels, I would never dare touch anything inside, let alone fifty taels."

"To touch it is a capital offense."

His eye twitched as he said this.

Zhou Yang looked at him without saying anything.

The air seemed to freeze.

The wick in the corner popped, the flame leaped up half an inch, and then shrank back.

"The Eastern Palace."

Zhou Yang pondered these two words and suddenly smiled.

"Manager Qian, is your life only worth fifty taels?"

He reached into his robes again.

This time, he pulled out another gold ingot.

"Snap—"

Another muffled sound.

Two gold ingots were placed side by side on the counter, like two gleaming golden eyes, coldly staring at Qian Yishou.

"One hundred taels."

Zhou Yang's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"I don't want the warehouse; I just want a box inside. How much could such a small box be worth?"

"The people of the Crown Prince's Palace wouldn't bother with a medicine seller like you over a box."

Qian Yishou's breathing became rapid.

His hands pressed against the counter, veins bulging, like thin snakes crawling under his skin.

His eyes reddened as he stared at the two gold ingots. They were real gold, solid gold. One hundred taels was enough for him to work his way up in this dilapidated pharmacy for ten years.

But he dared not.

That person in the Eastern Palace is ruthless. Just a few days ago, a shop assistant glanced at the storeroom key, and the next day he was gone. His body was thrown into the moat, bloated and unrecognizable even to his own parents.

"Sir..."

His voice trembled, with a hint of pleading.

"You're trying to kill me!"

Zhou Yang ignored his pleas.

His gaze passed over Qian Yishou and landed on the door deep inside the hall. The door was lacquered black, with a faded talisman pasted on it, looking quite old.

He knew what was behind that door.

A long corridor led to a storeroom. Inside were thirty-six compartments, the innermost of which was sealed with a seal, the vermilion ink still bright red.

What he wanted was placed in that compartment.

"Manager Qian."

Zhou Yang looked away and looked at him.

Name your price.

Qian Yishou closed his eyes tightly, as if making a difficult decision.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze turning sinister.

"Sir, are you unable to understand human speech?"

His voice was low and ruthless.

"I told you, that's forbidden territory of the Eastern Palace. Even if you brought a mountain of gold, I wouldn't dare touch it."

"If you're truly capable, go and get it yourself. But as long as you remain in my Fushou Hall, don't even think about stepping into the backyard."

After he finished speaking, he took a step back.

Two shop assistants immediately stepped forward and blocked the counter. They had already drawn their hands from their waists, gripping two short knives with blades that gleamed with a bluish light, clearly poisoned.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Zhou Yang watched this scene with a slight smile on his lips.

"Manager Qian, your temper in business is really not good."

He turned around and looked behind him.

Zhang the Madman stood in the corner, his turbid eyes staring blankly at the two gold ingots, his mouth practically watering.

"A madman!" Zhou Yang shouted.

Zhang Fengzi suddenly came to his senses, a strange smile appearing on his face.

"Hehe, young master, what are your orders?"

As he spoke, he reached into his coat.

"Lime powder?" Zhou Yang asked.

"I brought a bag." Zhang the Madman patted his chest. "How could I forget the young master's orders?"

Zhou Yang nodded.

"Throw."

The moment that word left his mouth, Zhang the Madman had already moved.

His movements were surprisingly fast, unlike those of a mad old man. He pulled out a dusty cloth bag, flicked his wrist, and the bag flew through the air in an arc, heading straight for the two men.

"Snap—"

The bag exploded in mid-air.

White powder filled the air, like a sudden snowfall.

"ah--"

The two men screamed simultaneously, covering their eyes and backing away. The lime powder had gotten into their eyes, burning painfully. They couldn't see anything, and could only wildly wave their short knives, making clanging sounds.

"you--"

Qian Yishou's expression changed drastically.

He didn't expect Zhou Yang to act so suddenly, without following any set pattern.

He instinctively reached for the gold ingots on the counter, only to find that the two gold pieces had disappeared sometime earlier.

The gold ingot in Zhou Yang's hand gleamed.

"Manager Qian, in business, honesty and integrity are paramount."

He smiled and put the gold ingot into his pocket.

"I'll hold onto this money for you. We'll settle the accounts once you hand over the items."

Before he finished speaking, he flashed forward and rushed straight toward the black lacquered door.

"Stop him!"

Qian Yi Shou roared.

Ignoring the lime dust in his eyes, he lunged at Zhou Yang like a madman. His martial arts skills far surpassed those of the two men; his movements were as swift as lightning, his fingers forming claws as he reached for Zhou Yang's back.

A cold light suddenly flashed.

"Clang—"

A flash of light appeared, blocking Qian Yishou's claw.

Qin Shuang had appeared behind Zhou Yang without anyone noticing. Her knife was held horizontally in front of her, the blade gleaming coldly, and her eyes were even colder than the glint of the blade.

"Manager Qian, in business, harmony brings wealth."

Her voice was devoid of any emotion.

"You're so impulsive; it doesn't seem like you'd be a businessman."

Qian Yishou's face was extremely ugly.

He looked at Qin Shuang, then at Zhou Yang who had rushed to the door, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Who...who are you people?"

Zhou Yang did not turn around.

He had already pushed open the black lacquered door.

Behind the door was a long, dark corridor with no end in sight. A faint medicinal scent filled the air, mixed with a barely perceptible stench of blood.

Who I am is not important.

His voice came through the crack in the door, tinged with a hint of amusement.

"The important thing is, I've come to buy medicine."

Qian Yishou charged forward like a madman, but was forced back by Qin Shuang's knife.

"Let's see who dares to move!"

Qin Shuang's sword strikes were fierce, forcing Qian Yishou to retreat repeatedly. Although his martial arts skills were high, he was completely suppressed by Qin Shuang and could not break free at all.

"You're asking for it—"

He roared, his voice filled with despair and fear.

"Those belong to the Crown Prince! You're all courting death!"

Zhou Yang had already entered the corridor.

He ignored the roars behind him and continued walking toward the darkness at the end of the corridor.

He raised his wrist and glanced at it.

The lifespan countdown is still ticking.

[Remaining lifespan: 3 years, 2 months, and 15 days]

He smiled.

He has enough lifespan to squander.

At the end of the corridor was that warehouse.

What he wanted was in the warehouse.

That box.

The box containing his master's belongings.

"Master."

He silently repeated those two words to himself and quickened his pace.

"Don't worry, your disciple will come to take you home right away."

Behind them, Qian Yishou's roar gradually faded into the distance.

Instead, a series of heavy footsteps came from the depths of the corridor.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he could vaguely see a figure standing at the end of the corridor.

The figure was very tall, blocking the warehouse entrance like a wall.

"Sir, the road ahead is blocked."

A deep, metallic voice rang out.

"Turn back."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He raised his hand, took out a gold ingot from his pocket, and waved it in the darkness.

"My friend, name your price?"

The figure didn't move.

After a moment of silence, the deep voice rang out again, tinged with amusement.

"One hundred taels."

"make a deal."

Zhou Yang tossed the gold ingot forward.

A golden light traced an arc in the darkness and landed in the figure's hand.

"Give Way."

The figure stepped aside, making way for them.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yang flashed into the warehouse.

The warehouse was dark, with only a candle burning in one corner.

Thirty-six squares were neatly arranged on the wall. On the innermost square, there was a faded seal.

The cinnabar mark on the seal was still as red as blood.

Zhou Yang walked to the grid and stretched out his hand.

The moment his fingers touched the seal, a chill ran through his entire body from his fingertips.

That's the scent of blood.

Without hesitation, he tore open the seal.

The seal fell off, revealing a dark box inside.

The box is small, just the right size to hold in the palm of your hand.

Zhou Yang picked up the box; it was heavy.

He looked down at the box, a smile playing on his lips.

"Master, let's go."

He turned and walked towards the door.

Behind them, the screams of the two henchmen continued. Qian Yishou's roar had become hoarse. Qin Shuang's blade still flashed fiercely.

Zhou Yang walked out of the warehouse, out of the corridor, and out of that black lacquered door.

The inner room was in a mess.

The lime powder was still floating in the air, making people cough.

Qian Yishou's eyes were red and swollen, his face covered in white ash, and he looked utterly disheveled. When he saw Zhou Yang walk out of the door, holding the black box in his hands, his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"You...you really dare..."

His voice trembled, tinged with disbelief.

Zhou Yang looked at him and smiled.

"Manager Qian, integrity is paramount in business."

He tucked the box into his coat pocket and patted it.

"I'll take this medicine."

He raised his hand and tossed the gold ingot onto the counter.

"One hundred taels, is that enough?"

The gold ingot rolled on the counter and stopped in front of Qian Yishou, gleaming with a blinding light.

Qian looked at the gold ingot, then at Zhou Yang, and let out a dry sound.

He wanted to speak, but couldn't utter a single word.

Zhou Yang didn't look at him again.

He turned and walked towards the door.

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword and followed behind him.

Zhang Fengzi chuckled and followed, glancing back at the two gold ingots and swallowing hard.

The three walked out of Fushou Hall.

It was completely dark outside. The streets were deserted, with only a few lanterns swaying in the wind.

Zhou Yang stood in the middle of the street and looked up at the sky.

The moon was very bright, making the ground appear white.

"Walk."

He said something in a low voice.

The three disappeared into the night, like three shadows, without a sound.

Inside Fushou Hall, Qian Yishou was still standing there, staring blankly at the gold ingot.

His hands were shaking, shaking violently.

He knew that his good days were over after tonight.

The people of the Crown Prince's Palace will not let him go.

But he had no other choice.

He could only look at the gold ingot and smile bitterly.

One hundred taels.

One life.

This deal was a huge loss.