Chapter 96: Young Prince Xue

Led by the young shrimp immortal, I arrived before a grand building even more magnificent than the West Sea Crystal Palace—the Hai Gong Mansion. Its splendor far surpassed that of the West Sea Crystal Palace.

“This Hai Gong Mansion is truly luxurious,” I sighed.

“Xue Lao Hai Gong shares a close friendship with Yun Xiao Shang Shen. This mansion was built four thousand years ago by order of the Old Heavenly Emperor, even older than the West Sea Crystal Palace,” the young shrimp immortal explained.

The entrance of the Hai Gong Mansion was bustling. Some impoverished immortals stood in orderly lines, holding various items.

“So today is the day of free exchange,” I said.

“Free exchange?”

“It is essentially pawn broking. You offer what you have and state what you believe it is worth; they exchange it for that amount. It differs from pawn broking because you set the price, and Young Prince Xue will provide exactly that. It is a form of disguised charity,” the young shrimp immortal explained.

I laughed. “If he does this, won’t Young Prince Xue lose everything? What if someone demands an outrageous price?”

The young shrimp immortal smiled. “Young Prince Xue is a gentleman. He usually procures goods for us without regard for gain or loss. This is done to benefit the poor. How could we repay kindness with ingratitude? Does the old lady know the truth of the Great Sound True God?”

“The old woman is willing to hear the detailed explanation,” I said.

“Our small water clans may be ordinary but not dirty. Why seek small profits to commit such lowly, despicable acts and tarnish our most precious bright heart? Without that bright heart, we would be swallowed by darkness before the Underworld needed to intervene. Without the protection of Yun Xiao Shang Shen, we must protect ourselves. We cannot disappoint him.”

The young shrimp immortal explained.

“Little brother, you have great wisdom, and the old woman admires you,” I bowed deeply before the young shrimp immortal. I had not expected the West Sea, situated at the edge of the heavenly realm, to know the principles of the Great Sound True God.

“Old lady, you are too kind,” the young shrimp immortal hurriedly supported me. “I am merely a five-hundred-year-old shrimp. Where would I obtain such wisdom? It is all from Young Prince Xue teaching us. Young Prince Xue is young and capable, widely read. He is truly wise,” the young immortal said with admiration.

“May I meet Young Prince Xue personally for the exchange?” I asked the young shrimp immortal.

“There are far too many volunteers to handle. Everyone is eager to work. Young Prince Xue need not bother,” the young shrimp immortal laughed.

Hearing this, my interest in the Xue the Young Noble with his legendary background grew even greater. I immediately resolved to meet again the mysterious figure from the young shrimp immortal’s words. Four hundred years ago, during the great drought in the Nine Provinces, I had witnessed a villainous merchant who saved the day while earning vast wealth and “cutting” a greedy deal of five acres of land. Now I wished to see what manner of wise “good merchant” this was.

I instructed the young shrimp immortal to return to his business and not to continue accompanying me. I would not venture into crowded places. The young shrimp immortal repeated his instructions several times and told me that if I grew tired and could not walk, he would close his stall and pass this way, allowing me to wait for him to escort me home.

I thanked him and quietly placed a gold leaf inside his clothes as repayment for his care of this “old lady.”

Bent over and with unsteady steps, I reached the end of the exchange line. Some water clan members, noticing my advanced age, let me go first. Standing among them, I nibbled on the clear, fragrant, sweet West Sea crystal pears and pondered what to exchange. Suddenly, inspiration struck.

“Old lady, what do you wish to exchange, and for how much silver?” the immortal overseeing the exchange asked.

“This. Exchange one gold leaf,” I placed a pear core on the table.

The immortal smiled. “Old lady, do you know what this is?”

“A pear core,” I replied.

“How much?”

“One gold leaf.”

“Old lady, a single pear sells for only one coin. How many pears can one gold leaf buy? Do you have family with you?” the immortal inquired with concern.

“No. This old woman is not confused. Can you decide? If not, summon your master to exchange with me,” I adopted the manner of Spring Wind, who liked to stir up trouble.

The immortals behind me murmured, some accusing me of unrealistic ideas and unclean motives, others calling me old and befuddled.

At that moment, behind the exchange immortal, a young gentleman emerged—his face like polished jade, clad in plain robes, slender yet possessing an extraordinary bearing. The young gentleman smiled faintly at me and said, “Old lady, may I ask you to explain why this pear core is so valuable?”

That smile was warm, bright, just like his feelings… I was stunned and lost my train of thought.

“Old lady, I wish to hear the details,” he continued.

I regained my senses and spoke without restraint, “This pear is no ordinary pear. It is the fruit of a ten-thousand-year snow pear tree in the Kunlun Jade Purity Realm, personally planted by a god lord under Yun Xiao Shang Shen. Suck one mouthful and live a hundred years; eat one and live forever. Things are precious because they are rare. Do you think this pear core is worth a gold leaf? This old woman has already made a great bargain with your Xue family.”

I wanted to see how well-versed Young Prince Xue truly was, whether he would be deceived by my nonsense.

“With a longevity pear, why are you so old?” a queuing young immortal questioned.

“This old woman was like this when I ate it,” I said.

“Tell me how old you are,” a water clan asked.

“Sixty thousand years,” I lied.

“Ah! So long-lived!” The water clans exchanged glances and murmured.

The young gentleman took out a gold leaf from his sleeve and placed it on the exchange tray, smiling slightly. “Old lady, please exchange.”

“Eh, cannot exchange. She is lying,” the water clans cried.

I took the gold leaf and placed the pear core on the tray.

“This. Exchange ten gold leaves,” I placed another whole pear on the tray.

A wave of murmurs rose.

“Greedy beyond measure!”

“Yes! Undignified for an old person!”

“Isn’t she from our West Sea?” The water clans discussed.

“That was merely the core. When it grows, it will age as well. For example, this gentleman now is a dashing noble, a jade youth in his prime. Ten gold leaves to become immortal at once—bargain! This old woman has lost a great deal,” I employed the eloquence of my three-inch tongue on that young gentleman in charge.

“Old lady, you seek trouble. This is clearly an ordinary West Coast land crystal pear,” the exchange immortal said unhappily.

“You have not seen the world. Let your Xue Young Prince come out to appraise the goods,” I said.

“Exchange for her,” the young gentleman said.

“Young lord, charity cannot be done this way?” The exchange immortal panicked.

“Go fetch it from the account room. Count it as my own,” the gentleman said.

If my guess was correct, this young gentleman was indeed Xue the Young Noble.

“He truly has a forgiving heart? Or was he deceived by my eyes?” I wondered. After this, I felt even more passive. Having exchanged this, I had nothing else to offer. I could not summon the Mysterious Crystal Sword hidden for hundreds of years.

The exchange immortal gave me ten gold leaves, his face displeased. “Fine. Go. You have profited.”

I accepted the gold leaves and recalled that when Spring Wind visited from the West Sea, he had brought some fresh flower cakes to eat along the way. He consumed all the strong-flavored ones and left the light, sweet snow pear cakes for me. I had stored them, crushed them on the journey, and given them to the master. A few remained; I would cheapen them for Young Prince Xue. I wanted to see if this good merchant was merely acting for show.

“You greedy old lady, why haven’t you left? What are you lingering for!” The water clans drove me away.

I produced a snowflake-shaped snow pear cake in my hand. “This! In heaven and earth, only I am supreme. No other family. Strengthens the body and cures all ailments, a longevity cake. Exchange one hundred gold leaves,” I thought this time it was no deception. If Young Prince Xue truly cared for the suffering immortals as the young shrimp immortal described, it would be fine to give him a tear to treat his illness.

“Ah! She has gone mad!” Everyone shouted.

“Hurry and leave! Do not take advantage of Young Prince’s kindness. You pity him alone and become greedy. Why not say exchange for a gold mountain!” A group of volunteers surged forward and pulled me away.

I thought: If not for departing lightly without bringing anything else, I would not exchange a gold mountain even if offered; instead, give you the cakes he makes.

“Young Prince Xue, stop them. No rudeness,” Young Prince Xue hurriedly said.

The exchange immortal responded and halted the volunteers. “This old lady is too greedy,” they complained.

“In this one, Xue Shan, grandson of Xue Lao Hai Gong, asks the old lady, what is your honorable surname?” Xue Shan bowed.

“What honorable surname? This old woman does not understand. This old woman only asks if you exchange or not,” I pretended to be displeased.

“Exchange!” Xue Shan said decisively.

The immortals believed they had heard wrongly. “One cake for one hundred gold leaves! Is she mad or is Young Prince mad!”

I believed I had heard wrongly too. This was merely a cake. I had intended to bring it to cause trouble, wondering what other reaction Xue Shan would show. Yet he agreed to exchange one hundred gold leaves! For a moment, I knew not what to say.

“One hundred gold leaves may not be safe for you to carry alone. Please come with me to the hall to exchange. I will send someone to escort you home,” Xue Shan said.

Sure enough, he would not easily exchange it now. Letting me enter the Hai Gong Mansion was precisely my wish.

“Good! You young man is quite thoughtful.”

“Old lady, please,” Xue Shan was polite.

Amid the discussions, pointing fingers, and curses of the water clans, I followed Xue Shan into the Hai Gong Mansion.

The Hai Gong Mansion was indeed far more magnificent and luxurious than the West Sea Crystal Palace. Pearls, coral, and various underwater treasures gleamed brilliantly. The West Sea was now so difficult that even the West Sea God Lord had to tighten his belt and save every copper, yet the Hai Gong Mansion was a grand business with Young Prince Xue spending lavishly. It could not help but arouse suspicion.

Xue Shan led me to the front hall, helped me sit, ordered the finest tea to be served, and had gold leaves brought.

He truly gave me one hundred gold leaves!

I placed the pear flower cake on the tea tray. Thinking that Young Prince Xue is well-read, how could he react to a mere cake. Does the West Sea not sell such cakes? Although I exaggerated, this cake was not something I invented alone; I had learned it from others. They all say no merchant without a villain. Since he was willing to spend a great sum to obtain it, he must have spotted a business opportunity.

“Young Prince, try it. This old woman’s longevity cake, in ordinary times, would not be made for others even with a hundred gold leaves.” Taking his one hundred gold leaves, I wanted to make a show of it. Let him eat it, see if it is a normal cake, and observe his reaction.

“Xue Shan, you are rude,” Xue Shan took the cake to his mouth and took a light bite, instantly frozen.

I secretly wanted to laugh. This Young Prince Xue had never eaten a cake before.

Xue Shan put the cake on the plate, remained silent, his face growing paler and paler, lips turning blue, expression growing more pained. Large sweat beads emerged from his forehead.

Looking at his appearance, it was a heart attack. This cake of mine is said to cure all ailments. Even if it did not cure illness, without poison, eating one mouthful seemed fatal. It happened to strike his heart attack, which was quite a coincidence.

“Young Prince Xue, are you well?” I reached out to check his pulse.

“It is nothing,” he said, speaking was very difficult. He took out a small pill from his sleeve and swallowed it. After a moment, he regained his spirit.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Giving him a cake—if he ate it to death, I would truly have nowhere to explain my innocence and would have to add another heavy rebirth tear.

“Young Prince, what is this?” I asked.

“The junior was born with a heart ailment. Please forgive this junior,” Xue Shan smiled faintly.

“Oh.” Thinking that this Young Prince Xue was indeed a sickly person with an illness.

“Old lady, was this cake personally made by you?” Xue Shan asked.

“It was made by this old woman,” I said.

“It is very delicious… It is merely that it cannot cure stubborn diseases,” Xue Shan laughed.

“That is a pity. Why did it not work on Young Prince then?” I pretended to be foolish.

“It is nothing. Old lady, what is your honorable surname?” Xue Shan asked.

“This old woman is of the White clan.”

“Where is the old lady’s family?”

“South Sea,” I said.

“Why come to the West Sea from such a great distance?”

“No home to return to,” I said.

Xue Shan thought for a moment and continued, “Old lady, would you like to be the chef of Hai Gong Mansion?”

“Yes. How much salary does Young Prince give?”

“There is no fixed salary.”

“I do not want to.”

“Old lady, pay as you go.”

“Then that is fine,” I smiled. “Does the mansion have no chef?”

“Yes. Old lady need only cook for me.”

I thought: Perhaps the chef in Hai Gong Mansion makes bad food? So this Young Prince Xue hires a chef without considering cost.

“Then let us make it clear beforehand. If you eat my food and contract another stubborn disease and go to heaven, it cannot be blamed on this old woman,” I said.

Xue Shan laughed. “Old lady, rest assured.”