Lie He moved his legs toward one of the side entrances of the tent, passing several platforms set up to sell goods. He walked by many Gu Masters who spared him only a glance before returning to what they were doing.
But deep inside, Lie He knew he was being watched. After all, this was the only store of the Ruo Tribe in the tribal market, overseen by one of their elders, and they certainly had methods to monitor Gu Masters.
Thus, all his movements were under surveillance. However, it wasn't as if this was a bad thing. Most likely, his identity had already been revealed by the Gu Masters at the entrance, and perhaps the Ruo Tribe elder already knew.
Lie He passed through one of the side entrances and arrived at another tent connected to the main one. This tent was smaller than the main tent, but still very large compared to ordinary tents.
Several Gu Masters stood at the entrance, while others exited the tent carrying out assigned orders. The moment Lie He arrived at the side tent, their gazes shifted toward him.
From their eyes, Lie He could see disapproval… and a hint of hostility. Fortunately, none of them acted rashly. Instead, a female Gu Master approached him nervously and spoke in a hesitant tone:
"Elder, I think you've lost your way. This area is reserved only for Gu Masters of the Ruo Tribe…"
Lie He stared at her for a moment, disdain visible in his eyes, before saying:
"No, I have not lost my way… I am here as a representative of the Lie Tribe to conduct a deal with the Ruo Tribe!"
Lie He declared arrogantly, causing the female Gu Master to step back several steps, her eyes widening.
She thought to herself, "Is he stupid or what?.. Even though he is a Rank Three Gu Master, the way he announces something like this is extremely arrogant, especially on the territory of my Ruo Tribe!"
The female Gu Master had no choice but to retreat, cursing Lie He inwardly. She entered the tent, and after a short while, Lie He heard a commotion coming from inside. Soon after, a Ruo Tribe elder appeared.
The Ruo Tribe elder was Rank Three, only a small realm below Lie He. But that wasn't what caught his attention. What made him feel strange was the elder's appearance.
The elder wore a suit of leather armor that covered his swollen knees, elbows, and every joint of his body. His hair was tied in a complex manner that Lie He could not understand. His milky white eyes made Lie He realize—
This man was blind.
Although there were many Gu worms that could solve blindness, for a Gu Master, the price was often not acceptable—whether it was primeval essence or harsh conditions such as removing the eyes from their sockets.
However, this elder did not seem troubled. He looked toward Lie He and spoke in a creaking voice:
"You?.."
"I am Lie He, an elder of the Lie Tribe. I have come here to conduct a deal with your esteemed tribe." Lie He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed slightly, displaying a very humble and friendly attitude.
But the elder's expression did not change. He responded to Lie He's greeting indifferently:
"I am Ruo Bai Mang… come inside."
Lie He felt the coldness in the elder's tone but did not object. After all, perhaps this was simply the temperament of a man who had spent most of his life blind.
Inside, Lie He sat across from the elder at a wide table. He wanted to start speaking, but the elder handed him a horn of wine and took one for himself. Lie He drank silently, then crushed the horn in his hand into several fragments.
"Elder Ruo Bai Mang… do you intend to talk?"
The elder turned his head toward Lie He, his white eyes covered with a watery film, and said:
"No, I do not wish to talk…"
The veins on Lie He's forehead almost bulged, but the elder continued:
"Lie Tribe… ah, you must be the son of the Lie Tribe Leader? I have heard many things in recent days about the Lie Tribe, and about the excellent goods in your reserves… frankly, my tribe is interested in these materials and Gu worms…"
Lie He felt joy inside and praised inwardly, "This is how a man should be—direct and straightforward! Even though this old man is blind, he sees the situation clearly!"
He quickly replied:
"Elder Bai Mang, if you are interested in my tribe's materials and Gu worms, then state your price, and we can negotiate."
Ruo Bai Mang smiled. "Hahaha, indeed, Elder Lie He, we are interested. But as for the price… how about…?"
Lie He's expression turned like that of a wild bull, barely restraining himself from cursing the old man in front of him.
In the middle of the main tent, Fang Tian was watching a wonderful spectacle, as bidding was intense over several Gu worms. He recognized very few of them, but he still enjoyed the show.
Fang Tian did not bid on these Gu worms for two reasons.
First, he did not need them, and only a few suited the wood path—and even those were of low rank. Second, he had already prepared thoroughly in the Blessed Land of Ancient Strength and had brought everything he needed in terms of Gu worms and refinement materials.
Although he had spent a lot of refinement materials after arriving in the Northern Plains, he still had a decent amount left—enough to refine several Gu worms if necessary.
"Oh, there he is coming out." Fang Tian noticed the entrance of the side tent Lie He had entered earlier. That spot had been under Fang Tian's watch the entire time.
Fang Tian noticed that Lie He had not stayed long before coming out, which meant he had not reached an agreement with the Ruo Tribe, or that the Ruo Tribe elder was not available.
This outcome was somewhat unexpected for Fang Tian, but he quickly adjusted, stood up from his seat, and headed toward the exit.
Lie He was also heading toward the exit.
However, he did not notice the man in his thirties moving toward him at a somewhat unnatural speed. Inside, he was frustrated and filled with anger toward the Ruo Tribe!
Those bastards dared to toy with him and offered a cheap price for materials and Gu worms that the Lie Tribe had paid for with blood! Even when he tried to negotiate, the Ruo Tribe elder dismissed him and provided all kinds of excuses and arguments that Lie He could not refute!
In the past, he had always solved matters simply! He would clench his fist and punch his enemy to death. That was the way of men in the Northern Plains!
Although he was part of the political scene of the Lie Tribe, internal conflicts were minimal. As the son of the Lie Tribe Leader and the expected future leader, he faced no opposition from the elders. Thus, he carried out his duties and followed the tribe leader's orders, which were usually tasks involving dispute resolution or requiring strong combat strength.
But now… he had been "destroyed." By words… and "killed" by cunning and deceitful eyes.
Lie He wanted to vent his anger!
His anger intensified to the point that he could no longer hear the noise behind him or the sounds of collisions. He was unaware—until he was suddenly pushed with force and slammed to the ground.
"Which bastard is it?!"
Lie He shouted as he raised his head toward the man he had collided with. However, when he sensed the aura of a peak Rank Three Gu Master, his anger calmed slightly, and a small portion of rationality returned.
The person he collided with was a man in his thirties. A scar covered his right cheek and extended to his neck, with light stubble covering his chin and jaw. His long hair reached his shoulders, now messy as he looked at Lie He with displeasure.
"Who are you calling a bastard?!"
For some reason, Lie He felt fear when he looked at the man before him. He also felt that he had made a grave mistake by insulting him.