Volume Two: Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 159: My Innocence Is Gone

Inside the room, Lu Jiuzhang took the initiative to speak, "Coming to the Myriad Mechanism Pavilion this time, I intend to acquire a set of close-fitting equipment, primarily for defense."

Lu Jiuzhang already possessed offensive treasures.

The sharpness of the Frost-Shattering Blade surpassed that of countless weapons. At least for the present, Lu Jiuzhang had encountered no rivals; no matter how sharp an enemy weapon might be, before the Frost-Shattering Blade, it became as yielding as tofu, easily cleaved apart.

"Primarily defensive, you say?"

Manager Zhao fell into deep thought. "I do happen to know of a few. The Frost-Scale Armor, a supreme secret treasure of the Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion, can withstand three consecutive strikes from a martial artist of the sixth grade without perishing."

"Attacks from a seventh-grade martial artist can hardly leave a scratch upon the Frost-Scale Armor."

"The price of this armor is fifteen hundred liang of gold."

Fifteen hundred liang of gold? One million five hundred thousand liang of silver?

Lu Jiuzhang could not afford such a vast sum of money.

"Are there any with a slightly lower price?" Lu Jiuzhang asked.

"Lower still?" Manager Zhao mused.

She had previously assumed Lu Jiuzhang possessed a profound background and lacked for no silver, which was why she had quoted such an expensive defensive treasure armor.

"There are three pieces capable of withstanding seventh-grade martial artists, with prices ranging from six hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand liang of silver," Manager Zhao said. "As for armors lower than that, I feel purchasing them would be of no use to you."

"The Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion does not have an abundance of treasures, but if you have need of them, I can find a way to have one transferred to you from Beilu Commandery. The finest armor in Beilu Commandery should be able to withstand attacks from a fifth-grade or even fourth-grade martial artist."

"Of course, the price will not be cheap either; it has already begun to be measured in spirit stones, starting at a minimum of several hundred spirit stones."

Manager Zhao glanced at Lu Jiuzhang.

It was still too expensive. Lu Jiuzhang made a rough calculation; he had at most four to five hundred thousand liang of silver to his name.

When he previously stayed at the Yingtian Restaurant and was ultimately driven out, the other party had compensated Lu Jiuzhang with a spirit herb.

The value of that spirit herb was not low.

Factor the spirit herb in, and he had at most six hundred thousand liang of silver.

Yet the problem was that converting all his cultivation resources and provisions on hand into armor was somewhat unrealistic.

"Inscribed with arrays upon them, these armors certainly do not lack in defensive performance," Manager Zhao added. "If Exorcism Envoy Lu feels they are too expensive, I have the authority to grant you a discount."

"However, as a mere manager, the discount I can offer is limited, at most three tenths off."

"Cough, cough..." Lu Jiuzhang nearly spat out his tea.

Three tenths off was already quite substantial.

Take the top-tier armor of the Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion for instance; three tenths off amounted to four hundred and fifty thousand liang of silver.

"Do other managers possess such great authority?" Lu Jiuzhang asked.

***

"Naturally not," Manager Zhao replied. "For items of such value, other managers cannot give three tenths off—not even half a tenth."

"If Exorcism Envoy Lu truly wishes to purchase it, I can petition my father, and I imagine there should not be any great problem."

Even with the reduction, the cost still exceeded Lu Jiuzhang's bottom line.

Where on earth was he supposed to find so much silver?

Lu Jiuzhang sighed.

Silver could solve eighty percent of the world's troubles, yet no one had ever told Lu Jiuzhang where the silver actually came from.

How wonderful would it be if he could encounter a few more bands of mounted bandits?

If he were to uproot their old lair, he could reap a considerable amount of silver.

"Are there any treasures that can enhance one's speed?" Lu Jiuzhang asked.

If his personal speed could be increased, that would also be acceptable.

When it came to preserving one's life, one either needed to be resilient against blows or capable of running swiftly.

Since he could not have the best of both worlds, he would choose one from the two.

"Treasures that enhance speed are not cheap either." Manager Zhao cast a glance at Lu Jiuzhang, her look seemingly saying that since he could not afford defensive treasures, he likely could not afford speed treasures either.

"Treasures that enhance speed are quite scarce; the Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion has only one, priced at one million two hundred thousand liang of silver."

Another astronomical figure!

Lu Jiuzhang sighed once more.

"I do happen to possess two treasures on my person that I can lend you for a time, but I cannot lend them for nothing," Manager Zhao suddenly shifted her tone and took the initiative to say. "If you return successful, treat me to a meal at the finest inn in Anxi Prefecture."

"This request is not difficult; it can be done." Lu Jiuzhang agreed instantly.

"Secondly, you must pay rent; I cannot let you use them for nothing. Ten thousand a day... Never mind, let's say five thousand liang of silver."

"Agreed!"

"Thirdly, you must promise me one favor. I have not thought of it yet, but once I do, I will tell you."

"No problem!"

Lu Jiuzhang agreed once again.

He hadn't thought of it yet anyway; they could talk about it later, there was no rush.

With that, Manager Zhao began to untie her outer garments.

"What are you doing? You can't possibly be asking me to repay this with my body, are you?" Lu Jiuzhang was startled.

"What are you thinking?"

Manager Zhao rolled her eyes at Lu Jiuzhang. "I am wearing that armor on my body; I must take it off before I can give it to you."

***

So that was it. Lu Jiuzhang let out a long sigh of relief.

Manager Zhao continued to remove her clothes. Just as she was about to undo the outer robe she wore, with a loud "bang...", the door was forcefully shoved open.

At the forefront was the head manager of the Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion, followed closely by several other managers.

Upon seeing the scene before them, the head manager instantly flew into a rage.

"Audacious! Do you have any idea what you are doing?"

Cold sweat had already soaked the head manager's back. When Manager Zhao's parents had entrusted her to his care, they had explicitly instructed him to protect Manager Zhao's safety.

Minor injuries were one thing, but this was the loss of chastity!

If Manager Zhao's parents were to discover this, wouldn't they strip the skin right off his back?

"Why are you all here?"

Manager Zhao hurriedly wrapped her garments tightly around herself.

Fortunately, she had not yet shed her outermost robe, and there were still layers underneath providing cover.

Otherwise, she truly would have been completely exposed.

"If I had not come, I shudder to think what sort of reckless actions you two would have committed," the head manager said wrathfully. "Manager Zhao, although you have always dressed as a man, do not forget that you are a woman."

"And as for this fellow, entering my Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion and bullying someone of our pavilion—do you truly take the Myriad Mechanism Pavilion for a pushover?"

With a dark expression, the head manager glared at Lu Jiuzhang with an attitude of not letting the matter rest.

"Head Manager, you've misunderstood," Manager Zhao hastily defended him.

"Manager Zhao, there is no need to be alarmed. Our Anxi Prefecture Myriad Mechanism Pavilion is not without experts. Today, I shall seize this scoundrel and send him to the Capital Prefecture, leaving him to the mercy of your parents," the head manager declared.

The Zhao family of the Capital Prefecture was not a force to be trifled with.

While the seditious rogue before him might not suffer a punishment as wretched as death by a thousand cuts or dismemberment by five horses, he certainly would not die an easy death.

"It truly is a misunderstanding!" Manager Zhao hurriedly explained. "I intend to lend my protective armor to Exorcism Envoy Lu for a period, and Exorcism Envoy Lu is going to pay silver for it."

"Lend your protective armor? That is even more out of the question!" The head manager repeatedly refused. "To say nothing of the fact that protective armor is a close-fitting garment, lending it out arbitrarily compromises your purity."

"Furthermore, once the armor is lent out, how are we to ensure your safety?"

The head manager was a hundred times opposed to the idea.

Logically speaking, Manager Zhao was no longer a child and should not have made such an impulsive move.