There must be something wrong with me-Chapter 60 - 54 Lin City Streets

Half an hour.

Xiao Wuzi twisted and turned, arriving at the northern street of Lin City.

Before entering the palace, he was a local of the Imperial City, Lin City, and was very familiar with this area.

He knew that there was a ’jack-of-all-trades of the Jianghu’ in the north of Lin City.

This was something Xiao Wuzi learned when he favored the life of a wanderer before entering the palace, frequently mingling with various classes in the Jianghu, and thus came to know about it.

But now, six years had passed, and he didn’t know if this ’jack-of-all-trades’ was still around.

Likewise, Zhang Feng entrusted Xiao Wuzi with this task, considering his past association as a ’Jianghu person’.

It’s generally more convenient and quicker for Jianghu people to inquire about Jianghu matters, without interrupting their own training.

At the same time.

Xiao Wuzi looked like a Jianghu person too, walking quickly through several bustling streets with his hat brim lowered.

Until he reached a large area of alleys.

According to his memory, he turned into a narrow alley that could only accommodate two people.

After twisting and turning, he ended up in an area resembling a traditional courtyard.

This was the old city within the northern alleys.

"Greetings, sir~"

He encountered a brothel right away, with people moving back and forth along the small street, no less lively than the main street of Lin City.

Xiao Wuzi did not linger and continued walking north.

After about two miles, he faced another alley.

’Hope the Jianghu jack-of-all-trades is still here...’

He prayed silently a few times, then followed his memory and turned in.

After passing through about two small paths.

He bent down in an empty alley, glanced around before tapping the nearby wall.

Thump thump—

The tap revealed it was hollow.

’This is it! Found the right place!’

It was Xiao Wuzi’s first time searching for the jack-of-all-trades, he had only heard it was obtainable here before.

Simultaneously, a brick at waist height was moved aside from the inside, revealing a voice that sometimes sounded like an old man, other times like a young man.

"Searching for rock, seeking path?"

’Password?’ Xiao Wuzi paused for a few seconds, recalling the ’password’ his Jianghu companions had taught him and replied,

"Inquiring about people and matters."

If answered incorrectly, the person inside would retreat through the tunnel.

Luckily, Xiao Wuzi had a good memory, and the password hadn’t changed.

The person inside then said again: "One tael for information."

Xiao Wuzi hesitated not, took out a tael from his pouch and passed it through a small opening.

The person inside seemed to check the silver in the darkness, and after a dozen seconds, said again: "Please ask your question, young hero."

"Rock Fruit." Although Xiao Wuzi was an eunuch, his voice had already settled to a fixed tone when cleansed, now sounding like a normal man, "Where in the city can I buy this fruit?"

"As far as I know, there are currently no Rock Fruits in the city," the person replied, "but in half a year, three people will have them."

"Who?" Xiao Wuzi asked.

"Not enough." The person inside stopped.

Xiao Wuzi didn’t hesitate, took out another tael and handed it over.

"Not enough." The person shook their head, "Two taels."

’So greedy...’ Xiao Wuzi’s left ring finger twitched, yet he added another tael.

The person inside then spoke: "Shopkeeper Chen of the northern city’s pharmacy; he trades Rock Fruits and has contacts in the southern territory. He should have them in half a year.

The other two individuals aren’t certain; thus, I won’t mention their names.

However, if Chen does not have them in half a year, come back here, and I will tell you the names of the other two.

If I’m not here by then, go beneath the big willow tree in the north of town at 7:00 AM on November 22nd, and I’ll have someone convey the message.

Rest assured, young hero, since I’ve taken your money, I won’t break my promise."

"Thank you." Hearing this familiar Jianghu tone, Xiao Wuzi couldn’t help but reminisce and executed a spirited salute.

The person inside, however, shook their head, "Young hero, let me give you a word. You bear too much palace aura now and are no longer a Jianghu person; there’s no need to follow Jianghu etiquette.

Calling you ’young hero’ is only out of respect for your past Jianghu connections."

Once the words ended.

Whoosh—

The brick sealed up.

...

Half an hour later.

Xiao Wuzi arrived at Shopkeeper Chen’s place in the northern city.

Perhaps due to the jack-of-all-trades’ caution.

Xiao Wuzi subconsciously relaxed his body, trying to exude the carefree spirit of a Jianghu person.

And it happened to be.

Xiao Wuzi had indeed heard of this Shopkeeper Chen.

Because his adoptive father had once served in the palace and was also an eunuch.

It’s just that he had passed away several years ago.

’Perhaps he’s trading the Forbidden Fruit through contacts left by his adoptive father.’

Thinking this, Xiao Wuzi arrived at the back door of the pharmacy and knocked.

Since it was late now, the front door was closed.

"Who is it?"

After Xiao Wuzi knocked about a dozen times.

A middle-aged voice came from inside; it was Shopkeeper Chen.

He was rather bold, or perhaps trusting the city’s good security. He opened a gap in the door at midnight, looking at Xiao Wuzi standing outside.

Xiao Wuzi spoke openly, directly asking: "Shopkeeper Chen, I heard you will have Rock Fruits in half a year, can you reserve some for me? How much is the deposit? I can bring it tomorrow."

Currently, Xiao Wuzi only had five taels of unbroken silver and some copper coins.

He thought it might not be enough.

"Did you hear this from the jack-of-all-trades?" Shopkeeper Chen was sharp and bluntly exposed the source, yet denied it: "His words cannot be trusted. Where would I dare trade such lethal forbidden medicine?

Do I not want to live? Or do you not want to live?"

Shopkeeper Chen laughed a few times and intended to close the door.

Xiao Wuzi, however, pushed the door slightly, preventing its closure.

But just as Xiao Wuzi reached out, his body instinctively bent slightly.

Shopkeeper Chen, well-experienced and often treating illnesses in large households, discerned that he didn’t appear like a Jianghu hero but rather like a servant of a large household.

"Why are you looking at me?" Xiao Wuzi saw the shopkeeper sizing him up and instinctively wanted to use his sleeve to cover his face.

But this sleeve wave carried a faint sandalwood scent, which struck Shopkeeper Chen with surprise.

’Mint flower? Cloud-Soaring Wood? Purple Agarwood?

Damned! A senior eunuch from the palace!’

Shocked, he quickly said: "Honored guest, please step away. I don’t have what you’re buying here, nor can I receive what you’re seeking!"

The court had explicitly banned forbidden medicine; counting oneself dead by claiming possession?

Especially when the other party was a senior eunuch capable of using Purple Agarwood!

In terms of rank, at least a fifth rank or higher!

His adoptive father barely reached this grade before passing away.

Xiao Wuzi did not move his feet; instead, his gaze burned with intensity, "You recognized I’m a palace person? Indeed, your father was Eunuch Liang, capable of discerning palace folks, unsurprising."

Xiao Wuzi had decided to hold his ground today, determined to fulfill his master’s order and return with good news.

"You know my father?" Shopkeeper Chen paused with the door closing, "You are from the inner palace?"

"Don’t ask more." Xiao Wuzi feigned mystery: "Help my master collect the medicine; I’ll give you the deposit. When I get the medicine, you and I can go our separate ways."

Shopkeeper Chen did not reply but fell into contemplation.

Xiao Wuzi didn’t urge, simply waited quietly.

Several moments passed.

Shopkeeper Chen, after thinking it over, figured the official didn’t seem poised to investigate him but genuinely appeared to come for the medicine, thus he respectfully bowed:

"Since the official has sought me out, I know this matter is difficult to decline; if I do, trouble will inevitably find me."

Although Shopkeeper Chen didn’t know who stood behind this official, he knew it wasn’t someone he could afford to offend.

After all, someone capable of driving a fifth-rank eunuch must be at least a consort.

"Now I only wish the official will, upon obtaining the medicine, generously spare my life a little."

His desire was to maintain distance, unwilling to entangle with palace people.

Because his father was part of the inner palace, he knew the palace’s waters ran deep.

Though his judgment was keen, the palace’s consorts and nobles played more mind games than he could fathom, all capable of undoing him without repeat.

Thus, he wished not to get entangled with palace forces, nor wanted to understand why Xiao Wuzi desired the medicine.

Yet, were he to learn Xiao Wuzi was Seventh Prince’s person.

He wouldn’t avoid entanglement but would try every means to embrace the leg of Seventh Prince.freeweɓnovēl.coɱ