The Arrogant Immortal
Chapter 163 - 162: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Chapter 163: Chapter 162: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Song Baobao did not encounter the warmth of a familiar face; she greeted somewhat awkwardly, "Sister Nangong."

"What a coincidence, shall we go together?" Nangong Qi walked over.

Song Baobao looked back at Xie Jiuniang and Xuanyuan You.

Normally, as a prodigy of the Sword Sect, Nangong Qi taking the initiative to strike up a conversation would command respect, even from Song Baobao, the second young lady of the Song Family. However, was Song Baobao someone who understood such things?

She always spoke her mind regardless; that was just like her.

Song Baobao hesitated and then declined, "Maybe next time. Just being with Xiaojiu makes me feel inferior, wouldn’t I be even angrier if I went out with you?"

Nangong Qi’s expression stiffened slightly.

Hadn’t expected Song Baobao to turn her down?

And the reason was so bizarre?

Xuanyuan You was dumbstruck. Was this reason for real?

He turned to look at Xie Jiuniang and transmitted his thoughts, "Little Profiteer, does Song Baobao have a grudge against you?"

"Not that I know of." Xie Jiuniang thought about it and felt that things had been fine on the surface so far in her life.

"Then why does she keep insulting you..."

"Don’t sweat the small stuff, just as her senior brother said, she’s not malicious, just a bit quirky. You’ll get used to it if you spend more time with her. The only thing you need to watch out for is not to let her values and logic lead you astray. That would be truly terrifying," Xie Jiuniang speculated. Eight years ago when Song Baobao the fool returned home, it was probably her sister who had led her astray again.

From the few conversations they had, it was possible that Song Baobao the fool had mentioned Xie Jiuniang to the older Miss Song.

Perhaps they even discussed her attitude towards Song Baobao the fool?

Then, Miss Song probably said that Song Baobao the fool was very talented and that she was far inferior, and mentioned something about inferiority complexes and worthlessness?

This was a very bizarre rationale for her negative attitude, one that was still puzzling; how did the older Miss Song convince Song Baobao the fool to believe this reason so wholeheartedly?

Xuanyuan You listened, dumbfounded.

Suddenly, he chuckled in a peculiar way and transmitted his thoughts, "Little Profiteer, I must say I admire you a bit now, for your resolve is unparalleled."

"Just average, much better compared to before," Xie Jiuniang replied contentedly, not feigning her disposition.

"Before" referred to her past life when Song Baobao was a much bigger oddity. Now, she was just quirky in what she said and hadn’t done anything particularly bizarre, which really wasn’t a big deal.

Nangong Qi, probably overwhelmed by Song Baobao’s antics, was at a loss for words for quite some time.

Xie Jiuniang smiled and smoothly eased the tension, "Fellow Daoist is the eldest young lady of the Nangong aristocratic family from the Northern Region; I have long heard of your esteemed name."

"You are..." Nangong Qi pretended not to know Xie Jiuniang’s identity.

"I am Yuanxi, a direct disciple of Tianxu Sect," Xie Jiuniang politely introduced herself.

In just a few exchanges, Nangong Qi followed Xie Jiuniang and the others to the second floor.

Now, Song Baobao had no reason to refuse.

Instead, Xuanyuan You struck up a conversation with Song Baobao, "Miss Song Baobao, how did you come to know the Little Profiteer?"

"Little Profiteer? Are you talking about Xiaojiu?" Song Baobao’s almond eyes showed surprise.

Xuanyuan You mentioned two or three of Xie Jiuniang’s impressive achievements.

Song Baobao was amazed.

As they reached the second floor, the hall was spacious and bustling with noise.

Along the walls, there were rows of multi-treasure racks.

On the racks there were boxes, all identical; each was sealed with a Seal Spirit Talisman to prevent divine sense from probing.

No one knew what was inside them.

In the middle, a counter separated the space, where the attendants of the trading company stood. Customers would point to the box they wished to purchase, the attendants would fetch it for them, and charge a fixed fee.

Some people opened their boxes right there.

Others took theirs away.

The contents of the boxes were not fixed, similar to opening a series of blind boxes; some people struck it rich while others lost money.

Xie Jiuniang figured out how to play after just one look around.

Each box cost a hundred spirit stones, roughly the same as gambling for a chance.

Just as Song Baobao described—win big with little.

Some counters didn’t just sell blind boxes, but also raw stones; what kind of ore you’d get depended on your luck. Another counter sold demonic beast eggs, all at the same price, good or bad depending on your luck.

This was just like gambling, easy to get addicted to.

The Song family from Rongsheng Trading Company, in charge of Guanlan City, was very clever. To say they were making a fortune each day wasn’t an overstatement.

Song Baobao asked, "Xiaojiu, do you want to find a private room?"

"No need, playing out here in the main hall is more interesting." Xie Jiuniang turned down the suggestion to play in a private room,

The main hall had the most items and the greatest variety of games.

Plus, it was fun to watch others open their blind boxes.

Having lived for over two hundred years in her past and present life, Xie Jiuniang still found it very interesting.

Xuanyuan You, having figured out the rules, had squeezed his way to the front long ago, and Song Baobao said he wouldn’t always be paying for their games.

The first ten boxes Xuanyuan You picked out were on Song Baobao’s tab.

Just that Xuanyuan You’s luck was so bad that out of the ten boxes, he only opened one bottle of Spirit-Gathering Pills, "Is my luck really that terrible? A thousand spirit stones for just one bottle of Spirit-Gathering Pills?"

What a loss!

A bottle of Spirit-Gathering Pills didn’t even cost a hundred spirit stones in the market.

Indeed, no merchant is honest!

Xie Jiuniang, on the other hand, hadn’t picked any boxes yet and was browsing the hall with keen interest.

Nangong Qi, paying attention to Xie Jiuniang’s actions, occasionally struck up a conversation, "Yuanxi, aren’t you going to try your luck and play a bit?"

"Not really interested." Xie Jiuniang acted as though she saw right through the scheme, "Look at Xuanyuan You now, he’s like a big fool. I don’t want to end up like him."

At that moment, Xuanyuan You was leaning on a counter, wrestling with the blind boxes inside.

The less valuable the items he opened, the more he wanted to spend, just like a gambler with tunnel vision.

Song Baobao, hearing this, said nonchalantly, "His luck is just too bad. I heard someone today got a Foundation Establishment Pill, and yesterday someone got a high-grade Spirit Fruit."

"Really?"

Xie Jiuniang didn’t reply, and Xuanyuan You turned to ask.

Song Baobao, with pride, puffed out her chest, "Of course it’s true, Rongsheng Trading Company builds its business on trust."

Xie Jiuniang smiled without saying a word, and it seemed Xuanyuan You believed her.

This business mindset—without the banner of trust, could it really carry on?

Only merchants behind closed doors knew what really went on.

Keep in mind that she had been a merchant herself, completely trustworthy.

Xie Jiuniang didn’t buy any blind boxes herself; Song Baobao bought a whole bunch for her, "Xiaojiu, you open them, I’ll watch. If you don’t enjoy playing, how can I explain to Aunt Lan next time I see her?"

As if she couldn’t refuse this kindness, Xie Jiuniang collected the pile of blind boxes, "Alright, then I’ll open these when I get back."

While opening his boxes, Xuanyuan You paused, "Should I keep mine too?"

After spending tens of thousands of spirit stones, he hadn’t opened anything valuable.

The worthless items he did find were plenty, suitable for the Qi Cultivation Stage; Xuanyuan You couldn’t be bothered to collect them and instead gave them to the female cultivators in attendance, who thanked him profusely.

The female cultivators working here, all in the Qi Cultivation Stage, found the items suitable for their use.

Xie Jiuniang, other than the blind boxes given to her by Song Baobao, hadn’t spent a single spirit stone.

Thinking she was about to leave?

Not at all, she went to the counter selling demonic beast eggs and bought a batch of them.

Others bought them one by one, but she bought a hundred at a time.