During their stay in the wilderness, Xi Chen and his two younger brothers have found many treasures.
The treasures, maybe not much to those powerful clans, are more than enough for them to cultivate for about 5 years.
Most of the treasures they found are low Grade 1 herbs, which is not much expensive in the market. They also found mid to high grade 1 herbs also.
The Xi trio tend to sell the low grade 1 herbs to market, specifically to black market, for living their normal life.
But they can not just brought those herbs into the town openly, when they return. So they stashed away the herbs in a secret place and intend to collect it at night.
--------
Just about 300 meters away from the town's gate, 3 young men were walking towards the town with begs on their back.
These 3 men were Xi Chen, Xi Bing and Xi Xuan.
They wanted to make their return looked like returning from business trip from another town.
Of course nobody would care whether they returned from another town or not, because they are just ordinary people. But they did it, just in case, some one suspect them.
They entered through the town's gate easily. And they went straight to their home.
When the trio reached in front of their house, the place looked like no one has live their for years. With dust and leaves covering the courtyard and roof tops.
"Well.. it looks like nobody entered here. The place is like a haunted house." Xi Bing joked about their house, seeing the condition of the house.
"Go inside, we have a lot of work to do." Xi Chen dragged his two siblings and entered the house.
The first thing Xi Chen checked, as soon as he entered the house, was the kitchen. To see if anyone has discovered their underground base.
But the place was in the same condition as he left. It was within his expectation that no one has discovered it yet.
They spent the whole day cleaning the house and repairing broken tiles and others parts of the house.
When they were done cleaning, Xi Chen went straight to the government office to inform them of their return.
After giving them 2 silver coins for security, he went to the market to buy some foods.
Nighttime came quickly.
Xi Chen and the two boys were having their dinner in the kitchen.
As they were eating, Xi Xuan spoke in an excited voice. "Brother, how does it look like in the inside. Is it too crowded. And how we are going to sell the items."
He kept asking for questions related to the black market. It was because Xi Chen was going to take them to the black market, to familiarize with the environment.
Xi Chen could not just kept going by himself and he could not just kept shielding them. They also needed to do things on their own.
"OK. Just eat your food. You will know about it when you reach there." Xi Chen replied in a fed up voice.
After they were done eating, they started preparing for their journey.
They left the house silently in a black robe that covers their whole body, from head to toe.
They run through the dark streets and alleys, without making a noise.
When they finally reached the place they secretly hid the herbs, Xi Bing punched through a tree trunk. Inside was three big begs made out of animal hides.
"Is there anything missing?" Xi Chen asked in a low voice.
"No." Xi Bing replied.
"Then, let's get going." Xi Chen ordered.
The trio ran through the dark forest. Even though it was dark they could see the paths clearly, if not perfect.
They finally entered the bamboo groves.
When they reached the bamboo groves, they slowed down a little.
Finally, after walking for sometime, the Xi trio reached the hidden stone gate beneath the cliff.
Xi Chen tapped at one of the secret key.
2 minutes later, a man in black appeared on the stone steps leading to underground black market.
Seeing the begs on the trio, the man asked. "Selling?" in a cold but flat voice.
"Yes." Xi Chen answered.
"What kind?" The man asked again.
"Herbs. Low Grade 1." Xi Chen replied again.
"Herbs...low grade 1?.. Then no need to go any procedures. You can just sell it."
Then the man led them down the sone steps to the underground black market.
When they reached the market, the man left them.
The trio walked towards the busy market.
As they walked, Xi Xuan looked left and right with an excited look in his eyes. "Wow..this I so cool. But this is busier than the town's streets."
Xi Chen led them to the stall he used to buy medicines and herbs.
When they reached the place, the stall was still at the same place.
Xi Chen walked up to the stall and called out to the owner. "Hello."
Hearing a familiar voice, the owner looked up. And when he saw the familiar man, he spoke. "You are the poor ghost."
Hearing the words, Xi Chen's eyes twitches.
But the owner continued before he could speak a word. "I thought you might dead, since you did not show up for a long time."
"Well.. I was out of town." Xi Chen replied. "Can you buy all these herbs?" Xi Chen showed him the two begs of herbs.
The owner looked at the two begs full of herbs. "I can not. But you can take them to the Hundred herbs pavilion."
The owner pointed at a pavilion at the end of the path of stall.
"OK. Thank you." Xi Chen hesitated a little, because the Hundred herbs pavilion will lower the price, then left the stall.
The trio went towards the pavilion.
As soon as they entered the hall, a servant came up to them.
He wore a fox mask.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" He asked in a polite tone, even though he knew their reason.