The Strongest Scalpel (2)

With the advancement of weapons technology, Bai Ye’s choice of weapon might seem unusual but the scalpel had served her well in her 15 years of practice. There was a reason she was known as a witch doctor—her scalpel did not only save lives but took them as well.

“Little Ye?” Ji Fu noticed Bai Ye’s slowing footsteps and turned around. He followed her gaze and saw the obsidian scalpel.

The weapons dealer noted the pair’s attention and quickly presented the item of interest. “Good sir, your granddaughter has a good eye. This is the latest design carved from dark crystal. It’s definitely…”

While the man was explaining the backstory of the weapon, Bai Ye weighed the weapon in her hands and tested her grip.

As expected from a man of his age, Ji Fu began the process of haggling. The price was lowered from ten gold coins to one silver coin, yet the old man was still asking for a better deal.

“Oh, this…Come on, I can’t be making a loss. One silver coin, take it or leave it.” the weapons dealer groaned.

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“I’ll give you one gold coin for both the scalpel and that sword.” Ji Fu pulled out a shiny gold coin and showed it to the weapons dealer.

Without waiting for the man’s response, Ji Fu grabbed the silver sword on the table and replaced it with a gold coin.

“No. Sir, that’s not possible. That sword is a Mystic Weapon. It’s worth ten gold coins at least, I’ll throw in the scalpel for free,” the weapons dealer argued.

Ji Fu did not give up. “Three gold coins!”

“Eight! Nothing less!”

“Five!”

“No! No! Eight or nothing…Give me back the sword!” the weapons dealer cried out. He had never met such an unrelenting customer.

As the two men were arguing heatedly about the price, a young girl in a red dress walked up to the stall. In a supercilious tone, she said, “Boss, I’ll take the

scalpel

for ten gold coins.”

The girl looked to be around 14 or 15 years old. She walked toward the stall with an air of authority, surrounded by a posse of underlings.

The weapons dealer’s attention was immediately stolen by the new customer. “Oh, Lady Yun. You…Are you saying you’ll be paying ten gold coins for the handcrafted scalpel?”

His shift in focus was understandable. The girl before them was Yun Mengmeng, the third miss of the Yun family who governed Tong City. She stood above everyone else in the social ladder within the city.

“Yes. Wrap it up nicely, I want it as a gift for someone,” Yun Mengmeng said to the weapons dealer. She angled her head to her handmaid, silently instructing her to retrieve the money.

The weapons dealer smiled handsomely. “Of course! Just give me a moment.”

Bai Ye and Ji Fu’s presence at the weapons stall was completely disregarded.

The weapons dealer reached out to Bai Ye. “Little girl, please return the blade. It’s not yours.”

A frown appeared on Ji Fu’s face but before he could speak, Bai Ye stepped forward and said in a calm tone, “This scalpel is mine.” She hid the blade in her sleeves.

She wanted the scalpel.

“Nonsense! Did you not hear what the young miss said? She’s paying ten gold coins for it,” said the handmaid, Little Wan. Bai Ye’s insolence was an opportunity for her to prove her loyalty to her lady. She would have put this country bumpkin in her place.

1. The author switches between 手术刀 and 雕刀, but for the sake of consistency, ‘scalpel’ is used in the translation.