A contingent of soldiers, escorting a dozen large carriages, was amassed before the Jun family gate, while another continuous stream of men was seen unloading crates and boxes from the wagons. Each container, whether exquisitely crafted or simply bundled, was methodically carried into the Jun estate, the pungent, medicinal odor emanating distinctly from them.

Thank heavens the goods were being moved in rather than out; otherwise, Jun Moxie's first instinct would have been: The house is being raided!

As if this scene wasn't chaotic enough, it was compounded by dozens of middle-aged and elderly men in long robes and jackets weeping hysterically nearby, pleading their cases, escalating the disorder.

What in the world was happening? What could possibly warrant such a display?

The deeply bewildered Young Master Jun, riddled with confusion, threaded his way through the crowd. Just as he was about to step across the threshold, several of the wailing middle-aged men spotted him. They rushed over in a few strides, collapsing in a heap at his feet, weeping and begging, "Third Young Master, Young Master Jun, please show mercy and spare us! We are willing to erect ancestral tablets in your name, to pray for your long life and eternal prosperity for your descendants... Have pity on us, we are small business owners, with the old above and the young below! Show some benevolence..."

Jun Moxie froze. What did this have to do with him? What kind of rhetoric was this? The more he listened, the more he sounded like the notorious tyrants from legends—those who forced virtue into prostitution, bullied the weak, and dominated the region. What kind of people were these, and what was this situation?

"What exactly is going on?" Jun Moxie frowned. He knew questioning the principal parties involved right now would yield nothing but nonsense. He decided to ask the soldiers nearby directly.

Unexpectedly, the soldiers merely shook their heads, indicating they were also ignorant of the cause.

As Young Master Jun grew increasingly frustrated, a tremor resonated through the ground, announcing the approach of a massive, hulking presence.

"Third Brother, the medicines you requested! I’ve brought them all! Everything I could possibly procure, and even what I shouldn't have been able to—I got it all," Fatty Tang approached, his voice brimming with the self-satisfaction of someone presenting a treasure. With a sweep of his enormous, bear-paw-like hand, he gestured: "There! This is it all! Rest assured, your brother handled it!"

Jun Moxie felt a wave of dizziness. He had asked him to gather as many medicinal herbs as possible, but surely this was excessive? And what were all these old men and middle-aged gentlemen doing here? He blurted out, "Where did you get so much medicine? And what's the deal with these people?"

"Ah, Third Brother, we are all close associates, why speak such banalities? Are you pretending to be obtuse when you clearly understand?" Tang Yuan winked, projecting an air of mutual understanding.

"Young Master Tang, Young Master Jun, please show us clemency and spare our lives! Give us a way to survive..." It was the same group of people. Upon seeing the fatty arrive, they immediately surrounded them, weeping again, dropping to their knees like dumplings, their heads knocking the ground like pounding garlic.

"You..." Jun Moxie stood stunned for a long moment before finally grasping the general outline of events. Seeing the situation before him, it seemed the Fatty had directly ransacked the homes of these few pharmacies. Otherwise, there was no way to acquire such a colossal quantity of medicinal supplies...

"You were in such a rush, demanding such massive amounts in such short order. Where was I supposed to gather it all? So, I frowned, an idea struck me, and instantly, I planned the strategy, charting a course for victory a thousand li away!"

Speaking of the matter, Tang Yuan was quite pleased, his face animated. "So, I made arrangements overnight to purchase their herbs from these shops. But the quantity we needed was too large, and they actually refused! They claimed that selling it all at once would destroy their daily business operations..."

Jun Moxie rolled his eyes wordlessly: That’s stating the obvious. If you buy out their entire stock, how can they conduct business? They need time to replenish their inventory! You demanded everything at once—were you expecting to leave them with an empty storefront?

"So, your brother got angry!" Tang Yuan glared, radiating killing intent. "Damn it, they refused my business using the excuse of ruined profits? Since they wouldn't deal with this Young Master, it was clearly an act of arrogant customer rejection! Unbelievable! To dare bully my brother and me—is there any law left in this world? Since they wouldn't conduct business, I decided they would never have to do business again! So, this morning, I went to the Ministry of Justice, secured an official writ, conducted a massive 'rectification,' and simply shut down the shops and confiscated the assets of those biggest few who had the most arrogant attitudes yesterday. Now, all their medicinal supplies have been delivered here..."

Jun Moxie stumbled slightly. "What justification did you use to raid their houses? You just ask the Ministry of Justice for a writ, and they give it to you? That’s incredibly bold!"

"Third Brother... have you lost your mind? Why are you talking like an outsider?" Tang Yuan looked at him suspiciously. "With the status of us brothers, do we need a reason to raid these people's homes? Raiding their houses is an honor for them! We pile on a bunch of fabricated charges, seize everything first, and then see what happens. If we’re in a good mood in a few days, we release them. If we’re still unhappy, we might as well just arrest them all and have their heads chopped off. They squawk about every little thing, it’s annoying!..."

Tang Yuan pursed his lips and snorted twice.

Jun Moxie’s eyes widened. For the first time, he realized he hadn't truly integrated with his current persona since transmigrating. Tang Yuan made perfect sense; in this kind of feudal society, for a figure like Tang Yuan or Jun Moxie—the absolute cream of the Crown Prince faction—to deal with mere pharmacy owners... did they truly need a reason, as Tang Yuan suggested?

This was outright tyrannical!

Never mind the current situation. Both Jun Moxie and Tang Yuan belonged to the elite of the legitimate aristocratic bloc—the kind who walked around cocking their heads. Not only could they raid a commoner's home, but if they killed a few people, they could walk right up to the Ministry of Justice, state calmly, "I killed them, but you must frame it so they deserved it. I was acting in self-defense, for the public good, and deserve official commendation. Oh, and the victims should compensate me for my emotional distress—I was quite startled, you see." Afterward, they would have the so-called wronged parties thrown into prison to keep them from bothering them in public. "If you can't manage that, I won't hesitate to have you join them for a few days. It’s settled then..."

This was the benefit of high rank and immense power. In the entire Tianxiang Kingdom, how many people could afford to offend the Tang and Jun families, two major clans?

Never mind this world; even in his previous life... well... [Censored]—he hadn't really said anything. This was another world, after all.

Turning back to face the pleading eyes, Jun Moxie counted: there were proprietors from a total of seven pharmacies.

This whole affair... this was too much. By Fatty's standards, this action would normally merit immediate execution, but considering his underlying motive...

"Didn't you all hear just now? You know what's happening, right? Let me tell you, I am extremely displeased right now! Haven't you inquired around? In all of Tianxiang, who dares refuse to do business with this Young Master!"

Nonsense, Tang Yuan bellowed so loudly they couldn't possibly miss it. At this moment, their intestines were filled with green regret... If they had known this, they would have gladly sold the stock at a low price or just given it away. At worst, they'd lose ten to fifteen days of business. Now, ruin and death stood before them...

The crowd nodded frantically, like chickens pecking rice. "We are willing to dedicate all our family assets to the two Young Masters, only begging that you spare our wretched lives and show mercy..."

"Damn it! Do I look poor, Young Master, that I need your contributions?" Tang Yuan roared, seizing the advantage completely. "I already said, you don't have anything else good to give! Just medicine! Damn it, do you give medicine as a gift? Are you hoping our entire households get sick and die before you're happy?"

We are hoping your entire families get sick and die, which would be a blessing for the masses, the shop owners cursed inwardly, but their subservience was genuine and fearful as they repeatedly apologized.

"Everyone, please rise first. Our noble house urgently requires a massive supply of medicinal herbs right now, so we were forced to acquire them through such means. I will accept your confiscated medicines; later, you arrange with your accountants to settle accounts with Young Master Tang. Whatever the price is, that’s what you get. I have always been honest and fair in my dealings, haven't I?"

Jun Moxie pondered carefully before finally speaking. With his status, what satisfaction was there in bullying these pharmacy owners? There was no thrill in it. Moreover, the Fatty had clearly overstepped the line. It was best to resolve this quickly. Causing unnecessary trouble would be even less suitable.

"Yes, yes, we wouldn't dare."

"What wouldn't dare? I make the final say! Alright, you can go back now; this matter is settled." Jun Moxie frowned and turned to Tang Yuan. "For all the medicines on my urgent list, give them double the price. I already instructed you to prepare extra funds anyway. Also, order the government officials to immediately withdraw those baseless accusations and release everyone without charges!"

Fatty Tang’s plump face twitched with visible distress. Double price...

"Your humble servants wouldn't dare..." Since the crisis was averted, the pharmacy owners breathed a collective sigh of relief. At the very least, their lives and the lives of their entire families were spared.

"Well, actually, I don't need this many. Once I have screened everything, you can buy back what remains unused," Jun Moxie nodded, then paused just as he was about to step inside. "Oh, right, call over all your shop assistants to help with the selection; otherwise, with this much, how long will it take?"

The owners reluctantly agreed, their hearts filled with bitterness. What kind of age is this? We conducted honest business, who did we offend? Suddenly, without reason, our homes are raided, we are threatened with death, and in the end, we must be grateful when they deign to spare us, and even have to send our own staff to help them? And we have to buy back what they don't want? And we have to greet them with forced smiles? How pathetic! How utterly pathetic...

If only we had known this would happen, why bother in the first place?

In unison, these eight words echoed in the minds of the seven proprietors.

"Alright, that's enough. Do as I said, everyone disperse!" Jun Moxie swept his robe aside and strode through the gate. Faintly, he heard Tang Yuan's voice from behind, seemingly gritting his teeth as he said, "Come, come, start selecting. Your Young Master will give you double the price..."

"We dare not, we dare not..." came the terrified response.

Jun Moxie smiled helplessly. He mused that having power and influence certainly made things easier to handle. But why hadn't he thought of this method a few days ago? While there might not be any Heaven and Earth spirit medicines among these supplies, they certainly had every common herb. If he had thought of this method sooner, he could have saved so much...