If such a thing were to happen, Third Master could almost imagine what kind of punishment he would face when Grand Master returned!

Although it was just a healing medicine, it was something every martial artist needed. This market was simply astronomical.

And this was an exclusive business—one and only, with no branches, a justified monopoly.

A business like this, you wouldn’t encounter even once in ten lifetimes! If you missed it, you’d have nowhere to cry.

“Sir, everything can be discussed! We at the Apothecary Hall are very sincere about this. How about this: our Apothecary Hall will first offer one hundred thousand silver as a token of sincerity, just to make friends with you. A fifty-fifty split—I can boldly make the decision, it’s settled. As soon as Grand Master and the others return, we’ll immediately sign the cooperation contract.”

William Grant was almost bursting with laughter inside. But he still remembered what Ethan Grant had said. Ethan Grant said that fifty-fifty was the bottom line, and if he could negotiate for more, the extra profit would go to him, William Grant!

Wasn’t this opportunity knocking at his door?

“Third Master, I already gave you the chance just now. You didn’t seize it in time. Fifty-fifty was just a moment ago. Now, it’s sixty-forty! If you don’t settle now, it’ll be seventy-thirty. I believe Shennong Hall and Danwang Court would be willing to accept even seventy-thirty.”

This wasn’t a threat, but an inevitability. Shennong Hall and Danwang Court had always been eyeing the top spot, wanting to replace the Apothecary Hall as the number one giant in the kingdom’s pill industry. With such an opportunity delivered to their door, how could they miss it?

The cost of the pills was only about ten percent. Even with a seventy-thirty split, there would still be twenty percent profit left.

Don’t underestimate that twenty percent profit—when it’s a monopoly, that’s a terrifying number. After all, this stuff could monopolize the markets of sixteen surrounding countries!

The profit margin was thin, but with high volume, it added up!

“Sixty-forty, sixty-forty. Draft the contract immediately! Someone, bring one hundred thousand silver as a token of sincerity for this gentleman!” Third Master really wanted to slap himself now—why couldn’t he have been a bit more enthusiastic earlier, a bit more decisive?

A perfectly good fifty-fifty split had turned into sixty-forty in the blink of an eye.

But sixty-forty wasn’t bad either. Thinking of the prospects of this business, Third Master decided to strike while the iron was hot. He’d better not annoy this gentleman again—if he changed his mind, it’d be seventy-thirty, and he’d lose another ten percent of the profit.

After receiving the one hundred thousand silver, William Grant felt as if he was surrounded by happiness. He patted Third Master on the shoulder: “Third Master, you’re a straightforward man. Sixty-forty split—I get sixty, you get forty. It’s settled happily!”

William Grant almost forgot how he got home. He was floating, as if he could drift up to the clouds just walking down the street.

He was so happy, so excited.

He was so excited he almost wondered if he was dreaming!

One hundred thousand silver as a token of sincerity was nothing to him now. The contract was drafted, and he’d seen it—sixty-forty split. He remembered Young Marquis’s promise: anything negotiated above fifty-fifty would all go to him, William Grant.

But he didn’t sign it—this was something for Young Marquis to decide. As a subordinate, he wouldn’t dare sign a contract without his master’s order.

William Grant counted on his fingers—this extra ten percent profit, converted to silver, would be enough to bury him ten times over.

Delicacies from land and sea, fine clothes and fast horses, a private manor, a house full of gold and jade.

At this moment, William Grant felt that this kind of life was already rushing toward him.

Joking with the powerful, mingling with nobles; wives and concubines living in harmony, children and grandchildren enjoying happiness.

Such days were already beckoning to him from afar.

A regular at Songhe Tower, a patron of Chunhui Garden; whoring with princes, drinking at the same table with ministers.

Naturally, such scenes surely wouldn’t be out of reach!

When he returned home in high spirits, ready to report the good news to Young Marquis, he was told that Young Marquis was in seclusion cultivating, and if there was anything, he should wait.

William Grant didn’t mind. At this moment, he was completely surrounded by joy. He simply decided not to leave, and sat at the door of Young Marquis’s secret chamber, loyally standing guard.

After sitting down, his emotions still hadn’t settled. He thought back to all the things Young Marquis had done before, and then to today’s miraculous encounter.

William Grant couldn’t help but wonder, “Could it be that Young Marquis has been playing the fool to hide his strength all along? Were those previous playboy antics a test for me? Or a way to appear weak to the enemy?”

Whether it was playing the fool or truly being entrusted by the gods, William Grant was very clear that his previous wavering was completely wrong.

He knew that even if Young Marquis was good for nothing, with this pill recipe, his future was limitless!

As Young Marquis’s personal servant and steward, if he couldn’t keep up with Young Marquis’s pace, that would be a huge mistake!

“I was confused before, I even thought about quitting. Luckily, Young Marquis still trusts me, William Grant. From now on, I have to work hard—what’s a momentary gain or loss? When Young Marquis makes a move, it’s always a big one! Looks like Young Marquis is no ordinary person!”

Countless thoughts swirled in William Grant’s mind, but the firmest one was that from now on, he would follow Young Marquis unwaveringly, through fire and water, without batting an eye.

A steward and servant follows his master for nothing but wealth and glory, right?

With just a casual move, Young Marquis had given him immense fortune!