After receiving a substantial supply of healing medicines secretly supported by Xiao Yan, the Xiao family, though making no outward declaration, had already begun preparing in earnest for a counteroffensive against the Jiale family. The events witnessed in the family hall that day had been strictly sealed by Xiao Zhan and the three elders, with the matter of the healing medicines elevated to the highest level of confidentiality—any family member who spoke of it to outsiders would be subject to disciplinary action. As the Xiao family remained quiet over the following days, the Jiale family grew increasingly assertive, employing various tactics without hesitation to lure away all remaining merchants in the Xiao family's marketplace. In response, the Xiao family continued to remain silent. Observing this apparent passivity and weakness, several smaller allied factions began to grow increasingly disenchanted, quietly preparing their own measures of prudent self-preservation. Under this somewhat unusual atmosphere, two days passed quietly and uneventfully. Another bright, sun-drenched day, and the market of the Galle family remains just as bustling as it was earlier. Crowds surge along the streets, and at the sales counter for the "Spring-Reviving Powder," the scene is packed—shouts, curses, and even fights blend together, creating a deafening roar that rises into the sky. Behind the herbal medicine counter, the Galle family members engaged in the sales are watching with amused expressions the mercenaries outside, who are fighting fiercely over healing medicines, their faces beaming with pride, clearly riding the wave of the medicine's popularity. During this period, the sales volume of "Spring-Reviving Powder" has far exceeded the internal records of the Galé family. Under the strong lure of this substantial profit, the Galé family has grown increasingly dissatisfied and has thus raised the price of their "Spring-Reviving Powder" from 100 gold coins per box to 300 gold coins—a threefold increase. Although the initial price hike sparked considerable discontent among the mercenaries, "Spring-Reviving Powder" was previously sold exclusively by the Galé family. After a period of uproar, despite their deep dissatisfaction, most mercenaries ultimately had to accept the reality of being overcharged. Singing softly to himself, Galerko narrowed his small, bright eyes into a thin slit, speaking with quiet pride. "You don't buy? There are plenty of others who do..." He held up his short, plump palm to shield himself from the blazing sun overhead, then wiped the sweat from his forehead with a frustrated sigh. "For heaven's sake, the heat is unbearable today. I'll have to go cool off later. Honestly, that last girl was absolutely stunning—her slender waist, swaying so gracefully, it was enough to make one's heart skip beats." As he recalled the mesmerizing scene of her falling into that very passionate, all-consuming place, Galerko felt a wave of warmth spread through his body. He wiped away another bead of sweat, his brow furrowing suddenly. Glancing at the crowd near the street's end, he noticed it had begun to stir. "Good heavens, another fight? These mercenaries are all muscle-bound fools—don't they know that breaking things isn't free?" He muttered, growing increasingly irritated as he watched the commotion. "The Xiao family's marketplace now also sells healing medicines!" Just as Garek was preparing to dispatch guards to quell the unrest, a sudden, powerful cry erupted on the main street. Hearing this abrupt outburst, Garek’s entire corpulent frame trembled as if struck by a tidal wave, his face pale with surprise. A moment later, he coldly remarked, “The Xiao family truly has no hope—they’ve gone and devised such a clumsy strategy, quite literally sealing their own fate.” The cry momentarily quieted the bustling street. As people exchanged glances, a wave of angry shouts immediately followed: “For heaven’s sake, don’t think you can squeeze in with this pedestrian tactic and take our spots that we’ve waited for hours to secure!” Clearly, everyone assumed the cry came from opportunistic, unprincipled individuals seeking to gain a front-row position. After their outburst, these people resumed their frantic rush to grab the “Spring-Reviving Powder.” Of course, not everyone shared this sentiment. A small group of mercenaries, already growing weary of the Galé family's excessive profits, hesitated for a moment before reluctantly pushing through the crowd and rushing toward the Xiao family's marketplace. Thirty minutes after the last loud exclamation, at the entrance of the Galley family's marketplace, several dozen men dressed in mercenary uniforms forcefully knocked over the guards, surged in with joyful faces, and raised their green jade bottles high, their unified shouts instantly overwhelming the bustling noise within the marketplace. "Shao Family is also selling healing medicines!!" The clear, resonant cries caused the entire marketplace to fall silent, all eyes instantly turning toward the source of the voices. One of the mercenary men, noticing the collective gaze, hurriedly stepped onto a nearby stone pedestal, drew his large sword with a sharp "hiss," and then bit down hard on his arm, drawing a steady stream of blood. He raised his bloodied arm, tilted the green bottle, and a thick, deep-red liquid slowly dripped down, finally spreading across the fresh cut on his arm. A thick, deep-red fluid seeped into the wound, and the gushing blood, under the watchful eyes of all, gradually thinned out, eventually coagulating into a thin layer of blood seal at the site of the incision. Witnessing this scene, the gaze of every passerby instantly intensified—such rapid hemostasis was nothing short of essential for any mission! "This is the newly launched 'Blood-Sealing Powder' from Xiao Family's Market! Not only does it offer superior efficacy, but its price is more than half that of the 'Revival Powder'! What are you waiting for? Do you really want to be treated like a fool while they charge you exorbitate fees? Don't hesitate—move now!" The mercenary giant raised the jade bottle, cracked a triumphant grin, and boomed with laughter. On the street, a quiet stillness settled. A young mercenary who had just entered the marketplace stared in astonishment at the green bottle held by the tall man, then suddenly turned and bolted—fleeing with desperate urgency. As the figure surged out of the marketplace, the crowd initially remained motionless before erupting into a wave of activity. The steady, thunderous flow of people surged forth like a tide, flooding out of the marketplace in a frenzy. Standing on the stone platform, the mercenary with a gash on his arm watched the crowd pouring out, a strange, serene smile playing on his face. A gentle breeze brushed his collar, subtly revealing the XIAO family crest beneath. The bustling marketplace, shaken by this sudden upheaval, became nearly empty within moments—save for the stunned merchants—its streets now sparsely populated. "The XIAO family has begun their counteroffensive," every merchant thought, as they gazed at the now-deserted streets. The merchants exchanged a puzzled glance, then looked up, their eyes fixed on Galikü at the pavilion. At this moment, the once self-assured, broad-shouldered man, who had been so confident just a moment ago, had already collapsed, his face now pale as paper.