Yue Qianchou looked around once more, then walked back with his hands behind his back, muttering, "Kid, follow me from now on! I guarantee you'll eat the finest food and drink the strongest liquor every day. Someone in my past life said it well: What's the most expensive thing this century? Talent! Damn it! Only today did I discover I have the makings of a talent scout. What a pity!"
He swayed his way back to the market and could not help smiling when he saw the young cultivator's vacated stall. He continued drifting between the various stalls.
"Fellow cultivator! May I ask where I can buy a storage pouch?" Yue Qianchou finally came across a cultivator whose level he could confirm was lower than his own, and promptly grabbed him to ask.
The cultivator smiled. "Storage pouches are fairly high-end items. You can't buy them from stalls. You'll have to look in the surrounding shops."
Yue Qianchou glanced at the gleaming shops around him and cupped his hands in thanks. Crossing the square, he checked the shops one by one, entering whenever something caught his interest. He found that everything here had clearly marked prices, but the prices truly could not compare to those at the outdoor stalls. Some were frighteningly expensive.
After visiting several shops without finding any storage pouches, he finally found a shop called Cangji Pavilion under someone else's directions. When he entered, he indeed found the storage pouches he wanted.
The shopkeeper greeted him warmly. "What would you like, Fellow Cultivator?" Yue Qianchou looked around and said, "I'd like to buy a storage pouch."
The shopkeeper laughed heartily. "You've come to the right place, Fellow Cultivator. The storage pouches made by our sect are famous throughout the Cultivation World. They are durable enough to last a century or two without issue. What capacity do you want? This shop has storage pouches ranging from the size of one room to three rooms."
"How much? Forget it, give me the cheapest kind!" Yue Qianchou said. He only wanted one for appearances anyway; there was no need to waste money. No matter how rich he was, he would not do what a wastrel did.
The shopkeeper was slightly stunned. It was his first time meeting someone who spoke so bluntly. With a somewhat awkward smile, he said, "The cheapest one is naturally the size of one room. It costs one high-grade Spirit Stone."
"One high-grade Spirit Stone? That expensive? Shopkeeper, you're not trying to fleece me, are you?" Yue Qianchou cried out.
The shopkeeper did not know whether to laugh or cry. "You must be joking, Fellow Cultivator. This shop has been in business for several hundred years, and storage pouches have always sold at this price. If you do not believe me, you may go out and ask around."
"Forget it! Since you're an old-established shop, there's no need to ask around. Bring me one." As he spoke, he took out one high-grade Spirit Stone. After receiving the storage pouch, Yue Qianchou still grumbled, "Such a tiny pouch, and it costs one high-grade Spirit Stone!"
Once the pouch hung from his waist, anyone could tell at a glance that he was a cultivator. After leaving Cangji Pavilion, Yue Qianchou continued visiting the shops one by one and discovered something: nearly every sect renowned in the Cultivation World had a shop here. He secretly wondered whether Qingguang Sect had one.
After making a round, he finally saw Qingguang Sect's insignia in front of a shop. He wondered what Qingguang Sect had for sale and what was inside, but he wanted to enter while fearing he might run into an acquaintance. Shaking his head, he thought, Safety first! Better not go in.
"Junior Sister! Come quickly! Our Qingguang Sect's shop is right here."
Yue Qianchou had barely gone far when he suddenly heard a familiar voice. He turned and cast a glance over. Hey! The world really was small—enemies were bound to meet! It really was an old acquaintance: Qingguang Sect's sect master's direct grandson, Liu Zhengguang. He did not know who that junior sister was, only that her back looked somewhat familiar.
After hesitating for a moment, he still suppressed the urge to go over and mock Liu Zhengguang a few times. Although this was Hundred Flower Palace territory, where no one dared start a fight, he could not beat Liu Zhengguang anyway. Going over just to gain a verbal advantage was no hero's deed. Better wait until he had the strength to beat people up. The green mountains remained unchanged, the green waters flowed forever; sooner or later, he would meet Liu Zhengguang again and deal with him.
After wandering through shops and stalls for a while, he bought a pile of things he did not even know were useful or not, merely because they interested him. As the sky gradually darkened, he slowly ambled back to Hundred Flower Inn.
When he reached Guan Yu's room, he found Guan Yu still snoring soundly in bed. He could not help sighing. This was the sorrow of Level Ten Qi Refining. If one could not break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, what use was further cultivation? It was little different from muddling through life and waiting for death.
"Yun Chang, Yun Chang, wake up. Your boss is taking you to eat the finest food and drink the strongest liquor." Yue Qianchou nudged Guan Yu awake with his foot. The two went downstairs at Hundred Flower Inn and ordered a table piled high with food, eating with great relish. Looking at the feast, Yue Qianchou ordered whatever was best. He might be stingy elsewhere, but he had never mistreated himself when it came to food.
They drank wine from great bowls and devoured meat in huge chunks. Wonderful! The shops outside lit their lamps, and even the stalls in the square became a night market. Eating and drinking while watching the scenery outside gave them a different kind of pleasure.
"Junior Sister, come quickly! This is Hundred Flower Valley's finest inn, Hundred Flower Inn. Shopkeeper, give us two of your best rooms."
That familiar voice again. Yue Qianchou turned to look. Sure enough, enemies met on a narrow road—it was Liu Zhengguang again, leaning over the counter to choose rooms. Forget it, he would pretend not to see him!
Just as Yue Qianchou was about to withdraw his gaze, a young girl entered through the door, and his eyes could no longer move away.
It was none other than the woman he knew best in Qingguang Sect—Qu Ping'er.
As Qu Ping'er's gaze wandered around Hundred Flower Inn, she also saw that familiar face by the window. She found it hard to believe. I'm not seeing things, am I? Wasn't he dead?
The two simply looked at each other. Yue Qianchou pursed his lips and gestured toward Liu Zhengguang, then raised a finger before his mouth in a silencing gesture.
A radiant light immediately appeared on Qu Ping'er's face, and irrepressible excitement filled her bright eyes. His actions undoubtedly confirmed his identity. She glanced at Liu Zhengguang, understood what Yue Qianchou meant, and immediately nodded slightly.
After booking their rooms, the two were led upstairs by an attendant. As she went up, Qu Ping'er could not help looking back at him once more. Yue Qianchou smiled, pointed at himself, then pointed upstairs, telling her that he was staying upstairs too. Qu Ping'er went up with light steps.
When he saw Liu Zhengguang also go upstairs, Yue Qianchou shuddered in disgust. That bastard dares book a room with the girl I've already claimed? Does he have a death wish? Then he remembered that Liu Zhengguang had booked two rooms, and he felt a little better, though the bad taste in his mouth still would not go away.
Guan Yu tapped Yue Qianchou's chopsticks with his own and laughed. "Boss, they've already gone upstairs, but your soul still hasn't come back! What is it? Taken a fancy to that girl?" Yue Qianchou shot him a glare.
At this moment, a guest at the neighboring table turned around and said, "Young man, you'd better see clearly. Those are people from Qingguang Sect. Qingguang Sect is incredible now! You must not provoke them recklessly!"
Yue Qianchou turned to glance at the guest behind him, then swept his gaze over the simple wine and dishes on the man's table. Smiling, he said, "Senior, if you do not mind, please come drink with us. This junior happens to have something to ask you."
The man was a somewhat scruffy old man. Hearing this, he laughed heartily. "Then I won't stand on ceremony." With that, he rose to his feet.
Yue Qianchou smiled faintly and extended his hand. "Please!" The old man came over and sat down. Yue Qianchou filled a cup of wine for him, then raised his cup together with Guan Yu to toast him.
After the old man ate several bites of food, Yue Qianchou respectfully asked, "I just heard Senior say that Qingguang Sect is formidable now. This junior is ignorant and poorly informed, so I hope Senior will not begrudge your guidance."
Before you continue