Taking Ah Yin Shopping

The sky had just begun to brighten when the first rays of morning light streamed through the window into the wooden hut. Only then did Jiang Zhen slowly open his eyes.

The Water Element around him gradually dissipated, and the strand of Soul Power condensed at his fingertips was more refined than before.

After a night of cultivation, not only had his Soul Power improved, but the sluggishness brought by the two high-Age Spirit Rings had also lessened considerably.

He rose and quietly walked to the bedside, looking at Little Ah Yin, who was still fast asleep.

Little Ah Yin lay on her side, half of her small face buried in the pillow, revealing only a short stretch of her fair neck.

Her blue-gold Long Hair was slightly mussed from being pressed down, and her long eyelashes looked like two little fans, occasionally trembling softly.

Jiang Zhen couldn't help reaching out and gently poking her soft cheek. It felt like cotton candy, so soft that his heart trembled.

Little Ah Yin wrinkled her tiny brows from the poking and mumbled something, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she curled farther into the quilt like a little cat afraid of the cold.

Jiang Zhen chuckled and stopped disturbing her, turning to go outside and wash up.

The air outside was fresh, carrying the scents of dew and grass.

Jiang Zhen simply washed his face by the stream, then took out another piece of Evil Spirit Orca meat. This time, he chose the more tender belly meat.

He chopped it into fine mince, then set up an Earthenware Pot, added some millet, poured in spring water, and slowly simmered it.

He controlled the heat precisely, keeping the flame neither too strong nor too weak, just enough to cook the porridge until it thickened.

Before long, the Earthenware Pot began to bubble, and the fragrance of minced meat mixed with the clean scent of rice porridge, drifting far away.

The room's door creaked open, and Little Ah Yin rubbed her eyes as she walked out. Her hair was still messy, and her clothes were wrinkled from sleep, making her look like a little bundle that had just woken up.

"Brother Ah Zhen..."

She walked over to Jiang Zhen, wrapped her arms around his, and rubbed her little head against his shoulder.

"Awake?" Jiang Zhen lowered his head and patted her hair. "The porridge will be ready soon. Go wash your face first."

Little Ah Yin nodded and ran to the prepared basin. Following Jiang Zhen's example, she scooped up water with her hands to wash her face, but her movements were clumsy, and she dampened her clothes a little.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhen had no choice but to walk over and help her dry herself again. He also gently smoothed her tousled hair. It was still a little messy, but much better than before.

"Do you want to learn how to comb your hair?"

By the time they returned to the Earthenware Pot, the porridge was ready.

Jiang Zhen ladled out a bowl and let it cool a little before handing it to Little Ah Yin.

"Eat slowly. Don't burn yourself."

The rice porridge was thick, and the Orca meat inside had been stewed until tender and soft, melting in the mouth with a faint savory flavor.

Little Ah Yin held the bowl and ate in small bites with a spoon. Every so often, she looked up at Jiang Zhen, her eyes curving into crescents.

After breakfast, Jiang Zhen tidied the wooden hut and changed Little Ah Yin into a clean, light-blue outfit.

It was much like the previous one and a little too large for Ah Yin, but this time he rolled up the sleeves and hem several times, making it barely fit.

"Today, I'll take you to Vast Sea City and have some new clothes made for you." He said this while helping Little Ah Yin fasten her buttons.

Little Ah Yin didn't understand what Vast Sea City was, but when she heard "new clothes," her eyes brightened, and she asked softly, "New clothes... like Brother Ah Zhen's? Blue?"

"Mm." Jiang Zhen smiled and nodded. "Even prettier than your brother's."

By the time they set out, the sun was already high in the sky.

Jiang Zhen held Little Ah Yin's hand. Her hand was small and soft, and she walked slowly, occasionally stopping to look at the little flowers by the roadside.

Jiang Zhen didn't hurry her, patiently waiting.

After walking for about an hour, the outline of Vast Sea City appeared before them.

The city gates were towering, and many people came and went, most of them Spirit Masters or merchants.

Holding Little Ah Yin's hand, Jiang Zhen carefully avoided the crowds and walked straight toward the Tailor Shop he had visited before. The shopkeeper had excellent skills, and the fabrics were good as well. The several outfits he had ordered last time had been made there.

"Young Master Jiang is here?"

When Jiang Zhen had bought clothes here before, he had spared no expense, always choosing the finest of everything.

That had led her to believe she had encountered a young master from a great Noble family.

The owner of the Tailor Shop was a woman who looked to be in her forties. Her surname was Wang. When she saw Jiang Zhen enter, she immediately greeted him warmly. But when her gaze fell on Little Ah Yin, she froze for a moment. "And this is...?"

"This is Ah Yin," Jiang Zhen introduced her. "I'd like to have a few well-fitting outfits made for her."

Boss Wang immediately understood and nodded with a smile. "No problem! What a lovely little girl. She'll look good in anything."

She took out a soft measuring tape, crouched down, and carefully measured Little Ah Yin.

Ah Yin, however, looked curiously at the measuring tape in Boss Wang's hand, occasionally blinking.

After taking the measurements, Boss Wang brought out several bolts of fabric and spread them before Ah Yin. "Little girl, take a look. Which color do you like?"

The fabrics came in pale blue, light cyan, and off-white. All were soft and breathable, making them ideal for children.

Ah Yin's gaze immediately landed on the pale-blue fabric. The color matched her hair and eyes perfectly, resembling the color of her Main Body, the Blue Silver Emperor.

"I want this one."

She pointed at the pale-blue fabric with her little finger, her voice soft.

"Good taste!" Boss Wang said with a smile and a nod. "This fabric is soft and comfortable against the skin."

She also chose two outfits in light cyan and off-white for Little Ah Yin, saying they could be worn in rotation. Jiang Zhen had no objections. He paid the deposit and agreed to return three hours later to collect them.

Over the next three hours, Jiang Zhen took Ah Yin around Vast Sea City.

He first brought her to the snack street. It was bustling, and the aromas of all kinds of snacks drifted far through the air.

There were more things for Ah Yin to look at than she could manage. One moment she pointed at Sugar Painting, and the next she was staring at Tanghulu, her little mouth round with wonder.

"Which one do you want?" Jiang Zhen asked with a smile.

"That one."

Ah Yin pointed at the Sugar Painting. A master was using melted sugar syrup to draw little animals on a board.

There were little rabbits, tigers, and birds. Once finished, they were mounted on bamboo sticks, crystal-clear, beautiful, and delicious.

Jiang Zhen bought a rabbit-shaped Sugar Painting and handed it to Little Ah Yin.

She accepted it carefully and licked it first. It was sweet, with a hint of caramel fragrance, and her eyes immediately lit up. She ate it in tiny bites.

Jiang Zhen also bought her a skewer of Tanghulu. The bright-red hawthorns were wrapped in transparent Sugar Coating. Little Ah Yin took a bite and wrinkled her little brows at the sourness, but she couldn't help continuing to eat. She looked utterly adorable.

After eating the snacks, Jiang Zhen took Ah Yin to watch a play.

The stage had been set up in the square, and the performance told a simple story about a Little Soul Master protecting a village. The plot wasn't complicated, but the actors' movements and expressions were vivid.

Ah Yin watched, completely absorbed. Her eyes never left the stage, and every so often she softly asked Jiang Zhen, "Is that brother a good person?"

"He's a good person," Jiang Zhen answered patiently. "He's protecting everyone."

Little Ah Yin nodded as if she understood, then continued watching. When the Little Soul Master defeated the villains, she even clapped softly, her little face flushed with excitement.