Bargaining?

"Ha ha, I see..."

Only then did the Landlady feel that things made more sense. How could a six-year-old child from Kela City casually produce ten Gold Soul Coins? Were you some second-generation Soul Master?

Mo Yuqing shot Zhongli a glare, and Zhongli glared right back. An exchange of looks began.

Zhongli: My intelligence is perfectly fine. Why are you insulting me like that? Isn't that a bit too much?

Mo Yuqing: Didn't you agree to let me bargain? Why did you seal the deal right away? Were you tricking me?

Zhongli: That's because I felt the price for the stone was fair, so we could make the deal. There was no need to bargain.

Mo Yuqing: What the hell do you know about prices? Step aside and let me bargain. Watch how I slash it down!

Zhongli: You... Forget it. Go ahead and bargain, then. Sigh...

Their gaze met for only a second, yet the exchange was already complete. Zhongli knew he could not argue with her, but he held firm to his own values, because he truly could see the memories within rocks and draw his own conclusions from them.

Ten Gold Soul Coins were worth it!

"Of course, I can make it a little cheaper. I could even give it to you for free, but you'll need to do a small favor for me." The Landlady rested her chin on one hand, the two great mountains before her pressing against the counter. A teasing smile slowly curled across her lips.

"A favor? What kind of favor?"

Mo Yuqing asked.

Zhongli: A favor? What kind of favor!

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy it?!

"Your big sister here is a little thirsty, but I have such a huge shop to watch over that I simply can't get away. Boo hoo hoo, how pitiful~ You're willing to help me, right?" The Landlady wore a wicked grin as she stretched her body hard.

Her gaze was deeply seductive, aimed straight at Zhongli. The curves revealed by her stretch were in perfect golden proportion. Even Mo Yuqing could not help blushing slightly at the Landlady's enchanting figure, but she soon noticed where the Landlady's gaze ended—on Zhongli.

Oh no!

Mo Yuqing quickly turned around and looked at Zhongli behind her with an uneasy heart, silently praying that he would not be seduced by this shameless fox. Otherwise, she would... she would sulk all by herself!

At that moment, Zhongli's expression was calm. His heart was as unyielding as bedrock, completely unmoved. His attitude gave Mo Yuqing an immense sense of security, allowing the heart that had nearly leapt into her throat to settle back into her chest.

Sometimes, the sense of security a girl needed lay in these ordinary little details. Bit by bit, they accumulated into trust.

"Alright, we can buy it for you. What would you like to drink?" Mo Yuqing asked.

"Something to drink..."

The Landlady's eyes shifted as though she were considering something, but in truth, she was observing the two little ones and wondering how best to tease them.

After a brief moment of thought...

"How about this? I have a best friend who should be shopping in the clothing store across the street right now. As long as you can trick... bring her here, I'll give this thing to you." The Landlady said with a smile.

"Best friend? Wait, didn't you say you couldn't leave the shop? If you can't leave, how do you know your friend is in the clothing store across the street?" Mo Yuqing questioned.

"Your big sister here is a Soul Master. A Spirit-type Soul Master's detection ability is quite decent." The Landlady answered with a smile.

"Oh, I understand." After nodding lightly, Mo Yuqing glanced at Zhongli again, and another exchange of looks began.

Mo Yuqing: How about we help her out?

Zhongli: Wouldn't it be simpler to just pay? This is troublesome.

Mo Yuqing: That's ten Gold Soul Coins! That's really, really expensive! We can't waste money like that!

Zhongli: Sigh, do whatever you want...

After learning roughly what the Landlady's best friend looked like, Mo Yuqing took Zhongli's hand and led him out of the shop, heading straight for the clothing store across the street. Zhongli looked at Mo Yuqing's back and asked curiously, "Um, what does your father do for a living?"

"He is a great poet."

Mo Yuqing thought for a moment before answering.

A poet? Was that even a profession on Douluo Continent?

"Then what about your mother?"

Zhongli asked again.

"She is an elegant appreciator."

Mo Yuqing answered.

"Uh..."

The corner of Zhongli's mouth twitched slightly.

A poet... an appreciator... and their monthly income is less than one Gold Soul Coin. Their life must usually be very tight. I think I know why she's so obsessed with Gold Soul Coins.

"Then, how do you plan to obtain your Spirit Ring?"

Zhongli changed the subject.

"A Spirit Ring? Well... that's a little difficult. There's no one in my family who can help me. Maybe after some time, I'll try it myself. How can I make it if I don't take a gamble?" Mo Yuqing lightly bit her lip and answered without looking back.

"Is that so..."

Zhongli lowered his gaze slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said directly, "I may also be going to obtain a Spirit Ring after some time. When the time comes, let's go together and keep each other company."

"No need. I won't take advantage of you."

Mo Yuqing's voice was soft, but firm.

"I just want to go with you."

Zhongli continued.

He could have told Mo Yuqing that even if she did not absorb a Spirit Ring now, the Soul Power she gained through continued cultivation would not vanish. When the time came, she could simply wait for a discerning teacher to take her to obtain one.

But after thinking it over, there did not seem to be any particularly strong instructors at the Spirit Hall Academy Branch in Kela City. Having them take Mo Yuqing along would not feel nearly as safe as Zhongli taking her himself, so it would be better for him to bring her.

"Go together?"

Mo Yuqing repeated, then stopped walking and turned to look at Zhongli seriously. "Your family circumstances are indeed better than mine, but people of different classes live differently. I'm a person with principles. I won't accept your favors for no reason."

Is she stupid or what...

Zhongli muttered inwardly, then looked at Mo Yuqing just as seriously. "I mean I want to go out with you—just the two of us. If we can obtain a Spirit Ring, naturally that would be a good thing. If not, we can get one later. Is that not okay either?"

"Just the two of us?"

Mo Yuqing gently bit her lip and blinked as she emphasized the question.

"Mm, just the two of us."

Zhongli confirmed once more.

Mo Yuqing did not answer directly. Instead, she turned to look at the clothing shop and said, "We're here. Let's find that girl's best friend first. Once we find her, we can observe for a while and decide how to bring her over."

"Probably no need to look."

Zhongli said calmly.

"Why wouldn't we need to? That's ten Gold Soul Coins." Mo Yuqing said with her hands on her hips.

"Look at that rocking chair over there. It's in the most obvious spot. Isn't the person sitting on it that girl's best friend?" Zhongli pointed in that direction.

"Eh, it does seem to be."