Market District

"Third Young Master, Miss."

The guards at the entrance to the market district lowered their heads slightly. They called out softly, then withdrew their gazes.

"Mm."

Xiao Yan nodded in return, while Xun Er responded with a smile.

The crowds flowed noisily in every direction. Not one of them seemed to notice that the two had unusual identities as they carried them along into the bustling market district.

"Captain... who are they?"

Only the guard's unusual behavior was noticed by his companion.

"Do you know which clan controls this market district?" The guard looked at the newcomer and suddenly grinned, evidently feeling playful.

"Of course it's the Xiao Clan's... wait, they're from the Xiao Clan?!"

The newcomer perked up and craned his neck to look inside a few times. "Now that I look at them, they really are a match made in heaven, a handsome man and a beautiful woman~"

"How did perfectly good words become so filthy when they came out of your mouth?"

The guard slapped him on the head. "If you can't talk properly, shut up. If you can't keep your mouth shut, I'll sew it closed!"

"Gah..."

The newcomer rubbed his head and grimaced. "I'm telling the truth! What's wrong with that? Could it be that you think...?"

"Just shut up already!"

The guard glared fiercely and rewarded him with another kick. "How can you undermine your senior like this?"

"Hehe~ I was only joking." The newcomer twisted his body to take the kick. "But Captain, judging by the way you're acting... you seem pretty familiar with this young master and Miss!"

He grinned and rubbed his hands together.

If you could get close to people of status, wouldn't you rise to greatness? And you wouldn't bring your brothers along? That wasn't very loyal.

"Familiar? Not really~"

The guard retorted irritably, "The Third Young Master treats everyone this way. Miss rarely comes here, so how would she know me? She only acknowledged me because of the Third Young Master."

The Third Young Master? The newcomer seized on the important point. "The Third Young Master you mentioned is that good-for-nothing... Mmph!"

The words had barely left his mouth before the guard hooked an arm around his neck and clamped a hand over his mouth.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Think about whose food you eat and whose favor you enjoy! Without the Third Young Master, where would people like us outsiders get such a good job?"

The guard leaned close to his ear and scolded him in a low voice. Only after warily sweeping his gaze around several times did he relax. He then flung the newcomer away with a shove of his arm. "Remember to think before you speak. Who do you think set our wages, which are a good deal higher than our peers'?"

"Huh? I-I only just found that out..."

The newcomer rubbed the side of his neck, looking somewhat remorseful. "I'd only heard all those rumors spreading everywhere. If I'd known sooner, I would've kicked myself for believing them..."

"It's not too late to know now~"

The guard snorted, still fuming. "From now on, keep your eyes open when you see him. There are plenty of people watching the young master, openly and secretly. Stay sharp!"

"Yes, yes."

"Judging by the way they acted, your reputation among the mercenaries isn't low, boy~"

Yao Lao still wore that genial smile, but this time, there was a hint of approval in his voice. "Not only can you treat people generously, you can also understand the hardships these mercenaries face and lend them a helping hand. Rare, truly rare..."

He had watched the Xiao Clan take in these mercenaries.

He naturally knew all about the treatment Xiao Yan had personally decided on for them.

They were provided with food, clothing, and cultivation resources. Their work was safe and stable, and their lives were plain but prosperous.

They were treated equally regardless of strength, status, or birth. All they were asked to do was help maintain order.

Aside from that, Xiao Yan had recruited quite a few injured and sick people to open shops. This not only reduced the manpower needed to manage the market district, but also added more goods for sale.

"Setting cultivation aside, you're quite a capable steward."

Yao Lao sighed from the heart.

For a moment, he seemed to see that old friend of his. The Starfall Pavilion's affairs, big and small, had all been arranged in perfect order by him. He had displayed no special methods, yet everyone in the pavilion had worked together with one heart.

"..."

Xiao Yan listened to Yao Lao's praise and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

He couldn't exactly say that he had taken in these mercenaries to use them as expendable material, could he?

He had spent so much effort supporting them simply to reduce the danger to his own people and ensure there would be a group ready to fill the front lines when necessary.

He gradually assigned people to posts outside the clan as well, to avoid the possibility of some heavenly punishment descending one day and wiping out the entire Xiao Clan in one fell swoop.

"I can offer them so many benefits only because I have another goal. If I didn't feed and support them well, why would anyone be willing to risk their lives for me?"

Eh—Xiao Yan really would say that.

"Even the old, weak, sick, and disabled?"

Yao Lao raised a brow.

"If they feel that someone will take care of what comes after them, they'll naturally be even more devoted to risking their lives."

"Heh heh..." Yao Lao smiled without saying anything.

Fine, fine~ You say what you want, and I'll understand it my way. We won't interfere with each other.

Oh, right, right, right~ You really understand reading comprehension.

Xiao Yan grumbled inwardly and chose not to continue arguing about the topic. He withdrew his thoughts and focused on accompanying Xun Er as they wandered around.

For some unknown reason, the girl was especially energetic.

The girl's in a pretty good mood right now~ Does she really like shopping that much?

Seeing Xun Er suddenly brimming with vitality, Xiao Yan's mood improved as well.

Who didn't like an energetic girl?

Xiao Yan swept his finger across the many shops, displaying exceptional generosity. "Is there anything Xun Er wants? I'll pay."

"Anything?"

Xun Er glanced at him.

"Of course~ Today, you can have whatever you want. Just tell me." Xiao Yan counted the Gold Coins in his hand, feeling completely confident.

Although he vaguely felt that something about Xun Er was off, she was only a little girl, after all. What could she possibly want? The money in his hand was more than enough to spend.

"Then... uh..."

Xun Er twirled a strand of hair around her finger. She seemed a little uneasy, hesitating for a long while without managing to say anything comprehensible.

"If you can't think of anything, don't rush."

Xiao Yan assumed that she simply couldn't make up her mind. "Why don't we look around first? I'll accompany you while you browse, and you can think about it along the way. How does that sound?"

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the instant he finished speaking, Xun Er visibly seemed to recharge to full power.

"Okay~"

Eek—

Xiao Yan shuddered. He was used to her clear, even tone in daily life. Hearing her suddenly speak in such a coquettish voice was genuinely jarring.

This girl actually liked shopping that much?

How had he never noticed before...

"Bastard! What the hell are you selling? Are you trying to swindle this young master out of his money?"

As if destined to happen, a discordant voice cut in at just the right moment.

Xiao Yan immediately felt a headache coming on.

This was why he didn't like going out. Every two or three trips, he was bound to run into some kind of trouble.

Could it be that protagonists were born with a passive ability to trigger events? Wherever they stood, they became magnets for trouble.

Yet among everyone present, someone was even more agitated than he was...

Xun Er closed her eyes when she heard the voice and took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself.

She opened her eyes.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er bared her teeth slightly. "Why don't I go deal with him?"