Hongchen Mansion, reception hall.
After three rounds of tea, Gu Yuejin set down his cup and proposed taking Huo Yuhao out for a look around.
"I just got here, so I'd like to show this silly apprentice the sights of Mingdu and see how your country's Soul Tool Technology is used in everyday life."
"After all, traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books."
It was a perfectly respectable excuse. In truth, he simply wanted to take his apprentice out to see the world—and do a little shopping along the way.
"M-me! I know Mingdu better than anyone!"
As soon as Gu Yuejin finished speaking, Meng Hongchen eagerly volunteered, her wide eyes practically shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"
"Brother Gu Yue, I know all the best places to eat and have fun in Mingdu! I'll be your guide. I promise I won't take you anywhere disappointing!"
Her eagerness to stick to him at once made Xiao Hongchen's temple twitch.
"No!"
Xiao Hongchen cut in with a cold expression. "I'm going too."
"What for? To be a third wheel?" Meng Hongchen shot him an annoyed look.
"Ahem... I happen to have run out of some rare metals, so I need to buy more."
Xiao Hongchen came up with a flimsy excuse, but kept his eyes fixed on Gu Yuejin, full of suspicion.
As if he'd let some "old man" of unknown origins take his little sister out alone!
What if she got spirited away?
As a responsible... ahem, older brother, he had to keep a close watch!
Watching the three young people interact, Jing Hongchen was so amused that even his beard trembled.
"Wonderful, wonderful. It's good for young people to spend time together."
"Xiao, Meng, make sure you look after our young friend Gu Yue."
Mingdu, Soul Tool Commercial Pedestrian Street.
When the four of them stepped onto the street, the overwhelming sense of the future left Huo Yuhao, a country boy, completely dazzled.
Tall buildings lined both sides of the street, their exterior walls hung with enormous Soul Tool screens showing all kinds of advertisements.
Colorful Soul Tool Streetlights lit the night sky as brightly as day, while Cleaning Soul Tools moved busily across the ground, activated by passersby.
The pedestrians were dressed in stylish, well-tailored clothes, utterly unlike the traditional long robes and fitted outfits of the Three Kingdoms.
"Wow... Master, what's that thing flying in the sky?"
"That's a Soul Tool Delivery Machine."
"And what's that metal box driving along the ground?"
"..."
Huo Yuhao was like a country bumpkin visiting the big city. Everything was new to him, and his mouth hung open the whole time.
"Country bumpkin."
Walking behind them with his arms crossed, Xiao Hongchen gave a disdainful snort.
His voice had been quiet, but Meng Hongchen still heard him.
"Xiao Hongchen, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut!"
Meng Hongchen turned and glared at him, then faced Gu Yuejin again with a smile that blossomed in an instant.
"Brother Gu Yue, the biggest Soul Tool Mall in Mingdu is just ahead—Judaoge. It has all kinds of rare materials and diagrams!"
"It's also one of Mingdu's landmarks. The Rotating Restaurant at the top offers a view of the whole city at night!"
Looking at the street, steeped in technology and commerce, Gu Yuejin couldn't help but marvel.
"Now this is living."
"Compared to this place, Shrek City is just a big market town."
The group entered an exceptionally luxurious shop.
It specialized in rare metals and high-level Core Array Diagrams. A single piece of metal could cost as much as an ordinary family's yearly expenses.
"Hm? This Sinking Silver is pretty pure."
Gu Yuejin stopped in front of a display case, his gaze settling on a piece of metal that gleamed with a deep silver light.
Just as he was about to reach for it and take a closer look,
another hand suddenly reached out beside him, reaching for the same piece of Sinking Silver.
Their hands brushed lightly in midair.
"Sorry."
Gu Yuejin reflexively withdrew his hand and turned to look.
Standing beside him was a "young man" in luxurious white casual clothes.
The youth looked about fifteen or sixteen, with unusually fair skin and delicate features. A folding fan in hand completed the look of a dashing young nobleman.
But those lively, sly eyes betrayed a coy arrogance she couldn't quite hide.
Passing herself off as a boy?
Gu Yuejin needed only one glance to roll his eyes inwardly.
That shoddy disguise would fool only the blind.
No Adam's apple, and a faint scent of face powder.
Most importantly, this plot...
She bumps into a disguised, willful princess or young lady, then they start a romantic comedy full of bickering?
What the hell? This is a cliché from some ancient romance drama from ten years ago.
Gu Yuejin ranted inwardly, but kept his expression calm. He gave a slight nod, maintaining a polite distance.
"You were looking at this piece of Sinking Silver too, sir?"
"Sir?"
A hint of amusement flashed in the "young man's" eyes at the form of address. She wasn't offended; instead, she sized Gu Yuejin up with interest.
What a handsome man!
And that bearing... he was more unusual than any noble she had ever met.
The "young man" snapped her folding fan shut and glanced past Gu Yuejin at Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. Surprise flickered in her eyes.
The Twin Stars of the Hongchen Family?
Those two usually had their noses in the air. Why were they following this man around like attendants?
Interesting.
"My name is Xu Tian... ahem, Xu Tian."
The "young man" stepped forward with an easy smile.
"You look unfamiliar, sir. You're not from around here, are you?"
"If the Hongchen siblings are keeping you company, you must be someone important?"
Meng Hongchen frowned at the sudden arrival of this "young man."
She felt like she recognized him from somewhere, but where?
Xiao Hongchen, who had been wearing a cold expression, looked slightly startled the moment he saw the "young man."
That unruly air, with a hint of imperial bearing...
Who else could it be but the palace's little troublemaker?
"We've only just met. Why ask about my background?"
Gu Yuejin smiled faintly without taking the bait.
"If Young Master Xu likes this piece of Sinking Silver, then you may have it."
He turned to leave, moving with easy decisiveness, without the slightest hesitation.
Xu Tianzhen was taken aback.
Everyone usually fawned over her when they saw her. It made no difference even when she dressed as a man.
But this man was actually ignoring her?
"Hey! Don't go!"
Xu Tianzhen's eyes shifted. Instead of chasing after him, she called out to Gu Yuejin's retreating back.
"Since we're fated to meet, consider this piece of Sinking Silver my gift to you!"
"Remember, this young master is Xu Tian. We'll meet again!"
With that, she tossed a heavy bag of Gold Soul Coins to the shop attendant, then gave her folding fan a carefree wave and turned to leave.
All that remained was her mysterious silhouette.
"Strange."
Gu Yuejin shook his head, picked up the piece of Sinking Silver, and casually tossed it to Huo Yuhao.
"Take it. You can practice with it when we get back."
"Master... who was that? She was strange." Huo Yuhao hugged the Sinking Silver, looking baffled.
"A good person."
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