Marketplace Conflict

"Young Master Xiao Han... could you sleep with Qinglin tonight?" Biting her cherry lips with pearl teeth, she mustered the courage to voice such a request, her pretty melon-seed face already flushed crimson.

Oh, how embarrassing... I... how could I say something like that!

Though Qinglin felt shy inside, her body was honest—the right hand clutching tightly at Xiao Han's robe was proof enough.

As for Xiao Han on the other side, he was a bit speechless. Were kids in this fantasy world really this precocious?

He'd heard plenty of stories about wealthy young masters his age who'd long been indulging in nightly revelry, and personal maids like Qinglin offering themselves up was probably common in this world too.

But Xiao Han wasn't depraved enough to lust after a twelve-year-old little loli, even if she had developed quite maturely.

Still, looking at the trembling Qinglin, Xiao Han sighed. This girl had no idea what she'd picked up from those Xiao Clan maids, always filling her head with strange thoughts.

Sure, he'd eventually eat this cute little apple, but not now.

"Fine, since you insist, I'll stay tonight. Just tonight, though." Ruffling Qinglin's soft hair, Xiao Han gave a slight smile.

Hearing Xiao Han's words, Qinglin was too happy to speak.

Has the young master finally understood my feelings?

Xiao Han could tell she was overthinking again. Shaking his head, he washed up, climbed into bed, and held Qinglin, who curled up like an obedient little puppy, as they drifted off to sleep.

Nothing happened that night. When Xiao Han woke, the little loli Qinglin had already risen and brought him a towel, water, and his homemade toothbrush and toothpaste.

Letting Qinglin help him dress and wash, Xiao Han couldn't help but sigh at his own decadence. In the past, his self-reliant self would never have accepted being served by others.

Truly, the evils of capitalism!

After being doted on by Qinglin for over a year, Xiao Han had long grown used to it. If she ever left him, he'd be at a loss without her care.

As for the toothbrush and toothpaste... unlike Xiao Yan, that transmigrator who could only reminisce about airplanes, Xiao Han had spent his years here trying to recreate bits of Earth. At least daily necessities were non-negotiable—he absolutely couldn't stand using willow twigs and salt to brush his teeth. That would be worse than death!

So, relying on ideas from his past life, he'd crafted items that gained great popularity among Wutan City's upper circles. The clan had even helped promote his shop's goods as specialty products, netting the Xiao Clan a tidy profit over the years.

Even Xiao Zhan, with ample funds, had consumed many valuable pills and heavenly treasures, reaching the 9-Star Dou Grandmaster level. With a stroke of luck, he might even break through to Dou Ling.

Tossing a gold card from the Mittel Auction House in his hand, Xiao Han finished breakfast and led the adorable Qinglin out of the Xiao residence, heading to the auction house to buy some supplies.

Since he planned to head to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to seize that cave where Xiao Yan obtained the Purple Cloud Wings and the fragmented flame map, he needed to be fully prepared before setting out!

Right now, he urgently needed a weapon—one that could easily tear through a magical beast's scales.

But whether to use a blade or a sword, Xiao Han was torn.

From his understanding, in the Honor of Kings universe, blades and swords weren't strictly separated; they were unified under Sword Dao, much like how Japan's katana-derived techniques were called swordsmanship.

Cultural differences had blurred the line between blades and swords in that world.

Take Kai, for instance—he wielded a long blue blade, yet the system judged him as having exceptional Sword Dao talent. It left Xiao Han utterly baffled.

Holding Qinglin's tender hand as they walked the streets, Xiao Han pondered, while Qinglin beside him was in high spirits. Wherever she went, as long as she was with the young master, that was what made her happiest.

The guards of the Xiao Family Market clearly recognized this Xiao Clan genius and the little girl beside him, known as "Wutan City's Cutest Personal Maid."

The bustling market was filled not only with shops selling various materials but even more with snacks, trinkets, and the like.

Xiao Han treated Qinglin exceptionally well, never skimping on money, so as a maid, she could financially outclass most Xiao Clan disciples.

Just then, an uninvited guest arrived, snapping Xiao Han out of his thoughts.

"Oh, if it isn't little Qinglin? Long time no see—you've gotten even prettier!" A frivolous voice rang out, wiping the smile off Qinglin's face as she shrank behind Xiao Han like a frightened animal.

Xiao Han frowned and looked up to see a splendid youth surrounded by a group of guards, approaching the master and maid like a star surrounded by moons.

The youth was around twenty, fairly handsome, but his complexion was pale. His eyes burned with heat as they locked onto the trembling little loli hiding behind Xiao Han's slender frame, a gaze laced with undisguised lust.

Xiao Han reached out and took Qinglin's hand, giving her a warm smile to reassure her. Then, the warmth on his face swiftly turned into bone-chilling, murderous cold.

"And here I thought I'd stepped in some stinking dog shit. Turns out it's Young Master Jia Lie Ao.

What a damn nuisance! I can't even go shopping without running into a waste like you—ruining my whole mood!

A beautiful day, over the moment I meet Jia Lie Ao."

"What did you say, Xiao Han?"

At Xiao Han's merciless cursing, the youth's frivolous expression faded, his face darkening. Such a blunt insult was too much even for him, with his usual fake smile.

Looking at this jumping clown, Xiao Han sneered: "You only reached Dou Practitioner at twenty. 'Waste' is the only word I can think of for trash like you."

"Kid, don't think just because you've become a Dou Practitioner you can act tough."

Jia Lie Ao pushed past his guards, stepped up to Xiao Han, cracked his knuckles, and glared: "You're just a rookie who just broke through! And me? I'm already at the 3-Star Dou Practitioner level! No matter how talented you are, right now, I'm stronger than you!

Do you dare accept my challenge?!"

Xiao Han deliberately concealed his cultivation, and without using any Dou Qi, Jia Lie Ao naturally couldn't see through it.

"Scram! I don't have time to play with you today."

Xiao Han shoved Jia Lie Ao aside and pulled Qinglin past him.

He had no interest in even glancing at such trash. Of course, beneath the surface, every muscle in Xiao Han's body was tensed, his Dou Qi—far denser than an ordinary Dou Practitioner's—flowing slowly. If Jia Lie Ao tried anything, he'd kill him in one blow!

"Kid! Do you dare accept my challenge?! Let's bet your maid! Whoever wins gets Miss Qinglin!"

Before he had even walked ten meters, Jia Lie Ao's relentless voice came from behind, causing Xiao Han to stop in his tracks.

Feeling Qinglin's body trembling from fear and tension beside him, Xiao Han closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his black irises had turned a dark blue in an instant, just like the Demonic Flame!

He let out a long sigh, then turned around to face the frivolous Splendid Youth before him.

"I once warned you not to set your sights on Qinglin. Why won't you listen?"

Though Xiao Han's expression was blank, the undisguised killing intent in his eyes made Jia Lie Ao instinctively step back twice.

But the next moment, Jia Lie Ao's shame at his own cowardice turned into fury.

'He's just a newcomer who's barely a Dou Practitioner, while I'm a Three Stars Dou Practitioner—and I'm scared of a single look from him?!'

As if sensing Xiao Han's emotional surge, the Demon Armor in his Dantian rejoiced. It cared for nothing else; it loved it when its host grew violent and bloodthirsty!

Under these circumstances, the Demon Armor actively resonated with Xiao Han. The intangible Demonic Might and overwhelming killing intent condensed into something as sharp as a blade, as if it would strike Jia Lie Ao in the next moment.

And Jia Lie Ao, that weak-willed waste, couldn't withstand the Demon Armor's ferocious aura at all. He was so frightened that he fell flat on his backside.

His mind screamed in fury.

'Why?! Why does a mere Dou Practitioner have such a terrifying aura?!'

"Don't come near me! Don't you dare come near me!"

"Protect the Young Master!"

Stared down by Xiao Han's gaze, which looked at him like a dead man, Jia Lie Ao scrambled backward in terror. But the few guards beside him stepped forward under the pressure, shielding Jia Lie Ao behind them.

They were all slaves of the Jia Lie Family. If anything happened to Jia Lie Ao, the Jia Lie Family would have no place for them! In the worst case, they would even be buried alive with him!