Strange Reactions from Bystanders

Is this the place?

Looking at the map shop in front of her, named "Ancient Map," which exuded an antique atmosphere, Xiao Yi Xian turned to look at Xiao Yan beside her.

She found it hard to believe that a Dou Huang expert would live in seclusion in such an inconspicuous place.

"Perhaps this is what it means to live a life of quiet seclusion in the city."

Xiao Yan smiled, then led Xiao Yi Xian into the shop.

The shop wasn't very spacious, but the faint glow of the two Moonlight Stone illuminated it quite brightly. A quick glance around revealed a number of people buying maps, indicating that business was booming.

Xiao Yan's gaze swept around and finally stopped on the old man behind the counter, who was making a map with his head down.

Although his hair was completely white, his withered hands, which held the drawing pen, were still steady and strong.

However, if not told otherwise, no one would guess that this person was the famous Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire back then!

Watching Elder Hai intently drawing a map, Xiao Yan didn't disturb him. His gaze swept over the large number of maps on the counter, and he picked one up with great interest, turning it over and over to examine it. The clear routes on the map made him nod in satisfaction.

To excel at one's profession is not something everyone can do. Whether it's cultivating Dou Qi or creating maps, this Ice Emperor does it exceptionally well.

Then, he looked around.

There were more than ten customers inside, most of them men.

But I had a feeling they weren't really there to buy a map; they seemed a bit... distracted?

Xiao Yan didn't bother to think about it further. He glanced around again, then his eyes narrowed. He strolled over to an old-fashioned wooden shelf in the corner of the shop.

This wooden frame looks quite old, with some yellowed maps randomly piled inside. Judging from the tattered marks on the surface of these maps, they seem to be failed products from the mapmaking process.

Xiao Yan glanced at the old man and saw that he was still drawing a map. He smiled, and then very impolitely flipped through the pile of yellowed maps and found a tattered picture that was only the size of a palm.

The familiar material pleased him, and he completely ignored the musty smell that wafted from the map as he searched for it.

Stroking the map in his hand, Xiao Yan smiled and was about to speak.

At this moment, Hai Bodong, behind the counter, though not looking up, seemed to have noticed that Xiao Yan had found something extraordinary. His aged voice echoed calmly in the room:

"You want to buy a map of the Tagor Desert, right?"

Hearing the old man's question, Xiao Yan slowly walked to the counter, smiled and nodded, saying, "Sir, could you please give me the most accurate and detailed desert map?"

"The items are on the counter, please choose one."

The old man didn't even raise his head, and said something indifferently.

This "take it or leave it" attitude makes him seem nothing like a businessman.

Logically speaking, it's unlikely that a business like this would have so many customers, yet there are quite a few here, which is rather strange.

Of course, Xiao Yan also knew that Elder Hai had only spoken up because he had found the map fragment, so after smiling, he walked directly to Hai Bodong, opened his palm to reveal the ancient map fragment, and then asked:

"Sir, do you have any more fragments of this map here?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's question, Hai Bodong, who was concentrating on drawing a map, trembled almost imperceptibly in his hand, causing the carefully drawn route to deviate.

With a slight frown, Hai Bodong finally raised his head slowly, his gaze sweeping over the tattered map in Xiao Yan's hand, a strange meaning flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

Looking at the raised, aged face, Xiao Yan also took a good look at it. Although there was a horrifying scar from the left cheek to the corner of the eye, and many wrinkles on the face, the flaws did not detract from the overall beauty. When the old man was young, he was definitely a top-tier handsome man.

Now, you could only call him a handsome old man with disfigurement.

"You... have seen fragments of this map before?"

Hai Bodong sized up Xiao Yan and was surprised to find that he couldn't see through the aura of the man and woman in front of him. After pondering for a moment, he asked with a hint of curiosity, "Ah."

"Yes, I've seen it before. I'm determined to get this."

Xiao Yan nodded and said firmly.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong shook his head and declined lightly, "Sorry, someone has already bought this item; it's just being temporarily stored with me."

Xiao Yan was taken aback upon hearing this, and a familiar feeling welled up in his heart.

Something's not right here!

"Sir, could you please tell me who bought it?"

Xiao Yan couldn't help but press for an answer.

"Little guy, stop eyeing this map. And don't bother trying to find out about the buyer; I won't reveal it. Also, don't even think about forcibly taking it; it won't do you any good."

Elder Hai waved his hand and said calmly.

The commotion attracted everyone's attention, and many people looked at Xiao Yan with a hint of sympathy.

Where did this outsider come from? Doesn't he know that this shop and the Mittel Auction House have such a close relationship?

Xiao Yan didn't notice this detail. He simply let out a slow breath, shook his head helplessly, and used his Dou Qi to transmit his voice to Hai Bodong, revealing his true strength:

"Indeed, I really can't just take it from someone who was once Dou Emperor level expert."

"Click!"

The ink brush, which was moving slowly in his hand, suddenly struck something and broke with a crisp sound.

Hai Bodong stared at the large black mark on the map. After a long while, he raised his head and gazed at Xiao Yan. A faint chill gradually emerged in his cloudy eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our shop is closing early today. Please leave as soon as possible! Otherwise..."

Hai Bodong's eyes grew increasingly cold. A moment later, a chilling and powerful aura emanated from the old man, instantly suppressing the crowd who were about to watch the spectacle, causing them to tremble in fear!

"Such a powerful aura! This old man... this gentleman is actually a Dou Ling expert?"

The customers inside the store had no choice but to leave and go outside. They felt much less oppressed and were quite surprised. For some reason, they knew that this store was not simple, but no one could have imagined that this ordinary old man would actually be a Dou Ling expert!

Just as the icy aura pressed down on Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian, Old Yao's soul power enveloped them, freeing them from the oppressive force of Hai Bodong's aura.

"Yes, no wonder the Mittel Auction House values this old gentleman so much, now I understand!"

The whispers of the crowd sounded like a bolt from the blue to Xiao Yan.

What?

What's going on here?