Out for a Stroll

—Spirit City

Murong Huai and Bibi Dong walked hand in hand along Spirit City's bustling streets.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the plane trees, spilling across the stone-paved road and leaving dappled shadows.

The two little ones wore brand-new festive outfits. Murong Huai's blue robe was embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, while Bibi Dong's white dress was trimmed with pale purple lace. Their steps were light and lively, like two cheerful little birds.

"Brother Huai, look at that!" Bibi Dong suddenly stopped and pointed at a stall by the street where a vendor was making sugar paintings.

The vendor was a white-haired old man. He scooped up amber-colored syrup with a copper spoon and swiftly traced shapes across a stone slab.

Murong Huai leaned in for a closer look. The syrup seemed to come alive in the old man's hands, transforming in the blink of an eye into a Phoenix with its wings spread wide.

"I want the Phoenix!" Bibi Dong lifted her little face, her eyes sparkling. Murong Huai pulled a Gold Soul Coin from his pocket and handed it to the vendor.

The old man smiled as he continued his work. Before long, a lifelike sugar Phoenix was complete. Bibi Dong carefully took it from him. The sugar Phoenix caught the sunlight and gleamed with a crystalline sheen. She couldn't resist taking a bite, and the sweet taste made her eyes narrow in delight.

"So sweet..."

Bibi Dong loved all these novel little things, and Murong Huai patiently indulged her. Then Bibi Dong stopped at a street vendor's stall and gazed at the candied hawthorns laid out on the grass mat, blinking.

"Brother Murong, I want one of those!"

"Sure." Murong Huai handed the vendor a Gold Soul Coin, and the man accepted it with an excited expression.

"Oh my, young master, I can't make change for this!"

Not everyone was like Murong Huai, born into a top family and surrounded by Gold Soul Coins from childhood. Ordinary commoners mostly dealt with Copper Soul Coins.

"It's fine. Keep the change!" Murong Huai waved his hand. That bit of money was nothing to them.

"Oh my, thank you, young master! Thank you, young lady!" The vendor was overjoyed. A single Gold Soul Coin was enough to cover his family's expenses for several months.

With that, the vendor handed them two candied hawthorns. The two ate as they walked toward the street ahead.

"Tsk, look at His Highness the Holy Son and Miss Dong'er. They really are a perfect match..."

"Both of them have peerless talent. I'm so jealous..."

"Oh, my..."

Not far away, four figures each held a candied hawthorn, eating as they watched Murong Huai and Bibi Dong with fond smiles.

"Pay for what you're eating!"

Suddenly, the vendor's sharp shout brought the four back to their senses. The atmosphere turned awkward. Ju Qinglan set a Gold Soul Coin on the table, and then the four hurried after them.

Murong Huai and Bibi Dong wandered along, stopping now and then to listen to the street vendors' calls and soak in the bustle of everyday life.

The two wandered around until they stopped in front of a shop selling simple Soul Tools. Murong Huai spotted a glowing jade pendant inside, split into two pieces. He led Bibi Dong into the shop, pointed at the pendant, and asked:

"Is this pendant a Soul Tool?"

The shopkeeper was a woman in a long robe, with a poised and dignified air. Hearing Murong Huai's question, she chuckled and stepped forward.

"Well, what a lovely couple! This handsome young master is right—the pendant is indeed a Soul Tool. It can be split in two for two people to wear, and it has a very special effect. After recognizing its master through blood, it can block one attack below the Soul Emperor level for each wearer. The two wearers can also sense one another."

The Soul Tools in shops like these had either been passed down through the generations or found in some secret realm. They had useful effects, of course, but none were particularly high-grade.

"Good. How much? I'll take it." Murong Huai bought it on the spot.

"This one isn't cheap, young master. It costs a thousand Gold Soul Coins." The shopkeeper covered her mouth as she spoke.

At that, Murong Huai took out a silver card worth two thousand Gold Soul Coins and set it on the table. Then he pointed to a delicate crystal bangle on a nearby shelf.

"There are two thousand Gold Soul Coins on this card. Add that bangle and charge me for both."

The shopkeeper froze for a moment, then swayed over, took the bangle down, and handed it to Murong Huai with a smile.

"Young master, you have excellent taste. This bangle is a Storage Soul Tool with ten cubic meters of space. It normally costs twelve hundred Gold Soul Coins, but for a handsome young master like you, I'll waive the price."

"Here, young master. Take it."

Murong Huai took the pendant and gave one half, along with the bangle, to Bibi Dong.

"Dong'er, we'll each keep one half of the pendant. I already have a Soul Tool, so you take the bangle too."

Bibi Dong happily accepted them, blinking as she beamed.

"Thank you, Brother Murong."

Bibi Dong came from a commoner family and naturally couldn't afford a Soul Tool.

Then the two turned and left the shop.

They continued strolling through the streets. Time passed quickly, and the sun gradually sank toward the horizon. As evening fell, people began to leave the streets one after another.

Murong Huai and Bibi Dong were getting a little tired, so they decided to return to Murong Mansion. Suddenly, a woman's cry rang out from somewhere up ahead:

"Stop! Put my child down!"

Murong Huai's Spiritual Power had improved, giving him keen senses. He clearly saw a woman chasing after a man.

The two ran around a corner. The man suddenly turned, his expression vicious as he glared at the woman.

"That's enough! Keep chasing me, and don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

But the woman pleaded, "That's your daughter too! She's still so young. You can't sell her to them!"

The man replied viciously:

"Hmph, what use is a useless girl? She awakened a Trash Martial Soul. I might as well sell her and get twenty Gold Soul Coins..."

"No! You can't take her away! Otherwise, I'll go to Spirit Hall and have them arrest you!" The woman rushed forward, begging desperately, even invoking Spirit Hall to threaten him. But the man angrily kicked her away. She crashed into the wall and spat blood.

"Fine! You want me dead, you damn bitch? Then don't blame me!"

As he spoke, Soul Power surged around him. He was clearly a Soul Master. One white and one yellow Spirit Ring appeared, and then a dagger materialized in his hand. He hurled it at the woman. She was just an ordinary person and couldn't dodge in time, so she could only close her eyes and wait to die.

Just as the dagger was about to pierce the woman, a golden sword sheath appeared and knocked it aside. The man started in alarm and turned to look.

"Who are you? How dare you meddle in my business!"

The newcomers were Murong Huai and Bibi Dong. Murong Huai held the Immortal Lord's Nine-Arrival Sword, its point angled toward the sky. The sword sheath swept through the air and slid back onto the blade.

"Hmph! Using your own child to get rich—you're scum!"

As he spoke, swordlight flashed around Murong Huai. A streak of sword energy shot from the blade and slammed into the man, hurling him against the wall. He spat blood, clutched his chest, and cried out in pain.

Seeing this, the woman hurriedly scooped up her daughter. She bowed to Murong Huai in gratitude, then turned and left.

"Let's go."

Murong Huai withdrew his Martial Soul, glanced at the man groaning on the ground with disgust in his eyes, then turned and left with Bibi Dong.

However, as Murong Huai turned away, he quietly brought his right hand together behind his back and gave a small wave. Then he continued toward Murong Mansion with Bibi Dong.

The man on the ground had just been congratulating himself for escaping with his life. He struggled to his feet, when suddenly a flash of blades appeared. His head jerked and fell to the ground.

Next, several golden blades appeared and chopped him into mincemeat. The air filled with the stench of blood. Black mist churned, and the remains vanished. A milky-white streak of light swept past, and the bloody stench in the alley disappeared, replaced by a delicate fragrance.