So I'm Actually Still a Child, and That Sword Manual Is So Expensive

"Buying large quantities of Talismans and precious pills."

After seeing the visitors off, Luo Fanchen sipped his tea, a faint worry stirring in his heart.

Not long after the Clear River Sect last began buying Talismans and precious pills, the secret realm had officially opened. In the battle that followed, Rogue Cultivators in the five immortal markets under its control had suffered heavy losses, while its fellow vassal sect, the Yi Wood Sect, had made a fortune.

"Is war coming again? The Yi Wood Sect must have won a decisive victory last time."

Luo Fanchen sighed and paced back and forth, feeling a growing sense of danger.

The Yi Wood Sect was also a vassal of the Luo Shen Pavilion and a rival of the Clear River Sect. Both sides tacitly kept their conflict among low-level cultivators and had not openly broken ties, but Rogue Cultivators like them bore the brunt of it.

Whenever conflict loomed, Rogue Cultivators were the first to be conscripted.

"I need to stock up on merit points, just in case."

Luo Fanchen murmured to himself. Rogue Cultivators had only two ways to avoid conscription.

The first was a donation. A cultivator in the middle levels of Qi Refining could pay ten Spirit Stones for an exemption. He could not afford that even if he sold himself.

The second was merit points, earned by completing tasks issued by the Clear River Sect. The amount awarded depended on the difficulty. Exempting both him and Mo Xue would take roughly a thousand points.

"That shouldn't be too difficult."

Luo Fanchen pressed his lips together. He had already planned to hunt down bandits and refine their souls, so taking on bandit-suppression tasks would be killing two birds with one stone.

Putting the matter aside, he opened the gifts from his two new neighbors. Granny Zhang had given him a Centennial Ginseng root. Though ungraded, it was generous by Rogue Cultivator standards; ten such roots were worth one Spirit Dust.

Old Wang's gift seemed to be a small flask of liquor. Luo Fanchen cautiously brought it to his nose and wafted the scent toward himself.

"Spirit Bamboo Brew? First-Rank Low-Grade spirit wine? Has that old man drunk himself stupid? Why is he being so generous?"

Luo Fanchen paused. Though the flask held only about three ounces, it was worth three Spirit Dust.

His eyes narrowed at once. "Qiu Yun."

"I'm here, Uncle Luo."

Qiu Yun's little head popped up from the floor, her dewdrop eyes blinking.

Thanks to the Soul Banner, she could manifest her Soul Body anywhere in the residence.

"Check it for anything nasty."

Luo Fanchen bent to offer her the flask. He wanted to stroke her dark hair, but only a little of her head was showing, just beyond his reach.

A sweet smile curved Qiu Yun's lips. She manifested her upper body and took the flask, tilting her head up to nuzzle Luo Fanchen's palm. Her pretty face filled with contentment.

She did not neglect the task. Keeping one hand on the back of Luo Fanchen's hand so his warm touch would linger, she used Baleful Spirit Command to summon a Wraith and fed it three drops of the wine, one at a time.

"Nothing happened?"

A long while passed. The Wraith's Soul Body remained intact; nourished by the spiritual energy, it had even grown more solid.

"Uncle Luo, that rotten old man meant you harm. He tried to poison you."

The smile on Qiu Yun's face slowly stiffened. Her narrow eyes held a sharp chill, her negative emotions plainly amplified by the Soul Banner.

"The wine contains a hidden poison that attacks True Essence. It's formed from some kind of Soul Power and is viciously insidious."

"Once someone drinks it, their True Essence slowly consumes itself. The cultivator won't be able to tell what's causing it, and their cultivation level will fall within two months."

Qiu Yun's pretty face turned icy, her dark hair billowing as a cold wind howled through the hall. Only when Luo Fanchen tapped her forehead with a curled finger did she come back to herself.

"Un-Uncle Luo, did I scare you just now?"

Qiu Yun covered her face, her voice trembling with embarrassment. She had looked so ugly when she was fierce. Would Uncle Luo think she lacked restraint?

Of course, she had hardly shown any restraint since she started sneaking into his bed at night.

"You look lovely no matter what, Qiu Yun."

Luo Fanchen smiled, lifted her chin, and gently scratched it with his fingertip as though petting a cat.

Soothed, the girl lost all trace of hostility. She tipped up her face and closed her eyes in pleasure.

"I'll handle this. Don't tell Mo Xue. I'll take care of it, so she can focus on cultivating without worry."

"I'll do as you say, Uncle Luo."

Qiu Yun's face grew serene. The turmoil in her vanished, and the chilling wind in the hall gradually faded.

Outside the hall, Mo Xue gripped her sword hilt and silently watched their closeness. Her lips parted, but in the end, she said nothing.

She knew Master Luo was protecting her and did not blame him.

She was simply too weak. If she could raise her cultivation quickly, she could help Master Luo in the future.

Ever since entering the cultivation world, she had felt a powerful sense of urgency. She knew Master Luo was not as all-powerful as she had once believed. She could not keep sheltering beneath his wings, seeking safety.

She was afraid and uncertain, but to protect Master Luo and Qiu Yun, she would force herself to step forward.

"How strange."

Mo Xue pressed her lips together and drew her sword. Her pretty face appeared in the blade's reflection.

Her forehead was wrinkled, her brows knotted, and her thoughts refused to settle. Whenever she saw Master Luo stroking Qiu Yun and showing her such tender concern, her chest tightened for no reason. It always felt as though something was missing.

Qiu Yun and Master Luo were both precious to her. She ought to be happy they got along so well.

"How strange..."

Three days later, Luo Fanchen finished his breathing exercises. Having finally sorted through the assorted Demonic Treasures Ling Youdao had left behind, he called Mo Xue over and stepped out of the residence with her for the first time.

They were going to browse the market. He hoped to buy Mo Xue a Sword Manual and also wanted spiritual wood and other materials to make a Puppet.

Old Wang had taught him a lesson. From now on, he did not intend to have Mo Xue greet strangers and risk needless trouble.

A First-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Puppet would allow Qiu Yun to possess it and move about.

It would not be as versatile as a flesh-and-blood body, but it would be more than capable of greeting visitors and guarding the residence.

The two walked out of the Shantytown District and into the outer ring. Cries from vendors suddenly swelled around them, and stalls crowded both sides of the street. Most vendors were mortals, but Luo Fanchen did not pass them by. He led Mo Xue along slowly, keeping an eye out for bargains.

He really did find a few small bargains along the way: sheets of yellow talisman paper, badly damaged or sold individually.

Luo Fanchen bought them all for about one Spirit Dust.

"Mo Xue? Are you unhappy?"

After a fierce bout of haggling, Luo Fanchen bought talisman-making materials in bulk at slightly below market price, spending two Spirit Stones.

He breathed a little easier, then turned to Mo Xue. The girl stood beside him with her head bowed, listless. She had barely responded to him along the way, and that faint distance between them had risen from the ashes.

Yet his Admiration Points had climbed considerably. He had used them all before, but since meeting Old Wang, the total had risen to sixty.

"I'm fine."

Mo Xue seemed about to speak, then stopped. Her lips pushed into a small pout, and her face lacked its usual spark.

Qiu Yun had spent a great deal of Soul Power these past two days and had quietly slipped into Master Luo's bed every night. Several times, Mo Xue had wanted to get close to him, but could only give up. She tried returning to her cultivation, yet could not settle her mind. Before she knew it, she would find herself hiding by the wall and listening in.

Qiu Yun must have known, hadn't she? As a Banner Spirit, her younger sister could sense everything in the residence through the Soul Banner.

Mo Xue wanted to talk to Qiu Yun about it, but felt too embarrassed.

"Are you sure?"

Luo Fanchen lightly tapped her forehead with a curled finger. The girl turned her head away with a little huff, but reached for his hand and gave his palm a gentle squeeze.

"Master Luo... am I useless?"

"What makes you say that?"

Luo Fanchen's voice was gentle. He closed his hand around hers and drew her a little closer.

"My cultivation has been so slow lately... You've given me Spirit-Gathering Pills and Spirit Stones, but I haven't improved at all."

Mo Xue's shoulders drooped, her pretty face dimming.

After spending time with A Niu and Xiao Cui these past few days, she had learned what things cost in Flying Cloud Market, and just how much a Spirit Stone could buy.

Only disciples of great Aristocratic Clans could afford Spirit-Gathering Pills. Even cultivators in Late Qi Refining would not be extravagant enough to cultivate directly with Spirit Stones.

Master Luo had done everything he could to give her the best conditions, yet she could not settle her thoughts. Nearly seven days had passed without her opening a single acupoint.

"More haste, less speed. You're already progressing very quickly, Mo Xue."

Luo Fanchen comforted her patiently. He had long known she lacked security and confidence.

She needed repeated reassurance of her place in his heart to feel safe and strengthen her confidence. He never tired of giving it to her.

"Until you've grown strong, I'll protect you."

But how long can you protect me, Master Luo?

Mo Xue's lips moved, but she did not voice the thought.

Master Luo was only at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining. His cultivation did not even match Granny Zhang's. The shackles imposed by a Five-Element Spirit Root were too severe.

She did not look down on Master Luo. She was simply afraid.

Afraid he would be conscripted by the sect, or killed by a Demonic Cultivator who cared nothing for reason. Afraid that by the time she entered a Dao Sect, his vitality would have declined and he would no longer be able to reach Foundation Establishment.

She... was afraid of losing Master Luo.

Cultivators with Five-Element Spirit Roots had impure spiritual energy, and rumor held that they were born with much shorter lifespans than ordinary people.

Master Luo already struggled with his own cultivation, yet he spent most of his resources and energy raising her. His progress was bound to stall.

"I want to protect you too, Master Luo..."

Mo Xue's eyes dimmed. Without realizing it, she gripped his hand so tightly that pain pricked his palm.

"But I'm only holding you back. Qiu Yun can help you cultivate, protect the residence, and fight for you. I'm nothing but a burden."

"How could you be a burden? You're very important to me, Mo Xue. What you do matters just as much as what Qiu Yun does."

"Hmph, you're lying, Master Luo! I haven't been able to beat Qiu Yun for ages."

Mo Xue gave him a reproachful look. When alone, she spent her time either cultivating or practicing her swordsmanship.

She did not want to disturb Master Luo's cultivation, so she usually sparred with Qiu Yun. At first, her mortal sword techniques had let her win a few exchanges. But once Qiu Yun had replenished her Soul Power, she had overwhelmed Mo Xue completely. If her younger sister had not held back, Mo Xue could not have lasted three moves.

Forget protecting her sister and Master Luo. She was so weak she could not even go out alone.

"Oh, I see."

Luo Fanchen smiled. With the Soul Banner as her vessel, Qiu Yun could devour Wraiths and, at full strength, hold her own against a cultivator at the Third Level of Qi Refining.

Mo Xue practiced mortal swordsmanship, and her cultivation technique was the most ordinary Longevity Art. It would be a miracle if she could win.

"You don't need to push yourself. Lasting two moves against Qiu Yun is already impressive."

Luo Fanchen stroked Mo Xue's head. The girl raised her chin with a little huff, and this time she did not nuzzle his palm.

Her hand had crumpled her sleeve, though. She was clearly holding herself back.

"Master Luo always treats me like a child..."

Mo Xue's lips twitched. She assumed he was merely trying to cheer her up, while Luo Fanchen marveled inwardly.

In truth, lasting two moves against Qiu Yun, even when Qiu Yun held back, was an extraordinary feat.

Mortal martial arts and the Soul Banner's techniques were worlds apart. By all rights, Mo Xue should not have been able to touch the hem of Qiu Yun's robe. Her Innate Sword Bone was terrifying indeed. He seemed to have underestimated the talent it gave her.

"Really? I was going to choose a Sword Manual for you, but since you're ready to stand on your own..."

Luo Fanchen's eyes glinted with teasing. Mo Xue froze. Half bashful and half impatient, she rose on tiptoe and pressed her head into his palm, rubbing against it again and again. "Actually... I'm still a child."

"You little rascal."

Luo Fanchen chuckled and brushed a finger over the tip of her nose. Mo Xue lowered her head in embarrassment and stared at her shoes.

He had just sold most of the odds and ends, and had already been thinking of finding her a sword technique. So he took her deeper into the Inner Ring and entered the Treasure Pavilion.

The pavilion was run by the Incense Burning Sect, one of the Dao Sects. Renowned for selling rare treasures from across the world, it kept apart from factional struggles. Its branches spanned the Eight Wastes, and even tiny Flying Cloud Market had one.

Rumor had it that the elder overseeing this branch had reached Foundation Establishment, placing them on par with the steward of Flying Cloud Market.

Mo Xue regretted coming the moment she stepped inside.

A Spirit-Gathering Formation hummed within the pavilion, making the spiritual energy nearly twice as dense as in the outer ring. Treasures gleamed everywhere.

One glance at the prices made her want to grab Master Luo and drag him away.

People as insignificant as them had no business shopping here.

"Master Luo, let's forget it. I can stand on my own now..."

Ling Moxue's lips trembled. She hated seeing Spirit Stones spent, and she hated seeing Master Luo bear the cost.

Every Spirit Dust she used had come from Master Luo's sweat and toil. She could not bear to squander it.

The hall was filled with dazzling wares. Graceful attendants in elegant palace dresses waited along both sides, and even the weakest was at the Third Level of Qi Refining.

As soon as Luo Fanchen entered, one attendant came forward.

"I need a Sword Manual suited to a Gold-Fire Spirit Root. A middle-grade or high-grade Mystic Method would be best."

Luo Fanchen clasped his hands behind his back. He could not afford a cultivation technique for now, but if he gritted his teeth, he could manage a Sword Manual.

He could not let the girl's Innate Sword Bone go to waste because of him.

"This servant is Yun Mo. Please come upstairs, honored cultivator."

Yun Mo smiled and bowed gracefully. She made no attempt to conceal her cultivation: she was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, far above Luo Fanchen, yet she treated him with full courtesy.

She could sense the depth of True Essence in this visitor. He was likely a scion of a great clan, and deserved a proper welcome.

"A Niu... look, isn't that Master Ling and Sister Mo Xue?"

In a corner of the Treasure Pavilion, Xiao Cui pointed at Luo Fanchen in surprise. Uneven strands of hair covered the right side of her face as she nudged the wooden-faced A Niu behind her.

A Niu nodded blankly. His gaze lingered on her swollen, bloodied ear and the fresh bruises covering her forearm.

The master of the Treasure Pavilion was said to have once been a servant too. Out of compassion, the master had set aside positions for cultivators bound by slave Blood Contracts to work as general hands.

They earned half a Spirit Dust a month. The work was hard, but it was their only way to obtain cultivation resources.

The difference was that A Niu only had to hand over half his pay. Xiao Cui could secretly keep just a tenth of hers, and she was beaten every time she went home.

"Looks like it..."

"Want to go have a look?"

A Niu nodded in his dull, heavy way. Xiao Cui was curious.

The two went upstairs through a side door used for storing odds and ends, then hid by a distant corner and pretended to clean. From there, they could just make out Luo Fanchen and Mo Xue.

"Are you choosing a technique for your disciple, fellow cultivator?"

Yun Mo's voice was calm. Her gaze drifted toward the lower-grade Mystic Methods. She assumed Luo Fanchen was choosing a sword technique for a servant.

Plenty were called disciples but were servants in truth. He was even willing to spend Spirit Stones on one. As expected of a great clan's scion.

"That's right. She's my personal disciple."

Yun Mo paused, then immediately withdrew her gaze. Smiling, she summoned an attendant to bring Mo Xue a seat and serve her a cup of fragrant tea.

"Then your timing is excellent, fellow cultivator. We happen to have this Sword Manual in stock. It's a high-grade metal-attribute Mystic Method."

Yun Mo drew over an embroidered box and opened it. She took out a gold-embossed Jade Slip, bent down onto one knee, and offered it to Mo Xue with both hands.

Taken aback by the honor, the girl did not dare accept it at first. Yun Mo did not hurry her. She simply waited, smiling with a gaze as gentle as water.

"You can check whether the art suits you first. If it doesn't, we also have fire-attribute Mystic Methods and Sword Manuals for you to choose from."

"Th-thank you."

Mo Xue stumbled over her words, looking rather embarrassed. She rarely spoke to anyone besides Master Luo, let alone an immortal maiden whose cultivation far surpassed her own.

She closed her eyes and sent her senses into the Jade Slip. A restriction inside allowed her to glimpse only the general outline.

"This art is called the Edgeless Geng Metal Sword. It teaches you to refine Geng metal energy and conceal its edge within your dantian, then release it when the moment comes. Its Sword Qi strikes as swiftly as startling thunder, catching cultivators of the same level off guard."

Yun Mo hesitated for a moment. Unwilling to offend a disciple of a great clan, she added, "This art demands considerable talent for swordsmanship, as well as keen comprehension."

"Her comprehension won't be a problem. Mo Xue, do you like it?"

Ling Moxue's eyes sparkled. She clearly adored it. The Sword Manual suited her perfectly, and as a high-grade Mystic Method, it would serve her well until Foundation Establishment.

Her lips moved, but she said nothing. She silently shook her head.

The reason was simple: the price on the Jade Slip was enough to make her shrink back. Twenty-five Spirit Stones—how many years would Master Luo have to toil for that?

"A low-grade Mystic Method is enough. I'm slow-witted and have no need for such a profound technique."

Ling Moxue handed back the Jade Slip, though her gaze lingered on it for a long time.

Seeking a cultivation art for her had already placed a heavy burden on Master Luo. A Sword Manual was only a technique; a cultivation art was the foundation on which she would stand. A low-grade Mystic Method would suffice. She did not want to add to his burden.

"Twenty-five Spirit Stones. Does your pavilion accept goods in exchange?"

"Of course. There's nothing our pavilion won't accept."

"Even Demonic Treasures?"

Yun Mo paused, but Luo Fanchen did not look like a Demonic Cultivator. She nodded with a smile. "We wouldn't accept them from an ordinary customer. But you are an honored guest, fellow Daoist, so our pavilion is willing to take on some risk. The price will be discounted a little, though."

With that, Yun Mo held up three fingers. She meant a thirty-percent deduction.

She was offering that much only because she valued his status as a disciple of a great clan and hoped to build a good relationship. Otherwise, she would not have taken the risk.

"That's fine. Give me a moment to sort through what I have."

Luo Fanchen did not hesitate for long. Setting aside a few of the more valuable Demonic Treasures, he took out the many lesser Demonic Treasures Ling Youdao had left behind, along with all the Demon Serpent's fangs and scales.

Yun Mo narrowed her beautiful eyes, though her smile did not change. She now somewhat suspected Luo Fanchen was a Demonic Cultivator, and hesitation stirred within her.

But when she looked at Mo Xue, who was so well cared for that her cheeks were round and rosy, much of her wariness faded. What Demonic Cultivator would spend so lavishly on a disciple?

"The total comes to twenty Spirit Stones and nine Spirit Dust. You need only add four Spirit Stones, fellow Daoist."

Luo Fanchen was taken aback. He had not expected those Demonic Treasures to be worth so much.

He took the list and examined it carefully. Most of the value came from the Demonic Treasures Ling Youdao had left for refining Blood-Melting Pills. They had probably been kept in reserve for Qiu Yun.

Luo Fanchen gave a slight nod, scooped out a large handful of Spirit Dust, and handed it to Yun Mo. The immortal maiden stared blankly, unsure what to do.

"Forty Spirit Dust. Count them."

"I..."

Yun Mo murmured soundlessly. At the Treasure Pavilion, exchanging Spirit Dust for Spirit Stones cost one extra Spirit Dust for every thirty exchanged.

Was this honored guest truly a scion of a great clan? He scraped up every advantage like a streetwise Rogue Cultivator. Had she misjudged him?

"Very well. The transaction is settled. I hope you'll continue to favor us with your business, fellow Daoist."

Yun Mo pressed her lips together. After a brief hesitation, she gave Luo Fanchen a Jade Token. "This is my identity token. If you have treasures to sell or wish to buy anything in the future, you may contact me."

"I'll do my best to arrange a favorable price for you."

"Certainly."

Luo Fanchen nodded slightly, then crooked a finger and tapped Mo Xue's miserable little face before pressing the Jade Slip into her hand.

"Why the long face? This Sword Manual suits you perfectly, doesn't it?"

"Master Luo... it's so expensive."

Mo Xue rubbed her eyes, her little fingers clenched so tightly they turned white. The cost made her heart ache enough to bleed.

Luo Fanchen shook his head gently. He did not leave at once. Instead, he circulated the Lesser Yang Wood-Transforming Art, letting the Yi Wood True Essence within him flow through his body and reveal itself.

Holding the little girl's hand, he walked slowly toward Yun Mo and said politely, "There's one matter I'd like you to keep an eye on, Miss Yun Mo."

"My Mo Xue still lacks a cultivation art. If your pavilion comes across any leads on a high-grade metal-attribute Mystic Method, please let me know."

"A cultivation art? A high-grade Mystic Method?"

Yun Mo's beautiful eyes went wide. Sensing the rich, upright True Essence within him, her expression, which had just relaxed, immediately brightened with delight. She became exceedingly respectful.

"Someone, replace the tea! Bring out our finest Spirit Sprouts for our honored guest!"