Trouble at the Marketplace

"What a coincidence. I was planning to buy a few things at the Market District too. Why don't we go together?"

At those words, Xiao Yuan inwardly rolled his eyes furiously. What coincidence? You clearly only decided to come along after hearing that I was going.

At the same time, however, he grew even more curious. What exactly did this woman want?

He pretended to ponder for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Sure. With a great beauty like you for company, Sister Xun'er, how could I ask for anything better?"

Xiao Yuan shrugged indifferently. One more person wouldn't affect anything anyway.

After taking Xiao Xun'er on a roundabout route through the streets, Xiao Yuan finally chose a medium-sized Market District under the Xiao Clan's jurisdiction.

They encountered quite a few Xiao Clan members along the way, and the golden boy and jade maiden naturally became the focus of much discussion.

He and Xiao Xun'er were already prominent figures of their generation. If Xiao Yan was a fallen genius, then he and Xiao Xun'er were blazing suns just beginning to rise.

The two of them were indisputably the Xiao Clan's greatest talents now.

How could their appearance together fail to astonish everyone?

Passersby on the street kept glancing their way, snippets of hushed conversation drifting over.

"That's Xiao Yuan and Miss Xiao Xun'er! I never expected them to come to the Market District together."

"Wasn't Miss Xiao Xun'er supposed to like Xiao Yan? Why is she out with Young Master Xiao Yuan now?"

"Heh... Xiao Yan? It's been three years, and he's still at the third stage of Dou Qi. Does that trash even deserve Miss Xun'er's affection anymore?"

The chatter continued without end. Xiao Yuan remained impassive, as though he hadn't heard a thing. Xiao Xun'er was as gentle and composed as ever, but her bright eyes still occasionally settled on him in discreet glances. Within her, a faint restlessness lingered in the golden emperor burning heaven flame.

As they entered the Market District, shops lined both sides, the scents of medicinal herbs and ores mingling amid the noisy bustle.

Xiao Xun'er walked slowly beside him, tilting her head slightly as she asked softly.

"Aren't there plenty of larger Market Districts than this one? Why did we come here?"

Xiao Yuan swept his gaze over the shops on either side and answered casually:

"In those larger Market Districts, fish and dragons mingle together. All sorts of factions have a presence there, and crooked merchants are everywhere. There's no telling who we might run into."

He paused, looking at the shops bearing the Xiao Clan's insignia around them, then continued:

"This Market District is under the Xiao Clan's jurisdiction. The merchants are all bound by the clan's rules, so quality is guaranteed, and safety goes without saying."

His main concern was running into people from the other two great families. In his previous life, he had read plenty of fantasy novels, and one of the most classic plots was beating the young only for the old to come knocking.

He had only just advanced to Dou Zhe and hadn't learned a single Dou Technique yet. He could still handle opponents at his own level.

But if he truly encountered an enemy at the level of a Da Dou Shi, he could only wash his neck clean and wait to die.

Listening to his explanation, Xiao Xun'er nodded in agreement.

"You've thought this through quite thoroughly."

Xiao Xun'er spoke softly, her gentle tone revealing nothing of her true thoughts.

As they talked, the two reached the entrance of a sizable Medicine Shop. Rich, mellow medicinal fragrances wafted out in waves.

The Medicine Shop's keeper recognized Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yuan and hurried over to greet them, his face piled with a respectful smile.

"Miss Xun'er, Young Master Xiao Yuan, please come in. What Spirit Herbs and medicinal ingredients would you like to purchase today?"

Xiao Yuan stepped into the shop, his gaze sweeping over the herbs arranged on rows of wooden shelves as he quickly put together a list in his mind.

Advancing the Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art required enormous expenditure. He needed a batch of Spirit Herbs brimming with energy, preferably ones that weren't too expensive. His Gold Coins were limited.

"Three stalks of Blue-Pattern Grass, two Burst Flame Flowers, and ten portions of Qi-Concentrating Grass."

The shopkeeper hastily took out paper and a brush to jot it down, then turned to head into the storeroom to prepare the order.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Xun'er. It's been so long, and you've only grown more beautiful."

Just then, a series of shuffling footsteps sounded outside the Medicine Shop. Before their owner arrived, a mocking voice that practically begged for a beating reached their ears.

"Ah..." Xiao Yuan sighed softly.

"If it's a blessing, it's no calamity; if it's a calamity, there's no escaping it."

When he left home, he had already had a feeling he might encounter something like this. He had even taken Xiao Xun'er on a detour to find a relatively secluded Market District.

Yet he still hadn't managed to avoid it.

"Jia Lie Ao!"

Xiao Yuan looked up and saw three young men standing at the entrance. The handsome man at the front wore luxurious brocade robes, his face brimming with arrogance. He was none other than the Jia Lie Family's young patriarch, Jia Lie Ao.

Two attendants followed behind him, equally arrogant. Their gazes fell brazenly on Xiao Xun'er, making no attempt to conceal their lust.

The Market District was already bustling with people, and that shout instantly drew the attention of a large number of passersby, who stopped to watch.

Jia Lie Ao completely ignored Xiao Yuan and strode into the Medicine Shop, his eyes glued to Xiao Xun'er as a frivolous smile curved his lips.

"Miss Xun'er, I never expected to meet you here. What a coincidence."

Xiao Xun'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and the gentle smile on her face faded a little. She quietly stepped half a pace back, distancing herself from Jia Lie Ao, her tone aloof.

"Young Master Jia Lie, did you need something?"

Despite the girl's cold reception, Jia Lie Ao's smile showed not the slightest embarrassment. If anything, his interest only grew.

He liked the cool, aloof ones. Winning them over gave him the greatest sense of accomplishment.

"Miss Xun'er, I've reserved dinner at the Drunken Pavilion. Would you do me the honor of joining me?"

Jia Lie Ao pressed another step closer, faintly releasing his Dou Qi as a One-Star Dou Practitioner. Even the surrounding air seemed to still slightly. His gaze burned with desire, and he completely disregarded Xiao Xun'er's obvious resistance, looking utterly certain he would get his way.

The two Jia Lie Family attendants behind him joined in, their laughter grating.

"That's right, Miss Xun'er. The Drunken Pavilion's food and wine are among the finest in Wutan City."

"Young Master Jia Lie means well. Please don't turn him down, Miss Xun'er."

The onlookers whispered among themselves. Many wore sympathetic expressions, but no one dared step forward and speak up. The Jia Lie Family was powerful, and Jia Lie Ao was a Dou Zhe. Ordinary people simply couldn't afford to provoke him.

"No need. I have no intention of accepting your invitation." Xiao Xun'er's voice was cool, offering him not the slightest courtesy.

"Heh... Miss Xun'er, why don't you reconsider? If you turn me down again, I'll lose a little face in front of my subordinates."

The smile on Jia Lie Ao's face faded somewhat, and a hint of coercion entered his voice.

His Dou Zhe-level Dou Qi surged once more, sending a faint pressure over Xiao Xun'er. He was plainly relying on his cultivation to force her to yield.

The two attendants behind him also took two steps forward, blocking most of the Medicine Shop's entrance in an openly aggressive display.