Chapter 5: Visitors From the Yunlan Sect
When Xiao Feng opened his bedroom door and saw the charming figure outside, his eyes lit up. Perhaps because of today's date with Xiao Feng, Xiao Xun'er had taken special care to dress up.
Xiao Xun'er was wearing a light green dress, complementing her elegant and pure temperament, making her look even more innocent and lovely.
Seeing Xiao Xun'er's cute expression of "Come and praise me," Xiao Feng cooperated and exclaimed, "Xun'er, you look beautiful today."
(* ̄︶ ̄)
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xun'er's delicate lips curled up slightly. She then pretended to be dissatisfied and pouted, "Brother Feng, does that mean I wasn't pretty yesterday?"
"No! I mean, Xun'er is even more beautiful today than yesterday!"
Xiao Feng took a step forward, holding Xiao Xun'er's delicate hand, and looked into her beautiful eyes with utmost sincerity, saying, "Just like my affection for Xun'er, it is always a bit more than yesterday and a bit less than tomorrow."
(ω)
Facing Xiao Feng's loving gaze, Xiao Xun'er's pretty face blushed slightly. She shyly glanced at him and said, "You smooth talker~"
"You little girl, you're shy now."
Xiao Feng found this amusing. He held Xiao Xun'er's soft hand and headed towards the market.
Wutan City, located in the Jia Ma Empire, though relatively remote, was near the Magic Beast Mountain Range. This attracted many merchants and mercenary groups, making the city quite lively.
Perhaps because Xiao Feng was with her, Xiao Xun'er was more lively than usual, dragging him to various street stalls and occasionally letting out bell-like laughter.
After wandering around the city for more than half an hour and buying a bunch of small trinkets, they finally arrived at the market in the southern district.
There were several similar markets in Wutan City, each controlled by one of the city's three major families. The market Xiao Feng and Xiao Xun'er were in was naturally controlled by the Xiao family.
The captain of the guard, responsible for maintaining order in the market, immediately dispatched several skilled guards to protect them in secret upon learning of their visit.
Given Xiao Feng's status, few in Wutan City dared to offend him, but in the crowded market, pickpockets were inevitable.
If some blind fellow stole from Xiao Feng and Xiao Xun'er, disrupting their fun, it would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the captain.
As they ventured deeper into the market, the goods on the stalls became more valuable, and some lower-grade spiritual herbs and magic cores could be seen.
When they passed a stall selling jewelry, Xiao Xun'er suddenly stopped, picked up a silver bracelet, and compared it to her fair wrist.
The bracelet was entirely silver, made of precious mithril, with a diamond-shaped blue magic core pendant in the center. It emitted a faint blue light, making the bracelet look exquisite.
Xiao Xun'er put the bracelet on her left wrist and showed it to Xiao Feng, "Brother Feng, does this bracelet look good on me?"
"It looks great!"
Xiao Feng nodded affirmatively and then turned to the stall owner, "Boss, how much for this bracelet? I'll take it."
"You have a good eye. This Mercury Spirit Chain is an authentic magic crystal accessory, made with the magic core of a Water Spirit Bird and mithril. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, and long-term wear has beauty benefits."
The middle-aged stall owner with a square face first praised his goods, then raised one finger and said, "Since you sincerely want it, just give me a thousand gold coins."
"..."
Xiao Feng's mouth twitched slightly as he said, "Do you think I'm a fool? The Water Spirit Bird is a relatively common first-tier water-type magic beast. And the market price for a first-tier magic core is about four to four hundred fifty gold coins. Although mithril is a precious crafting material, the amount of mithril in this bracelet is minimal, and the cost is no more than one hundred gold coins. Even considering labor costs and your profit, this bracelet is worth at most six hundred gold coins."
"You're quite knowledgeable!"
The middle-aged stall owner wasn't annoyed at being exposed. Instead, he laughed and said, "But that's how our business works. We ask for a high price, and customers can haggle.
Since you're an expert, let's be friends. Six hundred gold coins it is!"
"That's more like it."
Having successfully bargained, Xiao Feng nodded slightly and handed six hundred gold coins to the stall owner.
Xiao Xun'er didn't think Xiao Feng was stingy upon seeing this. Instead, she found it quite amusing.
After all, Xiao Feng usually behaved like a noble son, and it was rare to see him haggling.
Of course, in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, Xiao Feng had no flaws. Even if he were stingy, it would be called being thrifty.
As Xiao Feng accompanied Xiao Xun'er shopping, a luxuriously decorated double-horse carriage slowly entered Wutan City.
"Is that..."
Seeing the silver sword emblem shaped like clouds on the carriage, the city gate guards exclaimed, "A Yunlan Sect carriage!"
"Why would people from the Yunlan Sect come to Wutan City?"
"Did you forget? The third young master of the Xiao family is betrothed to the young mistress of the Yunlan Sect."
"Could the girl in the carriage be the legendary Nalan Yanran?"
"The third young master of the Xiao family is really lucky! The other two family heads must be anxious."
The Yunlan Sect carriage didn't head straight to the Xiao family but stopped at the city's largest inn.
Soon, the news of Yunlan Sect's arrival spread among the major forces in Wutan City.
The Xiao family was naturally delighted, especially Xiao Zhan, who immediately gathered the three elders to discuss how to entertain the distinguished guests upon receiving Nalan Yanran's invitation.
In contrast, the atmosphere in the other two families was gloomy.
If the Xiao family successfully married into the Nalan family, the Jia Lie family and the Ao Ba family would stand no chance against them.
As long as the Nalan family sent a Dou Spirit expert to assist, the Xiao family could dominate Wutan City.
Other small families and forces also began to watch silently, ready to side with the Xiao family.