Chapter 350: 206, You and I are both drenched in snow, which is like growing old together in this life (6k4)_2
On the streets of Huge Mastiff Island’s market.
Xu Xing, as always, went to guard the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He was now a Sub-Pavilion Elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, responsible for the safety of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion on Huge Mastiff Island.
However, on his way, he accidentally bumped into an old acquaintance.
Saintess Wumu of the Starfall Sect? Xu Xing glanced at the graceful figure at the street corner, touched his chin, and decided to follow her.
More than seventy years ago, while en route to East Huangzhou, he and Elder Zheng had bid for this woman at an auction. At that time, Wu Miao had offered to become his Daoist spouse, but he had rejected her, citing the recent loss of his wife...
Soon after, Wu Miao reached the main street of the market and stopped. She took a square blanket from her Storage Bag, spread it on the ground, and then arranged some bottles, jars, talismans, Sea Beast Demon Cores, and other items on it.
It seems the Starfall Sect did as I expected, Xu Xing thought, shaking his head. They gave up on her.
When Cultivators lose their sect, most become like stray dogs. Only a few can manage to live respectably on their own merits.
Although Saintess Wu Miao of the Starfall Sect possesses remarkable talent, when she was brought to the Wangchuan Sea, her Cultivation was only at the Immortal Foundation Realm... Living comfortably here is no easy task. Now, Wu Miao has broken through to the Returning Core Realm and become a Returning Core Lord. However, as a Freelance Cultivator with only a Returning Core cultivation, she can barely protect herself in the Wangchuan Sea. From a dignified Saintess to a mere street vendor, she has indeed fallen quite far.
"Immortal, I wonder how much you’re asking for this Stabilizing Mind Talisman..." Xu Xing approached Wu Miao’s stall, intending to give her some business. He bent down, scanned the various Spiritual Objects on display, then picked up a Stabilizing Mind Talisman and inquired about its price.
True disciples of major powers generally dabble in the four arts of cultivating immortality: pill-making, talisman-crafting, artifact-refining, and array-setting. While they might not match dedicated professionals, they can still make and sell elixirs and talismans when funds are low.
"My surname is Wu, and I am already married," Wu Miao corrected Xu Xing’s form of address. "Dear Daoist friend, you may call me Lady Xu."
She paused in thought for a moment before continuing, "The Stabilizing Mind Talisman is a second-grade talisman involving Divine Sense, so it’s quite difficult to make. The Talisman Pavilion usually sells them for 3,000 Spirit Shells each... If Daoist Friend is truly interested, I can offer it for 2,500 Spirit Shells. Larger quantities will merit further discounts."
She skillfully listed various other talismans on her stall that could be paired with the Stabilizing Mind Talisman, their prices varying.
The Stabilizing Mind Talisman is generally used to cultivate Divine Sense or help Cultivators enter a state of meditation.
Lady Xu? Could it be...
Xu Xing’s eyebrows rose, his gaze shifting from the Stabilizing Mind Talisman in his palm to Wu Miao’s face. Wu Miao had been wearing a bamboo hat earlier, so out of politeness, he hadn’t stared. Only now, scrutinizing her, did he notice her hair was styled in a rounded bun, the fashion of a married woman..."I don’t usually purchase many Stabilizing Mind Talismans," Xu Xing said, putting it down. He then picked up and weighed some Sea Beast Demon Cores from the stall. "However, if you include these other items, perhaps I could buy a larger quantity."
It’s just a name, he thought. I won’t reveal my true identity so easily.
"These Spiritual Objects together are worth 12,000 Spirit Shells. To befriend you, Friend Yao, I’ll let you have them for 10,000 Spirit Shells," Wu Miao said, her brow furrowing slightly as if making an extremely difficult decision.
"Ten thousand Spirit Shells..." Xu Xing mused, touching his chin. His eyes flashed with a shrewd light, making him resemble a cunning merchant. "That’s not a huge sum, Lady Xu, but I have no way of knowing the quality of these items... Taking a risk for a mere 2,000 Spirit Shells discount..."
Wu Miao remained silent, apparently pondering whether to lower the price further.
Just then, however, the owner of an adjacent stall, a Brocade-clothed Man, interjected. "Friend Yao, Lady Xu’s Spirit Talismans are renowned on Huge Mastiff Island for their excellent quality," the Brocade-clothed Man said. "If Sir desires top-quality talismans, why not visit the Hundred Treasures Pavilion or the Flying Feather Pavilion instead of frequenting humble stalls like ours?"
Although the Brocade-clothed Man couldn’t discern Xu Xing’s Cultivation level, he assumed that any Cultivator haggling over a second-grade Stabilizing Mind Talisman must be of a similar, relatively low, standing. Consequently, his tone was impolite, practically trying to drive Xu Xing away.
"Lady Xu, if he doesn’t buy them, I will," the Brocade-clothed Man declared in a deep voice.
Wu Miao, however, ignored the Brocade-clothed Man. She turned to Xu Xing apologetically. "Friend Liu has a fiery temper and has offended you, Friend Yao. Please don’t take it to heart. As for these elixirs and talismans, I’m willing to sell them for 9,000 Spirit Shells. That’s the lowest I can go."
"Nine thousand Spirit Shells... That price is indeed quite good." Xu Xing retrieved 9,000 Spirit Shells and paid.
Once the transaction was complete, Xu Xing turned his gaze to the Brocade-clothed Man, a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. "Friend Liu, I wasn’t aware that haggling at small stalls on Huge Mastiff Island was forbidden. Obstructing someone’s livelihood isn’t a virtuous act, especially when done under the guise of good intentions." A sneer touched Xu Xing’s lips as he directly exposed the Brocade-clothed Man’s petty calculations.
Although Xu Xing was someone who generally avoided trouble and disliked meddling in others’ affairs, the Brocade-clothed Man was now blatantly trying to assert dominance, treating him like a pushover. Naturally, Xu Xing wouldn’t back down.
Moreover, his current cover identity at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was that of a Dao Pill Daoist. If he were to back down and forgive the Brocade-clothed Man’s offense, it might lead the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to view his "restraint" with suspicion, wondering if he harbored ulterior motives.