“Aren’t your feet hurting?” Chen Xiaoyan looked at her feet, teasing.
“They’re much better now. Oh, come on, Sister Xiaoyan, let’s not dawdle. If we’re late, those two might run off again.”
As she spoke, Chongchong habitually reached out to hug her.
“Cough, cough.” Chen Xiaoyan quickly turned away, clearing her throat to remind her.
Shen Qingqing was right there. If the girl acted so intimately now, it would definitely make her uncomfortable.
Chongchong pouted, awkwardly pulling back her hands, feeling somewhat displeased with Shen Qingqing.
But she didn’t dare say anything, so she had no choice but to hold it in.
After all, this NPC had terrifyingly high combat power.
She’d bear with it for now. Once she raised her level and cultivation later, she’d deal with it.
“Sister Shen, what are you planning to do next?” Chen Xiaoyan turned to Shen Qingqing and asked.
“What? In such a hurry to get rid of me?”
Sister?
Yu Shangneng was puzzled by this form of address. Weren’t these two master and disciple?
Why were they calling each other sisters?
Or had he misjudged from the start, and they were actually sworn sisters?
Yu Shangneng suppressed his doubts, deciding that once this matter was settled, he’d have the Imperial City Bureau look into it.
“Of course not.”
“Hehe.” Seeing the girl’s speechless expression, Shen Qingqing covered her face with her jade hand and chuckled softly.
“Just kidding. Look how anxious you got.”
“Sister Shen, I’m not anxious at all, okay?”
“Of course, of course.” Shen Qingqing nodded perfunctorily, then continued, “I still need to go back and cultivate. Finish your business and come back soon. Be careful, and don’t forget what you promised me.”
“Mm, don’t worry. Besides, Old Gonggong is here. His combat power… By the way, Old Gonggong, what’s your actual strength?” Chen Xiaoyan patted Yu Shangneng’s shoulder, but as she patted, she awkwardly realized she hadn’t checked his specific cultivation level.
She quickly opened her system to investigate.
(Yu Shangneng, Level 56)
Level 56. That was two levels higher than Mo Jiuchi’s lower limit. So this Old Gonggong was also a Grandmaster Martial Artist, huh?
“Fairy, although my strength is limited, I am confident I can keep you safe in Shangjing City.” Speaking of strength, Yu Shangneng finally found a bit of confidence with Chen Xiaoyan.
“That’s good.”
Even though she had her own trump cards for self-preservation, she wasn’t about to reveal them so easily.
“Xiaoyan, I’ll be off now. Be careful.”
“Got it.”
“Mm.” Shen Qingqing nodded with a smile, then turned and transformed into a rainbow, flying into the sky. As soon as she left, Chen Xiaoyan relaxed considerably, no longer having to watch her every move.
“Sister Xiaoyan~” Now that Shen Qingqing was gone, the clingy Chongchong immediately latched on, tightly hugging her left arm.
Chen Xiaoyan’s lips curled up as she ruffled the girl’s head.
“Sister Xiaoyan, what were you two doing in the living room just now? Why was there a barrier?”
“Got caught doing something wrong and got lectured.”
“Oh, what a shame I didn’t get to see you being pitifully disciplined by Shen Qingqing.”
Chen Xiaoyan twitched her mouth, then pinched her cheek and twisted it. “You little wretch, you sure know how to talk. Want me to show you what it feels like to be lectured right now?”
“Ow!” Chongchong slapped away Chen Xiaoyan’s hand, a little dissatisfied. “Don’t just squeeze my face whenever you want. At least not when outsiders are around. I, Chongchong, need to keep face too.”
Chen Xiaoyan let out a charming laugh at that.
“Does that mean I can squeeze it whenever no one’s around?”
Chongchong suddenly smiled mysteriously, stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Chen Xiaoyan’s ear, and said in a seductive voice, “That’s right. And it’s not just squeezing your face, you know.”
After saying that, she even winked.
“Uh.” This move completely stunned Chen Xiaoyan, who couldn’t utter a word for a long time.
Only one thought crossed her mind: Since when did this cute girl become so lewd?
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Chongchong was puzzled to see her staring.
“I’m wondering if this girl’s been possessed by some old monster. You used to be so proper.”
“Oh.” Chongchong didn’t explain much.
Proper?
You’ve got to be kidding. From the day I met you, the word ‘proper’ has had nothing to do with me, Chongchong the big shot.
Afterward, Chen Xiaoyan sent the Xueyan Pavilion players back, but one of them absolutely refused to go.
“Sister Xiaoyan, I want to stay and play too.”
Looking at the two people hanging off each of her arms, Chen Xiaoyan felt like crying.
One was already enough. Was she going to get another clingy one?
Luckily, Xiao Shenyue wasn’t as persistent as Chongchong—she was just playful.
“Wu Yaowen, wait here for now and don’t leave,” Chen Xiaoyan said to the scholar who had been blending into the background the whole time.
Wu Yaowen bowed. “Yes, Fairy.”
“Mm.” Chen Xiaoyan nodded slightly.
She turned to Yu Shangneng and smiled. “Old Gonggong, please lead the way.”
“Alright.”
“Wait a moment. Let’s change clothes first before going.”
This pink outfit was way too flashy. Before they even set foot on Chaolong Street, the news would spread, and they’d never catch anyone. On Chaolong Street, every inch of land was valuable, and rental prices were exorbitantly high, so shops were rare.
However, the Mo Clan owned two stores in this area, accounting for a third of the street. They sold high-end fabrics and jewelry, deeply favored by the local gentry.
Perhaps the Mo Clan’s goods weren’t the best, but they were definitely the most luxurious.
What? You say you have something even more luxurious than Prime Minister Mo’s?
Then your goods must be counterfeit.
Could the Mo Clan’s goods be fake?
That question—probably no one except the Zongmen members or the Emperor could answer, nor would they dare to.
Chaolong Street was expensive, but there were plenty of itinerant vendors, even more than on other streets.
No choice—it was because there were so many rich young masters here.
More rich people meant quicker money, but also certain risks. One wrong move, and you might run into someone hot-tempered or unreasonable. At best, you’d have wasted an entire day’s work.
The vendors carried their goods, hawking as they went. On almost every corner of this street, you could encounter a noble lady or young master.
But they were cautious, walking very slowly.
Previously, a few vendors eager to sell had collided with a rich son while hurrying. Not only were their goods smashed, but the vendors were nearly beaten to death.
Report it to the authorities?
The rich would turn the tables and throw the vendor into jail.
Over time, the vendors had come to accept it.
Doing business on Chaolong Street was like licking blood off a knife’s edge—one slip and you’d be done for.
So they had to be extremely careful.
“Candied hawthorn sticks! Fresh candied hawthorn sticks!” A dark-skinned old man carried two poles studded with candied hawthorns, slowly wandering through the streets.
“Candied hawthorns, huh?”
“Sister Xiaoyan, look! Candied hawthorns!” Dressed in a plain white ancient-style garment, Chongchong patted the arm she was holding and pointed excitedly.
“I see them, but we don’t seem to have any silver to buy them.” Chen Xiaoyan said helplessly.