‘Daoist Friend Hua, how should we proceed with gathering information?’
Yun Xuechang’s voice echoed softly within Hua Yan’s Consciousness Sea.
‘We have already found a place to stay. Next, we should browse the market and look for an opportunity to contact the local Rogue Cultivator organizations to build some connections. Once we have established a rapport, inquiring for news will be much easier,’ Hua Yan replied via Telepathy. She paused for a moment before adding, ‘Also, since we are hiding our identities and pretending to be… Wife and Wife, do not call me “Daoist Friend Hua” anymore. Call me “Yan’er” instead.’
“Yes, Yan’er.”
Yun Xuechang nodded agreeably, her eyes curving into a slight smile as she spoke the name aloud.
“…Yes, Xue… Xuechang.”
A faint blush swept across Hua Yan’s cheeks. She crossed her arms and turned her face away.
‘Really… Even though I was the one who suggested it, why does it feel so awkward to actually say it?’
‘Besides, why do I have to pretend to be an affectionate Wife and Wife with this person? Couldn’t we just pretend to be a resentful couple constantly arguing about a divorce?!’
Hua Xiangrong, who could not hear the Telepathy and only heard the sudden change in their forms of address, looked suspicious.
She tilted her small head, glancing back and forth between the two faces.
“099, tell me, are Mother and the others secretly using Telepathy behind my back again? Why did they suddenly become so intimate? This won’t do. I can’t miss such crucial plot points! Can’t you really think of a way to hear what they’re saying?”
“I really can’t do that, Host… And besides, how is this a crucial plot point?” 099’s voice sounded helpless.
“Addressing each other with intimate names is definitely a crucial plot point! That’s how it works in every Galgame!”
“I told you, we aren’t playing a Galgame!”
Just as Hua Xiangrong could not hear the Telepathy between the other two, Hua Yan naturally could not hear the mental bickering between her and 099.
After steadying her nerves, Hua Yan turned back and cleared her throat.
“Let’s go, Rongrong, Xue… Xuechang. We should browse the market first instead of just standing here at the entrance.”
“Mm.”
“Yay! Let’s go to the market!”
Hua Xiangrong cheered, grabbing both of their hands and pulling them forward.
Seeing her joyful appearance, the expressions of both women softened. They allowed her to lead them as they merged into the bustling, noisy crowd.
……
“Silver Scale Longsword, Foundation Building quality! Fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones!”
In front of a small stall filled with various weapons, the owner, dressed in a blue-green tunic, was shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Hey, two Daoist Friends, would you like to take a look at this Silver Scale Longsword? It’s forged from the scales of a Silver Scale Snake. It’s sharp and durable! You should… er, prepare one for this little sister. Once she reaches the Foundation Building stage, it’s guaranteed to let her stand out among her peers!”
The stall owner noticed the three figures—two adults and one child—stopping in front of his stall and immediately approached them with a broad smile.
“I’m their daughter, not their sister!”
Hua Xiangrong corrected him crisply while nibbling on the Tanghulu in her hand.
“Oh! So you’re a family. Look at my clumsy eyes. My apologies, my apologies.”
The stall owner laughed and rubbed the back of his head, but his heart skipped a beat.
‘A child born to a female-female couple… That is certainly not something ordinary Foundation Building cultivators can achieve. Does that mean at least one of these two young ladies is in the Golden Core Stage?’
He looked at the two girls, each with their own distinct charm, and became even more attentive.
“Then, are you two looking to pick out a suitable weapon for your daughter?”
“We’ll look around first.”
Hua Yan’s gaze swept over the items on the stall with little interest.
The best thing there was a short sword meant for Golden Core Stage cultivators, and the rest were all Foundation Building quality with mediocre craftsmanship.
Hua Yan’s Storage Pouch never held such common goods.
As for the artifacts Hua Xiangrong would use in the future, she would prepare those personally. There was no need to scrounge for them in a place like this.
“Daoist Friend, what is this sword…?”
On the other side, Yun Xuechang, who was also holding a stick of Tanghulu, stepped forward and pointed at an elegantly decorated silver short sword shaped like a willow leaf.
“Oh, you have a great eye!”
The stall owner immediately perked up and began a passionate introduction.
“This is the treasure of my stall, named ‘Cangfeng.’ It was forged personally by a cultivator in the late Golden Core Stage! It’s made from Star Silver Ore, making it incredibly sharp. It’s even engraved with Silver-throated Finch patterns. When swung, it can harness the power of rapid winds. It is absolutely a top-grade item among top-grades!”
“I meant that I haven’t seen a sword of this style before. Is it a specialty of Yunjing? How is it used? Is there a matching sword technique?”
Yun Xuechang’s string of questions left the stall owner momentarily stunned.
“Ahem, to be honest, the three of us are Rogue Cultivators. We’ve just arrived in Yunjing and aren’t very familiar with the local customs,” Hua Yan stepped in to take over the conversation.
“My wife has always enjoyed studying the local cultures of different places. Please don’t take offense.”
“Oh! So you’re Daoist Friends who just arrived in Yunjing.” The stall owner nodded in realization.
“I won’t lie to you. This willow-leaf style of short sword with inscriptions is indeed a specialty of our Yunjing area; you won’t see it much elsewhere. As for the matching sword technique…”
“The price is not an issue,” Yun Xuechang said calmly.
“Excellent! 300 mid-grade Spirit Stones, and I’ll give you both the sword and the matching technique manual!”
The stall owner beamed with joy.
Upon hearing this, Yun Xuechang first calculated the remaining Spirit Stones she had in her mind, and then—
She turned her head to look at Hua Yan.
‘Yan’er, could you lend me some Spirit Stones? I will definitely pay you back later.’
‘???’
‘If you don’t have Spirit Stones, why are you trying to buy a sword?!’
Hua Yan turned her head, meeting eyes that were slightly downcast. That usually cold gaze now held a hint of a plea.
Combined with the half-eaten Tanghulu she was holding, she somehow looked… cute.
“Cough… Then, I’ll pay for it!”
Hua Yan cleared her throat, took out the Spirit Stones, and accepted the short sword and a thin booklet from the stall owner.
She handed them to Yun Xuechang, trying her best to maintain her expression while playing the role of an affectionate Wife and Wife without looking away.
‘No, regardless of the situation, Yun Xuechang owes me money now, so I’m not losing out! Since she owes me Spirit Stones, won’t I be able to order her around more confidently during our time in Yunjing?’
“Xue… Xuechang, here, take it.”
“Mm, thank you, Yan’er.”
Yun Xuechang took the sword and the booklet, looking into her eyes and thanking her earnestly.
“Between us… there’s no need to be so polite.”
Hua Yan meant that since they were currently pretending to be a couple, it was only natural for her to pay.
However, in Yun Xuechang’s ears, it sounded like proof that their relationship was becoming closer.
This realization caused her eyebrows to curve as she gave Hua Yan a shallow smile.
“Cough!”
Hua Yan quickly averted her gaze and looked at the stall owner.
“Daoist Friend, we have just arrived and intend to stay in Yunjing for a while. We would also like to get to know the local Rogue Cultivator comrades. I wonder… if you know of any ways to get an introduction?”
“Oh, you’ve asked the right person!” Having received the Spirit Stones, the stall owner was in high spirits.
“When it comes to Rogue Cultivator organizations in Yunjing, Hunyuan Hall is the only one worth mentioning! To be honest, I am a member of Hunyuan Hall myself!”
“It seems we are fated to meet today, and I appreciate your business. How about this? I’ll pack up my stall right now and take you to the hall for an introduction.”
Hua Yan and Yun Xuechang glanced at each other, both of them hiding a flash of joy in their eyes.
“Then we shall trouble you, Daoist Friend.”