"I'm Hu Liena. I've long heard of you, Traveler," she said, introducing herself with a composed nod.
Then she turned to glance disdainfully at Yan beside her, silently signaling him to shut up.
"Nice to meet you. About this stone…" Aether said casually, giving Yan a sidelong look.
This number-one stand-in candidate seemed a little too eager to show off in front of his goddess.
That stone Fire Meow Meow brought over… could it belong to Hu Liena?
"N-No, it's not mine," Hu Liena quickly waved her hand.
"My precious! Huff—huff—"
From a distance, the stall owner saw Fire Meow Meow dart toward this direction. Unfortunately, with his low soul power and advancing age, he was already wheezing by the time he arrived.
He pointed to the stone In Aether's hand.
"Sir… sir, that's mine…"
"…My apologies, elder." Aether's lips twitched as he smiled helplessly.
So the whole time it wasn't Hu Liena's after all?
Despite the mysterious energy contained within the stone, Aether handed it back to the stall owner.
After all, it was his. Fire Meow Meow snatching it without warning was completely inappropriate.
"We're really sorry, sir. Fire Meow Meow doesn't know any better. Please don't be upset…"
Yu Keke gently cradled Fire Meow Meow as she walked over to the old man. Then, pulling out two gleaming gold soul coins from her ring, she offered them with both hands.
These had been placed inside her storage soul device by Skywater Academy, along with a small note.
The gist of the note? We know you'll be traveling and spending money—go wild, don't hold back.
"This… thank you, my lady."
The stall owner was clearly a true businessman. While his face showed reluctant gratitude, his hand had already closed firmly around the gold coins.
He didn't recognize Aether or the others, but he certainly knew Hu Liena and her bodyguard. Doing business in Spirit City required that kind of insight.
Glancing around cautiously, he paused for effect. "To be honest, miss, I was planning to sell this stone anyway. If you give me… say, ninety-eight more gold soul coins, I'll part with it."
"One hundred coins for this rock?"
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and casually picked up the stone, weighing it in her hand.
"Keke, don't buy it. This is clearly just a regular river pebble~"
She tossed it back onto the stall with a flick and gently tugged at Yu Keke's hand, winking discreetly.
If Fire Meow Meow—a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—was interested in it, and if even His Excellency had said something about it, then the stone clearly had hidden value.
But Zhu Zhuqing was no fool. If the stall owner was asking only a hundred coins, then he obviously didn't understand its true worth and was just bluffing.
"Yeah! One hundred coins? Do you know how much delicious food that could buy?!"
Paimon, confused but practical as always, was already imagining mountains of tasty dishes.
No way I'd spend that much money on a rock you can't even eat!
"You don't understand, my lady. I came by this stone by chance. At night, it glows with a soft light—it must be a treasure!"
"No thanks~"
Yu Keke shook her head, catching Zhu Zhuqing's signal. Her small hands nervously stroked Fire Meow Meow's fur—it was clearly her first time bluffing like this.
"…Alright then, how about fifty coins… no, forty-eight? Final offer!"
The stall owner put on a pained expression. "That's already the lowest I can go! I spent forty-five gold soul coins on it myself. At least let me earn a little for my trouble?"
In truth, he hadn't bought the stone at all. He'd found it while fetching water from a mountain stream.
At first, he just thought it looked nice—perfect for placing in a potted plant.
But at night, it glowed with a soft radiance, warm and soothing to the touch.
He figured it had to be special somehow, but with his meager soul power, he couldn't make heads or tails of it after weeks of trying. In need of cash, he finally decided to display it on his stall, hoping for a lucky buyer.
It had been gathering dust for months—until today, when Fire Meow Meow conveniently "rediscovered" it for him.
Now that the right people were here, he had to make the most of it!
"Hmm~"
Yu Keke thought it over seriously. She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and Paimon, then at her brother. When she saw him nod slightly after a brief moment of thought, she smiled brightly.
"Alright, I'll give you forty-eight."
"Wait! I'll pay eighty. Sell it to me," Yan suddenly called out, lips curling into a smug grin.
"Uh…"
The stall owner looked back and forth, momentarily at a loss.
On one hand: forty-eight coins. On the other: nearly double that!
After a brief struggle, his greed won out.
"Sorry, miss, but this gentleman's offer is higher…"
His wrinkled face split into a flattery-laced grin, all creased like a withered chrysanthemum.
"You said you'd sell it to us! Is this how you do business—going back on your word?" Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, voice cold, glaring at both the stall owner and Yan.
"Tch. And here I thought you were something else. Turns out you're just a bunch of pretentious show-offs. Can't afford it? Then stop pretending to be rich. Or match me if you dare~"
Yan's gaze scanned over Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes lighting up.
He'd been too focused on Hu Liena earlier, but this fierce little wildcat wasn't any less stunning in terms of looks and presence—and her figure was leagues ahead.
"Heh. One hundred coins. Hand it over."
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't one to get angry easily, but the leering idiot in front of her was truly disgusting.
"Of course, miss. Sir? Want to go higher~?"
The stall owner beamed as the two bidders fought. He was thrilled, clearly forgetting who exactly he was dealing with.
"One hundred and twenty."
Yan raised two fingers with a smirk.
"Two hundred," Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly.
"Two-fifty."
"Five hundred."
"Five-twenty~"
"One thousand."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice rang out, sharp and decisive. She raised her palm toward the stall owner. "Deal."
"…"
Yan's eyes darkened as he gritted his teeth.
Who was this woman? A noble's daughter? Throwing money around like it was nothing…
"W-Would you still like to buy it, sir? This is a true treasure, after all~" the stall owner asked, trying to tempt him once more, shaking the stone enticingly.
_
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