Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!
Chapter 211: Chan Yu’s Seal

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Chan Yu’s Seal

Chan Yu enviously watched Jiang Yuan and Zhile each holding a Communication Stone to "add friends," secretly deciding to save up to buy a Communication Stone, so that she could stay in touch with friends anytime.

Leading the two ladies into the general store, Jiang Yuan closed the door and then opened it again, the scene immediately shifted from the small courtyard to the Cyan Fish Mountain Market.

"Wow! How did you do that?" Chan Yu was seeing such a technique for the first time, her mouth slightly agape with astonishment, and her eyes, usually blank due to poor eyesight, looked even more dazed.

Zhile was in a hurry. After bidding a quick farewell, she rushed off to Hu Jiu’s Cloth Shop;

Jiang Yuan equipped his cloak and left the general store with the awestruck Chan Yu, walking on the slate road of the market that had just opened and had no customers yet.

"So this is the Cyan Fish Mountain Market, huh? It doesn’t look quite like I imagined." With no one else around, Chan Yu relaxed and spoke in a small but smooth voice.

Jiang Yuan, intrigued by her words, asked, "Is this your first time at a market?"

She nodded shyly and continued to explain in a low, mosquito-like voice, "I live very far away in the remote Mist Barrier Swamp. Because I’m poisonous and have lived alone since childhood, the other demon cultivators in the swamp don’t interact with me.

Later, I met a kind jeweler passing through the swamp. He said he could help find an Artifact Refining Master to tailor a magical treasure for me that could conceal my poisonous aura. I thought, maybe then I could make friends."

She paused and explained further, "Actually, I’m only poisonous and don’t release toxins indiscriminately. But... other cultivators seem to think it’s unsafe to be around me. Only you... and the people in the courtyard don’t mind my poison..."

"Your toxic nature gives you the basic ability to protect yourself, it’s a talent skill, you should be proud of it!" Jiang Yuanxin said, wishing he had such an ability.

The little monsters in the swamp clearly lack discernment; this girl is kind and doesn’t easily release poison, she’d make a great friend!

Chan Yu blushed furiously and stammered excitedly, "Re...really? It’s the first time in my life I’ve...heard a friend praise me..."

Her chest heaved nervously, and she asked, "C...can I invite you...to my swamp residence, as a guest?"

A new map? Jiang Yuan agreed without even thinking.

Sure enough, Chan Yu cautiously extended her right hand indicating him to do the same, then gently touched him, leaving a faint mark that vanished immediately, "The Mist Barrier Swamp is easy to lose direction in, with this mark it will guide you."

[Chan Yu’s Seal: A guiding mark to prevent losing direction in Mist Barrier Swamp]

[New Map: Mist Barrier Swamp unlocked (can teleport once Teleportation Array is repaired)]

Accompanying Chan Yu’s mark, the map flashed several times, updating to show a larger area. Jiang Yuan glanced at it for a while before spotting a flashing point far away, indicating where the Mist Barrier Swamp would appear after the wilderness arrives.

As for the Teleportation Array, it seems to be the one in the cliff cave behind the house. It’s strange; when he first moved to Shuiyun Lake, he heard terrifying noises, but after that, they ceased completely.

The mystery of the previous residents disappearing without a trace at Shuiyun Lake has been solved; the demon cultivator they worshipped consumed all the believers during a tribulation crossing, unrelated to the teleportation array.

But what was that terrifying roar exactly? There’s no further mention in the diary about the teleportation array, whether the diarist repaired it or where it could lead.

With a mind full of questions, Jiang Yuan led Chan Yu directly to the Black Market.

The market had just started business, shopkeepers were busy setting up and no customers were to be seen. The Black Market was empty too, but the mysterious jeweler was already there.

He stood alone under a peach blossom tree, marked conspicuously like an NPC in a game.

"I’ve been waiting for you at the market for ages. Did something unexpected happen?" The mysterious jeweler asked gently with a soft, aged voice, and then opened his cloak to reveal a small pendant from the innermost section, "Look, this is the magical treasure you commissioned me to customize for you, it can conceal your aura."

After receiving the reward, Jiang Yuan took the opportunity to browse the jewelry for sale once more, ensuring there was nothing else he could equip before bidding farewell to the two.

[Mysterious Jeweler’s Recommendation Letter: Deliver the letter to the Pavilion Master of Treasure Pavilion at Wo Hu Temple Market to unlock access to the third-floor auction]

A pale yellow letter lay quietly in the storage bag; Jiang Yuan mused that once the Floating Market reached Level Three, he’d probably be able to go to Wo Hu Temple Market.

It’s uncertain whether the market is the same location as Wo Hu Temple where the Immortal Peach is sought after. If it is, then accessing it from the market would be more convenient and quicker.

Having completed a side quest, Jiang Yuan proceeded to Hu Jiu’s Cloth Shop to meet the sisters as planned.

"It mainly depends on how the young sir wishes to meet Qing Wu. If it’s just to meet briefly and ask a few questions using some tricks, I could directly take you to find him in the auction house’s backstage. Usually, Qing Wu stays in his room, doesn’t go out, or interacts with people."

Hu Jiu took a puff from her smoking pipe, the light scent of paper ash permeating the air, much more pleasant than ordinary tobacco.

Her gaze was intense on her favored young gentleman, a soft smile on her lips, "If you want to interrogate severely without being discovered, bringing Qing Wu out won’t be easy."

Jiang Yuan thought that even with Moon Illusion Grass powder, it wouldn’t be wise to use it openly inside the auction house, better to lure him out.

Listening to the request, Hu Jiu showed a conflicted expression but felt secretly delighted; her third sister was always unhappy about her roaming around gathering gossip. Now, her years of accumulation finally paid off; she probably wouldn’t get reprimanded again.

"If we’re to lure him out, I have two methods. The first is for me to specifically approach Qing Wu, using the excuse of tailoring clothes or selecting fabric to bring him to my shop. But Qing Wu is naturally aloof, so this method is reliable yet not certain to succeed."

Zhile softly interjected, "It’s not safe either. If Qing Wu really gets involved and starts a fight, my sister’s Cloth Shop would be implicated."

"Is there another way?" Jiang Yuan also felt it was unwise. Even though completing the side quest helps Zhile, it involves powerful demon cultivators, and once the Cloth Shop is exposed, cleanup would be troublesome.

Hu Jiu tapped her smoking pipe and nodded, "The second method... besides the owner, the only one who can bring Qing Wu out is Liu the Shopkeeper from the auction house. Last time when the young sir sold elixirs, it really upset Liu Wanhai. If rumors are spread again to lure him out, Liu Wanhai would surely urge Qing Wu to deal with the general store’s matters, and then we can corner him."

"How do you know spreading rumors would make Liu Wanhai send Qing Wu to cause trouble? Last time, you mentioned the auction house’s fighters aren’t few."

Hearing her third sister’s question, Hu Jiu’s charming face showed a rare fox-like sly smile, "Thanks to my many years of gathering gossip in the market, I’ve already learned the ins and outs of the auction house!"