Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 989 - 611: Entering the City_2

Chapter 989: Chapter 611: Entering the City_2

"It’s nothing major, just martial law."

"Martial law? You ran off this time without making a big profit."

"Just made a small profit; the usual price of rice is six coins per jin, but it’s already ten coins there."

The man in the black turban spoke gruffly with pride, smiling as he said: "After I go back and stock up, Old Ma and I are planning to jointly deal in more grains and oils, sending them to the metropolitan mansion over there. Do you want to join us? Having more people means taking better care of each other."

"....."

"....."

Conversations among the traveling merchants often revolved around trade opportunities, which, for these lower-level traders, stemmed mostly from word-of-mouth among each other.

Listening to these conversations infused with the flavor of common markets, Xu Yuan subconsciously stroked his chin.

In Dayan, the typical price of rice was around five coins per jin. The Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion was slightly farther from the grain-producing areas, thus the price had risen to around six coins.

Now that the conflict has started, the price at the metropolitan mansion has barely doubled?

It seems that the battle there is going quite well.

Thinking this, Xu Yuan glanced at the girl beside him wearing a veil and whispered softly:

"After we enter the city, what do you plan to do?"

Once inside Zhenxi Prefecture City, a strategic border fortress, his safety would largely be guaranteed, and Tianyan would no longer need to protect him.

Tianyan, staring at Xu Yuan through the white gauze for several breaths, replied softly:

"You don’t seem to believe what Mu Xingchen said at all."

"Are you talking about the Three Saints attacking the city?"

"What else?"

"I find it quite unlikely."

Xu Yuan replied slowly: "Although Mu Xingyi has become a Saint, that guy forcibly achieved Saint status by devouring the essence of his own father with the Ancient Beast Bloodline, and his combat power hasn’t even reached the threshold of Saint Level. Not to mention that Lady Wan hasn’t recovered to her peak condition due to childbirth. Relying on these three watered-down Saints to attack a critical fortress like Zhenxi Prefecture City, at least two of them need to be explained here."

Tianyan fell silent for a moment, her voice turning cold as she countered:

"Have you forgotten? The Bug Saint could control the Demon Insect Tide, and what if Mu Xingyi inherited this ability? You do know how many Demon Insects there are in Qianji Gorge."

"But what’s the motive?"

Xu Yuan spoke calmly and slowly: "Do they have any reason to attack the city? Indeed, devouring life forms can help their offspring grow rapidly, but their lifespan is almost endless. Isn’t it better to take it slow? The society hasn’t collapsed yet,

once they attack the city, they will face a manhunt from the entire Dayan."

Tianyan understood this reasoning as well, but she was trying to point out something else:

"But the question is, why would he tell Mu Xingchen this information? Have you thought about that?"

"Of course, I have thought about it."

Xu Yuan sighed softly, slowly moving forward with the long line, and replied softly:

"But I can’t find an answer, can I?"

Tianyan was silent for a while, then coldly replied:

"I hope you understand, in half a month’s time, I’ll go do my own thing."

Hearing this, a warm feeling stirred in Xu Yuan’s heart, and he drew closer, reaching out to embrace her waist:

"Are you worried about me?"

Tianyan furrowed her brows and sidestepped, her beautiful golden eyes glaring at him through the veil:

"There are so many people around, can’t you change your frivolous nature!"

After speaking, the girl huffed softly, adding in a low voice:

"Also, the comment just now was Tian Ye’s opinion."

"...."

The smile on Xu Yuan’s face could not hold.

Tianyan fell silent for a moment, grumbled harshly:

"If you keep laughing, I’ll tear your face off! And... it’s not like I said my opinion contradicts Tian Ye’s."

By the end, the girl’s fierce tone had gradually weakened...

...

...

...

Without taking shortcuts, entering the city was extremely cumbersome, it took an entire hour before Xu Yuan and Tianyan entered the Marquis of Zhenxi’s Mansion.

Tianyan glanced cursorily at the towering city walls and said softly:

"Zhenxi Prefecture City seems to have had a lot of new troops redeployed here, counting those we saw outside the city, there are at least four camps stationed here."

Walking on the streets, observing the bustling crowds around them, Xu Yuan relaxed significantly, and casually responded:

"Zhenxi Prefecture City holds a crucial geographical position, being the most important grain passage in the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion.

With the war started, attention to this is expected."

"However, since there’s no restriction implemented inside the city, it indicates everything should still be under control."

"...."

Hearing this, Tianyan was about to respond when she noticed that Xu Yuan’s gaze seemed a bit off.

The customs of the Great Desert are open, and many women can walk on the streets just wearing a tube top and revealing shorts.

And the dead person next to me is staring intently at those women right now.

I was about to explode, but Xu Yuan preempted my outburst.

He turned around with a smile and said softly:

"You don’t let me look at you, nor allow me to look at others, how domineering can you be?"

Tianyan subconsciously thought he was complimenting her, but then she snorted coldly:

"Did I say anything?"

"Nope, I was just talking to myself."

After that, Xu Yuan’s gaze landed once again on the waist and bust of the young ladies on the street: "If you were willing to let me see, why would I look at these vulgar beauties?"

Having said that, before Tianyan could completely lose her temper, he withdrew his gaze and said solemnly:

"Next, I plan to meet an old acquaintance, do you want to come with me?"

Tianyan’s small chest was heaving, her voice cold:

"A conservative person like me following Young Master Xu, I shouldn’t disrupt your good fortunes, right?"

Xu Yuan shrugged and said cheerfully:

"That won’t happen, as I am going to meet a man."

Tianyan paused for a moment, frowning, she asked:

"You have old acquaintances here too?"

Xu Yuan said as a matter of course:

"People from the Black Scale Guards, having lost contact for so long, I definitely need to check in at home first."

Hearing about family, Tianyan’s beautiful eyes dimmed, she fell silent for a few moments and said softly:

"I will take you there but won’t go inside."

"...."

Xu Yuan remained silent without speaking.

The streets within Zhenxi Prefecture City were not desolate due to the war, but rather more bustling and lively than before.

People in various exotic costumes moved about, with buildings within the city possessing a Western Regional flair adding a foreign aesthetic compared to the heartland of Dayan.

As they walked, Xu Yuan and Tianyan chatted sporadically, with his gaze wandering around frequently.

While passing through a particularly quiet street, he suddenly stopped subconsciously.

His gaze settled on a shop by the street.

The shop specialized in selling indentures of pretty men and women.

Oh, not right, now in Dayan there are no indentures anymore, they should be called labor contracts.

Since Li Yaoxuan ascended to the throne and stabilized his authority, the first thing he and his old father started reforming was to gradually abolish the indenture system.

The reason wasn’t for the so-called liberation of human rights but mainly because slaves aren’t considered people and they don’t pay taxes.

Now it should be called labor contracts.

Tianyan’s gaze carried a bit of curiosity as she followed his line of sight, her brow unconsciously furrowing.

But this time she did not get jealous, knowing that Xu Yuan was not very interested in these slave trading practices and many informant contact points were disguised as similar shops.

After being silent for a while, she gently asked:

"Are we there?"

"Not yet."

Xu Yuan shook his head, speaking softly: "Saw an old friend."

"Ah?"

Tianyan subconsciously looked that way, but only saw the cold shop.

The person inside had high cultivation, such a character probably shouldn’t let her see their face....

After pondering for a moment,

Tianyan didn’t make it difficult for him, she patted Xu Yuan’s back softly and said in a low voice:

"I shouldn’t go in, I’ll wait for you at the door."

Xu Yuan hesitated a bit but still nodded:

"I... will be out soon."

The slave shop was not very large, decorated in a Western Regional style, and inside the main hall were three people.

A manager reading a book with lowered eyes, and two attractive men and women chained by the neck as prominent displays.

Seeing Xu Yuan walk in, the burly manager behind the counter immediately closed the book and slowly stood up.

After looking at each other,

Xu Yuan nodded at him signaling with puzzlement:

"Mr. Huang, how... are you in Zhenxi Prefecture City?"