Chapter 73: When Two Treasure-Hunting Kings Meet!
Wutan City, Magical Beast Market.
The noon sun shone warmly on the city. As Xiao Yan walked the streets with Xiao Xun'er, he felt, for the first time in a long while, the comforting warmth of sunlight—no longer cold and isolating like before, when it felt as though the world had turned its back on him.
"Umm… Xun'er, could I borrow a little money?"
"So Brother Xiao Yan invited me out just to have someone carry his wallet?" Xiao Xun'er blinked her wide, innocent eyes at him, each fluttering glance stabbing him with a guilt-induced critical hit.
"Uh…"
"Hehe~ Here, Brother Xiao Yan, take it. You're rarely this cheerful. If it's not enough, just let me know." The little rich girl of the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Xun'er, giggled as she tossed him a crystal card loaded with a thousand gold coins. Xiao Yan immediately received it with a beaming grin.
Conscience? What's that? Can it buy me stuff?
And hey, he was still a man of principle! It's just… after hanging out with Jiang Lin, his sense of integrity had become a little more "adaptable."
"Hahaha! Thanks, Xun'er!" With his new funds in hand, Xiao Yan dashed off, leaving Xiao Xun'er behind with a twitching expression.
She remembered the old Brother Xiao Yan, who would at least pretend to hesitate. Now? He didn't even bother to act reserved.
Somehow… it reminded her of Jiang Lin. That brazen guy loved to spout nonsense with a straight face. Had Xiao Yan been corrupted by him?
You're doomed. Not even your ancestors can save you now, she thought, watching Xiao Yan's disappearing figure and grinding her teeth in frustration.
Old grudges and new resentments alike—Xiao Xun'er was already thinking about how to make Jiang Lin pay, within the rules of course.
—
Meanwhile, newly funded by rich-girl sponsorship, Xiao Yan headed to the magical beast market to buy materials. His new teacher, Yao Chen, was planning to prepare a tier-two pill called Foundation Spirit Liquid to speed up his cultivation. How could Xiao Yan not be excited?
"So… you really just ditched the girl like that?" Yao Lao's voice echoed from the ring, unable to resist commenting after watching it all unfold.
By all logic, Xiao Yan should've at least pretended a bit. But he didn't even try. Yao Lao found it strangely… amusing.
"Uh, Teacher, as the saying goes: 'To achieve greatness, don't sweat the small stuff!'" Xiao Yan scratched his head sheepishly. Then he glanced back toward where he'd left Xiao Xun'er, only to find she was already gone. He sighed. "Well… too late now. I'll just apologize later."
He realized he'd gotten a bit carried away. His personality had shifted slightly—Yao Lao was no longer just a surprise benefit, but rather a reward earned through persistence.
Xiao Yan was the type who believed that the heavens never forsake the determined. He remained diligent and optimistic, though perhaps still lacking the exact temperament Yao Lao envisioned for a future top-tier powerhouse.
"…Forget it. Go check out that stall over there. Looks like something good," Yao Lao suggested, shaking his head in the ring. That girl wasn't ordinary—traveling with a Dou Huang guard and clearly from Central Plains nobility. Yao Lao wanted nothing to do with that mess.
Alerted by Yao Lao, Xiao Yan looked up and spotted a small roadside stall. A tall man in a black cloak stood in front of it.
"Hurry up! Don't let someone else snatch it!" Yao Lao urged. Something felt off.
"Yes, Teacher!" Xiao Yan ran up and crouched beside the stall. He spotted a black iron shard and immediately reached for it.
At the same time, another hand reached for it.
Their hands collided.
Black-cloaked man: …
Xiao Yan: …
Yao Lao: …
Jiang Lin looked back in surprise at the person who had somehow slipped past his soul sense. When he saw who it was, his expression softened. "Oh, it's Brother Xiao Yan. Didn't expect to bump into you here."
He gave Xiao Yan a quick once-over with a curious glint. Jiang Lin genuinely hadn't noticed him coming.
Then he sensed something strange—like cotton candy tickling his nerves. Soft. Fuzzy. It made him squirm a little.
"Huh? Lin-ge? It's you!" Xiao Yan turned around, shocked at the familiar voice. Their eyes met for a moment, and Xiao Yan's face lit up in surprise.
So Xun'er was right—Jiang Lin really was a master at treasure hunting!
Wuwuwu! I just started, and if I'd been a second slower, I'd have gotten nothing!
"…Take it," Jiang Lin said after a moment. His goal today was Xiao Yan; the iron shard was just a bonus.
"Thanks, Lin-ge!" Xiao Yan grinned, reaching to retrieve the shard. Though older than Jiang Lin, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel like the junior whenever they met—Jiang Lin was just more mature and composed.
Jiang Lin: Yes. You are the little bro here.
If the world had a narrator, it would probably say at this moment:
In your first encounter with the Son of Fate, oh seasoned treasure-hunter, your generosity has cost you the prize.
Smack!
Just as Xiao Yan reached for the shard, a large hand slapped his aside. He looked up and saw the stall's old vendor—a Dou Master—eyeing him sharply.
"Kid! I never said I was selling that!"
Thunk!
Just as Xiao Yan braced for things to go south, a cold flash cut through the air. A dagger—pierced with holes—plunged into the ground beside the vendor's hand. It barely missed his arm.
Jiang Lin looked down at him, eyes calm. "To be clear, that could be a Dou Technique scroll. I'm offering a top-grade tier-one dagger in exchange. That's a fair deal. Or… you can gamble."
The vendor stared at the glinting dagger, then swallowed hard. "And if I… don't want to trade?"
"No trade, no problem." Jiang Lin smiled slightly. "Why so nervous?"
He wasn't some thug shaking people down. He was annoyed the man suddenly got grabby and was making that clear.
(END CHAPTER)
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