Chapter 036: Tears of Poverty

Yu Wenche approached the stall, glanced at Yan Shu, and finally greeted them, “Senior Brother Liu Qing, Junior Sister Yan Tong, we meet again.”

“Yes, who would have thought we’d run into you here, Yu Wenche. It seems fate truly has plans for us,” Liu Zhicheng replied, eyes open, uttering such empty words. One deliberately revealed their whereabouts, the other purposefully sought them out; the black market’s street was only so large—missing each other would have been the real surprise.

Yu Wenche smiled at Liu Zhicheng, a silent understanding passing between them.

At that moment, Yan Shu finished seeing off a customer at the stall and finally had a moment to greet Yu Wenche. Her attitude changed entirely; she smiled and said, “Senior Brother Yu Wenche, are you here to browse the black market as well? Is there anything you’d like to buy?”

Her smile was too pure, and as she smiled, two little dimples appeared, making him lose his composure for a moment.

But he quickly regained himself, looked over the items on the stall, and then at the glimmering light in her eyes. Instantly, he understood the reason for her sudden change in attitude.

Yu Wenche couldn’t help but find it amusing—whether mortal or cultivator, he had met countless women. They looked at him for his family background, his face, his cultivation, and his promising future.

Yet the only woman who truly stirred his heart only cared for the spirit stones in his mustard seed pouch.

Faced with her hopeful little face, Yu Wenche couldn’t help but chuckle softly and responded, “Yes, I’d like to buy something. What is Junior Sister Yan Tong selling here?”

Hearing this, Yan Shu’s eyes brightened, and she beamed as she introduced the items on the stall, “Most of my goods are sold out—there are only a few talismans and some pills left. I’m not sure if any will catch Senior Brother Yu Wenche’s eye.”

“How could Yu Wenche possibly be interested in these trinkets?” Liu Zhicheng smiled, took a porcelain bottle from his mustard seed pouch, and lowered his voice, “By chance, I acquired three Blood Vitality Pills, which can extend the lifespan of cultivators in the Divine Transformation stage. Though you, as a Celestial Spiritual Root, surely have no worries about longevity…”

He glanced at Yan Shu, then leaned close to Yu Wenche and whispered a few words.

Liu Zhicheng used a half-transmitted voice, so even though she was nearby, Yan Shu didn’t hear what he said.

After he finished, Yu Wenche looked at her, his ears flushing red, nodded slightly, and said, “Alright, I’ll take them.”

Yan Shu: …

Senior Brother, could you make it any more obvious that you’re selling me?

In the end, Yu Wenche spent three hundred top-grade spirit stones to buy the three Blood Vitality Pills.

Blood Vitality Pills were life-saving medicine for cultivators nearing the end of their lifespan, but for someone like Yu Wenche, a favored child of the heavens, they were utterly useless. Who knew what trick Liu Zhicheng used to convince Yu Wenche to buy them.

After purchasing the pills, Yu Wenche didn’t leave. Instead, he stayed, squatting beside Yan Shu and helping her sell goods.

He carried none of the airs of royalty, nor the arrogance of a prodigy. After watching Yan Shu sell a couple of items, he even learned to draw in customers as she did.

The key was, he was handsome, and many people recognized him. Whenever he greeted someone, whether they intended to buy or not, those who knew him took out their mustard seed pouches.

And those young women who didn’t know him bought simply because of his face, not even bothering to bargain. Truly, comparing people could be infuriating.

With Yu Wenche joining in, the stall’s goods soon sold out completely.

Liu Zhicheng, conscience finally stirring, suggested Yan Shu and Yu Wenche take a break while he packed up alone.

Yan Shu’s impression of Yu Wenche improved greatly; her attitude changed, and she quietly initiated conversation, “What did my Senior Brother just say to you, that made you buy all three Blood Vitality Pills?”

The space was limited, so they stood almost shoulder to shoulder. Yan Shu’s breath brushed his ear, and Yu Wenche’s ears flushed again.

He glanced at Yan Shu, cleared his throat, and said, “Nothing… he didn’t say anything.”

Seeing his demeanor, Yan Shu grew even more suspicious, but since he wouldn’t tell, she didn’t press further—after all, her senior brother had just sold her out.

Remembering the method to break the seal within her body, Yan Shu sized Yu Wenche up from head to toe, her mind turning, and she asked in a low voice, “Senior Brother Yu Wenche, how long do you think it’ll be before you break through to Divine Transformation?”

Her sudden shift in topic surprised Yu Wenche, but he answered honestly, “Even for me, advancing through the Nascent Soul stage takes twice as long as the Golden Core stage. At this rate, breaking through to Divine Transformation should take twice the time of Nascent Soul. Without special opportunities, I’ll likely need another hundred years or so.”

A hundred years…

It seemed her own cultivation was still faster.

Yan Shu acknowledged his words with a quiet hum and said no more.

Yu Wenche watched her and suddenly asked, “Junior Sister Yan Tong, you’re already at the late Golden Core stage. You should be forming your Nascent Soul soon, right?”

Yan Shu gave a bitter smile, “It’s still a long way off.”

Yu Wenche showed a hint of surprise but quickly concealed it, smiling at her gently, “No matter, the years stretch ahead, take your time.”

Just then, Liu Zhicheng finished packing up, looked at them, and grinned, “What are you two talking about?”

Yan Shu snorted, “We’re talking about how you sold me for three hundred top-grade spirit stones.”

Yu Wenche’s ears flushed red again, and Liu Zhicheng awkwardly cleared his throat, “We’re fellow disciples—let’s not talk about selling and buying.”

Yan Shu narrowed her eyes, “Looks like you really did sell me, Senior Brother.”

Only then did Liu Zhicheng realize he’d been tricked, feeling a bit guilty, he rubbed his nose, “Ahem… Anyway, it’s getting late. The first auction at Treasure Pavilion is about to start. Let’s hurry over.”

By now, the black market street had emptied out; most people had gone to Treasure Pavilion for the auction.

Yan Shu walked with Liu Zhicheng and Yu Wenche toward Treasure Pavilion, and along the way, they explained much about it to her.

Treasure Pavilion had been established for several thousand years. It started as a small auction house but grew to cover the entire Nine Provinces continent. Some said it was backed by a royal family, others claimed it was a demon clan, but these were only rumors.

Having read the original book, Yan Shu knew that the master behind Treasure Pavilion was the Demon King.

In the novel, the male lead, Xiao Ji Han, once obtained a congenital spiritual treasure and auctioned it at Treasure Pavilion. Back then, he wasn’t famous and concealed his identity. The head of that branch grew greedy and withheld half the spirit stones.

Xiao Ji Han, furious, challenged the branch, drawing the Demon King’s attention. The two fought, and after their battle, they became friends.

From then on, Xiao Ji Han became a VIP among VIPs at Treasure Pavilion.

Thinking of Xiao Ji Han, Yan Shu remembered how, earlier, he’d casually produced one hundred mid-grade spirit stones without batting an eye. If she remembered correctly, before last night, he’d been as penniless as she was—how had he suddenly managed to have so many spirit stones after just one day?

Looking at her own empty pouch, and then at her senior brother, impoverished enough to set up a stall, Yan Shu silently shed tears of poverty in her heart.