A Market Encounter and a Revealing Moment

After finishing their breakfast, Feiluo and Moxi strolled through the bustling market that was gradually coming alive.

‘There’s no denying it, this market in Luoxi City is truly bustling,’ Feiluo thought, observing the throng of people.

The market was a kaleidoscope of stalls, each one more captivating than the last. There were artists skillfully painting candy figures; others had spread out large rugs, piled high with prizes, waiting for customers to toss rings onto them; and yet others displayed large bowls filled with water and goldfish, challenging patrons to scoop them out using flat paper saucers. Then there were the acrobats, performing the classic trick of shattering stones with their chests—all these stalls left Feiluo’s eyes darting from one to another.

She would dart to the candy figure stall, hoping the artist would create one for both her and Moxi, then rush to try her hand at ring tossing and fishing for goldfish. After failing at both, she would head to the acrobats’ stall to watch the stone-shattering performance.

Feiluo flitted from one attraction to the next, like a butterfly flitting through a garden, weaving her way through the lively market.

Moxi followed Feiluo at a leisurely pace, never rushing, yet always staying close enough to keep her in sight. With a gentle smile, she walked serenely, exuding an aura of tranquility and elegance that made everyone who saw her pause and admire her.

Feiluo, after purchasing a string of sugar-plums from an old man, turned to see Moxi like this. Standing alone, Moxi seemed to transcend the world, her presence ethereal and otherworldly, like a celestial being.

Feiluo found herself captivated.

‘What’s wrong, dear student?’ Seeing Feiluo’s awestruck expression, Moxi stopped and asked.

‘N-nothing…’ Feiluo came to her senses, her face flushing a soft pink. She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to admit that Moxi’s beauty had left her speechless.

‘Is that so?’ Moxi tilted her head, confused by Feiluo’s blush.

‘Oh, just forget it! Don’t worry about it,’ Feiluo handed the sugar-plum to Moxi, saying, ‘You haven’t eaten anything yet, right? Here, try some.’

‘I already had breakfast, you know,’ Moxi reminded Feiluo, but she didn’t refuse the offered treat. As she looked at the sugar-plum, a mischievous idea sparked in her mind.

A sly smile played on Moxi’s lips as she bit into the sugar-plum that Feiluo was holding.

Feiluo was stunned.

Moxi took a small bite, then, seeing Feiluo’s bewildered expression, she chuckled and said, ‘Oh my, were you hoping to play a feeding game with me?’

‘N-no, I wasn’t!’ Feiluo regained her composure, her face turning red as she glared at Moxi’s playful smile. She quickly pushed the rest of the sugar-plum into Moxi’s hand and ran off to the next stall.

‘Sugar-plums are quite sweet, aren’t they?’ Moxi took another bite, savoring the taste, and walked in the direction Feiluo had run.

‘What’s wrong with this shop? Why are you letting someone who looks so poor in here?!’

‘Miss Wang, our shop doesn’t have a policy that requires customers to dress formally.’

‘Then you should have me share a roof with someone like that?!’

‘Please calm down, Miss Wang…’

Feiluo, who had been happily eating her ‘Moxi’—a candy figure made to look like Moxi—was drawn to the commotion nearby. The ‘Moxi’ in her hand was just a candy figure, now reduced to a small head on a stick, the rest devoured.

Following the sound, Feiluo saw a crowd gathered around something. She couldn’t see past them.

‘Um…’

Feiluo thought for a moment, then took Moxi’s hand, using her spiritual energy to form a transparent shield around both of them. Moxi, who had just arrived and didn’t quite understand the situation, didn’t resist as Feiluo’s energy enveloped her.

Feiluo pulled Moxi through the crowd, her enhanced abilities allowing her to easily reach the center.

‘I don’t care. If you want me to keep shopping here, get rid of that woman!’

‘Miss Wang, please don’t be difficult…’

As Feiluo and Moxi reached the center, they saw a heavily made-up woman with a plain face and an expensive outfit, shouting at the makeup shop’s staff. The staff could only endure her outburst.

Nearby, a woman in simple clothing with a graceful figure and a beautiful face stood calmly.

The heavily made-up woman pointed at the graceful woman, her eyes filled with envy. ‘Hey, you there, the poor thing. Why don’t you say something? Are you mute? You have the nerve to come to an upscale makeup shop, but now you can’t even speak?’

‘I bet you’re here to put on some makeup and go seduce someone, you little vixen!’

Feiluo couldn’t bear to watch anymore. It was clear that the heavily made-up woman was just jealous of the graceful woman’s beauty and was trying to humiliate her.

Just as Feiluo was about to step in, she felt a squeeze on her hand. She paused and looked at Moxi, unsure of what the gesture meant.

Moxi raised a finger to her lips, signaling Feiluo to be patient.

A message was sent through their linked hands. ‘Dear student, be patient. Let’s see how this unfolds.’

Although Feiluo didn’t understand Moxi’s words, she restrained herself and continued to watch the scene unfold.

The graceful woman remained calm, her expression unchanged. Just as she was about to speak, she hesitated, as if distracted by something.

She subtly glanced in the direction of Moxi and Feiluo.

‘You’re speechless, aren’t you? I knew it. Someone like you comes to a makeup shop just to put on some face paint and seduce others. You little vixen!’

The heavily made-up woman’s words became increasingly harsh, making the onlookers wince.

However, the graceful woman’s expression didn’t change. She casually glanced at the heavily made-up woman, who was still ranting, and a powerful, soul-shattering presence emanated from her.

‘You b*tch…’

‘Thud!’

In an instant, the heavily made-up woman’s words were cut short. Her face turned pale, her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, kneeling in front of the graceful woman.

Feiluo was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

‘It’s the city lord! The beautiful and elegant woman is the city lord of Luoxi, An Yaozhen!’

Feiluo’s shock was interrupted by a woman’s voice from the crowd. She turned to see a black-clothed woman with black hair. Before Feiluo could get a good look, the woman was swallowed by the chaotic crowd, leaving only a fleeting glimpse of her back.

‘You… you… you’re the city lord?! This can’t be!’ The heavily made-up woman’s face paled, her voice trembling with disbelief as she looked at the graceful woman, her eyes filled with shock.

An Yaozhen, seemingly unconcerned by the heavily made-up woman’s reaction, merely smiled enigmatically.

An Yaozhen: √