Xuanyang Sect Disciple

Time seemed to freeze. Yun Ruo hugged the young boy tightly, her hands covering his mouth and nose. A warmth bloomed in her heart, like something flowing out from every part of her, making her feel all warm and fuzzy.

The burning, suffocating sensation in her nose and throat also disappeared.

A silver light spread from the inner city, moving with extreme speed, almost sweeping across everyone. When the silver light faded, the roiling miasma overhead was blocked by an invisible barrier, unable to descend even a fraction of an inch further.

In the silence, a voice, half-sobbing and half-laughing, shouted, “It’s the Barrier Jade! The City Lord has activated the inner city’s Barrier Jade! We’re safe!”

The Barrier Jade almost enveloped the entire inner city and even extended quite a bit outwards, rescuing the people who had almost reached the inner city in the nick of time.

The miasma was trapped outside, unable to advance, yet it didn’t dissipate. It swirled with the wind into various shapes, as if stubbornly trying to crash against the barrier.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they didn’t dare to fully relax.

After all, if the Barrier Jade that was supposed to warn and deploy a barrier before the demon beast even got close could fail, who knew if the inner city’s Barrier Jade might also suddenly malfunction?

Faced with this sudden situation, the City Lord’s response was timely. The city defense gates in each district of the inner city were half-opened, guarded by men from the guard post, letting people into the inner city in batches and gathering them in a spacious plaza.

The stubbled man went to report the situation to the guard post, while Yun Ruo took his young apprentice to a corner to sit and rest.

The young boy’s legs were trembling from running. On the verge of tears, he sat on the ground and massaged his legs. After a while, he remembered Yun Ruo and asked with a trembling hand, “Do you want me to massage yours?”

Yun Ruo was deeply moved and then refused him.

When the stubbled man returned, he searched the plaza for a long time before finally spotting them in the corner. He came over and, without a word, pinched the young boy’s cheeks and stuffed something into his mouth. He then tried to do the same to Yun Ruo, but she quickly covered her mouth. However, she couldn’t withstand the big man’s fan-like hand and was forcibly fed a cool, small lozenge.

The thing melted instantly in her mouth, flowing down her throat. Yun Ruo blinked, “What is this?”

The stubbled man gestured for her to be quiet, then opened his mouth at his young apprentice, signaling him to do the same.

The boy obediently opened his mouth, “Ah—”

The stubbled man pinched his chin and examined him, looking puzzled. His voice was hoarse, barely more than a breath, “Not red or swollen, didn’t inhale any miasma? What about you?” He looked at Yun Ruo.

Yun Ruo also opened her mouth for him to see.

Her and the boy’s throats were fine. To show that he was okay, the boy opened his mouth and shouted “Ah” again, loudly.

“That’s good then.” The big man patted the young boy’s head.

“Are you alright?” Yun Ruo asked him. After all, using the Awakening Bell had already injured him, and he had stood in front of them when the miasma came. He must have inhaled some before the barrier was activated; otherwise, he wouldn’t have thought they had inhaled miasma.

The stubbled man shook his head, not saying anything.

Yun Ruo’s throat felt cool and comfortable, and she realized that what she had just eaten must have been some kind of medicine.

“Where did it come from?” she asked.

“You’re quite sharp,” the stubbled man said in a hoarse voice, not hiding anything. “The guard post gave it to me. I reported using the Awakening Bell, and they gave me this. Good stuff, it can dispel miasma and heal injuries. They gave me two.”

Just two.

One for the young apprentice, one for Yun Ruo.

He didn’t even keep one for himself.

Yun Ruo looked at the big man, who glared at her, his tone gruff, “Don’t say thank you, I hate that. I owe you today, otherwise I’d have to take so much responsibility. It’s my way of repaying you.”

“Oh,” Yun Ruo nodded, “Thanks.”

The big man hissed, “Don’t be so sappy!”

Yun Ruo then comforted him, “It’s not your responsibility that the Barrier Jade malfunctioned.”

The big man looked at her.

Yun Ruo added, “But you really weren’t vigilant enough…”

The big man sighed resignedly, “What kind of reward do you want?” This was about saving the entire outer city; one spirit medicine was really not enough.

Yun Ruo smiled, her bright eyes curved into crescent moons on her soot-smeared face. “Three low-grade spirit stones!”

She knew that the soldiers at the guard post could receive some low-grade spirit stones each month in addition to their salary.

She wasn’t greedy, three would be fine.

“I’ll give you ten,” the stubbled man said, closing his eyes to rest.

Yun Ruo’s eyes lit up instantly.

Ten! A living bodhisattva!

She turned to look at the big man’s young apprentice, “Let me massage your hands for you.” After all, his hands were shaking like he had Parkinson’s.

The young boy’s eyes also lit up, and he nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice.

The stubbled man opened one eye, looking at Yun Ruo as she massaged his young apprentice’s hands. His gaze was somewhat scrutinizing, but he withdrew it before Yun Ruo noticed, closing his eyes and continuing to rest.

The inner city gradually became lively after daybreak.

In the past, the streets would be bustling with people at the first hint of dawn. But today, because of the Barrier Jade malfunction, although there were no casualties, the oppressive miasma still enveloped the town, and no one knew if the demon beast outside had left. People felt a hidden threat weighing on their minds. Those who owned Barrier Jades chose to stay home, feeling safer with double the protection.

However, ordinary people had to live their lives, and the markets still opened.

Yun Ruo remembered the snow potatoes steaming in her pot and felt hungry.

The stubbled man had gone to report to the guard post at dawn. She had a few copper coins on her, so she took the young boy to buy food. They each bought a baked pancake to eat. After settling the boy down, she slipped away to the edge of the Barrier Jade’s barrier.

The transparent barrier occasionally flashed a bit of silver light, keeping the miasma outside securely.

She still needed to buy a Barrier Jade for herself; otherwise, if she encountered a situation like today’s, she wouldn’t have any ability to protect herself.

She wondered if ten low-grade spirit stones would be enough to buy one, even just a mediocre one.

Just as she was thinking this, the black mist was disturbed, and a young man in green robes, glowing with silver light, parted the miasma and walked over.

Yun Ruo quickly took a step back.

The young man saw that Yun Ruo didn’t react much, not even sparing her a glance. After entering the barrier, he dusted off his sleeves, and spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips. The bit of miasma that leaked in with him instantly vanished without a trace.

Two more people emerged from the black miasma behind him, all wearing the same style of green robes, their sleeves fluttering, their bodies glowing with silver light. It was clear that they had high-quality Barrier Jades on them and weren’t afraid of the roiling miasma at all.

Yun Ruo was very familiar with those robes.

They were the uniform of the Xuan Yang Sect’s outer disciples.

The three people walked straight towards the main city area. The woman at the back turned her head and softly reminded Yun Ruo, “Don’t linger here; it’s best to be careful.”

Yun Ruo said calmly, “Thank you.”

The woman was slightly surprised. When they spoke to ordinary people, they never received such a calm response. They always saw sparkling eyes filled with admiration and longing.

Sure enough, another person also turned back to look at Yun Ruo.

Yun Ruo, wearing her soot-covered face, let them look.

“Hurry up,” the young man in front said impatiently, “The North State City Lord said our Barrier Jade had a problem. You still have the mind to talk to people? When we’ve inspected the Barrier Jade and proven that it’s not our fault, I want that City Lord to eat his words!”

The other two smiled wryly and quickened their pace, walking away with him.

So, North State City bought its Barrier Jade from the Xuan Yang Sect.

So rich, the City Lord was really extravagant.

Yun Ruo now felt more at ease about the inner city’s defenses. She slowly finished eating her pancake at the edge of the barrier, patted her hands, and turned to walk back.

The miasma outside was so thick; it would take a long time to clear it away. But since people from the Xuan Yang Sect had come, it shouldn’t take too long.

Her snow potatoes were definitely inedible now. If she wanted to eat them again, she would have to save up money.

It would be hilarious if the Barrier Jade problem was due to the Xuan Yang Sect’s poor product quality. She would wholeheartedly support the City Lord in squeezing them for a big sum and then using the money to distribute some compensation to the people in their outer city.

She returned to the plaza and saw the young boy squatting in a corner, drawing circles with a tree branch. Seeing her, he immediately ran over and grabbed her sleeve.

“Has your master not returned yet?”

The boy nodded, looking towards the west city area.

“What are you looking at?” Yun Ruo asked, “Are you hungry again?”

“No,” the boy quickly shook his head, “Several groups of people, all glowing with silver light, went to the west city area when you weren’t here.”

Glowing with silver light? That must be the Barrier Jades on the people who came in from the miasma outside.

So, several groups had come. It seemed like she could try her luck this time.

Yun Ruo took the boy’s hand, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to see.”

People from various sects would occasionally come to town to do business, selling small protective items and the like. Many were made by the disciples themselves to earn pocket money, but they would usually only come when the town had a festival or something. Since this wasn’t a special occasion, the people who came would probably be from small sects, taking advantage of their town’s disaster to make a quick buck.

Those were the best; she could haggle for lower prices.

The west city area was the market district where goods were traded. She would sometimes go to wander around after getting off work early.

There weren’t many stalls today; most of the outsiders must have been blocked by the miasma. The only ones who could get in were those wearing Barrier Jades.

Yun Ruo didn’t have a specific goal. She mainly just wanted to take a look, so she walked leisurely. The young boy, on the other hand, was excited and curious on his first visit, looking at every stall.

“High-quality Barrier Jade, take a look~”

“Demon beast hide, fireproof, keep one at home to protect your life and wealth!”

“Want some herbs? Anti-miasma.”

Most of the vendors were ordinary merchants. The disciples of immortal sects would just set up a stall and quietly wait for people to buy from them. Although they didn’t hawk their goods, their things sold much faster than everyone else’s.

With a sect’s guarantee, the goods were, of course, more reliable and better.

Yun Ruo immediately spotted the disciples of the Xuan Yang Sect. The steady-looking man wasn’t there; the young man and woman stood like pines and cranes before their stall, their figures straight and handsome, attracting most of the shoppers. Several high-quality Barrier Jades were quickly sold at high prices.

Xuan Yang Sect was the best brand.

Yun Ruo didn’t even need to go up and look; she couldn’t afford it anyway.

But then, she was recognized as she passed by.

The woman in green robes smiled at her in surprise, “It’s you, what a coincidence.”

“Who is it?” The young man still had that impatient look on his face.

“The one we met at the edge of the barrier.”

“Don’t remember.” The young man glanced at Yun Ruo dismissively, “Why hasn’t Senior Brother returned yet… Have you sold everything? This place is so noisy.”

“There’s one left,” the woman said.

The young man simply picked up that Barrier Jade and casually tossed it to Yun Ruo, “Since we have a connection, I’ll give it to you. Let’s go, let’s find Senior Brother.”

Yun Ruo hadn’t expected things to develop so surrealistically. Their Barrier Jades had been selling for one hundred spirit stones each earlier.

The people around her looked at Yun Ruo with expressions of envious “How could a little beggar like you deserve such good fortune.” She didn’t reach out; the Barrier Jade tossed by the young man fell to the ground, making a crisp clanging sound.

It sounded like it was top quality.

“Why aren’t you catching it?” the young man frowned at her.

“I have money,” Yun Ruo patted her purse, which made the sound of copper coins clanging, “I’ll buy one myself.”

“Huh?” The young man was stunned, then smiled disdainfully, “Can you afford it? With those thirteen copper coins in your bag?”

Yun Ruo was embarrassed; she really only had thirteen copper coins in her bag.

The young man had good hearing.

But if she hadn’t bought snow potatoes yesterday, she would have had twenty-one! Who did he think he was looking down on?

She turned and walked towards another stall, picking up one of their Barrier Jades, “I’ll buy one from them.”

Yun Ruo had noticed this stall as soon as she entered the market district. It had a sect’s sign hanging on it, but it was more like an ordinary merchant than one from a sect. All the shouts on the street didn’t add up to the noise from this stall. It had none of the demeanor of a sect disciple.

They were probably in a hurry to sell off their goods; there was a chance here.

“Oh, this young lady has good taste! Our Barrier Jades are high-quality and low-priced!”

The young man in front of the stall, who had been shouting and hawking his wares since earlier, wore white robes with black wristbands on his cuffs. A big smile bloomed on his handsome face, “You can take one home for only one high-grade spirit stone.”

Yun Ruo: “…”

The two Xuan Yang Sect disciples across the way: “…”

How dare you say high-quality and low-priced when you’re selling it for such a high price!? Ours were only one hundred low-grade spirit stones!

A black-hearted merchant!