Justice in the Immortal Market

A gasp escaped Xiao Miao’s lips as the sum of a thousand spirit stones registered in her mind.

Yet, this unfolding drama clearly had nothing to do with her; the true protagonist was Qin Yan, and the surrounding cultivators watched the scene with a myriad of expressions.

Similarly, the three female cultivators clad in green from the Hundred Flowers Sect turned their gaze towards Qin Yan, their expressions betraying a desire to peacefully resolve the situation.

Qin Yan offered a slight nod, acknowledging the ease with which matters proceeded when one possessed status; the very name of Yanqing Sect was an unshakeable golden signboard within the Qin Kingdom. As for how he would choose to proceed in this matter, he considered his options.

One choice was to forgo any spirit stone compensation, as he hardly lacked such trifles.

The second was to compromise, accepting the cultivator’s proposed settlement. However, what if he were not a disciple of the Yanqing Sect today? What if he were merely a rogue cultivator? Would he not then be collectively bullied by these very cultivators?

Judging by the expressions of those around, such incidents seemed to be a common occurrence. Indeed, wherever people gathered, there inevitably arose the complexities of the jianghu.

“I have no need for it. I only ask that the Hundred Flowers Sect administers justice impartially.”

Qin Yan spoke with a calm, even tone.

The surrounding cultivators were utterly astonished by his words. A full thousand spirit stones! Moreover, Qin Yan had suffered no tangible loss from beginning to end.

Had it been them, they would undoubtedly have accepted the compensation offered by the cultivator.

What they failed to grasp was that once Qin Yan had revealed his identity, there was no longer any room for retreat. It was akin to a ‘pengci’ artist encountering a police officer who then flashed their badge, leaving the scammer terrified and desperate to settle privately.

If he truly allowed her to settle it privately, wouldn’t that be tarnishing the very reputation of his Yanqing Sect?

Immediately, the ‘pengci‘ cultivator’s face turned ashen. Witnessing this, the three green-clad cultivators wasted no further words. The leader offered a slight bow to Qin Yan, while the other two escorted the fraudulent cultivator directly out of the Immortal Market.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding cultivators cheered universally. This woman had gone fishing, only to hook a shark she couldn’t unreel, dragging herself into the depths. Qin Yan, standing before them, had effectively eradicated a blight from the Immortal Market.

Xiao Miao, too, found Qin Yan’s decision utterly remarkable. Had it been her, she would certainly have agreed, for she was desperately short of funds, and a thousand spirit stones would have sufficed for her cultivation for a considerable period.

Humans die for wealth, just as birds die for food—an ancient truth. To remain unmoved by riches truly bespoke the demeanor of a gentleman.

“Shizun, Qin Yan has truly done a great service for the surrounding cultivators, and he has also assuaged a deep grievance in my heart,” Xiao Miao communicated through divine sense, knowing her Shizun was also observing the scene. “I am only concerned that the cultivator appeared to have connections with the Hundred Flowers Sect, and may not receive the justice she deserves.”

“There is no need to worry about that,” Shizun replied, her understanding of the human heart in the jianghu evidently far surpassing Xiao Miao’s. “After all, while some within the Hundred Flowers Sect may have colluded with this cultivator, there are too many eyes and ears around. Given how that woman acted, countless individuals are surely watching for the aftermath. Should an unexpected turn occur, and the Hundred Flowers Sect release her, would they not be severing their own ties with the Yanqing Sect? Now, those with grudges will seek revenge, and those with grievances will voice their complaints. You and Qin Yan need not concern yourselves with the subsequent events; her enemies will not let this opportunity slip away.”

“Xiao Miao, let us go.”

Qin Yan watched the receding figures of the three green-clad cultivators. The subsequent events were no longer his concern, not because he trusted the Hundred Flowers Sect to administer justice impartially, but because he believed in the formidable influence of the Yanqing Sect.

Turning to Xiao Miao beside him, he stated that he had lost all interest in remaining in this Immortal Market.

“Very well.”

Xiao Miao assented with a nod, devoid of any unnecessary chatter. She had discerned Qin Yan’s waning interest, and coincidentally, the spirit plants she sought had yielded no clues within the Immortal Market.

The bustling crowd began to disperse, and the two prepared to depart the Immortal Market.

As they walked, suddenly, Xiao Miao’s Shizun’s voice echoed in her mind:

“Wait, Xiao Miazi, at the third cultivator’s stall on the left, go examine the iron piece in the corner.”

Hearing these words, Xiao Miao halted her steps momentarily. Qin Yan, observing her, followed her gaze and noticed her eyes fixed upon a particular stall.

‘Had she discovered something?’

“Qin Yan, follow me—”

Xiao Miao spoke, transmitting her words via divine sense, and the two made their way to the stall her Shizun had indicated.

“That iron piece in the corner, do you see it? I believe there must be something peculiar about it,” Xiao Miao stated, essentially reiterating her Shizun’s exact words.

Qin Yan remained silent, standing with Xiao Miao before the stall. His gaze swept over the assortment of items displayed on the ground: not merely ceramics, but also bronze artifacts, and even a small tripod intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes. In short, it was a haphazard collection, reminiscent of the antiques and relics one might find at a flea market in his previous life.

As for the iron piece Xiao Miao had mentioned, it was a triangular shard, heavily rusted, perhaps nothing more than a broken hoe blade from some old farmer.

The cultivator seated before the stall, the seller of these wares, watched the two. She remained silent, wary of incurring the charge of deceiving a Yanqing Sect cultivator—yes, the specific charge of deceiving a Yanqing Sect cultivator.

Rogue cultivators, if swindled, were simply swindled, left to accept their misfortune. Could they truly lodge a complaint? That would be an act of utter foolishness; who would bother with the life or death of a mere rogue cultivator?

“How much for this item?”

Qin Yan picked up a blue-and-white porcelain-like object from the ground and inquired of the stall owner.

“It’s a minor magic tool,” the seller explained, “for cultivating flowers and plants, making them more vibrant and enchanting. Fifty spirit stones will suffice, if the fellow daoist desires it.”

Qin Yan merely nodded, placing the blue-and-white porcelain aside.

“What kind of magic tool is this tripod?”

Qin Yan looked at the small tripod, intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, displayed prominently in the center, and posed his question.

“This small tripod,” the stall owner began, her demeanor sincere, “to be frank, my cultivation is too shallow to discern any specific wondrous use for it. However, its extraordinary appearance suggested something more. I found it by chance in a village. It seems like a magic tool, yet also like a sacrificial implement crafted by ordinary mortals. In short, I truly cannot fathom its purpose.”

“Then, what price do you intend to sell it to me for?” Qin Yan asked.

“Five hundred spirit stones,” the stall owner replied.

“Very well, five hundred spirit stones,” Qin Yan stated, making no attempt to haggle. “I find all these small trinkets on your stall quite unique. I’ll add another two hundred spirit stones, and you can package everything up for me.”

“Excellent!”

The stall owner, a straightforward individual, readily agreed. Given the preceding events, she knew the person before her was a cultivator from the Yanqing Sect, presumably wealthy and influential, so no suspicion lingered in her heart.

Had it been anyone else, she would undoubtedly have harbored doubts, wondering if there was some hidden treasure among her wares.

After all, who would approach a stall, asking about this and that, only to then specifically choose an inconspicuous item? Both scenarios would appear highly suspicious.