Chapter 58: Wangtian City

The two of them chased and played along the way, their laughter echoing over the mountains. The journey was anything but boring. While their Sword Riding speed was fast, it still took half a day before the towering silhouette of a great city appeared on the horizon.

Su Miaoqing gasped, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Senior Sister,” Xiao Yifeng called out over the wind. “Most of the people in the city are mortals. We should land outside and walk in to avoid causing a commotion.”

Su Miaoqing nodded vigorously. They descended near the city outskirts, resting briefly before walking toward the massive gates of Wangtian City under the glow of the setting sun.

Walking side by side, Xiao Yifeng tried to explain the basic rules of mortal society to prevent her from making a fool of herself.

“Remember, money here is silver, not Spirit Stones. And don’t fly,” he instructed.

Su Miaoqing nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking at rice, but her eyes were already wandering, her thoughts clearly drifting far away. Xiao Yifeng sighed; he doubted she had absorbed a single word.

Neither of them wore their Wentian Sect uniforms, so they blended in well enough as they entered the city on foot.

Wangtian City was the largest, most prosperous metropolis within a hundred-mile radius.

Several million commoners lived within its walls. Its prime location attracted a ceaseless flow of traveling merchants and caravans, making the streets incredibly lively. Carts flowed like water and horses like dragons; vendors shouted their wares, and porters rushed to and fro in a chaotic, vibrant dance.

Xiao Yifeng guided Su Miaoqing through the crowd, pointing out landmarks.

Su Miaoqing listened, puzzled. “Xiao Feng, have you been here before? How do you know so much?”

Xiao Yifeng froze for a split second. Naturally, he hadn’t visited as a child in this life, but in his previous life, he had spent plenty of time in Wangtian City. He quickly covered his tracks.

“I came here a few times with my parents when I was little,” he lied smoothly. “And I’ve heard the neighbors talk about it. I’m just repeating what I remember.”

Although Su Miaoqing was ice-snow intelligent, her worldly experience was shallow. She accepted his explanation with a simple “Oh” and didn’t probe further.

Besides, the city was far too distracting. Su Miaoqing had never seen such bustle and prosperity. Everything was novel, everything was fascinating, and her attention span snapped like a twig.

She darted to a rouge stall, unable to put down the colorful powders. A moment later, she was frozen in front of a jewelry stand, eyes wide as saucers. All of Xiao Yifeng’s warnings about low profiles and caution had been completely thrown to the wind.

Xiao Yifeng could only smile bitterly and shake his head. She really was just a sheltered girl at heart.

Fortunately, Su Miaoqing understood the basic concept of commerce—she didn’t just grab things and run. However, her concept of value was disastrous.

She pulled out a hundred-tael silver note to pay for a cheap trinket, nearly giving the street vendor a heart attack. Xiao Yifeng had to rush in, smoothing things over with copper coins and collecting her purchases while she skipped away.

Before long, Xiao Yifeng’s arms were piled high with boxes and bundles. Su Miaoqing, meanwhile, held a string of candied haws in her left hand and a paper pinwheel in her right, spinning it with unadulterated joy.

She was already stunningly beautiful. Coupled with her innocent, carefree demeanor, she attracted gazes from every corner of the street.

Eventually, even Su Miaoqing noticed the staring. Her face flushed slightly as she leaned into Xiao Yifeng.

“Xiao Feng,” she whispered. “Am I being strange? Why is everyone looking at me?”

Xiao Yifeng grinned. “They’re staring because you’re beautiful, Senior Sister. It’s only natural to admire a fairy.”

“Be serious!” Su Miaoqing’s blush deepened. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I am serious!” Xiao Yifeng kept a straight face. “If I’m lying, I’m a puppy!”

Su Miaoqing turned crimson. She suddenly kicked Xiao Yifeng in the shin. “If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll ignore you!”

She turned and ran off, looking for all the world like she was fleeing in defeat.

Xiao Yifeng clutched his stomach, laughing heartily as he chased after her.

They walked and stopped, stopped and walked. A single street that should have taken minutes took them half a day to traverse. Su Miaoqing was interested in everything, pulling Xiao Yifeng from one curiosity to another like a hyperactive child.

Seeing her so happy, Xiao Yifeng didn’t have the heart to spoil her mood. He knew she had grown up on the mountain, sheltered by Su Qianyi and his wife. They doted on her but kept her on a tight leash. This was likely her first taste of true freedom.

She definitely sneaked out, Xiao Yifeng thought. Master and Mistress will be here soon enough. Might as well let her enjoy it while it lasts.

Whatever Su Miaoqing wanted to see, he happily explained, weaving stories about the origins of the items. His knowledge was so vast that Su Miaoqing forgot her Senior Sister persona entirely.

“Xiao Feng, how do you know all this?” she exclaimed repeatedly, her eyes shining with admiration.

The vendors, eager to make a sale, heaped praise on the “Young Master” for his discerning eye and broad knowledge.

Flitting about like a lark, Su Miaoqing eventually landed in front of a small jewelry stall. The owner, a short, plump middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, immediately sensed a big sale. She saw their fine clothes and Su Miaoqing’s beauty and launched into her pitch.

Su Miaoqing picked up a pair of jade pendants carved with coiling dragons and phoenixes. “Xiao Feng, do you think these look good?”

Xiao Yifeng examined them. The material was decent jade, not bad for a street stall. “They look nice.”

The shopkeeper seized the moment. “This young lady has excellent taste! These Dragon-Phoenix Pendants are made of top-grade Kunlun Mountain jade, carved by a Grandmaster!”

She leaned in conspiratorially. “I even had them blessed by a Master at Wuxiang Temple. They are incredibly efficacious for granting wishes. If you give one to your sweetheart, it guarantees a match made in heaven! Since I feel a connection with you, young lady, I’ll let them go for just ten taels of silver.”

Xiao Yifeng smiled, recognizing the standard sales patter. The jade had zero spiritual energy, let alone a blessing from a Master. Ten taels was a lion opening its mouth wide—absolute robbery.

But the innocent Su Miaoqing beamed. “I’ll take them!”

Xiao Yifeng reached for his purse, but Su Miaoqing waved him off. “I’ll pay.”

She probably wants to give the other half to Xuan Yi, Xiao Yifeng thought, a bit wryly. He smiled and let her be.

Eventually, they arrived before a towering, majestic building. It stood three stories high, adorned with carved railings and jade inlays. The gold-lettered plaque above the entrance read: Wangtian Tower.

Su Miaoqing gazed at the imposing facade. Inside, she saw no goods for sale, only dozens of tables where people were dining.

“Xiao Feng, what is this place? Is it a cafeteria?”

“Wangtian Tower is a restaurant and an inn,” Xiao Yifeng explained. “Think of it like the Sect’s VIP reception hall, but here, you pay silver to eat and sleep.”

He looked at her, noting her slight fatigue. “Senior Sister, you must be hungry. Let’s get something to eat and rest here for the night.”

Su Miaoqing nodded enthusiastically. “Okay! I am starving. I want to see how the food here compares to the meals in the Hall!”

“The spiritual ingredients and rare fowls of the Sect are nourishing for cultivation, but the delicacies of the mortal world are naturally incomparable,” Xiao Yifeng said.