Ling Yue picked up the jade room token from the table.
She was about to walk toward the entrance—
when her eyes caught the countless shattered wine jars scattered across the floor.
She blinked.
"...Hm?"
She crouched slightly.
Several of the jars had been cut cleanly in half.
The edges were so smooth they had obviously been sliced apart by a sword.
"...Even the jars were cut open..."
She tilted her head.
"...Senior."
"If you like wine that much..."
"...You don't have to start eating the jars too."
The tiny white-scaled lizard looked at the broken pottery.
Then replied flatly.
"...I didn't do that."
Ling Yue froze.
"...Huh?"
She slowly turned her head.
"...Then who—"
Before she could finish—
Ling Wei, who had already picked up the two now-empty storage pouches from the floor, immediately stiffened.
A cold sweat ran down his back.
*...Don't ask.*
*Please don't ask.*
Without turning around, he walked toward the entrance as naturally as he could.
"...Hey, Yue."
He held up the jade room token.
"...Come over here and open the door quickly."
"How many days has it been already?"
"What if the entrance examination for the Cloud Sword Sect is already over?"
Ling Yue looked at him as though he had said something completely ridiculous.
"...Really?"
Ling Wei blinked.
"...What do you mean?"
She folded her arms.
"It's only been eight days since we came here."
"It's probably still nighttime outside."
"We were planning to leave tomorrow anyway."
"The examination isn't even close."
Ling Wei scratched the side of his cheek awkwardly.
"...Oh."
"...Is that so?"
"I... didn't notice."
Ling Yue stared at him for a long moment.
Then she slowly walked past him.
"...You're disgusting."
Ling Wei's face stiffened.
"...What?"
She offered no explanation.
Instead, she placed the jade room token against the wall.
The formation immediately responded.
Hum—
Ancient runes illuminated the stone surface one after another.
The concealed doorway slowly began to open.
At the very same moment—
Lizarius spoke calmly.
"...Make contact."
Without hesitation—
Ling Wei reached out and lightly grabbed Ling Yue's arm.
"...Don't be like that."
"It was an accid—"
"I don't want to hear it."
Before he could finish—
shadows flowed silently from the invisible lizard.
They wrapped around both siblings.
Their figures vanished beneath the familiar veil of concealment.
The doorway finished opening.
Rumble...
Standing quietly outside—
was an ordinary-looking old man.
His white hair was neatly tied behind his head.
Simple gray robes hung loosely over his lean frame.
One hand rested behind his back.
The other gently stroked his beard.
He appeared no different from any elderly traveler one might encounter along the road.
Yet—
the invisible Lizarius merely watched him in silence.
He had already sensed the old man's presence long before the door had opened.
*A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.*
The old man smiled kindly as the concealed guests emerged.
"My apologies for disturbing our honored guests."
He offered a respectful bow.
"I am one of the managers of the Night Sheep House."
His expression remained warm and courteous.
"I merely wished to inform our honored guests..."
"...that your reservation expired three days ago."
He chuckled softly.
"We did not wish to interrupt your cultivation."
"So we allowed your stay to continue uninterrupted."
He spread one hand politely.
"However..."
"I have come to kindly ask that our honored guests settle the additional three days."
The corridor fell silent.
Ling Yue instinctively glanced upward.
No words were spoken.
Instead—
Whoosh.
Three spirit stones flew through the air.
They landed neatly in the old manager's outstretched palm.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The old man lowered his gaze.
Three high-quality low-grade spirit stones.
Exactly enough.
His smile deepened ever so slightly.
"Thank you."
He calmly stored the spirit stones away without another word.
Then he stepped aside from the doorway.
"Our honored guests are, of course, welcome to stay again in the future."
"The Night Sheep House will always provide the finest accommodations available."
Ling Yue nodded politely.
"...Thank you."
The old manager bowed once more.
"It has been our pleasure."
He made no attempt to ask where the spirit stones had come from.
Nor did he inquire about the strange shadows concealing the guests.
Working within the Night Market had taught him a lesson long ago...
Curiosity was rarely rewarded.
The three quietly walked past him.
The manager watched them leave until their footsteps disappeared into the corridor.
Only then did he slowly stroke his beard in thought.
"...Interesting."
He had expected bargaining.
Perhaps even dissatisfaction at being charged for the additional three days.
Instead...
Payment had been immediate.
Not a single unnecessary word had been exchanged.
He smiled faintly.
"...Straightforward guests."
Meanwhile—
the concealed siblings continued walking toward the exit of the Night Sheep House.
Ling Yue let out a quiet sigh.
"...I completely forgot we'd stayed longer than we originally paid for."
Ling Wei smiled awkwardly.
"...So did I."
Above them—
the invisible white-scaled lizard remained silent.
His golden eyes were already fixed beyond the inn.
Toward the bustling Night Market outside.
The siblings stepped out of the Night Sheep House.
The cool night air greeted them once more.
The Night Market remained just as lively as ever.
Rows of lanterns bathed the streets in warm golden light.
Merchants loudly advertised their wares from every direction.
Cultivators of every race wandered from stall to stall.
Humans.
Beastfolk.
Ghosts.
Demons.
None of them paid the slightest attention to the two shadow-concealed figures moving quietly through the crowd.
Above Ling Yue—
the invisible white-scaled lizard calmly observed the lively marketplace.
Then—
he spoke.
"...Wine."
Ling Yue immediately understood.
"...Again?"
No reply came.
She simply smiled helplessly.
"...I thought so."
"Let's see if the seller from before is still here."
The siblings altered their direction.
Before long—
they arrived once again at the elderly wine merchant's stall.
The old merchant looked up.
The moment he recognized his two mysterious customers—
his weathered face immediately lit up.
"Hahaha!"
"My wonderful customers have returned!"
"I was wondering when I'd see you again!"
His eyes swept proudly across the shelves behind him.
"I've spent the last several days brewing more wine and gathering fresh stock."
He rubbed his hands together happily.
"I trust you've come for more?"
Ling Yue nodded.
"...Everything."
The old merchant burst into even louder laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"I knew it!"
"I knew that's exactly what you'd say!"
Without wasting another moment—
he immediately began counting.
"This time..."
"...Two hundred and ninety-four jars."
He looked back up with a cheerful smile.
"The same price as before."
"...One hundred and six standard-quality low-grade spirit stones."
Before Ling Yue could respond—
Whoosh.
A single spirit stone floated through the air.
The old merchant caught it effortlessly.
He lowered his head to inspect it.
A high-quality low-grade spirit stone.
He looked back at the siblings.
Then burst into hearty laughter once again.
"Hahaha!"
"I see!"
"We're bargaining again!"
Ling Yue nodded with complete seriousness.
"...Yes."
The old merchant sighed dramatically.
"You youngsters truly never change."
He pretended to ponder the matter for several long moments.
Then finally threw both hands into the air.
"...Fine."
"You win."
"I accept."
The shelves immediately began to tremble.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
One wine jar after another floated gracefully into the air.
Each one disappeared into empty space before ever reaching Ling Yue's hands.
The old merchant watched the scene with undisguised amusement.
Moments later—
the final jar vanished.
The stall stood completely empty once again.
The old merchant could only laugh helplessly.
"You've cleaned me out twice now."
Ling Yue offered another respectful bow.
"...Thank you."
The old merchant waved cheerfully.
"Safe travels!"
"And next time..."
"I'll have even more waiting for you!"
The siblings nodded before quietly leaving the stall.
They continued through the crowded streets.
Past countless merchants.
Past spirit beasts and ghost cultivators.
Past the concealed entrance hidden within the Night Market.
The formation rippled gently as they passed through it.
A moment later—
they emerged once more onto the quiet streets of Windborne Town.
The lively Night Market vanished behind them as though it had never existed.
The town itself remained peaceful beneath the pale moonlight.
Without stopping—
the siblings circulated their movement technique.
Wind gathered beneath their feet.
Whoosh!
Their figures shot across the rooftops like streaks of wind.
Within moments—
they crossed the town walls.
The wilderness stretched endlessly before them beneath the night sky.
Behind them—
Windborne Town gradually faded into the darkness.
Ahead—
the road leading back toward Lotus City awaited.
Above Ling Yue—
the invisible white-scaled lizard rested quietly upon her head.
Wrapped securely around the base of his tail—
the storage ring now contained hundreds of freshly purchased jars of spirit wine.
For the moment—
he appeared completely satisfied.
The three figures disappeared into the night.
Leaving both Windborne Town and the hidden Night Market far behind.