"You're right. Why didn't I think of that?"
Lu Xuanyuan perked up again, full of energy. He bowed toward Jian Dan.
"Many thanks for the reminder, Zhēnjūn. I'll head to Cloud Sea Sect right away."
Jian Dan nodded. "Good. Since we're headed in the same direction, you can ride with us on the Heavenly Sword Sect's ship."
She stroked Yue Liang's little head, smiling as she turned to Lu Xuanyuan.
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?" Lu Xuanyuan tried one last time to resist.
"Of course not. Back when Yue Liang was staying in Purple Sky Sect, you looked after her quite a bit. This time, she'll be the one watching over you."
"In that case, I'll accept the trouble."
It was the elder behind him—Uncle Lu—who finally couldn't bear to watch anymore and made the decision for him.
"Alright then. Let's go stroll around the loose market. We might get lucky and pick up a water-repelling pearl or something."
Jian Dan made the call with complete authority.
Tianyue City's loose market sat close to the port, so most of the stalls sold ocean-related wares.
Jian Dan wanted to find a water-repelling pearl. When fighting underwater, such a pearl would remove the need to spend spiritual power forming a water barrier. That alone was a tactical advantage.
With Yue Liang in her arms and Lu Xuanyuan at her left, Jian Dan wandered leisurely through the market like a true second-generation cultivator, followed by three bodyguards.
"How is Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ these days?"
Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ is currently leading a team in the sect competition."
"That's perfect. We'll be able to catch up."
Jian Dan continued, "Did they ever catch the mastermind who stopped Xiao Die Zhēnjūn and you from returning to your sect thirty years ago?"
Lu Xuanyuan's face turned serious. He only gave a small nod, offering no further details.
"I'm not trying to pry," Jian Dan said softly. "But back when Yue Liang was in your sect, she was attacked. Good thing I gave her the life-preserving talisman from Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ. Otherwise..."
"I know. In fact, it was because of Yue Liang that we managed to root out a major parasite hidden in our sect and avoided a disaster."
"The insect race hasn't been fully eradicated since the Purple secret realm. They're insidious. It's better to stay cautious."
"You're absolutely right, Zhēnjūn."
They had browsed through half the market already, and Jian Dan hadn't found anything worthwhile. Many cultivators came to greet them, recommending all sorts of oddities. Lu Xuanyuan, fascinated, ended up buying one or two items.
"Miss Jian, someone's watching us."
Wu Siyuan leaned closer to Jian Dan, speaking in a low voice.
"I know. Let them watch. I'm curious what they're up to."
She waved it off casually.
"Zhēnjūn, there's a big crowd up ahead. I'll go check it out."
The path ahead was blocked by a ring of cultivators. Jian Dan swept her divine sense through the crowd and saw a thin female cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core stage. She sat by her stall, with a basin-sized shell placed on display. A small sign stood beside it: Only trades, no sales.
Lu Xuanyuan had already squeezed his way in. The two soon put up a soundproof barrier and began whispering.
One moment he nodded, the next she shook her head. Within the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, Lu Xuanyuan returned to Jian Dan's side.
"Zhēnjūn, she claims to have a ten-thousand-year-old water-repelling pearl. She wants to trade it for a pill that can help her reach the Nascent Soul stage."
Jian Dan lowered her gaze for a moment, then smiled.
"Even a ten-thousand-year-old pearl only repels water. That's its sole function. Pills that help with breakthroughs are far more valuable. It's not a fair trade."
"I thought the same. If you hadn't wanted a water-repelling pearl, I wouldn't have talked to her for so long."
"Haha. Looks like you're a filial one, Xiao Lu."
Jian Dan teased him with a laugh, then tossed him a small palm-sized box.
"I rarely use pills myself. Take this and make the trade. I'm sure she'll accept."
Lu Xuanyuan caught the box and eagerly squeezed his way back into the crowd. This time, the deal went smoothly. Moments later, he returned with a brocade box in hand.
"Zhēnjūn, please check it."
"No need. I trust you."
Without looking, Jian Dan placed the box into her storage bracelet and continued browsing the rest of the market with Lu Xuanyuan.
She picked out two pieces of ore and a broken-string bow. Behind her, Bian Qikang and Wu Siyuan each bought a few items they liked. No one hesitated to spend spirit stones.
Only when the sun dipped and the moon rose did Jian Dan reluctantly call an end to their spirit-stone-spending spree.
"Let's go. Time to board the ship."
Lu Xuanyuan still looked a little unwilling. But Jian Dan whispered something to him through a sound transmission, and he immediately nodded in agreement.
"The moon's beautiful tonight," he said with feeling.
A round moon hung high above, surrounded by a faint halo that made its glow even brighter.
"Haha. You've got a poetic soul, kid. But the one you should be admiring isn't the moon. It's the beauty beside you."
A loud, cheerful voice rang out. A handsome man in gray robes stepped onto the moonlight, fan in hand, exuding a roguish charm. Instantly, Jian Dan's group of five was surrounded by a circle of cultivators.
Jian Dan glanced at the gray-robed man. His mannerisms bore a faint resemblance to Jiàn Jùn Zhūnzhǔ, but he was too frivolous. He lacked Jiàn Jùn Zhūnzhǔ's refined grace, like a pale imitation with none of the substance.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Wu Siyuan stepped forward as their bodyguard and asked the question.
"Siyuan, isn't it obvious? This is a robbery," Jian Dan said cheerfully, sweeping her gaze around before focusing on the gray-robed leader.
"One person is missing, though."
"...What?"
The man faltered, sensing something was off about Jian Dan's relaxed tone.
"I'm talking about that female cultivator who tried to test us earlier. The one who gave me a fake water-repelling pearl."
Some in the surrounding crowd exchanged glances. Lu Xuanyuan, on the other hand, exploded.
"That damn fake! Daring to fool your Grandpa Lu?! I'll tear them all apart!"
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to brawl, but Jian Dan held him back.
"Xiao Lu, you're still a young master. Show some dignity and restraint. Is that how your Ancestor raised you?"
Lu Xuanyuan was just posturing anyway. The opposing group had ten people. The weakest among them was late Golden Core stage, and two were at the Divine Transformation stage. On the surface, their side was clearly at a disadvantage. A bit of trash talk would do for now.
"Zhēnjūn, then what do you propose?"
"Naturally, we try diplomacy before force."
"Oh? Then teach me."
Jian Dan nodded and stepped forward. She looked directly at the gray-robed cultivator.
"Have that female cultivator who's in charge come out. We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
Finally, the woman hiding in the shadows stepped out. She was the same one who had traded with Lu Xuanyuan earlier.
Yue Liang, still nestled in Jian Dan's arms, stood up straight, glaring at the thin woman with obvious hostility.
"Of course we have something to discuss," Jian Dan said smoothly. "I already gave you a thousand-year-old Purple Heart Fruit. But you didn't give me the ten-thousand-year-old water-repelling pearl. Our trade is incomplete."
"What if I refuse?"
"Then give me the Purple Heart Fruit back. It's not like you can use it anyway."
"Hah! That boy couldn't tell real from fake. How is that my fault?"
"Sigh. After all that effort, turns out the real problem was on our end."
Jian Dan shook her head and waved Wu Siyuan forward. Once he approached, she pointed at the female cultivator.
"Leave her alive. Kill the rest."