While examining it, he exchanged glances with the other Wei people, all wearing serious expressions. The shrimp spirit escorting them didn’t understand what was happening and asked in confusion: “What are you doing?”
Jing Shun let out a cold chuckle: “Someone is trying to scheme against us.” After thinking for a moment, he looked up at the shrimp spirit and asked, “May I borrow a silk thread?”
“Huh?”
The Jiao people were skilled weavers. Their finest Jiao silk didn’t sink in water; the silk threads could dance with the wind, light as a feather, yet their strength was astonishing—impervious to water and fire, difficult to cut even with divine weapons.
The silk thread was lent to him, each strand only about one-hundredth the thickness of a hair. Jing Shun exerted great effort to tie it around the spider’s body before returning to the surface: “Let’s go and see who’s behind this.” Since the spider knew to escape, it must possess some intelligence. Releasing it would allow them to follow the thread back to its master.
Only Xiao Yan and Yun Ya were aware of their mission; how could they have been followed? They had just passed through the crowded marketplace, and someone could have planted something on them there.
He didn’t know what purpose this tiny spider served, but it was likely used for tracking or theft. Striking while the iron was hot, releasing it now might lead them to the person.
Who could it be? Someone from Wei, Jin, An Xia, or perhaps…?
Upon returning to the surface, they placed the small spider on the ground. After a moment, it began to move.
Once in motion, it moved incredibly fast.
Jing Shun discovered that it was indeed scurrying toward the marketplace. The creature was so tiny that if not for the silk thread tied to it, it would have vanished without a trace, beyond even Jing Shun’s keen eyesight.
Fortunately, as darkness fell, the marketplace crowd had diminished by more than half.
They followed the fluttering silk thread in hot pursuit, finally coming upon two groups of people confronting each other.
The small spider leaped lightly, jumping onto one person’s leg, then crawling upward and disappearing into their upper garment.
So it was this fellow?
A cold glint flashed in Jing Shun’s eyes as he waved his hand. His companions immediately spread out, surrounding the group.
A faint white light flickered on his palm hanging by his side, and a pair of gloves silently materialized.
Then, he stepped forward and grabbed the person’s shoulder, forcibly turning them around!
In the noisy tea pavilion, Madam Xu noticed her adopted daughter had been in a daze for quite some time and couldn’t help but press her arm: “An’an, what’s wrong?”
Lu Chuan Ying had left the group to wander around, and now only Peng Bai was accompanying the mother and daughter. Feng Miao Jun wasn’t concerned about their safety; the Jiao people were responsible for maintaining order in their territory. Besides, she wasn’t fighting alone—the liquid metal monster White Board was now her primary enforcer.
White Board looked completely confused when it heard its new name. There was no mahjong in this world, so naturally, it didn’t understand the care its mistress had taken in naming it. “White Board” had no specific meaning, but its function was significant—how could one complete a set without it?
Feng Miao Jun came back to her senses and smiled: “It’s nothing, I was just amazed at how prosperous the business is here.” Her hair hung down beside her temples today, perfectly concealing a furry spider on her shoulder, which was invisible from Madam Xu’s angle.
The spider’s voice continuously transmitted faintly into her ear.
Madam Xu also said: “Indeed, the items sold from here to the mainland can fetch high prices. Luo Fu City is governed by the Jiao people, and I’ve heard they weave Jiao silk, which is the finest silk in the world. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen it.” The Feng family was in the fabric business, yet she, as the owner, had never seen the legendary Jiao silk, which was truly regrettable.
The sea tribes also suffered great damage during the cataclysmic changes in heaven and earth over a thousand years ago. The Jiao people who had reproduced until today were mostly concentrated in Luo Fu City. This made the production site of Jiao silk very singular, with prices controlled by Luo Fu City and increasing year after year. Madam Xu was envious—if the Feng family had a way to purchase this merchandise, how many times the profit could they make selling it on the mainland?
Feng Miao Jun understood her implied meaning and smiled: “If Mother wants to see it, it’s not difficult. Come with me to the Luo Fu Fishery Auction in three days. There are only a few thousand Jiao people in this city, and Jiao silk can only be ‘woven an inch per day.’ Such rare business is beyond not only the Feng family but even wealthy merchants and high officials. Currently, the only known entity that has cooperated with Jiao People’s City is the Hengyuan Trading Company of the Kingdom of Yan.”
Jiao silk was strictly controlled in Luo Fu City; only the government could officially sell it, and individual Jiao people were not allowed to sell it privately.
Madam Xu quickly waved her hand: “I won’t go. If they could sell some to us, that would be fine, but paying twenty spirit stones just to see Jiao silk once is not worth it!”
The entrance fee for the Luo Fu Fishery Auction was six thousand taels of silver, and she felt a sharp pain just thinking about it.
However, her good daughter was a cultivator, and there might be things she needed at the auction. “Save this money and find some treasures at the auction instead.” Through her travels across various kingdoms, Madam Xu developed some skills. The Feng family business had always been prosperous, and she had some confidence until they walked around Spiral Float Island and saw that all the treasures were both wonderful and expensive. Here, silver seemed to have turned into copper coins; money that could buy a mansion elsewhere could only purchase a few cheap trinkets here.
Getting her first glimpse of the cultivators’ world, her initial feeling was one of financial inadequacy.
Regardless of time and place, having money was always the primary requirement for cultivation. Madam Xu knew she had no affinity with this path, but her daughter had great potential, and she was willing to spend every penny on her.
Feng Miao Jun held her hand and said: “Then I’ll buy some Jiao silk to bring back for you.” As she said this, her expression changed slightly, and she suddenly drained her tea in one gulp. “We should go now.”
Seeing her expression, Peng Bai immediately stood up to pay the bill.
The three of them headed out of the marketplace. Knowing time was of the essence, Feng Miao Jun walked somewhat hurriedly. Madam Xu didn’t ask why and simply followed along.
The sky had darkened, and as they reached the final section of the marketplace where few stalls remained, the passersby were sparse. Passing a large osmanthus tree with dense foliage, Feng Miao Jun casually broke off a branch, and the ghost-faced spider mother on her shoulder took the opportunity to climb up into the tree.
Just then, several people suddenly appeared from ahead, shouting: “Stop!”
They’ve caught up so quickly? Feng Miao Jun’s heart skipped a beat. Looking up, she saw seven monsters, led by the thin-browed, small-eyed fellow who had sold her the Water-Feeding Pills earlier!
These individuals had ill intentions written all over their faces. She stepped forward to shield Madam Xu and feigned a frightened expression: “What do you want!” Inwardly, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She wasn’t concerned about common ruffians, but these people were wasting her time.
“Little woman, don’t you know what you did earlier?” the stall owner said sinisterly. “A business worth dozens of spirit stones—you ruined it and walked away just like that. Since when have things been so easy in this world?”
Feng Miao Jun retreated a few steps, her left hand behind her back making a gesture, signaling Madam Xu and Peng Bai to back up as well.
Seeing what appeared to be an attempt to flee, the stall owner and his companions stepped forward in pursuit. Suddenly, Feng Miao Jun spoke: “I was wrong. How can I make amends? Please don’t involve my family.” Honesty and principles are essential for long-term business. These few weren’t legitimate merchants—the goods on their stall were probably stolen loot as well.