Mendong’s wild rambling to Mu Cengxiao was spoken carelessly, but the listener took it to heart. Whether Mu Cengxiao absorbed it was unknown, but Gu Baiying certainly did.

Early the next morning, he went down the mountain.

Currently, due to the demon clan situation, Shaoyang Zhenren had forbidden Taiyan Sect disciples from leaving the mountain, fearing that disciples with insufficient cultivation would be ambushed by Mo Sha on their way down. However, the sect happened to need someone to go to Huajin Tower to collect some previously purchased medicinal materials, so they sent Gu Baiying. Before going down the mountain, Yueguang Daoren instructed Gu Baiying to watch for any Mo Sha activity in Pingyang Town.

Pingyang Town remained as peaceful as usual, but with the cultivation world being unstable recently and news spreading about the demon clan’s possible comeback, there were far fewer cultivators traveling outside. The small town seemed somewhat quieter during the day than before.

However, no matter how quiet it became, Huajin Tower was always as lively as ever.

Jin Feicui leaned against the counter, waving her golden gauze fan, looking at Gu Baiying with a beaming smile: “After just one day, you’re here again? While it’s good that we interact frequently, you coming too often makes me feel uneasy. Nothing’s happened, has it?”

The young man said nothing and walked inside with his head down.

Seeing this, Jin Feicui’s smile faded: “Nothing has happened, has it?”

She followed Gu Baiying inside, her voice no longer carrying its usual frivolity but becoming somewhat grave: “Is it about the demon clan? I heard from customers in the building that the demon clan plans to deal with the cultivation world again. You’re suddenly coming down the mountain—do you already have news about the demon clan? Yingying, for the sake of your mother’s and my friendship, you can’t lie to me. If the demon clan comes, I need to make plans early and quickly close shop and leave. You know, small businesses aren’t easy. If fighting breaks out, raising prices isn’t right, but not raising prices and continuing to lose money isn’t a solution either… People still need to make a living!”

Shopkeeper Jin of Huajin Tower had a single-minded love of money—even if the sky fell, it shouldn’t interfere with her earning money. While others worried about whether the demon clan’s arrival would bring chaos to the world, she worried about whether her shop could continue operating. Gu Baiying did not doubt that even if the demon clan truly destroyed the cultivation world, Huajin Tower wouldn’t collapse. At worst, it would open in the demon realm, and Shopkeeper Jin would still be Shopkeeper Jin.

Gu Baiying held back and said, “It’s not about the demon clan. I came to buy something.”

“Buy something?” Jin Feicui was stunned: “Why are you so serious about buying something?” She gently patted her chest with her fan and complained: “You scared me to death.”

They had now reached the second floor of Huajin Tower. During the day, there were very few customers on the second floor enjoying the river view. The young man coughed lightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable, and said in a low voice: “I have a friend…”

Jin Feicui stared at him.

“He has a friend whose birthday is coming up, and my friend plans to give his friend a congratulatory gift.” He finished in one breath.

Jin Feicui blinked, seemingly confused by his string of “friends.” After a long while, she grasped the meaning. Her long, narrow eyes looked at Gu Baiying sideways as she drawled: “A friend, ah—”

Gu Baiying emphasized: “Yes, a friend!”

A knowing smile flashed in the beauty’s eyes as she asked casually: “Does your friend like his friend?”

Gu Baiying’s expression changed slightly as he instinctively denied: “No such thing.”

As if seeing through his insincerity, Jin Feicui pushed the young man’s arm and teased: “It’s just giving a gift to a sweetheart—why speak so euphemistically? Let me ask you: How old is your friend’s sweetheart? What’s her appearance and temperament like? What colors does she usually prefer?”

Gu Baiying looked at her warily: “Why are you asking this?”

“I naturally need to know roughly what the young lady looks like and what she prefers before I can advise you… your friend on what exactly to give. Giving birthday gifts also requires skill. Give well, and you’ll form a perfect match. Give poorly, and a perfectly good pair of lovers might fall out and part ways—it’s not unheard of.”

“There’s such a thing?” Gu Baiying was astonished.

“Of course, so hurry up and tell me what the girl looks like.”

The young man hesitated before slowly speaking: “Eighteen years old, outstanding appearance, cheerful temperament, usually likes…” He hesitated: “Green?”

Jin Feicui’s eyes rolled, and she feigned surprise: “Oh my, why does this sound somewhat like Miss Yang?”

“Nonsense!” Gu Baiying immediately denied it. “What does this have to do with Yang Zanxing?”

“I was just speaking casually—why are you so agitated?” Jin Feicui waved her fan: “For young ladies, giving jewelry isn’t bad. The jewelry in my Huajin Tower is the finest in Pingyang Town. How about this—come upstairs with me, and this shopkeeper will show you some treasures of the shop. If there’s anything you like, for your mother’s sake, I’ll give you a discount.”

“My friend.” Gu Baiying emphasized.

“Fine, fine, fine, your friend.” Jin Feicui turned around: “Come on.”

Gu Baiying followed Jin Feicui to the third floor.

The first floor of Huajin Tower was the auction hall, the second floor had elegant seats for tea and river viewing, and the third floor was where precious goods were stored—only distinguished customers could go there to make selections. Ordinary customers weren’t received there.

Upon reaching the third floor, Jin Feicui led Gu Baiying to a small room inside. This room was decorated very simply—a long bench, a table, and everywhere else from floor to ceiling was filled with redwood cabinets. Jin Feicui had Gu Baiying sit on the long bench, walked to a cabinet, and suddenly had a golden key in her palm. She used the golden key to open a wooden drawer, carefully selected several pieces of jewelry covered with a handkerchief, placed them on a silk cushion, and walked over.

Jin Feicui placed a golden flat plate on the table: “Yingying, don’t say I don’t show you good things when I have them. These are all rare items.”

Gu Baiying frowned and picked up a necklace.

“This is a Pearl Snow Shell Chain, formed when golden silk mussels from the ocean floor swallow and exhale moonlight. A thousand golden silk mussels can only make one Snow Shell Chain. When I acquired this Snow Shell Chain, I spent a full ten thousand spirit stones.”

Gu Baiying looked at it critically, let go, and said: “It has a fishy smell.”

He picked up another jade bracelet.

“This is a Ghost Moon Red Lotus Blood Jade Bracelet,” Jin Feicui waved her fan: “Look at this jade bracelet—it’s red like a beauty’s blood. When you place this jade bracelet under moonlight at night, a beauty’s image will appear, smiling gracefully. It’s quite magical.”

Gu Baiying threw the bracelet back into the plate as if avoiding a plague god: “Do you want to scare her to death?”

Jin Feicui held back and smilingly picked up a hair ornament: “What about this one? This is an Immortal Palace Night Tour Golden Hair Ornament. It forms a pair with the hair ornament on my head, both made by the same master. This master is no longer in this world, so only this one remains. I originally wanted to keep it for myself, but I’m taking it out because it’s you.” She touched the golden hair ornament in her hair bun: “Look at mine—isn’t it stunning?”