“Little Yan Zhen, you’re going to the Merchant Alliance alone?”
Yan Zhen blinked in confusion.
“Is that not allowed?”
“You’re still such an inexperienced youngster. Places like that are full of sly old foxes who’ll pick you off like a fat sheep… Oh, right. Little Qing and Little Bailan were just talking about heading to the Merchant Alliance themselves. Why don’t you go with them, Little Yan Zhen?”
“Ah, this… won’t that trouble them too much?”
“No need to stand on ceremony with family. Just don’t make Little Qing mad.”
“…”
“It’s settled then. I’ll let Little Qing and Little Bailan know. Meet them at the Outer Academy’s Rain Heaven Pavilion tomorrow.”
And so—
The next day, Yan Zhen bid farewell to Cai Lian and the others. He piloted the Flying Skiff, with the excited Long Ying aboard, all the way to the Rain Heaven Pavilion in the Outer Academy. He hovered it in front of the rooftop Beauty Lean.
The two beautiful elders were already waiting there.
Since they were heading out, they weren’t in their usual uniforms. Instead, they’d changed into casual attire and accessorized with shiny jewelry. One in blue, one in white, they complemented each other beautifully, lighting up the scene.
—The Yu family really produces beauties.
Yan Zhen marveled to himself and casually opened the cabin door.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Come on board.”
The two beautiful elders gracefully leaped into the cabin and took seats in the back.
Long Ying, in the co-pilot seat, greeted them politely.
“Hello, Big Sisters.”
No sooner had she spoken than Yan Zhen lightly tapped her forehead.
“Not sisters. Aunts.”
Long Ying clutched her forehead, pouting as she corrected herself sulkily.
“Hello, Aunties.”
Dean Yu Qing and Grand Mentor Shui Bailan both covered their mouths and chuckled.
As Yan Zhen sealed the cabin door, he said.
“Thanks for looking after us today, Little Aunt and Auntie.”
Dean Yu Qing crossed her arms, propping up her ample chest proudly. With an air of haughty arrogance, she declared.
“Don’t worry. With me here, no one from the Merchant Alliance will dare fleece you!”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan smiled beside her and adjusted her glasses.
“Yan Zhen, what medicinal ingredients do you need? I can ask an acquaintance there to keep an eye out for you.”
Yan Zhen activated the airship’s valve, gradually increasing speed as he replied.
“Ancient Wood Spirit Marrow and Thousand-Year Thunderstruck Wood.”
“Both are quite rare heavenly treasures,” Shui Bailan said with a frown. “The Merchant Alliance should have Ancient Wood Spirit Marrow in stock internally. Regular Thunderstruck Wood is common enough, but a thousand-year vintage… Do you absolutely need a thousand-year one? Would eight hundred or five hundred years do?”
“Thousand-year preferred. If not, anything over five hundred years will work, though the array-setting effects will be greatly diminished.”
“In that case, let’s aim for thousand-year. Is your budget sufficient?”
“Should be. I’ve got plenty of crystal coins.”
“For Tier 6 and above heavenly treasures, crystal coins won’t cut it. You’ll need Mystic Crystals.”
“Can’t crystal coins be exchanged for Mystic Crystals?”
“They can, but the exchange rate is brutal—not very cost-effective.”
Yan Zhen recalled the script’s details on the crystal coin to Mystic Crystal exchange rate.
In theory, the Mystic qi in ten thousand crystal coins equaled one standard Mystic Crystal. But in practice, it took at least thirty thousand crystal coins for one, and some shady shops demanded fifty thousand or even a hundred thousand!
What a rip-off.
Did he need to ask Beautiful Female Master for more? The hundred million crystal coins on the Supreme Black Card she’d given him were just pocket change. She still had plenty of Mystic Crystals stored at the Merchant Alliance.
Dean Yu Qing cleared her throat and said coolly.
“If you haven’t prepared enough, I can lend you some Mystic Crystals first.”
Yan Zhen was surprised.
“But Little Aunt, don’t you need to buy things too? If you lend me the money, won’t that strain your own budget?”
“Are you underestimating me? Two portions of Tier 6 treasures? That won’t even dent my purse.” Dean Yu Qing exuded the aura of a wealthy heiress. “Forget lending—it’s too much hassle. I’ll just buy them and give them to you.”
“Give?” Yan Zhen started. He quickly protested. “I couldn’t possibly. No merits, no rewards. A loan is fine—I’ll pay back the Mystic Crystals once I’ve saved up.”
Dean Yu Qing immediately soured. How dare he draw such clear lines! Hmph!
“Quit yapping. I said I’m giving, so I’m giving. Want a loan? Ask Bailan.”
“…”
Shui Bailan shook her head with an amused smile.
“My savings aren’t as much as Little Qing’s pocket money.”
She was something of a little rich lady herself and could easily lend her nephew-in-law some for legitimate business. But seeing her best friend clearly worried about Yan Zhen and wanting to help him secure the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire, she wasn’t about to butt in insensitively.
Yan Zhen didn’t stand on excessive ceremony either. Feeling the two beautiful elders’ goodwill, he said shyly.
“Then thank you in advance, Little Aunt.”
“Hmph. If you stop making me mad, I’ll be thanking the heavens!”
“It was all a misunderstanding. I promise not to spout nonsense anymore.”
Hearing him yield softened Dean Yu Qing, though she wasn’t used to it. She mumbled without responding.
Thinking her mood was off, Yan Zhen tried to lighten the atmosphere with some flattery.
“How about I sing you a song, Little Aunt?”
Dean Yu Qing eyed him sideways.
“Not one of those weird tunes from last time, like a rooster crowing. Don’t pollute my ears.”
“Don’t worry. Last time was a cheesy pop tune. This one’s sentimental.”
“Sing it then. If it’s awful, I’ll shut your mouth myself.”
Yan Zhen switched the controls to autopilot, took a moment to get into the mood, and began singing a cappella.
“In this world, only Little Aunt is good. A child with an aunt is like a treasure. Thrown into Little Aunt’s embrace, happiness without end~”
Hearing such straightforward lyrics, Dean Yu Qing’s heart pounded. A blush crept across her lovely face, though she scoffed.
“What garbage song. It doesn’t even make sense.”
Yan Zhen defended himself.
“Little Aunt, this is a famous tune from my hometown. I just tweaked the lyrics a bit.”
“Who told you to mess with it? What’s the original?”
“Uh, the original’s ‘Mother.'”
“No wonder it felt so off. ‘Mother’ flows naturally.”
Yan Zhen pursed his lips.
“I never had a mother, so what’s the point of singing that.”
The two beautiful elders in the back seat both froze for a moment. The previously imperious Dean Little Aunt immediately deflated, speaking softly.
“Sorry, I didn’t know.”
Yan Zhen didn’t mind much, having no memory of his own mother.
“It’s fine. If Little Aunt doesn’t like it, I won’t sing.”
“I-I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” Dean Yu Qing subconsciously twirled a lock of hair from her chest with her index finger. “The lyrics are just… a bit too forward. People might misunderstand.”
“In that case, should I swap Little Aunt for Auntie? Do you mind, Auntie?”
Shui Bailan smiled gently.
“I don’t mind.”
“Alright, Auntie it is.”
“Ahem, I think that’s inappropriate,” Dean Yu Qing countered. ” ‘Auntie’ sounds even weirder—almost clunky.”
“Then… Great-Aunt?”
“Weird too. Not as good as Little Aunt.”
“How about Mother-in-Law?”
“Doesn’t match with ‘child’ later.”
“Good point.”
Listening to their earnest debate, Shui Bailan wanted to laugh but held it in.
