The Hanzi (Man) was holding a piece of clothing, but it was almost transparent, as light as paper, and as thin as a strand of hair.
“This is actually a gauze shirt made of Spirit-Concealing Silk. No wonder I couldn't see you at all! This is good stuff!”
“Didn’t you also use a Stealth Talisman? We’re both equally matched!”
The Hanzi (Man) smiled wickedly, and with a gentle flip of his palm, a dark red small ball appeared in his hand. Flames lit up on the small ball. He held the small ball and used the flames to scorch his calf a few times. The spores were burned to a crisp, and with just a light pat of his hand, they all fell off.
Clearly, the Hanzi (Man) was well aware of the efficacy of these spores and their non-fire-resistant properties. The reason he hadn't burned them off earlier was simply that he didn't have time.
“So, who are you?”
“Before asking someone else, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
Su Xiaojiu snorted coldly and introduced herself.
“Su Xiaojiu.”
The Hanzi (Man) raised an eyebrow, a playful look on his face.
“I heard that Su De, the Sect Master of the Fire Phoenix Sect, has a daughter named Su Xiaojiu. Could that be you?”
Before Su Xiaojiu could say anything, the Hanzi (Man) continued speaking to himself:
“Good talent, suitable age, and Realm. I heard that Su De’s beloved daughter just ran away from home these past few days, and Sect Master Su dispatched many people to search for her. The reward for finding her is also high. I didn’t expect her to have run to this world.”
Su Xiaojiu clicked her tongue.
He didn’t like this Hanzi (Man).
He had a somewhat pointed chin and monkey-like cheeks, his voice was sharp, and what he said was uncomfortable to hear.
If he hadn’t shown any hostility, she would have already acted and severely injured him.
She carefully sensed him. This Hanzi (Man) was only at the Qi Refining Tenth Level Realm, and his age seemed similar to hers. She wasn’t afraid at all.
She could easily deal with most enemies of the same Realm, let alone one weaker than herself?
“You still haven’t introduced yourself!”
“I am a disciple of Jubao Daoren.”
“Jubao Daoren?”
Su Xiaojiu’s expression changed.
“That mysterious old fellow is your Master?!”
“Yes.”
The Hanzi (Man) admitted it openly, as if worried Su Xiaojiu wouldn’t believe him. With a flip of his palm, a golden flag appeared in his hand.
Four large characters, glowing with golden light, were written on the flag:
“Fair to All.”
Seeing this flag, Su Xiaojiu completely believed the Hanzi (Man)’s identity.
“So, you are the Zhang Youcai from the rumors?”
Zhang Youcai felt a pang of annoyance.
“Yes…”
The reason he reported his Master’s name was precisely to avoid saying his own name…
This name was given to him by his Master.
But who knew Master would give him such a simple and unadorned name!
“So it’s you. No wonder you even want to steal such a big fellow…”
Among the Cultivators of the Nine Provinces Continent, Jubao Daoren had always been a mysterious existence.
Almost no one could ascertain his whereabouts, but whenever he appeared, he would cause quite a stir, attracting nearby Cultivators to him.
Jubao Daoren usually didn't appear alone, but rather with another Immortal named “Selling Goods Immortal.” Typically, one person would hold a large flag, one side reading “Genuine Goods at Fair Prices,” and the other side reading “Fair to All.”
The flags glowed with golden light and bore the special marks of Jubao Daoren and Selling Goods Immortal. Zhang Youcai’s flag also had a special mark imprinted on it, which Cultivators could identify at a glance.
This was also how Su Xiaojiu confirmed Zhang Youcai’s identity.
The Selling Goods Immortal’s main business was selling things, while Jubao Daoren was primarily responsible for collecting treasures.
As for the methods of collecting treasures, there were many…
For example, petty theft.
Clearly, his disciple inherited this fine tradition.
“This thing has a clever structure. It can operate flexibly without using a trace of spiritual power and can move earth. I naturally have to take it back and examine it.”
“This is called an excavator. It’s a very common tool used by the Mortals of this world to build houses. You’re so unknowledgeable!”
Su Xiaojiu shot him a sideways glance.
She had to admit, this feeling of looking down on someone based on knowledge was quite nice.
“Excavator, huh? Noted…”
Who would have thought that Zhang Youcai would actually seriously remember the name, then laugh and say:
“Master should like this novel little gadget.”
Zhang Youcai looked up and stared at Su Xiaojiu, saying:
“Then, Young Miss of the Fire Phoenix Sect, what is your intention in following me in the middle of the night? Your behavior just now, in the Nine Provinces Continent, could also be considered a provocation.”
Indeed, it was. Marking someone with spores usually didn't lead to anything good.
If he had met someone with a bad temper, they would have already started fighting.
“It’s better not to take what isn’t yours.”
Su Xiaojiu pointed to the qiankun bag hanging from Zhang Youcai’s waist.
“That is the property of the Mortals of this world. It’s not yours. If you take it, it will attract the attention of these Mortals.”
“Is this… their property?”
Zhang Youcai stroked his chin, his face full of strangeness.
He had thought these things spawned at fixed locations.
He had taken one in the morning, and after waking up from his nap, another one appeared in the afternoon.
“The Mortals of this world should have already noticed your actions. If they catch you, you won’t have a good time!”
“These Mortals can catch me?”
Zhang Youcai’s expression was disdainful, and he almost burst out laughing.
“How can they catch me? Without Magical Artifacts, they can’t even catch me when I run!”
“Not necessarily. Do you see those iron lumps? The ones running on the road, those are all their tools. If they sit on those things and chase you, their speed might not be slower than yours!”
Su Xiaojiu earnestly advised him, seemingly genuinely trying to persuade Zhang Youcai.
Zhang Youcai’s expression changed.
He had indeed seen those lightning-fast iron lumps, and he had also seen those things crash into the back of another iron lump, with immense kinetic energy, causing both iron lumps to twist and deform.
Zhang Youcai estimated that if one of these things hit him, he would at least suffer some injuries.
“You would be that good to me?”
Zhang Youcai didn’t believe anyone would be inexplicably good to him.
In the Nine Provinces Continent, if a stranger suddenly treated you exceptionally well, then that person was most likely after your belongings.
“Having suddenly arrived in a different world, we are all in the same boat. Yesterday, a Hanzi (Man) whose strength was not inferior to yours died nearby. The strength of those Mortals is beyond your imagination. We must cooperate to survive.”
Su Xiaojiu paused, then continued:
“I have a place to stay nearby. I don’t want you to attract the attention of those Mortals in this vicinity, because that will expose me, do you understand?”
These were things An Chen had taught her beforehand.
She couldn’t just immediately attack people. Their basic method was to “appeal to emotion and reason.” They should try not to fight if possible.
If they started fighting, it would definitely cause quite a commotion.