25: Galleo

As dusk crept through the window lattice, Mo Yuhan was meticulously wiping his newly acquired Storage Ring with a fine cloth. His fingertips brushed over the smooth, dark patterns on the ring's surface. He turned to look at Bibi Dong, who was curled up on the soft couch, his voice tinged with excitement: "Auntie, look! This Storage Ring is a new arrival at the Mittel Auction House. Although it's not a high-grade item, it can hold half a room's worth of things, which should be enough for you for now."

Bibi Dong's fingertips gently touched the Storage Ring offered to her lap, and a cool sensation spread up her fingers.

Counting the travel time, she had only been on this unfamiliar continent for two months. From the treasure-filled cave in the Monster Mountain Range to this stone house with a small courtyard, Mo Yuhan had handled everything.

Listening to his rambling now, she didn't frown as she had when they first met. Instead, she just looked up and asked, "This house... is it close to the Mittel Auction House you mentioned?"

"It's just on the back street!"

Mo Yuhan leaned over, spreading out a simple map he had just drawn on the low table as if presenting a treasure. His fingertip pointed to a marked spot, "Turn left out the door and go two streets, and you're there. It's said that the Mittel Family is behind that auction house, and there's someone named Ya Fei there. She's a formidable character; half of Wutan City's medicinal ingredient business goes through her hands."

"There's also the Xiao Family in the west of the city. They used to be a prominent family, but unfortunately, this generation..."

He paused, glancing at Bibi Dong's expression. Seeing that she didn't show impatience, he continued, "They produced someone named Xiao Yan. I heard he was a genius when he was young, but then his cultivation regressed for some unknown reason, and he became a cripple. Not long ago, Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Family from the Imperial Capital even came to break off their engagement."

"Little rascal, you certainly enjoy digging into these trivial matters." Bibi Dong shook her head helplessly, turning slightly to get closer to the low table.

The glow of the sunset outside the window bathed her face, softening her usually somewhat cold contours—after all, she was only twenty, and shedding those heavy past burdens, her brows should naturally hold a hint of the charm belonging to her age.

Mo Yuhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.

These past few days, he had been trying various ways to tell her common knowledge and interesting facts about the Dou Qi Continent, just to help Auntie relax.

Seeing her actively lean closer now, he quickly continued, "On the day of the engagement annulment, that Xiao Yan even stuck out his neck and said, 'Don't bully a young man for being poor.' Many people heard it at the time!"

As he spoke, he imitated Xiao Yan's rumored appearance, sticking out his neck and raising his chin, which made Little Fairy Doctor, who was organizing medicinal ingredients nearby, unable to help but curve her eyes in a smile.

Bibi Dong was initially reserved, but seeing Mo Yuhan's gesticulating manner, a faint smile finally escaped her lips, quick as a shooting star, yet accurately caught by Mo Yuhan.

"You smiled!"

Mo Yuhan took advantage of her reaction and moved closer to her, softening his voice, "I told you this was interesting, didn't I? Oh, right, tomorrow the Mittel Auction House is having a special medicinal ingredient auction. Shall we go take a look? I heard there are some things that would be perfect for Little Fairy Doctor sister to refine medicine."

Bibi Dong didn't answer immediately. She just picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

The tea was specially brewed for her by Mo Yuhan, with a bit of honey, not as bitter as what she usually drank. She lowered her eyes, looking at the ripples swaying at the bottom of the cup, and softly said, "You decide. I'll follow."

Her words were natural, carrying a hint of compliance that even she didn't notice.

Mo Yuhan's heart warmed, knowing that this layer of ice had finally begun to melt.

He reached out to smooth Bibi Dong's slightly messy sideburns, his fingertips accidentally touching her earlobe, feeling only warmth and coolness: "Then it's settled. Tomorrow I'll take you to the Mittel Auction House, and we can try the sugar cakes from the south of the city on the way. They're sweet when they're fresh out of the oven. I guarantee you'll love them."

Bibi Dong looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the twilight outside the window.

Perhaps it was the rare stability of these past few days, or perhaps the genuine laughter of those around her, that allowed her to temporarily shed her heavy disguise and reveal a bit of the nature of a twenty-year-old girl.

She realized, with a start, that she was no longer the high and mighty Saintess of Spirit Hall.

The next day, the flow of people in Wutan City's East Market was bustling and noisy. The peculiar scents of various medicinal ingredients mixed with sweat and dust assailed them.

Mo Yuhan held a greased paper package in his left hand, containing freshly baked, still-steaming sugar cakes from a sugar cake shop managed by the Xiao Family Market. The sweet caramel scent stubbornly permeated the paper. In his right hand, he tightly held Bibi Dong, who was draped in a wide grey cloak and leaned almost her entire weight on his small shoulder.

Little Fairy Doctor followed closely on the other side, her bright, almond-shaped eyes filled with a mix of novelty and vigilance as she surveyed this city, much more prosperous than Qingshan Town. One slender hand remained poised over the bulging medicine pouch at her waist, ready to deal with any sudden situations.

"Auntie, Little Fairy Doctor sister, want to try? These sugar cakes here are said to be exceptional; many mercenaries love them."

Mo Yuhan stood on tiptoe, trying his best to hand the greased paper package into the shadow of Bibi Dong's cloak hood, his voice light with a childish lilt.

The cloak moved slightly, and a hand as fair as jade slowly extended, its slender fingertips gently pinching a small piece of golden, glistening sugar cake, then quickly retreating back into the shadows.

Little Fairy Doctor also smiled and took a piece, biting off a small portion, the sweetness melting on her tongue.

Just then, at an intersection not far ahead, a sudden discordant clamor broke the market's noise.

"Miss Xuner, this is a Wood Spirit Bracelet I specially bought in the market just now. Although it's not a valuable item, it's adorned with a first-grade wood-attribute magic crystal, which has a very good amplifying effect on Dou Qi recovery."

"Miss Xuner hasn't become a Dou Zhe yet, so this is simply the most suitable accessory for you. It's a small token of my regard, Miss Xuner, please don't refuse."

Not far away, Galeo's voice, clearly tinged with flippancy and self-satisfaction, was exceptionally grating. He, along with a few followers, blocked Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuner in the middle of the road, dangling a necklace shimmering with a faint green glow in his hand, his gaze greedily lingering on Xuner's exquisite and peerless face.

Xiao Xuner was expressionless, a hint of cold disdain flashing deep within her clear eyes. Xiao Yan stepped forward, shielding Xuner behind him, his face calm: "Young Master Galeo, Xuner appreciates your kindness, but I'm sorry, please take your item back."

The few people exchanged words, and eventually, the group of subordinates behind Galeo had subtly surrounded the two.

And Xiao Yan also blew a whistle, summoning his guards.

The two sides immediately became confrontational, and the situation instantly became somewhat chaotic.

Mo Yuhan immediately shielded Bibi Dong and Little Fairy Doctor behind him, which made both of them simultaneously burst into laughter.

"You, you're so much younger than us."

Little Fairy Doctor's smile was like a blooming flower.

Bibi Dong also smiled helplessly. She was always the one protecting Mo Yuhan, but she never expected to be protected by him one day.

Mo Yuhan pouted: "Right now, I'm the one with the highest cultivation among us."

He was currently a two-star Dou Zhe, while Little Fairy Doctor was only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi.

As for Auntie, although her strength could be considered a nine-star Dou Spirit, she was severely injured and couldn't use it at all.

So, at this moment, he, an eight-year-old child, was actually the one with the highest combat power.

On the other side, the confrontation between Galeo and Xiao Yan was almost over. Hearing Galeo humiliate him about his cultivation, Xiao Yan's still-childish face was full of innocence: "Young Master Galeo, I'd like to ask, how old are you this year? You're twenty-one, and you're actually comparing yourself to a child who just turned fifteen like me. Wouldn't you be ashamed to say that out loud?"