443: Market

Once on the street,

because the Li Family was relatively “remote,” there were no shops or houses around, only some demolished buildings or empty lots…

This “exclusion” was truly thorough.

However, there were a few “offices” of the Imperial Dynasty, but they weren't very important, as it was impossible for common people to travel so far every day to get here; most of them were in the city center.

It took Jun Li and the others five or six minutes to gradually reach a more populated area where foot traffic began to appear.

“Oh, right, do you know where I can find antiques or places that sell swords, preferably second-hand or black market goods?” Jun Li thought for a moment and asked.

After all, if she were looking for the “sect members’” sabers, she certainly couldn't go to a place that specialized in forging, because the relics she was looking for, if found by someone, would either be collected or sold “second-hand”…

“Also, places like the black market. I’m looking for sabers with names…” Jun Li said to Li Yuanfeng and Li Yuanfrost.

“Sabers with names?” Li Yuanfeng and Li Yuanfrost immediately pondered upon hearing Jun Li’s words.

“Well, Jun Li, our family has quite a collection of swords… After all, swords… generally only we Sword Cultivators would have them. Of course, there are also some people who don’t practice swords but still collect them, especially ordinary people, big merchants and such, who usually collect these swords…” Li Yuanfrost thought for a moment and said.

After all, Sword Immortals have a very good reputation among ordinary people, and there are many legends about them.

And most of them are recorded with “facts.”

For example, many people don’t know the name of a Sword Immortal, but they know the name of their saber.

Those who don’t know the name usually use the saber’s name plus the words “Sword Immortal” to form a “title” for that Sword Immortal.

For example, if others don’t know Jun Li’s name but know the name of Jun Li’s saber, they would call Jun Li the Lī Jūn Sword Immortal.

“As for the black market, yes, there is one, but it’s not in the city; it’s in a place outside the city,” Li Yuanfeng thought for a moment and said, “If we’re going, we’ll need to prepare a bit now, at least disguise ourselves so people don’t know we’re Sword Cultivators.”

“Oh? Why? Does the black market not allow Sword Cultivators to enter?” Jun Li frowned. Had Sword Cultivators become so difficult now?

“That’s not it… I’m worried that when we buy things, others will maliciously bid or snatch goods,” Li Yuanfeng shook his head slightly, seemingly unfazed. It was clear he was used to this.

This kind of thing was clearly not accidental; it seemed Sword Cultivators were indeed heavily ostracized!

Although she had always known about this, Jun Li still couldn’t understand it.

“Then let’s put that on hold for now; no rush, we can take our time.” Jun Li thought about it; the black market could be visited tomorrow or the day after. She estimated she would be staying here for quite a while.

“If it’s second-hand… there is a trade market; they have second-hand, and, uh, first-hand…” Li Yuanfeng thought for a moment and said to Jun Li.

“Then let’s go to the market and take a look!” Jun Li thought for a moment and decided to go to the market first to see if she could find anything.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Li Yuanfeng nodded and walked towards the market.

Yinjiang Market.

This was the largest market, divided into two parts: one part was mainly composed of ordinary people, selling various daily necessities, food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

The other part was composed of cultivators, and the items sold were mostly related to cultivation, such as medicinal herbs, elixirs, ores, magical artifacts, and so on.

Most individual sellers set up stalls.

As for those with shops, they were generally branches of various sects or families.

The goods inside were primarily supplied by the sects or families.

After listening to the information Li Yuanfeng told her on the way, Jun Li nodded knowingly.

So it operated this way; she had learned something new. Jun Li had always been in Heaven Sword Mountain, and this was her first time seeing something like this.

She found it quite novel.

“Let’s go through this side first; we can also see if there are any snacks.” Jun Li planned to walk through the ordinary people’s market.

Across a street, the other side was the cultivators’ market.

“Young Master Li! And Young Lady Li is here too! Such good spirits today? Are you here for a stroll? Come, come! Have a taste of the newly developed steamed bun!” A hawker saw Li Yuanfeng and Li Yuanfrost, greeted them with a smile, and then handed two steamed buns to Li Yuanfeng.

“No, no! Uncle Chen, I told you! Don’t do this; if you do this, I’ll have to pay! I’ll start to suspect you can’t sell your new product and are using me for your opening!” Li Yuanfeng said with a smile, waving his hand.

“Hahaha! How could I take money! If I took money, what would the neighbors think of me? Wouldn’t I be an ungrateful wretch!” The hawker, called Uncle Chen, scolded with a laugh.

And the surrounding hawkers also spoke up one after another.

Most of them wanted to give their goods to Li Yuanfeng.

“Alright, alright, every time I come, you all do this; I’m afraid to come anymore!” Li Yuanfeng quickly said.

Jun Li watched from the side, it seemed the Li Family was indeed highly respected by the common people in Yinjiang City.

“Is this your friend?” Uncle Chen looked at Jun Li beside him and couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes! She is an honored guest of our Li Family!” Li Yuanfeng nodded and said.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to try it?” Uncle Chen asked Jun Li, holding the steamed bun.

“Then thank you very much!” Jun Li took it with a smile and took a bite. The taste was sweet but not greasy, soft but not sticky, a bit chewy but not tough to bite through; the craftsmanship was excellent!

“It tastes great! This craftsmanship is excellent! How much for one serving?” Jun Li asked with wide eyes.

“No money! You are an honored guest of the Li Family, so you are our honored guest! How can we charge an honored guest! Besides, it’s just one steamed bun! It’s not worth anything, not worth anything!” Uncle Chen waved his hands repeatedly.

“Then I’ll shamelessly accept it.” Jun Li said with a smile.

“That’s right! See! Young Master Li, you should learn more!” Uncle Chen laughed, not forgetting to mention Li Yuanfeng beside him.

“I used to be like this too! But I can’t be like this every time! Once or twice can be said to be out of kindness, but if it’s every time, wouldn’t that be freeloading!” Li Yuanfeng said with a helpless expression.

“Hahaha, we’d be willing for you to come and freeload!” Several hawkers nearby chimed in.

“Alright, alright, everyone, don’t bother the Li Family boy anymore! They still have to go shopping and have fun!” An old man passing by said with a chuckle.

“I’ll be going now!” Li Yuanfeng cupped his hands to everyone, then led Jun Li and Li Yuanfrost further inside.

Li Yuanfrost smiled with pursed lips the whole time, her demeanor graceful, very “composed.”

Jun Li also heard many older women gathered together constantly muttering about Li Yuanfrost, things like “The Li Family Young Lady’s demeanor, truly a lady from a prominent family!” “If my own child could be half, no, one-tenth as good as the Li Family Young Lady, I’d wake up smiling every day!”

“I wonder who will be able to marry the Li Family Young Lady; that would truly be a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes! I wonder if my boy has a chance.”

“Your boy? Worthy? He’d be rejected even as a servant for the Li Family Young Lady! My boy is more suitable!”

“Your boy is not even as good as mine!”

“Alright, alright, you’re all just calling the pot black!”

… … … …

Jun Li heard all the words of the common people.

Although the Li Family was a cultivator family and very wealthy, they were very down-to-earth.

And they could indeed chat with others on a daily basis.

Otherwise, even the elders of ordinary people would not dare to say things like “the Li Family boy.”