Chapter 29: The Hidden Edge and a New Alliance

[Fellow Daoist Hua, how should we gather information next?]

Yun Xueshang’s voice gently echoed within Hua Yan’s sea of consciousness.

[We’ve already found a place to stay. Our next step is to explore this market, seek opportunities to connect with local rogue cultivator organizations, and build connections. Once we establish rapport, inquiring about information will be much easier.]

Hua Yan replied through a message, pausing before adding, [Also, since we are concealing our identities and pretending to be… wives, you shouldn’t call me ‘Fellow Daoist Hua’ anymore. Call me ‘Yan’er’.]

“Mm, Yan’er.”

Yun Xueshang nodded compliantly, her eyes curving into a smile as she directly addressed her.

“…Mm, Xue-Xueshang.”

A faint blush swept across Hua Yan’s cheeks. She crossed her arms and turned her face away.

‘How… I was the one who suggested it, yet when the words left my mouth, why did it feel so awkward?’

‘Moreover, why must I pretend to be doting wives with this person? Wouldn’t it be just as acceptable to pretend to be a quarrelsome couple on the verge of divorce?!’

Hua Xiangrong, unable to hear their telepathic exchange but noticing the sudden change in their addresses, looked utterly bewildered. She tilted her small head, her gaze darting between their faces.

“099, do you think Mother and the other one are secretly sending messages again, behind my back? Why did their addresses suddenly become so intimate?

This won’t do; I can’t miss out on such crucial plot points! Can’t you really think of a way to listen to what they’re saying?”

“I really can’t, Host… And what kind of crucial plot point is this?”

099’s voice was tinged with helplessness.

“Calling each other affectionate names is absolutely a crucial plot point! It’s always like this in Galagame!”

“I keep telling you, we’re not playing Galagame!”

Just as Hua Xiangrong couldn’t hear Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang’s telepathic conversation, Hua Yan naturally couldn’t hear the bickering in Hua Xiangrong’s mind with 099.

After composing herself, Hua Yan turned back, clearing her throat.

“Let’s go, Rongrong, Xue… Xueshang. Let’s explore the market first. Don’t just stand around at the intersection.”

“Mm.”

“Yay, yay! To the market we go!”

Hua Xiangrong cheered, grabbing their hands and pulling them forward.

Seeing her joyful demeanor, both their gazes softened. They allowed her to lead them, merging into the bustling crowd of the market.

***

“Silver Scale Longsword, Foundation Establishment quality! Fifty mid-grade spirit stones!”

Before a small stall laden with various weapons, the vendor, dressed in a blue-green tunic, was shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Hey, fellow daoists, would you like to take a look at this Silver Scale Longsword? It’s forged from the scales of a Silver Scale Serpent, sharp and durable!

It’ll… uh, it’ll be perfect for this young lady here. Once she reaches Foundation Establishment, I guarantee it will help her stand out among her peers!”

Catching sight of the three figures—two adults and one child—who had stopped before his stall, the vendor immediately put on a beaming smile and approached them.

“I’m their daughter, not a young lady!”

Hua Xiangrong, munching on her candied hawthorn, corrected him with a clear voice, her small face upturned.

“Oh, oh! So you’re a family, my apologies, my eyes must be failing me.” The vendor chuckled, rubbing the back of his head, but his heart secretly tensed.

‘Two women having a child? This is beyond the capabilities of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators… Does this mean at least one of these two young women is at the Core Formation stage?’

He looked at the two distinctively graceful young women, his attitude becoming even more solicitous.

“Then, are the two of you looking to pick out a suitable weapon for your esteemed daughter?”

“We’ll just look for now.”

Hua Yan’s gaze swept over the items on the stall, her interest minimal. The best item here was merely a short sword for Core Formation cultivators; everything else was Foundation Establishment grade, and of mediocre quality at that. Her storage pouch never held such common goods.

As for the magical artifact Hua Xiangrong would use in the future, Hua Yan would personally prepare it. There was no need to search for it in a place like this.

“Fellow Daoist, this sword is…?”

On the other side, Yun Xueshang, also holding a candied hawthorn, stepped forward. She pointed at a willow-leaf-shaped, elegantly patterned silver short sword on the stall and inquired.

“Oh my, fellow daoist, what keen eyesight you have!”

The vendor immediately brightened, introducing it with great enthusiasm,

“This is the treasure of my humble stall, named ‘Hidden Edge’! It was personally forged by a late-stage Core Formation cultivator! Cast from Star Silver ore, it is incredibly sharp and engraved with silver-throated sparrow patterns. When wielded, it can summon the power of swift winds—absolutely a top-tier item among top-tier items!”

“I mean, I haven’t seen a sword of this style before. Is it a specialty of Cloud Capital? How is it used? Are there any配套 sword arts?”

Yun Xueshang’s rapid-fire questions left the vendor momentarily stunned.

“Ahem, to be honest, our family of three are rogue cultivators, new to Cloud Capital, and not yet very familiar with the local customs.”

Hua Yan, seeing the situation, quickly took over the conversation, “My wife has always enjoyed studying the unique features of various regions, so please don’t mind her, fellow daoist.”

“Oh! So you are fellow daoists newly arrived in Cloud Capital.” The vendor nodded in understanding.

“To be frank with you two, this willow-leaf-shaped short sword with engraved patterns is indeed a specialty of our Cloud Capital region, rarely seen elsewhere. As for the matching sword arts…”

“The price is negotiable.”

Yun Xueshang stated calmly.

“Alright! Three hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and this sword along with its matching sword arts are all yours!”

The vendor’s face immediately broke into a wide grin.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xueshang first calculated her remaining spirit stones, and then—

She turned to look at Hua Yan.

[Yan’er, could you lend me some spirit stones? I will definitely repay you later.]

‘??? You’re buying a sword when you don’t even have spirit stones!’

Hua Yan turned, her eyes meeting Yun Xueshang’s slightly downcast gaze. Her usually cool eyes now held a hint of pleading, and she was still holding an unfinished candied hawthorn, which inexplicably gave her a touch of… cuteness.

“Cough… Th-then I’ll pay for it!”

Hua Yan cleared her throat, took out the spirit stones, accepted the short sword and a thin booklet from the vendor, and handed them to Yun Xueshang.

She tried hard to maintain her expression of a doting wife, preventing herself from turning her head away.

‘No, no matter what, Yun Xueshang owes me money, so I’m not at a loss! With her owing me spirit stones, won’t I have even more reason to boss her around during our time in Cloud Capital?’

“Xue-Xueshang, take these.”

“Mm, thank you, Yan’er.”

Yun Xueshang accepted the sword and booklet, looking into Hua Yan’s eyes as she expressed her sincere gratitude.

“Between us… there’s no need to be so polite.”

Hua Yan meant that since they were pretending to be a couple, paying was only natural.

However, these words, to Yun Xueshang’s ears, became proof that their relationship had grown closer. This realization made her involuntarily curve her brows and offer Hua Yan a faint smile.

“Cough!”

Hua Yan quickly averted her gaze, looking at the vendor beside her. “Fellow Daoist, we are new here and plan to stay in Cloud Capital for some time.

We would also like to get to know local rogue cultivator peers. Do you… happen to know of any ways to get introduced?”

“Oh, you’ve asked the right person!”

The vendor, having collected his spirit stones, beamed. “When it comes to rogue cultivator organizations in Cloud Capital, there’s only the Primordial Hall! To be honest with you two, I am a member of the Primordial Hall!”

“Today, I’m honored to meet you two fellow daoists and grateful for your patronage. I’ll close up my stall now and take you to the hall to sit down and make some introductions. How does that sound?”

Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang exchanged glances, a hint of joy flashing in their eyes simultaneously.

“Then we shall trouble you, fellow daoist.”