Chapter 5: A Day on Jianghua Commercial Street

The two women soon arrived at Jianghua Commercial Street, located several kilometers from the corporate building.

Jianghua Commercial Street was undeniably one of Jiang City’s most bustling commercial hubs. Even on ordinary days, it vibrated with activity, boasting a dazzling array of high-end shops.

Having attended university in Jiang City for four years, Bai Mengqi had thoroughly explored its notable locales and gained a considerable understanding of the city’s essence.

As she sat in the car, her gaze drifted through the window, taking in the streets that felt both familiar and subtly alien. A wave of poignant reflection washed over her.

“Oh? Sister Yanran, must we dine here?” Bai Mengqi asked, her expression a mix of surprise and awkwardness. “Everything here is terribly expensive.”

A clear struggle was etched across her fair features. ‘This place has a high cost of living,’ she thought, ‘if I have to pay, my heart will ache for ages.’

As a cultivator, she was utterly penniless. Any other individual would have long since amassed a fortune; she was simply too young and inexperienced in worldly matters.

Her last visit had been during her freshman year. Back then, she and her university friends, brimming with curiosity, had explored the bustling streets, circling endlessly. They admired the exquisite merchandise, their hearts yearning for them, yet their pockets were regrettably empty. In the end, they bought nothing, merely indulging in a feast for their eyes.

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s candid remarks, Zi Yanran chuckled once more. Her smile was as bright and captivating as a flower unfurling in the warmth of spring.

“Rest assured, you won’t be paying,” Zi Yanran said, her voice soft yet imbued with an undeniable certainty. “It’s my treat, a small welcome for you.”

Bai Mengqi instantly exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, a relaxed smile spreading across her face.

The car soon glided into an underground parking garage beneath Jianghua Commercial Street. As it came to a halt, Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran exited the vehicle in quick succession.

Yet, the moment her feet touched the ground, Bai Mengqi detected a subtle anomaly. Her sharp instincts seemed to ignite, drawing her gaze instinctively towards a specific corner.

Just then, a figure darted across that very corner, moving with astonishing speed, like a fleeting black phantom. The sight made her frown, an inexplicable wave of caution washing over her.

“What are you looking at? Let’s go,” Zi Yanran called out, her voice echoing slightly in the parking garage as she noticed Bai Mengqi’s unusual focus.

Her voice resonated through the concrete space, carrying a subtle note of urgency.

Bai Mengqi quickly affirmed, swiftly pushing her momentary doubt deep into her mind, and then hastened to catch up.

Once they emerged onto the street, they were met with a torrent of humanity. The bustling crowds surged like an endless tide, a cacophony of sounds weaving into a vibrant tapestry of noise.

Moreover, Bai Mengqi’s keen senses registered numerous figures of ability users lurking in their surroundings. Some hurried along with purposeful strides, while others appeared to be idly browsing shop windows. Yet, Bai Mengqi could discern the distinct aura emanating from each of them, an energy unlike that of ordinary individuals.

In densely populated areas, she instinctively maintained a high level of vigilance. After all, in a world where ability users could manifest at any moment, an extra layer of caution was always prudent.

Her eyes had subtly ignited with a golden luminescence, the light flickering deep within her pupils like two miniature, burning embers, poised to react to any ability user who might draw near.

As they continued their stroll, a figure suddenly darted past Zi Yanran with a ghostly swiftness that left one utterly dumbfounded.

Zi Yanran felt her hand suddenly lighten, and she instinctively gasped, “Oh? My bag! Mengqi, someone just snatched my bag!”

Her face was a mask of utter panic as she watched, helpless, as her bag vanished into the crowd.

The moment Bai Mengqi heard this, her gaze instinctively darted towards the ability user who had just flashed past them.

Through her Dharma Eyes, she instantly pinpointed the ability user responsible for the theft. It was a short, nimble man, weaving through the throng like a quick-footed mouse. His diminutive figure threaded nimbly between gaps in the crowd, on the verge of vanishing into the vast human tide.

Bai Mengqi’s brow furrowed. ‘In broad daylight, daring to snatch something right under my nose? How utterly audacious!’ she thought.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she gave chase. Her footsteps abruptly accelerated, and she vanished from Zi Yanran’s sight in an instant, as if carried away by a sudden gust of wind.

Zi Yanran watched Bai Mengqi’s sudden disappearance, her expression shifting subtly. Far from showing anger over her stolen bag, a peculiar smile once again graced her lips.

The diminutive man who had snatched Zi Yanran’s bag, leveraging his unique ability, darted left and right through the throngs. He quickly broke free from the congested crowd, slipping into a deserted alleyway.

Standing in the alley, a triumphant smirk spread across his face. He panted heavily, a wide grin fixed on his lips, as he eagerly began to rifle through the bag’s contents.

“Quite fast, indeed,” a cold voice cut through the silence. “A dignified ability user, yet you resort to such petty thievery.”

The sudden, chilling voice echoed in the short man’s ear, striking him like an icy gust of wind and instantly sending a shiver down his spine.

His triumphant grin instantly froze, replaced by a rigid mask of shock, as he whipped his head around to glance to his side.

What he saw was Bai Mengqi, her gaze fixed on him with a faint smile, yet her eyes held an unmistakable air of indifference that commanded respect.

“A fellow practitioner?” the short man inquired, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

‘Could this girl also be in this line of work?’ he mused inwardly. ‘Does she want a cut? Yet, her demeanor doesn’t quite fit the part.’

“Heh, I don’t steal,” Bai Mengqi retorted, extending a hand. “Hand it over. That bag you’re holding belongs to my boss.”

Her tone was firm and utterly non-negotiable, her eyes locked onto the bag clutched in the short man’s hand. It was as if, at the slightest hint of defiance, she would instantly move to reclaim it.

The short man’s brow furrowed, a flush of annoyance and indignation rising within him. ‘This girl is truly meddling,’ he fumed. ‘Why risk your life for a few thousand yuan a month?’

“Meddling busybody,” the short man muttered under his breath, then, with a swift whoosh, he attempted to flee. He was confident that his ability-enhanced speed would easily allow him to shake off this nosy girl.

However, the instant he turned to escape, a delicate yet firm fist rapidly expanded in his vision. The blow was accompanied by a sharp whistle of displaced air, before it landed squarely on the short man’s right eye.

The punch packed a considerable force, sending the short man hurtling back seven or eight meters. He sailed through the air like a discarded rag doll, describing an arc before crashing heavily onto the ground. The stolen bag, dislodged from his grasp, flew free and landed perfectly in Bai Mengqi’s outstretched hand.

“You wouldn’t listen when I spoke nicely, forcing my hand,” Bai Mengqi grumbled, a hint of exasperation in her tone. “Isn’t that just asking for trouble?”

She gazed down at the short man sprawled on the ground, a faint disdain coloring her thoughts.

Bai Mengqi had, in fact, significantly restrained her power with that punch. Given her true strength, dispatching him with a single blow would have been effortless, but she had no desire to invite unnecessary complications over a common thief.

The short man now resembled a grotesque one-eyed panda, his right eye swollen to the size of a ripe peach, a comical medley of green and purple bruises.

“Damn it, how much longer are you going to stand there watching?!” the short man suddenly bellowed, clutching his throbbing right eye. “This little girl is not to be trifled with!”

His voice reverberated through the quiet alley, tinged with a raw edge of frustration and desperation.

The moment his words faded, several figures emerged from the surrounding shadows. There were both men and women, all dressed in such unremarkable attire that they would utterly vanish into any crowd.

“Well, little sister, you’re quite a looker, but you’ve got a heavy hand, don’t you?” a tall, spectacled young man drawled, his tone laced with a casual flirtatiousness. “Which sect do you belong to?”

His eyes roved over Bai Mengqi’s form, a discernible hint of flirtatious insolence in his gaze.

In Xia Nation, ability users are typically affiliated with a specific school or sect. Your allegiance is determined by the techniques you master.

This forms a fundamental classification within the world of ability users, with each sect possessing its own unique inheritance of powers and distinct operational style.

“And which sect do *you* belong to?” Bai Mengqi countered, her voice calm.

‘Regardless of your affiliation,’ she thought, a steely resolve firming in her mind, ‘dare to provoke me, and the consequences will be severe indeed.’

The group exchanged uncertain glances. The leading young man then cupped his hands respectfully towards Bai Mengqi, stating slowly, “We are from the Star Picking Sect. My name is Qi Wenxuan.”

While his voice maintained a semblance of politeness, an underlying current of subtle arrogance was unmistakable in his tone.

The mention of the Star Picking Sect left Bai Mengqi utterly speechless.

While the Star Picking Sect’s name sounded rather grand, it was, in reality, the largest haven for thieves within Xia Nation, housing not only ability users but also a multitude of common pickpockets.

The ability users of this sect were notorious for such illicit activities. Four years prior, shortly after her arrival in Jiang City, Bai Mengqi herself had been targeted by members of the Star Picking Sect. She had promptly apprehended them and delivered a thorough beating.