On the Dou Qi continent, magic cores were known by many names — magical crystals, the proto-form of spirit pills, and so on. As the name suggested, they were energy crystals that formed within the bodies of wild beasts, crammed full of an extremely violent and reckless celestial energy. So savage was this energy that even a Dou Wang would never dare to inhale it directly, for fear of bursting his body apart.
Yet although a magic core could not be absorbed directly, it was nevertheless an indispensable primary material in an alchemist's medicine-making. A magic core that had been refined by an alchemist through secret methods had its violent nature neutralized by certain miraculous herbs, and it would transform anew into those wonder drugs, all of which were coveted to the point of drooling for their power to strengthen the body and raise one's cultivation. Its value would soar in an instant!
Moreover, magic cores could also be mounted upon weapons. A weapon so adorned not only gained a devastating increase in destructive power, but also boasted a beguiling property — it could amplify Dou Qi. It was a treasure hotly pursued by the entire warrior class of the Dou Qi continent.
Nor were weapons the only use. Magic cores could also be mounted upon armor and such, granting their owners formidable powers of defense, adding a few more measures of life insurance when one faced danger.
With so many wondrous effects at hand, it was no wonder the magic core had, with full justice, become the most popular mainstream material on the Dou Qi continent. Not only warriors, but even those noble alchemists would often humble themselves to roam the whole world in search of high-grade magic cores, so as to refine pills of a yet higher order.
Driven by this trend, magic cores across the continent were almost perpetually in short supply. The moment a high-grade magic core appeared at an auction or some other venue, it would immediately be snapped up by someone paying a hefty price.
The very costliness of the magic core naturally gave rise to a great many mercenary bands that made their living by hunting wild beasts. Yet obtaining a magic core was by no means an easy affair.
In the first place, wild beasts were not merely formidable, but exceptionally cunning. Owing to their ferocious natures and special methods of attack, wild beasts were often several degrees stronger than human masters of equivalent rank. Thus, to hunt down a wild beast of your own rank single-handedly, without exceptional ability, could very easily end in the loss of the bait along with the fish.
For another, not every wild beast housed such an energy crystal as a magic core within its body. This seemed to be a matter of random chance. Sometimes a mercenary band might sacrifice half of its members to kill a single beast, only to end up empty-handed. Such happenings were so common on the Dou Qi continent as to hardly count as strange…
For this reason, the price of magic cores on the Dou Qi continent had long remained high and supremely sought after.
...
Leading Xun'er along, Xiao Yan turned this way and that through the broad streets, until at last he darted into a medium-sized trading market situated in the south of the city. Of such medium markets, Wutan City boasted not a few — each fell under the control of one of the city's three great clans. The market Xiao Yan had come to was the one governed by the Xiao Clan…
To say they "governed" it was perhaps not quite right; what they truly did was maintain its order and safety. And as remuneration, any mercenary or merchant who set up a stall within the market had to pay some commission to the clan. This had always been the rule across the Dou Qi continent, and rarely was anyone reckless enough to come and stir up trouble.
Entering through the main gate, one found two Xiao Clan guards on either side. They were plainly familiar with Xiao Yan and Xun'er as well, for at the sight of their approach both of them started, then bowed respectfully.
Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan walked straight on in. Standing at the gate, he gazed at the unceasing tide of people surging to and fro within and couldn't help letting out a clicking sound of admiration. No wonder the clan kept a fairly tight rein on the market — the profits to be had from such a stream of customers must be considerable indeed…
"Young Third Master, Young Miss Xun'er, have you come to the market hoping to purchase something?" Just as the two of them were growing dizzy from the crowd flowing past, a deferential voice came from behind them.
Hearing the voice, Xiao Yan turned around. Seven or eight stalwart men dressed in the uniform livery of the Xiao Clan stood behind them, and the one who had spoken was a sturdy man of about thirty at their head, with a badge embroidered upon his breast bearing six golden stars — plainly, he was a six-star Dou Fighter.
Catching Xiao Yan's puzzled gaze, the man gave a frank, honest smile and said deferentially, "Young Third Master, my name is Payne. I am the captain of the guard personally appointed by the Clan Head, charged with guarding the safety of this market. Heh, heh, on the birthday you kept last year, Payne came to pay his respects in person…"
"Oh, so it's Uncle Payne, is it?"
Xiao Yan blinked. Though he had no impression of this stalwart man, the man's introduction had nonetheless coaxed a smile onto the boy's young face. Since he had been personally named to his post by his father, he was naturally a direct subordinate of his, and his loyalty should not be open to question.
The Xiao Clan, though hardly a superpower, was nonetheless divided into several factions within its own ranks, just like any other. Had the man before him belonged to the faction of one of the other elders, Xiao Yan would not have bothered to pay him any mind and would merely have fobbed him off as best he could.
"Being confined in the clan grew boring, so I came out for a stroll. Uncle Payne, go about your business — if I need anything, I'll call for you." The boyish voice came without the slightest arrogance of a Young Master, but rather with a courteous and genial warmth that was pleasant to the ear.
That single respectful address of "uncle" made the smile on Payne's face deepen by a shade, and grow even more fervent as well. Scratching his head, he nodded with a laugh. "Then the Young Third Master should feel free to wander as he pleases. Our people are spread throughout the market — if anything comes up, a single call will bring them running."
Giving a polite nod, Xiao Yan took Xun'er by the hand, plunged into the crowd, and vanished…
"Pali, take two men and follow the Young Third Master. Warn off those pickpockets in the market — if any of them dares to set his sights on the Young Third Master or Young Miss Xun'er, he needn't think about working here ever again." Gazing at the departing boy and girl, Payne turned and commanded in a low voice, and the honest look on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a keen and capable one.
"Understood, Captain!" A stalwart man nodded gravely, waved his hand, and with two companions melted into the crowd.
"Heh, the Young Third Master still treats people with such gentleness. It's truly a comfort…" Watching the three men disappear into the crowd, Payne laughed, then sighed with regret. "Such a fine young man — a pity, oh, a pity…"
Shaking his head in melancholy, Payne, too, led his men off to make their rounds…
...
Meandering lazily behind Xiao Yan as he wandered at leisure, Xun'er cast a subtle, sidelong glance at the crowd behind her and said with a faint smile, "Xiao Yan-gege, that Payne is not bad at all."
Xiao Yan gave a soft hum. His gaze swept over a nearby stall, and being blessed with a soul-sense far keener than the ordinary man's, he had a perfectly clear picture of the guards following behind. Withdrawing his gaze, Xiao Yan slowed his pace so as to walk abreast of the girl at his side, breathing in that fresh, lotus-like fragrance of hers. Turning his head, he teased, "A ninth-level of Dou Qi, and yet you could sense three guards skilled in concealing themselves — Xun'er, you're no ordinary girl…"
Imitating Xiao Yan with a playful shrug, Xun'er once more pulled out her trump card: smile, and silence!
Gazing at the girl who refused to open her mouth, Xiao Yan's lips curved into a warm, gentle smile. Lifting his hand, he lightly patted the girl's little head and, in a voice meant for the two of them alone, chuckled lowly, "Though I don't know exactly who you are or what background you have, all I know is this: you are my little sister. No matter what comes in the days ahead, remember this — stand behind your big brother. Whatever storms blow, your big brother will shield you from them!" With a light laugh, Xiao Yan patted her head once more, quickened his pace, and walked on ahead.
His footsteps slowed to a halt, and Xun'er fluttered her beautiful, spirited eyes, staring at the boy who had walked off so dashingly after speaking. She stood rooted to the spot for quite some time before finally snapping back to her senses. The soft smile at the corners of her mouth slowly widened until it illumined that delicate face into something utterly beguiling.
Within the bustling, jostling market, the girl stood and smiled, her graceful figure like a pure lotus of the mortal world, quiet and serene…
"Little sister, is it? Xun'er is a very greedy girl, you know…" Tipping her head to one side, Xun'er murmured the words softly to herself, then pressed her lips into a faint smile, took a few light steps, and followed after the idle young man ahead of her.
...
Following Xiao Yan in a wandering, roundabout course, she gradually made her way into the depths of the market. The goods sold in the deeper reaches were generally far more precious than those without, and so the customers able to purchase here counted for a good deal of strength within Wutan City.
Seizing the moment while Xiao Yan buried his head in a search for magic crystals, Xun'er idly drifted to a clean stall. She came to a graceful stop, stretched out a fair, delicate wrist, and picked up a light green bracelet. The bracelet's material was of the common sort, merely set with a little ice silver that made it cool to the touch — well suited for wearing in summer. The material might be ordinary enough, but it was nonetheless chic and graceful…
Having toyed with it for a while, Xun'er was on the point of buying it when she recalled that she had already lent out all her money to Xiao Yan. Slightly tilting her head, she looked at the boy absorbed in his own affairs, and could only shake her head in resignation. She cast an apologetic smile at the old man behind the stall, set the bracelet back down, and once again drifted lazily onward… By nature so quiet and reserved, she was hardly the sort to take the initiative in asking anyone to buy her anything — not even Xiao Yan…
She had walked only a little way forward, idly wondering whether it was time to go back and keep Xiao Yan company, when a clear, open laugh suddenly came from up ahead.
"Oh my, if it isn't Young Miss Xun'er? Heh heh, I never imagined we would run into each other here. What a stroke of fate."
A delicate frown knit her brows. Xun'er followed the sound and looked up to see a crowd surging toward her, and at the center of that throng, like a moon circled about by stars, was a young man in costly, magnificent clothing.
The young man was around twenty years of age, with quite handsome features, though his complexion was somewhat pale. His eyes, at this moment, held a burning heat as they fastened tightly upon the slim, fresh maid standing not far off, and at the heart of that gaze was an undisguised admiration.