The Wind and Clouds Garden

  " Fellow Daoist?! Why are you sitting in front of the entrance to my cave?" Xiao Yao was stunned for a while before she finally found her voice.

  But then, Ling Jianying stood up slowly, brushing off the snow on his body. He said calmly, "I've been waiting for you to come out of your seclusion. I don't know if you're free today, but do you have time to engage in a battle with me?"

  Xiao Yao's expression was awkward, it had been two years already, and she thought he had long forgotten, so she hadn't taken it to heart at all. But this guy was so persistent, just this persistence made one admire him, not to mention that his sincerity was genuine while hers was perfunctory, which was somewhat unfair. So she couldn't help but say: "Luo Dao friend, how long have you been waiting here?"

  Ling Jianying said frankly: "However, in just three days, I have come four or five times in the past two years, but the gate of Dao You's cave has always been tightly closed."

  Xiao Yao's eyebrows slightly twitched, and this Jue Xianying was indeed too sincere. Thinking that he might come to sit in front of her cave for a few days every time, if not for his expression and behavior being normal, she would really suspect that he had deep feelings for her. It seems that some things still need to be clarified.

  "Qiao Dao You," she sighed and said solemnly, "I don't want to accept this challenge, nor do I want to pretend to be friendly with you anymore. Please leave."

  "Why?" Kong Xiang looked at her seriously.

  "Because there's no reason," Xiao Yao sighed, this was the second time he asked himself why, but no matter how he explained it, it just didn't make sense. He decided to cater to Rong's preferences, "Rong wants to fight a strong opponent, but if there's no reason, my strength will also be greatly discounted, I won't be able to give you a battle with all my might, even so, do you still want to fight?"

  Luo Jianying lowered his head, thinking for a long time, before finally raising it again. His eyes were firm as he said, "I won't fight, but I can continue to wait, waiting until the day when you have a reason to fight!"

  Xiao Yao was speechless again, how could he still be so stubborn and unyielding. Just as he was about to patiently persuade him, the other person said: "A duel must have a unified heart and mind, both parties must be willing, without any distractions, in order to be truly enjoyable and satisfying, it is the true battle of the immortal family, free and easy. I never force others, nor do I use despicable tactics, I can wait patiently, as long as you are recognized by Rong Jianying as my opponent, whether it's a year, a hundred years, or even a million years, as long as I'm alive, I'll wait. So, I will come again."

  Xiao Yao listened, opened her mouth, and the words she had thought of were not spoken. However, Luo Jianying didn't need her to say anything, sat on the flying sword, patted his butt, and disappeared into the distance in the blink of an eye.

  Xiao Yao was stunned for a long time before she came back to her senses, and couldn't help but shed tears on her clothes. She really wanted to ask him face-to-face: Fellow Taoist, aren't you either holding a grudge against me or secretly in love with me? Why be so obsessed?! After being entangled for a while, seeing that there was no way to persuade him to give up, she had no choice but to give up. She thought to herself: Since he has the patience to wait, then let him go ahead and do so, as long as it doesn't interfere with me, it's all fine.

  Upon arriving at the Upper City Market of White Jade City, Xiao Yao planned to sell the four "Bi You" separately to four different shops. The first three she chose were three shops with good-looking storefronts and sold them for 50,000 mid-grade yuan crystals each. Although this equipment was made from burned yuan crystals, it was still a quick sale, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yao's penniless cultivator became the owner of 150,000 yuan crystals. It wasn't overnight wealth, but she now had some assets. After returning the rented furnace and getting back her deposit, she weighed the last "Bi You", which was also the best quality one, and headed towards the most famous shop in White Jade City, "Feng Ya Garden".

  This "Feng Ya Garden" is located directly below the floating White Jade Villa, belonging to the White Jade Villa. It has seven beautifully decorated small buildings, with small bridges and flowing water between them, surrounded by gardens. At first glance, it looks like a mansion of a famous family, but in fact, it is the largest and most complete shopping mall within the White Jade City. The seven small buildings inside are all shops selling various treasures. It is said that there is nothing you can't buy here, only things you haven't thought of.

  As soon as Xiang Yao arrived at the "Feng Ya Garden", she saw that there were many luxurious carriages parked in front of the gate, and most of the people entering and exiting were noble ladies with veils or young masters followed by servants. As for those with even higher status, they usually drove their carriages directly into the garden. People like her who walked on two legs were almost non-existent. However, the maidservants inside the garden did not neglect her because of this, and still smiled as they came forward to ask: "This guest, what do you need? Next, I will guide you."

  Xiao Yao sized up the woman in front of her, seeing that her attitude was neither arrogant nor humble, and her cultivation was also at the Hua Shen stage. In her heart, she secretly thought: This "Feng Ya Yuan" is indeed a big shot, even the maidservants they employ are all Hua Shen stage cultivators, I wonder what kind of cultivation the person in charge of the inner courtyard has. Thinking about it, she then stated her intention and said: "I have a treasure that I want to sell, I don't know if your esteemed shop will accept it."

  The woman's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered and politely said: "Of course we'll accept it, but our garden has rules. May I ask the guest to first lend me the item you wish to sell so I can take a look?"

  "Good," Xiao Yao generously took out the "Bi You" from her storage ring and handed it to the female cultivator.

  The female cultivator held the long sword in her hand and examined it carefully, somewhat uncertainly asking: "Is this... a low-grade bronze artifact?"

  "Yes," Xiao Yao nodded and carefully observed the female cultivator's expression.

  As soon as she nodded, a hint of obvious disappointment flashed in the woman's eyes, and her attitude was no longer as enthusiastic as before. However, as a reception maid, she still had to maintain her manners, so she returned "Biyu" to Xiao Yao and politely said: "This Taoist friend, please follow me."

  Inside "Feng Ya Garden" there are seven small buildings, six of which have their own names: Qi, Dan, Fu, Zhen, Shou, Fa. As the name suggests, they sell various treasures related to the building's name.

  The nun led Xiao Yao to a side room in the temple and then closed the door and retreated. She waited inside for half an incense stick, when she saw a middle-aged monk with a big belly walk in, his stomach sticking out.

  This person's cultivation was only at the Yuan Ying stage, with a pale and chubby complexion. He had a pair of green bean-like eyes, which rolled around once before landing on Xiao Yao's body. Only then did he open his mouth, with an arrogant tone: "You're the one who wants to sell artifacts? Bring them out."

  Xiao Yao slightly furrowed her brow: Is this white and plump ball the appraiser of this small building? I don't know if it's relying on the background of the White Jade Courtyard, but the hospitality is not even as good as that of the maid who just greeted us. Although the other party's tone was quite disrespectful, she didn't show too much dissatisfaction on her face, and quietly placed "Bi You" on the table.

  He only saw the other party's plump body swaying forward, taking two steps, and casting a faint glance at the objects on the table. Without even touching them, he stretched out two fingers and shook them, saying: "Two million mid-grade yuan crystals."

  Previously, three inferior ones were bought for 50,000 yuan each, and this top-quality one that was painstakingly crafted only costs 20,000? Is this person really buying in good faith? However, since Xiao Yao dared to bring a low-quality bronze artifact here to sell, she naturally would have considered the possibility of being cheated by the store owner. With a hint of displeasure but not yet anger, she spoke up: "Sir, you haven't even touched it with your hand, aren't you afraid that the appraisal result might be different?"

  "A middle-aged man saw a poor-quality product and dared to question himself in person. He immediately said coldly, 'Hmph, why bother with this kind of trash? One glance is enough to tell it apart!' The "Biyu" also exists in the store, but it was made by Fangyuan, the top craftsman in the other courtyard. The colors of the two products are very different. This one you're selling is clearly a subpar product. People like you who come here to deceive others every day... I'm already being kind by not kicking you out directly. Do you want to take 20,000 mid-grade yuan crystals or leave immediately with this broken thing? You choose!"

  It seems that I have encountered an unscrupulous appraiser. Xiao Yao didn't say a word and put away "Bi You". Her original intention was to come here and let the appraiser evaluate it, just to see how her skills compared to the refiners here, so as to infer the winning rate of this refining competition. Unfortunately...

  "The first store in Baiyucheng is nothing more than that," she said, turning around and leaving.

  At this time, a strong and powerful male voice sounded from behind: "Young friend, wait!"

  Xiao Yao turned around and saw an old man with a head full of white hair, long white eyebrows, and a spirited appearance walking out from the inner house. The middle-aged man's face changed as soon as he saw the old man, his previous arrogance turning into humility, and his voice slightly flattering: "Elder Fu, why have you come?"

  The old man's face was stern, he smoothed out one side of his white eyebrow, and gave him a cold glance, "I've been in the inner room all along, it's just that your voice is too loud."

  The man's face changed, and he hastily bowed his head in apology, "It was my fault, I disturbed your rest."

  "Alright," the old man said impatiently, waving his hand to signal that he didn't need to bow anymore. He asked, "What did this young friend bring for you to appraise earlier? I recall that the market price of 'Biyu' is 50,000 mid-grade yuan crystals. Why did you only quote 20,000? Are you trying to make people think that Wind Elegance Yard is cheating customers?"

  The old man's tone was calm, but the dignity in it couldn't be ignored. The male cultivator hastily and apologetically said: "Elder, you don't know this, but the 'Biyu' that this guest brought is a subpar product, with a large deviation from the one forged by Master Fangyuan. I was momentarily enraged and lost my composure in our conversation..."

  "Oh, what you said is all true?" The old man raised an eyebrow, but his gaze was directed at Xiao Yao.

  "The young dare not deceive the elder."

  The old man walked past him, smiled and went to Xiao Yao's side, asking: "This young friend, Fengya Garden opened its doors for business, what we value most is our reputation. Earlier, it was our place that lost countenance, I hope you won't mind, can the 'Bi You' sword be re-examined once again for you?"

  Xiao Yao narrowed her eyes, but in her heart she thought: Old fox, if you really wanted to uphold justice, you should have come out earlier. Instead, you waited until I was about to leave before speaking up and blocking my way. What kind of idea are you trying to convey?

  But he took out "Bi You" again and threw it to him: "It turns out that Feng Ya Garden still has someone who can talk reason, senior, please."

  These words had a somewhat sarcastic tone, the old man's eyes were slightly displeased, but soon hid under his two white eyebrows, focusing on studying the artifact in his hand.

  After a moment, the old man finally lifted his eyes, but did not immediately return "Biyu" to Xiao Yao. Instead, he placed it on the table, his expression unreadable, and said: "Young friend, I bought this 'Biyu' for 2 million mid-grade yuan crystals."

  Update! Long-awaited 3,000 words!