It was very sudden and hard for Luo Xiao to understand. It certainly startled him, but after some consideration, he decided to just let it be. He couldn’t change Jiang Yao’s behavior by just thinking about it.
The sun's light was already starting to cast long shadows as the two walked towards the vendors. At most, they had about an hour before the merchants closed their stalls for the night and as such, Luo Xiao was a little hurried as they approached the sellers.
A majority of the sellers out right now were those girls Luo Xiao had talked to before, and as they stopped to look at one of their stalls, the merchant girls quickly took notice and smiled at them.
“Want to buy anything? We have some really nice artifacts from our home region, the Myriad Sands Kingdom,” one of the girls said while she smiled at them, attracting Luo Xiao’s attention to her items.
Momentarily glancing at them, he saw some intricate knives, a few bottles which looked as if they were made from a mysterious crystal, a few necklaces, some feathers, and weird fruits.
His interest wasn’t in the items actually, but in the words the girl had spoken. “The Myriad Sands Kingdom? But I thought that you told me you were born and raised by merchants your whole life?” Luo Xiao said.
Before the girl could speak, Jiang Yao softly sighed. “Xiaoxiao, born and raised by merchants doesn't mean they don’t have a home,” he said.
Luo Xiao wasn’t stupid, but he had only superficial knowledge about the world around him. Everything he knew was either from books, his father’s words, or from what Jiang Yao had told him.
The pretty merchant girl giggled as she noticed the slightly confused look in Luo Xiao’s eyes. “Want me to tell you about my hometown? Your partner might not know about it, it is pretty remote compared to…”
“I know about the Myriad Sands Kingdom, no need for you to explain,” Jiang Yao interrupted rather coldly, glaring a little at the girl.
Her expression, which had warmed up a little due Luo Xiao’s curiosity, very quickly turned fearful as she looked away, unable to respond. Jiang Yao’s gaze was just too domineering for the merchant girl to handle.
Luo Xiao lost any interest in the items and looked at Jiang Yao with curiosity despite their previous quarrel. “Can you tell me about the Myriad Sands Kingdom?” Luo Xiao asked.
“Only if you pay me with a kiss,” Jiang Yao replied quietly as if sharing a secret, but it was obvious that the girl had heard him. Her face quickly flushed at the thought as she looked away.
Luo Xiao felt his face heat up. He pouted a little before looking away from the handsome man. He was too daring! There was no way he would pay for everything with a kiss, there had to be another way!
A rather amused twinkle appeared in the handsome man’s eyes as he took Luo Xiao’s hand and walked towards the next vendors in line.
“Alright, alright, this one will be free. Xiaoxiao, do you remember anything from the map you looked at a few days ago?” As they approached and passed another stall set up by one of the more gossipy girls, Jiang Yao once more lifted up Luo Xiao’s mood, distracting him from his words earlier.
“The map? Of course I do! Are you going to let me look at it again?” Luo Xiao said with a brilliant smile as he looked through the items laid out for sale. He eagerly looked through a few books before moving away to the next stall.
“One of the bordering countries of the Chengzi Empire is the Myriad Sands Kingdom. It’s also like your Kingdom of Zhanshi, a rather backwater place at the edge of the continent,” Jiang Yao said with a sigh. Occasionally he glanced at the items offered for sale, but he had no interest in them. Unlike Luo Xiao who looked upon every item with excitement. But he really couldn't decide on which ones to buy.
“It’s said that their land experienced desertification after an extremely strong spirit was born there millions of years ago, but whether that is true or false, nobody knows,” Jiang Yao said.
Luo Xiao’s ears perked up at the mention of a spirit. He put down the small figurine he’d been looking at and glanced at Jiang Yao. “A spirit? Can they really change the land just by being born?” Luo Xiao asked.
The handsome man chuckled at Luo Xiao’s question. He was beginning to like this feeling of telling Luo Xiao new information. “Xiaoxiao, you should get a book on spirits just like that one on demons, even I don't know many things about them,” Jiang Yao said.
Luo Xiao felt that Jiang Yao wasn’t really answering his question, which made his pouting even more obvious. Clearly, Jiang Yao would not answer questions that he didn’t pay for.
Realizing this, he could not help but sigh to himself. After thinking about this, Luo Xiao picked up a small glass bead which glistened gently in the dimming sunlight.
“I’ll tell you one last thing for free. The Myriad Sands Kingdom are known for their exports of really well-made glass goods. They have special sand mines, where they gain a material called Jade Wisp Crystal. That bead you're holding is made from those Jade Wisp Crystals. In fact, most of their goods are made from them,” Jiang Yao said.
Luo Xiao’s eyes lit up. He could not help but look at the bead with more interest. But he shook his head and put it down before moving on to the next stall.
Inwardly, Luo Xiao felt quite awkward around Jiang Yao now, especially considering how quickly the handsome man’s emotions had changed earlier. The anger he had witnessed less than an hour ago was still clear in his mind, something which Jiang Yao could see as plain as day.
A few more minutes passed as they shopped in such a manner. The shadows grew longer and longer as the girls began to close up their stalls and put away their goods. While walking beside the stalls, Luo Xiao managed to learn a few more sparse things from Jiang Yao about the Jade Wisp Crystal as they approached the second to last merchant displaying her goods.
Now, Luo Xiao knew that the Jade Wisp Crystals were a relatively precious material in the outer regions of the continent. There were properties of the Jade Wisp Crystal that could be helpful to the cultivation of beasts. For this reason, humans were extremely protective of the mineral.
It didn’t have any desirable properties for the other three races, but any items made from it had a special luster to them. Therefore it was used in making crowns, jewelry, rings, and other decorative items crafted from these crystals. This, in turn, led them to be sold for exorbitant prices in the outer countries. Of course, Jiang Yao had no need to mention that to him. After all, these so-called luxurious items were nothing more than trash.
The last stall that the two men approached was surprisingly owned not by a youth, but an old man. The items he had for display were relatively similar to the rest of the merchants, but there were also a few that were not made from Jade Wisp Crystals.
Luo Xiao’s expression lit up as he saw new, unfamiliar items, and he picked up a golden hairpin that was on display. Tilting it a little in the fading sunlight, Luo Xiao saw a beautiful net-like structure inside.
Next to it, there was also a small bracelet made from the same materials as the hairpin. Luo Xiao looked at it with fascination. “Jiang Yao, what is this?” he asked.
The handsome man who had been observing Luo Xiao calmly glanced at the hairpin and bracelet.
“This is a similar mineral to the Jade Wisp Crystal, but it’s found in a different place. Nothing too special,” he waved his hand easily dismissing it.
Luo Xiao’s gaze lingered on the two beautiful objects for a little longer before putting them both down with a sigh. “They are beautiful,” he said.
It was so clear to Jiang Yao that Luo Xiao had finally found something he wanted.
“How much for both of these?” he suddenly spoke to the old man behind the stall, his voice carrying the demeanor of royalty he tried to avoid using when he spoke with Luo Xiao.
“Thirty Earth Grade spirit crystals for the hairpin, twenty for the bracelet,”
“Earth Grade spirit crystals!” Luo Xiao gasped, startling the rather unimpressed Jiang Yao.
“Xiaoxiao, are you alright?” Jiang Yao said.
Luo Xiao’s eyes went wide as he stared at the bracelet and the hairpin before looking down. “Jiang Yao... We can’t afford that…” Luo Xiao said.
It was only then Jiang Yao realized that Luo Xiao had only ever heard of spirit crystals and never seen or used them himself. Born in such a faraway place like the Kingdom of Zhanshi, and in such a small village, he had barely ever even seen gold not to mention spirit crystals.
All the youth knew was that they were more precious than gold and no one in his village had ever even seen one, to the villagers spirit crystals were a myth.
Naturally, Luo Xiao also had no idea that Jiang Yao was in possession of these spirit crystals as he had only seen the handsome man pay with gold and gold bars.
Jiang Yao was quite amused, “Xiaoxiao, didn’t I tell you that you can always pay with a kiss?” he said.
Almost instantly, Luo Xiao blushed a deep red making the aged vendor raise an eyebrow while Jiang Yao took out some softly glowing crystals from his embroidered pouch.
“Thirty for the hairpin, twenty for the bracelet,” Jiang Yao said as he placed the spirit crystals down next to the hairpin and bracelet. He then took the two items away and put them in his pouch. “It’s getting dark now Xiaoxiao, let’s head back,” he said.
Luo Xiao’s brown eyes had moved and were curiously looking at the spirit crystals, though he was still blushing from his lover’s comment. His eyes sparkled with a childish interest toward the world. This was something that made Jiang Yao gaze at him for a little longer before he took his hand and headed back to their carriage.
The sun had almost fully set as the old man watched them leave. He chuckled a little at the slightly possessive behavior Jiang Yao had over his innocent and gem-like Xiaoxiao as he called him.
“If only…” he muttered before shaking his head. It was just a fleeting, unimportant memory that those two reminded him of. With a slight smile, he put his fifty Earth Grade spirit crystals away and packed up his stall, like everyone else in the caravan.
In such a manner, three more weeks of endless travel passed with the caravan. They stopped at a few small cities along the way and at each one, the merchants opened their stalls and sold their wares to mortals and cultivators alike.
For the most part, Luo Xiao and Jiang Yao were social. Every evening they came out and talked with the merchants, although they avoided the jealous girls. Jiang Yao didn’t leave Luo Xiao’s side even once this whole time. It became clear to the people of the caravan that Jiang Yao enjoyed teasing the younger one. Every day, at least once, Luo Xiao’s face would look like a bright red tomato, making people laugh, especially if it happened during dinner.
At the end of the third week, the two finally bid their farewell to the caravan after Heavenward City’s fortified walls appeared in the distance. There were merely a few more hours of travel by foot to the seemingly rather big city.
Even if the distance could be covered quicker with the caravan, Jiang Yao insisted on it being just him and Luo Xiao for the last stretch.
The handsome man smirked while holding Luo Xiao’s hand tightly as he led the way.
Luo Xiao curiously observed their surroundings as they leisurely walked along the dusty road. The road was packed with people. The closer they came to the city, the denser the crowd became as more and more smaller trails, paths, and roads merged with the main road into the city.
Some rode on tamed magical beasts of low intelligence, others walked, and some rolled along in caravans.
Luo Xiao had never before experienced such a situation. He came from a small village in a backwater kingdom, he’d never seen a crowd like this and was rather frightened.
Clutching onto Jiang Yao’s hand, Luo Xiao feared he would get lost, and his face was pale. Still, he couldn’t help but look at the many people around him with wide eyes.
Everyone looked different. Some wore patched, shabby clothes and dragged chests filled with their wares, while others wore exquisite robes. But even the ones with beautiful clothes couldn’t match the clothes that Jiang Yao wore. Clearly, his material was much more outstanding than what could be bought here in these backwater regions.
Luo Xiao almost tripped as he was pushed by the people behind him but managed to steady himself. Out of reflex, he grabbed Jiang Yao’s arm. Both his arms were coiled around Jiang Yao’s, and he trembled slightly.
Although he was excited about the many people around them, he was also scared. His biggest fear was to be all alone in the world again. Thus he feared being separated from Jiang Yao. Because of this, he held on to him for dear life.
Jiang Yao said nothing. He just chuckled slightly and enjoyed the feeling of having his arm enveloped by the warmth of Luo Xiao’s body.
The sight of a man holding onto another man’s arm, alongside their appearances made the others look at them with quizzical eyes. What was their relationship?
Luo Xiao pouted slightly, and his face turned red all the way to his ears when he felt the many gazes on him, but he didn’t let go.
They followed the crowd as they made their way to the gates of Heavenward City. Heavenward City was massive. Although the cities Luo Xiao had been to had felt overwhelmingly big to him, they were not even close to Heavenward City’s size, which was a transport hub for all of the backwater kingdoms.
This was the only place where Jiang Yao could buy things that he needed in these regions, and with a calculating look at Luo Xiao, a smile formed on his lips.
Jiang Yao was happy with how Luo Xiao clung to his arm. Although Luo Xiao was normally very silent and didn’t say what he thought, the fact that he held onto him and feared that he would be lost showed that Luo Xiao was not willing to be left alone. This meant that being together with Jiang Yao meant the world to him.
With a slight smirk on his face, Jiang Yao looked at Luo Xiao’s face, where the other’s emotions were written as clear as day.
“Are you scared?” he suddenly asked, looking into the white-clothed youth’s eyes.
The sudden question startled Luo Xiao a little. His body jumped in surprise before he focused on Jiang Yao. “Ah! I’m not scared! I’ve just... never been to such a big city before,” he said.
Jiang Yao understood that such a big city was intimidating for someone with his background, but he also understood that Luo Xiao had to adapt soon. This city, although grand, was nothing compared to the capital of Tiansong Empire where he lived. That would be Luo Xiao’s new home.
As they came to the gates, they saw many queues and the incoming crowd of people neatly lined up to enter the city. Seeing these lines of people, Luo Xiao was filled with curiosity. Why couldn’t they just walk in?
“There is an entrance fee,” Jiang Yao answered the unspoken question Luo Xiao had.
“To enter the city you have to pay one gold coin per person. Each queue heads to a guard whom you pay,” hearing this, Luo Xiao’s eyes widened in shock. “A whole gold coin just to enter the city?” he gasped in surprise, while Jiang Yao merely laughed.
“Xiaoxiao, I know you come from a village, but a gold coin is barely anything. Now come with me, we are taking the entrance for esteemed guests.”
Looking around, Luo Xiao saw that there was a guard that was just standing at an open entrance with no people. Just as he and Jiang Yao moved towards this guard, a carriage came rushing past. Its speed was so fast that dust spewed everywhere and Luo Xiao ended up coughing because he breathed just as the carriage rushed by.
Seeing the teary-eyed Luo Xiao, Jiang Yao’s eyes turned slightly cold as he glanced at the carriage, but he said nothing. Instead, he gently soothed Luo Xiao by rubbing his back.
The coughing came to an end and Luo Xiao was led to the gate together with Jiang Yao. The carriage was still present and the guard was clearly conversing with the driver. Suddenly a woman within opened the carriage window and looked out.
At that moment her cold, arrogant eyes glanced outside as if attracted by a magnet. They landed on Jiang Yao and widened with delight.
“You!” she called out while pointing at Jiang Yao, “You are to my liking, come in front of me this moment!”
Jiang Yao and Luo Xiao looked at the woman with confused expressions. Why would she call for him? It didn’t take long for Jiang Yao to see the infatuation in her eyes, but Luo Xiao had no experience in these such matters so he was completely clueless.
“Do you know her?” He asked curiously, trying to understand more about Jiang Yao, but the older man just chuckled. “Do you think I know someone of such low class?” he asked with a voice that was not low, but fortunately the woman hadn’t heard him.
Seeing that she was completely ignored, the woman’s face twisted in anger. She had never been disregarded in such a manner before.
“I am warning you; I’m the young miss of the Gao family! If you wish to leave Heavenward City alive, you better do as I say!” she spat out, and Jiang Yao, who was rather annoyed at this point, just looked at her and shook his head.
“Xiaoxiao, don’t get too close to her. I don’t want you to get infected with her stupidity,” Jiang Yao said, this time so loud that everyone heard him.
The entrance for the city’s esteemed guests wasn’t that far from the other queues so many had heard what was said. Many observed the two sides with excitement, wondering about the backing of the two handsome men seemingly unfazed by threats from the Gao family. Some even hoped a fight would break out, after all, many of the observers were cultivators and their blood was hot like fire - they were always eager for battles.
Luo Xiao was tense. He had a faint idea of who Jiang Yao was, but he didn’t fully understand the strength of his family nor did he want to cause trouble, so he was very indecisive. But while thinking these things, he suddenly felt a strange emotion within his heart.
If Jiang Yao actually did go to that woman... Just thinking about such a thing broke his heart. He was unaware what he was feeling was jealousy as Jiang Yao and the woman talked.
Luo Xiao said nothing, but he didn’t let go of Jiang Yao’s hand. In fact, he even squeezed it tighter, as if he feared that Jiang Yao would leave him.
Jiang Yao was surprised. He looked down at Luo Xiao and saw that he had a very uncomfortable expression on his face. It was obvious that he wasn’t feeling good at the moment.
Unsure as to why Luo Xiao was feeling unwell, Jiang Yao felt even more annoyed at the woman. She was in the way, but he also understood that Luo Xiao would be unhappy if he killed her.
Her crimes were enough to be sentenced to death. Being disrespectful towards the Seventh Demon Prince was indeed enough for one to forfeit their life, but Luo Xiao seemed to have a trauma about seeing people die in front of him. For this reason, he didn’t want the already uncomfortable Luo Xiao to feel even worse.
“Listen, lady, I don’t have time to deal with you,” Jiang Yao said with an impatient voice, “Now move that carriage and enter the city or I will move it for you.”
The woman almost choked on her words as she was simply livid with anger. This man was too brazen! His words were too ruthless!
“I swear you will regret this!” the woman swore, “You and your little friend will never leave Heavenward City alive!” having said this, the carriage drove into the city, but Jiang Yao was so mad that killing intent leaked out of his body; however, he quickly returned to normal as he felt the warm hand that held his arm.
“Let’s just enter,” Luo Xiao sighed. Everywhere they went it seemed as if drama was unavoidable, but he had complete faith in Jiang Yao and his ability to deal with any situation. He had, after all, been referred to as his Highness in past encounters with strong cultivators so he could not be anyone ordinary.
When they reached the gate, the city guard, who had just taken the fee from Miss Gao, looked at them with hostility.
“So what do you have that makes you think that you can enter through this gate?” he asked. Jiang Yao pondered for a moment before he took out a sigil from his embroidered purse and handed it to the guard.
Luo Xiao looked curiously at the sigil. It was a small round wooden circle with a beautiful, twisted rune inscribed on it. Luo Xiao didn’t know what it meant, but when the guard saw it, his face turned pale. He handed it back with trembling hands.
“So sorry for this lowly one’s impertinence. This lowly one will instantly go report this matter to the City Head,” said the guard as he stepped aside and allowed Luo Xiao and Jiang Yao to enter, without even paying the fee.
Luo Xiao looked curiously at the sigil in Jiang Yao’s other hand. Sensing his gaze, a smile appeared on Jiang Yao’s lips but he still placed the sigil in his bag again.
“Curious?” he asked as he looked down at Luo Xiao. Luo Xiao pondered for some time what he should say before he hesitantly nodded his head.
“Well you’ll get one as well eventually,” he said casually before he continued forward, not answering the questions that were in Luo Xiao’s mind.
“Where are we going now?” Luo Xiao asked, knowing that he had no other option than burying the questions about the sigil in his heart.
“We’re going to an inn. I have something I want to give you,” Jiang Yao said with a smile at the puzzled Luo Xiao. “Something to give me?” he asked, confused.
“You might have forgotten, but I haven’t,” Jiang Yao said with a chuckle as he dragged the confused Luo Xiao to the best inn in the city.
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