"Kid?" The bartender followed the man's gaze and took just one glance before looking away, uninterested, "They do look quite young."
"Not that young anymore," Fu Yunshen laughed lightly, his tone leisurely, "In three years, they'll be of legal marriage age."
"..." The bartender had no response to that; he shook his head and lowered his voice, "Be careful, there's a bounty on your head."
"Hmm?" Fu Yunshen raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, "How much are they offering?"
"An SS-rank bounty, one billion US dollars, currently ranked seventh on the Bounty List," the bartender stared at him, "At least ten people on the hunters' list have taken up this bounty. Now do you realize how much you're hated?"
Whoever made the top ten of the Bounty List was everyone's target; not killing them would be like turning your back on money.
Fu Yunshen's peach blossom eyes curved, hinting at some allure, "Well, they'll have to find me first."
The bartender agreed on this point and said, "Even the IBI can't find you; your ability to stay hidden is probably only second to that number one on the list."
The IBI, short for International Bureau of Investigation.
"You can't compare that." Fu Yunshen spoke nonchalantly, "That number one hasn't changed for many years, and I've only just made the list."
The bounty amount for number one on the list surpasses the combined total of the other nine, high enough to compete with the GDP of a small country on the Ancient O Continent. But no one has dared to take it on, showing just how difficult it is to kill the person at number one.
No, it would be more accurate to say that they can't even be found.
"I'm really curious now, who exactly is this Diviner?" the bartender clicked his tongue, "How could 'they' be more hated than you?"
The other targets on the Bounty List had at least some trace to follow, but this number one had vanished, leaving behind no information whatsoever.
Moreover, the title of Diviner was incredibly arrogant.
Even the true Magicians and Witches of the Ancient O Continent wouldn't dare to call themselves Diviners.
There are Fortune Tellers today too, but like ancient martial artists, there aren't many real ones left; most have retreated from the world, and the rest are charlatans and tricksters.
If someone could truly foresee everything, it would be utterly absurd.
Fu Yunshen raised his peach blossom eyes, half-smiling, "What are you implying?"
"The truth. You're naturally disliked, but still, you need to be careful. One billion dollars is enough to buy an island. And you know those hunters on the list are like madmen. But—" the bartender paused and frowned, "Are you really planning to stay here? I thought you'd at least head to the capital."
"Hmm." Fu Yunshen half-lifted his eyelids, absent-minded, "I do intend to stay in Shanghai City for a while."
Upon hearing that, an outrageous thought suddenly popped into the bartender's mind, "For a woman?"
Fu Yunshen raised his eyebrows, unhurried, "What are you talking about? She's just a kid."
The bartender's expression changed, "You're crazy."
"I've been crazy for a long time," Fu Yunshen stood up, draped his coat over his arm casually, his smile heedless of the world. He patted the bartender's shoulder, "Drink less, it's bad for your health."
**
The Underground City did not require any form of identification for entry, and was populated by all kinds of people, many of whom deliberately concealed their identities.
Along the sides of the road were various shops, with architecture differing according to what was sold.
There were Ancient Roman, Gothic, and Baroque buildings from the Ancient O Continent, as well as classical garden-style architecture from Hua Country.
Ying Zijin looked up and noticed those shops with "Fortune Teller" signs; at a glance, there were at least a dozen of these shops.
However, there was only one that had a faint aura of spiritual energy fluttering about it.
Tarot Cards originated from the Ancient O Continent and became very popular during the Middle Ages; she had also followed the trend and played with them, but their origins remain a mystery to this day.
However, there aren't many authentic Tarot Cards, and the ones sold on the market today can barely be used for minor divination; in other scenarios, they are just bundles of waste paper.
Perhaps, she should find a real set of Tarot Cards before her powers fully recover.
Ying Zijin seemed thoughtful, pressed down her mask, her eyelashes casting a shadow as she walked into the market.
Apart from shops, there were also many street stalls nearby, mostly with broken antiques, but this did not prevent eager buyers from getting swindled.
The girl casually surveyed the items, observing hundreds of antiques in a mere ten seconds, and as expected, all of them were fakes without exception.
It wasn't until half an hour later that Ying Zijin finally spotted what she needed.
It was an Ancient Coin, inconspicuously mixed in with a pile of celadon ware.
The characters branded on the Ancient Coin were heavily worn, and it was smeared with soil; at first glance, it looked like it was made from clay.
She lowered her head, her eyes narrowing; in an instant, she calculated the era and name of the coin.
A Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, cast in 339 BC during the Warring States Period.
Two thousand years later, its price would be more than five million.
Ying Zijin crouched down, "How much for this?"
She was referring not to the Ancient Coin, but to a Stone Bowl next to it.
The vendor was a young man; he glanced at the girl, looked her up and down, and said dismissively, "Take it for five hundred."
There was a hint of scorn in his tone.
Ying Zijin glanced sideways, her hand finally landing on the silver Ancient Coin, "And this?"
"Take it, take it," the young man grew more impatient, "Just take them all and don't hinder my business."
He was waiting to swindle a few rich kids for a larger sum and had no time to waste with a pauper.
Ying Zijin's expression remained unchanged; she put down five hundred-dollar bills, picked up the Stone Bowl and Ancient Coin, rubbed them, and squinted her phoenix eyes.
Now she was certain that Earth was a world where cultivation was not possible, but that was fine; she could peacefully retire.
However, to the young man, her action seemed like the antics of a desperate woman. He sneered, not bothering to hide the derision in his voice and purposely raising it, "A complete pauper with no taste, thinking she's found a treasure?"
A nearby vendor overheard and said, "Hey, don't be so blunt, the girl has to save face."
"Save face? It really is true that nowadays anyone can enter the Underground City."
"Isn't it? Lately, there's always a bunch of paupers looking for a bargain, it's so embarrassing."
Having been in the underground market for so long, how could they not know which customers actually had money?
These paupers, they couldn't even be bothered to cheat.
The young man scoffed again, "It's not just about being poor; this is stupidity, lacking even the basic ability to identify."
The Stone Bowl was something he had bought on a treasure-hunting website for five bucks, and the coin was something he had picked up in a park in Punan, worthless.
These two items were just there to make up the numbers, but unbelievably there was actually a fool who would buy them, allowing him to easily make a profit of five hundred.
The laughter rose, and those around turned to look.
Those eyes scanned the girl without restraint, harboring ill intentions.
The girl didn't give them a single glance, her expression indifferent.
She collected the ancient coin and prepared to leave.
Behind her, though, the mocking laughter persisted relentlessly.
"Look, I said to give the kid a break, and now you've driven her away. What if she runs back and cries to the adults?"
"I'm doing this for her own good. This will toughen her up. It seems she also..."
The words were cut off by a voice that sounded somewhat urgent.
"Miss, my master would like to offer six million to buy that Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin you have. May I ask if you're willing to part with it?"
"..."
The young man's smile froze on his face, utterly disbelieving what he'd heard.
What?
Six million for a coin that can be found everywhere?
What sort of joke is this?
The other onlookers, there for the spectacle, were also confused and took a while to recover.
Ying Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly and turned to look in the direction of the voice.
It was an elderly man in a Tang suit, his hair and beard silvery, his stride steady and powerful, his aura undiminished.
The one who had spoken first was a young man following the elderly man. He approached and said, negotiating, "If the price isn't enough, we can add more."
With one sentence, the crowd was abuzz.
"What kind of coin is it that six million isn't enough?"
"I thought I heard it was a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin?"
"That can't be right..."
"If it is indeed a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, then it really is worth that price."
A few years ago, in an international auction, a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin had sold for the high price of 7.6 million.
"What Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin?" The young man was fuming with rage, "I picked this up by the river. Do you think Qin Half-Tael Silver Coins are as common as cabbages?"
If it was truly a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?
The elderly man stood with his hands behind his back, commanding respect without showing anger: "Mu Cheng."
Mu Cheng understood and pulled out a document—a certificate that read clearly in red ink on white paper—
National cultural relic appraisal and evaluation master.
Level eight.
The highest level.
"..."
This certificate silenced all doubts like a resounding slap across the face of the young stall owner.
Ying Zijin, however, looked at the certificate thoughtfully. Indeed, the new careers of the 21st century were quite diverse.
She nodded: "No need, this price is just right."
"Good, thank you for parting with it, Miss," Mu Cheng nodded, pulling out a Black Card, "Here's six million, internationally recognized."
In the top right corner of this Black Card was a golden fleur-de-lis.
Ying Zijin paused, her eyes slightly lifting at the corners.
Hmm, good, the bank where she used to deposit her gold hadn't gone under.
"No, I won't sell it!" Seeing the Black Card, how could the young man restrain himself? He rushed forward to grab the ancient coin from the girl's hand, his movements fierce, "Give it here!"
It had been his find; the money should rightfully be his.
The girl was expressionless as she simply lifted her right leg.
It was a casual motion, seemingly carefree.
But it was this kick that sent the young man flying several meters away.
"Bang."
The people around were dumbfounded: "..."
Only then did Ying Zijin pass over the ancient coin and accept the Black Card: "Thank you."
Mu Cheng was stunned, almost in a state of fantasy: "...You're welcome."
Never mind Mu Cheng, even the elderly man in the Tang suit was somewhat shocked, looking at her with added scrutiny.
What surprised the others even more was that the normally reclusive management personnel actually made an appearance, speaking up sternly.
"The underground market has its own rules. Sold items cannot be taken back. Take this man's permit; he is not to enter the underground market ever again."
After that, he turned back to the girl and bowed: "I apologize for the fright."
Ying Zijin slipped the black card into her pocket, "It's fine."
Six million should last for a while.
The manager finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and directed the security to take the young stall owner away.
Not far away, the bartender who had witnessed the whole scene fell silent for a moment, then sincerely said, "The friend you know seems a bit fierce."
Such a frail-looking young girl was able to kick such a big man out.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Fu Yunshen's peachy eyes curved, "She's clearly both well-behaved and adorable."
Bartender: "..."
This filter is a bit too strong.
Yet he was still puzzled, "Why didn't you go yourself? Isn't playing the hero to save the beauty nice?"
Insisting on taking the trouble to let the manager do it?
Fu Yunshen's eyelashes fluttered slightly, he chuckled lightly, "I couldn't go."
Bartender was taken aback, "Why?"
"Well—" Fu Yunshen pondered briefly, smiled, "I need to take care of the little friend's feelings, after all, we had just bid each other good night two hours ago."
Wouldn't it be awkward to meet again at the underground marketplace so soon?
Although he had long guessed that she would come to the underground marketplace after hearing Nie Chao's words, he had indeed timed it just right.
"..." The bartender was rendered speechless, "I see that since your return, you've spent all your time on winning the favor of women."
Even caring for such a trivial mood, you truly couldn't be more meticulous.
He was still wondering why this gentleman went to the trouble of crafting the image of a debauched young master.
"What are you talking about now?" Fu Yunshen lowered his head, "Do I need to?"
The bartender looked at the man's face that could reverse the charms of all, "..."
**
Meanwhile, in an alleyway.
"Master, if we had come earlier, it would have been better," Mu Cheng said, "it's a waste of six million."
Although six million was nothing to them, it was always best to save where possible.
"Not a waste," the elderly man waved his hand, with a hint of a smile on his face, "at least it allowed me to see such an interesting young girl."
Mu Cheng soon realized what he meant, "Are you referring to that kick of hers just now?"
"Precisely," the elderly man said lightly, "and she didn't just luck out on that ancient coin."
Mu Cheng hesitated, "That's unlikely..."
He knew that after Mu Heqing had stepped down, he had no other hobby but to collect antiques to donate to the national museums.
Mu Heqing did not elaborate further and coughed a few times, "Let's go."
Mu Cheng followed up, and just as he was about to ask again, he saw the elderly man clutching his chest, his body suddenly convulsing, and he fell down.
Mu Cheng was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward, "Master!"
This was bad, nobody expected Mu Heqing to have an attack at this time, and they hadn't even brought a doctor with them.
Mu Heqing's body had always been strong, but before he retired, he took a bullet close to his heart. Although he regained consciousness, the incident left a lasting ailment that would cause attacks from time to time.
But he had just had surgery recently; it should not have recurred so soon.
What to do now?
Miss Meng was far away in the capital, it was impossible for her to make it in time.
Mu Cheng, sweating profusely with anxiety, trembled as he reached for the medicine, but he couldn't feed it to the old man.
As he panicked, a voice came from behind him.
"Don't lean him back, it'll make his breathing more difficult. Let him lie flat."
Mu Cheng looked up in surprise.
The girl stood just outside the alley, her legs long and straight.
After a few strides, she squatted down, her hand on Mu Heqing's pulse, her eyebrows stirring slightly.
Mu Cheng finally snapped out of it. Seeing the girl's action, he was both shocked and angry. He fiercely tried to swat her hand away, scolding, "Don't touch him!"
What status did Mu Heqing have?
If something went wrong, nobody could bear the responsibility.
But his hand didn't come close to hitting her, instead striking the ground.
Mu Cheng inhaled sharply, even more furious, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Ying Zijin was still checking the pulse, "To save him."
Mu Cheng seemed to hear a laughable remark, "You're just a young girl."
In Hua Country, apart from a few in the Ancient Medical field, who would dare claim they could treat Mu Heqing?
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