Fate Trading System – Chapter 255

Plan A

Furnace 6

[Refresher: Qi Refining stage → Foundation Establishment stage → Golden Core stage → Nascent Soul stage → Divine Transformation stage → Void Refining stage → Body Integration stage → Great Accomplishment stage.]

How could there be such a shameless person in this world!

Where did this nobody¹ come from, trying to create drama for themselves²!

Does this person have any logic at all! Where did he get the idea that I was pestering him!

A person’s subjective consciousness is a terrifying thing; it imposes one’s personal views onto others, and thus, that person seems to exude that meaning in everything they do.

Xiu Yan was like this, and Jing Yueru was also like this.

“Young Master Xiu, watch your words.”

Jing Yueru took a small step forward, shielding half of Su Xin’s body behind her.

“Miss Jing…”

Xiu Yan opened his mouth, knowing he had just lost his composure and truly didn’t know how to salvage the situation. This awkward scene… Wasn’t Wei Shuangling supposed to dislike Jing Yueru intensely? Why were the two of them together, and why did Jing Yueru look like she was protecting Wei Shuangling? He remembered that in the past, whenever he mentioned Wei Shuangling, Jing Yueru had clearly shown her displeasure.

Their current demeanor and appearance were clearly that of good friends. Could it be that Wei Shuangling…

Xiu Yan was secretly alarmed, thinking to himself that Wei Shuangling was actually such a scheming and manipulative person, truly resorting to any means to win his heart. She must be trying to get on good terms with Miss Jing first, become friends with Miss Jing, and then persuade her with reason and emotion³, to make Miss Jing dislike or even hate him.

Isn’t the current situation exactly like that?

She deliberately appeared before him to arouse his disgust, and then use him to arouse Miss Jing’s disgust.

Xiu Yan gritted his teeth. Truly vicious.

Su Xin had no idea what the two people beside her were thinking. If she knew, she could only say, “So much emotional drama.”

Su Xin’s view of herself: A vegetable dog⁴ who can’t cultivate and might drop dead at any moment.

Jing Yueru’s view of Su Xin: A pitiful little cutie who needs to be protected very well.

Xiu Yan’s view of Su Xin: A deliberately scheming⁵ b*tch⁶ who would stop at nothing to get me.

Jing Yueru’s view of Xiu Yan: A shameless narcissist, a casual friend.

Xiu Yan’s view of Jing Yueru: A celestial maiden⁷ deceived by Su Xin, the one in his heart.

The three of them walked together, their evaluations of each other vastly different. How truly interesting.

Xiu Yan was very unhappy. He felt that Su Xin had disrupted all his plans. In his view, today’s outing with Jing Yueru should have been a pleasant stroll through the Spirit Market, picking out items of mutual interest, or things they could use in the future. Then, he would present Jing Yueru with the surprise he had long prepared. But now, the plan was a complete mess, the atmosphere was not at all pleasant, and it was extremely awkward. Miss Jing’s attention wasn’t on him at all.

Jing Yueru was worried about Su Xin, afraid she wouldn’t be able to keep up, afraid she might trip or bump into things, and busy explaining to Su Xin what the things she was looking at were. How could she have any mood to pay attention to Xiu Yan beside her?

Su Xin walked on the far left, Jing Yueru in the middle, and Xiu Yan on the far right.

Su Xin’s goal was actually very clear. Fourteen had already shown her the way. She just needed to get to that place and buy that thing. But she didn’t want Xiu Yan to see what she bought.

So Su Xin walked slowly through the Spirit Market, trying to waste time, hoping Xiu Yan would get fed up and leave quickly to buy what he wanted. But Xiu Yan stubbornly stuck by their side, not leaving them for a moment⁸.

Thus, a strange scene appeared in the market: two girls and a boy walking together. The girl on the far left would walk and stop, occasionally looking at items on the stalls. The girl next to her would immediately explain what those things were and ask if she needed them. Meanwhile, the young master on the other side had a wooden face, indifferent, his eyes always fixed on the girl beside him. A very strange triangle.

Su Xin was getting tired of walking, but Xiu Yan still hadn’t left.

Su Xin really couldn’t stand it anymore, so she beckoned to Jing Yueru.

“Shuangling, what’s wrong?”

Jing Yueru looked at the lively eyes above the veil and leaned closer.

“Can you ask him to go buy what he wants by himself? I want to take you somewhere to buy something, but I don’t want him to know what I bought.”

Su Xin’s voice was very low and soft, ensuring Xiu Yan wouldn’t hear. Actually, it wouldn’t matter if he did; she just really despised him.

“Okay.”

Jing Yueru naturally agreed. In fact, she wished Su Xin would say so. She also didn’t want Xiu Yan following them around anymore. She just wanted to shop with Su Xin. But because of their prior arrangement, she felt awkward asking him to leave. However, since Su Xin had spoken up, she would naturally agree to her request, a complete case of choosing a pretty face over friendship⁹.

“Young Master Xiu, since you’re here, you must have things you desire. Following our every step like this will probably delay your own plans. Why don’t we separate for now, each purchase what we like, and meet up at the entrance of the Spirit Market later?”

“I do have a couple of things I want to buy. In that case, I’ll take my leave first. After we’ve all bought what we want, I’ll contact you, miss. When I contacted you before, miss, I mentioned there was something you would definitely want, but it’s not easy to buy. I’ll take you there then.”

“What is it?”

“An Ice Spirit Pill. This item is quite rare, and very few people refine it, but it’s quite beneficial for you, miss.”

“Thank you. We’ll contact each other then.”

Jing Yueru’s face genuinely showed a hint of gratitude. She did indeed want this item; it would be helpful for her cultivation.

“You’re welcome.”

Flying on swords was not allowed inside the Spirit Market; one could only walk on foot. This was to avoid any chaotic collisions, so all flying devices and mounts were prohibited. Su Xin followed the route in her mind, pulling Jing Yueru along.

“How do you seem so familiar with this place? Have you been here before? The layout from ten years ago should be quite different from now.”

Jing Yueru looked at Su Xin’s determined steps and found it a bit strange. How did she know this route?

“I can’t explain it to you right now. In short, just don’t doubt me and walk with me.”

Jing Yueru nodded. It seems she has secrets I don’t know about. But everyone has their own secrets, and I don’t necessarily need to know them.

Su Xin stopped in front of a small stall. The stall owner was a cultivator who looked somewhat simple and honest.

“Young ladies, what would you like? Feel free to look around. These are all items I’ve obtained from various secret realms or legacy grounds¹⁰. There are also some common medicinal pills and talismans¹¹. Take whatever you want; I’ll definitely give you a fair price.”

Su Xin’s gaze fell on an egg. The egg was black, pitch-black, like a black stone, with nothing special about it. But Fourteen said this was the thing that would become very powerful later on.

This is probably the legendary mengchong¹², Su Xin thought. The essential cool, domineering, and awesome pet for a protagonist. According to the usual tropes, the pet inside must be very cute and not scary at all. But in the later stages or at critical moments, it will play a very important role. The huge contrast will create a gap moe¹³ effect.

“This is a Qingyan Snake¹⁴ egg, unhatched. I found it by chance in a certain place. I originally wanted to incubate it and sell it or release it, but it might be a dead egg; there’s no reaction at all. I thought it would be a pity to break it, so I just put it here.”

“I want it.”

Su Xin turned to look at Jing Yueru. She didn’t have any money on her, y’know.

“The shopkeeper said this might not hatch anything. Why don’t I get you something else? A live one would also be fine.”

Jing Yueru didn’t quite understand why Su Xin wanted to buy an ordinary demonic beast egg that might not hatch. She didn’t believe Wei Shuangling hadn’t seen such things before. Wei Shuangling was, after all, from a cultivation family. Although the things she used might not have been top-tier and her life not overly luxurious, she should have seen plenty of medicinal pills and magical artifacts with various effects.

“I want this one.”

“Shopkeeper, how much is it?”

“This thing… ten kuai¹⁵ of Spirit Stones will do.”

The price was so cheap it was almost a giveaway; compared to the treasures filling the market, it was simply not worth mentioning.

Su Xin placed the egg in Jing Yueru’s storage ring. She didn’t want anything else.

“Do you want to buy anything else?”

“No need. I can’t use these things for now anyway, even if I buy them. What do you need? I’ll go look with you.”

“Okay.”

After about 20-odd fenzhong¹⁶, Jing Yueru received a message from Xiu Yan.

“He said he has bought everything he needed and is now waiting for us at a certain place. He wants us to go meet him, and then he’ll take me to see the Ice Spirit Pill.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Su Xin followed Jing Yueru, walking at a steady pace to their destination. Jing Yueru held her hand the entire time and didn’t let go even when they reached Xiu Yan.

The surroundings were somewhat noisy, not much different from the mortal realm’s markets, with only buyers and sellers, and the shouts of hawkers filling the air.

“These stall owners are rather particular. There’s only one Ice Spirit Pill, and several people want to buy it.”

“He wants to hold a bid?”

“No, he doesn’t want Spirit Stones; he wants to barter¹⁷. Whoever among you can offer something that satisfies him in exchange, he’ll give the Ice Spirit Pill to that person. I just found out this news myself, and I haven’t been able to find out what kind of item he wants. Miss Jing, I’m really sorry.”

“It’s alright. Thank you, young master, for telling me this news.”

Jing Yueru thought for a moment and decided to give it a try.

“The stall owner only allows those who want the Ice Spirit Pill to enter, and only one person at a time.”

Jing Yueru glanced at Su Xin, who nodded.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait for you outside.”

“I’ll be out soon.”

Jing Yueru went in. Su Xin stood by, waiting, her expression calm.

“Wei Shuangling, I have something to say to you.”

Xiu Yan stood three steps away from Su Xin, his brow slightly furrowed.

Su Xin raised an eyebrow. Please, begin your performance.

---

---