If you follow me again, you won't be polite

"Because someone attacked me," Su Mu answered his sister's inquiry, his gaze furtively assessing Su Yan.

Her expression remained icy. "Why were you attacked?"

"Due to my lack of skill..." Su Mu lowered his head.

"Why were you lacking in skill?" Su Yan pressed further.

Su Mu responded dejectedly, "Because I didn't practice diligently."

Su Yan nodded slightly. "At least you have some self-awareness. Do you now understand what you need to do?"

"Yes."

"Remember your words today. If you indulge in idleness again, it will not be someone else who punishes you—it will be me personally."

Su Mu's expression changed, and he repeatedly promised to diligently cultivate, vowing not to disappoint his sister's expectations.

After admonishing Su Mu, Su Yan lifted her gaze to the group behind him. Her eyes swept over them, settling on Yang Kai, and a flicker of surprise appeared in her eyes. She spoke, "So, you're the one who defeated Cheng Shaofeng?"

Yang Kai was privately impressed by the sister's keen awareness. Even while residing here, she was informed about external events. He nodded slightly. "Yes."

"More promising than Su Mu," Su Yan remarked indifferently. Yang Kai, though seemingly young, appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, and was only at the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm. His aptitude was evidently lacking in her eyes. Her interest in conversing with him was merely due to his saving Su Mu.

"Here's a piece of advice."

"Please, speak, Senior Sister." Yang Kai's expression remained calm.

"Stay away from Su Mu. Associating with him will limit your achievements."

Yang Kai smiled slightly but did not respond. She could belittle Su Mu, but he would not.

Su Mu's face turned bitter upon hearing this but dared not speak.

"Leave now. I need to meditate." Su Yan closed her eyes once more.

The group exited quietly and closed the door behind them. They exchanged glances and sighed in relief. Despite her beauty, the pressure of her presence had been overwhelming, and they felt as though their spirits might freeze over if they stayed much longer.

"I'll check on the pills I had made a few days ago," Li Yuntian said before taking his leave.

"I'll come too," several others quickly followed.

Soon, the group dispersed, each attending to their own matters, leaving only Su Mu and Yang Kai behind.

Seeing that Su Mu had his own tasks, Yang Kai smiled and said, "Feel free to attend to your business, Brother. I'll explore here for a bit."

Su Mu nodded. "If you see anything you're interested in, let me know. I'll help you assess it. While most people here are decent, some can be quite deceitful. Don't let yourself be swindled."

After parting from Su Mu, Yang Kai wandered through the Blackwind Market.

Disciples from the three factions sat around, setting up stalls with their wares or posting signs indicating what they were buying.

The vendors varied widely in demeanor. Some enthusiastically hawked their goods like market vendors, while others adopted a haughty stance, pretending indifference to attract buyers. There were also those who seemed uninterested and busily practiced alchemy, indifferent to potential theft of their goods. Each stall presented its own unique character.

After some time, Yang Kai noticed that some stalls did not merely sell or buy items but also offered the services of low-level alchemists, who would concoct pills for free.

However, these alchemists were simply using others' materials for practice. Due to their inexperience, they often produced defective pills, resulting in a lack of customers.

Such stalls were relatively few, as skilled alchemists were rare.

Yang Kai kept an eye out for items with yang attributes. Even before entering the Blackwind Market, his Yang Source Seal had reacted, indicating a high quantity of yang attribute treasures.

Yet, as he perused the market, he found many items to be of low quality. The yang energy in the herbs was far less potent compared to that in Dragon Trap Gorge, which he found unimpressive.

He had also expressed interest in several items but had to shake his head in dismay upon learning their exorbitant prices—far beyond his means.

After wandering for half an hour with little success, Yang Kai had gauged the market price of Small Rejuvenation Pills. These pills, intended for Body Tempering Realm practitioners at levels seven through nine, were priced around fifty taels each.

The ten pills Su Mu had given him were thus valued at approximately five hundred taels.

Five hundred taels were hardly sufficient for much.

At one stall, Yang Kai noticed a fiery red stone emitting intense yang energy, far more concentrated than what he had encountered in Dragon Trap Gorge. Yang Kai estimated that absorbing the energy from this stone could yield at least two or three drops of yang liquid, equivalent to several days of intense cultivation.

Though he suspected that the stone's vendor would demand a steep price, Yang Kai approached the stall anyway.

The vendor, with a cold expression, seemed as if someone owed him money. He glanced at Yang Kai but otherwise ignored him.

Yang Kai picked up a few other items and inquired about their prices. The vendor's responses were curt. Then, seemingly casually, Yang Kai asked, "How much for this red stone?"

The vendor sneered and replied, "This is a rare item, priced at three thousand taels."

Yang Kai was disheartened. The price was far beyond his limit, and negotiation seemed futile.

As he prepared to leave, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, he found a charming woman smiling at him.

"It's really you," Hu Mei'er said with some surprise.

"Is there something you need?" Yang Kai frowned. To be honest, he had little regard for this woman, whose previous behavior had left a negative impression despite her current composed appearance.

Noticing Yang Kai's coldness, Hu Mei'er shot him a reproachful glance and said in a soft voice, "I just wanted to say hello."

"Very well, farewell." Yang Kai responded flatly and turned to leave.

"Hey…" Hu Mei'er followed closely, her body brushing against Yang Kai's as she walked beside him, subtly gauging his reaction.

After walking for a short while, Yang Kai grew increasingly irritated. He found Hu Mei'er not only flirtatious but also shamelessly persistent. Despite his clear disinterest, she refused to leave him alone.

"Why are you following me?" Yang Kai stopped, visibly annoyed.

"I'm not following you. This is the Blackwind Market; I'm just browsing. Are you so concerned about me?" Hu Mei'er replied with a playful laugh.

"Don't follow me any further, or I might be forced to be rude." Yang Kai's irritation was evident.

Hu Mei'er seemed unfazed and even intrigued. "What kind of rudeness are you talking about? Like last time?"