Purchase and Sale.

The place was imbued with intoxicating aromas: spices, burnt wood, and the sweet scent of the local liquor. The glasses clinked, laughter mixed with lively conversations, creating a constant murmur that filled the air without becoming bothersome.

In a secluded corner, away from the main bustle, Bai Xuebing sat silently. His eyes scanned the place indifferently, while the aromatic steam from his tea rose, forming spirals that disappeared into the soft light of the paper lanterns.

The sound of a nearby conversation caught his attention.

—Did you hear what happened with those bandits on the Zhúlín Xiǎojìng road?— asked a burly man, leaning forward as if sharing a secret.

—Of course.

—They say they found them turned to dust... like someone had completely drained them.

Bai Xuebing took a sip of tea, letting the warmth soothe his throat as the words reached his ears. He showed no reaction, his face remained serene, almost as if the conversation didn't interest him.

—It wasn't the work of a beast or any common cultivator, that's for sure. Something or someone drained their blood... They were left like empty shells!

The other man swallowed, and his voice dropped even lower:

—They say it was a demon.

The murmur of conversations blended with the soft clinking of glasses. Bai Xuebing calmly placed the cup on the table, his gaze fixed on the vapor that slowly dissipated.

"A demon, huh?" he thought to himself before taking another sip of tea.

—A demon!— the burly man exclaimed, his voice trembling as he filled another glass of liquor—If that was a demon, then I hope more demons walk among us. Those bastards deserved it!

The other man looked at him with surprise before slowly nodding.

—I couldn't agree more. My younger brother lost everything because of those bandits...

He paused, his voice laden with bitterness.

—They even took away his will to live.

—Do you think that's bad?— interrupted a woman at a nearby table, her tone full of venom—Those monsters...— her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white—My daughter... she...

The burly man lowered his gaze, uncomfortable.

—I'm sorry, Mrs. Hua, I didn't mean...

—No, don't apologize— she cut him off harshly, tears filling her eyes—If someone did that to them, if they tore their lives away so cruelly... then whoever did it is not a demon. They're a savior.

The woman's words echoed through the place, and several heads nodded in silence. An older man, with a weathered face and calloused hands, leaned forward from another table.

—Listen to me carefully.

—A demon wouldn't have done this. A demon wouldn't have put an end to the atrocities of those wretches. This was the work of someone with strength and justice in their heart. Maybe they aren't a saint, but it's exactly what this place needed.

A murmur of approval spread through the tavern.

From his corner, Bai Xuebing watched, his face impassive as he drank another sip of tea. The words floated to him, each one sinking deeply into his mind. "Justice?" he thought. "Is that what they think it was?"

For a moment, his gaze shifted toward the tavern door, as if contemplating leaving. But something stopped him: the weight of the words, the echo of emotions rising in the place.

—Whoever that someone is... I hope they continue down this path.

Bai Xuebing placed his cup on the table with a smooth motion, his gaze lost in the dark liquid that still remained inside.

"A savior..." he thought with a faint, bitter smile on his lips.

Without saying a word, he stood slowly and left a coin on the table. As he walked toward the exit, the conversations around him continued, growing more passionate, more hopeful.

And when he crossed the threshold of the tavern, a cold gust of wind greeted him.

—Maybe...— he murmured to himself as he adjusted his cloak. —Maybe I'm not a demon... but I'm not a savior either.

With a firm step, Bai Xuebing headed for the heart of Zhēnshèng.

Before he reached the city, Bai Xuebing crossed the city gates without stopping. The guard leaning against the wall didn't even look up, busy with a bottle of liquor. No one checked him or asked questions.

Inside, the streets were crowded. The shouts of merchants and the constant movement of people filled the air. The tall, worn buildings gave the place a majestic but neglected look.

As he walked, Bai noticed how the side alleys contrasted with the activity of the main avenue. Bent shadows begged in dark corners, and some figures exchanged quick words before disappearing.

A few barefoot children ran by, carrying a piece of bread as if it were a treasure.

He passed by a group of guards leaning in a corner. They chatted and laughed, their weapons barely secured to their belts. Bai didn't pay them any attention, but the image of the disorder remained etched in his mind.

Bai Xuebing kept walking, carried by the flow of the crowd. The city unfolded before his eyes in an overwhelming contrast between noise and decay, order and chaos.

After begrudgingly bargaining with the merchants, he managed to sell the common hides he had hunted in the mountains. He received 250 Green Jade Coins, a modest sum that, if he was frugal, would allow him to survive for 50 days in the city, covering accommodation, food, basic supplies, and transportation.

However, for a cultivator like him, with more specific needs, that money would barely last 5 days. And that didn't even include the additional expenses for his journey and the purchase of key information.

In this world, the official currency was known as Xīng Lián Bì, or Star Lotus Coin. These coins were divided into four ranks:

Green Jade Coin: basic unit.

Blue Jade Coin: equivalent to 100 Green Coins.

Golden Jade Coin: equivalent to 10,000 Green Coins or 100 Blue Coins.

Purple Jade Coin: the most valuable, equivalent to 1,000,000 Green Coins or 100 Golden Coins.

Each coin was circular, with an exquisite design: a blooming lotus whose petals seemed like tiny stars. The details were intricately carved, and the color of the lotus changed depending on the coin's rank, giving them an ethereal beauty.

Bai Xuebing let out a sigh. Although he had sold 50 common hides, he still had more stored in his ring. Among them were several hides from spiritual beasts he had accumulated during three years of hunting.

These last ones could be worth a fortune, but when he tried to negotiate them, the merchants attempted to scam him, offering absurdly low prices. Frustrated, he decided to save them for another time and stick to selling the more ordinary hides for now.

As he walked through the streets, his gaze hardened. "If I want more money, I'll have to find a way to deal with more honest people... or find another source of income," he thought.

Without further ado, Bai Xuebing headed to a small inn and asked for something to drink. With a Green Jade Coin, he barely had enough for a cup of tea. He took a sip and, instantly, thought the tea was as tasteless as his financial situation.

As he enjoyed the flavorless drink, he overheard something interesting among the murmurs in the place.

—Did you know there's an adventurers' guild in this city?— one of the patrons commented.

Bai Xuebing looked up, curious.

—You can buy and sell almost anything here, from herbs to elixirs... or even ask them to find something more complicated for you. You can also join as a member and take on assignments.

—Of course, there are more dangerous jobs, like hunting spiritual beasts, but it all depends on the reward.

Bai Xuebing became thoughtful. "I could go there to sell the remaining hides, although the place seems like it's from another world. I've never heard of these before," he thought, while sipping his drink and then the conversation about the bandits started. He stood up, knowing he didn't have time for that.

The truth is, guilds like these didn't exist until more than 500 years ago. It is said their founder was a madman who claimed to come from distant lands and called himself a "knight," though no one knew what that word meant.

In any case, it was a huge success. Over time, these guilds grew, and, over the years, others were created, overshadowing the commercial ones in their former glory.

These guilds, though relatively new to this world, had become an indispensable tool for those who didn't belong to any clan or sect. Even cultivators from the demonic path could use them, which was a rarity. They were a way to earn money and grow stronger without relying on the rigid hierarchies or commitments of traditional sects.

But this would also be dangerous because of the same freedom it provided; the fact that anyone could join made it both a blessing and a danger.

After touring the city, Bai Xuebing finally arrived at the guild. It was a solid, well-kept building, standing out among the disorder and decay of its surroundings. The circular entrance, combined with the polished stone and wood, gave it an imposing air without the need for extravagance.

As he crossed the threshold, several gazes fixed on Bai Xuebing. Some cultivators were seated, others standing, and some didn't even bother to look up. In front of him, a large table dominated the space, and on the sides were murals covered with papers that clearly displayed missions or requests.

—W-welcome to the Jìng Fēng Gé guild.

An elegantly dressed woman greeted him. Her professional smile contrasted with the slight tremor in her voice.

Bai Xuebing barely nodded, his calm yet icy gaze making the young woman blush involuntarily.

—A-are you a client or a member...?

"Wow, he's so handsome! But that cold expression... but that's what makes him even more attractive..." she thought, trying to calm herself as her blush became more evident.

—Client. I heard I could sell my goods here and buy supplies.

—Ah! Yes, of course, ahem... Here, in the Jìng Fēng Gé adventurers' guild, you can do both. C-customer trade and requests. W-what would you like...?— She replied, tightening the papers she held to hide the slight tremor in her hands.

—Sell.

—Here.

As they walked, Bai Xuebing thought to himself: "It seems the information wasn't wrong. This place has its own rhythm, it feels different from the chaos of the city, although..." His eyes narrowed as he observed how some of the employees exchanged nervous glances with the more experienced adventurers. "...there's also something beneath the surface. Tension, perhaps?"

Soon, they arrived at a private room, where a burly merchant with a grayish beard and a smile that barely concealed his greed was waiting for them. On the table was a scale and some scrolls.

—Welcome, young master! I'm in charge of exchanges here at the guild. What would you like to offer today?— he said, rubbing his hands.

Bai Xuebing pulled out a small ring. With a simple gesture, he released the five C-rank spiritual beast hides and the two glowing cores that emitted a faint glow.

The merchant held his breath upon seeing the cores but quickly tried to compose himself.

—Ah... this is... interesting. Of course, I'll need to verify their authenticity. You know, standard procedures.

He reached out toward the cores, but Bai Xuebing spoke before he could touch anything.

—First, I want to know how much you offer for them. —His voice was low, but the coldness in his tone made the merchant stop.

—C-certainly, certainly!— The man laughed nervously, pulling out a magnifying glass to inspect the materials. After several minutes of fake analysis, he finally spoke: —For the common hides, I can offer you 50 Green Jade Coins. The spiritual beast hides, 200 coins per batch. And the cores... maybe 500 greens each.

Bai Xuebing raised an eyebrow. —500?— he repeated with such a cold tone that the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. —Is that really what they're worth, or is that what you're trying to make me believe?

The merchant swallowed, but before he could respond, the girl who had accompanied him nervously intervened.

—M-Mr. Zhang, I think you should offer a fairer price. It's obvious the materials are of high quality...

The man glared at her, but when his eyes returned to Bai Xuebing, something in his gaze stopped him. It wasn't just the cold tone or the young man's relaxed posture; there was something else, an invisible pressure that made any attempt at deception seem like a bad idea.

—Ah... you're right.— The merchant cleared his throat, wiping the sweat from his brow.

—I meant 1,000 greens per core, of course! And 300 for a batch of spiritual beas skins.

Bai Xuebing nodded slowly.

—Better. Now let's talk about the information. About the information I want...