Chapter 0374: Yunniang

At the very start of the privatization movement, even though many possessed impressive craftsmanship, few had the strength or courage to use Mist Brocade to make clothing. Even if they dared, financial constraints were inevitable. With only ten Eternal Coins distributed to each person, there was little one could accomplish.

Take opening a store, for instance.The shops weren't theirs to own—not because they weren't for sale, but because no one could afford them. Most were only rented temporarily.

Even with generous policies, rents were steep. For a shop this size, at the very least several Eternal Coins were needed, even at symbolic or discounted rates.

Yet the proprietress of Heavenly Attire Pavilion (Tianyi Pavilion) had dared to personally seek out Cai Yan, negotiating the purchase of Mist Brocade.

At the time, she didn't even have money on hand, but she struck a bold agreement: she would take Mist Brocade worth 100 Eternal Coins, and repay it—double—in ten days.

Such audacity, and from a woman no less, had left an indelible impression on Cai Yan.

Even more remarkably, the woman did indeed return ten days later and repaid the full debt—double the amount.

Such capability naturally earned her deep respect in Cai Yan's mind.

After that, the Heavenly Attire Pavilion's reputation began spreading through Xuanhuang Town.

Rumors said the female shopkeeper was a master tailor whose work showed no visible stitchwork. Not only that, the shop carried a wide variety of clothing styles, many of them entirely novel. Most notably in the women's undergarment department, she had launched a new product distinct from the traditional dudou—a garment called a bra, which better accentuated the female figure and bust.

It also helped preserve the body's silhouette.

Upon launch, it immediately won the hearts of countless women across town, becoming a trend.

With the success of her designs, the proprietress didn't hesitate to recruit large numbers of skilled tailors, employing them in the shop to produce garments at scale. Business boomed.

Before long, she had firmly established her footing in town.

Every day, a steady stream of Eternal Coins flowed into the shop. She was, without doubt, one of the first to become truly wealthy in the settlement.

"Interesting… Replacing the dudou with a bra—such a thought wouldn't occur to just anyone,"Yi Tianxing murmured, gazing at the Heavenly Attire Pavilion with a gleam in his eye.

To ancient women, the dudou was traditional. They were naturally reserved, and for them to innovate such a garment was nearly impossible.

Upon hearing about it, a certain thought had already crossed Yi Tianxing's mind.

"It seems there's another Heaven's Chosen in this town."

He didn't know how many Heaven's Chosen there were, but based on what he'd seen, their numbers weren't large. To encounter them so frequently nearby—he could only call it fate.

The origins and identities of Heaven's Chosen were not things Yi Tianxing could easily ignore. Each one carried unique knowledge, boundless creativity, and a mind unshackled by the strict moral codes of ancient society. In any environment, they represented unpredictable wild cards.

One butterfly could stir a hurricane—let alone a Heaven's Chosen.

He could not afford to be careless. He had to understand them clearly.

Yi Tianxing stepped into the Heavenly Attire Pavilion.

The shop interior was spacious. Racks of clothing were neatly displayed, showcasing an array of garments.

These weren't modern outfits but refined versions of ancient robes. Yet they had been clearly redesigned for a better fit. There were long robes, scholar robes, Confucian garments, and tight, agile martial outfits favored by beast-hunters and fighters.

The shop offered styles for all tastes.

The key was that all clothing was made from Mist Brocade.

Mist Brocade was woven from water vapor. As long as water was available, more could be endlessly produced.

By adding various dyes to the water, Mist Brocade could take on countless colors.

Its greatest strength was its texture: soft, smooth as water, almost weightless. Gentle on the skin, flowing like waves, it resembled clothing worn by immortals. It was far superior to even the most luxurious fabrics from the old world.

With such top-tier material and excellent design, the shop was bound for success.

"Truly impressive,"Yi Tianxing scanned the store. The garments didn't betray any modern influence—no risk of cultural shock. Each piece was a testament to exquisite craftsmanship.

"The mayor himself, along with two fine ladies, visiting my humble shop—what an honor!"

A mature, curvaceous woman walked over. She looked around twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in elegant palace robes that perfectly complemented her graceful figure. Her bosom, though mostly covered, revealed just a hint of snowy white beneath her bodice.

Though not as stunning as Cai Yan, she was undeniably beautiful, and her mature charm drew the eye instantly.

More striking was her aura of intellect, a familiar presence that exuded naturally from her.

"Definitely a Heaven's Chosen,"Yi Tianxing thought.

Even though she wore conservative attire by modern standards, the aura was unmistakable. Others might see it as eccentricity, but to Yi Tianxing, it was like a torch in the dark.

Her behavior, her lack of fear toward his status—spoke volumes.

"May I know your name?" Yi Tianxing asked calmly.

"No need for formality. My surname is Jiang, given name Yun. Folks here call me Yunniang. You may do the same,"she replied with a light smile.

"Jiang Yun… Yunniang! So, you've got a real knack for business. Starting a clothing shop, inventing bras, charming half the women in town—and making a fortune with ease. Truly admirable. A genuine strong woman."

"Strong woman?"Yunniang was stunned. Her eyes flickered with surprise."So we really are from the same homeland."

"I didn't expect to meet a fellow countryman so soon. Quite the surprise,"Yi Tianxing nodded.

"To think so many of us ended up scattered across the Eternal Continent… and that I'd meet one here. But you're something else—building such a powerful human base so quickly. Looks like we've got a future great figure in our ranks. I hope this 'old friend' can take care of me in the future,"Yunniang said with a twinkle in her eye, already calculating her next steps.

"Of course. As long as you don't do anything evil, no one in Xuanhuang Town will dare touch you. As for the future… This world is already in chaos. Just surviving is a challenge."

"With your strength, you have far better odds of survival than me. You're already at the Life Aperture Realm. In this world, strength is the foundation. You're ahead of most of us,"Yunniang smiled.

"Brother Yi, Yunniang—you two know each other?"Cai Yan asked curiously upon seeing their conversation.

"We didn't before. But now we do—we're from the same place,"Yi Tianxing said with a smile.

"No wonder I felt a strange sense of familiarity the first time I met Yunniang. So it's a shared aura between you people from the same homeland,"Cai Yan said, now understanding.

She had felt it before, but hadn't known why—until now.

"Ladies, the women's section is upstairs. This floor is for men's clothing. Why don't we go up? I've just finished some new palace gowns—a few might suit your elegance perfectly,"Yunniang offered with a warm smile.

"Very well. If Yunniang's craftsmanship is this exquisite, those gowns must be stunning,"Yi Tianxing agreed.

Cai Yan and Mu Guiying didn't object either.

A love for beautiful clothes was natural for women, and their eyes had already been caught by the designs.

Upstairs, the second floor was quieter and more elegant. Beautiful palace robes were displayed all around. Most impressive were life-sized mannequins crafted by a talented carpenter at Yunniang's request. Complete with detailed facial features, they looked almost alive.

From behind, they were indistinguishable from real people.

It was a brilliant idea—seeing the outfits on realistic models helped customers visualize how the clothing would look on themselves.

Looking at the stunning palace robes and dresses adorning the mannequins, Cai Yan and Mu Guiying's eyes lit up with joy and amazement.