It is no exaggeration to say that from the moment Ji Yunzhao stepped inside, he became the focal point of the entire Treasure Pavilion.
Whether it was the clerks or the customers, gazes would drift toward him, intentionally or not.
After he uttered the words “male concubine,” the shop fell into such silence that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and all eyes turned in unison to look over at him.
[Host, what does “male concubine” mean?] the system asked, tapping him curiously.
Ji Yunzhao: [It means a male pet. You are just a little kitten, don’t ask so much.]
System: [Then why say the male protagonist is your male pet?]
Ji Yunzhao said in surprise: [Could it be that I should let others think he is my husband? Phew! He is a mere retirement insurance policy, how can I elevate his status?!]
However, by calling the male protagonist a male pet, isn’t he still letting him take advantage…
The system’s small golden cat eyes swiveled back and forth, looking at Yan Fulang, then at Ji Yunzhao, who did not feel there was anything wrong with his statement. Its little brain was spinning, but it dared not voice that thought aloud.
Amidst the shopkeeper’s awkward yet polite smile, Ji Yunzhao remained calm, indifferent to what others thought, and continued to pick out storage magic treasures.
When they were queuing outside Yuncang City, he felt annoyed with the gossiping cultivators around him because they thought his anger toward Yan Fulang was just a lovers’ spat.
He is just a cheap disciple, wanting to upgrade to being his husband; what kind of daydream is that?
As for Yan Fulang, who had been branded with this new identity as a “male concubine,” his expression stiffened for only a brief second before returning to normal. A faint smile remained on his lips, watching the “young girl” beside him with near-indulgent affection.
The Treasure Pavilion had many fine items, and the storage treasures came in many styles. Besides the common storage bags and rings, there were storage jade pendants, hairpins, belt hooks, and more.
Ji Yunzhao browsed through them, finding it difficult to choose his favorites. Furthermore, he suffered from indecision, so he simply bought everything he liked.
In any case, the amount of stuff at home would only continue to increase. The food, drink, necessities, and toys already in his storage bag had exceeded his original plan, not to mention that he would later need to take Yan Fulang to several important secret realms from the original plot, plus the “inheritance” he would leave for his cheap disciple after his fake death.
Ji Yunzhao did a rough calculation and felt that the storage treasures he had just chosen were not enough.
However, the only decent ones left were the couple’s storage rings. If he bought them and gave one to Yan Fulang, he felt it would be letting him off too easily.
Yan Fulang noticed Ji Yunzhao’s gaze lingering on the couple’s rings from time to time. With a little thought, he could guess what Ji Yunzhao was struggling with.
The youth’s cold gaze swept over the rings.
The style was indeed exquisite and unique, but the so-called “divine bird” looked less pleasing than his Master’s original form.
Yan Fulang gripped Ji Yunzhao’s hand tighter for a brief moment. After catching the “young girl’s” attention, he said in a low voice, “Master, this pair of rings.”
To Ji Yunzhao, the title “Master” was already somewhat suggestive. Especially in this situation, hearing it spoken so lingeringly by the youth made him shiver, almost causing him to fling Yan Fulang’s hand away.
Yan Fulang seemed to have guessed his thoughts and gripped him even tighter.
Although he did not hurt him, Ji Yunzhao could not shake him off.
Coupled with that lingering, hesitant expression, it looked to Ji Yunzhao as if Yan Fulang really wanted those couple’s storage rings!
Why did he just give him a temporary “male concubine” label? Has this retirement insurance started acting on him?
Who wants to use couple items with him!
Ji Yunzhao put on the appearance of a flirtatious “scum woman.” He raised his fair, slender hand and tapped Yan Fulang gently on the cheek. “Forgotten your identity? A mere male concubine, and you want to use couple items with me?”
Yan Fulang lowered his eyes. “Master, please forgive me; this servant overstepped.”
Ji Yunzhao couldn’t help but tremble, frightened by Yan Fulang’s exaggerated acting.
Why did he even use the self-reference “servant”?!
The shopkeeper looked away, pretending he had seen nothing.
Ji Yunzhao felt that if the acting continued, his own performance might be outshone by this drama king of a retirement plan. He quickly grabbed a few more treasures that might be needed in secret realms, paid for them, and dragged Yan Fulang away.
As for that pair of rings adorned with wings-shared birds and joined-branches trees, Ji Yunzhao naturally did not buy them.
Coming into the city today was specifically to visit the Treasure Pavilion. He had bought the necessary magic treasures and hadn’t bought the unnecessary ones; Ji Yunzhao was very satisfied.
He did not know that Yan Fulang was also very satisfied.
The new storage treasure was already worn on Ji Yunzhao’s hand—a simple jade ring with cloud patterns worn on his index finger. As for Yan Fulang’s, it was a jade pendant with bamboo patterns.
After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, there was nothing to do for a while. After strolling around the streets again, Ji Yunzhao couldn’t stand the long skirt anymore, and the tassels on his head were swaying about, which also felt strange, even if he was wearing women’s clothing, he couldn’t act like a demure “lady.”
There were several famous teahouses in Yuncang City. After some hesitation, Ji Yunzhao chose the nearest one and dragged Yan Fulang inside, intending to spend the rest of the disguise’s duration there.
The teahouse he chose was close to the busiest and most prosperous street in Yuncang City. Business was naturally excellent, and it was packed to the rafters, with people queuing outside.
“Miscalculation, why are there so many people!”
Seeing this, Ji Yunzhao felt a headache coming on. He pulled Yan Fulang and ran across the street to a small snack stall.
The skirt was too long, and there were too many ornaments on his head, making it troublesome to walk. Better to sit for a while first.
Yan Fulang took the initiative to use spiritual energy to wipe the small wooden stool and the table, and then poured him tea before taking a seat himself.
Ji Yunzhao acted as if it were only natural. After rewarding the youth with a “you are very sensible” look, he began to order snacks while looking at the menu on the stall.
“Plain sugar-coated skewers, licorice ice-cold water, two cups of that. Candied lychees, sesame tofu with chicken skin. hmm, we already had ice-cold lotus seeds earlier, so forget that. Let’s start with these.”
Ji Yunzhao still had a conscience and ordered an extra drink for Yan Fulang, though he didn’t ask for his opinion on the rest.
Yan Fulang was accustomed to it; he had raised his little bird to be increasingly spoiled. Today, he had only provoked him to anger, and being treated this way was already an act of mercy on Ji Yunzhao’s part.
Although he wasn’t really angry anymore, Yan Fulang could tell that this awkward attitude would likely persist until the disguise ended.
The snacks were quickly served. Once they were truly idle and started eating, Xiao Rang finally had the chance to ask why they were hiding from the He family.
“Did you offend the He family? You didn’t beat their people up in a secret realm, did you?”
The more Xiao Rang thought about it, the more likely it seemed, especially given Ji Yunzhao’s temper… maybe they had built up quite a grudge with the He family in the secret realm.
“How could that be!”
The beauty at the snack stall supported his chin with one hand, holding a skewer in his other slender, white hand, and poked a piece of candied lychee into his mouth. “Hmm, a bit too sweet.”
After eating a few more snacks, he said slowly, “It’s more like the He family offended us.”
Xiao Rang pricked up his ears: “How so?”
Ji Yunzhao did not want to tell too much to an artifact spirit that he might sell to the Treasure Pavilion at any moment, so he casually mentioned something about a blood feud. To his surprise, Xiao Rang became excited the moment he heard it.
If his soul could come out of the mask, he might have slapped his thigh in excitement.
“I have a blood feud with the He family too! We are truly fated! Hehehe, since we have a common enemy, Immortal Lord, do you think you can.” Xiao Rang said expectantly, “…not sell me to the Treasure Pavilion?”
Ever since he heard in the morning that the Treasure Pavilion was having a sale and they were going to Yuncang City to shop, Xiao Rang had been terrified.
Although they had already left the Treasure Pavilion and hadn’t mentioned selling him, what if they only didn’t sell him because the disguise effect hadn’t worn off yet!
Especially after he accidentally disguised himself as the wrong person!
“Oh, really?” Ji Yunzhao’s soft cheeks puffed out as he chewed. Served by Yan Fulang, he leisurely drank two sips of an iced beverage. “Tell me first, what kind of blood feud do you have with the He family?”
Actually, Xiao Rang had already mentioned this blood feud once while in the Xuan-level secret realm, but he hadn’t intended to go into too much detail about who was chasing him.
Now, being asked by Ji Yunzhao and knowing that his answer would determine whether he would follow a big shot from the Wuxiang Realm or be thrown into the Treasure Pavilion to collect dust or be rented out, he spilled the beans about the cause and consequence of the He family’s pursuit like pouring beans out of a bag.
“Back then, it was because I accidentally discovered that the He family had wiped out the entire Yan family for the sake of a legendary ancient secret realm. I was hunted down, and in my panic, I hid in that Xuan-level secret realm, but I was unfortunately caught, which is how I ended up like this.”
As Xiao Rang spoke, he added another bargaining chip: “The He family is anxious to enter that ancient secret realm because the person behind the scenes, the Sect Leader of the Biyun Sect, is having cultivation problems. They heard from somewhere that it could only be solved by entering that ancient secret realm. Because the Yan family refused to hand over the key, they sigh, it is said they didn’t even spare the seven-year-old son of the Yan family. Truly worse than beasts.”
Xiao Rang sighed as he finished the last sentence, not noticing that the usually lazy Ji Yunzhao had long since sat up straight, no longer eating the snacks on the table, and the action of Yan Fulang serving tea and feeding him had also stopped.
After a moment of silence, the master and disciple looked at each other, and Ji Yunzhao asked: “Accidentally? With so many secrets, the He family’s business was discovered by you so easily and accidentally? You wouldn’t happen to be a little traitor from the He family, would you?”
Seeing that Ji Yunzhao didn’t believe him, Xiao Rang scratched his nonexistent head and whispered: “How could that be! The head of the Yan family was my good brother! I was originally going to see him, but I went too late and just happened to encounter the He family cleaning up the scene.”
Xiao Rang added silently in his heart: And then I got cleaned up with them.
Ji Yunzhao: “…”
To be honest, it was a bit unreliable, but what Xiao Rang said was indeed true.
Aside from Yan Fulang, only he, who held the script and those people from the He family should know about these things.
And Xiao Rang was so unreliable, he didn’t look like someone capable of participating in the He family’s annihilation plot.
Ji Yunzhao: “You were good brothers with the head of the Yan family? How can you prove it?”
Xiao Rang: “We were in the same secret realm; he was kind to me! I even held his son! Immortal Lord, I’ve told you my biggest secret but wait, Immortal Lord, why are you asking so much?”
Shouldn’t it be enough to know that he and they both share a grudge with the He family?
Ji Yunzhao ignored him and turned to ask Yan Fulang: “He said he held you when you were little. Do you remember?”
Xiao Rang: “???”
Only then did Xiao Rang remember the name he had heard before.
The two of them hadn’t told him their names yet, but he would occasionally hear this beautiful Immortal Lord calling out “Yan Fulang” in a fit of rage.
Wait, Yan? Is it that Yan family?
“Big Nephew!” Xiao Rang exclaimed, “So it was you!”
Yan Fulang, who hadn’t remembered yet, but upon hearing this clamorous “Big Nephew,” seemed to have a vague impression: “…”
Seeing his cheap disciple’s expression, Ji Yunzhao felt a bit regretful.
Huh? They actually know each other? Looks like I can’t sell Xiao Rang after all…
Just as Ji Yunzhao was contemplating how to make things difficult for Xiao Rang since he couldn’t get rid of him so easily, he suddenly heard him clamoring again.
Xiao Rang: “Then, Immortal Lord, doesn’t that make you my niece-in-law?!”
Ji Yunzhao: “…”
Ji Yunzhao glanced at the disguise countdown in the top-left corner of his vision and sneered as he drew Mingque.
A cold, biting sword light flashed by.
“I’m selling you today! I’ll chop you first and then sell you!”