Scarlet instinctively gripped her Liaoyuan spear, but Dustin gently pressed her wrist, signaling her not to act rashly.
Qin Xue walked to the stall. Without even looking at the burly man, she tossed down a pouch of spirit stones and reached for the sword.
"Wait!" A voice suddenly rang out.
Another person emerged from the crowd. This was a man in his thirties with a sinister face, wearing a blue-purple robe, with faint lightning flickering around him—someone from the Yu family!
"Young lady," the man said with a false smile, "the malevolent energy on this sword happens to counter the lightning techniques my Yu family cultivates. It would be perfect for research. Why not let me have it?"
Only then did Qin Xue raise her eyes to look at him, her gaze cold as frost: "What kind of thing are you? You think you're worthy of competing with me?"
The man's expression changed: "Little girl, don't think being from the Qin family means you can look down on everyone! My Yu family—"
Before he could finish, a piercing sword intent was already pressed against his throat. No one had seen how Qin Xue made her move. They only felt their vision blur, and the black longsword was already pointing at the Yu family man's neck.
"One more word, and you die." Qin Xue said flatly.
The Yu family man's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He dared not speak again.
Qin Xue snorted coldly, withdrew the sword, and turned to leave. Just before departing, her gaze casually swept across Dustin in the crowd, pausing for just a moment before moving away as if nothing had happened.
The watching crowd scattered hastily, afraid of getting caught up in trouble. The Yu family man slunk into the crowd and quickly disappeared.
"Qin Xue's temper is even worse than the rumors say." Scarlet said quietly.
Dustin watched Qin Xue's departing figure thoughtfully: "It's not that her temper is bad—she just... doesn't care. In her eyes, people like us are no different from ants."
He had felt the same thing from Qin Hao. It was an arrogance that came from the bone, a disregard for the secular world cultivated over a thousand years of seclusion.
"Let's go find Margaret and the others." Dustin withdrew his gaze and led Scarlet away.
By evening, everyone gathered at a relatively secluded corner at the marketplace's edge. Margaret and Adam had also made gains—Margaret had traded some ore from the ruins for a partial sword technique scroll, while Adam had found key materials for a formation set.
"We'll camp here tonight." Margaret said. "It's temporarily safe here, so we can rest properly. Tomorrow we'll decide our next move."
Night fell, but the marketplace remained brightly lit. The stalls showed no sign of closing—they actually grew livelier. Some things, perhaps, only revealed their true value at night.
Dustin sat alone at the camp's edge, gazing at the stone pillar standing at the marketplace's center. The Wind-Calming Pearl at its top emitted a gentle milky-white glow, enveloping the entire marketplace.
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him.
"Can't sleep?" Margaret sat down next to him.
Dustin nodded: "Thinking about things."
"About what?"
"About this mountain, this trial, and... how we can get out alive." Dustin said softly. "Margaret, have you ever considered that Buzhou Mountain might not just be a trial, but part of a larger game?"
Margaret was slightly startled: "What do you mean?"
Dustin gazed toward the unreachable peak: "I don't know either. I just have a feeling—this mountain is too ancient. So ancient that its very existence is a mystery. And those hidden clans, like the Qin family, must know far more than we do. Their eagerness to climb this mountain is definitely not just for a few treasures."
Margaret was silent for a moment, then said: "Whatever their schemes, we can only take it one step at a time. At least for now, we're still here."
Dustin turned to look at her and smiled slightly: "You're right. First survive—then we can talk about the rest."
The two sat side by side, gazing at Buzhou Mountain in the night. In the distance, occasional beast roars or screams from unknown places reminded them that this seemingly peaceful night was actually fraught with danger.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the marketplace, in a relatively luxurious tent, Qin Hao sat with eyes closed, resting. Qin Xue walked in and tossed the black longsword aside.
"Brother, I saw someone in the marketplace today." She said suddenly.
Qin Hao opened his eyes: "Oh?"
"That mortal we saw by the lake at the mountain's base before. His cultivation still seems to be sealed, but he's traveling with Margaret's group and doing quite well." A trace of curiosity flashed in Qin Xue's eyes. "What kind of person do you think he is? Why does Margaret value him so much?"
Qin Hao was silent for a moment, then said flatly: "Whoever he is, as long as he doesn't interfere with us, there's no need to concern ourselves."
"But he always makes me feel something's strange." Qin Xue frowned. "I can't say exactly what—just... different."
Qin Hao glanced at his sister but said nothing more. Yet in his eyes, a barely perceptible gleam of contemplation flickered.
The first night at the mountainside marketplace passed in a mixture of calm and hidden currents.
The next morning, while Dustin's group was having breakfast at their camp, a party suddenly approached them.
Leading them was a young man with a gentle smile and refined bearing—Mark Montgomary. Behind him followed over ten Montgomary Palace elites, each with steady auras, clearly capable fighters.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Mark stopped before Margaret and bowed with clasped fists. "I am Mark Montgomary, adopted son of Duke Montgomary of Montgomary Palace. Please forgive this uninvited visit."
Margaret rose to return the courtesy, her expression neutral: "Young Master Mark is too polite. May I ask what brings you here?"
Mark smiled: "Your Highness need not worry. I simply heard that Her Highness was also at this marketplace and came to pay my respects. After all, on this mountain, one more friend means one more chance of survival."
His gaze swept over those behind Margaret, pausing momentarily when he saw Dustin before casually moving away.
Margaret remained impassive: "I appreciate Young Master Mark's kindness. I'm just curious—does Young Master Mark represent himself, or... the Qin family?"
Mark's smile stiffened slightly before returning to normal: "Your Highness is indeed perceptive. To be honest, I do have some cooperation with the Qin family. But cooperation aside, I am ultimately a man of Montgomary Palace."
Margaret smiled enigmatically: "I wonder what the Qin family would think if they heard Young Master Mark say that?"
Mark laughed heartily without answering directly, simply saying: "If Your Highness ever needs anything, feel free to find me. On this mountain, having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy. Farewell."
With that, he led his people away.
– Marinien
Comments