“The difference…ahhh… The difference” the unkempt youth wailed in anguish as the difference in patrons was apparent.

“You want those Eastern Pearls?” Jun Wu Xie pointed to the Eastern Pearls on display.

The youth nodded.

As she weaved her way through the crowd to get to the front, she was surprised to find two familiar figures standing within the crowd.

A handsome young man dressed in a grand brocade with a beautiful young maiden dressed in elegant white robe by his side stood before the stall. This attractive couple was was eye catching as people kept sneaking glances to admire them.

“This place has some good stuff.” The young man said gently as his almond eyes were glued to his lady companion.

The lady simply nodded with an air of arrogance.

The little black cat which was by Jun Wu Xie’s side went ballistic. It’s fur stood on ends as it hissed.

[That adulterous couple!]

The couple was precisely Mo Xuan Fei and Bai Yun Xian.

Jun Wu Xie casually glanced over without much response.

“These two Spiritual Gems as well as these nine Eastern Pearls are quite something!” Mo Xuan Fei chirped. Ever since that incident, Bai Yun Xian had been very gloomy and never smiled. He had tried all means and ways to make her smile but nothing had worked when he suddenly thought of Ghost City. With all its novelties and rare items, he was sure he could find something to cheer her up with!

After strolling about Ghost City for quite sometime, Bai Yun Xian was not moved. She was Qing Yun Clan Sovereign’s disciple! What rare things had she not seen?

They had combed almost the whole market place when she finally found something that caught her interest.

Each spiritual gem was barely the size of of her pinky finger nail however it was considered big and it was filled to the brim with spiritual energy as both of their contractual spirits had reacted to it.

The nine Eastern Pearls made even a prince of a state sigh as Mo Xuan Fei looked at them with admiration. Such exquisite quality Eastern Pearls in the Imperial Treasure Vault were very rare.

“These nine Eastern Pearls are a perfect fit for the crown that I’ve specially prepared for you. Do you like them?” He nudged her tenderly as he looked into her eyes, seeing if she understood the hidden meaning behind his words.

Bai Yun Xian nodded coyly as she finally let out a smile.

While this couple continued their flirty exchange, the crowd was busy whispering amongst themselves and spun some tales of their own. Everyone around them had long known who this infamous couple was.

Previously when Mo Xuan Fei and Jun Wu Xie were officially engaged, Mo Xuan Fei had been the subject of sympathy. Everyone had pitied him and empathized with him. However now that he was together with Bai Yun Xian, he became the object of jealousy and hate as people around stared at him enviously.

Jun Wu Xie was notoriously known throughout as a tyrant. Although she was as beautiful as a flower, her personality and actions had overshadowed her looks. Not many could stand that fiery temper of hers!

Bai Yun Xian was completely different, not only was she beautiful, she exuded an aura of a celestial being with her gentle demeanour and soft spoken manner. To top it off, she was Qing Yun Clan Sovereign’s disciple! No matter what, she was the goddess of many men and when news was out that Mo Xuan Fei and her were together, it aroused the animosity all around.

People respected Bai Yun Xian all the more when they saw her in real life and berated Jun Wu Xue as they chattered among themselves.

Word for word, all these had been heard by Jun Wu Xie but she remained calm and collected. Not a single reaction or expression could be seen.

Instead, the little black cat standing by her lost all its patience and saw red. All it wanted to do now was to charge at all these imbeciles standing before it and wipe them all out! It hissed menacingly.

[What do these imbeciles know?! How can they even compare that woman with my Mistress?]

 

“Tsk, what’s so great about Qing Yun Clan, it’s not even worth mentioning.” A voice full of disdain came from Jun Wu Xie’s side as she turned and saw the unkempt youth muttering under his breath while chewing on a blade of bamboo leaf with his hands behind his head. He gave the surrounding crowd who were admiring Bai Yun Xian a look of contempt.

He had said it very softly but Jun Wu Xie had caught what he said.

When the youth met Jun Wu Xie’s gaze, he gave her a grin and he laughed out. “Didn’t I say I wasn’t interested in elixirs? Naturally I won’t be interested in Qing Yun Clan as well.”

The youth tried to explain however Jun Wu Xie paid no heed to him as she strode past him.

He helplessly laughed to himself and said no more.

“What do you want to trade for in exchange for these two Spiritual Gems and the nine Eastern Pearls?” Once Mo Xuan Fei saw the smile on his beloved, he had decided to splurge on her.

That time when Mo Xuan Fei brought Jun Wu Xie to Ghost City, not to even a single gold coin was spent. They had only walked a couple of streets and they headed back.

Now with Bai Yun Xian by his side, he was much more generous.

The old man looked up at Mo Xuan Fei, exhaled some smoke from the pipe and casually said: “I only accept elixirs.”

Mo Xuan Fei was slightly startled.

As a Second Prince to a nation, he had seen all sorts of treasures and had access to a large portion of them as well. However, in terms of medical advancements and elixirs, State of Qi was not as developed as its counterparts and this was one area he was lacking in. All the valuable potions and elixirs were locked up in a separate vault which he had no access to.

“I’ll trade it with you for jade.” Mo Xuan Fei countered. He did not want to lose face in front of Bai Yun Xian, as he casually took out a piece of fine jade almost as big as his palm. This jade was indeed a rare treasure. Mo Xuan Fei was determined to impress Bai Yun Xian.

Unfortunately, the old man did not bother to even give it a glance and continued smoking his pipe.

It was clear that he wasn’t interested. If this had happened in Imperial City, who would dare to offend Mo Xuan Fei and not give him any face? He was a dignified prince and he actually wanted to buy something from you and that meant that he had placed you in his sight and that itself should be the greatest honour. If you did not comply, the guards will dismantle the stall and the person thrown in the dungeon.

But this was Ghost City.

Although it was opened beneath the Imperial City, it wasn’t owned by the Kingdom of Qi. It was opened and managed by a mysterious origin that had brawny guards wearing masks and maintaining the order within the marketplace. It was truly a unique place which was hidden away from the main stream but these guards were not to be trifled with. No matter what you sell, no one bothers. However, if someone wants to stir trouble by not matching the trade, the guards will immediately throw that person out.

There were also those who tried to play dirty tricks were ‘invited’ out and banned from returning to Ghost City. There was a zero tolerance policy on troublemakers.

There was once when the Prime Minister’s son had been thrown out into the streets and had disgraced the entire family. However, the Prime Minister did not dare create any trouble in Ghost City and suffered silently by pretending that no such incident ever happened.

Since then, the people knew that the identity behind Ghost City must be from a powerful background and no one dared to mess around again.

As for Mo Xuan Fei, he did not know who exactly was behind Ghost City but he knew that it was someone he could not afford to offend. If he did, he may end up with the same outcome as the Prime Minister’s son!

 

Mo Xuan Fei had on an ugly expression as he tried to suppress his emotions. Bai Yun Xian slightly wrinkled her brows as she stepped forward and handed that old man a small porcelain bottle.

“These should be enough?” She tilted her chin upwards and asked smugly.

The old man took the bottle as he lifted his brows and glanced over at her.

All the onlookers craned their necks to see what Qing Yun Clan Sovereign’s disciple handed over. It certainly must be good stuff!

The old man opened the bottle and took a whiff.

Once he opened the bottle, a sweet refreshing scent permeated the surroundings and left the crowd fascinated.

“This is…?” He asked in a raspy voice.

Bai Yun Xian sneered and replied, “This is Qing Yun Clan’s infamous Qing Yun Pill.”

Once these words came out from her mouth, gasps could be heard everywhere.

Qing Yun Pill!

This was the rumoured elixir which was personally concocted by Qing Yun Clan’s Sovereign. It was infamous to be known as THE life saving pill – even a person who had half a foot in the grave could extend their lifespan by having a pill a day.

This recipe was a closely guarded secret and the Sovereign was the one and only person who knew how to concoct this pill. For this, many kings and rulers had tried all means and ways to get their hands on it. This time, Bai Yun Xian had made this trip to Kingdom of Qi to specially deliver this prized elixir to the Emperor.

The one she had just handed over was specially given to her by her Master for her own use.

The name of this pill resounded throughout various nations and was an illusive name that many wanted but could not get their hands on.

“Wow, she really lives up to the name of being Qing Yun Clan Sovereign’s disciple. She could even pull out THE Qing Yun Pill out so easily! This old man is really lucky and have scored big time.” Many people were secretly envious as they stared agape at that little porcelain bottle as they discussed in hushed tones.

Changing these items for a Qing Yun Pill was a huge loss for Bai Yun Xian.

“What do you know? These pills were personally concocted by Qing Yun Clan’s Sovereign! Even if she finished it, all she need to do is to simply ask for more from her Master. Don’t mix her up with the ordinary folks like yourself! These pills to her may not be worth that much.” One of the onlookers said as he looked enviously at the golden couple in front of him.

To be able to hook up with Bai Yun Xian, the Second Prince influence had gone up by a few notches.

Bai Yun Xian was definitely in a different league from Jun Wu Xie.

Although these were spoken in hushed tones, it could still be heard and Bai Yun Xian nodded in approval inwardly as she smiled towards Mo Xuan Fei.

However, after sniffing the elixir, the old man simply stuffed the cover back and chucked the bottle back to her.

Bai Yun Xian’s smiling face stiffened.

“This is something I do not need. Not changing… Not changing.” He said wistfully as he sat back in a laid back position and slowly inhaled a deep breath and blew out the smoke from his pipe.

For that moment, everyone’s eyes almost popped out.

Had this old man gone senile already?!

That was THE Qing Yun Pill!

Bai Yun Xian’s smile immediately crumbled and her displeasure was shown on her face. This was the first time someone had rejected her Master’s personally concocted elixir!

“Dear Sir; this is The Qing Yun Pill. Q-I-N-G Y-U-N pill ah!! Are you sure you don’t want it?” She broke it down for him in exasperation.

“No, no, no! If you don’t have any other types of elixirs then don’t disturb my other patrons.” He snorted impatiently.

This was a huge blow to the couple as they stood there awkwardly – their expressions black to the extreme.

They even began to suspect this old man was not out to do business, he even had the audacity to slight and reject the Qing Yun Pill?

“If you don’t want to trade then we won’t trade! You really think your items are worth that much?!” Mo Xuan Fei coldly rebutted.

The old man glanced at him, sneered and no longer bothered with him.