Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 21 Xiu Mu
Kendo classes and training classes were held alternately, and everyone gradually got used to this intensity. Before they knew it, it was time for a day off.

Outer disciples attend nine days of classes and can rest for one day, and have three opportunities for rest each month.

Today is the day of the outer sect competition of the Southern Star Sword Sect. It is also a day off, so the entire sect is bustling with activity. Everyone got up early to secure a spot with a good view.

When Ruan San Niang got up, Ning Fusang was no longer in Wuyuan.

After washing her face, Ruan San Niang glanced at Ning Fusang's door before leaving: "It's a day off today. Senior Sister Ning should have gone to watch the battle, right? Maybe I'll run into her at the Sword-Asking Platform."

Meanwhile, Ning Fusang had already descended the Cloud Ladder and was now inside the sect's market area.

The Southern Star Sword Sect has four markets in the east, west, south, and north, built around a mountain, resembling stars surrounding the moon.

There are four ladders leading down from different directions to different markets. The four markets are interconnected, and circling around them will take you back to your starting point.

The Southern Star Sword Sect originally did not allow outsiders or unauthorized individuals to enter its territory. The current market was established at the suggestion of the current sect leader, who was still a disciple, to his master, the former sect leader.

These markets are still quite young, with only a little over two hundred years of history. Most of the stalls are run by ordinary people who practice cultivation from the foot of the mountain. If cultivators from other places want to sell their goods in the markets, they need to register.

The Southern Star Sword Sect has relatively strict management of the market, so the market has always been very orderly and safe.

The Southern Star Sword Sect takes a break every nine days, so the market opens to the public once every ten days, and is closed at other times. During this time, they are not idle, but actively look for new and rare goods to sell on the day the market reopens.

Normally, the market is bustling when it's open, but today it's rather deserted, with hardly any customers at any of the stalls.

“In the past, the days when the Southern Star Sword Sect was on rest days were always lively, with people arriving as early as the beginning of the morning. Today it’s almost the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), so why haven’t we seen many people come down the mountain?”

On a gray-brown fox pelt, several spiritual plants were placed. A middle-aged cultivator, wrapped in a loose, low-grade robe, sat cross-legged behind the fox pelt, occasionally looking back at the stone steps shrouded in mist.

He spent two spirit stones to secure this spot closest to the Cloud Ladder of Little Cloud Peak, hoping to sell the few spirit plants he had.

But as he waited and waited, the market was unusually quiet today, which made him impatient and very worried that these few spiritual plants would be stuck in his hands.

After all, the next market opening will be another ten days away, by which time the spiritual energy contained in the spiritual plants will have been severely depleted, and they won't fetch a good price.

An old man at the stall across the street glanced at him and said leisurely, "Young friend, you don't come to the Nanxing Sword Sect market very often, do you?"

The middle-aged cultivator, sensing a deeper meaning in his words, bowed respectfully and said humbly, "Please enlighten me, senior."

The old man's gaze shifted slightly, landing on a small flower on the fox fur, and he changed the subject, "I think your spirit flower is quite nice."

The middle-aged cultivator felt uncomfortable, but he was also a decisive person. He made a decision immediately and smiled, "It's just a yellow leaf flower. If you like it, senior, please take it. Consider it a gift from your junior."

He will continue to set up a stall in the market in the future. If he doesn't figure out what happened today, his losses will only increase if he encounters a similar situation again.

Exchanging a yellow-leafed flower for a piece of intelligence is enough to prevent losses, so it's worth the price.

He had several spiritual plants, and the old man had chosen the lowest-value yellow-leafed flower. Although it was deceiving him, it wasn't too outrageous, and he could barely accept the result.

Thinking this way, the anger in my heart subsided considerably, and the smile on my face became even more sincere.

"You're quite sensible, young friend." The old man lifted his eyelids, sizing up the man. This middle-aged cultivator had a broad, long face with thick, drooping eyebrows. His face was fleshy, but rather puffy, making one sigh. If the man were less strikingly handsome, he would be considered quite dashing. Sun Baidao cupped his hands and presented the yellow leaf flower. Only then did the old man say, "Today is the day of the Southern Star Sword Sect's outer sect competition. The sect disciples have all gone to watch the excitement, so there are naturally fewer people at the market."

After saying that, he stretched out a wrinkled hand and tucked the yellow leaf flower into his sleeve, ignoring Sun Baidao.

Sun Baidao returned to his stall as if he had lost his soul, secretly regretting, "So today is the day of the Southern Star Sword Sect's outer sect competition. I've come at the wrong time. I'm afraid I won't be able to sell these spiritual plants."

Xifang City Center.

Ning Fusang wandered around alone.

Aside from the set of clothes for the servant disciples, she only had this one garment of her own. It was made of ordinary fabric, and the dress was completely plain white with no embroidery.

Ning Fusang didn't care whether the clothes were luxurious or not. However, she had grown quite a bit taller in the past two years, and since these clothes weren't ceremonial robes, they were a bit too short and tight in the chest area. They were no longer suitable for her to wear. Since she had a day off today, she thought she would come to the market to buy two suitable outfits.

After comparing several shops, Ning Fusang chose one that looked quite simple, thinking the goods would be cheaper.

The proprietress was very young, in her early twenties, dressed in a light smoky blue palace gown, her hair as white as mist, with a very short, bright pearl hairpin tucked into her hair, shimmering and sparkling.

Holding a measuring tape in her hand, she asked with a faint smile, "Would you like your clothes made to order, or would you like to buy a ready-made garment?"

Since tailoring takes time, and Ning Fusang only had one day, she replied without hesitation, "Two ordinary dresses will suffice."

The proprietress led Ning Fusang upstairs and inquired about her preferences.

"Does the young lady have a preferred color, style, or requirements? I will help her choose one."

The second floor is filled with wooden puppets, each with a different posture, lifelike, dressed in flowing skirts, as if they have come to life.

The proprietress smiled slightly: "My husband is a carpenter. In his spare time, he carved these wooden puppets for me, which I use as clothes racks."

From these few casual words, one can vaguely glimpse the deep affection between the husband and wife.

Ning Fusang pointed to a doll and said, "This one will do."

The proprietress looked over and saw a sky-blue silk skirt, plain and simple without any embroidery.

Since it was a guest's request, the proprietress stepped forward, took off her dress, and pointed out a room to Ning Fusang.

"Miss, you can go inside and change your clothes."

The room was simply furnished, and there was a faint scent of orchids and musk in the air. Ning Fusang had also smelled it on the landlady.

She had been in the Southern Star Sword Sect for three years and had visited the market many times, but she didn't seem to have seen this clothing shop before.

Ning Fusang quickly changed her clothes and went out.

The proprietress stood outside, and when she looked up, a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes. The young woman was slender and had a delicate and beautiful appearance. Her sky-blue dress, without embroidery, gave her a natural and unadorned, refreshing and refined look.

(End of this chapter)