The first
Red Cotton Peak.
It was named for the red cotton flowers that bloom year-round atop its summit.
On this peak, there is a stretch of open ground which, in earlier days, was once a sacrificial altar. Now abandoned, it is flanked by derelict buildings, though the roads remain clean and tidy. Over time, disciples of Mount Shu began to set up stalls here, and gradually it evolved into a small market for miscellaneous goods, known as Red Cotton Market.
Compared to the sect’s official halls, where prices are high and fixed, the Red Cotton Market is run by disciples themselves, offering a wider array of wares and greater room for negotiation. One might be cheated, or stumble upon a hidden gem; many Mount Shu disciples enjoy wandering through the market even if they buy nothing.
Yet for Chu Liang, this was his first visit.
Stepping onto the market, he saw both sides of the path lined with rugs of varying sizes, each displaying an assortment of items for sale: pills, magical implements, hand-drawn talismans—quality varied, certainly not as reliable as what one found in the official halls.
There were even stalls selling spirit pets, something unavailable in the sect halls. One vendor had several spirit dogs for sale—black, white, and spotted puppies, adorably huddled together.
Whenever someone inquired, the stall owner would demonstrate the spirit dogs’ unique talent.
He’d offer them something to eat, let them sniff it, and then, no matter where you hid the item, the dogs would find it.
Their tracking range was within a hundred miles, and as they matured, it could eventually extend to a thousand.
Someone tried to test them with something other than food, but the vendor waved his hands, “It’s not that they can’t find it, they just don’t care to look for anything that’s not edible.”
Elsewhere, a stall displayed a magical mirror, said to be wondrous. Recite the incantation: “Magic mirror, magic mirror, tell me who is the fairest in the world,” and the mirror would reveal the face of whoever stood before it.
A curious bystander asked, “But don’t all mirrors show faces?”
The vendor nodded, “The marvel of this artifact is, unless you ask, it won’t show anything.”
“So it’s just a broken mirror?”
“What nonsense! If you’re not buying, don’t look.”
“...”
Another vendor was selling a battered begging bowl, called the “Treasure Dispersing Bowl.”
Any treasure with spiritual energy tossed into the bowl would instantly vanish.
A meddler tried it, tossing in a stone—nothing happened. Then he threw in a sword coin, and it disappeared at once.
Amazed, the meddler demanded his sword coin back, but the vendor spread his hands, claiming he had no idea where it had gone.
The two argued, prompting the Law Hall disciples to expel them on the spot.
Such altercations were a daily occurrence here; the Law Hall had long stationed disciples to keep order.
...
Chu Liang found it amusing. He strolled about, saw nothing he wanted, though—truthfully, he had no money left anyway.
He searched out a patch of empty ground.
Unrolling his own rug, he covered it with a small table, set out six little tea cups, and placed a jar of honey fruit tea beside them.
---
He then propped up a sign inscribed with two bold lines:
“The first fruit tea of spring.”
“Free sampling.”
There were always strange things in Red Cotton Market, so his stall, while a curiosity, didn’t stand out as particularly special. The crowd, however, was ever eager; after a while, a few came over to inquire.
“Brother, what are you selling?” a young disciple asked, curious.
“Fruit tea,” Chu Liang replied, pointing to the jar of honey tea.
“Tea? Does your tea have any special effects?” the young disciple pressed.
“It tastes good,” Chu Liang answered with a smile.
“Huh?” The man looked taken aback. “Just good taste? That’s it?”
“It tastes good and doesn’t make you fat,” Chu Liang added.
“...” The visitor seemed a little puzzled.
“You can try a sample,” Chu Liang offered, pouring a small cup and gesturing for him to taste.
Cultivators didn’t need to lift the cup; the disciple simply opened his mouth and drew in the liquid with a gentle breath, savoring it, and his eyes lit up.
“Hmm, yes, it’s quite good,” he admitted. “How much is it?”
“One sword coin per jar,” Chu Liang pointed to the honey tea jar. “A whole jar like this.”
“What? One sword coin?” The disciple looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “A sword coin for a jar of sugary water? You might as well rob people.”
Chu Liang smiled and shook his head, not arguing.
The young man shot him a look as if he were mad, muttered curses, and walked away.
Two or three others followed the same routine.
It was no wonder they were surprised; sword coins were precious within Mount Shu. As mentioned before, even a disciple at the Divine Will realm, working diligently, might earn only about a hundred sword coins per month, and often less.
Those at the Golden Core stage earned a bit more, but still not much.
Buying pills, talismans, magical implements, swords—there was never enough.
To spend a sword coin on a drink with no other benefit but good taste seemed extravagant indeed.
But Chu Liang was in no hurry. He simply sat quietly.
After a while, a commotion arose ahead—a sudden burst of noise, growing louder as it spread.
“Fairy Jiang is here!”
Only when the shout reached them did people realize what was happening, and immediately craned their necks to see.
Indeed.
---
Over there, like stars clustered around the moon, someone was slowly walking this way.
Jiang Yue Bai!
Red Cotton Market was suddenly in uproar because of her arrival.
A figure like Fairy Jiang rarely came here. She certainly didn’t lack cultivation resources and had no need to shop. Besides, coming to such crowded places always drew attention, so she usually avoided them.
But today, for some reason, Jiang Yue Bai had come to Red Cotton Market. She seemed to have no particular aim, simply wandering from east to west.
She wore a long flowing dress, ethereal as a fairy, her bearing graceful, as if every step was upon a lotus.
Trailing behind her, at a respectful distance, were disciples from all corners of Mount Shu, their eyes filled with admiration, reverence, and curiosity—all burning with fervor.
Yet not a single one dared approach her.
Jiang Yue Bai’s gaze drifted over the crowd, and suddenly, it seemed to pause in Chu Liang’s direction.
He met her eyes.
Then—
A smile appeared on her cool, serene face.
Immediately, murmurs erupted around Chu Liang.
“Brothers… she’s smiling at me!”
“Nonsense! Jiang Jiang is clearly smiling at me!”
“Get lost, her gaze was three-quarters on me!”
“...”
Amid the chaotic babble, Jiang Yue Bai walked toward Chu Liang’s stall, bent gently, and asked, “What is this?”
“Fruit tea,” Chu Liang replied calmly.
“Free sampling? Then I’ll try it,” Jiang Yue Bai said, blinking.
Chu Liang poured her a cup; Jiang Yue Bai tasted it, immediately smiled, and nodded lightly, “Mm! It’s very good.”
“Would you like a jar, Senior Sister Jiang?” Chu Liang asked.
“I’ll take one… no, two,” she replied.
“Very well,” Chu Liang smiled and nodded, then said warmly but clearly, “The second jar is half price.”