Chapter 340: The thousand dao city 10.

Su Yubing laughed.

"You really have no concept of money."

Mo Yuxin thought about it.

"I have a concept of money."

"Really?"

"Yes. Money buys things we want."

"And what do you want?"

Mo Yuxin looked at her.

"You."

Su Yubing’s cheeks warmed immediately.

"That is not how money works."

"I know."

"Then stop saying things like that in public."

"Why?"

"Because people are listening."

Mo Yuxin looked around. Several people were indeed looking. She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Fine. I will say it privately."

Su Yubing laughed and took her arm.

"Come on."

One afternoon, they visited a public training square where cultivators could rent formations by the hour. This place was one of the reasons Thousand Dao City had remained so influential. Smaller sects could not always afford private training grounds, but here their disciples could pay a modest fee and practice without worrying about destroying buildings or injuring passersby. Several arenas were occupied by sect disciples. One group practiced spear formations. Another group trained archery. A pair of alchemy cultivators practiced controlling flame without using a furnace. Near the center, two sword cultivators were sparring. Mo Yuxin paused to watch. Their movements were clean. Not extraordinary, but disciplined. The younger one repeatedly attacked the other’s left side.

The elder student blocked five times, then changed his footwork. On the sixth attack, he avoided the blade and tapped his opponent’s shoulder. The younger disciple immediately stepped back and bowed.

"Again."

Mo Yuxin smiled. Su Yubing noticed.

"You enjoy watching people train."

"Sometimes."

"Why?"

"Because people reveal themselves when they fight."

Su Yubing looked at her.

"What do I reveal?"

Mo Yuxin answered immediately.

"That you are more dangerous than you look."

Su Yubing smiled.

"Good answer."

They stayed there for a while. A young woman eventually approached. She was from the Nine Heavens Academy.

"Senior, are you a sword cultivator?"

She was speaking to Mo Yuxin. Mo Yuxin looked at the sword at her waist.

"A little."

The girl smiled.

"Would you mind giving some advice to my friend?"

Mo Yuxin hesitated. Su Yubing looked amused.

"Go on."

Mo Yuxin stepped into the training circle. The student was nervous at first. Mo Yuxin did not use any spiritual pressure. She only told the girl to move her shoulder less when attacking.

"You are telling your opponent where you are going before your sword moves."

The girl blinked.

"How?"

Mo Yuxin demonstrated once. The difference was tiny. But once seen, it was obvious. The student tried again. Her movement was cleaner. The girl stared at Mo Yuxin.

"Senior, how did you notice that so quickly?"

Mo Yuxin shrugged.

"You made the same mistake four times."

The girl became embarrassed. Su Yubing laughed softly.

"She means you are doing well."

The girl smiled.

"Thank you."

She ran back to her friends. Mo Yuxin returned to Su Yubing.

"You enjoyed that."

"A little."

"Why?"

"Because you looked like a teacher."

"I do not look like a teacher."

"You do."

Su Yubing reached up and smoothed a loose strand of Mo Yuxin’s hair behind her ear.

"A very handsome one."

Mo Yuxin immediately smiled.

"I like that description."

"I know."

As their days in the city became more comfortable, they also began hearing the names of the major sects in ordinary conversations rather than formal settings. The Heavenly Sword Sect was respected by sword cultivators almost everywhere. Its disciples were considered disciplined and direct. Its elders could be conservative, but even critics admitted the sect produced excellent swordsmen. Azure Cloud Sect was known for being politically careful. People said its elders could turn a three sentence conversation into an agreement that somehow benefited their sect. The Golden Mountain Sect controlled major forging resources. Their cultivators were known for their heavy armor and body refinement. Cangming Palace controlled several important water routes and a large portion of the southern spirit ship industry.

Purple Heaven Valley was trusted by almost everyone when it came to medicine, though its internal politics were difficult to read. Nine Heavens Academy had a reputation for accepting talented young people regardless of family background. And Battle Maiden Sect remained the subject of quiet discussion. Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing were beginning to realize why. The problem was not that the other sects were uniformly hostile. It was that the balance of power had shifted. Once, the Battle Maiden Sect had possessed enough influence that nobody could ignore it. Now, some of the older powers looked at its current branch and saw an opportunity. That was the dangerous part. When a powerful organization appeared vulnerable, ambitious people stopped seeing its history and started seeing its territory.

Mo Yuxin understood that very well. Su Yubing did too. They did not discuss it constantly. They simply observed. One evening, they attended a public performance in the western district. It was a spiritual music performance by a mixed group of cultivators from different sects. The music itself was surprisingly beautiful. Several instruments produced spiritual waves that made the entire hall feel lighter. Su Yubing enjoyed it immensely. Mo Yuxin mostly watched her. Halfway through the performance, Su Yubing leaned close.

"You are not listening."

"I am."

"You are staring at me."

"I can do both."

Su Yubing smiled.

"You are hopeless."

Mo Yuxin took her hand beneath the table.

"You like me this way."

"Unfortunately."

"Fortunately."

The performance ended. On the way back, they passed a small shop selling traditional hair accessories. Su Yubing stopped. Mo Yuxin immediately understood.

"You like something?"

"I am just looking."

"Which one?"

Su Yubing pointed at a delicate silver comb. Mo Yuxin bought it. Su Yubing sighed.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"You are going to fill our room with things."

"There is space."

"Not much."

"Then we buy a bigger room."

Su Yubing laughed. She put the comb into her hair. Mo Yuxin adjusted it carefully.

"Perfect."

Su Yubing looked at her reflection in a shop window.

"I like it."

"Good."

She turned around and kissed Mo Yuxin softly.

.

.

.

TO BE CONTINUED.