Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3032: Playing The Part And Browsing For Shinies

With a sufficient offer presented, the man was finally willing to speak.

"Aight, fine. There is someone. Hooded fellow, just like you said. Came ’bout a month ago. Rented a room. Ain’t said more than ten words the whole time."

Daoist Chu’s gaze sharpened. "Is he here now?"

The man shook his head, reaching for his cup again. "Left early this morning. Don’t know where he goes. But he’s always back before sundown. Like clockwork. Never stays out past nightfall."

"And he’s the only one staying here?"

The man nodded. "Only one. You’re the first others I’ve seen walk in here in weeks."

Daoist Chu silently compared the man’s words with what the twin snakes had sensed earlier. Just one scent—faintly fermented, male, human. Everything matched.

He then took out a single high-grade immortal stone and placed it on the desk. The man’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. He grabbed it immediately, tucking it into his shirt like a prized heirloom.

"You never saw us," Daoist Chu said. "Understood?"

"Didn’t see a damn thing," the man said cheerfully, returning to his drink.

As Daoist Chu and Meng Bai stepped back out into the dim street, the latter spoke up.

"So he’s out right now?"

"Seems so," Daoist Chu said. "Which gives us just enough time to prepare. If the Hooded Tracker really is tailing the elders, he may already have more information than anyone else. But if we rush this and he gets spooked..."

Meng Bai finished the thought. "He might disappear. And we lose our best lead."

Daoist Chu nodded. "Exactly. We’ll observe first. Then engage carefully—on our terms."

The ash-veiled wind swept past them, whispering secrets through the narrow alleys. Somewhere beyond, the mysterious bounty hunter known as the Hooded Tracker moved through the city, unaware that new players had entered the game.

The square outside the narrow street was bustling with life, making it an ideal vantage point for Daoist Chu and Meng Bai. With the small, inconspicuous inn tucked away at the dead end of the lane, the two cultivators chose a modest open tavern that offered a clear line of sight to the entrance.

The tavern was built partially into the grey brick wall bordering the square. Its structure was aged and patched, but the windows provided just enough visibility for their purpose. From their seats at a low table near the open facade, they could watch every soul who entered or exited the alleyway.

"I’d say this place is just right," Daoist Chu said, glancing around.

Meng Bai nodded. "We blend in. No one’s paying attention."

And indeed, no one was. The square before them was brimming with activity. Hawkers had laid out mats and set up makeshift stalls, selling all manner of goods: rough-cut gems, strange tools, scraps of ancient weapons, dried herbs that looked like they’d been pulled from ash-covered soil, and even beast parts preserved in crystalline resin.

Each vendor was loudly proclaiming their wares to be rare, blessed, or once used by some long-dead immortal.

Children darted between legs, stealing glimpses of flashy stones or poking at mysterious trinkets while being chased by shouting adults. Rogue cultivators and wandering mercenaries bartered fiercely, some haggling over cracked swords that had likely broken in their first skirmish, others arguing passionately over the "proven lineage" of a rusted pendant.

From the tavern’s edge, the two cultivators blended into the chaos. Daoist Chu sipped a mild herbal wine, eyes hidden behind half-closed lids as he observed everything, occasionally flicking his immortal sense just far enough to keep a subtle pulse on the alley entrance. Meng Bai sat beside him, more upright and visibly alert, though trying to mimic the casual atmosphere.

A while passed, with nothing of note catching their attention.

Then Ashy, perched neatly on Meng Bai’s shoulder, chirped softly and tilted her head. Her eyes glinted like polished onyx as she whispered, "Shiny."

Meng Bai blinked. "Not now, Ashy," he muttered under his breath. "We’re working."

"But shiny..." she insisted, her feathers ruffling.

Meng Bai gave her a side glance, only to see her eyes fixed on something across the square. Curious despite himself, he followed her gaze and spotted one of the hawkers a few stalls down.

The man was selling a variety of semi-translucent gems that shimmered under the ashen sunlight—dust-coated but still glittering. Among them was a particularly radiant green shard that pulsed faintly with residual elemental essence.

Daoist Chu caught the direction of their gaze. "Go on," he said, lowering his cup. "Won’t hurt to play the part. Travelers browsing the market fits our cover."

Meng Bai hesitated. "But what if—"

"I’ll keep watch," Daoist Chu assured. "Besides, Ashy and the twins aren’t exactly subtle when something catches their interest."

Ashy fluffed her feathers proudly. "He knows me well."

Meng Bai sighed, half-amused. "Alright, alright. Let’s go take a look."

He rose from his seat, weaving past a few laughing patrons and stepping into the square. The crowd had grown denser, and even walking a few feet required deft maneuvering. With Ashy chirping directions and encouragement, they soon reached the hawker’s stall.

The vendor was a short man with a wide-brimmed hat made of stitched-together beast hide. His table was cluttered with roughly sorted gemstones, many of which glowed faintly with trace energies—Mostly Fire and Earth, with the occasional Wind-aligned piece.

"Ah, young traveler!" the man said, flashing a wide grin. "Looking for something to impress a girl? Or perhaps a fine trinket to boost your cultivation?"

Meng Bai’s eyes swept over the display. "Just browsing," he said politely.

Ashy leaned closer, her beak nearly pressing into the green shard.

"Ah, that one," the vendor said quickly. "A good eye, little birdie. That there is Verdant Ember Quartz—only found near the deepest Earth Flame wells. Strong affinity with both Earth and Fire."

Meng Bai raised a brow. "How much?"

"Twenty mid-grade immortal stones," the vendor replied with a confident smile.

Ashy squawked. "Robbery!"

Meng Bai chuckled. "You’d have to be blind to pay that much."