"Woah! So many people!" Outside the City Lord's Mansion, Yuhan He exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes to peer at the bustling crowd.

"Isn't that obvious? Is it weird for streets to be crowded?" Lin Ming drawled lazily beside her, left hand tucked in his pocket.

Yuhan He wore a cute Western-style dress and open-toed flat sandals. Her hair was no longer silver—she’d used obscure magic to turn it black. Practical, if niche.

"Hmph! I rarely go out!" she retorted, flipping her hair with a coquettish pout at Lin Ming.

"So next! Where do we start?" Her eyes sparkled as she scanned the street.

"Ah~ ha~ Decided yet?" Lin Ming yawned, watching her stare without moving.

"Let’s start right here! Senior, let’s go!" Yuhan He grabbed his hand and marched toward the street.

"Uh! Don’t pull—I can walk!" Drowsy Lin Ming jolted awake, stumbling as she dragged him. Truly, a woman’s shopping stamina is infinite.

Why the jolt? Her small hand felt warm, soft, and boneless—pleasant! Ahem! Off track!

"Whoa, slow down!"

Unseen by them, a Black Cloaked Figure watched from a nearby alley. Her hooded eyes flashed. "Lin Ming, you’ve grown weak. Didn’t even sense surveillance. The man once called ‘Demon’ fallen this far—how ironic."

The street buzzed with vendors’ cries. Male passersby stared at a black-haired girl licking an ice cream cone. She was stunning, curvy, her cherry lips making them ache. If only she were theirs… (beep)… Ahem! Filthy thoughts.

They held back because beside her stood a black-clad man with a white ahoge. They gritted their teeth—who approaches a beauty with a guard?

"Senior, really not eating? You’re such a big eater!" Yuhan He licked her cone at Lin Ming.

Lin Ming’s face fell mournfully. "Eat if you want! But you have coin—why should I pay?"

(We’d pay gladly!) the crowd murmured.

Yuhan He scrunched her pretty nose. "Senior, you’re stingy! It’s just one silver coin!"

Clutching his chest, Lin Ming groaned. "One silver coin! Worth ten coppers—and ten silvers make a gold coin. Ugh! My heart hurts!"

Yuhan He’s new insight: his stinginess ran deep. Pouting, she snapped, "Fine! I’ll pay for everything after this. You just carry bags, Senior."

Pain vanished. Lin Ming beamed. "As long as I don’t pay, carrying’s nothing!"

To him, money meant life. Treatments at Prosperous Scenery Hall cost fortunes—without daily scrimping, how afford them? Spending on girls "doesn’t count"? Naive. Savings built wealth. Absolutely not stinginess. Absolutely not.

He didn’t know "carrying bags" meant facing a woman in full shopping mode—combat power maxed.

Nearby men heard every word. Conclusion: this guy lacked manners and was cheap. Perfect. The crowd stirred restlessly.

A slick-haired man in a suit stepped forward, bowing to Yuhan He. "Fair lady, I heard you. No need to stay with him. Consider me instead."

Lin Ming sneered inwardly. ‘Flamboyant flirt, aura more feminine than a woman’s. Hah! Sissy!’

Yuhan He’s cold stare hardened. "Who are you? Leave."

Ignoring her, the sissy rambled, "My father ranks among Wind City’s top—"

Yuhan He turned away. "Senior, next place!"

"Got it. Hope I don’t pay this time," Lin Ming said, following her and ignoring the sissy.

"Stingy Senior," she muttered.

Lin Ming heard but stayed silent—speaking might cost him the next bill.

The sissy’s face flushed beet red. Ignored since birth? Unthinkable. He roared, "Xiong Da! Xiong Er!"

Two hulking shadows leaped from the crowd—muscles like iron towers. "Young master!"

"Attack!"

"Yes!" Xiong Da and Xiong Er eyed Yuhan He. A beauty, after all.

Onlookers shoved aside, munching sunflower seeds. "Think that fool succeeds?"

"Tch. Not our problem. Just watch."

"Hmph! Troublemakers just boost others’ appeal. Exhibit A right there."

"…Kid, shut up and watch."

Face burning, the sissy barked, "Xiong Da, Xiong Er—cripple him, grab her!"

Lin Ming turned, sighing at the charging shadows. "Heard someone wants trouble?"