When was the last time Zhang Yemiao walked these streets of Yinai City? Half a month ago… no, over a month.

She’d properly placed a “Closed for Business” wooden sign outside her door before following Wang Qi into town. Her body concealed numerous hidden weapons.

Thanks to her Mastery of Objects ability, she wielded her self-forged weapons effortlessly. As long as she had stamina or ammunition left, her combat strength remained reliable.

Swords and blades were usable too—but her stamina was simply too lacking in comparison.

Crowds surged past, a mix of various demi-humans and even non-humanoid species. Buildings and tools radiated an otherworldly aura…

Things she’d missed observing last time now unfolded before Zhang Yemiao’s eyes. It felt like her horizons were expanding.

“Where would you like to go?” Wang Qi asked.

Zhang Yemiao pondered briefly. “Show me where you usually set up your stall.”

Wang Qi’s expression flickered. He hesitated, then seemed to recall something and nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”

He guided her toward a colossal steel-domed structure. From the outside, it resembled a trade market back on Earth—though functionally, it was exactly that. Still, the sight felt oddly dissonant.

Inside the market, chaos reigned. Wang Qi instinctively turned back, grabbed Zhang Yemiao’s hand, and pulled her through the throng.

*Why are you so casual about this?* Zhang Yemiao mentally grumbled, but offered no resistance. Like a ragdoll, she let him drag her through the crowd until they reached an empty stall.

Wang Qi carried a large pack on his back. “Taking items from your spatial storage here would draw too much attention,” he’d explained earlier. So he hauled his own forged goods.

“You pay five extra copper coins to reserve the stall. The three percent commission fee is a pain, but this spot’s prime real estate. Worth keeping.” Wang Qi detailed the costs and value.

Zhang Yemiao barely registered his words.

Her gaze had locked onto the beautiful girl at the neighboring stall.

Elves were always stunning—this rule seemed universal. This herbivorous, forest-dwelling race, chasing freedom and romance, always stood out in crowds. This elf was no exception. Despite plain linen robes and modest coverage, her emerald hair and voluptuous figure drew every eye.

“Oh? Xiao-ge Wang Qi,” the elf greeted, eyes curiously scanning Zhang Yemiao. “And who’s this?”

Wang Qi smiled. “My roommate.”

“Roommate?”

“We share a dorm room.”

“Eh?!” The elf elegantly covered her mouth, face flushing with a trace of blush. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Are the two of you… *that* kind of couple?!”

Both Zhang Yemiao and Wang Qi froze. Then realization hit.

“Ah! No, that’s not—” Wang Qi fumbled. “We just live together. I mean, not like *that*…” He trailed off, remembering Zhang Yemiao’s tearful embrace days prior. The words stuck in his throat.

His explanation held zero credibility. After all, they were still holding hands.

Zhang Yemiao kept her head down, silent. She rarely spoke to strangers.

“And your name?” the elf pressed, utterly unfazed by the awkwardness.

Wang Qi squeezed Zhang Yemiao’s hand gently. She lifted her head. “Neptune.”

“???” Question marks practically floated above Wang Qi’s head.

“Neptune? That’s as odd as Wang Qi’s name…”

“Ignore that,” Zhang Yemiao corrected flatly. “Zhang Yemiao. Nice to meet you.”

*That name’s weird too,* Wang Qi thought.

But the elf merely smiled. “Elven names are simple. Call me Lily.”

*Seriously?* Zhang Yemiao’s eyes flickered over the elf’s curvaceous figure. *That hourglass waist, those generous curves… How can someone so sexy be named “Lily”?* She quickly averted her gaze—staring was rude.

“Ahem. I need to set up my stall, Dorm Leader…” Zhang Yemiao pulled her hand free. *He was the one who grabbed me first, yet acts like I’m clinging to him.*

“Help me sort these?” Wang Qi produced two tiny stools. Zhang Yemiao sat beside the stall as he unpacked.

“This hoe has enhanced durability. This kitchen knife’s sharper. This hammer boosts strength slightly…” She categorized her forged items, then frowned. “How do you usually sell them?”

“Basic appraisal magic—Arcane Identification, level two—reveals their stats. Most shoppers know it. Every household has someone who can cast it.”

“So you can do it too?”

“I can’t.”

Zhang Yemiao shot him a withering look. “What a loser.”

Wang Qi shrugged. “I just set prices. Take it or leave it. They can appraise the items themselves.”

“You’re losing money.”

“Yeah. But no choice.”

Zhang Yemiao didn’t care much about profits anyway. Back on Earth, she’d rarely haggled—just ordered online.

“Oh? So you’re the smith who forges these stat-boosting tools…”

*Smith.* A true profession. Only those who could imbue gear qualified. Lily assumed Zhang Yemiao was certified. She wasn’t. She knew her raw forging skills still lacked polish.

Customers arrived surprisingly fast.

Her items sold well—affordable yet effective.

“Boss, save some for latecomers!” one man complained to Wang Qi. “I missed out again!”

Wang Qi apologized smoothly. “Production’s limited. Even pushing my limits, this is all I can make. I’d sell more if I could.”

The man sighed and left.

“I can forge more,” Zhang Yemiao offered after they sold out.

Wang Qi shook his head. “This is enough. More would cause trouble.”

She understood. This output level was safe. Higher volumes would step on toes.

“Let’s go. With the stall empty, we can move on.” Wang Qi packed up hastily.

*Is he in a rush? Or is that my imagination?*

A commotion rippled through the crowd. Wang Qi’s face tightened.

Lily smirked, watching him knowingly. “What now, Xiao-ge Wang Qi?”

Zhang Yemiao frowned, confused—until she saw her.

“Eh?!”

“Li Pingtian!”

“Dorm Leader?”

One gasp, one question. Two girls stood face-to-face.

Li Pingtian wore pure white nun’s robes that complemented her silver hair. Such attire would wash out lesser complexions, but her beauty made it radiate holiness.

“Come to preach, Sister?” Lily asked casually.

“Spreading the glory of the Great Deity is our sacred duty.”

“We elves revere the Blessing of Life. We cannot worship your Deity,” Lily apologized.

Li Pingtian shook her head. “The Lord draws followers through love and forgiveness—not force. That violates His teachings.”

The pious, scripture-quoting Li Pingtian felt utterly alien to Zhang Yemiao. *Since when did that quiet girl become so devout?*

“I’ll borrow your spot today, Wang Qi.”

Wang Qi, already packed, nodded. Li Pingtian stepped onto his former stall and pulled a small booklet from her wide sleeve.

She flipped to a passage: “The Lord slew the great demon beast Winterfang in the north. Infusing its corpse with Divine Power, He named it Winterfang and raised it as a city to shelter the northern lands…”

*That silent girl… preaching?* The dissonance made Zhang Yemiao uneasy.

“Time to go,” Wang Qi muttered.

“Not waiting, Xiao-ge?” Lily’s eyes gleamed with unspoken meaning.

“Nope. Absolutely not.”

Wang Qi yanked Zhang Yemiao away under Lily’s knowing gaze. Staying longer risked disaster.

“Still seeing each other daily, Wang Qi?”

Predictably, the question hit the moment they exited the market.

“Hmm. She thinks preaching at markets is effective. But even church members avoid such chaotic places. Zero conversions there.”

Wang Qi deftly sidestepped the real issue. Zhang Yemiao didn’t press further—she was just annoyed he hadn’t mentioned Li Pingtian.

*Nothing could happen between them anyway. I practically threw myself at him before, and nothing happened. No way Li Pingtian could succeed where I failed.*

*Honestly… is Wang Qi just pathetic? What a five-star loser.*