Brutes like Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui could only be won over by superior martial strength, and it was clear Chen Cheng’s Horizontal Cultivation Techniques were truly formidable.

"They’re passable," Chen Cheng said lightly, putting an arm around Mu Xiaowan as they headed toward the outer courtyard.

As they passed by the large square, a young disciple in silk martial arts attire stopped his Cultivation and hurried over to greet them.

The man’s footwork was unsteady, and his aura wasn’t very strong. He appeared to be only at the Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm. Chen Cheng found him somewhat familiar, thinking he was a disciple from the same batch that had joined the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, and he seemed to be from the Inner City’s Shen Family.

"Shen Qingpeng, instead of cultivating properly, what mischief are you up to now?" Shen Junmo’s face grew stern as he chided the newcomer.

"Qing... er... Cousin Junmo, where are you three heading?" Shen Qingpeng seemed quite used to being scolded. His eyes darted about as he asked with a grin.

Shen Junmo replied sullenly, "I’m going out for a walk with Young Master Chen and the others."

Shen Qingpeng’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Going shopping, Cousin Junmo? From the Inner City to the Outer City, I know every street and alley in Linji City like the back of my hand. Whether you’re looking to buy things or just eat, drink, and have fun, I can find the best spots. With me along, you’ll avoid a lot of hassle. How about I be your guide?"

"Well..." Shen Junmo was tempted. He wasn’t familiar with Linji City, so having someone who knew their way around seemed like a good idea.

"Young Master Chen, Xiaowan, what do you two think?"

Mu Xiaowan smiled. "I’ll go with whatever Brother Cheng says."

’They already had Shen Junmo tagging along, so adding one more, Shen Qingpeng, wasn’t a big deal. Back at the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, Mu Xiaowan rarely went out, though she did occasionally accompany the head wife, Gongsun Rou.’

’He had brought Mu Xiaowan out this time specifically to show her around the Inner City. It was rare to find a guide so familiar with the area, so this wasn’t a bad idea.’

’After they finished touring the Inner City, he’d find a chance to get rid of the two Shen cousins and take Mu Xiaowan back to Lishui District himself.’

With this in mind, Chen Cheng shrugged and said, "No problem."

Shen Qingpeng was indeed familiar with the Inner City. Before long, the group arrived on its most prosperous and bustling street.

The street was crowded with people and lined with all sorts of shops. There were also numerous street vendors, their stalls overflowing with a dazzling array of goods; you could find anything you could possibly imagine.

"See, Young Master Chen? I wasn’t lying, was I? Brocade Avenue is the liveliest street in Linji City. Food, drink, fun—it has it all. And look, down that second alley, there’s a Beast Fighting Arena. That place is a ton of fun. Aside from fights with eagles and hounds, they also have rare Demon Beasts from all over the land..."

Shen Qingpeng was getting carried away, his words flying out in a spray of spittle.

Chen Cheng listened with half an ear, his gaze drifting to a nearby cosmetics shop.

Mu Xiaowan and Shen Junmo were currently inside, picking out rouges and powders. The two of them would periodically pick up different cosmetics to smell, chatting and laughing as they made their comparisons.

’That Shen Junmo... why is he just like a woman, so interested in things like cosmetics!’ Chen Cheng was utterly speechless.

’It wasn’t just cosmetics, either. Shen Junmo was also surprisingly enthusiastic about women’s clothing.’

As they continued on their way, they mostly browsed cosmetics shops and various clothing stores, occasionally buying small trinkets like wooden combs and hairpins from street-side stalls.

Chen Cheng was, of course, happy to accompany Mu Xiaowan. What was surprising was that Shen Junmo also seemed tireless. He even bought a huge pile of clothes and accessories and found endless things to talk about with Mu Xiaowan.

Gradually, Chen Cheng was becoming a third wheel.

As for Shen Qingpeng, while he also had no interest in women’s clothes and accessories, he was still quite pleased with himself.

The guy was a bona fide dandy. He was usually forced by the Shen Family elders to go to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall for Martial Dao Cultivation. Now that he was free from that, he was happy just to wander the streets. He trotted along cheerfully, carrying a huge pile of packages, big and small, without a single complaint.

Chen Cheng had heard a few things about the Four Great Clans of the Inner City. The Shen Family had been a dominant force in Linji City for over a hundred years, and Shen Qingpeng’s generation was the fourth. Rumor had it that there were no truly formidable individuals among the younger generation, and the family was now subtly ranked last among the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.

Supposedly, only Shen Qingshuang and Shen Qingyao possessed exceptional talent. Among the male disciples, there wasn’t a single one of note. It was clear the Shen Family was facing a crisis that threatened to end their lineage.

This seemed to prove the old adage: wealth never lasts more than three generations.

"Shen Qingpeng, what realm is your Martial Arts Cultivation at?" Chen Cheng finally couldn’t resist asking.

"My Martial Arts Realm? Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm!" Shen Qingpeng replied nonchalantly, showing not the slightest bit of shame over his meager strength.

’Forget it,’ Chen Cheng thought. ’Talking to this guy about the Martial Dao is like talking to a brick wall.’ He said no more.

...

「Nearing noon.」

"Brother Cheng, you’ve been following us around for so long. You must be tired, right?" Mu Xiaowan asked, her voice tinged with apology.

"I’m not tired. All that matters is that you’re happy." Chen Cheng smiled. He could see that Mu Xiaowan was having the time of her life.

Back in Ruyi District, the Chens’ family didn’t have much money, and with how chaotic it was outside, Mu Xiaowan hardly ever left the house.

After arriving at the Zheng Martial Arts Hall in the Inner City, she had been completely focused on Cultivating the Martial Dao. It was a rare opportunity for her to stroll through a bustling market and buy things to her heart’s content.

She was used to a frugal life. Even now that they had extra money, she remained very thrifty. After all that time shopping, she had only bought two outfits for herself and two for Chen Cheng. The rest consisted of two boxes of cosmetics and a few small trinkets like hairpins, all of which fit into a single small bundle.

Shen Junmo, on the other hand, was like a complete shopaholic. He bought everything he liked the look of—clothes and accessories for both men and women, cosmetics, and a huge pile of various other items.