After saying goodbye to the others, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, and Herta agreed to meet at the Ruomu Pavilion at the hour of Chen tomorrow. Jingliu would teach them the craftsmanship and materials needed to make the Cangcheng phoenix crown and rosy cape.
Jingliu then took Bailu to revisit old places. They stopped before a vendor outside the Never-Night Hou. Bailu glanced briefly at the various snacks and desserts, and Jingliu immediately understood. She stepped forward and coldly asked the vendor, "Pack all of these. How many credits?"
The vendor froze, staring at Jingliu in terror—her absolute coldness, tinged with the ominous aura of Mara. He stammered, "Th-this... honored one, you want everything?"
Jingliu glanced at him. "You're not from the Xianzhou?"
Scotty nodded helplessly. Because of his repeated encounters with the two geniuses, the IPC had decided that he might annoy one of them, and so he was fired. With no income and his savings drained by a mechanical race's hacker, he had nothing left. Wandering the Luofu penniless, it was only thanks to Meng Ming, the generous and forgiving owner of the Never-Night Hou, that he had found a lifeline—a job selling snacks and desserts.
"Honored one, everything is packed for you." Scotty carefully handed all the snacks to Jingliu and Bailu.
Just as Jingliu was about to leave with Bailu, Scotty panicked and ran after her. "Honored one! You haven't paid yet!"
Jingliu paused. Pay? In the past, whenever she bought something on the Luofu, the vendors would just bill the Divine Foresight. "Go to Jing Yuan and tell him it was purchased by Jingliu."
With those emotionless words, Scotty could only force a smile, cold sweat dripping down his back. "Honored one, how could a lowly person like me dare set foot in the Divine Foresight?!"
Bailu handed him a purple card. "Swipe this."
Relieved, Scotty beamed, bowing and scraping as he carefully processed the payment.
Bailu said with innocent candor, "Oh, by the way, boss, I think I've heard March 7th mention someone who dresses like you."
Scotty's smile froze. As if mourning his own death, he explained, "Lady Dragon Lady, I... I don't know any March 7th. I'm just a very ordinary street vendor."
Bailu shrugged and smiled at Jingliu. "Never mind. Jingliu, let's go to the Never-Night Hou and listen to the storyteller! They're telling the legend of the High-Cloud Quintet."
Jingliu was taken aback, but quickly composed herself. "Alright."
No sooner had Jingliu and Bailu left than Scotty was thinking about how today's profit might allow him an extra meal. Then, in the distance, he saw the figures of Ruan Mei and Herta. His eyes went wide with terror.
"Ruan Mei, there's a vendor ahead. I'll get you some Immortal's Delight and desserts."
"Alright."
The moment he heard their voices, Scotty snapped to, grabbed his entire stall, and ran for his life.
"Hey?! Why are you running? It's not like I'm not going to pay!"
Scotty paid no attention to Herta's shout. He vanished in an instant.
Herta's face darkened. Just as she was about to chase after the man who dared snub her, Ruan Mei held her back. "Forget it, Herta. There's a vending machine right here."