“The staff is standard-issue equipment from the Mulan family workshop; it is not for external sale.”
Anna spoke up as a reminder, then added, “The shaft is engraved with the Mulan family’s exclusive crest, which any legitimate pawnshop or merchant can recognize.”
“Therefore, if this staff were to circulate through unofficial channels, its origin would certainly be traced.”
She paused, her tone softening slightly. “However, as the owner of it, you can use it as a credential to obtain certain conveniences in any town within the kingdom that has Mulan family properties.”
“So, its value extends far beyond mere spellcasting.”
Bai Xuan’s fingers subconsciously brushed over the shaft.
Sure enough, near the bottom, he felt several subtle, raised patterns—exactly the family crest Anna had mentioned.
“I understand. Thank you.”
He thanked her softly, gripping the staff in his palm again and carefully feeling the sense of balance that fit his hand so well.
At the very least, until his custom-made equipment was finished, this staff would be more than enough.
Amelia watched Bai Xuan put away the staff and the coin pouch, her purple eyes blinking.
Suddenly, she grabbed Anna’s arm and began to shake it gently, her voice soft and carrying a hint of a spoiled whine. “Sister Anna~ give him a little bit more!”
“Look at Big Brother; he looks so poor. Just a little more, just a tiny bit, okay?” She looked up, her face full of pleading.
Anna looked down at her young mistress.
Then, a trace of helplessness appeared on her face. Her tone was gentle but remained firm. “Miss, eight gold coins is already an additional reward. The rules of employment cannot be compromised repeatedly.”
She lightly patted the back of Amelia’s hand.
Then, she lowered her voice, though just enough for Bai Xuan standing nearby to hear clearly: “Blindly giving or taking will only plant the seeds of future trouble. I believe Mr. Bai Xuan should be able to understand this consideration.”
After hearing this, Amelia’s small mouth pouted slightly, looking a bit unwilling, but she didn't persist further.
In truth, for Bai Xuan, this staff had already exceeded his expectations, not to mention the extra gold coin reward.
Although he had joined the team as a hireling, he knew in his heart that along the way, he had been the one protected by the Mulan family.
Truth be told, it was hard to say who was really providing the service to whom.
Just then, Banner, standing nearby, accidentally stepped on an old wooden board laid flat on the ground.
The board shattered instantly, and one of his feet sank straight into the hole.
Banner was startled by the sudden misstep and let out a shout, drawing the attention of everyone around.
In that exact moment, Amelia suddenly took a small step forward.
Bai Xuan felt a small, soft object with a hint of warmth being quickly pressed into the edge of his palm, perfectly hidden by his fingers.
The item wasn't large and seemed to be wrapped in a layer of soft fabric.
“You must be careful, Big Brother Bai Xuan.” She stepped back, her purple eyes curving into crescents as she gave him a smile.
The smile was part mischievous and part meaningful. Then, she turned and ran back to the side of the shouting Banner.
“Dummy, you scared everyone! Hurry up and say goodbye to Big Brother Bai Xuan!” she scolded the still-fussing Banner.
Bai Xuan quietly tightened his hand, the subtle sensation against his fingertips telling him it was indeed a small object wrapped in soft cloth.
She had been calling him “Big Brother” earlier, but this sudden change in address felt a bit unfamiliar to him.
Banner scratched his head and strode up to Bai Xuan, his large hand heavily patting the young man’s shoulder.
Even though he had deliberately held back his strength, he still made Bai Xuan wobble slightly.
“Remember to increase your strength!” his voice was incredibly serious. “And don't forget to practice your healing magic; it’s really something!”
“I will. Take care,” Bai Xuan replied with a slight nod and a deep voice.
Anna also gave Bai Xuan a slight nod of respect before turning to command the guards to pack up, preparing to return to Blackcreek Town.
Amelia looked back and waved vigorously at Bai Xuan, her pink hair trailing behind her in a lively arc.
Bai Xuan stood in place, watching the conspicuously dressed team pass through the noisy market.
He didn't slowly look away until they had gradually disappeared around the corner of the road leading out of the fissure.
He didn't immediately check the item Amelia had given him, simply tucking the small object carefully into his inner pocket.
Then he turned around, his gaze sweeping over the shops with crude signs in the market, finally settling on a two-story wood and stone building nearby.
A wooden board hung crookedly by the door with a simple inn symbol painted on it; it seemed to be the only place to stay in the vicinity.
Bai Xuan walked straight over, pushing through the bustling crowd.
The moment he pushed the door open, a mix of scents hit him.
The interior was more spacious than expected, though the lighting was dim. A few adventurers sat scattered at heavy wooden tables, drinking and talking in low voices.
Behind the counter stood a man slowly wiping a wine cup with a gray cloth.
He looked to be in his forties, with a lean frame and wearing a worn set of old leather armor. A small piece of his left ear was missing, and a scar on his chin was partially hidden by a messy beard.
Hearing the door open, the man raised his eyelids to look over. His gaze wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. He spoke in a raspy voice, “Staying the night?”
“Yes. What’s the price?” Bai Xuan walked to the counter and asked directly.
“Three silver coins a day. Includes wheat porridge for breakfast and dinner. There’s a well in the backyard; get your own hot water. You’re free to use the stove.”
After saying this, the man lowered his head and continued wiping the cup, saying no more.
“Three silver coins?” Bai Xuan paused slightly and frowned. “An inn in Blackcreek Town only costs one silver coin a day.”
The man stopped his movements and looked up at Bai Xuan.
His gaze then inadvertently swept over the exquisite staff in Bai Xuan’s hand, and his tone gained a bit of confidence. “Blackcreek Town is Blackcreek Town. This is the market at the entrance of a dungeon. Can they be the same?”
He pointed outside with the cup in his hand and added, “Go walk around and you’ll see. Aside from my place, there isn't a second shop where you can sleep peacefully until dawn.”
“For three silver coins, you’re not just buying a place to stay; you’re buying my rules.”
He jerked his chin toward the adventurers drinking in the shop. “Outside, you can argue all you want. But once you enter my door, anyone who wants to cause trouble has to ask the axe on my wall if it’s willing.”
Bai Xuan followed his gaze and indeed saw a double-edged short axe hanging on the wall behind the counter.
Looking back at the man’s calloused palms, Bai Xuan quietly checked; the man was Lv.4.
This level wasn't top-tier in this market, but it was enough to intimidate low-level adventurers who wanted to save on room fees or were prone to causing trouble.
“Fine.”
Bai Xuan didn't haggle further, counting out three silver coins from his pouch and placing them lightly on the counter.
The man swept up the coins and fished a copper key attached to a wooden tag out of a drawer, tossing it over. “Last room on the second floor. The window faces west; you’ll get sun in the afternoon.”
Bai Xuan caught the key and turned to head upstairs.
The room was exactly as he had imagined—simple beyond words.
The door was so narrow he almost had to turn sideways to squeeze in. Inside, besides a wooden bed with a thin mattress and a crooked triangular wooden stand, there was only a chipped ceramic basin in the corner.
The walls were made of rough stone blocks plastered with a layer of yellowing mud. The only window was high and small, fitted with a piece of glass that was nearly cracked through.
Bai Xuan leaned his backpack and staff against the bed, his gaze falling on the door.
The door was made of thick oak, and the bolt was newly replaced, looking quite sturdy.
He carefully bolted the door. After confirming his safety, he took the small object Amelia had given him out of his inner pocket.
It was a small bundle wrapped in a soft pink cotton handkerchief.
A faint fragrance wafted from the handkerchief, identical to the scent on Amelia.
The bundle felt very light. Bai Xuan gently unwrapped the handkerchief, and two items lay quietly inside.
One was a silver badge, about the size of a thumb, with extremely exquisite craftsmanship and fine metal patterns winding around the edges.
In the center was a small amethyst that shimmered with a faint luster in the dim light.
The other was a neatly folded piece of stationery, also carrying that faint fragrance.
Bai Xuan carefully unfolded the note, revealing elegant and tidy handwriting.
The script had the round, cute quality of a young girl, yet within the strokes was a steady strength that didn't match her appearance.
【Big Brother Bai Xuan, by the time you see this note, we’ll probably be far away! (A simple smiley face was drawn next to it.)】
【I don't know why, but I feel like there’s something very special about you. It’s different from Sister Anna, Grandpa Frank, and everyone I’ve seen in the capital... but I didn't tell anyone!】
【This is our little secret! (A drawing of a rabbit covering its mouth with curved eyes was here.)】
【This pretty badge is a special recommendation token for the Icarus Magic Academy in Myriad City.】
【Father said that only those with true potential and who are worth looking forward to are given one.】
【I think it suits Big Brother Bai Xuan very, very well!】
【You can learn so much interesting magic knowledge at the academy and make powerful friends!】
【But the next school term doesn't start until the Harvest Moon four months from now. I hope to see you again in Myriad City!】
【When that time comes, I’ll definitely take you to taste the best honey almond cake in the capital!】
【Promise me, you must work hard to become stronger. No slacking off!】
【—Your most reliable new friend, Amelia. (The end featured a drawing of a little white rabbit giving a thumbs up.)】
Bai Xuan held the note, looking at it in silence. The faint noise of the market outside the window drifted in, making the room feel even quieter.
Sure enough, all the details instantly connected in his mind.
The overly inquisitive gaze when they first met and her unusual interest in his Holy Light Catalyst.
Finally, her insistence on exchanging the Sanctuary Embers with him, even slightly going against Anna’s wishes.
She had never been purely innocent or curious; she had seen something different about him. Bai Xuan just wasn't sure exactly what she had perceived.
“Icarus Magic Academy...”
Bai Xuan whispered the name, and a memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
The traveling merchant Colin and his daughter Nora had said something similar when they parted in the forest.
“If you ever pass through Myriad City in the future, you can find us at the Icarus Magic Academy.”
At the time, he had only taken it as a polite gesture, but thinking back now, it probably wasn't that simple.
Did that father and daughter also see something unusual about him?
Bai Xuan’s fingertips traced the silver badge, the cold metal edge pressing against his palm as a ripple of emotion rose in his heart.
An academy, systematic knowledge, a wider world, an opportunity to transcend his social class...
These were all things he urgently needed right now.
Anna was powerful, a Lv.8 Transcendent Rank Priest-Mage, but she was ultimately just a maid of the Mulan family.
Bai Xuan knew that individual strength had its limits. To go further, he needed corresponding status, knowledge, and connections to support and amplify it.
And this badge was undoubtedly a key to opening that door.
Starting school in four months...
Just as Bai Xuan couldn't help but fantasize about the future possibilities, his peripheral vision caught his dust-covered, tattered clothes, and the rising emotions in his heart instantly cooled.
Fantasizing about the future was meaningless. For now, he had to set aside future matters; clearing his debts was the most urgent priority.
In these four months, there were still too many things waiting for him to resolve.
Bai Xuan carefully rewrapped the badge and the note in the handkerchief and tucked them into the innermost part of his Space Ring for safekeeping.
Then he leaned against the bed and began to take stock of his almost surreal gains from this trip.
He had thought that accidentally wandering into the depths of the dungeon would only drain his supplies, lead to complete bankruptcy, or even cost him his life.
But he hadn't expected to not only walk out alive but also have quite a few good items in his pockets.
He took the damaged gold and silver ornaments he had picked up from the sarcophagus in the tomb out of his ring and spread them lightly on the thin mattress.
In the dim light, these once-beautiful pieces of jewelry were covered in scratches and corrosion. Most of the inlaid gemstones had fallen out or shattered, but the weight of the gold and silver remained.
Bai Xuan weighed them. Based on this weight, after being melted into gold and silver materials, they would be worth roughly eleven gold coins.
That was assuming he could find a reliable buyer who wouldn't excessively lowball him.
Next, he took out the dozen or so Lv.4 magic cores he had obtained from the Bone Amalgams.
There was also one pale white magic core with fine internal patterns—that one came from the guard.
He remembered that Lorrain, the owner of the Coarse Pottery Flask Shop, had high quality requirements for magic cores but was also willing to pay a high price for quality goods.
The magic cores produced by these level four undead had a special energy nature. They might not be as good as magic cores from magical beasts of the same level, but they were still rare materials.
With so many magic cores, selling them for one or two gold coins shouldn't be a problem, right?
Then there was the Soul-Patterned Ring.
Bai Xuan held it lightly in his palm. The once-smooth, milky-white face of the ring was now covered in fine cracks.
It had completely lost its former luster, feeling no different from an ordinary cold stone to the touch.
During their escape, it had automatically triggered a shield to block the wraiths’ attacks, exhausting its final energy and even damaging its foundation.
Now, it looked more like an ancient piece of silver jewelry. The complex and exquisite patterns on it spoke of craftsmanship long lost by the Glayde Empire.
Perhaps only a scholar or collector specializing in ancient magical items would be interested in it.
Rate on N.U.
