Jiang Ying felt that this senior was rather eccentric.
Logically speaking, what kind of talisman would a Golden Core cultivator lack? Why would she be interested in a low-level talisman drawn by a mere Qi Condensation practitioner like her?
However, since she was a Golden Core expert, there was no need to offend her over a single talisman, so Jiang Ying nodded.
"Of course you may."
The silver-haired woman happily tucked the talisman paper into her sleeve pocket.
"Little friend, you are truly generous. Oh, by the way, is this the main gate of Yunzhou Academy?"
"……No, it is not."
"Then how did you two get out?"
Jiang Ying fell silent. Was she supposed to say they had snuck out through a weak point in the barrier?
The silver-haired woman, however, seemed to understand, wearing a mischievous expression.
"I know! Who hasn't skipped class when they were young?"
Her eyes practically lit up as she raised a hand and said, "Don't tell me where the gap is; I want to explore and find it myself!"
Just then, a large golden dog came bounding over happily from the distance. It ran to the silver-haired woman’s feet, trotted in circles while panting, and then lifted a front paw, pointing toward the direction of the barrier as if presenting a treasure.
Jiang Ying followed the direction of the dog’s paw, and it was indeed the gap in the barrier...
She hadn't expected that while the big dog looked "perfectly ordinary," it could find the academy's barrier breach so easily. That was quite impressive.
If even her pet was so capable, then this silver-haired woman was certainly no simple person.
The silver-haired woman smiled and gently patted the dog's head.
"Dahuang is the best after all. Dahuang, Qiubao, let's go!"
After saying this, she gave Jiang Ying one more meaningful look, waved at her, turned her wheelchair around, and tapped a few times on the armrest.
The wheelchair suddenly rose into the air, shrouded in clouds and mist, and zoomed away with a "whoosh."
Only a few happy barks remained.
Jiang Ying watched her depart, her eyes filled with contemplation.
She had never heard of Principal Yitan having any association with a Golden Core cultivator. This eccentric senior possessed significant cultivation and a very distinct personality; yet, despite searching her memory, she found no clues about her. Could she be some kind of reclusive expert?
As she pondered, her gaze unintentionally swept over to Xiao Di. Xiao Di was also looking at Jiang Ying, pointing to the talisman on his body.
Only then did Jiang Ying remember that the "Speak and Act with Caution" talisman was still stuck on him. No wonder she hadn't heard him say a word for so long.
Jiang Ying raised her hand slightly and peeled the talisman off.
Xiao Di coughed, his expression quite awkward.
"Senior Sister saved me just now. I don't want to owe you anything. If you need anything, just tell me. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly help you. Even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or diving into a sea of flames, I will not refuse."
Jiang Ying shook her head. It was just a casual act of saving someone; it didn't warrant him climbing mountains of blades or diving into seas of flames...
Yet, he kept staring at her, his gaze burning and bright, as if he wouldn't leave unless Jiang Ying made a request. What a stubborn child.
Jiang Ying sighed inwardly, suddenly recalling the "Ghost Market" that Xirui had mentioned earlier.
She couldn't ask Xiao Di directly where the Ghost Market was, but she could probe indirectly.
Xiao Di often snuck out of the academy; perhaps he really knew something.
"By the way, Senior Sister has a question for you. Is there any sort of Cultivator Market around here—a place where one can buy and sell things?"
Xiao Di gave her a quick look.
"Senior Sister wants to buy or sell something?"
"I've been short on money lately and wanted to earn some. If you happen to know where any market is, why not tell me?"
Xiao Di hadn't expected her to be so straightforward.
"There is one, but it is not an ordinary market. Senior Sister, you might not like it."
Jiang Ying thought to herself: *I would like it! I would like it very much! The more unusual, the better!*
She had a hunch that she had asked the right person.
"How unusual is it?"
"This market is called the 'Ghost Market.' It is called the Ghost Market because it is not easily found by ordinary people, and everyone who goes there wears a mask. You never know if the person you are trading with is a human or a ghost."
Xiao Di paused there and suddenly grinned, "Having heard that, do you still want to go, Senior Sister?"
"I do. Why wouldn't I? Whether they are human or ghost, everyone is just there for money. Our objectives are the same; there is nothing wrong with that." Jiang Ying also smiled, "It seems you are quite familiar with the Ghost Market, Junior Brother?"
"Of course. I live there."
Jiang Ying felt a surge of joy. Her luck was truly good today! She went out to dig for a spirit stone and ended up unearthing the Ghost Market as well!
"When shall we set off?"
"Today is the first day of the seventh lunar month. At the hour of the Zi, the ghost gates are wide open, and the Ghost Market stays open for longer. If you want to go, Senior Sister, let’s meet here at the hour of the Xu today."
"Alright."
"By the way, leave your contact details, Senior Sister." Xiao Di took out his Yulingtong.
Jiang Ying took out her Yulingtong, touched it to his, and they injected their spiritual power into each other's devices, ensuring they could communicate instantly in the future.
In her past life, the list of people she could communicate with was countable on one hand, and she rarely used a Yulingtong.
"Change your clothes before going to the Ghost Market," Xiao Di added.
At the hour of the Xu, Jiang Ying changed into a pink dress and arrived at the small river. Xiao Di was already waiting there.
Seeing Jiang Ying walking toward him in pink, even more radiant than she had been in her school uniform during the day, he couldn't help but be slightly dazed, his face flushing a faint red.
Jiang Ying didn't notice and simply said, "Junior Brother, let's go."
Xiao Di coughed lightly and nodded. He formed a seal with his hands, conjuring a ball of fire for illumination, and led Jiang Ying forward.
They walked along the river behind the mountain until they finally reached a desolate, abandoned ferry crossing.
Jiang Ying looked ahead and saw a strange object floating on the pitch-black water.
The object was covered in scorch marks from fire; one could vaguely tell that the main body was a cauldron with its legs sawed off, the prow was an old, discarded Alchemy Furnace, and it was fused together with various other bits of scrap magic tools.
Seeing Jiang Ying hesitate, Xiao Di thought she was afraid, so he jumped on first and grinned.
"Don't worry, Senior Sister. This boat is something I built myself, called the 'Tutu Boat.' Don't let its strange shape fool you; it's actually very stable."
As he said this, Xiao Di stomped his foot hard a few times; the boat only swayed slightly, emitting a muffled, humming sound.
Jiang Ying found it quite novel.
So this pitch-black thing was actually a boat?
He built a boat using a cauldron and a discarded Alchemy Furnace? It seemed this young man had quite a talent for artifact refining.
Xiao Di threw the fire into the Alchemy Furnace fused at the prow, and the boat suddenly shook violently, letting out a "tutu" roar as water splashed everywhere around it.
Jiang Ying understood immediately. No wonder it was called the "Tutu Boat." It was truly a simple, crude, and concise naming method!
Jiang Ying also stepped onto the boat. She hadn't hesitated out of fear, but because she found it interesting and wanted to take a closer look.
Once the boat sat lower in the water, the surface was within reach.
Xiao Di added another handful of fire to the furnace at the prow, and the boat jolted, charging forward with a "tutu-tutu" sound, the vibrations making Jiang Ying feel a bit numb.
Fortunately, Xiao Di wasn't driving very fast, so she was able to admire the surrounding scenery amid the "tutu" sounds.
Faint white mist rose from the river surface, making the firelight from the furnace look hazy. The moonlight was as cold as a blade, cutting the calamus reeds on the bank into fly-away fluffs that drifted out with the ripples.
Jiang Ying reached a hand into the river, stirring up a thin curtain of water; the coolness coiled around her fingers before she splashed it toward the center of the river.
Xiao Di sat at the prow, aimlessly stirring the river water, his gaze drifting toward Jiang Ying from time to time.
He wasn't usually a talkative person, but he couldn't suppress his curiosity about Jiang Ying. After holding back for a long time, he finally couldn't help but ask.
"What does Senior Sister plan to sell at the Ghost Market?"
"Talismans."
Xiao Di scratched his head.
"I've never sold talismans... but I can take you to the West Market to have a look. We'll definitely find a merchant there and get a good price!"
Jiang Ying smiled and asked casually, "Does your family also do business in the Ghost Market?"
"Yeah. My family picks up junk. After you're done selling your things, I'll take you to my shop to hang out."
"Is the Ghost Market fun?"
"Fun?" Xiao Di seemed to think the word was strange. He smiled and shook his head, "Although there are many strange and curious things in the Ghost Market, my family stays there just to survive. After seeing so many of those strange things, you won't find them so novel anymore."
Seeing Jiang Ying silent, Xiao Di thought for a moment and added, "Oh, right. If you want to earn money from the Ghost Market, Senior Sister, you can also try clearing the 'Seven Kills Roll'."
Jiang Ying's ears perked up instantly. The Seven Kills Roll—wasn't that the place Xirui mentioned that could help her earn money?
She would never let go of any opportunity to make money!
Jiang Ying quickly asked Xiao Di.
"Do you know where the Seven Kills Roll is?"