The bustling and lively Magic Avenue was filled with a constant stream of pedestrians.
At the roadside stalls, vendors stood by—some shouting to draw customers, others using magic tools to amplify their promotional pitches, looking relaxed and comfortable as they narrowed their eyes and yawned.
That type of magic tool was practically identical to a modern-day tape recorder.
[Host, there is a situation over at the Lis Family. Do you want to go investigate right now?]
No need to rush. They will probably come looking for us on their own. Or if they don't, I'll take the initiative and go after them.
It's still too early! Even if I went now, I might not uncover any important information. Let's just wait for them to slip up a bit more.
[Well, Host, Yi Yu has gone to the forbidden grounds of the Yi Clan! He's going to break the seal and obtain the power of the Demon Dragon to save you!]
Is that so? No wonder that just as I was leaving the Light Mage Faction earlier, I felt a vague surge of strange things lingering all around.
As for him wanting to save me! I'm afraid that's quite impossible!
[Host, those are all dark minions and dark magic beasts summoned by Yi Yu.]
Summoned, not transformed? Could it be that after leaving the Dark Magic Forest, that troublesome fellow has switched to a different form of magic, or is he appending a magic array onto his original magical foundation...
[That's possible. After Host saved him, the plot—]
"I say, little mage, you've been standing in front of my stall for ages. Are you going to buy something or not? If not, scram, scram, don't interrupt my business," a somewhat grating voice said to Yi Yan.
Ni Tian System, do you have any magic coins?
[Sorry, Host, I have no money! We are not a spendthrift system! So I don't have that function!]
Upon hearing the Ni Tian System's words, Yi Yan silently walked over to another stall.
Instead of putting on a warm, enthusiastic front, the stall owner said leisurely, "If anything here catches your eye, 500 magic coins and you can take it right away."
[Host, this person is clearly trying to scam you. In this magical world, a commoner can earn 20 magic coins a month. Even a mages only make 50 magic coins a month.]
"An outright extortion..." Yi Yan coughed and asked.
The stall owner sneered with disdain, "At my place, every single item costs this much."
"With that attitude of yours, these things aren't even worth buying!" Yi Yan coughed.
"Little mage, now that's an interesting thing for you to say! Since my attitude is bad, then get the hell out of here!" The harsh tone held not a shred of patience, only smug satisfaction.
Yi Yan gazed at the items on the stall. Among them was a small hand mirror—exquisitely crafted, it might well be a magic tool.
The stall owner had a sharp eye: "Took a fancy to it? You've got good taste. This mirror is a special magic tool; carry it with you, and it can contain all sorts of magical substances. Not a single shop or stall here has anything like this in stock. Only I have this item. 500 magic coins isn't expensive, considering you're..." earning it.
"Stall Owner Jia, you're trying to pull wool over people's eyes again! Little mage, don't you go acting on impulse and listening to his sweet-talking nonsense to buy it! If you buy it, you'll take a massive loss!" said a female mage who seemed somewhat kind-hearted.
"Auntie, how is it you again?! Scram, scram, stop coming here to stir up trouble! My business is completely honest—how could I be trying to cheat this little mage?" Stall Owner Jia spread his hands and protested.
"Auntie?! I'm not even 26 years old yet! Stall Owner Jia, you scumbag, I'm going to report you to the Magic Tribunal and make sure a black-hearted merchant like you can't cheat people anymore!"
[Host, the Magic Tribunal = the court of law in your world.]
"Fine! Big sister! Go ahead and report me if you've got the guts! In any case, the one who'll suffer heavy losses in the end is you."
"You—" The young female mage's momentum instantly deflated.
No one knew what background this Stall Owner Jia had! Several people had already reported him consecutively, yet he had always remained completely fine... For some reason, the people at the Magic Tribunal simply refused to meddle in his affairs.
While the two of them were engaged in this verbal sparring match, Yi Yan picked up the mirror, opened it, and reflected her own appearance in it.
This face—the Original Host's face—resembled her own original face by some seventy or eighty percent.
Ni Tian System, what is going on here? This can't just be a coincidence!
Am I the Original Host, or is this simply who I am?
Am I here to turn everything around on behalf of the Original Host?
[Host, actually, you didn't cross over via soul transference; you crossed over with your physical body!]
Hearing this, Yi Yan didn't get angry; instead, she asked with composure: What about the Original Host?
[The Original Host is fast asleep in the guest room of the Colorful Space!]
The Colorful Space has a guest room? How come I never noticed it before?
[Host, that guest room is actually a special chamber.]
Special guest room = special guest.
That was probably Yi Yan's interpretation.
[Host, every time you accept the identity of a cannon-fodder character, your body and soul are not those of the Original Host, but to everyone else, your appearance is that of the Original Host, and they believe you are the Original Host.]
So it works like that! When I go back, will there be any sequelae? After all, I saved Yi Yu! Will a curse descend upon me?
[Please rest assured, Host! Ni Tian solemnly guarantees that won't happen!]
Stall Owner Jia assumed that Yi Yan, who had been deep in thought for a moment, was quite satisfied with his merchandise and was about to reach into her pocket...
"Oh? Stall Owner Jia, don't bother wasting your effort! Judging by her attire, this little mage looks fine, but she doesn't have any money," remarked the stall owner who had chased Yi Yan away earlier.
"When I'm doing business, it's not your place to shoot your mouth off!" Stall Owner Jia cast a sidelong glance at him.
For some reason, that stall owner didn't dare to push his luck; he packed up his stall in dejection and left.
As it turned out, Yi Yan admitted frankly, "I don't even have a single magic coin!"
At this, the young female mage burst out laughing.
Stall Owner Jia's face grew slightly strained.
"Mage Liu, your help is needed over here. Your remuneration has already been prepared," shouted a commoner.
"Hello, little mage! My name is Liuxuer. Seeing a look of such awkwardness on his face for the very first time makes me quite happy. However, I have other urgent matters to attend to, so I must be going! If you need anything, come find me at the Light Mage Faction!" With that, Liuxuer turned and left.
"Put the things down and hurry along..."
At that moment, a plain-faced, expressionless ordinary youth walked over and casually scattered a large pile of magic coins.
"This... is more than enough! Little mage, you are certainly well-liked! You should have called this person out a lot sooner—how wonderful that would have been!"
"Hurry up and leave him, let him go," Yi Yan whispered softly to the ordinary youth.
With a single wave of her hand, she channeled dark magic, bringing time across the entire street to a complete standstill...
The ordinary youth froze for a moment as a dark shadow detached itself from his body.
[Host, this dark shadow has been tailing us the entire way. He's the very same minion who helped you move your treasures and open the treasure chest before.]
"Yes! I noticed it all the way here! Besides, those two directionally-challenged Grand Magi should be finding me soon as well, *cough, cough, cough*."
With that, Yi Yan swept the dark minion into the mirror, gathered up all the gold coins the stall owner had dropped on the ground, and returned them to their rightful owner by placing them back into the youth's pocket.
Live your life well from now on! I hope you do more good deeds in the future, young man.
When everything returned to normal, the youth was the first to look utterly bewildered, walking along while muttering, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
Then came Stall Owner Jia, whose facial muscles twitched violently as he broke into a grin.
*What on earth am I so happy about?* Stall Owner Jia wondered to himself.
"We've finally found you, Miss Yi!" said the two Grand Magi, maintaining a veneer of politeness.
"You're here? Perfect! I've taken a fancy to some items at this stall, but I don't have any magic coins. I know you two are the best! Help me pay for all of them, won't you?" Yi Yan said, flashing Stall Owner Jia a glance to show him how many items she had picked out.
And with that, she strolled away effortlessly!
How could the two light mages not follow after seeing Yi Yan leave?
They immediately tossed down a money pouch, only for Stall Owner Jia to bind their hands and feet on the spot.
"What do you think you're doing? Didn't you get the money? You're still trying to pull shady tricks on us—do you even know who we are?"
"Just this paltry sum of magic coins inside? Do you take me for some stray beggar? The things that little mage took away are worth 5,000 magic coins."
"Pah! You extortionist, do you know who—"
"I know, aren't you guys Mo Ge's underlings? Grand Magi of the Light Mage Faction. Why else would I bother expending a magic tool, just in case you tried to welsh on the bill and run off?" Stall Owner Jia said leisurely.
The two Grand Magi felt a jolt of shock in their hearts—he recognized Mo Ling.
With hearts aching in agony, they fished out the accumulated wealth of most of their lives.
"There! Are you satisfied? Hurry up and untie us!"
"No, no, no, this merely paid the little mage's tab. You're still short 2,000 magic coins!"
"What? We didn't even buy anything of yours."
"True, but since you fell into my trap, it cost me one of my single-use magic tools. So if you please, the two of you!" Stall Owner Jia grinned craftily.
...