"Senior Sister, do you want to buy anything else?" After checking the items she had purchased, the Little Fairy Doctor stored them in her ring and then turned to Nalan Yanran, who was standing beside her with a strange expression.
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran snapped out of her thoughts, shook her head, and said, "No need. Let's go back."
The Little Fairy Doctor nodded. "Alright."
Afterward, the two were escorted out by the steward and slowly left the Mittel Auction House.
However, as Nalan Yanran and the Little Fairy Doctor exited the auction house, a middle-aged man followed them at a distance. His eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he watched their retreating figures.
"Seven-pattern purple gold card, a Rank 5 magical beast egg... It seems I've stumbled upon a big catch this time..."
…
After leaving the Mittel Auction House, Nalan Yanran and the Little Fairy Doctor did not linger in the Sacred City of Jia Ma. Instead, they headed straight for the city gates. After a brief wait in line, the two walked out of the city and began their journey back to the Misty Cloud Sect.
"Senior Sister, Elder Gu He gave you a Rank 5 magical beast egg. What kind of magical beast is it?" Nalan Yanran asked as they walked side by side.
The Little Fairy Doctor replied, "It's an Iron-Winged Giant Eagle."
Nalan Yanran's eyes widened in surprise. "A flying-type monster! Junior Sister, once the Iron-Winged Giant Eagle hatches, you'll have to take me out for a ride."
A hint of longing flashed across the Little Fairy Doctor's face as she nodded. "Of course, Senior Sister. If I get the chance, I'll take you to my hometown, Qingshan Town. There's a beautiful valley there that I'm sure you'll love."
"Qingshan Town..." Nalan Yanran murmured. Having grown up in the Sacred City of Jia Ma, she had rarely ventured outside, except for her trip to Wu Tan City to annul her engagement. Naturally, she had never heard of Qingshan Town.
"In Qingshan Town, I also have a Blue Eagle friend. I plan to bring it back to the Misty Cloud Sect someday," the Little Fairy Doctor added, a nostalgic glint in her eyes.
Having been away from her hometown for so long, she felt a deep sense of longing. She resolved to return to Qingshan Town alone once she became stronger.
"Alright, I'll go with you when the time comes," Nalan Yanran said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Having rarely traveled, she yearned to explore the world beyond the Sacred City.
As they talked and walked, the two soon entered a dense forest. This forest was the shortest route back to the Misty Cloud Sect, and Nalan Yanran had led the Little Fairy Doctor along this path on their way to the city.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, the Little Fairy Doctor stopped in her tracks, sensing something amiss.
Noticing her sudden halt, Nalan Yanran asked, "What's wrong, Junior Sister?"
"Senior Sister, something feels off," the Little Fairy Doctor replied.
Having spent much of her time in Qingshan Town wandering the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the Little Fairy Doctor was far more sensitive to changes in her surroundings than most.
"When we came here earlier, this place wasn't so quiet. But now, on our way back, it's eerily silent—not even the chirping of birds. It feels strange," she explained.
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran's expression turned serious. She scanned the dense forest around them and nodded. "You're right. It is strange."
The Little Fairy Doctor suggested, "For safety's sake, why don't we take a different route?"
Nalan Yanran was about to agree when her expression suddenly changed.
In front of them, four masked figures emerged, blocking their path.
"Junior Sister, let's go!" Nalan Yanran grabbed the Little Fairy Doctor's hand and pulled her toward the Sacred City of Jia Ma. However, before they could run far, they were forced to stop again. Two more masked men had appeared ahead, cutting off their escape.
By now, the four masked figures from behind had also caught up, surrounding Nalan Yanran and the Little Fairy Doctor.
"I didn't expect you two little girls to be so alert. Fortunately, we were prepared, or you might have slipped away," sneered the middle-aged man who had been following them earlier.
"Who are you?" Nalan Yanran demanded, her voice cold. "How dare you attack us? Have you considered the consequences?"
The middle-aged man chuckled darkly. "I know you're not ordinary. After all, a seven-pattern purple gold card and a Rank 5 magical beast egg aren't things just anyone can possess."
"But when you left home, didn't your elders teach you not to flaunt your wealth?" His expression turned menacing. "Hand over your treasures, and maybe I'll let you live."
The other masked men grinned, their eyes gleaming with malice.
Among them, the middle-aged man and another masked figure were one-star Dou Practitioners, while the rest were seven-star and eight-star Dou Practitioners. With such strength, dealing with two young girls who lacked worldly experience would be an easy task.
Feeling the pressure from the group, Nalan Yanran's expression darkened. She silently regretted not asking any Elder to accompany them. It seemed this situation was about to take a turn for the worse.
In contrast, the Little Fairy Doctor remained calm.
"If we give you our treasures, will you let us leave safely?" she asked slowly, her gaze fixed on the middle-aged man.
The man laughed. "Of course. We're only after your valuables."
However, the mocking glint in the eyes of the other masked men betrayed his words. They knew this was their leader's usual tactic—to lull their targets into a false sense of security.
The two girls before them clearly had extraordinary backgrounds. Letting them go alive would only invite endless trouble.
Hearing their words, the Little Fairy Doctor's eyes flickered. Having dealt with mercenaries for years, she was far from naive.
Unnoticed by the masked men, a small jade bottle had appeared in her hand. She opened it quietly, releasing a colorless gas that drifted into the air.
Nalan Yanran, standing beside her, whispered urgently, "Junior Sister, don't trust them."
Though inexperienced, she could tell these men were not to be trusted. Even if they handed over their treasures, these men would likely not let them leave alive.
The Little Fairy Doctor smiled gently. "Senior Sister, they're only after our valuables. Our teacher once said that material possessions are external. If they want them, we'll give them."
As she spoke, she slowly removed the ring from her finger.
…
[I've just launched a new fanfiction project titled Protagonist's Mother Is My Wife.
First 30 Chapters: Available for free to everyone.
From chapters 31: Exclusive to Patreon paid members.]
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