Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 43: Miss Hu Jiu

"I’ll just take a look around first." Jiang Yuan responded politely, glancing at the price of the luxurious garments displayed in the window—six hundred fifty Spirit Stones, so darn expensive!

"That Hundred Birds Phoenix Robe is the store’s premium item. Although pricy, the materials are exquisite. It’s not only warm in winter and cool in summer, but also serves as armor with some defense capabilities. The birds on it can be magically activated to transmit messages. However, transmitting once will consume an embroidered bird, and if you wish to replace it, you need to come back here and spend Spirit Stones for the embroideress to re-stitch it using a secret technique."

Hu Jiu gracefully descended from upstairs, holding a long tobacco pipe. She took a puff, exhaled a grayish-white smoke ring, and smiled slightly. Her mouth opened wide to the ears, revealing a row of sinister white teeth, and her voice carried the inherent allure of the Fox Race, "If you don’t like such extravagant ones, we have a variety of styles, from cotton clothes to silk shirts, all available."

Oh wow? A single garment can play out into so many varieties?

After listening to the introduction and looking again at the luxurious garment with colorful birds embroidered on a black base, six hundred Spirit Stones didn’t seem particularly expensive.

Of course, the premise of being willing to spend that many Spirit Stones on clothes is having a consistent source to earn Spirit Stones, such as... having a Spirit Stone Mine to dig!

Jiang Yuan thought to himself as a puff of grayish-white smoke drifted over, bringing a familiar scent that reminded him of the smell of burning paper and incense from the red candles offered to the Divine Statue during the Spring Festival back in his hometown.

The fox demon smoking a pipe was quite an interesting setup; he suspiciously glanced at the black, scorched mess, unable to determine what exactly it was.

The embroidered curtain in the store gently shook, and from behind it peeked out a face belonging to a pretty girl with twin buns hairstyle, curiously looking forward. The curtain shook even more intensely, and Jiang Yuan could vaguely see a huge spider body climbing on it.

Judging by the shadow, it should be a little demon with a human head and spider body, quite the opposite of the fox demon.

Hu Jiu casually poked with her tobacco pipe, and the spider girl quickly moved her eight legs to slip away behind the curtain, out of sight.

"Ahem, I want to buy some everyday clothes." Jiang Yuan calmly scanned the prices, with ordinary clothes varying from a hundred Gold Coins to several thousand Gold Coins, without the need for Spirit Stones.

This price is quite reasonable; Gold Coins and reality currency circulate at 1:1. He was no longer unemployed, now having five-digit savings, and spending a couple of thousand on clothes, shoes, and socks didn’t hurt.

"Would you like to look at this booklet, Sir? Ready-made clothes are convenient, but it’s always best to have clothes tailored according to your measurements for the best fit. You only need to pay a little extra for the tailor’s customization fee to have the most fitting clothes." Hu Jiu held a booklet, tilted her head slightly, and gave him a flirty glance.

Jiang Yuan: ...

If it were a girl with fox ears, she’d be truly charming. But you retain a complete fox head on a human body, which looks eerie no matter how you see it!

"I think these are good for now; I’ll come back another time for customization." He casually pointed at a few cotton clothes he could probably wear and reported his shoe size to the shop assistant, who fetched several pairs of the most common black boots matching white cotton socks.

Hu Jiu was eager to see a human cultivator up close, hoping to gather firsthand information and gossip with other shopkeepers.

Besides, judging by the voice, he shouldn’t be too old. Humans naturally couldn’t survive in the Wilderness, so he must have come from a barren world where Spiritual Energy is scarce.

In such a remote area, it’s rare to see a young cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm. As the most charming shopkeeper in Cyan Fish Mountain Market, she wanted to take this fitting chance to quickly build rapport and see the real appearance beneath the cloak.

Who knows, he might be talented, brave, and young enough not to know the perils of the Jianghu; taking a sneaky peek during a clothes fitting might give her a fascinating topic to discuss! She might even encounter him outside the market again, making more friends and paths. Legend says humans can tame the wildest demon beasts if they master the secret technique manuals left by immortals!

"Sir, you have a good eye. These clothes aren’t expensive but are all crafted from high-quality cotton. However, the fit needs to be tried to know if it’s suitable." She held the clothes enchantingly and pointed to the fitting room, "Allow me to assist you in trying them on."

Jiang Yuan calmly watched as the system popped up a message warning of her attempt to sneak a peek at his appearance. He withdrew Gold Coins to his Storage Bag, paid with a handful of coins, declined her offer, then grabbed the clothes, shoes, and socks, quickly exiting the store amid Hu Jiu’s stunned expression and melding into the many shadows on the street.

"Just left like that?" The renowned Miss Hu Jiu offered to assist with the fitting; even the Head Shopkeeper at the Auction House couldn’t refuse. Yet, this mere human cultivator coldly paid and left just like that?

It’s simply an extraordinary insult!

She rushed to the mirror for a careful examination; her noble snow-white fur was sleek and shiny, her large ears agile and pretty, her narrow deep green eyes sparkling brightly, complemented by floral accessories, as beautiful as ever.

"Am I pretty?" Hu Jiu gazed for a while, then turned to ask the shop assistant, a little brown fox, "Say the truth!"

The assistant immediately bowed politely with paws, "Miss, even among the distinguished Snow Mountain Divine Fox, your beauty is top-tier, let alone in the small Cyan Fish Mountain Market; you are definitely the most beautiful!"

"Then why does the human cultivator have no reaction to my beauty?" She puffed on her pipe twice, the more she recalled the opposite’s indifference, the angrier she got, "I need to write to my third sister; she has the most experience in charming others!"

The shop assistant asked quietly, "Miss, we haven’t interacted much with humans before; perhaps they are too dull to appreciate your noble beauty?"

"Impossible!" Hu Jiu decisively rejected this notion, "My third sister said that humans love anything furry. No matter the age or gender, they can’t resist cute and sweet fur!"

Watching her angrily turn to go upstairs, the shop assistant wondered: But humans seem to hunt ordinary foxes that can’t cultivate, likely they don’t care about fur that much.

Jiang Yuan strolled among the shadows, taking in the sights under the streetlights.

These shadows only gradually revealed their true forms when close to the shops; once on the cobblestone road, it seemed to blur everything as if applying a vague filter, making it impossible to identify any neighboring species.

The market’s restaurants resemble large food stalls, with large basins of meat, vegetables, and nearly two-meter-long massive fish heads laid out on long tables, emitting a strong fragrance to attract diners.

"Clam soup, Physical Strength +80 Life Energy +20, 280 Gold Coins; Chopped chili fish head, Physical Strength +100 Life Energy +50, 520 Gold Coins; Braised pork: Physical Strength +90 Life Energy +60, 580 Gold Coins..." Jiang Yuan walked while checking the food prices, finding the market’s offerings quite down-to-earth.

The cheapest cornmeal buns cost 5 Gold Coins each, increasing Physical Strength by 3 points, while a large bowl of white rice is 20 Gold Coins, providing Physical Strength +15.

The prices are somewhat high, but if the fruit sales go smoothly, indulgent meals of fish and meat before being able to cook himself might occasionally be acceptable.

Moreover, likely tailored to demon beast diners, the restaurants provide ample portions. Any single dish could suffice for two meals for the master and apprentice duo, making the food prices reasonable given the not just filling but also the Physical Strength and Life Energy enhancements.

Thus, Jiang Yuan purchased braised pork, shiitake and greens, plus two servings of rice and tofu carp soup, preparing a teacher’s banquet for his apprentice.

The market’s packaging method uses a gentle Spiritual Power to preserve the food’s temperature and aroma. He asked them to divide each dish into four portions, planning to surprise his apprentice at dawn!