Chapter 63

Lin Dong said, “The barrier has indeed been reinforced, and there are no issues with it now. However, many places remain unstable.”

Ye Baizhi wasn’t particularly concerned about safety. At present, she has regained second-tier wood-based abilities. Ye Wulan had already reached the Transcendence Realm. There was also Da Bao, who possessed dual and even triple-element abilities and was on the verge of breaking into the fourth tier, stronger than Lin Dong, who was merely a fourth-tier guard.

Besides, Lin Dong had mentioned that danger only existed outside the settlement.

She was here for business and wouldn’t be leaving the settlement anyway.

“Guard Lin, may I ask how the Snow Wolf King is doing?”

Lin Dong explained, “I don’t know much about the details, but I’ve heard that our Snow Wolf King has gone into seclusion.”

Ye Baizhi slowly let out a breath of relief. “If he’s in seclusion, then who is in charge of the northern region?”

Lin Dong answered truthfully, “There are elders within the tribe, but their opinions don’t always align.”

Ye Baizhi smiled and said, “Thank you, Guard Lin.”

Lin Dong had never encountered a female beastman who was so gentle—and who even thanked him. He scratched the back of his head and said, “It’s nothing. Thank you for the two fruits.”

Ye Baizhi replied, “Keep them for yourself. You’re too thin, you need to eat more.”

Perhaps the kindness she showed touched Lin Dong, as his eyes turned slightly red. He spoke spontaneously, “I was thinking—one for my father and one for Miss Zhu.”

“Miss Zhu’s father said that as long as I save up enough spirit stones and food and buy a stone house, I can be with her.”

Ye Baizhi paused for a moment—wasn’t this essentially a bride price?

“Guard Lin, I’m actually curious. How much do you need to save?”

Lin Dong responded, “Thirty Purple Spirit Stones, thirty beasts, and I still have to buy a stone house.”

“I receive one Purple Spirit Stone per month—if I put in more effort, I’ll get there.”

Lin Dong’s face carried hopeful anticipation.

However, Ye Baizhi found the conditions rather harsh—but since it was someone else’s matter, she chose not to intervene. She took out another apple and handed it to Lin Dong.

“Eat this yourself!”

Lin Dong was deeply grateful to them and shared a few important things to keep in mind before taking his leave.

Watching him go, Ye Baizhi turned to Ye Wulan. “So, Lin Dong is trying to marry that Zhu girl, right?”

“And he has to prepare all these things himself?”

“He only earns one Purple Spirit Stone a month—how long is this going to take?”

“Plus, buying a stone house alone costs at least a hundred Purple Spirit Stones!”

“No wonder he’s so thin—he looks malnourished.”

“He takes things, yet still worries about others.”

Ye Baizhi couldn’t help but feel these customs completely upended her understanding.

Ye Wulan chuckled and gently ruffled her hair. “That’s why you’re the best, Baizhi. There’s no female beast quite like you.”

“So, setting up a disguise for your appearance was the right decision.”

He certainly didn’t want anyone coveting his Baizhi.

Speaking of the disguise, it was something Ye Baizhi had agreed to. Ye Wulan had given her a pair of earrings—magical artifacts that could conceal her features. To those below the ninth tier, she would appear completely ordinary and unremarkable. But to those above the ninth tier, the disguise wouldn’t hold.

Ye Baizhi smiled and said, “This works well—saves us from unnecessary trouble.”

“When we do business, people will see us as plain-looking, so their focus will stay on the goods at our stall. It makes selling much easier.”

As if reminded of something, Ye Baizhi added, “By the way, regarding what Guard Lin just said about the Snow Wolf Tribe—do you hear anything unusual in that?”

Ye Wulan spoke in a low voice, “Xue Youchen is likely injured, which is why he had to go into seclusion.”

“The injuries might be serious, so he won’t be coming out anytime soon. During this period, power struggles will break out within the Snow Wolf Tribe.”

“With the tribe vying for control internally, they won’t have the capacity to manage other areas, nor will they be able to maintain order and ensure people’s safety in the northern district.”

“This is when certain factions start disregarding the rules—robbery and murder become common occurrences.”

“Some beastmen who come to do business, or tribes buying supplies to take back, might be ambushed on their way.”

“In the past, these incidents never happened because Xue Youchen’s presence deterred them. But now that he’s in seclusion, these people have grown bolder and act without restraint.”

From Lin Dong’s brief remarks, Ye Wulan was able to deduce these issues.

Hearing this, Ye Baizhi’s expression shifted. “Xue Youchen… is he really okay?”

He was seriously injured. Now that she had wood-based abilities—and Da Bao did too—they should be able to heal him.

Da Bao, with his soft and innocent voice, said, “Mother, Father Ye, don’t worry—Father will be fine.”

Ye Baizhi looked at him seriously. “You know that for sure?”

“Yes, Da Bao can sense it. Father will break through—he won’t be in danger.”

Only then did Ye Baizhi finally let out a breath of relief. She said, “Tomorrow morning, let’s go check out the market, pick a spot, and rent a stall to sell our goods.”

“We’re safe within this settlement—there shouldn’t be any danger.”

“Those who want to steal only dare to do so outside the settlement. Within the settlement, they don’t have the nerve.”

“They wouldn’t openly provoke the Snow Wolf Tribe’s guards.”

Ye Wulan added, “The main reason is that a lot of the fees collected here have to be handed over to the higher-ups. If fighting breaks out and disrupts the market, affecting their profits, the Snow Wolf Tribe will send people down to suppress it. That’s why they’re smart enough not to cause trouble within the settlement.”

Ye Baizhi nodded thoughtfully. “Since it’s safe here, we can settle down and do business. It would be best to buy a stone house as soon as possible—then a shop.”

They needed a permanent residence. As for housing in the city, that would likely cost more than a thousand Purple Spirit Stones. The treasures Xue Youchen had once given her—she was reluctant to sell them.

Ye Wulan understood her thoughts. “Alright.” Wherever she was, he would be there too.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the market and pick a stall.”

Ye Baizhi said, “Let’s go together and take a look.”

Choosing a spot early and paying the rent would allow them to start selling right away.

…

The stone house, though simple, had two rooms, a small courtyard, and a separate restroom on the side—but it was well-equipped.

After dinner and washing up, Ye Wulan and Ye Baizhi naturally shared the same bed.

At night, Ye Wulan wanted to hold onto her until midnight, but remembering they had to wake up early to set up their stall, he let her go sooner than usual.

“Be good, I won’t wear you out—sleep now!”

Ye Baizhi couldn’t help but sigh—Ye Wulan, once indulgent, was truly overwhelming. At night, he was far too persistent and affectionate—she had barely been able to keep up. Thankfully, she had already reached second-tier wood-based abilities. Yet, when she woke up the next morning, Ye Baizhi was shocked to find that she had suddenly broken through to third-tier wood abilities. It made her wish she could pull Ye Wulan back for some intimate moments to quickly boost her strength, but remembering their plans to set up the stall early, they got up at dawn for breakfast. They weren’t comfortable leaving Da Bao alone at home, so they brought him along.

Even before sunrise, many stalls had already been set up. There were still a few vacant spots, though they were in more remote areas.

The marketplace was too large—the center formed a crossroads, with four streets stretching outward, both sides lined with stalls. It would take about an hour to walk across the entire market.

“How about this spot?” Ye Baizhi suggested.

Ye Wulan felt it was too far inward, with barely any beastmen passing through. “It’s a bit out of the way.”