Huo Duoduo got tired of standing on the stool, so she simply flopped her butt down onto the table.
Hearing Fang Yuan's question, she merely cast a glance at her. “There is. As for where it is, I'll tell you after you bring me two laborers.”
Fang Yuan was not at all surprised by this. Instead, she introduced herself to Huo Duoduo with unusual familiarity. “Pointy-Eared Boss, although my nickname is imperially, impossibly badass, I don't mind if you call me by my actual name. I'm Fang Yuan—Fang as in square, Yuan as in tree-Yuan.”
Huo Duoduo shot her a bewildered look. Perhaps because Fang Yuan's big, toothy grin looked far too slick, she suddenly chimed in with a warning: “Fang Yuan, you can tell people your name, but don't tell them which exact characters make up your name.”
So there really is a 【Blessing】 related to true names?
Fang Yuan recalled Ren An.
Back at Hero Square, out of so many people present, why had she insisted on choosing Fang Yuan?
The rumor that Fang Yuan possessed more than one 【Blessing】 was one reason Ren An might have chosen her, but there was another reason that Fang Yuan felt made plenty of sense as well.
Among all the Candidates present, only her name was loud and clear—everyone knew who she was and exactly which characters made up her name.
Huo Duoduo's warning only further confirmed this suspicion.
However, Ren An's 【Blessing】 definitely had other conditions as well; otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to come up and strike up a conversation with her in the first place.
Fang Yuan grinned at her. “Got it, Pointy-Eared Kindhearted Boss. I will.”
Huo Duoduo pinched her nose and adjusted her slipping hat. “I suggest you go earn more money. You'll end up spending it here sooner or later anyway. You all need to buy houses, without exception.”
Fang Yuan glanced at the cobble-paved road. “Can't we just sleep on the street?”
Huo Duoduo let out a long huff. “If you want your belongings stolen while you're asleep, or to wake up finding yourself no longer where you started, or to get ambushed, by all means, sleep on the street.”
She knew all too well the thieving talents of her fellow Nose-Pouch Merchant Spirits.
Fang Yuan also knew who she meant by thieves. She gave Huo Duoduo a quick wink, hoisted her shovel and hammer onto her shoulder, and turned to bid Huo Duoduo farewell.
“Understood! Then I'm off, Pointy-Eared Boss. See you next time!”
Huo Duoduo let her go.
She wasn't afraid that Fang Yuan would just take those two useless items for free and walk away without ever coming back.
In the 【Crucible】, when making a deal with a divine creation, as long as both parties agreed, the contract automatically took effect.
Breachers of contract would be wanted by all divine creations and Candidates on this floor. Huo Duoduo didn't think Fang Yuan was that kind of fool.
Having walked off, Fang Yuan stared at the transaction lock on her blue screen without the slightest surprise.
Just from the fact that Huo Duoduo could see her vile character yet calmly let her walk away after only a verbal agreement, she knew this deal was unbreakable.
Besides, Fang Yuan genuinely intended to honor the trade anyway.
After all, she was a law-abiding good citizen.
Fang Yuan stood in the street. Beneath her feet was a ground paved with light gray pebbles, reflecting the steel-blue sky light.
Beside her stood a rusty iron street sign, though the paint on the sign's lettering had clearly been freshly repainted not long ago—Jingle Street.
On both sides of the street stretched half-timbered houses, where dark wooden beams formed intricate geometric patterns against pale plaster walls. The windows were small, fitted with tiny glass panes so hazy that nothing inside could be seen.
The air was crisp and quiet, filling each breath with a soothing, body-relaxing comfort.
Fang Yuan didn't mind the scenery or the air at all. She stretched lazily, her gaze wandering toward the far end of Jingle Street.
There was a small fountain square ahead.
Surrounding the fountain square was a low stone balustrade, with several long wooden benches set along its edges that looked quite old.
Beyond the wet stone balustrade and the gurgling sound of water, the town's low skyline was abruptly severed and thrust upward by a starkly different outline.
It was a magnificent building.
Standing behind the square, it was constructed entirely of off-white stone, featuring calm tones and clean, powerful lines. Massive pillars supported a soaring portico, endowing the whole edifice with a heavy, solemn aura.
Fang Yuan pulled out the map scroll, unrolled it, and checked it against her surroundings.
Old Maroni Opera House.
To the right of the building's name was a line of slanted small text.
—If you are injured, please seek help here from the Elf Singers. This is a peaceful zone; fighting is forbidden!
Fang Yuan scanned her surroundings, stowed the map away, and found a spot of shade by the fountain square.
She chose not to sit on a bench or the stone balustrade; in her unlucky state, she was terrified that sitting down would shatter the bench or collapse the stone, landing her with yet another debt.
After verifying there were no sharp objects underneath her, she sat down with her shovel and hammer hugged to her chest before pulling out the other scroll.
She quickly found the description of the Elf Singers on the scroll.
【Divine Creation: Elf Singer】
【Physical Characteristics: Their bodies consist of amber-colored chambers, housing sound-bones suspended inside like star charts that vibrate gently with breath. Their eyes are bright as the moon, made of silver-white crystal. Their ears are shaped like spiral petals, allowing them to better capture soundwaves and discern their colors. Both sides of their throats feature vocal pores resembling slender gill slits that emit faint glows matching the color of the musical notes when singing.】
【Elf Singers are divided into tiers, recognizable by their ears:】
【Novice Singer: Spiral petal-shaped ears with no extra ornamentation.】
【Veteran Singer: Spiral petal-shaped ears with "tail plumes" on the pinnae, shaped like fish tails.】
【Master Singer: Spiral petal-shaped ears with golden musical note patterns spreading across the pinnae and earlobes, shaped like wings.】
【Singers heal pain through song and never take part in war. Therefore, any location where an Elf Singer resides is designated an absolute peaceful zone.】
Fang Yuan didn't rush inside the Old Maroni Opera House. She pulled out the map once more, but before her fingers could unroll it, her ears caught a faint whirring sound. Snapping the scroll shut, she looked up.
In the center of the fountain square, a small spirit clutching a dandelion puff hovered beside the fountain. She was translucent milky white all over. The dandelion fluff on her back was already somewhat damp, and her entire body pressed against the fluff ball. The water droplets added considerable weight, making her wobble as she hovered and circled.
Yet she didn't stay away from the fountain because of this; instead, she adjusted her heading, trying to drift straight into the fountain's spray.
Fang Yuan shoved the scroll straight into her waistband, covered it with her shirt, and then ambled over, hoisting her shovel and hammer.
The dandelion spirit was completely focused on the fountain, entirely oblivious to Fang Yuan's approach.
Not until a puff of warm air tickled her ear did a bright, upbeat voice break the silence:
“Hi! Little Dandelion Spirit! Watching the water here? Even if you're thirsty, there's no need to be in such a hurry. You can ask me for help if you need anything!”
Fang Yuan flashed her a big white grin.
Rate on N.U.
