Chapter Twenty-Two: The Western Market

June 2nd, early morning.

The rain that had fallen through the night finally ceased, leaving the ground damp and cool. In the distance, the sun's outline was already rising over the horizon.

Liu Ru and Su Ziye stepped out together from the residence of the Third Prince, just as Yi'er Si'er Yi, her short black hair neat and professional, stood waiting in front of them, her snow-white uniform spotless.

She seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time.

Su Ziye glanced back. Although they'd been teleported directly inside by the Third Prince, now that he exited and looked back, it was just an ordinary row of townhouses, nothing remarkable. He even memorized the house number at a glance.

708 Guangyang Road.

"I recall the Third Prince gave you permission to enter," Liu Ru said to Yi'er Si'er Yi.

"There was no need," Yi'er Si'er Yi replied. Heavy dark circles shadowed her eyes, as if she hadn't rested at all last night, her fatigue impossible to conceal. "Let me reintroduce myself: I'm Xie Yanluo, a second-year member of the Snow Burial Society at Nightleaf Academy. I'll be accompanying you throughout your activities in Nightleaf City."

"Accompanying us?" Liu Ru looked at her. "If I'm not mistaken, even during the Nightleaf Trials, regular students still have classes."

"What's more, you're a member of the Snow Burial Society."

"You know more about us than I expected," Xie Yanluo said, her tone serious as she looked at Liu Ru and Su Ziye. "That only convinces me further that your actions yesterday were deliberate. As for classes, I can skip them. The Snow Burial Society only requires one day of duty per week, which is enough for me to accompany you until the first trial begins."

"Why us?" Liu Ru pressed further.

"Because I don't trust you," Xie Yanluo made no attempt to hide her hostility.

"Can I call you Senior?" Su Ziye interjected from the side. "Let me introduce myself: I'm Su Ziye, and this is my lady, Liu Ru..."

"No," Xie Yanluo replied coolly, looking at Su Ziye. "Perhaps once you're officially enrolled at Nightleaf Academy, but not now."

"Then I'll pay in advance," Su Ziye smiled at her. "Senior, we're planning to shop at the Western Market—would you show us the way?"

The oversized pack that had been conspicuous on his back was gone; now that they'd found a place to stay, there was no need to lug heavy baggage around.

Xie Yanluo regarded the familiar, easy-going Su Ziye seriously. In truth, Su Ziye was rather handsome, the sort of boy girls tended to like.

"Alright," she agreed after considering for a moment.

...

"Young Master, we've found them." The young man, burdened by dark circles under his eyes, looked pitifully at Lan Liu.

Last night, they'd scoured the entire Nightleaf City, searching in vain for the two. Not until the dawn did they spot them reappearing on the city streets.

"Then why haven't you caught them yet!" Lan Liu forced down his anger.

He rarely encountered such situations—where sure things slipped from his grasp. He was already seething, and his subordinates were only making things worse.

"We wanted to," the subordinate replied, his face full of helplessness. "But they've got a Snow Burial Society bodyguard with them."

"Bodyguard? Snow Burial Society?" Lan Liu was incredulous, his fury boiling over. "Impossible!"

"The Snow Burial Society would never do something so pointless!"

Besides, who could possibly hire them? Students from Nightleaf Academy held astonishing status in this city, each one busier than the last—how could any spare precious time to play the role of a mere bodyguard?

Even Lan Liu himself couldn't get an ordinary Nightleaf student to act as his bodyguard, let alone one from the elite Snow Burial Society.

"She's an imposter, she has to be!" Lan Liu paced furiously. "Go over there, expose her, report her, then bring those two to me. I've never suffered such a loss in my life!"

"But what if... what if she's real?" the subordinate asked, clearly apprehensive.

Anyone with sense knew: in Nightleaf City, you could provoke anyone—except the Snow Burial Society.

"If she's real, you'll just get properly beaten up; you won't die!" Lan Liu said coldly. "Or do you really believe the Snow Burial Society is scarier than me?"

The Lan family name was the most formidable in the Lanleaf Empire. Many believed that, even if you had to offend the royal family, it was best to keep your distance from those bearing the Lan name.

After all, most bearers of the Lan name were older and more illustrious than the royal family itself.

"As y