[Baibaocheng] "Finally, I've arrived!" Yin Ala stretched her arms and followed the crowd into the bustling city. "Maybe I should buy a set of men's clothing." Looking at her dust-speckled clothes, she casually dusted herself off and went to find a famous local clothing shop. "Miss—! Ah, Young Master, you truly have an eye for quality. This is a masterpiece, entirely handmade, and there is only one of its kind." Yin Ala tugged at her sleeves. The men's outfit was styled in a dominant color scheme of red and black, with a stiff, overlapping front collar that easily concealed her developing chest.
She tied her hair up high, binding it with a red silk ribbon. Her messy, two-toned hair looked a bit unkempt to her. "Very good.
This young master will give you a little extra!" Yin Ala cheerfully walked out of the shop, not forgetting to toss some loose silver to the shop assistant.
Her hair also gradually lost its purple hue, leaving only a miniature sky tied tightly behind the red silk ribbon. "You brat!! Stop right there!" The street suddenly erupted into chaos with the sounds of a chase.
A little beggar boy rushed out of nowhere and crashed straight into Yin Ala's back. Ouch, her back felt eighty percent shattered.
The boy who had crashed into her also tumbled to the ground, but he quickly scrambled up, dusting himself off to run again. "Hey kid, what's wrong?" Yin Ala grabbed his arm just as the thugs caught up. "Hand the brat over! He dared to steal from our house!" shouted a middle-aged man dressed in exquisite robes, clearly a member of the nobility. What could a kid like this have stolen anyway? "He's just a child.
Whatever he stole, I'll compensate you for it." The boy shrank behind Yin Ala, clutching her robes tightly, looking terrified. "Hmph.
It's nothing important anyway. Consider it my bad luck to have run into jinxes like you." The middle-aged man spat out the words in frustration and turned to leave.
In truth, the boy had only stolen two steamed buns. The man had only chased and beaten him to assert his dominance.
Yin Ala cast a sidelong glance at him.
*As if I don't know what you're thinking. Bullying a child to boost your own ego—ha, how pathetic.* She gently pried the child's hands from her robes, wiped his dirty face, and placed a small pouch of silver into his hands. "Don't steal anymore, little friend." "Is pretty brother leaving?" "Pfft...! Pretty brother, haha." It was the first time anyone had ever called her that. "Yes, I must go. When you grow up a bit and become a great man who can hold up the heavens, come find me in Huye Kingdom." Yin Ala patted the boy's head, then stood up and turned to leave.
She hadn't come here to sightsee. Dusk had fallen; it was time.
Putting on an exquisitely carved, gold-inlaid mask, she blended into the crowd and vanished. [Auction House – Black Market] "Chief, there is an unfamiliar youth who wishes to see you," a servant reported, rushing in breathlessly and bowing respectfully. "Youths these days have no discipline.
Even a brat wants to see me? Do you all think so lowly of me?" a middle-aged chief, his hair half-grayed, spoke in an irritated tone. "He says he has good stuff. If you don't meet him, you will regret it." "Let's go."
"Let's see just how capable this youth is to be so arrogant!" The Chief turned and walked out, his servant scurrying after him.
Meanwhile...
"He's so handsome..."
"Where is he from? I've never seen him before."
"His aura is incredible..." A group of young noble ladies huddled together, whispering about a strange youth who had just arrived wearing a gold-inlaid mask.
"Young master, I wonder which family you belong to? Why have I never met you before?" A stranger around eighteen years old, dressed in elegant green robes, stepped up to her and greeted her.
"Heir Apparent Xia Jiang, ahhhh..."
"Heir Apparent Xia Jiang is here!"
Yin Ala sized up the so-called heir apparent from head to toe. He had a decent face and the polite demeanor of a young noble, but to her, he was nothing more than a limp noodle.
"Before asking others, shouldn't you introduce yourself first, young master?" Folding the fan in her hand, Yin Ala turned to face Xia Jiang and spoke.
Though she was shorter, her presence was not lacking in the slightest.
Wanting to steal this lady's spotlight? In your dreams.
"Ah, my mistake. This humble one is surnamed Xia, given name Jiang. May I ask your esteemed name, young master...?"
"Heir Apparent of the He State, forgive my lack of manners. People call me by three characters, Yin Ala. I hope you won't stand on ceremony and will simply call me by those three characters as well." Yin Ala bowed slightly with a gentle smile, her elegant bearing sending flutters through everyone's hearts.
"Young Master Yin Ala is so handsome!"
"I think Heir Apparent Xia Jiang is just as good-looking."
"I prefer Yin Ala..."
The crowd of women below was gradually splitting into two factions, and Yin Ala smiled with amusement.
"Chief, you've arrived." The shopkeeper bowed respectfully, and the crowd parted to make way for the Chief.
The Chief stood in front of Yin Ala. "Are you that arrogant youth?"