8 Leaving an Impression (revised)

While the guards were distracted, Jin made use of the moment to flicker past all three while concealing himself against the way with me main gate in sight. Waiting for Qingyue to pass by, already using the wind to his advantage and shifting its direction as well as strength to lift her veil.

To say she was stunning would be an understatement. Her nose like carved jade, high and proud with an innate nobility and lips as if delicate petals. Her face was a creamy white like the snow with the sun lighting up her complexion while and her skin was like jade. Her eyes being the most unique; They were indescribably magnificent , as if the world's essence laid within despite their frigidness.

On her lovely face were two black thin and curvy eyebrows, similar to a pair of crescent moons. Her two tranquil pupils, clear like crystals, were like the radiance of a flowing dream covered in a icy haze that blocked off her heart. Her entire body was covered by the blue dress, her faintly discernible curves slim and beautiful; a contrast to the creamy, white jade-like skin.

Her figure delicate to the extreme. Looking from afar, her physique was so graceful that it was simply too hard to describe. Under the azure long skirt, one could faintly make out a pair of exquisite and slender legs. Her dress floated in the wake of her slow walk and her jewelry occasionally twinkled on her delicate, womanly figure. The perfect arcs of her waist, breasts, and rear were indescribably lovely. She radiating an incomparable, soul shaking charm and had a kind of proud appearance and attitude that transcended this world.

If he hadn't met Vion in female form, Qingyue would be the most beautiful girl he had seen in his two lives. Her immaculate appearance making him draw a sharp breath which gave away his position, ending in a silent staring contest between the beauty and himself.

In the span of a moment's breath, they managed to have a conversation with only their eyes. He reading the subtle changes in hers while her Heart of Snow Glazed Glass made it easy for her to read his and sense the nature of the people she came in contact with. After all, not many people could look her in the eye since it started to reveal itself, even if she wasn't aware she possessed such an ability.

For her surprise and wariness, he returned an embarrassed apology. When the look in her eyes were returning to their cold state, his showed open admiration for her appearance. At her indifference, he showed sympathy which lead her to be confused. Before he could answer her, someone interrupted.

"Yue'er, did you bring a friend home?"

There were only two people who could call her so affectionately without they getting an even colder treatment than her current demeanor showed, and only one lived at home with her. Naturally the one who broke their silent communication was her father, Xia Hongyi, who had a reputation for his honestly and integrity as a businessman.

Stepping forward before she could answer, Jin's old habits came to the front after meeting with someone of a similar nature. His words concise and to the point.

"I want to offer a trade for spacial rings. Three of them."

Hongyi stroked his beard for a moment, thinking if he had any in his current stock before shaking his head and answering. "While I can get them, I currently don't have any for sale at the moment so it would take a few weeks for the delivery if you don't mind waiting? Also, why seek me out instead of using one of our stores?"

Giving a nod, Jin gestured for the man to lead the way since what he wanted to show would draw too much attention with how they were out in the open. "Understood, I can wait. And the item I want to trade with is too valuable for a store."

Understanding the situation, they left the walkway and headed inside, away from possible prying eyes. After all, while the Xia family may have a reputation for integrity, that wouldn't apply to every other merchant in Floating Cloud. They stopped inside one of the rooms Hongyi used for business while Qingyue headed to her own courtyard. Jin calling out just before she left and shadowing her father inside.

"If you keep killing off your emotions like that, you might regret it later. Just something to think about."

After a small pause in her stride, she continued her steps albeit at a slower pace as the door closed behind them.

Settling down in the room, they sat across from each other with Jin taking out one of his scrolls and placing it on the table between them. They exchanging pleasantries before getting to the heart of the matter.

Hongyi giving an amicable smile and asking. "So, Jin, what is it you wanted to trade? I don't think the scroll is it, unless it's something like a cultivation technique or a profound skill that's rare?"

Jin returned the smile with a faint one of his own. "Well, there are two things actually. The first is valuable and rare, but in the amount I have on hand isn't enough for a major power to take notice. Maybe ones within the nation but nothing more than a glance at the amount if in public where they couldn't just kill and rob a person if they want to save face.

The second, on the other hand could be possibly valuable but would have to remain secret between us since it might draw unwanted attention. Though, I do have a plan for if it does, so it isn't that worrying just a potential annoyance. Which would you like to discuss first?"

Considering the two options, the experienced merchant thought to himself before deciding to hear about the first option since it would most likely be what paid for the rings and his own curiosity since he was rather interested in what the second one was that it could warrant caution. "Let's hear about the valuable one first, then."

Inclining his head, Jin untied the binding on the scroll to reveal the sealing formation with the character for enclose resting in the center. Noticing the older gentleman looking at the foreign writing with an inquisitive eye, he gave him a half explanation to tide him over. "These are runes from my homeland, meant for sealing things or people inside. And while it can be used for storage, the space isn't stable without having something inside the seal and it takes time and energy to remove or put things inside which is why I want the rings. It would be interesting to see if they could prove compatible enough to mix together and reduce the burden on the user."

Obtaining a nod at his statement, Jin formed a hand sign and released the five Purple Crystals from inside with a small puff of smoke that dissipated as quickly as it formed. Hongyi relying on his years of experience to discern the five items before him.

"Purple Veined Heavenly Crystals..? No, the energy is much more pure than normal and it's more gem than stone. That should mean..- Divine Crystals, not Heavenly?! And five of them as well?!"

Seeing the old man get shocked, Jin couldn't help the feeling of mischief rising up in his heart before he pressed it back down. Doing any more would go against his own words considering that the nation was on the verge of collapse in the story because of the Divine Phoenix Empire's desire for the original fifty kilograms worth of the crystals. That kind of attention wasn't what he needed right now.

Clearing his throat, Jin brought the still stunned Hongyi back to earth. "I'm aware these would be more valuable than the rings I asked for, and you may be confused as to why I'd sell them. The honest truth is, I just don't need them. My cultivation speed is fast enough, I don't own a profound ark, and I don't have a sect that might need it at the moment. At least not yet, anyway. Besides, isn't there a saying about owning wealth being a sin if you aren't strong enough or something? I'm pretty sure people have killed for less."

Feeling his reasoning was fair, Hongyi adapted a stern face. "That's logical, but I couldn't go through with such a trade with so little coming from my side. If you'd like, I could look into useful medical pills that you might need? Or maybe a profound weapon?"

"In that case... a few detoxification pills and a favor would be helpful. I kinda need a place to stay for the next two years since I'm in the middle of waiting for someone who should show up by then. Plus, I plan to compete in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament in a few years time so having a stable place to call home where I can train would be helpful."

Thinking that two years wasn't too long and that there was enough space, it wasn't something he found disagreeable

"That's workable. I can have someone show you to a guest courtyard you can use and we already order medicine against poisons so adding more wouldn't be a problem."

"I see, thank you in advance then."

Giving a crisp and polite response, Jin kept his scroll after Hongyi kept the Purple Crystals. The older man smiling and leaning forward.

"So, what about the second thing you wanted to trade?"