19: Shopping

It's around two or three hours after noon. Without any further ado, the trio strode the main road toward the marketplace in the Mercantile District where they could get their provisions and daily necessities.

As they have arrived in fifteen minutes later, the marketplace was still bustling with people, merchants shouting the price of their wares and goods to their potential customers. Li Fei noticed there was a small group of people arguing over who really wins the game, he also noticed some beggars every now and then as he walked past an alley way.

"Woahh! Look, look! It's granny's chicken skewers! It's been ages since we have one. Let's go, Yu'er!" Aylan tugged her twin sister wrist while pointing at a small food stall in the corner.

"I know, I know… slow down, Xiao Ay." Yulan says in a soothing and calming voice as usual.

Aylan halted her step and turned at Yulan. It's been like an eternity since the last time Yulan call her twin sister with 'Xiao Ay' and it made Aylan almost burst in tears from happiness.

"I thought you won't call me that way ever again." Aylan held her tears dearly around the corner of her puppy eyes.

"Go, buy as many chicken skewers as you want. Just for today. In moderation, of course!" Yulan smiles gently, giving her little sister a gold coin.

Li Fei stands by Yulan's side while the girly and cheerful twin sister was having fun ordering the skewers. "That answers my question who is the big sister between you two."

"Isn't that obvious?" Yulan giggles impishly. "From what I remembered, I was born a few minutes before dawn while Aylan was born right when the sunrise climbs the sky. Hence why our personalities are different like a day and night."

"Oh… That's makes sense… It must be hard to care of your little sister after all these years."

"A lot of things happened between us, especially after that incident in our debut party. We were so naive back then, If only we weren't so stubborn about becoming courtesans… Ah! I am sorry, it doesn't mean that we want you to disappear, please don't be offended."

"None taken." Li Fei waved his hands dismissively. "Honestly, I also want to know about what happened to both of you after that party. Peng Lao was collapsed after he killed the assailants, and everything went dark after that."

Yulan smiles gently, she leaned to his ear and whispers salaciously. "I will fill you about it later in the night. But of course, you'll need to fill me to the brim while I am at it."

Li Fei whistles and chuckles wryly. "Anything you want, milady."

The street was quite loud, ones had to raise their voice when speaking with someone so it was save to assume that no one heard Yulan's temptatious whispers.

Before long, Aylan beckons the two from the other side with hands full of wrapped chicken skewers. They ends up eating the skewers on the wooden stools which was provided by the vendors.

"Mmhhhh!" Aylan let out a very satisfied moan as he took the first bite. "Crispy on the outside and so juicy in the inside. And the sweet sauce… mhhh! I can eat one hundred skewers in one go!"

"And you'll instantly get fat and very thick. Do you forget what happened last year? Haaah, it was an arduous chore to get you back in shape."

"Yu'er!!!!" Aylan stomps her feet but Yulan was very quick to dodge it. Luckily, Aylan didn't use her Qi, otherwise, the whole food stall would have blown to the sky.

Li Fei chuckles merrily as he watched their funny banter. After that, they continued further inside into the wholesaler's section to buy their necessities in one stop.

Wasting no time, Yulan handed a handful of gold coins inside a storage pouch to her little sister, letting Aylan to go all out and buy anything she wanted. But of course, the latter was very thoughtful and selfless. She prioritized the daily provisions and necessities before anything else.

The air filled with low and high hush that hung above them as the trio quickly shuffle through the crowd. However, the loud hush of voice that resounded in the air came into a halt when they felt a strong presence that was exuded from a trio of two beautiful women and a very handsome young-looking man amidst the crowd.

"Hey, look! It's Master Peng Lao! He's back!" Exclaimed one of the merchants.

"Oh my- look! It's the twin, Yulan and Aylan!" Says a young man to his peer.

"Woah, you are right!"

"Heavens… How they could be so beautiful?!" Says a middle-aged lady with a thick red rouge.

Li Fei couldn't help but to shake his head and quipped. "Seems like my beloved Madames are more popular than me, huh?"

Yulan was intrigued by his remark. "Madames?"

"Yes, I've been thinking about this while we're on the way here. You two have suffered enough for the past decade and I think it's time for both you to retire and focus on your training and cultivate diligently."

Yulan, however, sensed there's a hidden meaning in Li Fei's words. "Is that what you really want to say?"

"Right, you can read my soul through our imprint. Haahh…" Li Fei let out a heavy sigh, gathering his thoughts. "I know it's very selfish of me. But… I don't want any of you to sleep with another man, ever again. I shouldn't be like this, yet my instinct as a man tells me that I want both of you to be mine alone. However, let's take this slowly, I'll wait for your proper answer."

Yulan smiles at him, holding his hand tightly. "Is that even needed?"

Sensing the mutual feelings that was shared through their link, Aylan turned her head to their direction and smiled.

"Seems like my little sister is also agree with me."

"Thank you." Li Fei couldn't stop grinning until his face was stiff from smiling too much.

"Let us finish this chore and return home." Yulan bat an eyelash at him, she winked mischievously while still maintaining her elegance as she trotted toward her little sister.

"Congrats, you just hit two birds with one stone!" Li Fei tapped his own shoulders.

A few hours later, they have checked everything on the list. Li Fei noticed that his Spatial Ring was a tad heavy on his left index finger after he stored everything.

It's not mentioned by the system since the ring was made by the artisan of this world. Therefore, he just found out that a Spatial Ring could increase in weight relative to the total weight of the items that had been stored inside it.

"Is something the matters?" Yulan leaned her head.

"Oh, nothing. Let's go home…"

On the way back, it was a peaceful walk with a sunset painted the sky with golden brown hue. Aylan and Yulan discussed about what dishes they should make for dinner. Li Fei walks behind them while holding his hands on his back.

However, his peaceful thoughts were obstructed by a scene that happened inside an alley way. A woman in a makeshift wheel chair was confronted by two young men.

Li Fei avert his gaze at first, it's not his style to meddle with someone else's business, but deep in his heart, he knew exactly what was going to happen next.

Brak!

The sound of slammed wheelchair reached Li Fei's ears. His blood boiled as a painful grunt of a woman resounded from the alley way. He halted his steps, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Li Fei?" The twin calls him in sync.

He opted to put off his Spatial Ring and gave it to Yulan.

"Go home without me. I'll catch up with you two. Ah, and also, prepare one more portion, just in case."

The two were bewildered at first. But, once they heard a squeals in the alley way, they somewhat understands what they have to do.

"We understand." Aylan and Yulan said in a perfect sync.

Yulan gives him a peck on his right cheek before they left. "Be careful, don't be too rash. Return safely, please."

"I will." Li Fei reciprocated her affection with a peck on her lips and send them off with a smile.

After exchanging a nod, the twin trotted hastily towards the mansion's direction. Once they were no longer in his sight, Li Fei turned to the alley way, and strode there leisurely.

As he walked closer, Li Fei witnessed the  depravity that was about to happen before him. His face immediately resembles that of a demon fueled with hatred.

'These bastards.'

***