Chapter 164: with translation of chapter title

Xianzhou Luofu, a street-corner market that isn't especially prosperous but has steady foot traffic.

Bai Hang had already set up her small cart stall.

On the cart were neatly arranged various small, exquisite ornaments: there were Black Tower Doll Q-version pendants, there were badges that had been popular for a while from the Interstellar Peace Company, and there were some handcrafted little toys.

Several fluffy, well-made Black Tower Dolls were placed in a prominent spot, considered the stall's treasure.

She herself sat on a small stool behind the stall, appearing to tidy the goods while actually secretly checking the updated task list on her phone.

【Target Personnel Data Collection Progress】

Gui Naifen (street performer): collected.

Su Shang (new recruit of the Cloud Cavalry): collected.

Jing Liu (former Sword Leader): collected.

Bai Lu (Dragon Maiden Holding Medicine): collected.

Pending:

Jing Yuan (Luofu General)

Qingque (Diviner of the Tai Bu Si)

Fu Xuan (Person-in-Charge of the Tai Bu Si)

Huo Huo (Judge of the Ten Kings Office)

……

Bai Hang looked at this list of names, especially the latter few who obviously held high authority or important posts, and the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

(There are so many people…… and each one is harder to deal with than the last.)

She sighed in her heart.

(Can Jing Yuan be casually approached? Would Fu Xuan be interested in my little stall?)

She lifted her gaze to the narrow slit of sky cut between the buildings and let out a deep sigh.

(There's no helping it—living under someone else's roof, the mission comes first. The master said to gather data, so I have to find a way to gather it……)

Just then, a strain of erhu with a clear, cold timbre, like background music, drifted faintly from a nearby street corner, stubbornly seeping into her ears.

Bai Hang knew who it was without looking.

She helplessly shook her head, too weary even to complain.

(Really…… a persistent ghost. Didn't she leave yesterday? Today she's back to 'cultivate one's sentiments'?)

She struggled to refocus her attention on her stall, just picking up a doll to adjust its position when a laughing female voice rang out in front of the stall:

"Boss, business is booming."

Bai Hang looked up and saw a fox-person woman with a graceful figure and elegant bearing standing before the stall.

She had dark brown lustrous hair and matching fox ears, her eyes a gentle green, dressed in splendid Xianzhou attire, lightly swaying an exquisite folding fan, the corner of her mouth holding a just-right smile—one could tell at a glance she was skilled in socializing.

Bai Hang felt the woman looked somewhat familiar, and after a brief recollection she remembered.

That's right— a few days ago at another market, this woman seemed to also be selling things, namely… some image memorabilia?

She had even bought a beautiful leisure photo of Jing Yuan from her.

Turns out she was also a traveling merchant.

"Thanks to your blessing, I barely scrape by."

Bai Hang hastily rose, putting on a professional smile, "Miss, you look familiar—had you been doing business nearby before?"

"I am Tingyun, engaged in petty trade, wandering about."

Tingyun gave a slight bow, her manners thorough.

Her gaze had already swiftly and professionally swept over all the goods on Bai Hang's stall, lingering a moment especially on the Black Tower Dolls and mechanical little toys, amber eyes flashing with a hint of assessment and appreciation.

"Boss, these goods are quite interesting."

Tingyun lightly tapped a Black Tower Doll with her fan, "This craftsmanship, this fabric—absolutely not something an ordinary workshop could produce. And these little mechanisms,"

she looked at a badge that pops out tiny stars when its button is pressed, "The design is ingenious; though a small item, it shows fine craftsmanship. Moreover, some styles seem rather uncommon in Luofu."

Bai Hang felt a slight chill in her heart.

Tingyun's eyes are remarkably sharp!

She laughed nervously: "Miss, you overpraise me—these are just trifling little gadgets, patterns and materials I scavenged from fellow merchant friends, which I tinker with on my own."

Tingyun's smile deepened as she leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice with the sincerity of sharing a business secret: "Boss, you're being too modest. Frankly, I belong to the Heavenly Ship Office and have some understanding of commodity trade. Given the quality and uniqueness of your goods, if the channels were open, you'd certainly do more than just 'scrape by' here. Would you be interested in… expanding your business?"

Seeing Bai Hang's attentive expression, she continued smoothly: "I have a bit of reputation in Luofu's merchant circles and know some buyers interested in stellar novelties. If you trust me, we can cooperate—you supply the goods, I handle contacting sales channels and clearing some obstacles, with profits naturally split fairly. That way you can focus on honing your craft, obtain better materials and patterns, needn't worry about petty sales, and can bring these interesting goods to more discerning folk. Wouldn't that be a win-win?"

Tingyun's words were clear and logical, the conditions sounding quite tempting—for an ordinary itinerant merchant, it was almost like a pie falling from the sky.

Her expression was sincere, her gaze clear, showing she was not making empty promises but truly saw the business opportunity and cooperative value.

However, Bai Hang felt bitter inside.

Expand operations? Cooperate? She didn't have the time or energy for that!

Her primary task was to silently approach those target individuals on the list and collect data—not to really come to Luofu to start a business and become a big boss!

The bigger the tree, the more wind it draws; the more cooperation and broader the contact, the greater the risk of exposing her 'Bai Xing' disguise, possibly interfering with the master's plans.

"Well…"

Bai Hang's face showed a mix of flattered surprise and regret, she rubbed her hands, appearing somewhat inarticulate and resigned to the status quo: "Miss Tingyun's kindness, I appreciate it. But… I'm used to idleness, my skills are rough; I make little things for my own joy, earning just enough for living expenses is enough. Expanding the business, cooperating with others… I truly lack the capacity, and I fear betraying your trust."

Her words were tactful, but the refusal was clear.

Tingyun's eyes flashed a hint of surprise, but quickly returned to normal.

She did not show displeasure at the refusal; instead, understandingly she nodded, her smile still gentle: "Everyone has their own aspirations; I was abrupt. Your detached disposition, Boss, is also rare."

She said this, taking from her sleeve an elegant name card and handing it to Bai Hang: "This is my contact information. Boss, if you change your mind later, or have new, special works, you can reach me anytime. Even if we don't cooperate, making friends and exchanging information is good."

"Sure, sure."

Bai Hang hurriedly took the name card with both hands and put it away safely.

The other party gave her enough footing and face, so she naturally had to return the favor, "Miss, if you don't mind, feel free to pick any small item; consider it a token of my appreciation."

Tingyun did not decline, laughing, "Then it would be impolite to refuse." Her eyes wandered, and in the end she selected the Black Tower Doll she had first reviewed, whose expression was the most haughty.

"This one, then. Very interesting."

She paid, held the Doll in her hand, and nodded at Bai Hang, "May the boss's business remain as ever, peaceful Freedom. I shall not disturb you further."

After speaking, she made a graceful bow, turned and walked away elegantly, blending into the market crowd, and soon vanished from sight.

Bai Hang watched the direction she left, and let out a light sigh of relief.

(What a perceptive woman… People from the Heavenly Ship Office are indeed remarkable. Fortunately I managed to bluff my way through.)

Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, Tingyun toyed with the Black Tower Doll with its cool expression in her hand, a trace of contemplation flashing through her amber eyes.

(Unwilling to cooperate… Is it truly indifference, or is there another hidden reason?)

(The source of those goods is far from as simple as she claimed.)

(This "Bai Xing" is rather interesting.)