The Grand Magus In Murim

Chapter 8: The City Markets

Chapter 8: The City Markets

The bustling streets of Qinghe City were a stark contrast to the tranquil silence of the Ling Manor’s eastern courtyard. Vendors shouted their wares over the rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn carriages, and the scent of roasted meats mixed with the sharp tang of cheap wine. For the first time in over three years, Ling Tianyu walked beneath the open sky of the city, his senses absorbing the vibrant, chaotic energy of the mortal realm.

Walking half a step behind him was Wang Lei, the newly appointed captain of his personal guard. Wang Lei was a mountain of a man, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his dark blue uniform. A heavy broadsword rested securely at his hip. Despite his imposing stature, the guard’s eyes darted nervously from passing merchants to wandering martial artists, his hand never straying far from his pommel. Given the young master’s recent awakening and the terrifying incident with the Zhao family, Wang Lei was determined not to let a single stray leaf harm Ling Tianyu.

"Young Master, please walk a bit slower," Wang Lei cautioned, his deep voice laced with worry. "The crowds are thick today. We should not stray too far from the main avenues."

"Relax, Wang Lei," Tianyu replied, offering a faint, reassuring smile. "I have slept for three years. I have no intention of rushing through my first day awake."

Their first destination was the Myriad Cures Apothecary, the largest and most reputable medicinal hall in the district. The moment they stepped through the carved wooden doors, the heavy, earthy aroma of dried herbs washed over them. Rows of wooden drawers lined the walls from floor to ceiling, overseen by clerks hurriedly measuring ingredients on brass scales.

Tianyu approached the main counter, drawing upon the medicinal knowledge from both his previous life and the Ling family's archives. To fortify a body frail enough to shatter from a mere physical blow, he needed specific catalysts.

"I require three specific items," Tianyu told the elderly clerk. "A fifty-year Crimson Blood Ginseng, three dried Ironbone Lotus pods, and a tael of Frost-vein Grass."

The clerk raised an eyebrow, surprised by the precision of the request from such a young, pale nobleman. "An intense combination, Young Master. The Crimson Blood Ginseng and Ironbone Lotus are incredibly potent for physical tempering, but their heat is fierce. The Frost-vein Grass will act as a coolant, but the pain of absorbing them will be severe."

"I am aware," Tianyu said smoothly, placing a heavy pouch of silver on the counter. "Package them well."

While ordinary martial artists brewed these herbs into teas or pastes, the Grand Magus intended to refine them using his first circle. He would extract their pure essence and force it directly into his cells, rapidly accelerating his body's evolution to withstand higher-tier magic.

With the herbs secured by a watchful Wang Lei, Tianyu directed their path toward the Antique District. If the apothecary was orderly, the jade market was a labyrinth of organized chaos. Stalls overflowed with statues, pendants, and raw stones. In his previous world, mages used polished mana stones to engrave defensive circles, creating artifacts that could protect them from lethal blows. In this world, Tianyu had realized that high-quality jade possessed a natural affinity for storing and conducting qi.

He walked slowly past dozens of stalls, ignoring the vendors waving brightly colored, polished ornaments at him. Instead, he extended his spiritual senses. He bypassed pieces that were visually flawless but spiritually hollow, searching for a natural reservoir.

Finally, he stopped before a cluttered, slightly run-down stall. Amidst a pile of discarded, unpolished stones lay a flat, circular piece of jade. To the naked eye, it was ugly. It was a murky, grayish-green, marred by thick black veins that looked like impurities. But to Tianyu's magical senses, those "impurities" were actually incredibly dense, crystallized veins of heaven and earth qi. It was a perfect medium for a Tier-Two passive shield amulet.

The stall owner, a shrewd-looking man with a thin mustache, immediately noticed the rich silk of Tianyu's robes. His eyes lit up with the prospect of scamming a spoiled young master.

"Ah! The young lord has an incredible eye!" the vendor praised, rubbing his hands together. He reached out to grab a bright, emerald-green pendant next to the murky stone. "This imperial green pendant was carved by a master from the capital! It brings luck and wards off evil. For you, only fifty silver taels!"

Tianyu didn't even look at the green pendant. He picked up the ugly, black-veined jade instead, turning it over in his hands. "This one," he said casually.

The vendor blinked, then quickly recovered his grinning facade. "Oh, an eccentric choice! That piece is raw and ancient. Because of its... unique character, I will part with it for thirty silver taels."

Wang Lei frowned, stepping forward. "Thirty taels? For that cloudy rock? You take us for fools?"

Before Wang Lei could draw his sword and intimidate the man, Tianyu raised a hand. The young master of the Ling Merchant House let out a soft, mocking chuckle. He tossed the jade lightly in his hand, looking at the vendor with the sharp, calculating eyes of a seasoned merchant.

"Thirty taels for mountain run-off?" Tianyu asked, his voice dripping with polite condescension. "The base is cloudy, indicating low density. These black striations are carbon impurities that ruined the stone during its natural formation, making it impossible to carve without shattering. You placed it in your junk pile because no artisan would buy it from you. At best, it makes a decent paperweight."

The vendor’s smile froze. He had expected a naive nobleman, not someone who evaluated goods with the ruthless efficiency of a veteran appraiser.

"Well... it still has a certain rustic charm," the vendor stammered, sweating slightly under Tianyu's unyielding gaze. "Twenty taels?"

"Two taels," Tianyu countered flatly, dropping the stone back onto the table with a dismissive thud. "And only because I need something to practice my engraving on before I purchase real jade from the Zhao family pavilions."

Mentioning the rival merchant house was the final blow. The vendor sighed in defeat, realizing he had been thoroughly outmaneuvered. "Fine. Two taels. Take it."

Wang Lei quickly paid the meager sum, looking at his young master with newfound respect. As they walked away, the imposing guard leaned in. "That was brilliantly done, Young Master. The Master would be proud of your haggling."

Ling Tianyu simply smiled, slipping the murky jade into his robes. Beneath the fabric, his first circle hummed in anticipation. He had the herbs to temper his frail body, and he had the core to craft his first magical artifact. The Grand Magus was finally ready to arm himself.