Chapter 146: Colorful Crystal Core

Liu Yun glanced at Leng Yi for a few seconds before looking at Ru Jianxiao again.

She frowned slightly and asked inwardly, ’System, why do I get the feeling that Ru Jianxiao knows this man?’

In response to her question, the System replied, [Player, you should ask Ru Jianxiao about this instead of asking this System.]

Receiving this answer, Liu Yun pouted before whispering, "Elder Brother Ru, do you want to go with him?"

Ru Jianxiao glanced at her before replying in a low voice, "You can decide."

Liu Yun had expected him to reject Leng Yi outright. Not expecting this answer, she blinked twice before turning to Leng Yi and saying, "I’m sorry, but we already have plans for today. Perhaps another time."

Despite being rejected, Leng Yi didn’t appear angry. Nodding in understanding, he said, "No, it’s my fault for suddenly inviting you two out without giving you proper notice."

Hearing this, Liu Yun smiled politely before adding, "If there is nothing else, we will take our leave now. See you next time, Sir."

Leng Yi nodded and replied, "Alright. Be careful if you go to the slum area. The people there aren’t easy to deal with."

"Thank you for the warning." Leaving those words behind, Liu Yun turned around and walked through the main gate.

Following behind her, Ru Jianxiao glanced back at Leng Yi. When their gazes met, Leng Yi gave him a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Looking away, Ru Jianxiao clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. However, a few seconds later, he took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his hands.

After Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao had walked some distance away, one of the men in black combat uniforms stepped forward and asked, "Master, would you like us to follow them?"

Leng Yi raised his hand to stop the captain.

"Keep an eye on the people staying behind in the villa. As for the young lady and the other man, have your men follow them discreetly."

The captain nodded and replied, "Yes, Master."

Unaware that their arrival had attracted the attention of both the Leng Family and the Mo Family, Liu Yun turned to Ru Jianxiao and asked, "Elder Brother Ru, do you know Leng Yi?"

When she asked this, Ru Jianxiao’s eyes flickered coldly for a moment. Glancing at Liu Yun, he asked, "Why do you ask?"

Liu Yun shrugged and replied, "I don’t know. I just have a feeling that you know him."

Listening to her words, Ru Jianxiao glanced at her again and thought, ’This young lady is far too observant for her own good.’

Despite thinking this, Ru Jianxiao still replied in an emotionless tone, "No. This is the first time I’ve met him."

Liu Yun didn’t believe him. She had a feeling that Ru Jianxiao knew Leng Yi, but she had no evidence to support her suspicion.

She stared at Ru Jianxiao in silence for a few seconds before humming softly and changing the subject.

"Elder Brother Ru, let’s go to the market street first. I want to check the prices of vegetables and fruits."

Ru Jianxiao nodded. "Alright."

After deciding where to go, the two followed the street signs while keeping an eye on the people around them and their surroundings.

Forty minutes later, Liu Yun wiped the sweat from her forehead as she looked at the bustling street ahead.

"This should be the market street."

Ru Jianxiao glanced at her blushing face covered in sweat for a moment before commenting, "Younger Sister Liu, I think you should train to improve your stamina."

Hearing this, Liu Yun pouted but said nothing.

In her previous life, she had spent her entire life bedridden as a patient and had barely walked at all.

Having a weak body and poor stamina wasn’t her fault. Being able to walk this far while keeping up with Ru Jianxiao’s pace was already a remarkable achievement for her.

Panting heavily, Liu Yun nodded and said, "I will. Thank you for the reminder."

Seeing her panting like a fish out of water, Ru Jianxiao shook his head helplessly.

Ignoring the pitying look Ru Jianxiao gave her, Liu Yun straightened up and looked at the people using pieces of cloth to set up makeshift stalls along the roadside.

"Let’s go take a look," she said before walking toward the crowd.

Following behind her, Ru Jianxiao glanced back. Seeing two men quickly retreat into the shadows, he calmly looked away.

Walking ahead, Liu Yun examined the goods displayed on the makeshift stalls. Seeing that most of them were selling seemingly useless items such as luxury handbags, high heels, and makeup products, she quickly lost interest.

’It’s already the apocalypse. Why are these people still selling such useless things? Is there nothing interesting here that I can get at a bargain?’

While she was complaining inwardly, Liu Yun’s eyes fell on a stall selling colorful crystals.

Feeling curious, she walked over and squatted down. Picking up a blue crystal, she held it up toward the faint sunlight to examine it.

Sitting on a low stool, the stall owner noticed her interest in the blue crystal. However, he said nothing and simply watched as Liu Yun put it down and picked up a red one.

While the stall owner watched Liu Yun, Ru Jianxiao, who was standing beside her, could barely contain his excitement.

Staring at the crystals scattered carelessly across the dirty cloth like grains of sand, he clenched his fists and thought excitedly, ’Heavens! Since when did my luck become this good?! This is the first time in all three of my lifetimes that I’ve seen so many elemental crystal cores!’

Unaware that Ru Jianxiao was practically screaming with excitement inside, Liu Yun was busy talking to the System.

’System, don’t these crystals look familiar to you?’ she asked.

A second later, the System’s mechanical voice replied, [Player, these are rare elemental crystal cores. Unlike ordinary transparent crystal cores, these colorful crystal cores contain different types of elemental energy.]

[For example, the blue crystal core contains water-element energy, while the red crystal core contains fire-element energy.]

Listening to the System’s explanation, Liu Yun thought for a moment, then asked, ’Since crystal cores containing elemental energy exist, why have we never found any before?’