Jinbao Pavilion, a high-end general store and auction house that sold all sorts of goods, had many branches across the Tianfeng Dynasty.
Rumor had it that it was inextricably linked to the current Empress of the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty.
Ding Nan believed the rumor was true.
He stared blankly at the price tag labeled 100 high-grade Spirit Stones.
Back then, the Shangguan family had compensated Ding Nan… enough for the fee to see the Imperial Medical Director.
It was about 600 high-grade Spirit Stones, if he remembered correctly.
With 600 high-grade Spirit Stones, one could cross the palace gates and see a doctor from the highest medical authority in the Tianfeng Dynasty.
So, was what lay behind this price tag some precious pill or a legendary weapon?
No, it was a pair of silk stockings.
It was just a pair of white, slender, and elastic silk stockings.
Looking at the rack of silk stockings, Ding Nan felt his head begin to ache.
“First, why did this world have silk stockings?”
“Second, why were they so expensive?”
“Finally, why did this thing seem to have no Spiritual Qi? “
It didn’t look like any kind of spiritual garment.
When he was a child, Ding Nan had seen very modern underwear—bras.
As for why he had seen them?
Naturally, clothes had to be dried after washing, usually in the courtyard at home.
Most people would put them away when guests visited.
However, when Ding Nan visited as a little brat, those older aunties didn’t care much for such formalities.
As a result, Ding Nan had seen bras that were washed until the color faded.
However, while there were bras, there were no triangular panties, let alone things like thongs or G-strings.
Underneath everyone’s long robes and skirts, both men and women wore shorts.
But Ding Nan knew those things existed because Luo Yao wore them.
Those shorts were safety pants, used to prevent people from seeing underneath while on Sword Flight.
But silk stockings were different. They weren’t a necessity.
‘…’
Ding Nan stared at the stockings.
So why were there silk stockings?
Ding Nan was shocked.
“That’s right. This should be the first time Young Master has seen these, right?”
Luo Yao, standing beside Ding Nan, chuckled softly.
Ding Nan narrowed his eyes.
‘I used to attend “appreciation meetings” on a browser in my previous life.’
“This is the current trend. These stockings have great breathability—they’re warm in winter and cool in summer, making them very comfortable to wear. And… I heard that the relationship between husband and wife improves significantly after buying these,” Luo Yao said bashfully, cupping her flushed cheeks.
Suddenly, Ding Nan felt a phantom numbness in his lower body.
He turned his head away, not daring to look at Luo Yao anymore.
He scrutinized the stockings, reaching out to feel them.
He had to admit the fabric was excellent.
It felt like silk, yet he could feel an elasticity similar to spider silk.
‘Since I transmigrated, there must be other transmigrators around, right?’
Ding Nan thought.
“Why are these things so expensive?”
“Well—the primary material for silk stockings is the spider silk or silkworm silk from special Monsters or members of the Demon Race. Ordinary silk lacks the necessary elasticity and can’t maintain it for long.”
So it was something from Monsters or the Demon Race.
No wonder it was so expensive.
Monsters weren’t rare, but they weren’t exactly easy to kill whenever one wanted.
Because Monsters lacked intelligence, they were constantly beaten down by human and Demon cultivators.
Over many years, they had all become protected species.
Due to the massive gap between humans and the Demon Race, the history of grievances between them was incredibly complex.
Thus, humans stayed in human kingdoms, while the Demon Race usually lived and multiplied in their own Monster Kingdom.
The nearest Monster Kingdom to the Tianfeng Dynasty was nearly 1,000 kilometers away.
Ding Nan immediately understood why these things could sell for 100 high-grade Spirit Stones, even if they were just ordinary socks.
No wonder he hadn’t seen anyone else wearing them.
“You came here just to buy this?”
“Yes. I feel like Young Master’s interest in Luo Yao has decreased quite a bit over the past few days…”
Luo Yao puffed out her cheeks and raised her eyebrows.
Her small hand gripped Ding Nan’s arm tightly, causing him a bit of pain.
‘The frequency is the same as a drug with an 8-hour half-life, and the average duration is about 3 times that of a kangaroo… If I still have the energy to accompany you out to play, even the King of Hell would laugh at how healthy my body is,’ Ding Nan couldn’t help but complain in his heart.
“Young Master, pick whichever one you like,” Luo Yao asked.
She hugged his arm, her chest pressing against him.
“Can I… not pick?”
Ding Nan’s pupils trembled.
He looked around frantically.
Only after seeing no one else around did his heart settle.
“Then let’s go over there.”
As she spoke, Luo Yao pointed to a room where only women entered and exited.
Through the occasionally lifted door curtain, Ding Nan saw various sizes of bras.
Ding Nan looked at Luo Yao in astonishment.
At that moment, her face was full of innocence.
“Let’s stick with the silk stockings.”
Ding Nan surrendered.
“Then let’s go.”
Luo Yao smiled.
Immediately after, in a place Ding Nan couldn’t see, Luo Yao’s gaze turned deep.
How could she let the Young Master enter a place swarming with vixen-like women?
That would only pollute the Young Master’s eyes and soul!
Luo Yao pulled Ding Nan along and chose several styles.
Ding Nan didn’t choose or speak.
Luo Yao wanted him to choose according to his preference, but the moment Ding Nan saw the prices on the tags, his worldly desires vanished.
“Young Master, today at Jinbao Pavilion is my treat. Please, choose with confidence!”
Luo Yao said.
Ding Nan stared blankly at the generous Maid.
‘So, are we really a good match?’
Ding Nan wondered.
“Young Master, are you thinking about something dangerous?”
Luo Yao leaned close to Ding Nan’s ear, looking up and whispering.
Startled, Ding Nan quickly forced a smile and said, “Yao’er, anything you wear looks great! I just don’t know how to choose because of that!”
Seeing Ding Nan’s panicked and slightly exaggerated expression, Luo Yao nodded in satisfaction.
“Then let’s try some on.”
With that, she pulled Ding Nan toward the fitting room.
A short while later, Luo Yao lifted her skirt, her face flushing as she showed Ding Nan two over-the-knee stockings of different colors—one black and one white.
“Young Master, do you like the black silk or the white silk?”
Her pink lips trembled as she asked.
The white stocking wrapped around her slender thigh, revealing glimpses of flesh as if white milk were spreading over it.
It had a shine like white jelly, looking as though one would want to hold it and play with it.
The black stocking tightened around Luo Yao’s thigh, the indentation appearing deeper.
The hazy and delicate texture formed a sharp contrast with her leg, which was so white that faint veins were visible.
It was impossible to look away.
“White silk or black silk?”
“Attack speed or critical hit rate?”
…
“Please come again!”
Ding Nan followed Luo Yao out of Jinbao Pavilion, feeling drained.
He felt deep regret.
Why couldn’t he have stared more intently at those silk-clad legs earlier?
It was over.
Everything was over.
Tonight, there would surely be another battle with countless casualties.
“Young Master, hurry! Let’s go over there.”
Luo Yao pulled Ding Nan’s hand and pointed toward a stretch of emerald-green water outside Qingquan City.
Qingquan Lake was the origin of the city’s name and a great place for a summer lake tour.