Ti grew later, and the path deepened further with each step.
This tropolitan City was not only the East City but also the largest market in all of Daxing City, twice the size of the ordinary markets surrounding it. The crisscrossing streets and the rows of buildings made it feel more like entering a fantastical maze as one ventured further in.
Before long, Pei Xingyuan had lost his way.
He cautiously observed his surroundings, yet the tall buildings’ shadows kept shifting backward, leaving him unable to anchor himself with any familiar point of reference.
Just then, one of the black-clad figures walking beside the carriage suddenly stopped.
Pei Xingyuan imdiately turned to look. This was the fourth person to halt at an intersection along this journey. The carriage carried on, quickly leaving the person far behind, but Pei Xingyuan could still see him standing guard at the crossroads, blocking anyone from approaching from any direction.
He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and turned to Jin Daji, who was still driving the carriage, with a smile, saying, "Brother Jin, you are being overly cautious."
Jin Daji replied, "Better safe than sorry."
Pei Xingyuan said, "I won’t ddle in your driving or sailing, but going this deep in, after we collect the dicines, I won’t even know how to return."
"..."
Upon saying this, he felt a sudden quietness around him.
Looking at Jin Daji again, he saw the man glance at him with a smile, his small eyes flashing with cunning greed in the swaying lamplight, laying bare his intentions.
It seed as if he was laughing at his words.
Pei Xingyuan was slightly taken aback, and Jin Daji had already said with a smile, "Mr. Pei can rest assured."
"..."
"In any case, there is a path for you to follow."
Afterwards, he flicked his whip again, producing a crisp crack in the air, and the carriage speeded up a bit.
Only then did Pei Xingyuan realize they had already distanced themselves from the area with residents and reached an unknown depth. Around them were only dimly outlined low buildings on either side of the winding road, indicating clearly that no one lived here anymore.
Pei Xingyuan furrowed his brow and couldn’t help asking, "Are we not there yet?"
Jin Daji chuckled, "Almost there."
Pei Xingyuan hesitated for a mont, then said, "If we’re nearly there, why haven’t I slled the dicines yet? With so many herbs, there should be a scent, right?"
While speaking, he imdiately sensed that the chilling scent of dew in the air was gradually mixing with a hint of fragrance.
Upon closer sniff, it was the sll of spices.
Pei Xingyuan was not unfamiliar with this scent. After all, the tropolitan City had an entire street where Western Regions rchants sold spices, and the aroma was similarly intense.
However, the further in they went, the stronger the scent grew. At first, it was rely fragrant, but soon it felt like layers of gauze floating in mid-air, assaulting his face and wrapping around his mouth and nose. Later, the aroma pierced into his nostrils like needles, inescapable, leaving him dizzy with its intensity.
Even soone fond of spice aromas, Pei Xingyuan couldn’t help raising a hand to rub his nose tip. "Why is it so fragrant here?"
Jin Daji laughed and said, "This is where the East Market stores spices."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, although already sowhat dazed by the scent, Pei Xingyuan couldn’t help but look around. This was clearly not a residential area. The surroundings were simple storage buildings with no light, evidencing a storehouse for storing goods, and the intense aroma confird it as a place for spice storage.
Jin Daji laughed and said, "So, does Mr. Pei understand now why you can’t sll the dicine?"
"..."
Pei Xingyuan said nothing, rely breathed a slight sigh of relief inwardly.
The carriage slowed as they reached this place, and finally stopped after turning into a long and narrow alleyway.
Jin Daji dropped the reins and whip, and jumped off the carriage, "We’ve arrived."
Pei Xingyuan hesitated slightly before following him off the carriage but did not imdiately proceed. Instead, he stood still beneath the carriage, observing the small clearing ahead by the feeble light of the swinging lantern above.
Before him was a small clearing, about seven or eight feet square, with deep ruts trailing across the ground, along with scattered spices on either side, clearly the traces left by carriages or porters transporting spices in the past. In the near distance, the faint lamp light outlined the low silhouettes of three storage buildings.
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