Healing a Fallen S-Rank Beastman: Everyone Fights Over the Little Female-Chapter 139: The Marketplace

When Ban Lun finished speaking, he expected Lu Xiao to leave immediately. To his surprise, she simply looked at him and asked, "When will you give me back my terminal?"

She’d noticed the terminal on her wrist was gone the moment she woke up, but she hadn’t asked about it or gone looking for it. She was only bringing it up now to confirm something.

"I will return it when the time is right. You have no use for that sort of thing here."

Hearing this, Lu Xiao’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Got it. If I buy anything, I’ll just have it put on your account. Thanks."

Ban Lun: "..."

’Wait, is that what I meant?’

But regardless of whether that was his intention, Lu Xiao had asked for her terminal and he’d refused. If he now told her she couldn’t spend money, wouldn’t that make him seem petty?

’Ban Lun felt he might have underestimated the intelligence of the young female before him.’

"It is my honor to serve you, Lady Lu Xiao."

"That’s good. Now, where’s your man?"

"...He’ll be here shortly." Ban Lun rose and walked over to his desk. He pressed a control button and spoke, "Send someone clever over to show Lady Lu Xiao around our Underground City."

Not long after Ban Lun made the call, there was a knock at the door. Lu Xiao stood her ground, her face unreadable as she watched the entrance. The moment she saw it wasn’t Fred, the anticipation in her heart vanished, though she didn’t feel particularly disappointed.

’After all, how could there be so many coincidences?’

The person who entered was the same Male Beastman who had brought her here earlier.

"C Luo, take good care of Lady Lu Xiao."

"I will, Lord Ban Lun. Lady Lu Xiao, this way, please." Lu Xiao nodded to Ban Lun and walked toward C Luo.

After they left the office, C Luo remained silent, keeping a slight distance from Lu Xiao as he walked.

"Aren’t you going to tell me where you’re taking me?"

He flinched slightly and darted a glance at Lu Xiao before quickly looking away again. Even with his mask on, the exposed skin of his neck flushed pink. "We only have one market here. It’s very lively. It... it has everything. You’ll see once we get there."

"Oh? How long have you been here?" In truth, Lu Xiao wasn’t the least bit curious about the market. She was just looking for an excuse to walk around and see if she could find any opportunities.

Since C Luo was the only person with her, he was the natural place to start.

Her tone was casual, as if it didn’t matter to her whether he answered or not.

It was a method that naturally made people lower their guard.

C Luo seemed taken aback that Lu Xiao was even speaking to him. After all, the females he’d encountered in the past would never deign to look them in the eye, as if they were something filthy, let alone speak to them.

’But he didn’t sense that kind of arrogant discrimination from this young female.’

It made his limbs tingle, and he didn’t know how to react.

"I... I’ve lived here since... since I was a child."

The answer genuinely surprised Lu Xiao. "Why would you grow up in a place like this?"

Faced with Lu Xiao’s question, C Luo felt a little awkward, but not ashamed.

It was clear she was asking because she genuinely didn’t know, not to deliberately humiliate him with the question.

"My father made a mistake a long time ago. He brought me here to live, and we lost our status in the Empire."

C Luo didn’t go into detail, but Lu Xiao understood. The nature of a place called the "Underground City" wasn’t hard to grasp, after all.

’The people living here... more than half of them were probably criminals.’

’The Empire probably doesn’t investigate this place too closely, figuring a group of stateless people living underground couldn’t stir up any trouble. That’s why they’re left alone.’

’But in reality, places like this are breeding grounds for crime, nutrients for the growth of evil.’

"Is it impossible to leave this place?"

"Anyone who’s lost their status would just be cast out if they went back up, left with nowhere to go. So no, it’s impossible." At this, C Luo seemed to want to change the subject so as not to dampen Lu Xiao’s mood. He forced a smile. "Actually, we have a lot of great food here. I don’t know if you’d like it... Of course, if you think that’s too forward..."

"Not at all. I’d love to see this Underground City cuisine you speak of. Please, lead the way."

"N-No need to be so formal." Seeing Lu Xiao smile, C Luo’s face turned completely red. He’d never realized his face could get so hot. Not wanting to put her off, C Luo forced himself to appear composed. "P-Please, follow me."

He then took the lead, but his arms and legs began moving in unison without him realizing it.

Lu Xiao noticed, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, before her lips curved into a faint smile. ’I won’t point it out. If I say something now, C Luo will probably just get even more flustered.’

C Luo was clearly familiar with the area. He led Lu Xiao through a series of twists and turns until they emerged from an iron gate, and her view suddenly opened up.

A massive marketplace, built inside a cavern, appeared before her.

’It was a bit like the places dwarves lived that she’d seen on TV.’

Even for a cavern, it was very well-kept.

The bustling cries of vendors filled the air. Despite being underground, the place felt vibrant and full of life.

’This was completely different from what Lu Xiao had imagined.’

There were even decorated boats floating on an underground river, with people aboard calling out to solicit business.

C Luo noticed Lu Xiao’s pace had slowed. He didn’t rush ahead, but instead glanced back at her from time to time to make sure she was still with him.

"This place isn’t what I expected."

As Lu Xiao spoke, a faint, natural smile touched her lips.

C Luo seemed to understand her unspoken meaning instinctively. "Everyone’s just used to living here."

The market was filled entirely with males, but they all seemed to be in exceptionally good spirits. There were no signs of suppressed emotion on their faces; they laughed freely, frowned when they cursed, and seemed truly alive.

What’s more, they paid her no special attention. Although she had drawn quite a few stares when she first arrived, everyone quickly went back to their own business.

’The feeling made her realize that maybe she wasn’t so important after all!’

The smile on her lips deepened. ’Maybe this decision was the right one after all,’ she thought.

"Let’s go," she said. "Now I’m even more curious to try that food you were talking about."

Lu Xiao, who hadn’t been very curious about the market before, now genuinely wanted to see what it had to offer.

C Luo noticed that the young female before him seemed to have relaxed.

’How could there be a female like this in the world? All alone in a strange place where danger could strike at any moment, yet she could still smile so beautifully and openly.’

’Is she really not afraid?’