Emerald Elixir Hall

This was the largest shop on the entire street.

A plaque bearing the three bold characters "Emerald Elixir Hall" hung beneath the eaves. A pair of swallows seemed particularly fond of the place and had built a nest there.

Unlike the other buildings on the street, the shop called Emerald Elixir Hall was taller and larger, appearing to have two floors from the outside. There was no vine-covered awning at the entrance, nor were there any vendors setting up stalls outside.

It too had an emerald roof and golden-brown walls, but the colors of the entire Emerald Elixir Hall building seemed far richer than those of the other buildings on the street. It even carried a faint, jade-like warmth and luster, giving it an understated sense of luxury.

Flowerbeds blooming with vivid flowers stood on either side of the entrance. Tender chirps came from within the purple blossoms, and as the flowers rustled and swayed, several ducklings crawled out. Their down was fresh green, their color as jade-like as gemstones.

"These are Emerald Swan hatchlings. We usually call little ones like these Emerald Ugly Ducklings," Wang Rui said. "Their elders are nearby."

The ducklings tilted their heads and watched them curiously for a while before all burrowing back into the flowers.

Huo Yuqing felt utterly charmed by their cuteness.

Wang Rui took a deep breath and stepped forward to push open the doors. A wave of cool air carrying a strange, faintly bitter fragrance rushed toward them.

The instant she smelled that scent, Huo Yuqing felt her thoughts go blank for a second.

She felt as though she had suddenly descended into a valley filled with flowers, where an intense aura of life washed over her.

"It smells so good."

Once her olfactory cells had adapted, the strange fragrance gradually weakened, but Huo Yuqing felt her mind become several degrees clearer.

Meanwhile, Wang Rui frowned. One hand covered his nose while the other braced against the door as he sneezed several times in a row. Only then did he rub his nose and straighten up.

The indoor temperature was lower than outside, effectively dispelling the restless heat brought by the summer sun.

The layout inside Emerald Elixir Hall was very simple. Directly opposite the entrance stood a broad wooden counter. A young woman had been sitting behind it, but upon seeing Wang Rui and Huo Yuqing enter, she promptly rose with a smile.

Behind her stood a row of highly complex, multi-compartment herb cabinets. Every one of the densely packed little drawers had a label and a button, while special inscriptions had been carved into the dividers along the sides.

Huo Yuqing could not make out what material they were made of. They did not look much like wood, so she could only guess that they were some kind of Soul Tool cabinets.

To the right behind the counter was a narrow staircase leading directly to the second floor.

"Scrape, scrape."

The room was quiet. Huo Yuqing heard faint grinding sounds, as though someone was pulverizing something. They seemed to be coming from upstairs.

Tall cabinet-like Soul Tools like the ones behind the counter also stood along both sides of the hall. Their densely packed drawers looked remarkably oppressive, and a small ladder leaned against the side of one cabinet.

There was no obvious light source indoors, yet the illumination was still soft and pleasant. Bird-shaped incense burners sat in several corners, releasing wisps of pale white smoke. Clearly, they were the source of the shop's strange fragrance.

"Welcome!" the young woman behind the counter said with a smile. "May I ask what kind of pills you would like to buy?"

She was exceptionally beautiful, her features bright and striking in just the right measure without being overly flamboyant. Her snow-white skin resembled congealed cream, and her neck was long and slender. Her eyes held a watery softness and charm, while her dazzling long golden curls draped over her front, making her appear gentle and poised.

She wore a pale yellow short jacket fastened at the front over a high-waisted, light-purple pleated skirt. The sharply contrasting colors made her look elegant without losing her liveliness.

"I'm not here to buy pills. I'm looking for Lu Mingyou," Wang Rui answered lazily, as though he had not noticed her beauty at all.

The scraping sound stopped.

The young woman visibly froze for a moment, but quickly recovered. "You're looking for Teacher Lu? She's upstairs."

"I shall be right down." An exceedingly hoarse female voice rang out. It carried a peculiar rhythm—clearly soft, yet tinged with a rough, granular quality.

A middle-aged woman descended the narrow staircase.

Her graceful figure was wrapped in a deep-purple one-piece gown. Great swathes of begonia patterns were embroidered into the lustrous satin fabric, while her cloud-like black hair was coiled into a bun and pinned with a begonia hairpin. A violet jade bracelet rested upon her fair wrist, white as the moon.

Her movements were gentle and elegant, every gesture carrying an indescribable charm.

But her face—her features were exquisite, yet a large purple-red scar covered the left side of her face from her cheekbone to her forehead.

She was clearly such a beautiful person... Huo Yuqing had yet to learn how to hide her emotions, and an expression of regret unconsciously appeared on her face.

Seeing her expression, Lu Mingyou raised a brow and smiled faintly. "Good child, there is no need to pity me."

Having her thoughts seen through, Huo Yuqing curled her fingers awkwardly.

The woman smiled. "There's no need to feel embarrassed. I've looked like this since I came out of my mother's womb. I've seen plenty of malicious stares of all kinds. Gazes like yours, filled only with kind regret, are actually quite rare."

Then she turned to Wang Rui and gave a slight bow. "Greetings, Young Master Rui."

Huo Yuqing glanced sideways at Wang Rui, becoming even more certain that he came from a highly prestigious background.

"There's really no need to be so formal..." Wang Rui had not expected Lu Mingyou to pull that on him, and his reply came out rather stiffly.

"Young Master Rui, you jest." A hint of mischief appeared in Lu Mingyou's eyes as she blinked. "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to freeload a place to stay," Wang Rui said with a shrug.

Then he dragged Huo Yuqing over and pushed her forward, saying with a grin, "This is my friend, Huo Yuhao. He'll be freeloading here with me too. And could you see whether there's any work in the shop he can do? My friend's a little strapped for cash, so find him something he can handle and pay him a bit! Don't let his age fool you—he's a Spirit-Type Soul Master!"

"A Spirit-Type?" Lu Mingyou looked at Huo Yuqing in surprise, her delicate brows rising as a hint of delight appeared in her eyes. "That's rare... Good child, would you like to learn alchemy from me? Spirit-Type Soul Masters have a great advantage in learning it."

She then stepped out from behind the counter, crouched halfway down in front of Huo Yuqing, and took the girl's hand to inspect it carefully. Then she lifted the girl's chin and examined her from both sides before touching her somewhat unruly short hair.

"This child suffered quite a bit when she was young," Lu Mingyou murmured to herself. "Her foundation is somewhat poor, and she has some hidden injuries too. She needs to be properly nourished... Let me think..."

With such an imposing, noblewoman standing so close, Huo Yuqing felt a little nervous. She instinctively glanced at Wang Rui.

"Occupational habit." Wang Rui shook his head with a smile. "She's a healing-type Soul Master and an alchemist. No matter who she sees, she wants to find some ailment to treat."

Lu Mingyou muttered the names of various herbs as she wandered back behind the counter as though sleepwalking. Then, apparently finding the young woman behind the counter to be in the way, she moved her aside and began rummaging through the drawers.

"Are you two both staying here?" The girl standing to one side glanced at her teacher helplessly, then turned to Huo Yuqing and Wang Rui, whom the teacher had left hanging. Her eyes held friendliness and curiosity. "There are still vacant rooms on the second floor, but only one has been cleaned up, so you..."

"No need to trouble yourself. The two of us can share a room." Wang Rui threw an arm around Huo Yuqing's shoulders like they were close brothers and pulled her to his side.

"Mhm, one room is fine," the girl mumbled in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, the tips of her ears bright red.

"Heeheehee~" Tian Meng let out a timely, strange laugh in her mind.

"Then shall I take you upstairs to look at the room?" the girl suggested.

"You take him up first. I have something to discuss with your teacher down here." Wang Rui shook his head.

The girl nodded and led Huo Yuqing upstairs.

An invisible wave of Spiritual Power spread out, sealing off the staircase leading upstairs with a trembling hum. Whatever was said downstairs now could not be heard clearly upstairs.

"Word came from the Moon Shadow Wolf pack that you had found a human contractor... Was that the child just now?" At some point, Lu Mingyou had turned around. Her face carried the respect one showed to a superior. "He is a good child, but his talent..."

"I know. Naturally, I have my reasons for choosing him." Wang Rui cut her off. His golden eyes held an authority that brooked no defiance. "Are there any Heavenly Water Pills left? Give him one, then do your best to help nurse his body back to health. But don't do it in my name—do it in the sect's name."

The Heavenly Water Pill had been improved from the Profound Water Pill of the Profound Nether Sect, a reclusive sect of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was refined from the blood of dozens of water-type soul beasts together with high-year water-type herbs, making it extremely precious. Its medicinal power was gentler than the Profound Water Pill's, while its effects in cleansing the meridians and remolding the marrow were even more pronounced.

"Of course there are Heavenly Water Pills. You are considering his feelings... but wouldn't it be better to let that child remember your kindness?" Lu Mingyou asked in confusion.

"For now, I am getting along with him as a friend. It would not be appropriate to make him owe me too much." Wang Rui shook his head. "If he owes me too much, then we can no longer be friends."

"Is that so?" Lu Mingyou nodded lightly. "I understand. Has he joined the sect already? Should we register his name under Jade City?"

"Not yet. You may try to recruit him, but do not force him if he is unwilling."

"This... You truly favor this human." A trace of disapproval appeared in Lu Mingyou's eyes.

"He still bears the burden of hatred and wants revenge against his father. His father is the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire." Wang Rui gave a cold laugh. "Dai Hao represents the Star Luo Empire's military power... I fear that Huo Yuhao does not wish to drag the sect into a private vendetta involving an empire."

"So that is how it is..." Lu Mingyou's expression eased considerably. "Perhaps this child does not yet understand just how powerful the sect is. Dai Hao is nothing more than..."

The gentle woman seemed to think of something. "That child clearly bears old injuries. Combined with his malnutrition, it is obvious he suffered plenty of bullying and suppression at home... And he does not even bear the surname Dai." Though Lu Mingyou still looked middle-aged, she had in fact lived for over a hundred years. She naturally guessed at a glance what Huo Yuqing had gone through, and a hint of contempt appeared on her face. "The faithful White Tiger Duke Dai Hao cannot even manage his own household. Hah."

"Also, get a letter of recommendation from Shrek Academy," Wang Rui added.

"That will be easy. A city lord from the Dou Ling Empire happens to be in Jade City seeking treatment for his young son." Lu Mingyou nodded. "Are you going to Shrek with that child?"

"Mhm." Wang Rui's voice deepened. "I received word before that Shrek seems to intend to break the agreement."

The woman's face turned cold, only for a seductive smile to soon return. "Then this humble one wishes you an enjoyable time."

Huo Hang was probably the only one in all these Douluo stories who unlocked the alchemy skill. Wouldn't it be a waste not to develop it?

And Tang San's use of those immortal herbs... Tsk tsk tsk.

This eel is... in orthopedics!

I sprained my ankle yesterday. Maybe I did not handle it properly, because it hurt so badly today that I could barely put it on the ground. I ran to orthopedics, got prescribed a pile of medicated patches, and got scolded too (_)

I took a look and saw that this made it to thirty-first on the new book rankings! Thank you all for your support!!!!! I'm incredibly grateful!!!!!

But, well, um... I really do not write full-time. When I first started this story, I had tens of thousands of words saved up, but I never expected to get a contract, and I've already burned through all my drafts. Now I'm running naked. I'll kowtow to everyone a couple of times... I promise I won't stop updating, but extra chapters are really difficult, QwQ