Not Living Up to Its Name

Zi Xun'er hadn't expected Qin Yu's reaction to be so intense. Her alluring eyes, sparkling like water, looked at Qin Yu and she said with a charming smile, "Xun'er was just curious..." In her heart, however, she thought, It seems that idea is difficult to implement. I can be sure that if I truly control the people behind him, I'll get absolutely nothing. This isn't what Zi Xun'er wants.

"I hope you were just curious!" Qin Yu said coldly. Although he was just a passerby, he wouldn't allow anyone to target his Qin Family members. He didn't care about others, but he absolutely wouldn't let his sister, Qin Xue, suffer any harm.

Zi Xun'er smiled charmingly, dismissing her earlier threat. She picked up the paper Qin Yu had written on and examined it for a moment before saying, "Alright, I can gather all these medicinal ingredients and items for you. I've estimated the price to be around three hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones. There are four hundred remaining. Does Fellow Daoist Chen want spirit stones or other medicinal ingredients?"

"A Void Storage Ring, and exchange the rest for spirit stones. Half Low-grade Spirit Stones, and half Mid-grade Spirit Stones." Qin Yu was buying a lot of medicinal ingredients. If he transported them directly to the Qin Family, it would only attract unwanted attention.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, how can I contact you in the future?" Zi Xun'er asked, not directly answering his question.

"I'll be back a few more times. Alright, help me prepare it," Qin Yu said, standing up.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, no need to rush. Although these medicinal ingredients aren't precious items, the quantity you need is very large, and it will take half a day to gather them. If Fellow Daoist Chen is interested, Xun'er can accompany you to browse the pill shop and see if there's anything else you fancy?" Zi Xun'er slowly stood up, speaking charmingly. She wanted to see how many more secrets Qin Yu held.

Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded. He didn't want to make an enemy of Zi Xun'er. This woman was deeply calculating and fickle. It was best to befriend her if possible, otherwise, provoking her in his current situation would bring considerable trouble.

Upon receiving Qin Yu's agreement, a faint smile appeared on Zi Xun'er's fair cheeks, a smile that could topple cities and nations.

"Xun'er didn't mean anything else before. I was genuinely curious about Fellow Daoist Chen's origins. You know, the Gang Yuan Pill is only recorded in ancient texts, and very few people possess its formula," Zi Xun'er said as she led Qin Yu out of the room.

Qin Yu replied calmly, "With the power behind 'Myriad Manifestations,' shouldn't you have the Gang Yuan Pill formula?" Qin Yu asked tentatively. After the Immortal Martial World was shattered by Lin Yu and Xue'er was reformed, many things must have been lost. Qin Yu also vaguely guessed the power behind the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop.

"Oh? What does Fellow Daoist Chen think is behind the Myriad Manifestations Sect?" Zi Xun'er asked with a gentle smile. She also sensed that Qin Yu was probing her and became somewhat curious.

"If my guess is correct, it should be the Guiyuan Sect," Qin Yu mused for a moment.

Myriad manifestations change infinitely, but all changes stem from the same origin. Thus, all changes return to the origin. Combined with the fact that Zi Xun'er had entered the First Realm of Heavenly Tempering at such a young age, Qin Yu concluded that the Guiyuan Sect must be behind the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop.

In the past, Qin Yu had heard of the Guiyuan Sect. Even now, he had seen descriptions of the Guiyuan Sect in ancient texts within the Qin Family's library, indicating its profound heritage.

Zi Xun'er's heart trembled. She scrutinized Qin Yu seriously. She hadn't expected Qin Yu to actually guess the sect behind the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop. After all, the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shops were spread across the stars, and unless it was one of the major powers, few people knew that the sect behind it was the Guiyuan Sect. Thus, she hadn't expected someone in this secular main city to have figured it out.

Could it be that this person comes from a major sect? Is he pretending to be weak to catch the strong? Zi Xun'er was full of suspicion.

"Alchemist Zi, a Fellow Daoist surnamed Long is requesting an audience downstairs."

Just then, the old man who had previously received Qin Yu walked up to the pavilion and said respectfully.

"I know," Zi Xun'er said indifferently, displeased at being interrupted. She then turned to Qin Yu and said, "If Fellow Daoist Chen doesn't mind, would you accompany Xun'er downstairs to meet an old acquaintance?"

Qin Yu didn't answer, which was considered consent.

The two walked down the pavilion side-by-side, only to see several young men and women chatting in the pill shop. What made Qin Yu's eyes flash with cold light was that among them was a face he knew all too well – the person he hated and feared the most in his past life's memories. That person was the former Qin Yu's second brother, the second son of the Qin Family, Qin Feng!

However, Qin Feng now lacked the arrogance and imperiousness from Qin Yu's memories. He stood at the back of the crowd with a humble smile, respectfully.

The leader of the group was two exceptionally beautiful young women. One wore a light pink palace dress, and the other wore a white gauze skirt. Behind them were a young boy and several youths, each with a different expression – surprise, confusion, and anticipation.

"Senior Sister Zi, I didn't expect you to really come to Tianwu Main City." As Qin Yu and Zi Xun'er descended the stairs, the woman in the white gauze skirt's eyes lit up with surprise.

"Ling'er, it's been a long time," Zi Xun'er said, her steps light and graceful, her beautiful face carrying a hint of a smile.

The young men behind the two women were all stunned by Zi Xun'er's beauty, their eyes fixed on her, their faces filled with infatuation.

"Senior Sister Zi, you came to Tianwu Main City without telling Ling'er, nor letting Ling'er fulfill her duties as a host," the woman named Ling'er said, stepping forward and taking Zi Xun'er's wrist, speaking in a sweet voice. When her gaze fell upon Qin Yu, she looked him up and down carefully before exclaiming in surprise, "Oh... Senior Sister Zi, who is this?"

"This is Fellow Daoist Chen. He is also from the Wu Kingdom," Zi Xun'er said with a charming smile, then winked at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu glanced at Zi Xun'er coldly, sneering inwardly. Still not giving up? Still trying to test me?

"From the Wu Kingdom? Brother Chen, my name is Long Ling. It's a pleasure to meet you, Brother Chen," the woman named Ling'er said with a sweet smile, her voice clear and exceptionally pleasant.

Qin Yu nodded slightly in response. He guessed Long Ling's identity. In the Wu Kingdom, the surname Long could only belong to the Emperor of Wu. Coupled with Qin Feng's respectful demeanor, these two women should be princesses of the Wu Kingdom.

"Sister Ling'er, he's only at the Martial Realm First Layer... Why are you calling him brother? He's not even as strong as me..." the young boy behind Long Ling said sullenly. He was about twelve or thirteen years old but already possessed a slight air of authority due to his privileged upbringing.

"Long Fei, shut up." Long Ling turned her head sharply and said sternly.

The young boy named Long Fei stuck out his tongue and lowered his head obediently, looking wronged.

Long Ling then shifted her gaze back to Qin Yu and said, "Brother Chen, my younger brother is young and ignorant. I hope Brother Chen doesn't take offense."

Qin Yu glanced at Long Ling and nodded slightly. He knew that Long Ling was doing this for Zi Xun'er's benefit. However, Long Ling was apologizing to him, not Zi Xun'er, which showed her considerable cunning. She just hadn't anticipated the relationship between him and Zi Xun'er.

"Brother Chen, this is my younger sister, Long Yu," Long Ling quickly changed the subject, introducing Long Yu to Qin Yu.

"Long Yu? The Thirteenth Princess of Wu, Long Yu?" Qin Yu looked at Long Yu in surprise. He hadn't expected this to be the Thirteenth Princess whom his former self had longed for. He examined her closely, and she perfectly matched the beauty in his former self's memories. However, his former self had only admired her from afar, secretly watching her at most, and had never interacted with her directly. Seeing her now, Qin Yu couldn't help but scrutinize Long Yu.

Her features were exquisite, dressed in a light pink robe with a white gauze outer layer, revealing her gracefully curved neck and clearly visible collarbones. The hem of her skirt flowed like snow and moonlight, pooling around her feet for more than three feet. Her black hair was tied up with a ribbon, adorned with a butterfly hairpin. A lock of hair fell onto her chest. Lightly powdered, it only enhanced her beauty. The subtle blush on her cheeks created a tender and lovely complexion, like flower petals. The entire person seemed like a butterfly fluttering in the wind, or like pure, transparent ice and snow.

It had to be said that Long Yu was indeed a beauty. Although not as stunning as Zi Xun'er, she possessed the freshness of youth, which gave her a unique charm. However, what surprised Qin Yu was that the Thirteenth Princess only had a cultivation of the Martial Realm Second Level.

"Long Yu greets Brother Chen." As Qin Yu was appraising Long Yu, she was also appraising him. However, she was puzzled by Qin Yu's gaze, which seemed to be scrutinizing her. Does he know me? And why does my sister respect him so much when he's only at the Martial Realm First Layer?

At this moment, the young talents behind the two princesses cupped their fists.

"Wang Yu greets Brother Chen."

"Liu Yu greets Brother Chen."

"Qin Feng greets Brother Chen." Qin Feng also cupped his fists and said respectfully at the end.

Qin Yu glanced at Qin Feng and said calmly, "Are you that second son of the Qin Family, Qin Feng?"

Qin Feng's body trembled. He immediately beamed with joy, feeling flattered. "It is indeed I. What merit do I have to allow..."

"I've heard that the second son of the Qin Family is arrogant and imperious. To see you today, it seems to be undeserved."