Secrets of the Medicine Cauldron, the Alchemist's Legacy

The walls of Desert City are much shorter than those of Stone Desert City, but perhaps because it is located on the edge of the desert, it is much more lively than Stone Desert City.

Moreover, compared to the desolate atmosphere of Stone Desert City, this place has a more lively and welcoming feel.

After entering the city, Qin Yu walked along the main street for a while, his eyes scanning back and forth on the shop signs on both sides.

If Xiao Yi Xian and her companions are really here, they should frequently visit the pharmacies here. Desert City isn't that big, so finding them shouldn't be too difficult.

Before they could even find the herbal medicine shop, Qin Yu caught a glimpse of a shop sign on a street corner.

Gutu.

Qin Yu paused for a moment.

Isn't this the little shop where Hai Bo Dong is hiding?

This old guy had his cultivation sealed after fighting Medusa, falling from Dou Emperor to Dou Ling. He then went into hiding and opened this map shop in Desert City.

The fragment of the map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame is now in his hands, a fact confirmed by the senses provided by the Treasure-Seeking Sacred Body.

Qin Yu stood there for a while, but ultimately did not go inside.

He looked away and continued walking along the main street.

Hai Bo Dong does have a strange temper, but he's a decent person. Qin Yu wants to give him a try, but unless absolutely necessary, he'd better not fight him.

However, he first needed to confirm whether Xiao Yi Xian was in Desert City.

Qin Yu looked around, memorized the location, and then continued forward, entering the first pharmacy on the street.

The shopkeeper was a thin, middle-aged man who was dozing off on the counter.

Qin Yu tapped the table, and the man jumped up with a start. He put on a smile and was about to greet him when Qin Yu asked him a question that left him speechless:

Has a young woman been coming to get medicine frequently lately?

Qin Yu briefly described Xiao Yi Xian's characteristics, and the shopkeeper thought for a long time before shaking his head.

Without asking any further questions, he turned and went to the next shop.

I asked three shops in a row, and the answer was the same for all of them.

There were only a few pharmacies in Desert City. By the time he asked at the third one, he started to have doubts. Could it be that Xiao Yi Xian hadn't come to Desert City?

Where should he look?

As they walked toward the fourth herbal medicine shop, a familiar figure emerged from behind the curtain at the shop's entrance.

Qin Yu stood there, momentarily dazed.

Xiao Yi Xian stood not far away, sunlight shining on her profile, her hair fluttering slightly in the wind, everything was fine.

She's alright, and Qing Lin and Qing Lin mother should be alright too.

Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head and took a few steps. As if sensing something, she raised her head and her gaze met Qin Yu's.

She froze for a moment, almost dropping the medicinal herbs in her hand.

Before Qin Yu could say anything, Xiao Yi Xian had already bumped into his arms.

Her head was buried in Qin Yu's chest, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she had finally regained the sense of security she had lost for so long.

"Looks like we're pretty in sync; I knew you were coming to Desert City right away."

Qin Yu gently patted her back, and after Xiao Yi Xian's emotions had calmed down a bit, the two slowly walked towards Xiao Yi Xian's current residence.

On the way, Xiao Yi Xian recounted her experiences in Stone Desert City, and after finishing, she felt much more relaxed.

"By the way, I heard some people saying the other day that the Snake-People Tribe were making a large-scale mobilization in the desert, and that there was a battle between powerful figures deep in the desert. Could it all be something you orchestrated?"

"We'll talk about it later."

The courtyard where Xiao Yi Xian and her daughter Qing Lin rented was in the west of the city, far from the hustle and bustle of the main street.

The courtyard gate opened, and a little girl of about ten years old was squatting against the wall, drying medicinal herbs.

Hearing the noise, Qing Lin looked up, paused for a moment when she saw Qin Yu, then put down the herbs in her hand and ran towards Qin Yu.

"Brother Qin Yu! Sister Xiao Yi Xian!"

Qing Lin's face was a little rounder than when she was in Stone Desert City, and she had changed her faded tattered clothes into a clean little dress.

"Brother Qin Yu, you're finally back! Sister Xiao Yi Xian has been talking about you for days."

She looked up at Qin Yu, her eyes sparkling. After settling into a stable life, the young girl's spirits had clearly improved a lot.

Qin Yu couldn't resist Qing Lin's adorable appearance either, and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Hearing the noise, Qing Lin's mother also came out of the house.

Previously, due to long-term illness, she had become pale and emaciated, almost unrecognizable.

Now, under the continued care of Xiao Yi Xian, her health has improved significantly. After her complexion returned to normal, her facial features gradually regained their original delicate and dignified appearance.

Qing Lin's mother walked up to Qin Yu and was about to kneel down when Qin Yu quickly reached out to help her up.

"My benefactor, the kindness you and the fairy maiden have shown us... we have nothing to repay you with but our knees begging for your gratitude."

Qing Lin's mother's eyes were slightly red, but her voice was much stronger than before, which was much better than when she was barely breathing.

"There's no need for that."

Qin Yu helped her sit down, then asked:

"Now that you're feeling better, what are your plans for the future?"

Qing Lin's mother lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and remained silent for a long time.

"I'm just a woman, I don't ask for much, I only hope to find a safe place so that Qing Lin can grow up peacefully."

"After giving birth to Qing Lin, I originally wanted to take her away, but for some reason, my body was extremely weak. Not to mention leaving, I even had difficulty getting out of bed, which is why this child has suffered with me for so many years."

As she spoke, she glanced at Qing Lin unconsciously. The little girl was still squatting by the wall, diligently tidying up the herbs—something Xiao Yi Xian had been teaching her recently.

Qin Yu remained silent, but he guessed that it was probably because Qing Lin possessed the heaven-defying Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils technique that Qing Lin mother's health deteriorated rapidly after her birth.

After a long pause, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind:

"How about this, you come with me to Wutan City, and I can help you find a place to stay there."

"I have an old house there. Once you've settled in, just remember to take care of it for me."

Qin Yu was unaware of the things Xiao Zhan did after he left.

With Qing Lin and her daughter nowhere to go, he naturally thought of his own little house.

A house that's been neglected and lost its vitality always leaves a somewhat unsettling feeling when you look back at it.

Upon hearing this, Qing Lin's mother raised her head, her lips trembling, unable to utter a complete sentence:

"My benefactor... you... I..."

"Alright, alright."

Just then, Xiao Yi Xian poked her head out of the kitchen, carrying two plates of food:

"Dinner's ready, come and eat. We can talk after you eat. Qing Lin, are you hungry?"

"Uh-huh!"

At the dinner table, Qing Lin kept calling him "Xiao Yi Xian" and "Brother Qin Yu," which made Qin Yu and Xiao Yi Xian smile.

Seeing her daughter's rare display of liveliness, Qing Lin's mother lowered her head and quietly wiped the corner of her eye.

After the meal, Qin Yu sat in the courtyard and took out the black medicine cauldron he had previously "snatched" from his Storage Ring.

The medicine cauldron was completely black, covered with a layer of stubborn grime, and had several cracks that snaked like a spider web on its body.

With two vents on the left and right, it looks like an iron pot that has been thrown into a pile of junk.

But the Innate Treasure-Seeking Body certainly wouldn't lie to him.

Back when I sensed that jade piece containing the Three Mysterious Flame Change in the Imperial Capital, its strength wasn't even half that of this medicine cauldron.

"... Let me see, what secrets do you have?"