"Do something for you?" Hai Bodong's expression changed when he heard Xiao Yan's words, and he hastily shook his head. "No!"
"Elder Hai, that's rather unreasonable of you," Xiao Yan said coolly. "As an Alchemist, my responsibility is only to refine the pill for you. But since you're missing the most important medicinal ingredient, I have to make a trip on your behalf as well. That means I'm already doing something for you, so naturally, you should do something for me in return."
"..."
"Don't worry. Whatever I ask you to do will never go against your principles, Elder Hai, and it will certainly be within your capabilities." Xiao Yan smiled. "Besides, I doubt there's a single expert in the Jia Ma Empire who wouldn't want to do something for a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."
"You're quite an arrogant brat, but you're not bluffing. If you really are an Alchemist capable of refining sixth-rank pills, there probably isn't anyone in the entire Jia Ma Empire who would refuse to do something for you." Hai Bodong sighed helplessly. "You've convinced me. If you really can refine that pill, then I suppose I can do something for you."
"I'm sure you won't regret today's decision, Elder Hai." Xiao Yan clapped his hands and smiled. "Oh, right. Since I have to venture deep into the Tagor Desert, please prepare the most detailed map you have for me. You wouldn't want an inaccurate route to delay me on the road and keep me from refining your pill as soon as possible, would you?"
"There are maps of the Tagor Desert all over the shop, but the most detailed one is actually on me," Hai Bodong said, sounding somewhat resigned.
"Oh?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. The old fellow really had been holding something back. He