In the end, Apothecary did not give Xiao Yan that "junk."
Xiao Yan had no reasonable explanation to give the Xiao Clan for where those things came from; Apothecary also wanted to put the girl through another period of "observation and assessment."
Though she had actually awakened inside the ring long ago and had learned quite a bit about the girl after watching her for some time.
After all, Xiao Yan wore the ring even when she ate and slept.
Besides, Xiao Yan had not known she existed back then, so there was no possibility that she had been putting on an act for her. Apothecary was very pleased with Xiao Yan's behavior, too.
Still, once bitten by a snake, one feared even a well rope for ten years. She could not help being a little more cautious.
At least she still had a chance to "cut her losses" now, right?
And decades later, Apothecary would feel endlessly grateful for the decision she had made back then...
"Although your Dou Qi has been declining for these past three years, that is precisely why your foundation is firmer than most people's."
"In Dou Qi cultivation, your foundation is the most important thing of all! In the future, you'll realize just how much you've gained from these three years of declining strength!"
"Yes, yes, the most solid three-stage Dou Qi foundation on the entire continent-Teacher, stop dangling painted cakes in front of me. Let's have something tangible."
"..." Apothecary rolled her eyes and did not argue with Xiao Yan. Presumably, she thought it beneath her dignity.
Especially when "three-stage Dou Qi" came into the discussion. She did not have a leg to stand on there.
"Initial-stage Dou Qi cultivation mainly involves expanding the channels, tempering the body, and strengthening the meridians... That is certainly true for others, but you are different."
"..." I suspect you're deliberately padding the word count.
"The foundation within your body was already firm and sound three years ago. And you've remained steadfast these past few years, never neglecting your cultivation. So I can say without the slightest reservation that your current foundation is excellent!"
So you haven't gone hungry for a single day these past three years... Xiao Yan thought.
Being cheeky once in a while was fine, but talking back after every sentence would be far too rude.
So she remained seated where she was, listening "obediently" to Apothecary's arrangements.
"...Hehe, medicinal pills are too potent and can easily damage the meridians, so we must take a gentler approach!" Apothecary smiled slightly.
"Girl, prepare three whole stalks of purple leaf orchid grass tomorrow... These are all low-grade ingredients, so you should be able to get them... Someone's coming up. I'll return to the ring first!"
"Don't let anyone know I exist, including those closest to you."
With that, Apothecary paid Xiao Yan no further attention and plunged straight into the Black Ring. The ring trembled slightly and slipped neatly onto her finger.
"...Teacher, do you take me for a princess of some Imperial Family? Those ingredients together will cost at least a thousand gold coins!" The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.
"That's your problem, hehe. The Nourishing Spirit Liquid I make is something other people can't buy even with money. All I'm asking is that you pay for a few ingredients, and you're already this distressed..."
Apothecary's teasing laughter echoed in Xiao Yan's mind.
"If you're so amazing, cough up some gold coins first."
"Honestly, you little brat..."
After trading a few barbs with Xiao Yan, Apothecary left her "on read."
In truth, she quite enjoyed the feeling. The long darkness inside the ring made conversations like these feel wonderfully "human."
"Tsk, what an interesting little thing..."
"...Well, things prepared by an Alchemist really are only affordable for the rich;
being an Alchemist is probably a money-burning profession, too. After all, if you can't afford ingredients, what are you supposed to practice with...?"
Xiao Yan gave a helpless, bitter laugh. Her monthly allowance from the Xiao Clan was by no means small.
In fact, thanks to the principle that "daughters should be raised in abundance," the money she could spend each month exceeded the combined allowances her two older brothers had received at her age.
Out in the world, that money could keep an ordinary family well fed for an entire year. But when it came to buying the ingredients Apothecary had mentioned, it was merely a single hair from nine oxen.
That was the gulf between them!
"Ah, I can only borrow it from someone..."
With a sigh, Xiao Yan slowly composed herself. Her expression returned to its usual calm as she turned toward the mountain path.
There, a lovely figure in green was bounding lightly toward her like a sprite.
Xun'er had intended to comfort Xiao Yan, but when she drew near, she paused in surprise.
They had only been apart for half a day. Why... did something about Sister Xiao Yan seem different? Something had been added.
A breeze swept past, stirring her loosely flowing dark hair.
Xiao Yan raised a hand to hold down the strands dancing in the wind, then turned and met Xun'er's gaze.
The girl stood there, her radiant beauty dazzling Xiao Xun'er's eyes.
The faint smile hovering at her lips held a tenderness that emerged unconsciously only when she faced her.
After all, only Xun'er, her father, and her two older brothers held special places in Xiao Yan's heart.
Yes, there was absolutely no other special meaning to it.
After three years, the brightest halo Xiao Yan had once possessed seemed to have finally returned.
This was what they meant by "confidence shines"... ahem.
Although she did not know what had happened in that half day, Xiao Xun'er broke into a happy smile as well.
She stepped forward and linked arms with Xiao Yan, smiling softly. "Judging by how you look now, Sister Xiao Yan, it seems you don't need Xun'er to comfort you?"
"People have to grow after taking a blow, don't they?" Xiao Yan casually found an excuse and glossed over the matter.
Xun'er smiled faintly and took out a jade bottle. "Sister Xiao Yan, this is some ointment for external injuries."
"It wouldn't be worth it if your hand were left scarred because of that person."
Xiao Yan instinctively moved to take it, only to see Xun'er open the bottle and extend a hand toward her. "I'll apply it for you, Sister."
Xiao Yan could not help chuckling, but she did not refuse Xun'er's kindness and held out her hand.
Xun'er's touch was very gentle, like a kitten's paw lightly scratching her. It tickled.
After the ointment had been applied, Xiao Yan said nothing, and Xun'er tacitly refrained from mentioning the broken engagement again.
In her eyes, Nalan Yan was hardly a good match. Naturally, it was better to end the engagement.
However, the way Nalan Yan had humiliated Xiao Yan could not simply be left at that...
"Um... Xun'er..."
Just then, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke with some hesitation. "How much money do you still have on hand...?"
Within the clan, aside from her father and two older brothers, only Xun'er was very close to her.
After making her father lose so much face today, she could hardly bring herself to ask him for money. Her two older brothers were also away gaining experience.
So she could only turn her thoughts toward Xun'er.
"Money?" Hearing this, Xun'er blinked. "Do you need money, Sister Xiao Yan?"
"Ahem... I need to buy something, and I'm a little short..."
"To think Sister Xiao Yan, who usually barely bothers dressing herself up, would actually find herself short of money one day."
Xun'er covered her lips and laughed softly. "If you mean cash, I have a little over a thousand gold coins back at my place. Is that enough? If not..."
As she spoke, Xiao Xun'er produced a purple-gold card from somewhere, marked with five colored ripples, and held it between two fingers of her left hand.
Although something like this seemed rather out of place in a fantasy world, it was not actually difficult to understand.
When one had too much money, it would take up space in a Storage Ring. And an ordinary Storage Ring only held three cubic meters. How many gold coins could that fit? A hundred thousand at most, perhaps?
Besides, Storage Rings were expensive in their own right and were generally used to store more valuable things, such as cultivation methods and medicinal pills.
A single black-class Dou Technique could easily cost well over a hundred thousand, or even several hundred thousand gold coins. Higher-grade cultivation methods and combat skills, as well as medicinal pills, commanded even more terrifying prices, starting in the millions.
At that point, using a Storage Ring to hold gold coins would actually be something of a waste.
Thus, "Bank Cards" specifically for storing gold coins had come into being.
And "Bank Cards" had different tiers, too.
The Five-Patterned Purple-Gold Card Xun'er had casually produced required at least Dou Ling strength to qualify for one. Of course, certain transcendent powers also possessed that qualification.
Xiao Yan had intended to borrow one or two thousand gold coins from Xun'er, but she had never expected her to pull out a Purple-Gold Card outright.
Good grief, even Ge Ye, that steward from the Misty Cloud Sect, was only a Da Dou Shi!
Perhaps he would reach the Dou Ling realm in the future, but at least for now, Xiao Yan had never seen a living Dou Ling.
Hiss... This girl Xun'er's background really was unfathomably deep.
This card... was a little too hot to handle.
"Xun'er..."
"Is it not enough? I have more here if it isn't." Xun'er fished out several more cards and displayed them to Xiao Yan as though laying down a hand.
"...It's enough. Thank you, Xun'er..." Xiao Yan could not help feeling a little embarrassed.
"That's good, then-take this card and use it, Sister."
Xun'er put the other cards away and handed one to Xiao Yan, smiling where Xiao Yan could not see.
Since Sister Xiao Yan had already come to her to borrow money, she must have run into some trouble. She might as well give her a little support, with no need for repayment.
To her, this was merely a fraction of her pocket money.
You might not accept a card if I just gave you one, but with a slight change of approach, haven't I managed to give it to you anyway?
Before you continue