A Billion Little Coins Short

Though he had some doubts, Ling Ying kept reading.

A few discrepancies in something like this were still acceptable.

After all, the outcome-the three-year agreement-had not changed.

Clearly, that Great Immortal did have some genuine ability.

"Yao Lao?"

"So this was why Young Master Xiao Yan's cultivation kept regressing!"

"Flame Mantra? It can devour heavenly flames to advance? This technique is truly terrifying!"

Ling Ying read with rapt interest, completely oblivious to Xiao Yan entering the courtyard to see Xun'er.

"Is that you, Brother Xiao Yan?"

Instead, it was Xiao Xun'er inside the room who heard the movement outside and called out.

People rarely came here, and Xiao Xun'er disliked being disturbed.

Xiao Yan alone was the exception, the only person allowed to enter.

"It's me, Xun'er. May I come in?"

Hearing Xun'er's voice, Xiao Yan answered.

"Brother Xiao Yan, what brings you here all of a sudden? Is it about Nalan Yanran?"

Xiao Xun'er opened the door, blinking her beautiful eyes at Xiao Yan as she asked with a faint smile.

"Ahem, well, Xun'er... how much money do you have on hand?"

Xiao Yan gave a dry cough and went straight to the point.

Admittedly, with his current strength, no one could stop him even if he went to the Mittel Auction House and robbed it.

But doing so would inevitably trigger unforeseen changes.

This world was already chaotic enough. Xiao Yan did not want to pile chaos upon chaos.

So he decided he might as well borrow some money from Xun'er.

At least that would keep a few extra branches from sprouting along the way.

"Money? Do you need money, Brother Xiao Yan?"

Xun'er blinked her sparkling eyes and asked in surprise.

"Mm... I need to buy a few things. I'm a billion little coins short!"

Xiao Yan nodded, all the while hypnotizing himself.

I've had a weak stomach since childhood. What's wrong with living off a woman?

As for heading to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to hunt magical beasts and search for medicinal herbs, he might have considered it before.

Now... this world clearly seemed to be falling apart, whether it was the changes in Steward Mo, Nalan Yanran, or Yao Lao.

All of them suggested that this world was not the Dou Qi Continent he knew.

He had better lie low a little longer before leaving Wutan City.

Besides, with a little rich girl like Xun'er around, he would never lack spending money.

"I still have over a thousand gold coins. Is that enough?"

"If it isn't..."

As Xun'er spoke, she flicked a finger on the delicate hand behind her back, and a purple-gold card instantly appeared in her palm.

It was none other than the Five-Stripe Purple Gold Card!

One needed at least the strength of a Dou Ling to obtain this card.

As for where one could obtain it, that was unknown.

"Xun'er, I might need a billion little coins more this time. Around three hundred thousand!"

Xiao Yan spoke with an embarrassed smile.

"Th-three hundred thousand?"

Hearing his words, Xun'er opened her mouth in surprise, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

What could Brother Xiao Yan possibly be doing that required so many gold coins?

Could someone have swindled him?

Even the Five-Stripe Purple Gold Card in her hand held fewer than two hundred thousand gold coins.

Of course, the young lady of the mighty Gu Clan certainly had more savings than that.

It was just that Ling Ying kept the rest for her!

"Brother Xiao Yan, can you tell me what you need these gold coins for?"

Xiao Xun'er asked with a solemn expression.

If someone truly dared to deceive her Brother Xiao Yan, she would make them pay.

"Xun'er, I'll tell you in the future. For now, could you let me keep a few secrets?"

Xiao Yan said rather helplessly.

Was the Medicine Emperor something he could casually talk about?

If it had only been Yao Chen, it would not have been much of a problem.

But this was the Medicine Emperor!

If word got out, wouldn't the Yao Clan go mad trying to reclaim their ancestor?

"Since you don't want to say, Brother Xiao Yan, I won't press you."

"But I can't get that many gold coins together on such short notice."

"How about I bring them to you tomorrow?"

Seeing that Xiao Yan did not want to explain, Xiao Xun'er did not insist.

Instead, she decided to ask Ling Ying for more gold coins to help Xiao Yan gather the amount he needed.

"That works. I'll come back tomorrow, then."

Xiao Yan nodded. She really was a little rich girl!

She could not gather that many gold coins on short notice, so he would have to wait until tomorrow.

To think that he, the future Flame Emperor, only received twenty or thirty gold coins a month in spending money!

"Hehe, little fellow, this little girlfriend of yours is no ordinary girl!"

"If my eyes don't deceive me, she possesses the ancient emperor bloodline!"

Just as Xiao Yan turned to leave, Yao Lao's... no, the Medicine Emperor's voice rang out in his mind.

"Teacher, who is this Ancient Emperor?"

Xiao Yan froze for a moment, then hurriedly put on a puzzled expression and asked.

"It's hardly surprising that you don't know. Let me explain how the factions on this Dou Qi Continent are divided."

Drawing on Yao Chen's memories, the Medicine Emperor briefly introduced the continent's current major factions.

Naturally, these included the Ancient Eight Clans and the various Dou Di who had founded them.

"So that's how it is!"

"To think our Xiao Clan once had its own glorious days!"

"And Xun'er has such an astonishing background!"

Xiao Yan spoke with a look of sudden realization.

"You little fellow, you didn't react like this when you heard my name earlier!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's reaction, the Medicine Emperor spoke in some surprise.

"At the time, all I could think about was that you were a legendary Dou Di, Teacher. How could I spare a thought for anything else?"

Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly. He would never admit that he had simply forgotten to act surprised.

"Elder Ling!"

Watching Xiao Yan leave, Xun'er's smile slowly faded, and she returned to her usual quiet, graceful demeanor as she called softly.

Yet even after a long while, Ling Ying gave no response.

"Elder Ling, are you there?"

When Ling Ying did not answer, Xiao Xun'er called again.

This time, Ling Ying finally heard her.

His figure flashed, and he appeared beside Xiao Xun'er.

"Young lady, is there something important you require of this old servant?"

After appearing, Ling Ying asked with some confusion.

"Elder Ling, how many gold coins do you still have on you?"

Xiao Xun'er asked without preamble.

"Gold coins?"

Hearing Xiao Xun'er's question, Ling Ying could not help recalling what he had just read.

Could Xiao Yan have come to borrow money from the young lady?

He had been so engrossed in his reading that he had not noticed anything happening outside.

Still, this was the perfect chance to verify whether what was written there was true.

If he remembered correctly, Yao Lao should have awakened by this point.

Then he would refine Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for Xiao Yan, but because Xiao Yan was short of funds, he had borrowed a few gold coins from their young lady.

"Young lady, did Young Master Xiao Yan come to borrow money from you?"

Ling Ying asked tentatively.