Chapter 228: Xiao Yixian Selling Medicine
After having breakfast, Xiao Yan and the others hadn’t seen Nalan Yanran come out, which made Xiao Yan a bit worried. He looked towards Nalan Jie.
“Grandpa Nalan, is Yanran okay?”
“Ah, don’t worry, that girl is just a bit shaken,” Nalan Jie waved his hand lightly to reassure Xiao Yan, but the worry in his eyes was evident and could not be hidden.
She didn’t even come out after personally making breakfast for Xiao Yan, which showed just how deeply affected Nalan Yanran was.
Having just personally experienced Xiao Yan’s strength, Nalan Jie could almost certainly say that, at least among those below the Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level) level, no one could defeat Xiao Yan.
And Xiao Yan was still just a Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level).
Not just Nalan Yanran, even Nalan Jie felt a bit doubtful about life.
Xiao Yan was simply too extraordinary.
He had seen people who could challenge those above their level, but he had never seen anyone who could do so to such an exaggerated extent.
It was no wonder Nalan Yanran’s self-esteem was hurt.
Competitive spirit is easy to foster, but hard to suppress.
However, Nalan Jie believed in his granddaughter’s resilience. She would recover on her own.
“Xiao Yan, there’s still some time before the Alchemist Conference. During this period, why don’t you explore the Sacred City?” Nalan Jie suggested to Xiao Yan. “Is there anywhere you’d like to go? I can recommend some places.”
“Somewhere I’d like to go…”
Xiao Yan pondered, lightly pinching his chin. He realized he had been so busy training that he hadn’t thought about what to do when he had free time.
Just then, Senior Yao in his ring spoke up.
(Xiao Yan, ask if there’s a place where you can trade for alchemical items. This is a good opportunity to gather everything you need.)
During their time in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Yao Chen had felt frustrated for not being able to help Xiao Yan much in terms of improving his strength.
As the continent’s top alchemist, the only things she had provided to her prized disciple so far were the Foundation Building Elixir and the Di Class Dou Technique, the Flame Splitting Tsunami.
If people knew this, she’d feel so embarrassed! They’d think she was stingy!
Being provoked by Xiao Yan, Senior Yao’s old temper flared up.
I refuse to believe it! With so many resources, I can’t find something to help you?
Moreover, Yao Chen had set a three-year agreement with Yun Yun. This agreement was her doing, and whether it was for herself, Yun Yun, or Xiao Yan, she had to ensure it was fulfilled.
If she couldn’t, she might as well not bother coming back to life just to save face.
Following Senior Yao’s advice, Xiao Yan asked Nalan Jie.
“Grandpa Nalan, is there a place in Jia Ma Sacred City where I can trade for alchemical items? I want to look for some medicinal ingredients.”
“Ah, yes,” Nalan Jie first paused and then remembered. “Because the Alchemist Conference is approaching, many merchants gather in the Sacred City.”
Nalan Jie smiled as he spread his hands.
“At this time of year, it’s very lively there. You can find all sorts of rare and strange items. I’ll have someone take you there.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Nalan.”
Xiao Yan smiled and thanked Nalan Jie, who waved his hand and got up to call a servant. Xiao Yan turned to the others and asked if they wanted to join him.
“Do you all want to come along?”
“Mm.”
Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin nodded lightly, while Zi Yun declined.
“I’ll stay here. My son fell asleep again, and I need to watch over him.”
Zi Yun pointed to the Little Lion King napping on the floor.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly and asked with concern.
“Is the Little Lion King okay? He seems very sleepy these days.”
“Ah, don’t worry, it’s just about to advance. I was like that too.”
Zi Yun shrugged. Hearing this, Xiao Yan no longer worried unnecessarily.
After a while, a Nalan family servant, arranged by Nalan Jie, led Xiao Yan and the two girls out of the Nalan family residence towards the gathering place Nalan Jie mentioned.
After about ten minutes, they arrived at their destination.
Seeing the bustling crowd and hearing the various hawking cries, Xiao Yan felt an inexplicable sense of nostalgia.
He seemed to genuinely enjoy such busy marketplaces, whether it was a vegetable market or any other place.
He especially loved the haggling process. These places full of life were his favorite.
“Thank you,” Xiao Yan said to the servant with a smile before he could speak. “We’ll look around on our own now. You can head back.”
“It’s my duty.”
The servant was flattered by the politeness of Xiao Yan, who was seen as the future son-in-law of the Nalan family, and nodded repeatedly.
“Have a pleasant time. I’ll return to report.”
The servant then turned and left. Xiao Yan reached out to hold Qing Lin’s arm and spoke to her softly.
“Qing Lin, stay close to me. There are too many people here. Be careful not to get lost.”
“Mm.”
Qing Lin nodded obediently. Xiao Yixian, standing nearby, looked displeased as she put her hands on her hips and glared at Xiao Yan.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll get lost too?”
She extended her hand towards Xiao Yan, causing him to freeze for a moment. He then scratched his face awkwardly.
“Well… Xiao Yixian, there is a difference between men and women, so holding hands might not be appropriate…”
“Huh? What did you say?” Xiao Yixian looked at Xiao Yan incredulously. “You know about the difference between men and women? Didn’t you hold me tightly before?”
She referred to the time in the Tager Desert when Xiao Yan held her tightly from behind to remove the Poisonous Dou Qi from her body.
Of course, Xiao Yixian wasn’t offended by it. She wondered why he cared about holding hands when he had already held her so tightly.
“That was… an emergency…”
Hearing Xiao Yixian’s words, Xiao Yan’s face flushed with embarrassment.
He thought of numerous reasons but felt that the more he explained, the more awkward it sounded.
Regardless of the reason, hugging Xiao Yixian without her permission was indeed wrong.
So, he straightforwardly bowed his head and apologized.
“I’m sorry for overstepping my bounds at that time.”
“…”
Xiao Yixian was speechless as she looked at Xiao Yan bowing and apologizing.
You weren’t wrong, so why are you apologizing? You were saving me back then!
Feeling a sudden frustration from the unnecessary apology, Xiao Yixian, who used to be so eloquent, found herself at a loss for words in front of the straightforward Xiao Yan.
His apology made her seem unreasonable.
Ahhh! Why did I fall in love with you of all people!?
Xiao Yixian bit her silver teeth in frustration, grabbed Qing Lin’s other hand, and glared at Xiao Yan.
“Fine. This way, I won’t get lost, and you won’t have to worry about the difference between men and women.”
At this moment, Xiao Yixian realized that Xiao Yan didn’t mind holding Qing Lin’s hand, but only had a sense of gender propriety with her.
Hmm… considering this, at least he regards me as a girl of the same age.
Honestly, if Xiao Yan treated her the same way he treated Qing Lin, there would really be a problem.
Thinking this, Xiao Yixian felt a bit better.
However, holding Qing Lin’s hand while Xiao Yan held her other hand felt like a young couple taking their child out for a stroll.
With this sudden thought, Xiao Yixian’s face flushed slightly. Xiao Yan and Qing Lin noticed her changing expressions and exchanged puzzled glances.
What’s going on with Xiao Yixian?
From their first meeting, Xiao Yan had always thought Xiao Yixian’s emotions were quite changeable, and it seemed this hadn’t changed.
Regardless, the three of them started wandering around the market hand in hand.
Although it was Yao Chen who suggested coming here, she didn’t expect to find exactly what she needed. She stayed in the ring, observing the surroundings, ready to have Xiao Yan buy anything useful.
There was also the issue of Xiao Yixian. Although she wasn’t in immediate danger thanks to Zi Yan’s Amethyst Seal, the poison still remained in her body. It needed to be completely neutralized eventually.
Xiao Yan, not knowing much about the necessary herbs, asked Yao Chen to keep an eye out.
(Xiao Yan, how much money do you have on you?)
Yao Chen asked this important question suddenly, making Xiao Yan pause and awkwardly respond.
(There’s probably still a few thousand gold coins left… is that not enough?)
(Do you think it is?)
Yao Chen was speechless.
It seemed Xiao Yan would need to find a way to make money before buying anything.
From the look of it, given Nalan Jie’s regard for Xiao Yan, if Xiao Yan asked, Nalan Jie would undoubtedly support him financially.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yan couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Besides, it would go against his principles. Asking his future in-laws for money for personal needs was inappropriate, especially when they weren’t officially his in-laws yet.
Helpless, Yao Chen suggested:
(Didn’t you make some Tier 3 pills earlier? Put them all out for sale. You have about twenty, which should fetch around two or three hundred thousand.)
Though this amount wouldn’t be enough, it would be a start. They could buy the precious herbs first and get the rest later.
(Mm.)
Xiao Yan responded quietly, then led Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian to a secluded corner and took out the Tier 3 pills he had made, arranging them on a table.
Seeing this, Xiao Yixian understood his intention and frowned slightly.
“Xiao Yan, are you out of money? How about I lend you some? I have over a hundred thousand gold coins.”
Even though Xiao Yixian offered to lend the money, she wouldn’t mind giving all of it to Xiao Yan.
Most of it was taken from the cave in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, which Xiao Yan had given entirely to her. Half of it rightfully belonged to him.
Moreover, Xiao Yan had endured so much for her sake; mere money couldn’t compare to that.
However, she knew very well what kind of person Xiao Yan was. Even if she said it was a loan, he might not accept it, let alone if she outright gave it to him.
If he accepted the money, he wouldn’t be Xiao Yan.
“No need, selling these pills should be enough.”
As expected, Xiao Yan smiled and waved off her offer.
If he really needed a large sum of money for a precious herb that Xiao Yixian desperately needed, Xiao Yan wouldn’t be stubborn. He would ask the Nalan family for help if necessary.
But since it hadn’t come to that, he wanted to rely on himself as much as possible.
However, selling things was different from bargaining for them. Xiao Yan, who had no experience in selling, hesitated to start shouting out like the other vendors.
Seeing his awkwardness, Xiao Yixian smiled, patted his shoulder, and said:
“Let me help you sell these. No problem, right?”
“Um… alright.”
Xiao Yan, embarrassed, nodded and explained the types and prices of the pills to Xiao Yixian.
After memorizing the details, Xiao Yixian cleared her throat and started shouting loudly and skillfully:
“Attention, everyone! Tier 3 pills for sale! Essential for travel and adventures! Could save your life at critical moments! High quality and fair prices! Guaranteed or ten times your money back! Buy three, get one free! Limited time offer!”
Xiao Yixian’s shouts were so skillful and loud that Xiao Yan couldn’t help but marvel at her talent.
Each person has their strengths, and she was clearly in her element here.
In the bustling market, her pleasant voice stood out among the rough shouts, attracting many curious onlookers.
Seeing a delicate girl selling pills piqued their interest even more, and soon they surrounded the stall.
“Come, come, everyone! What do you need? Dou Qi Recovery Pills? Or Blood Condensation Pills?”
“The quality? No doubt, top-notch!”
“Hey, you over there! Don’t touch if you’re not buying!”
“Three Dou Qi Recovery pills? Sure! Three pills plus a free one for six thousand gold coins!”
“Too expensive? No, no, you don’t understand. These are the finest, painstakingly made by my husband! Six thousand gold coins don’t even cover his effort!”
“Alright! Five thousand is the lowest I can go! That’s cost price! If you agree, I’ll pack them up. If not, feel free to look elsewhere.”
“Deal! Five thousand gold coins for three Dou Qi Recovery pills plus a free one! Packed and ready!”
Seeing Xiao Yixian calmly and efficiently handle the customers, Xiao Yan and Qing Lin wanted to help but didn’t know how. They stood aside, watching her show.
This is indeed a kind of talent.