Chapter 66: Traces of the Heart
Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Traces of the Heart
After leaving the Deer Drinking House, Xu Chang’an didn’t go straight back to the Elixir Workshop.
Instead, he went to find the young mistress, Jin Ling’er.
Currently, Jin Ling’er was primarily responsible for Langlang Mountain’s business in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
Aside from a few special circumstances, she had full authority over all daily decisions.
Jin Ling’er had her own exclusive cave residence in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
After Xu Chang’an triggered the warning Restriction outside the cave residence, Jin Ling’er emerged a short while later.
"Grey Rat, is something urgent?"
Seeing it was Xu Chang’an, she spoke as she welcomed him into the cave residence.
Xu Chang’an barely sought her out a few times a year.
Now, with the sky dark and well past Midnight, he must have come to her for a matter of great importance.
This was the first time Xu Chang’an had entered Jin Ling’er’s cave residence.
The interior was neatly arranged and lavishly decorated, filled with a subtle fragrance.
Xu Chang’an recounted the entire affair of the Lujiao Mountain Elder’s banquet, from beginning to end.
He laid everything bare, including the matter of the one thousand Demon Stones and the actions he took afterward.
"Grey Rat."
Jin Ling’er looked into Xu Chang’an’s eyes, a light seeming to twinkle within her own.
"A thousand Demon Stones as a mere greeting gift... the official offer to recruit you must be astonishingly high!
To stand with Langlang Mountain despite such a massive incentive... I really can’t thank you enough."
As she spoke, Jin Ling’er took a graceful step, moving to Xu Chang’an’s side.
The distance between them was so close that Xu Chang’an could even hear her heartbeat.
"Elder, you exaggerate. I simply did what a demon of Langlang Mountain should do."
Xu Chang’an took a small step back, his expression unchanging as he spoke.
"Grey Rat, I told you, just call me Ling’er."
Jin Ling’er, dressed in a long golden gown, had skin as smooth as cream jade. Her starry eyes, full of light, rested upon Xu Chang’an.
"Elder, it’s late. I’ll be taking my leave now."
With that, Xu Chang’an gave a slight bow and walked crisply out of the cave residence.
Jin Ling’er froze for a moment, watching his departing figure for a long time without moving.
...
’Hearing about Lujiao Mountain’s recruitment attempt, Jin Ling’er acted like this...’
’Is she trying to win me over with a honey trap?’
’Or does she actually have some feelings for me and is just going with the flow?’
’Or perhaps...’
’It’s both!’
Back on the third floor of the Elixir Workshop, Xu Chang’an sat cross-legged, pondering in silence.
’It was Jin Ling’er who first appointed me to the position of Little Flag.’
’After I was promoted to Middle-grade Alchemist, I was still a Standard-Bearer under her faction.’
’Jin Ling’er naturally had a thread of trust in him.’
’Later, during the Hei Wu incident, I used an Escape Talisman and risked my life to save her.’
’It seems Jin Ling’er developed some affection for me because of that.’
’But in the end, our statuses were too far apart.’
’However, now that I’ve become a High-grade Alchemist and been named an honorary Elder of Langlang Mountain...’
’The gap between our statuses has closed significantly.’
’With my talent in Alchemy Skill, there’s a definite chance I could become a Tier Two Alchemist in my lifetime.’
’At the very least, I have a shot at becoming a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist.’
’In that case, the gap between us isn’t as large as one might imagine.’
’You could even say that if she were to choose someone from within Langlang Mountain, I, Xu Chang’an, would be the number one candidate.’
’So, with Lujiao Mountain’s poaching attempt as a catalyst, Jin Ling’er’s actions are understandable.’
’However...’
’My ambitions lie on the Demon Path. I’m not in a hurry for romantic entanglements.’
’Even if I were, now is not the time.’
’Right now, I have no foundation, like a rootless duckweed.’
’The slightest trouble could sweep me away, with nowhere to go.’
’Besides...’
’If I were to truly choose a Dao Companion, it would have to be someone who could greatly aid my cultivation on the Demon Path.’
’As far as Dao Companions go, Jin Ling’er is not my choice!’
...
"Elder Grey Rat, that Wild Beijing Spirit from before has come again. He says he wants to finalize the deal."
Xu Chang’an was in meditative cultivation when a Little Demon from the Elixir Workshop knocked on his door.
"The deal is off. Tell that Wild Beijing Spirit I’m entering seclusion for important matters and cannot be disturbed."
Xu Chang’an replied faintly to the Little Demon outside the door.
"Yes, Elder Grey Rat."
...
"He really said that!?"
The Plum Deer Demon said, looking at the slightly uneasy Wild Beijing Spirit below him.
"Yes, Ninth Elder. That’s what the Little Demon said.
I don’t know if the Little Demon relayed the message incorrectly...
Or if there was another demon from Langlang Mountain present when he reported, and Grey Rat couldn’t speak freely."
"Go again in two days!"
"Yes, Ninth Elder."
...
"Ninth Elder, I still couldn’t see Grey Rat.
The Little Demon who answered said that Grey Rat has been in seclusion for the past few days and isn’t seeing visitors."
The Plum Deer Demon sat cross-legged on a cushion, his face dark and grim.
"Go again!"
"Yes."
...
"Ninth Elder, I didn’t even make it through the door before they threw me out.
They told me not to even bother coming back next time."
"That rat..."
The Plum Deer Demon’s face was furious. He slammed his palm down hard on the stone table, and it cracked with a loud noise.
"Took the Demon Stones and now he wants to go back on his word!
Do you think the Demon Stones of my Lujiao Mountain are so easily taken!?"
’Since you were the one to act unscrupulously first, don’t blame this old man for being unjust!’
’I’ll show you just whose territory this Lujiao Mountain Marketplace is, and who’s in charge here!?’
...
Xu Chang’an had just finished refining a furnace of Top-grade Elixirs when he heard a knock from an Alchemy Little Demon.
"What is it?"
"Elder Grey Rat, a Toad Spirit is downstairs. He says he wants to request your services to refine Evil Qi Pills!"
"Alright, take him to a private room on the second floor and have him wait for me."
Afterward, Xu Chang’an went to the private room on the second floor and saw a Toad Spirit with a Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivation.
Seeing the Toad Spirit, Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but think of the one that had died by his hand.
However, this one had red markings, so it was probably not from the same clan.
"Elder Grey Rat, I’ve heard so much about you."
The Toad Spirit stood up and bowed respectfully.
"It’s like this, I would like to ask for your help in refining Evil Qi Pills. The price is negotiable."
The Evil Qi Pill was a type of Top-grade Elixir that was relatively difficult to refine.
Among Tier One Elixirs, it was considered a top-tier Beneficial Elixir.
After consuming it, one’s explosive Demon Power would be greatly enhanced.
However, half an hour after taking it, there would be significant side effects.
But this side effect could be greatly alleviated when paired with another type of elixir.
The combination could be considered a trump card for a Qi Refining Old Demon.
Xu Chang’an and the Toad Spirit then discussed some of the details.
They confirmed the quantity and price for refining the Evil Qi Pills.
After paying the deposit and agreeing to pick up the elixirs in half a month, the Toad Spirit rose to take his leave.
Xu Chang’an watched the Toad Spirit’s departing back, lost in thought.
Although the Evil Qi Pill was difficult to refine, for the current Xu Chang’an, he was quite confident.
He gathered the medicinal ingredients, and after a few days, he started the furnace and successfully refined the Evil Qi Pills.
Half a month later, the Toad Spirit arrived right on time.
He paid the remaining balance, and the transaction was completed smoothly.
After the transaction was finished, the Toad Spirit looked as if he had something to say but was hesitating.
In the end, he couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke up.
"Elder Grey Rat, there is something... I don’t know if I should say it or not."
"What is it!? Feel free to speak."
Xu Chang’an said faintly.