C61 Su Yuqing Who Was Smiling

Chu Yan's suspicion grew the more he pondered the situation.

"Could it be that Master Li He harbors some hidden agenda against me?"

With this thought, Chu Yan's muscles tensed, and his brow furrowed deeply.

Observing Chu Yan's troubled look, Zhao Shude mistook it for dissatisfaction with the price and explained with a pained expression, "Young Master Chu, the price was determined by Master Li He before his departure. He instructed that if you were to sell any Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns during his absence, we would purchase them at six hundred Spirit Money each. For any other inscriptions, we'd offer double the market rate and await his return for the final appraisal.

Master Li He assured that you would not be shortchanged. Should he deem the initial price too low upon his appraisal, he promised to compensate you accordingly."

Envy was evident on Zhao Shude's face as he spoke; such preferential treatment was unheard of, even among the heads of Evergreen Town's prominent families.

While Zhao Shude envied Chu Yan, Chu Yan quickly detected the issue within his words. His gaze sharpened, yet his expression remained calm as he inquired, "Is there an issue with the inscription patterns I've created?"

Zhao Shude hesitated, sensing that Master Li He's high regard for Chu Yan likely stemmed from something exceptional about the Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns. But such matters were not his to disclose.

In the midst of Zhao Shude's hesitation, a crisp, pleasant voice intervened, "Allow me to explain."

The voice, akin to a refreshing spring, effortlessly lightened the mood of all who heard it.

Chu Yan turned to see a beautiful young woman in a goose-yellow dress approaching. Her smile was gentle, her beauty striking, and she radiated a tranquil charm that was instantly comforting.

Though it was their first encounter, Chu Yan felt a sense of familiarity, as if they were old friends.

Upon seeing Su Yuqing, Zhao Shude promptly greeted her with a bow.

"Shopkeeper Zhao, thank you for your assistance earlier. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a word with Young Master Chu." Su Yuqing spoke.

Acknowledging her intention to speak privately with Chu Yan, Zhao Shude excused himself with an apology and departed.

Facing Chu Yan, Su Yuqing's lips curved into a smile. "I'm Su Yuqing, the distant niece of Master Li He. I suspect you have many questions, Young Master Chu, and I'm here to provide answers today."

Chu Yan regarded her with an impassive gaze. "You know my name, so just call me that."

"Very well," Su Yuqing mused, her smile broadening. "Then I shall call you Chu Yan, and you can call me by my name. Does that work for you?"

"It does," Chu Yan nodded. "Is there an issue with my Inscription?"

"You're quite direct, Chu Yan," Su Yuqing chuckled.

Chu Yan pursed his lips, silently scoffing to himself.

He would have preferred to approach the conversation more obliquely, but upon Su Yuqing's arrival, he sensed that this girl, seemingly his age, possessed a composure beyond that of an average Genuine Force Stage cultivator.

This wasn't just about her speech or demeanor; it was an innate, natural aura, one he had only previously felt in Lin Chongtian.

Chu Yan concluded that Su Yuqing was likely a Pulse Condensation Stage cultivator.

In conversation with a cultivator, caution was paramount. Better to be direct than risk misspeaking.

"Chu Yan, you're correct. There is indeed a slight issue with your Heavy Equipment Inscription Pattern, and both Master Li He and I are quite concerned," Su Yuqing revealed.

She watched his face closely for any reaction. "Didn't your Inscription mentor advise you to be cautious?"

Chu Yan had no such mentor; his Inscription knowledge stemmed from the legacy memories within the Return to the Ruins Tower.

At the Lin Family's council, he had fabricated a nonexistent teacher.

Shaking his head, he replied, "That old man never mentioned it. He wasn't really my teacher, just someone who showed me a few tricks. He said if I ever found myself without food, I could survive by drawing these inscriptions. I was young then and didn't understand they were Inscriptions."

"Old man?" Su Yuqing's gaze flickered, her legs tensing slightly. "Do you happen to remember what he looked like?"

Chu Yan bristled internally: Is it you asking me, or am I asking you?

The other party was fixated on asking trivial questions, and Chu Yan wasn't in a position to offend her. So, he bluffed, "Well, I was quite young then, so the details are fuzzy. But I do recall the old man was short, with a big beard, grimy, and he had a limp. Oh, and his nose was crooked."

Since he was fabricating anyway, Chu Yan concocted an image of an old, unsightly fellow.

Such an odd description, he thought, you'd never find someone who matched it exactly.

As Chu Yan entertained this thought, Su Yuqing inquired further, "Do you remember which leg was crippled?"

"How could I remember that?" Chu Yan's irritation grew. Enough with the questions already. Weren't you supposed to be the one providing answers?

Detecting the annoyance in Chu Yan's voice, Su Yuqing offered an apologetic smile. "I apologize for the barrage of questions. Let's do this: I have some expertise in Inscription myself. If you work on the Heavy Equipment Inscription Pattern here, I can offer you some guidance. Should you have any doubts about Inscription, I'm here to clear them up on the spot."

At that moment, Chu Yan had no idea what Su Yuqing's personal instruction would entail.

Indeed, if he had a broader scope of knowledge and had recognized Su Yuqing's name, he would have realized that this was an opportunity many could only dream of.

Su Yuqing glanced at Chu Yan, her lips curling into a laugh. "Regarding why Uncle Li paid such a premium for your inscription pattern, it might be best for him to explain it to you personally when he returns. Rest assured, Uncle Li means no harm. I suspect he's been in Evergreen Town for too long and upon encountering a young man with a talent for Inscription, he acted out of an earnest appreciation for your potential."

Truth be told, Su Yuqing naturally endeared herself to others.

With a tender smile and a soft-spoken demeanor, she expressed her thoughts, and it seemed unlikely that anyone could resist her request.

No matter how outlandish Su Yuqing's claims might be—even if they were ten thousand times stranger than what she's currently saying—there would still be believers.

"The memories passed down to me only taught me the techniques for etching inscriptions, akin to copying from a model without truly comprehending the craft. If I could receive guidance from an Inscription master on some of these critical points, perhaps I could achieve a breakthrough, gaining a more profound understanding of Inscription art," Chu Yan pondered thoughtfully. After considering this, he nodded in agreement and decided to etch the Heavy Equipment Inscription Pattern right here.

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