C21 Chu Mengyuv

"What's the asking price?"

Jiang Yuan inquired.

"Eldest Young Master, that will depend on the pill's quality. We have a dedicated appraiser upstairs," the shopkeeper replied with a light chuckle, stepping aside to let Jiang Yuan pass. His demeanor had improved markedly from before.

"Alright, let's have it appraised then."

With that, Jiang Yuan ascended the stairs.

"Is that you?"

He was slightly taken aback to see the familiar young woman before him.

"Old Man Li is tied up with some matters, so I'm stepping in to conduct the appraisal. What brings the Jiang Family's Young Master here with a pill to sell?" she asked.

The girl was none other than the one in the long dress to whom he had owed a favor the day before.

"Yes, I have three Spirit Gathering Pills for you to examine," Jiang Yuan said, offering her the brocade box.

The girl opened the box with a start, and a rich fragrance wafted out, filling the room. Inside lay three flawless green pills, each as pristine as natural jade.

"Superior-grade pills!?" she exclaimed, her astonishment palpable.

Even her master, the renowned Apothecary Qiu Yu of the Great Martial Country, would have to exert considerable effort to produce such high-quality pills. How had this young man managed it in just one day?

"What's the price?" Jiang Yuan asked with a smile.

"Did you refine these?" The girl's voice shook as she spoke.

"Me? Refine these? Why would I?" Jiang Yuan deflected with a grin. "So, you're not interested?"

He would never admit to being the refiner, of course.

"Interested? Absolutely. Superior Spirit Gathering Pills are worth 10,000 gold coins each. If the Eldest Young Master could share more details about these pills, we'd be willing to offer an additional 50,000 gold coins."

The girl's brow furrowed; it was imperative that she find the creator of these pills.

"Fifty thousand!?" Jiang Yuan nearly confessed to being the creator himself.

But naturally, he kept that to himself.

"I'm aware that more will be available in a few days."

"In a few days? We can offer you ten thousand gold coins for that information. However, if you're willing to sell exclusively to the Nine Spirits Shop, we'll add an extra thousand gold coins for each pill."

The young girl quickly responded upon hearing this.

"Agreed. If I get more, I'll definitely sell to the Nine Spirits Shop."

Jiang Yuan nodded, pleased with the arrangement.

"Please wait, young master. I'll fetch the gold coins immediately."

The shopkeeper said this with urgency, as if worried Jiang Yuan might change his mind.

"Hold on, there's no rush. Take eight thousand of those gold coins and exchange them for the same herbs as last time."

"Of course, I'll handle it at once."

The Nine Spirits Shop's efficiency was commendable; in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, everything was prepared.

"Eldest Young Master, I am Chu Mengyuv, your daughter. Please remember our prior agreement."

"Rest assured, I, Jiang Yuan, am always true to my word."

Jiang Yuan, with a smile, placed the neatly packed items into his Universe Bag and stepped out of the Nine Spirits Shop.

"He's such an enigma. Could he really be the one refining these pills? What secrets does he hold at such a young age?"

Chu Mengyuv's brow furrowed, the allure of the young man's mystery tugging at her curiosity incessantly.

Jiang Yuan didn't head home after leaving the shop. Instead, he turned into an alley and pulled a black cloak from his Universe Bag, draping it over himself.

He still had one more task to attend to on this journey.