Chapter 74: Blood Lotus Essence

At that moment, Xiao Yan felt the noise outside the door gradually diminishing. 

He turned his head and saw the mercenaries bustling and leaving. 

At the same time, a clear and gentle voice came in.

"Boss Yao! I'm setting off!"

"Yeah! Be careful on the way!" Boss Yao replied loudly, then explained to Xiao Yan, "Xian'er goes into the mountains with the mercenaries every now and then to gather herbs. Since Xian'er has superb medical skills, the mercenaries are happy to have her accompany them."

With that, Boss Yao suddenly leaned in, grabbed Xiao Yan's shoulder, and his eyes sparkled.

"And Xian'er is so beautiful! It's only natural that she's popular, right? Right?!"

"Uh... uh... haha..."

Looking at Boss Yao, who excitedly approached his face, Xiao Yan awkwardly twitched the corners of his mouth.

Even if you ask me like this, I haven't seen what she looks like...

Then Boss Yao seemed to realize that he had been a bit too excited, coughed lightly into his fist near his mouth, and quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, what do you think of the proposal to learn pharmaceuticals with me just now?"

"Boss Yao has such high regard for me, and I am naturally honored," Xiao Yan clasped his fists and calmly said, "But I have already apprenticed under a teacher in alchemy, so I cannot study with you. I hope Boss Yao understands."

"An alchemy teacher? You mean an alchemist?"

Boss Yao asked in surprise, and Xiao Yan nodded in response.

"Yes."

"Oh... I see." After getting confirmation from Xiao Yan, Boss Yao scratched his head and didn't seem disappointed. "Well, since you're already learning from an alchemist, I won't mislead you as an amateur. But I'm about to start making healing medicine. If you're interested, would you like to watch?"

"If Boss Yao doesn't mind my presence, I would be glad to," Xiao Yan replied.

"Haha~ You're a young man, but your manners are quite impressive, just like an old man. Young people should be full of vitality and be more casual."

Boss Yao lightly laughed and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, making him feel a bit awkward.

Like an old man... really?

"Wait a moment, I'll go inside and prepare things."

Boss Yao waved his hand and turned to enter the house.

Suddenly, a small figure ran in from outside the door.

It was a young boy, wearing worn-out yet clean clothes, with tears streaming down his face.

"Uncle Yao! Uncle Yao! My grandma... she... she..."

Perhaps due to running with all his might, the young boy was out of breath. 

Boss Yao's face, which was just filled with smiles a moment ago, instantly changed. 

He quickly grabbed a medicine box from the counter and pulled the young boy, rushing out of Myriad Medicines Hall in a hurry. 

He even forgot to close the door, leaving Xiao Yan alone in the shop.

This sudden turn of events left Xiao Yan stunned, staring blankly at the empty shop.

Although Xiao Yan didn't know exactly what had happened, he could guess from the young boy's fragmented words that his grandmother must have had a sudden illness. 

It seemed that Boss Yao was already accustomed to such situations and didn't wait for the young boy to finish speaking before taking him to receive treatment.

Hmm... I'll just wait then.

Xiao Yan sighed with a hint of helplessness.

There was no one in the shop now, and if he left and something went missing, even if Boss Yao didn't hold him responsible, Xiao Yan wouldn't feel right about it. 

After all, it had nothing to do with him in the first place.

Boss Yao showed respect to Xiao Yan, so Xiao Yan would naturally reciprocate that respect. 

Their brief conversation had left Xiao Yan with a favorable impression of Boss Yao. 

It was just helping to watch the shop, not a big deal.

Xiao Yan gently leaned the Heavy Black Ruler against the wall, so as not to damage any of the shop's facilities. 

Then he wandered around the herbal shop, carefully examining the herbs displayed inside while identifying them with the help of Yao Chen.

(Hmm?)

Suddenly, when Xiao Yan saw an herb labeled as "Yellow Lotus Essence," Yao Chen expressed surprise, which confused Xiao Yan.

(Senior Yao, what's wrong?)

(That herb... seems to be Blood Lotus Essence?) Yao Chen's tone was filled with astonishment, followed by excitement. (Boss Yao doesn't seem to recognize it properly, mistaking Blood Lotus Essence for Yellow Lotus Essence.)

(Senior Yao, isn't Blood Lotus Essence the main ingredient you mentioned before for refining the Blood Lotus Pill?)

Xiao Yan asked in surprise. 

Although he wasn't really involved in alchemy yet, Yao Chen had told him a lot about the essential herbs needed to tame the Heavenly Flame, and Blood Lotus Essence was one of them.

(Exactly! This is an extremely rare herb that may appear in only one out of thousands of Yellow Lotus Essences! The price difference between Blood Lotus Essence and Yellow Lotus Essence is more than a thousandfold!) Yao Chen exclaimed and urged him, (Quick, quick, quick! You've stumbled upon such a great opportunity, seize it and take advantage of it!)

While Yao Chen was speaking, she suddenly remembered what kind of person Xiao Yan was, and her excitement instantly dissipated.

(Forget it, it's useless for me to say anything.)

(Ha...) Sensing Yao Chen's helpless mood, Xiao Yan awkwardly smiled. (Senior Yao, Boss Yao is such a good person. It wouldn't be right for me to take advantage of him, right?)

(Enough! Even if it were a deceitful merchant, you still wouldn't take advantage of him!) Yao Chen's tone was filled with displeasure, leaving Xiao Yan even more embarrassed and unable to retort.

If Boss Yao knew that this was Blood Lotus Essence and still sold it at the price of Yellow Lotus Essence, Xiao Yan would naturally not hesitate.

But now, seeing the label indicating Yellow Lotus Essence, and realizing that Boss Yao didn't recognize it as Blood Lotus Essence, Xiao Yan couldn't take advantage of this opportunity.

If Xiao Yan were to explain to Boss Yao that this was actually Blood Lotus Essence, and if Boss Yao still willingly sold it to him at the price of Yellow Lotus Essence, then Xiao Yan wouldn't hesitate anymore.

Taking advantage of others is the kind of thing that, once done once, one would want to do it a second time. 

Once it happens a second time, there will be a third time, and it becomes impossible to stop.

Xiao Yan didn't believe that his self-restraint was particularly strong, so he tried his best to avoid the first time, not wanting to taste any benefits from taking advantage. 

It was something that should be strictly prohibited for Xiao Yan's righteous path.

After completing a round inside the shop, Xiao Yan sat down quietly and waited.

He didn't know how long it had passed, but Xiao Yan was almost falling asleep when Boss Yao returned, carrying the medicine box on his back, with deep worry on his face.

"Boss Yao, you're back."

Xiao Yan saw Boss Yao come in and stood up to greet him. 

Boss Yao snapped out of his daze, looking somewhat surprised at Xiao Yan, then his face filled with embarrassment.

"Sorry... I forgot you were waiting in the shop."

"No need to apologize, Boss Yao. As a healer, it's natural to prioritize the patient. I just waited a bit longer in the shop, which is far less important than the patient." Xiao Yan said softly, observing the distress on Boss Yao's face. 

He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "Boss Yao, is the patient's condition not good?"

"It's okay for this time, barely getting through, but next time... sigh~"

Boss Yao let out a deep sigh, and Xiao Yan pressed for more information.

"Is it a severe illness?"

"To be honest, the condition is not particularly severe. It's just lacking an herb, but that herb is rarely needed and can't be sold even if I try. Moreover, there are several second-tier magical beasts roaming around the herb gathering area. It's not worth the trouble for that herb, and it's easy to get injured. No mercenaries are willing to go there."

Saying this, Boss Yao's worried expression deepened.

As Xiao Yan looked at Boss Yao's distressed face, he lightly furrowed his brows and glanced at the Blood Lotus Essence on the shelf, forming a plan in his mind. 

He clasped his fists and said to Boss Yao with a serious tone.

"Boss Yao, may I make a deal with you?"

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