Qing Xuanling parted ways with Qing Wentian after chatting a bit longer. Both had matters to attend to—Qing Wentian needed to attend a class an elder would be giving, while Qing Xuanling planned to visit the Immortal's Junkyard, Madam Yechan's shop.

  Elder Gong's words about the cauldron's estimated price kept circling in her head.

  *'Ten thousand spirit stones—and she sold it to me for two hundred? Fifty times below the minimum market value…!'*

  She frowned. Of course, she was grateful—who wouldn't be? But an uncomfortable sensation lingered in her chest. She couldn't explain it, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Perhaps she simply felt she was receiving far more than she deserved. Her steps unconsciously quickened.

  Unexpectedly, she encountered an acquaintance upon arriving at the Immortal's Junkyard.

  "Oh? Isn't this little Zhiqing?" A tall woman with a gentle face appeared before her. "What are you doing in such a remote, neglected shop?"

  Qing Xuanling frowned, momentarily confused by the name—but quickly recovered and clasped her hands in greeting.

  "Elder sister… Su. I didn't expect to run into you today." She regarded Su Meiren cautiously. "It's been some time since our encounter in the forest, hasn't it?"

  Su Meiren smiled sweetly as she nodded. "Indeed. I suspected we'd cross paths again someday—but it happened much sooner than I'd thought."

  She hesitated slightly, then repeated her earlier question. "Do you know the owner of this shop, Sister Zhiqing? It's quite rare for anyone to come here—from what I've observed these past few weeks…"

  Qing Xuanling's brows furrowed briefly—but she swiftly restored her composure. "I don't know her. But a few days ago I saw a decent sword in the shop that didn't seem too damaged. Today I finally saved enough spirit stones to buy it…"

  "How nice!" Su Meiren stepped closer and leaned toward Qing Xuanling's ear. "It would've been a shame if you were her friend~"

  A chill ran deep through Qing Xuanling's body, prickling her scalp. She turned toward Su Meiren—but the woman had already passed by, waving farewell. Qing Xuanling opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She didn't want to stir up trouble unnecessarily.

  Her gaze turned toward the Immortal's Junkyard as she frowned. She'd long suspected Madam Yechan wasn't an ordinary person—and today, she'd finally confirmed it.

  Qing Xuanling took a deep breath and stepped inside. The shop bell chimed, welcoming her into an interior surprisingly tidy for a place called a "junkyard."

  "Madam Yechan—I'm back!" Qing Xuanling greeted with a smile. "Did you get bored without my visits?"

  Her eyes drank in Madam Yechan's presence. It had been a long time since they'd last met.

  She softly admired the fiery red hair cascading gently over her shoulders, that heart-shaped face and emerald eyes brimming with coquettish allure. But above all—those twin peaks…

  "Hehe—the day doesn't feel the same without little Ling'er's lustful eyes on me~" Madam Yechan smirked playfully. "Haven't seen you in ages, you little pervert?"

  Qing Xuanling coughed in embarrassment. "I was just checking if you've been eating well…"

  "Oh really?" Madam Yechan's smirk widened. "Then why not come over and touch? Wouldn't that make it easier to check my health?"

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Eh…" Qing Xuanling swallowed, tempted—but quickly shook her head vigorously. "Madam Yechan—even if we're both women, that would be against morality…"

  Madam Yechan looked disdainfully at Qing Xuanling's righteous and honest gaze as she recited a hundred reasons why she couldn't do something like that.

  "Enough nonsense. Talk." She produced a wine gourd and several snacks with a smile. "You came to tell me how things went, right?"

  Qing Xuanling grinned—but quickly feigned shock. "I'm still underage! How can you offer alcohol to a minor, Madam Yechan?! I didn't think you were that kind of person!"

  "Who said I'd let you drink~?"

  "Eh?"

  Qing Xuanling's face fell. She instantly regretted playing the innocent.

  "Madam Yechan—wait, I was joking! In the cultivation world, I've been considered an adult since I started cultivating…!"

  "Mmm? Really? But in my eyes, you're still an unripe flower~"

  "Unripe?! No, no, no! Can you really call someone unripe who—?!"

  They bantered back and forth until Madam Yechan finally relented. She poured Qing Xuanling a cup of wine while teasing, "I won't be responsible for what you do drunk. Even if you start stripping naked—I won't lift a finger~"

  Qing Xuanling's hand trembled as she lifted the cup. "There aren't people who actually do that when drunk, right?"

  "Now you're scared?" Madam Yechan giggled. "Don't be so sure—I know plenty who strip when drunk. You might be one of them. You never know how someone acts until they actually drink~"

  Fear flickered in Qing Xuanling's eyes—but seeing Madam Yechan down her own cup with such ease, she steeled herself. She closed her eyes and gulped the wine in one go.

  "Blergh! This tastes awful!"

  Madam Yechan burst into laughter. "Haha—you really are a green little sprout! It's been ages since I've seen someone spit out wine like that!"

  Qing Xuanling shot her a wounded glare, huffed, and began devouring all the snacks. Madam Yechan gently scolded her and started teaching her how to drink properly.

  And so, Qing Xuanling and Madam Yechan gradually drank while the former recounted her recent adventures. As time passed and the wine warmed up her head, her stories gained a theatrical flair.

  She told nearly everything—except about Xuan Dan.

  She described her ten-day journey through the Scarlet Forest, her strange encounter with three mysterious youths, her battle against the Emerald Python over a spirit herb, and the recent events like her wager with Alchemist Lin.

  She even recounted her clash with the arrogant attendant at the Golden Pig Trading House—who turned out to be a young miss of the Lin Clan.

  Madam Yechan laughed at the funny parts and applauded Qing Xuanling's achievements. In that warm atmosphere, Qing Xuanling couldn't help but think:

  'Ah—this is truly fun…'

  The past two years of her life had been bitter, solitary cultivation. Though she sometimes spent time with Madam Yechan and Qing Wentian, even those moments had dwindled as pressure to improve mounted.

  One could say this was the first time in two years that Qing Xuanling had enjoyed herself so thoroughly.

  The sun slowly set, darkening the sky. Madam Yechan noticed and swiftly snatched the wine cup from Qing Xuanling's flushed hands.

  "That's enough, little drunkard." She rolled her eyes. "Who knew you'd take to this so eagerly?"

  She sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt. 'I've probably instilled a new vice in this healthy young girl…'

  Qing Xuanling frowned, fighting for the cup—then suddenly remembered something.

  "Riiight! Maaadam Yeechaaan—do you knooow the womaan who caaame before me?" Qing Xuanling slurred, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Thaaat woman waaas paaart of the groooup I raan into in the foorest…"

  Madam Yechan froze.

  Her expression darkened. She quickly sniffed Qing Xuanling's clothes—and soon found the scent she sought.

  "Tsk—that bitch left her mark on you…!" Murderous intent flashed in Madam Yechan's emerald eyes. "Those dogs had better not dare play any distasteful tricks—or I won't care about abandoning the peace I've kept for the past decade!"

  She looked down, ready to interrogate Qing Xuanling—but found the girl already fast asleep against her chest.

  The corner of Madam Yechan's lip twitched.

  "This brat… Even in her dreams she seeks to take advantage of me!" She chuckled softly, her anger fading. "Sigh… I'll have a proper talk with her tomorrow. Let her rest for today."

  Madam Yechan carried the sleeping Qing Xuanling to her bedroom.

  * * *

  "Urgh…"

  Qing Xuanling opened her eyes in an unfamiliar room. Her head throbbed painfully.

  'What happened to me…?'

  She was disoriented. She remembered drinking with Madam Yechan, talking—and then… then…

  "What happened after…?"

  "After—you lay with the fiery woman of your dreams and played to your heart's content~"

  The sweet voice beside her jolted Qing Xuanling fully awake. She turned her head mechanically—and her face flushed crimson when she saw who was beside her.

  Madam Yechan, dressed only in a semi-transparent nightgown, smiled coquettishly.

  "Tell me—didn't you experience your best night ever yesterday~?"