"That won't be necessary. I have the funds," Xiao Li interrupted, her voice gaining a sudden, sharp edge of confidence.
She reached into her robe and produced a heavy silk pouch, counting out the shimmering coins and lining them up on the wooden counter with deliberate precision.
The old man stared at the gold, then back at the unassuming girl. He had gambled on her desperation to unmask her mistress, but he had underestimated the resources of the house she served. With a heavy sigh of defeat, he slid the bundles of rare herbs toward her.
Xiao Li tucked the precious cargo into her satchel, her heart lightened by the success. However, before she reached the door, she remembered the final part of her instructions. She turned back and placed a second, smaller slip of parchment onto the counter. "One more thing, sir."
"What is—" The old man's voice died in his throat. As he scanned the second list, his hands began to tremble.
If the first list was a cure for death, the second was a map to the impossible. Every herb written there was of a legendary rank—ingredients like the Heavenly Frost Lotus and Dragon-Blood Root. These were not items found in a shop; they grew only in the most treacherous "Red Zones" of the empire, guarded by ancient spirit beasts and lethal natural barriers. Even a high-level cultivator would consider it a suicide mission to seek them out.
"We do not stock these." The old man said, his voice now hushed with a new kind of respect. He shook his head slowly. "No shop in the capital would."
"I expected as much," Xiao Li replied, echoing the words Xifeng had coached her to say. "But I must ask, do you have any information on where these might be found? Even a rumor?"
"Information?" The old man paused, stroking his thin beard. "My humble shop is for trade, not information. I have nothing for you."
Xiao Li's shoulders slumped, a wave of disappointment washing over her. She knew how much her mistress relied on these specific components to unlock the true potential of her "Sea of Poison."
"However," the old man continued, his eyes glinting with a sudden thought, "there are those who make a living in the shadows. If you truly seek the locations of these myths, you must visit the Shanghai House. They can provide the coordinates to any miracle in the world—for a price. And for a list like this, that price will be staggering."
"Shanghai House..." Xiao Li whispered, committing the name to memory. A surge of hope returned to her. "Thank you, sir. Truly."
Exiting the shop, Xiao Li navigated the winding alleys of the capital with renewed energy, practically skipping toward the noble district. She didn't use the main gates of the Bai Mansion; instead, she crept toward a neglected corner of the perimeter wall. There, hidden behind a thicket of overgrown briars, was a secret passage Xifeng had pointed out—a crumbling stone gap that allowed her to slip inside undetected.
She hurried toward their secluded courtyard, her breath coming in short gasps. There, bathed in the soft orange glow of the setting sun, sat Bai Xifeng. She was leaning back in a rickety wooden chair, her gaze fixed on the shifting clouds in the vast sky, looking for all the world like a bored immortal.
"Young Miss, I've returned," Xiao Li announced, trying to contain her excitement.
"Oh? Welcome back, little scout," Bai Xifeng said, her eyes slowly drifting down from the heavens. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips. "Did you manage to secure my 'groceries'?"
"I have everything from the first list," Xiao Li said, patting her bag proudly. She then pulled out the second parchment, her expression turning somber. "But the items on this list... they aren't available on the market. The shopkeeper said they must be sought in the wild, in places of great danger."
Bai Xifeng took the list and nodded slowly, her fingers tracing the ink. She wasn't surprised. Deep within her mind, she could feel Baishe stirring, his silent approval vibrating through her consciousness. She knew that the road to becoming a master of both Qi and Poison would be paved with the bones of monsters.
"You've done well, Xiao Li. Better than you know," Xifeng said, her voice dropping to a low, determined hum. "Now, let's go inside. I have a cauldron to prepare.".
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. Can you consider reading it on the original website for those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, as your support to me? Thank you, from, your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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