Chapter 11

Just that, if it really was her, why would her brows be so slightly furrowed, as if she wasn't happy?

Could it be that a young lady from such a distinguished family, a precious daughter of a great clan, also had some unsolvable troubles?

Seeing her bright eyes and the occasional flash of a faint, ethereal light in them, like specks of fireflies, pale blue, penetrating deep into one's heart, Tang Gu felt a sudden stir in his heart, unable to control his emotions, and secretly thought.

For some reason, at this moment, he actually had the urge to know what was troubling the young lady, to help her resolve her worries and protect her happiness. However, as soon as this thought appeared, it startled him, and he quickly drove it away.

Joking, how could a mere nobody like him, who hadn't even reached the first stage of Qi Dao, solve problems that even she couldn't?

So, he quickly composed himself, acting as if nothing had happened, and bowed deeply to the blue-robed young lady who had walked up to him.

"Thank you, Miss, for saving my life."

"It was nothing, Sir, you're too kind."

The blue-robed young lady waved her hand slightly, not paying much attention. Her voice was soft and melodious, with a unique rhythm, like celestial music. When it sounded, Tang Gu's heart skipped a beat, and he felt even more that she had something on her mind.

As the blue-robed young lady appeared, he could faintly hear the murmurs of the crowd around him.

"It's really her, definitely her, the beloved daughter of Mayor Shui Yun, Miss Shui Xue. The one beside her is her maid, Xiao Shu. I saw her once when she was distributing porridge in the South Street."

"Yes, it's really her. It's said that Miss Shui Xue is not only beautiful but also kind-hearted, with a heart like a bodhisattva. Whenever there's a food shortage or someone is sick, she provides free medicine and prescriptions, without charging a penny. Many families have been helped by her. But it's a pity... it's said that in a year, she will marry the son of the City Lord of Qinglong City."

"Yes, the marriage between the Shui and Lu families. I've heard about it too. It's said that the Shui family's Second Rank Alchemist Ancestor once had a connection with the City Lord's residence, so they arranged this marriage. Shiyan Town is just a small town, and to marry into the City Lord's residence and become the young lady of the City Lord's residence is like soaring to the sky. Many people envy her. It's said that the City Lord's son is also very talented, with outstanding abilities, and has even become a Hunter's attendant... a perfect match indeed!"

Hearing the murmurs of the crowd and seeing the unhidden envy and approval in their eyes, Tang Gu suddenly felt a bit inexplicable annoyance...

Even he didn't know where this annoyance came from, perhaps it was because the words "marriage between the Shui and Lu families" touched a chord in his heart.

At this moment, the blue-robed young lady, who had approached Tang Gu, didn't look at him again but turned around, her gaze falling on the last horse lantern on the ground beside him. Her eyes lit up for the first time, with a hint of feminine delight.

"This lantern is so beautiful..."

She murmured, her voice soft and pleasant, standing there in a daze, watching the constantly changing, flowing light of the horse lantern, as if entranced.

When the master has a preference, the subordinate follows. The green-robed maid Xiao Shu stepped forward and shouted at Tang Gu, "Hey, did you hear that? My lady wants to buy your lantern. How much? Give a price!"

"Hmm?"

Tang Gu raised his head. The crowd was bustling, but his demeanor was always so clear and outstanding, as if nothing bothered him.

That unique elegance and the air of having experienced the world's繁华 were something others couldn't imitate. The blue-robed young lady's maid, Xiao Shu, was momentarily stunned.

"Hey, this vendor is quite handsome."

However, she quickly recovered and shouted again, "Hey, are you deaf or dumb? I asked you a question, how much?"

"Xiao Shu!"

The blue-robed young lady was finally awakened by the green-robed maid's voice, turned around, and gave her a reproachful look, shaking her head slightly.

Then, she turned to Tang Gu, bowed slightly, and apologized, "I'm sorry, my maid has been spoiled by me. Miss Shui Xue apologizes to you. However, I truly like this lantern and hope you can part with it!"

Indeed, it was her...

Tang Gu suddenly realized that the crowd's murmurs were true. She was the one who would marry into the City Lord's residence of Qinglong City in a year, the only genius alchemist in Shiyan Town, a "Mid-Rank First-Class Alchemist," Shui Xue.

Such a small matter, Tang Gu naturally wouldn't take to heart, especially since her lady had specially apologized for her maid. Tang Gu certainly wouldn't pursue it further.

Smiling slightly, Tang Gu shook his sleeves and said, "Miss, you're too kind. It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. Besides, you saved my life. This lantern is just a toy, how could I dare to take your money? If you like it, I'll give it to you to play with."

However, the blue-robed young lady, after hearing this, shook her head firmly, "The Shui family never takes others' possessions lightly. Whether it's a needle or a thread, or a gold or silver coin, I will buy this lantern because I like it. Please give a price."

Tang Gu was taken aback, looked at the blue-robed young lady, and seeing her determination, knew that if he insisted on giving it for free, she wouldn't accept it. He nodded and said, "Alright, I wouldn't dare to refuse. This lantern originally costs two hundred, but since you want it, I'll give it to you for one hundred."

"Good."

The blue-robed young lady didn't insist further, waved her hand, and the green-robed maid Xiao Shu stepped forward, grumbling unwillingly, took out a green embroidered purse, and handed one hundred stone coins to Tang Gu.

"A broken lantern, and it costs so much? Black-hearted, greedy merchant!"

The blue-robed young lady was a bit angry and shouted, "Xiao Shu!"

The green-robed maid stuck out her tongue playfully, made a face, and didn't say anything more. She handed the one hundred stone coins to Tang Gu, picked up the horse lantern from the ground, and walked back to the young lady, saying, "Here, Miss, I bought it for you."

"Um."

The blue-robed young lady took the lantern, gazed at it for a long time, seemingly lost in thought. The surrounding noise eventually woke her up. She bowed slightly to Tang Gu and said, "Sir, this lantern is so exquisite, it must have taken a lot of effort. I wonder if there's any special meaning behind it?"

"Meaning?"

Tang Gu was taken aback, then looked at the blue-robed young lady, suddenly thought of something, and smiled gently, saying, "Some say that a lantern is a wait, so a lantern symbolizes waiting and guarding..."

"Is that so, a lantern is a wait, waiting, and guarding."

The blue-robed young lady's voice lowered, as if she was thinking of something. After a long time, she finally came to her senses, handed the lantern to the green-robed maid, and bowed deeply to Tang Gu, "Thank you, Sir, for your guidance today. If there's a chance, Shui Xue will thank you again. Goodbye!"

With that, she held the lantern and slowly walked out of the crowd, directly leaving "Fulan Jiao." The black-robed young man Yuan Suichen and the green-robed maid Xiao Shu hurriedly followed her.

Soon, the three of them disappeared into the crowd.

Even so, the grace with which she left still left Tang Gu in a daze. He felt her steps were so gentle, unhurried, and pure, like a beautiful lily floating in the clouds.

For a long time after she disappeared, Tang Gu remained standing there, touching the still warm one hundred stone coins in his hand, unable to regain his composure.

"Shui Xue... I wonder if we'll meet again."

...

Outside "Fulan Jiao," on East Street.

The three main and servant from the Shui family were walking there. Shui Xue still held the "Peony Pavilion" lantern made by Tang Gu, her eyes still somewhat dazed.

"Lantern is a wait, lantern is a wait..."

Beside her, the green-robed maid Xiao Shu frowned and said, "Oh, Miss is daydreaming again. Actually, Miss, did you notice that the vendor was quite handsome?"

Saying this, she pulled on the other sleeve of the blue-robed young lady, shaking it continuously.

"Um?"

The blue-robed young lady Shui Xue was finally pulled out of her thoughts by her maid. Hearing her maid's words, she couldn't help but laugh, looking at the green-robed maid, "What, did you take a liking to him? Do you want to go back and ask him?"

"Pfft, no way, I want to stay with Miss forever. But, Miss, that young City Lord is said to be a playboy. I think it would be better for you to marry this vendor than him."

"Hmph, don't talk nonsense." Hearing this, the blue-robed young lady's expression suddenly darkened, and she walked away.

Xiao Shu, helpless, followed, but before leaving, she couldn't help but look back at "Fulan Jiao," which was gradually disappearing from sight, thinking, "Oh, that vendor really was quite nice. I didn't say anything wrong. Marrying that playboy is really not as good as marrying this vendor."

However, seeing that her lady was in a bad mood, she didn't say this out loud.

...

In the evening, Tang Gu returned to his thatched cottage.

In his arms, he now had a light gray pill and five or six kinds of first-grade spirit herbs.

At the market, he sold ten lanterns, earning a total of 710 gray stone coins. Then, before the largest shop in the city, "Zhenwu Pavilion," closed, Tang Gu hurriedly went there to buy the "First Turn Pill" and all the materials needed for the "First Turn of Soul Power."

These items cost him a total of 360 gray stone coins, with the most valuable "First Turn Pill" costing 100, and the other materials for the "First Turn of Soul Power" totaling over 200.

However, he couldn't buy one thing, a low-grade first-class demon soul.

In this world, "Soul Cultivators" were few, so "Sealing Spirit Balls" were even rarer. Each one was very valuable, suitable for sealing rare demon souls, but not for sealing common low-grade first-class demon souls, which would be unprofitable. Even if there were any, they would likely be in large cities, so in a small place like Shiyan Town, it was almost impossible to find them for sale.

Therefore, to break through the First Turn of Soul Power, Tang Gu would have to find the demon soul himself. Fortunately, the hardest part, the medicine, was already gathered, and a first-class demon soul was not difficult to obtain. Killing a first-turn demon beast would suffice.

Now, Tang Gu had returned, ready to take advantage of the complete materials to make a breakthrough. First, he would take the "Minor Essence Pill" to reach the peak of Qi Sensing, then take the "First Turn Pill" to break through to the First Turn of Qi Dao!

Thinking of this, Tang Gu sat cross-legged on the only simple wooden bed in the room, closed his eyes, and took out a light green porcelain bottle from his chest.

It was the "Minor Essence Pill" that the "Wu Academy" distributed monthly as a benefit. Ordinary disciples could get one to three pills a month at most, but he had a whole bottle, fifteen pills.

At five stone coins per pill, this small bottle cost him 75 stone coins, almost as much as a "First Turn Pill," making Tang Gu feel the pain of spending so much. Earning money was hard, but spending it was like water.

However, to break through to the First Turn of Qi Dao as quickly as possible, he decided to endure it.

PS: First update, making up for last night's third update. I spent the whole day today dealing with contracts, and the status will change in a day or two. I will update more diligently in the future, so please support by collecting and recommending.

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