“Did you already know?” Wu Yan asked Wu Yan (Inner), who was nearly laughing herself to death.
“Hahaha, are you two trying to make This Seat laugh? Making such a big fuss just to catch such a little thing!”
Wu Yan (Inner)’s voice was trembling, and she was practically pressing herself against Wu Yan’s back.
As if aware of the cold draft suddenly rushing in from behind, the little thing stuck in the medicine pot finally stopped smacking its lips. Its short hind legs kicked twice in the air, but then, due to losing its center of gravity, the creature and the pot spun together on the ground.
“Wuwu wu!”
The familiar whimpering sound rang out, but after seeing the little thing that made the noise, no matter how hard Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou listened, they could no longer associate it with terror.
Wu Yan expressionlessly sheathed Wu Nian back into its scabbard, while also subtly moving the nourishing range of the Soul-Nourishing Jade away from Wu Yan (Inner).
She sighed, pressed down on the medicine pot with her left hand, and grabbed the little thing’s furry leg with her right, pulling it out in one go.
Pop—
With a dull sound, a creature was yanked out. It had drooping ears, a round appearance, and a lustrous, translucent emerald-green horn on its forehead. Its mouth was smeared with a ring of black medicinal residue, and its long ears were covered in dregs.
Held up by Wu Yan, it showed no fear. Its big, watery purple eyes rolled around, stared at Wu Yan for a moment, and then let out a burp.
The strong herbal smell wafted to Wu Yan’s nose, reminding her of the time she had tested medicines with Lin Wan’er on Medicine Peak.
Watching the little creature wiggle its body and try to lick Wu Yan’s fair hand with its pink tongue, Ji Xuerou said, “I think it kind of likes you.”
“Wuwu?” Seeing that Wu Yan still wouldn’t let it go, the little thing made a gesture of offering with its front paws and then pointed at the medicine boiling on another stove.
“This little one is quite clever, knowing you’re a medicine junkie who can’t go a day without medicine!” Wu Yan (Inner) was still mocking from the side.
“Xuerou, do you have a handkerchief?” Wu Yan reached out to Ji Xuerou.
“Yes.” Ji Xuerou handed a handkerchief to Wu Yan.
She took the handkerchief, wiped the medicinal dregs off the little creature, and held it up in front of her. “You ate all these medicines—what are the wounded going to eat?”
“Wu?”
The air suddenly fell silent.
Ji Xuerou thought she understood Wu Yan quite well, but she never expected her to say something like that so seriously to a small animal.
“Don’t worry, the patients won’t go without medicine.”
The candlelight in the medicine boiling room suddenly flared up, illuminating the entire room as bright as day. A person stood in the doorway.
The newcomer had captivating red pupils, and her eyes shimmered with seductive charm. With slightly arched brows, fair skin, and a vermilion-red qipao that accentuated her figure, she was strikingly beautiful.
“Are you… Ning Xiyan?” Ji Xuerou seemed to recognize her, calling out her name after just a brief look.
“It’s been a long time since that Demon Subjugation, Saintess Ji.” Hearing Ji Xuerou call her, Ning Xiyan gracefully bowed.
“Mm, it has been a while.”
“Xuerou, who is this?”
“She is the disciple of the Senior Elder of Medicine King Valley, Ning Xiyan. Before Lin Wan’er, she was considered the most likely candidate to become the next Valley Lord.”
From Ning Xiyan, Wu Yan could indeed sense the calm composure of a superior. Based on first impressions alone, she seemed more suited to be a leader than Lin Wan’er.
“Lady Wu, I’ve long heard of your reputation.” Ning Xiyan lifted the hem of her qipao and politely bowed to Wu Yan.
“Fellow Daoist Ning, there’s no need for such formality.” As Wu Yan spoke, she loosened her grip.
The little creature immediately leaped into Ning Xiyan’s arms.
“Wuwu~”
Ning Xiyan gently patted its back and smiled at Wu Yan. “This is my family’s beast, named Xiao Yao Wan.”
So it seemed Lin Wan’er still had the qualifications to be the next Valley Lord—at least the two of them had a similar level of naming skill.
“As for why I said there’s no need to worry about the patients not having medicine…” Ning Xiyan paused, tapping Xiao Yao Wan’s round bottom with her slender hand. “Xiao Yao Wan, you can’t just eat and not work~”
“Wuu—” Xiao Yao Wan made a displeased sound from deep in its throat, and then the small horn on its forehead emitted a vibrant pale green glow.
Seeing this, Ning Xiyan took out an empty jade bottle and held it under Xiao Yao Wan’s single horn.
In just a moment, pill after pill of excellent quality, radiating with medicinal aroma, fell rustling into the bottle.
“This truly is a rare and marvelous beast.” Wu Yan was a bit stunned. She had never known that pills could be refined so easily, and even the quality of the pills was top-grade.
“Lady Wu flatters me.” Ning Xiyan’s smile had not faded since she entered, and the cloud patterns between her brows flickered in the lamplight, appearing exceptionally gentle. “It’s just a petty trick.”
Ning Xiyan picked up the exhausted Xiao Yao Wan and tucked it into her bosom.
“Fellow Daoist Ning, I have one more question. Why do you let Xiao Yao Wan act like this at night? According to the patients’ feedback, Xiao Yao Wan’s commotion has scared them.”
Hearing Wu Yan’s question, Ning Xiyan just smiled slightly. “Lady Wu, everything has a price. Pills of this quality cannot be refined just by Xiao Yao Wan drinking medicine~”
Not just by drinking medicine—the patients’ fear and complaints…
“Emotions?” Ji Xuerou was quick to catch on.
“Exactly!” Ning Xiyan snapped her fingers. “Miracles are not free. To help the patients recover quickly, we have to put them through a little sacrifice. But rest assured, you two, we will compensate every patient afterward. If you have no other questions, I’ll be off with Xiao Yao Wan.”
“Xuerou, what do you think?” Wu Yan silently gestured to Ji Xuerou with her eyes.
“Don’t worry, there’s no problem with her. I’ve spent some time with her before—she’s definitely a good person with a healer’s heart.”
“Mm, see you tomorrow, Fellow Daoist Ning.”
As Ning Xiyan’s figure with Xiao Yao Wan gradually faded away, the miserable cries that had echoed through the corridor at midnight finally came to an end.
In a deserted corner, Ning Xiyan’s smile was as usual. “Go find a place to play, Xiao Yao Wan~”
“Wuwu!”
Watching Xiao Yao Wan bounce away, Ning Xiyan took out a Communication Jade Talisman from her bosom.
“How is it? Did you make contact with the target?” On the other side of the talisman, a figure completely shrouded in black robes appeared out of nowhere.
“Made contact.” Ning Xiyan simply moved her fingers, and nine pink misty rabbits materialized around her. “She’s a rather interesting person~ Xiao Yao Wan quite likes her.”
“I know you’re not one to follow orders, but this time, you must restrain yourself.” The black-clad person’s attitude was unusually serious. “Do not approach the target casually, to avoid alerting the enemy.”
“Don’t worry, I still recognize the bigger picture.”
“I hope so.”
As the projection disappeared, Ning Xiyan’s gentle voice murmured lowly. In the air, the pink rabbits dissipated, replaced by a snake biting its own tail.
“Oh dear, it seems I’ve run into quite a big trouble~”
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