Li Su took a sip of tea and asked, "Madam Yin, any news of Master Zhao lately?"
Upon hearing this, Yin Qinghe's peach blossom eyes dimmed: "My husband, he's still missing..."
Li Su and Yin Qinghe, being somewhat acquainted couples, sighed upon hearing this, "These days, I led a search outside the city for dozens of miles and even asked those who returned from the Secret Realm, but none have seen Master Zhao."
Yin Qinghe lowered her eyes, showing a poignant sadness after enduring for days.
Although she held a sliver of hope in her heart, she knew it was likely for the worse.
"Truly unfortunate!"
Cheng Yi also put down his teacup with a sigh, but his following words incited Yin Qinghe's sudden anger.
"Danxin Herb Hall, what a wonderful name! This shop, in this location, truly is a great place!"
Cheng Yi stood up, hands behind his back, gazing at the plaque inscribed by the City Lord himself.
"Yet now, without even an Alchemist, can it still be called Danxin?"
Yin Qinghe's peach eyes glared angrily: "Master Cheng, my husband may have encountered some issues, but saying such things now is rather harsh!"
Cheng Yi smirked teasingly: "Madam Yin, I recall it was due to your husband's alchemical prowess that the City Lord entrusted him with such a fine establishment."
"The disciples and apprentices of your Danxin Herb Hall even enjoy significant reductions in Spirit Stone payments each year."
"But... if Master Zhao doesn't return, can you still uphold this family business?!"
His words were unapologetic, yet they carried an unmistakable confidence.
He was set on it!
Moreover, he desired more than just the shop!
Yin Qinghe clenched her teeth: "What exactly do you want to say!"
Cheng Yi didn't beat around the bush: "Simply put, I, in good faith, wish to acquire this shop, please name your price, Madam Yin."
"Oh, and about your husband's alchemy insights, I am quite interested, would Madam care to share them with me?"
Yin Qinghe responded angrily without a second thought: "Absolutely not!"
She had already conceded several shops, but this was not only her husband's legacy but also their home.
She had no more room to retreat!
Cheng Yi's eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flickering within: "Madam, think it over. If you bow now, you and your daughter still have a future. Otherwise… I'm afraid it will be loss of both people and wealth!"
He made no attempt to hide it.
He was determined.
Master Zhao's talent in Alchemy Dao was recognized as the best in Lin Xian City; otherwise, how could he rise from obscurity?
His insights were coveted by many.
Besides that, there was Yin Qinghe and Zhao Mengli.
A widow.
With a daughter of extraordinary talent.
Many coveted them.
Yin Qinghe's robes trembled in anger, the world was indeed so cruel.
Without a pillar to rely on, many wanted to strip them to the bone!
"As long as I'm here, Danxin Herb Hall will never be yours! If there's nothing else, I won't see you out!"
Seeing the resolute look in Yin Qinghe's eyes, Cheng Yi was not angered but leisurely walked towards the door.
Upon reaching the door, he turned around and left a light-hearted remark.
"Next month coincides with the City Lord's birthday, see you at the banquet."
"But without Master Zhao joining, attending the banquet alone would seem rather lonely, Madam. Besides, can you even afford a few more years of rent?"
"You! …"
Yin Qinghe clenched her jade-like hand but could only watch Cheng Yi leave!
Her heart exhausted, body weak, yet she found no one to rely on.
Actually, Cheng Yi wasn't wrong, the high rent of Danxin Herb Hall along with numerous expenses was not an issue when her husband was around.
But ultimately, she could never become an Alchemist.
A herb shop without an Alchemist, what can keep it afloat?!
After a few comforting words, Li Su also rose and took his leave, leaving Yin Qinghe like a soulless shell, causing the managers and staff of the Pill Hall to wear a look of sorrow.
Yin Qinghe's jade foot shuffled towards the backyard, not knowing what to do next.
Li'Er was still young, far from becoming an Alchemist...
Understanding the ways of the world, she knew that once the shop closed, even trying to take remaining family savings and her husband's insights to live outside the city would be immensely difficult.
That was her late husband's years of hard work, who knows how many murderous desires it would evoke.
Yin Qinghe arrived at the Alchemy Room, her weary spirit slightly rallied as she opened the door.
"Li'Er..."
She whispered softly, not expecting Zhao Mengli to place her jade finger on her cherry lips, making a silencing gesture.
"Shh..."
"Mother, look, senior brother's Divine Net, it's nearly weaved twenty threads!"
Zhao Mengli whispered as she pointed at Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's eyes were bright, his hands moved like a breeze weaving through a forest, his movements turning strands of Spiritual Power into threads that interlaced and spread.
A silk net gently scooped through the boiling Medicinal Liquid, teetering like a kite in its first flight, yet successfully extracted impurities finer than sand grains.
Yin Qinghe's reddened peach blossom eyes quivered, Qin Yu's outstanding performance momentarily dispelling her sorrow.
Qin Yu at this moment was fervently controlling his Spiritual Power, the multilayered fine net was difficult to grasp, yet he deeply comprehended the key to refining Second Grade Medicinal Liquid!
To further purify on the foundation of First Grade Medicinal Liquid, the net needed to be intricately woven.
Only then could undetectable impurities be extracted.
It was akin to sifting sand in the river; before, he used bare hands to scoop water, only able to remove small stones.
Only a sieve woven with a fine net could filter out smaller impurities, making the water clear.
This was the purpose of weaving a net with Spiritual Power.
Sweat beaded on Qin Yu's forehead, though the net seemed a mere score of threads, he felt constantly drained of energy.
It was as if he were controlling dozens of needles, simultaneously threading them.
Yin Qinghe could clearly see that Qin Yu was giving it his all, and this was the essence of purification, quickly lowering her breathing in fear of disrupting him.
Yet her heart was pounding faster.
How long had she been away, and this boy progressed so quickly?!
He could already weave twenty threads?
Under guidance, how long did it take her to divide Spiritual Power into twenty threads?
Yin Qinghe couldn't remember specifically, but it surely was counted in years!
But Qin Yu, he counted it in days!
No, hours.
If she hadn't checked Qin Yu's background, Yin Qinghe would have suspected he was sent to steal techniques!
"Whew!"
Finally, Qin Yu's Spiritual Power Net emerged from the Medicinal Liquid, this time not unraveling into a chaotic mess but dissipating in an orderly manner.
Then, he poured out the Medicinal Liquid from the Alchemy Furnace, storing it.
The liquid in his hand was noticeably clearer!
This should count as Second Grade Medicinal Liquid, right?
"Senior brother, you're amazing!"
Zhao Mengli could finally speak her admiration!
She had witnessed Qin Yu's transformation entirely, her feelings at this moment could only be described as awe-inspiring!