Right in front of Liu Ruyan, Jiang Yan poured a Qi-Nourishing Pill from a crystal-jade bottle and handed it to her.
Taking the pill, Liu Ruyan looked somewhat surprised and couldn't help asking, "Is this the Qi-Nourishing Pill? Can it really help me stabilize my breath more quickly?"
"Junior Sister, rest assured. Your Senior Brother went to Dan Peak overnight to carefully select top-grade medicinal herbs and refine this Qi-Nourishing Pill specifically for you. There is absolutely no problem with it," Jiang Yan said, patting his chest.
"Are the others in the bottle also Qi-Nourishing Pills?" Liu Ruyan asked curiously, glancing at the crystal-jade bottle in Jiang Yan's hand.
Jiang Yan nodded. "Seeing that Junior Sister's breath was unstable, how could your Senior Brother not worry? To be honest, last night I refined a total of eight Qi-Nourishing Pills. I used ten portions of herbs; two portions were ruined, leaving only eight successfully refined, and they are all right here."
"Ten portions?"
Liu Ruyan was astonished. She had only given Jiang Yan spirit stones for three portions of herbs, yet he had refined ten. Could it be that he had paid for the extra expenses out of his own pocket?
At this thought, a wave of warmth washed over Liu Ruyan's heart.
Just yesterday, she had learned from Jiang Yan that the medicinal herbs needed to refine a single Qi-Nourishing Pill cost over a thousand spirit stones.
Since he had prepared ten portions of herbs, didn't that amount to more than ten thousand spirit stones?
"Although Junior Sister only gave me money for three portions, the other seven portions were advanced to me by Dan Peak. I'll find a way to pay them back myself later. Just take these pills back and use them for now. If they aren't enough, come find me again."
With that, Jiang Yan handed the jade bottle in his hand over to her.
"That won't do. Senior Brother refined pills for me—how could I let you suffer a loss and owe Dan Peak so many spirit stones for nothing?"
With a solemn expression, Liu Ruyan flipped her palm over and directly produced a storage bag, which she handed to Jiang Yan. "There are twenty thousand spirit stones in here. Senior Brother, take a portion of it to repay Dan Peak. As for the rest... consider it remuneration from me."
"This..."
Though ecstatic inside, Jiang Yan feigned reluctance on the surface. "Isn't this too much?"
"Twenty thousand spirit stones? That's just half a month of my pocket money," Liu Ruyan said generously.
Twenty thousand in half a month?
Wouldn't that make forty thousand a month?
Jiang Yan was shocked.
This was what it meant to be the child of a wealthy family!
As disciples of the Dao Sect, they only received a hundred spirit stones from the sect each month.
And look at her—forty thousand a month just in pocket money! It was simply inhumane!
"By the way, Senior Brother, early this morning, 'Senior Sister Ningshuang' from Sword Peak came to see me. She recommended that I come to Ru Peak to discuss swordsmanship with you. Although I don't know why Senior Sister Ningshuang would recommend you to me, does Senior Brother actually know anything about swordsmanship?"
After carefully putting away the crystal-jade bottle, Liu Ruyan suddenly spoke, her beautiful eyes examining Jiang Yan with curiosity.
"A little."
Jiang Yan was slightly startled at first, then overjoyed. It seemed the matter discussed with Senior Uncle Xu Hua last night had succeeded, and Sword Peak had sent Liu Ruyan over to learn.
"I just picked it up from reading books. If Junior Sister has any questions about swordsmanship, feel free to ask me anytime."
"Can reading books really help with sword practice?" Liu Ruyan asked skeptically.
***
Meanwhile, inside an ancient hall on Dan Peak.
Lin Yuan had arrived.
Inside the hall, the Master of Dan Peak sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. Hearing Lin Yuan's greeting, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Lin Yuan, your talent in the Dao of Alchemy is exceptional, and among all the disciples of Dan Peak, you have the greatest potential. This sect master intends to recommend you for advanced study at Ru Peak, where you can discuss things thoroughly with Senior Nephew Jiang Yan. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask him then."
Lin Yuan had been tending to his own herb garden when he suddenly received a message summoning him to see the peak master.
He had rushed over immediately, unaware of the reason for the summons.
Upon learning the reason, he couldn't help his astonishment. "Eldest Senior Brother's attainments in alchemy are extraordinary. Who am I to... be able to go to him for advanced study!"
"Oh? You already knew that Senior Nephew Jiang Yan understands alchemy?" The Master of Dan Peak was momentarily stunned.
Aside from the sect master and a few peak masters, no one else in the entire Dao Sect should have known about this.
Lin Yuan then briefly recounted the events of the previous night.
"So that's how it is."
The Master of Dan Peak nodded in sudden enlightenment. "That being the case, you and Senior Nephew are bound by fate. Starting today, go to his place every day, and ask whatever you don't understand."
"However, remember this: do not spread this matter around everywhere, and under no circumstances are you to talk about Senior Nephew Jiang Yan with outsiders. Do you understand?"
"Peak Master, rest assured. This disciple has always kept a tight lid on secrets," Lin Yuan nodded earnestly.
Shortly after bidding farewell to the Master of Dan Peak, Lin Yuan put aside all his tasks and headed straight toward Ru Peak.
"Junior Brother Lin Yuan? Why are you here too?"
As he arrived at the foot of the mountain and prepared to make the ascent, a familiar voice drifted over from nearby.
Curious, Lin Yuan looked over and saw a robust, sturdy young man approaching. His skin was slightly dark, and overall he stood a full head taller than him.
Yun Feiyang.
This was the senior disciple of Wu Peak. In terms of seniority, apart from Eldest Senior Brother Jiang Yan, almost no one in the entire Dao Sect could compare with him.
Even Lin Yuan, a second-tier alchemist, had to address him as Senior Brother upon meeting him.
"Could Senior Brother Yun also be here for advanced study?" Lin Yuan asked, slightly startled and curious.
He knew Jiang Yan's alchemy attainments were extraordinary, so Dan Peak recommending him made sense.
But why was Yun Feiyang from Wu Peak here as well?
Most disciples of that peak practiced body-tempering and excelled in close-quarters combat.
"Yeah, the peak master secretly notified me to come. I have no idea what the reason is. Although I've never met this Eldest Senior Brother, I've heard he's just a bookish nerd with no strength to truss a chicken. Can he really guide me?" Yun Feiyang harbored deep doubts about this, feeling completely baffled ever since receiving the news.
"Although I don't know what Wu Peak needs him for, Eldest Senior Brother is far more extraordinary than what appears on the surface. Once Senior Brother Yun meets him, you'll understand," Lin Yuan said meaningfully.
"Oh? Does Junior Brother know something?" Yun Feiyang asked curiously.
"Let me tell you..."
Lin Yuan leaned close to his ear and whispered a brief account of what had happened in his alchemy room the previous night.
Hearing this, Yun Feiyang was greatly startled. "Eldest Senior Brother is actually an alchemist? In that case, Wu Peak recommending me here must have a purpose. Could Eldest Senior Brother really guide me a thing or two?"
At this point, his brow furrowed slightly as he spoke again, "What I said earlier about Eldest Senior Brother being a bookish nerd—Junior Brother, make sure you don't go around telling people. It doesn't sound good if others hear it."
"Senior Brother, rest assured. I've always kept a tight lid on secrets," Lin Yuan assured, patting his chest.