The journey back to the city was completely different from the trip out.
Liu Yuexin no longer walked ahead; instead, she walked meekly beside Wang Cheng. Every step she took seemed softer and more steady. Her cheeks, once pale, now bloomed with a lovely rosy hue. She would often steal glances at this "Uncle's" profile with complex eyes... filled with reverence, awe, and a deep, newly formed attachment.
Wang Cheng continued to play the role of the kind-hearted uncle perfectly. He would occasionally feign exhaustion from the journey, giving her the chance to show her concern by handing him a water bamboo tube or supporting him over rough patches. Naturally, he took every opportunity to skillfully "touch" her soft body.
By the time they returned to the familiar Wang Pai Medicine Shop, it was already nearing dusk.
After barring the door securely, Wang Cheng began to organize the "souvenirs" from the Black Wind Cliff. He placed the glowing Silver Moon Grass on the table, followed by the Beast Core of the Rock-Scaled Serpent, and finally, the cloth bag taken from the corpses of the Blood Cloud Valley disciples.
Inside the bag, there were a few taels of silver and a manual with the title "Secrets of the Blood Eagle Claw" written on the cover.
"Demonic Arts!" Liu Yuexin exclaimed softly.
Wang Cheng picked up the manual, flipped through it casually, and then tossed it into the fire without a second thought. "Techniques that require harming others to cultivate are not the True Way," he lectured with a calm, sage-like voice, elevating his image as a righteous figure in her eyes even further.
"Alright... it is time to work," he said, looking at the Silver Moon Grass with serious eyes. "Little girl, help me start the fire in the furnace. I will prepare the other herbs."
This was the first time Liu Yuexin would see her "Uncle" perform full-scale alchemy. She hurriedly complied with enthusiasm.
Wang Cheng did not use ordinary firewood. He ordered her to bring out the highest quality charcoal. Then, he placed his palm over the fuel intake and circulated his Qi!
Whoosh!
A pure blue flame instantly roared to life inside the furnace! It was a fire born purely from Qi, providing heat hundreds of times more consistent and pure than any wood fire!
"U-Uncle! This is the legendary 'Alchemical Qi Fire'!" Liu Yuexin's eyes widened in shock. She had only read about this in ancient texts; she never thought she would see it with her own eyes!
"Just a small trick," he replied humbly, but in his mind, he was communicating with the system: 'System, start analyzing the ingredients and guide the Qi flow.'
Wang Cheng began adding various ingredients into the furnace. His movements were elegant and natural, flowing like water. Hands that once seemed like those of an old man now moved so fast they were a blur. He didn't follow existing recipes but tweaked the ingredients slightly according to the system's advice.
[Hand of Alchemical Fusion] was being utilized to its maximum potential!
Each herb tossed in had its essence extracted, turning into droplets of glowing liquid suspended within the blue flame. The impurities were incinerated into nothingness in the blink of an eye.
A strange, refreshing fragrance began to permeate the entire shop. It was a scent that, just by inhaling, made one feel invigorated and caused their Qi to flow more smoothly!
Liu Yuexin stood watching the scene as if spellbound. She had never seen such beautiful and miraculous alchemy in her life!
A full hour passed...
Suddenly, Wang Cheng slapped the side of the furnace lightly once!
Bang!
The furnace lid flew open on its own, accompanied by a pillar of silver light shooting up to the ceiling! Five round pills, shining silver like the moon, slowly floated out of the furnace. On the surface of each pill, faint "Pill Veins" were visible to the naked eye!
"Pills... Pills with Pill Veins!" Liu Yuexin exclaimed, her voice trembling. "This is... the legendary Perfect Grade Pill!"
Wang Cheng reached out to gently catch the five pills in his palm. The fragrance intensified until she felt as if she could break through a cultivation level just by smelling it.
"This is the 'Moon Spirit Nourishing Pill', Perfect Grade," he said with a smile. "Just one of these is worth more than fifty gold taels."
His debt... had been solved in the blink of an eye!
He extended one pill towards Liu Yuexin. "This is a reward for your hard work. Eat it. It will help stabilize your foundation and make your Qi even purer."
"N-No, Uncle! Such a precious item..." she hurriedly refused.
"If I give it, just take it," he pressed the pill into her hand. "Consider it 'wages' for my capable assistant."
Liu Yuexin's eyes grew hot with gratitude. She accepted the pill with trembling hands before bowing to him with all her heart.
After she put the pill away, Wang Cheng looked at the remaining four pills in his hand with a thoughtful expression.
The problem of finding money to pay the debt was over, but a new problem had arisen...
How could he sell these legendary pills without causing too much of a commotion? If news spread that his small medicine shop housed a "Grandmaster Alchemist" capable of brewing Perfect Grade pills... his shop would likely never know peace again.
He needed a plan... A plan to turn the pills in his hand into wealth and power, while still maintaining his secret and his role as the "Kind Uncle."
A cunning smile appeared at the corner of Wang Cheng's mouth once again.
'Ten Thousand Treasures Chamber of Commerce... Since you want money so badly... I will let you know that becoming 'partners' with me... is worth far more than a debt of mere fifty gold taels.'