"What's going on?" Zhu, the shopkeeper, questioned in a deep voice.
Seeing the situation so dire, Zhu, the shopkeeper, couldn't control his anger, nor did he want to.
This area could be considered the central region of Feima Market. Gao Xian had only been here for a little over two months and didn't know many people. Who would come to his house in the middle of the night to set it on fire!
Even if there were enemies, it would be better to directly attack Gao Xian.
Zhu, the shopkeeper, felt that this must have been done by Gao Xian himself. Maybe a failed alchemy process damaged a lot of medicinal ingredients, and he felt there was no way to explain it.
Or perhaps this kid took the successfully refined elixirs and sold them secretly, then set the fire to destroy the evidence?!
Gao Xian lowered his gaze slightly to avoid eye contact with Zhu, the shopkeeper. Years of experience in the Nine Nine Six career had given him ample experience in dealing with angry superiors.
Avoiding eye contact, showing a humble attitude, could effectively prevent conflicts from escalating.
"I don't know who came and threw a fireball, almost scared me to death."
Gao Xian looked innocent with a hint of shock on his face, the expression very convincing.
The blazing fire illuminated the courtyard, allowing Zhu, the shopkeeper, to clearly see the subtle expressions on Gao Xian's face, and he didn't notice anything wrong.
This also made Zhu, the shopkeeper, have some doubts about his own judgment. Could he have wrongly accused this kid?
After all, Gao Xian was only in his early twenties, always studying alchemy, with little life experience. If there were any issues, he wouldn't appear so natural.
Gao Xian provided very good quality elixirs and received many praises. It was evident that Gao Xian had a talent for alchemy.
For such a talented individual, one couldn't be too rough.
Zhu, the shopkeeper, was a bit uncertain. Taking advantage of the flames, he carefully scrutinized Gao Xian once again.
The flames were strong but unstable, flickering and changing constantly, making Gao Xian's face appear intermittently bright and dark.
Gao Xian remained calm. He was destroying evidence, but he would compensate for the losses. There was nothing to fear.
He said loudly, "Brother Zhu, regardless of who did it, I will compensate for these losses."
Zhu, the shopkeeper, shook his head with a strange expression, "No, no..."
Gao Xian was slightly surprised. How did Zhu, the shopkeeper, suddenly see that something was wrong?
He knew that too many words would lead to mistakes. Without understanding Zhu, the shopkeeper's meaning, he didn't dare to interfere or explain randomly.
He looked at Zhu, the shopkeeper, with a puzzled expression.
Zhu, the shopkeeper, used his Qi observation technique, and his sharp eyes sparkled with insight. Looking at Gao Xian again, he could see that something was amiss.
He took two steps back, suddenly becoming somewhat nervous. "Xiao Gao, have you encountered anything unusual recently?"
Gao Xian was a bit puzzled. Was Zhu, the shopkeeper, getting scared?
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Nothing unusual, just that I saw a shadow flash by last night. Maybe that's the person who set the fire!"
Zhu, the shopkeeper's expression became even more serious. "Xiao Gao, I see your forehead is dark, I'm afraid you've encountered evil spirits and been tainted by evil Qi. This is very bad!"
"What?!"
Gao Xian was both shocked and suspicious. Did Zhu, the shopkeeper, really see something, or was he just trying to scare him?
He hurriedly asked, "What should I do?"
"Each profession has its own expertise. Go find Master Zhou Ye at the Lingfu Hall. He is very skilled in dispelling evil Qi."
Zhu, the shopkeeper emphasized, "Once evil Qi enters the body, if not handled properly, it will corrode the body and mind, attracting evil spirits. At that time, your life will be in danger. This is no joke."
Listening to Zhu, the shopkeeper, speak so seriously, Gao Xian also felt a bit scared. He couldn't help but think of the fleeting shadow, could he really have encountered something evil!
Gao Xian was a bit hesitant. "What about the house?"
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he wanted to play the sympathy card. Perhaps if Zhu, the shopkeeper, softened his heart, he could pay less.
Speaking of the house, Zhu, the shopkeeper, became more serious. "You still owe five hundred White Dew Pills, equivalent to fifty spirit stones. I won't count the other medicinal ingredients with you.
"These fifty spirit stones will be deducted from your monthly salary at four stones per month. It will take a year and a half to pay off."
Gao Xian was speechless. With a monthly salary of five spirit stones, deducting four at once, he wouldn't be able to eat or drink...
Zhu, the shopkeeper, was indeed a qualified businessman. Personal feelings were personal, money was money, and the two would never mix.
Wait, why would it take a year and a half!
"Brother Zhu, did you miscalculate?"
Zhu, the shopkeeper, looked embarrassed. "The business of medicinal ingredients is small but profitable. I don't have enough spirit stones on hand. By holding fifty spirit stones from you, with such a long installment period, of course, interest has to be calculated..."
This reason was quite sufficient. Gao Xian wanted to give Zhu, the shopkeeper, a thumbs up. It served him right for being a boss, for making money!
"It's my oversight, it's my fault." Gao Xian didn't argue, just paid more spirit stones.
He had secretly sold the elixirs from Zhu, the shopkeeper, and not made him compensate tenfold, so he had no right to be unhappy.
"You are reasonable."
Zhu, the shopkeeper, was very satisfied with Gao Xian's obedient attitude. After thinking for a moment, he said, "The house needs to be repaired. Find a place to stay for a few days."
"You tonight,"
Zhu, the shopkeeper, had originally planned to take Gao Xian back to the medicine shop, but then thought that this kid had evil Qi on him, so he couldn't bring him back.
"You quickly go find Zhou Ye and get rid of the evil Qi."
After speaking, Zhu, the shopkeeper, waved his hand repeatedly, signaling for Gao Xian to leave quickly.
Gao Xian didn't dare to delay. Although Zhu, the shopkeeper, was greedy, he was still reliable. Since the other party was so disgusted with him, obviously the evil Qi was not a trivial matter.
He packed his belongings into a bundle and left.
Fortunately, the moon in the sky was bright, giving Gao Xian a sense of security.
Following Zhu, the shopkeeper's instructions, Gao Xian found the Lingfu Hall on the edge of the main street of Feima Market.
The Lingfu Hall, as the name suggests, sold talismans.
The shop was not large, with a dark red lantern hanging at the entrance, covered with runes.
Gao Xian didn't know much about talismans. After looking at it for a while, he couldn't recognize what the talismans represented, probably for exorcism or purification.
He sighed to himself, "Indeed, a shop that sells talismans, must be quite wealthy!"
The door of the Lingfu Hall was tightly closed, so Gao Xian had to knock hard.
After a while, a dry and old voice came from inside the door, "We're closed, come back tomorrow if you have any business."
Gao Xian hurriedly said, "I have an urgent matter to see Master Zhou."
Afraid of being rejected, he added, "I am Gao Xian, a disciple of Xu Mingyuan from Lianyun Sect. The shopkeeper of the medicine shop asked me to come. Please make an exception."
Feima Market was developed by Lianyun Sect, and all major transactions such as magical instruments, elixirs, and talismans were controlled by Lianyun Sect.
Zhou Ye was naturally also from Lianyun Sect.
Lianyun Sect was large, but Xu Mingyuan, as a master alchemist of Lianyun Sect, still had some reputation.
The shopkeeper of the medicine shop was also a big shot in Feima Market.
By mentioning these two figures, Gao Xian thought Zhou Ye should give him some face. He had actually seen Zhou Ye before, but he didn't know if the other party remembered him.
Sure enough, there was movement inside the door, and soon the door opened.
An old man in blue walked out. He was not polite, shining a lantern on Gao Xian's face, "It's you, what urgent matter do you have so late?"
The old man in blue recognized Gao Xian. He was about to scold him a bit, but before he could finish his words, he noticed something was wrong, "Dark forehead, evil Qi entwined, you're quite unlucky!"
Gao Xian was originally skeptical, but now that the old man in blue said so, he was really starting to panic.
"Master Zhou, is my condition serious? Can it be cured?"
The old man in blue looked Gao Xian up and down, then said slowly, "Whether it can be cured depends on how many spirit stones you have..."
Although he had seen Gao Xian before and had some acquaintance with Xu Mingyuan, he couldn't help for free.
Gao Xian wanted to sigh. These cultivators were even more calculating than small vendors! But when it came to his own life, he couldn't afford to be temperamental.
"The matter of spirit stones is negotiable."
Gao Xian said respectfully, "Please save me first, Master Zhou."
"Alright."
The old man in blue reached out his hand, "Ten spirit stones."
Gao Xian breathed a sigh of relief. With the ten spirit stones given by Old Wang, he had more than fifteen spirit stones, which he could afford!
Zhou Ye took the ten spirit stones, and his expression improved a bit, "Come in."
Upon entering, there was a main hall, brightly lit by two oil lamps.
In the center was a screen painted with landscapes, in front of which was a square table with some tea sets, apparently for entertaining guests.
On the walls on both sides were several long tables, with some talismans, Daoist books, and other items placed on them.
As Gao Xian was observing the room, a woman in blue emerged from behind the screen, "Father, who is it so late?"
The woman in blue was in her early twenties, with curved eyebrows and eyes full of charm.
Her hair was elegantly tied up, with a golden phoenix hairpin slanted in it. The red gem pendant on the hairpin swayed gently with her movements, shining brightly in the light, enhancing her fair skin like snow.
The blue Daoist robe on her seemed to ripple with water-like light, giving her a touch of ethereal elegance.
Gao Xian was slightly surprised to see that the woman was wearing a Daoist robe, which allowed her whole body to shimmer with spiritual light. She was truly wealthy!
The woman in blue didn't expect to see an outsider in the room. When she saw Gao Xian, she couldn't help but be stunned. She blinked her eyes and carefully examined Gao Xian, showing a look of surprise on her face.
Zhou Ye had his back to the woman, so he couldn't see her expression. He casually replied, "Xu Mingyuan's disciple, tainted with evil Qi, I'm going to check on him."
He then added, "Ling'er, go back first. Don't stay here, don't get tainted by evil Qi, it's not good for your health."
"Dad, then I'll go back first."
As the woman in blue left, she gave Gao Xian a deep look, a look of joy and eagerness.
Gao Xian felt a bit itchy in his heart. What did that look mean? Did this woman have some relationship with him too?!
(End of this chapter)