Shortly after Qi Miaohan left, Nie Shiyun remade the sign at the entrance. This time, it wasn't because the acquisition list had changed, but because a new service had been added.
Newcomers to the trading area didn't know any better, but the cultivators who had frequented the shop before gradually began to understand. The junior from the Cloud-Clear Pavilion who was always in the shop was nowhere to be found; meanwhile, Zhai Bairong of the Moon-Reflecting Sect had appeared in his place. To call this a coincidence would be an understatement.
"Hey, tell me, isn't Zhai Bairong one of Duan Mingyu's people? I remember back at the Great Cultivation Conference, Duan Mingyu's group and Nie Shiyun were on bad terms. Could it be they've buried the hatchet?"
"That’s hard to say. Didn't you see? Only Zhai Bairong is here, none of the others. In the past, they went everywhere as a group."
"Are you saying...?"
"Shhh..." The gossiping cultivator nearby made a silencing gesture. "This isn't something we should speculate on. Regardless, having an alchemist who can refine Spirit-grade pills is a great thing."
Zhai Bairong's appearance did not disrupt the existing market of the trading area. After all, there were no other cultivators here capable of refining Spirit-grade pills; even if there were others in the secret realm, they weren't willing to do business in the trading area.
By taking an occasional commission, he earned more than enough. Although a steady stream of people came to the door to request his services after hearing the news, Zhai Bairong politely declined many of them, spending most of his time refining pills for Nie Shiyun and himself.
Nie Shiyun had no objections to this. Although they had plenty of pills, the pocket dimension had a massive appetite and wouldn't accumulate pill toxins, so no amount of feeding was too much. Moreover, there was Meiqiu, who always loved to snatch food; it was better to favor their own.
The two didn't intentionally do anything special, but because rarity increases value, those who came to the door took the initiative to offer even higher prices. In the past, aside from consigning items in Nie Shiyun’s shop, Zhai Bairong had never actually taken external commissions, having always worked behind closed doors within the Moon-Reflecting Sect. He was somewhat stunned by the situation.
"This is what you call hunger marketing," Nie Shiyun remarked.
If it were before, Zhai Bairong would certainly have been bewildered. However, after his experiences in the illusion, he had remembered many terms from Nie Shiyun's world, and the communication between the two had become much more casual.
"Lately, quite a few people have come from far away specifically to commission alchemy. It seems the news is spreading faster than we imagined. I wonder... where Duan Mingyu and the others were teleported, and if they’ve heard about this too."
Nie Shiyun said, "They must have been looking for you for a long time. Compared to us, they obtained more Ice Lotuses, and those are exactly the kind of treasures that would greatly supplement Duan Mingyu’s spiritual roots. If they were all refined into pills and consumed, he might be able to advance directly to the middle or even late stage of the Golden Core."
Zhai Bairong sighed helplessly. "Better not. If he reaches the late stage of the Golden Core, the people from the Moon-Reflecting Sect will act immediately, won't they? If possible, I hope I’m not in the sect when that happens. I truly don't want to be dragged into it."
There was a simple bed in the back room. It was a bit cramped for the two of them to lie together, but Meiqiu was currently cultivating with rare diligence inside the dimension, and they didn't want to disturb him, so they rested outside.
As they spoke, Nie Shiyun turned his head and asked Zhai Bairong in a low voice, "Do you really not want to save him?"
Zhai Bairong paused, looking into Nie Shiyun’s eyes. There was no hint of suspicion or resentment in the other's pupils; they were as calm as ever. He was truly just asking for Zhai Bairong’s thoughts.
"Although he was the first to betray our feelings, I no longer dwell on that matter; I only wish to part ways with him. But to say I could watch him be killed by the Moon-Reflecting Sect... that would be a bit much," Zhai Bairong sighed. "Yet, I happen to be a member of the Moon-Reflecting Sect. I can't speak of saving him; if I can find an opportunity to avoid the matter and not personally assist in such an atrocity, it would be a blessing."
"That’s true. When the time comes, find an opportunity. If you can come to the Cloud-Clear Pavilion to find me, we can just go away to lie low for a while." Nie Shiyun’s tone wasn't very certain. After all, the matter regarding Duan Mingyu was currently hanging in the air; no one knew when the secret would finally come out.
Zhai Bairong studied his expression carefully and took the initiative to lean in closer.
Being stared at so directly, Nie Shiyun found it somewhat rare and asked, "What is it?"
Zhai Bairong seemed to find it difficult to speak, hesitating. "When we talk about him like this, do you really not feel jealous?"
Nie Shiyun was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "How could I not be jealous? Don't you remember that time at the Pavilion of Melodic Tones?"
"You..." Zhai Bairong paused, his expression becoming a bit unnatural as he thought of that incident. "You weren't being serious that time."
"True. But I know very well that you no longer have feelings for him. I have confidence in myself on that point. It’s only human nature that you don't want to kill him. Although he’s a bit foolish and dramatic, he doesn't hold much enmity toward me either. In any case, he’s an irrelevant person now."
Zhai Bairong nodded. He knew Nie Shiyun could understand his feelings. However, hearing him say he trusted him in person was still very gratifying to Zhai Bairong. If their positions were reversed and Nie Shiyun had an ex who popped up from time to time, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't mind.
Nie Shiyun suddenly pulled him onto his chest and said teasingly, "I see, so you wanted to see me jealous. And then make a move like last time..."
Lying on top of Nie Shiyun, Zhai Bairong said helplessly, "I was clearly speaking seriously with you just now."
"I know," Nie Shiyun said, holding the back of Zhai Bairong’s head and giving him a light kiss on the lips. "You can be more at ease with me."
Zhai Bairong gave an "mm" in response, half-closing his eyes with satisfaction under the kiss.
"How about we just stay here until the secret realm closes?" After being affectionate for a while, Nie Shiyun asked.
"That would be very good."
As it happened, life here was unexpectedly leisurely and peaceful. Although Zhai Bairong and Nie Shiyun had stayed together every day during that week of the Great Cultivation Conference, which had somewhat eased the ache of longing, it had ultimately felt like they were thieves, constantly anxious about being exposed. Now, it truly felt like they had returned to the time in Fanhu City—running a shop together, each doing their own work when business was good, and being able to talk when things slowed down. Zhai Bairong couldn't be more satisfied.
Previously in the illusion, although he was busy every day, he could always sleep peacefully upon returning home. Now, he could spend two years in leisure and freedom. Thinking about how he would have to return to the Moon-Reflecting Sect after leaving the secret realm, Zhai Bairong couldn't help but hope that time would pass a little slower.
When the time came, he would also have to bring Duan Mingyu—with whom he had already made things clear—back in one piece. Just thinking about the situation along the way gave Zhai Bairong a bit of a headache.
***
Meanwhile, just as the two had expected, the news of Zhai Bairong and Nie Shiyun operating a shop together and taking external commissions had already spread, reaching the ears of Duan Mingyu and the others.
"The Ice Lotuses are useful to you. If it really comes down to it, I’ll go alone and ask if he’s willing to handle it as a business matter," Rong Lü suggested to Duan Mingyu.
"If you go, I’m going too," Duan Mingyu pursed his lips. To this day, he still found it difficult to accept that his Senior Brother had actually ended up with Nie Shiyun. Clearly, both of them used to like him.
Xu Yehua said coldly, "I won't go."
Rong Lü glanced at him and said, "This is for Mingyu’s sake. We’ve been busy for so long and haven't found an alchemist who can refine the Ice Lotuses. Rather than watching their medicinal power dissipate, it’s better to go and ask. At worst, we’ll just be rejected. They won't dare to strike in the trading area."
The three of them hadn't been teleported very far. Because it was a random teleportation, they had searched for the way for a while, taking over a month to reach a familiar area. This search for the path had wasted a lot of time; not only had they not cultivated, but Duan Mingyu’s body-chill had flared up again. However, this time Xu Yehua was caught in the frustration of being suppressed by Nie Shiyun and was in no mood for it. Duan Mingyu could only take pills and endure it, which pained Rong Lü to see.
Rong Lü knew that he was the one who had abducted that alchemist, which had triggered the subsequent events. But if Xu Yehua hadn't insisted on fighting Nie Shiyun, they wouldn't have ended up in such a pathetic state.
He felt that Xu Yehua was too extreme regarding the matter of Nie Shiyun. For Rong Lü, protecting Duan Mingyu was more important. Zhai Bairong had already withdrawn on his own, and now he was starting to feel dissatisfied with Xu Yehua’s attitude, hoping the other would also leave. If that happened, only he and Duan Mingyu would remain, which would be for the best.
Xu Yehua looked at Duan Mingyu’s aggrieved expression; it seemed he truly wanted to return to the trading area to openly discuss alchemy with Zhai Bairong. A surge of irritation rose in his heart. After losing so miserably to those people, Rong Lü and Duan Mingyu were actually turning around and preparing to shamelessly beg them to refine pills, and they might even be rejected. Xu Yehua felt he couldn't stomach such an insult.
"Then you two go. I will find a place to cultivate alone." Xu Yehua finally decided to temporarily leave Duan Mingyu, who was dragging him down, and go exploring on his own. Although the Crimson Cliff Sect had ordered him to keep an eye on Duan Mingyu to find out what the Moon-Reflecting Sect was plotting, Xu Yehua had lost his patience. The secret realm only lasted three years in total, and in this entire year, he had achieved almost nothing. At this point, he couldn't care less about the Crimson Cliff Sect.
Hearing him say this and then leave without hesitation, Duan Mingyu felt a bit lost and despondent.
"Let’s go." A rare smile appeared on Rong Lü’s usually expressionless face. He could finally be alone with Duan Mingyu.
He was in high spirits, but Duan Mingyu was not happy. Although he knew Xu Yehua didn't want to see Nie Shiyun and that moving independently was the better choice for efficiency, he had just lost his Senior Brother, and now Xu Yehua had left so decisively. Duan Mingyu only felt as if a hole had been opened in his heart, leaving it empty.
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 92 | Alchemy and Rumors | Novela.app | Novela.app
