Chapter 68: Nangong Mei’s Circumstances (4)

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Nangong Mei’s Circumstances (4)

Li Jian nodded occasionally, already calculating the cost of the ingredients in his head.

Then she hesitated, fingers tightening around the spirit stone pouch.

"...There’s also one more," she said quietly.

"I’ve only succeeded twice, and both times the quality was low. But... I can refine Meridian Soothing Pills."

Li Jian’s eyes widened slightly.

"You can refine that?"

Meridian Soothing Pills were not rare beyond reach, but they were far from ordinary outer disciple work.

They required precise control and ingredients that most self-taught alchemists never touched.

Even low-quality ones were useful for anyone who trained hard or suffered internal injuries.

In the outer sect, they sold for a decent price and in the right hands, they were even more valuable.

Nangong Mei shrank a little under his stare, but she nodded.

"Only the lowest grade. And I fail more than I succeed. But... yes. I’ve done it before."

Li Jian looked at her for a long moment, as a faint, genuine surprise lingered on his face.

’Is she really just a struggling alchemist...?’

Judging by her words, she more than qualified to join the Alchemy Hall.

Meridian Soothing Pills were not something a complete amateur stumbled into.

Even the lowest grade required proper flame control, stable spiritual sense, and an understanding of meridian-related ingredients that most outer disciples never learned.

If she had truly succeeded twice on her own, then her foundation in alchemy was already better than many who had formal guidance.

And yet she was here... Buried in debt, living in a messy room, and unknown to the Alchemy Hall.

’Either she never applied... or someone made sure she couldn’t enter.’

The name Guo Ran surfaced in his mind again.

Li Jian’s expression remained calm as he studied her.

Nangong Mei still looked nervous under his gaze, completely unaware of the thoughts turning behind his silence.

"Alright," he said at last. "Then we’ll start with the Meridian Soothing Pill. I’ll bring the ingredients tomorrow."

He stood up.

"You should rest today. And remember what I said... don’t mention me to Senior Brother Guo."

Nangong Mei nodded quickly, a mix of relief and lingering surprise on her face.

"I understand. Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li!"

Li Jian turned toward the door.

Just as his hand touched the latch, her voice came again, softer and hesitant.

"Fellow Daoist Li... why are you helping me?"

He paused and turned to find Nangong Mei standing there with the spirit stone pouch clutched to her chest, her amber eyes uncertain, as if she was afraid the answer would ruin the hope she had just been given.

Li Jian looked back at her.

For a moment he was silent.

Then he smiled faintly.

"Because... I don’t want you to disappear and—"

Nangong Mei’s breath caught and her eyes widened.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"E-Eh?"

Her face flushed all the way to her ears.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, fingers tightening around the pouch.

"...Eh... Err... ehh..."

She began to look around, fidgeting, her messy hair swaying as she avoided his gaze.

The words seemed to have struck her so directly that everything else faded.

She nodded vaguely at nothing, amber eyes darting from the floor to the wall to the spirit stones in her hands, completely missing whatever Li Jian said next.

Li Jian watched her for a second, the corner of his mouth twitching.

’...She’s not even listening anymore.’

He did not repeat himself and sighed before leaving the last words.

"Rest well, Fellow Daoist Nangong."

With that, he opened the door and stepped out.

The moment it closed behind him, the system rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected: Significant emotional benefit and trust given to Nangong Mei.]

[Favor Debt from Nangong Mei: +1000]

Li Jian blinked in surprise.

’...Even emotional support can give Favor Debt?’

Then a ridiculous idea surfaced in his mind.

’Don’t tell me I can just become a therapist inside the sect?’

He almost laughed at the thought.

Sit there, listen to outer disciples pour out their problems, say a few steady lines, pat them on the head, and watch the points roll in.

The image was so absurd he shook his head.

’No. That only works because she was already desperate and I offered real help. If I start comforting random disciples, most of them will just think I’m strange.’

Still, the possibility lingered.

Li Jian glanced back once at her closed door, then continued walking, the corner of his mouth curved.

’Therapist, alchemist investor, dual cultivation partner... I’m collecting quite the list of side jobs.’

_

_

_

Inside a quiet side room of the Resource Hall, Senior Brother Guo Ran sat alone.

He was a slender man with neat black hair tied loosely behind his head, and a plain Resource Hall robe that hung cleanly on his frame.

His face was handsome in a soft, unremarkable way... the kind that easily faded into a crowd.

Yet what stood out most was his eyes.

They remained closed the entire time, giving him a gentle, almost sleepy appearance.

Only the faint curve of his lips showed he was awake and fully aware.

A faint smile rested on his face as he looked over a jade slip.

His finger traced a line of numbers... of Nangong Mei’s debt, now past two thousand three hundred with the latest interest.

He did not seem displeased.

If anything, the smile deepened, as though the growing sum was exactly what he wanted to see.

He set the slip down and reached for a small wooden box beside him.

Opening it, he carefully adjusted several thin needles and a folded formation talisman inside, arranging them with practiced ease.

The needles gleamed faintly under the lamplight.

He checked each one, then placed a small vial of dull spiritual liquid next to them, nodding to himself.

"Nangong..." he murmured.

His eyes curved as he closed the box and rested a hand on the lid.

The smile remained, calm and pleasant.

"Soon... We will be one."