Chapter 31
Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Lu Xuan wandered through the market, finding nothing of note. He wasn't disappointed and decided to pay a visit to Steward He.
"Hey, Lu lad, dropping by?"
A thin, elderly man glanced from his ledger at Lu Xuan, then resumed his work, paying no further attention.
Lu Xuan casually found a spot to sit, observing several young medicine apprentices, busy coming and going in the Hundred Herbs Hall.
The collected spirit plants needed several processes, and these apprentices handled the most basic of tasks.
This wasn't technically demanding, so the Hall openly processed them in the hall, unconcerned about anyone observing.
"Here, have a cup of hot tea."
Before long, Steward He, done with his tasks for the moment, came over to Lu Xuan, offering him a cup of tea floating with a delicate greenish spirit.
As Lu Xuan sipped the tea, its refreshing aroma lingered, leaving a pleasant taste.
"How are the spirit plants growing? If they don't meet standards, your benefits might take a hit!"
The thin elder asked with concern.
"They're good, better quality than the last batch."
Lu Xuan smiled in response. He knew the plants in his spiritual field not only affected his own gains but also somewhat represented Steward He's reputation. After all, it was He who introduced Lu Xuan into the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Hearing Lu Xuan's response, Steward He eased a bit, and the two engaged in casual conversation.
Suddenly, a woman hurriedly entered the Hundred Herbs Hall, holding a child.
The woman seemed teary-eyed, her eyes visibly swollen from crying for a long time.
The child appeared bewildered, mouth slightly agape, cradled tightly in the woman's arms.
After a couple of inquiries, the woman entered the Hall, and Steward He, concerned, followed her inside.
Moments later, he returned to the hall with a grave expression.
"There's a cultivator we had a cooperation with for the spirit plants; unfortunately, he had an accident. His family came to inquire about the follow-up on the plants."
"What happened?"
"It seems a few of them were invited to a secret realm to harvest herbs. Unluckily, they encountered a wounded second-grade demonic beast. Two of them died on the spot, and the other two are critically injured, hanging onto life."
"What's the name of the cultivator who had a cooperation with the Hall?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan couldn't help but recall Lei Fei, the cultivator who had invited him to explore a secret realm some time ago.
The stall owner remained steadfast, sticking to the original price.
"Keep your so-called exceptional Cloud-Stepping Lynx to yourself! It's pretty, I'll give you that! Great to admire every day!"
With that, the Qi-refining cultivator left.
"Ignorant."
The stall owner heartlessly sneered.
"Excuse me, how did you come by this Cloud-Stepping Lynx? And what's with its eyes?"
Suddenly, a gentle voice from the side caught the stall owner's attention. A clear and handsome young man stood before the iron cage, gazing at him with clear eyes.
"My companion and I went through many hardships to acquire it from deep within a secret realm."
"The Cloud-Stepping Lynx is a first-grade spirit beast, swift in action, soundless, with decent attack abilities. This young one here is different from the usual; when it grows up, its eyes might possess some extraordinary qualities."
"What do you think?"
"How about thirty spirit stones?"
Lu Xuan instinctively bargained.
"Heh."
The stall owner crossed his arms, ignoring Lu Xuan.
"Calling it an exceptional breed just because of its eyes? Do you have any evidence? Its distinctive emerald eyes might just be due to some stimuli during its embryonic development or influenced by a unique spiritual environment. To label it an exceptional breed so casually is quite arbitrary."
"Moreover, your lynx cub in the cage doesn't seem to be in good shape. It probably suffered considerable injuries during your capture and has been confined,
receiving inadequate treatment and rest."
"With its current state, its chances of surviving aren't certain."
"Thirty-six spirit stones, no lower. Remember, capturing it came at a significant cost for us."
"Thirty-two spirit stones, and I'll take it right now."
Lu Xuan knew his reasoning had swayed the stall owner. Besides, he was particularly fond of this Cloud-Stepping Lynx with its distinctive emerald eyes, so he slightly raised his offer.
"Alright, I'll cut you a deal."
The stall owner, teeth gritted, eventually agreed.
He knew the likelihood of it being an exceptional breed was slim, and he was afraid of not being able to sustain it. To earn a bit more than what a typical Cloud-Stepping Lynx would fetch was already a pretty decent outcome.
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