Daily Intelligence: From Miner to Dao Ancestor of Alchemy and Talismans

"Hahaha, the market is such a small place, what whispers could possibly escape my notice?" Li Qinghe laughed and patted his shoulder, his gaze sweeping over his face, looking him up and down as if to confirm something.

Xu Yuan let him look him over, and even cooperated by showing a slightly embarrassed expression, hunching his body slightly, looking like he had never seen the world before.

"Please come in and have a seat, Mr. Li. I'll make you some tea."

"No rush, no rush." ​​Li Qinghe waved his hand, handed over the wooden box, and smiled kindly. "This is a small token of my appreciation, brother. Don't be offended. It's a thirty-year-old Spirit-Returning Grass, which will be just right for you to stabilize your cultivation."

Xu Yuan took the wooden box, opened it, and took a look.

Inside lay a vibrant green spiritual herb, its spiritual energy contained, its leaves intact, and its appearance excellent. It was indeed a thirty-year-old Spirit Returning Herb, worth at least twenty spirit stones in the market.

nice one.

But Xu Yuan knew better than anyone that Li Qinghe, that old dog, never gave anyone a favor for no reason. His visit today with gifts wasn't to offer congratulations, but to test the waters.

"Master Li, you're too kind. I can't accept this..." Xu Yuan declined verbally, but his hands didn't loosen their grip on the wooden box, looking like he was trying to take advantage of the situation.

"Take it, take it. Why are you being so polite with me?" Li Qinghe casually sat down in the chair, crossed his legs, and said, "Come, come, sit down and let's talk."

His tone and manner made it seem as if the courtyard belonged to him and Xu Yuan was the guest.

Xu Yuan sat down opposite him, respectfully poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him.

"Sir Li, please try this. It's a coarse tea I bought from the market, not as good as the fine tea in your household."

Li Qinghe took it, sipped it, smacked his lips, and didn't comment on whether it was good or bad. He just looked at Xu Yuan with a smile.

"Brother, these past ten years have truly been tough for you. In all my years in this market, I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of independent cultivators, but few can remain as composed and focused as you."

Xu Yuan smiled ingratiatingly, lowered his head, and looked flattered: "You flatter me, Manager Li. I'm just not very talented. There's no use rushing it. I can only wait it out."

"You can't say that," Li Qinghe put down his teacup, his tone suddenly becoming earnest. "Talent is something you're born with and can't change. But opportunities are something you can create yourself. Now that you've broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, your days in the market will be much easier."

Xu Yuan nodded repeatedly, appearing humble and eager to learn.

Li Qinghe took another sip of tea, then suddenly changed the subject, leaning forward and lowering his voice as if he were talking about some incredible secret.

"By the way, brother, the market is short-handed lately. There's a good job available; I wonder if you'd be interested?"

Xu Yuan's heart stirred, but he didn't show it on his face. He remained honest and simple, tilting his head slightly as he listened attentively.

"What kind of job?"

"Good news." Li Qinghe smiled kindly. "Over in Black Wind Valley, the Zhao family has a field of spiritual herbs and needs someone to go and count the herbs and check the accounts. It's an easy job, just a trip, half a day round trip, and they'll pay five spirit stones."

After he finished speaking, he leaned back in his chair, looked at Xu Yuan with a smile, and his eyes held a hint of scrutiny that was not easily detected.

"As you know, brother, such good jobs are usually not available to us independent cultivators. I saw that you just broke through and must be short of money, so I wanted to give you a hand and that's why I specially reserved this for you."

Five spirit stones, for one trip.

It sounds like a windfall.

Xu Yuan had lived in Qingyafang for ten years, and he knew Black Wind Valley better than anyone else what kind of place it was.

That place is in the northwest of the market town, a strategically important and densely forested area, a no-man's-land where rogue cultivators frequently roam, and more rogue cultivators have died there than in the Xiling Mine. It is true that the Zhao family's spiritual herb fields are located there, but the task of checking accounts has always been handled by the Zhao family's trusted confidants. When has it ever been his turn, a rogue cultivator with no background?

What's more, it was only the second day after his breakthrough that Li Qinghe personally came to his door and delivered this "good job".

If there's nothing fishy going on here, then something truly bizarre is happening.

Xu Yuan's mind raced, but his face showed no sign of surprise. Instead, he stood up abruptly and bowed to Li Qinghe.

"Five spirit stones? Steward Li, this...this is too much! I was just counting them, they're not worth that many spirit stones!"

"Hey, brother, don't be so polite." Li Qinghe quickly helped him up, his smile widening. "You've toiled in the market for ten years, and now that you've finally broken through, it's time to earn some spirit stones and buy some belongings. If I can help, I certainly will."

When he said this, the scrutiny in his eyes lessened.

In his eyes, Xu Yuan was still that naive, petty, low-level rogue cultivator who had never seen the world and could be easily manipulated with a little sweetness. His previous connection with the eldest daughter of the Zhao family was mostly due to sheer luck, and there was nothing to be afraid of.

Xu Yuan seemed to be persuaded, rubbing his hands together with gratitude on his face, but then a worried expression appeared on his face, and he became restless.

"However, Steward Li, I've heard that Black Wind Valley is rather unsafe, with frequent appearances of cultivators who have undergone tribulations. Would it be alright for me to go alone...?"

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, revealing a cowardly and timid demeanor that perfectly matched Li Qinghe's impression of him as a "coward who had only reached the third level of Qi Refining in ten years."

Li Qinghe laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, you're overthinking it! Although there are cultivators in Black Wind Valley, the Zhao family's medicinal herb fields are guarded by a team. You're going there in broad daylight, taking the official road. What could possibly happen?"

He paused, then added, his tone deliberately inciteful: "Besides, brother, you're a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator now. Even if you encounter some fool, you should be able to protect yourself, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan seemed convinced, and the worry on his face instantly disappeared. He nodded repeatedly, "Manager Li is right. I was overthinking things and was too timid."

"That's more like it!" Li Qinghe nodded in satisfaction. "So, is that settled then? Report to the market administration office in three days, and I'll have someone give you the exact location and the account books."

"Very well! Thank you for your guidance, Manager Li!" Xu Yuan stood up, bowed respectfully, and his face was full of gratitude.

Li Qinghe sat for a while longer, chatting about some trivial matters, before getting up to take his leave.

Before leaving, he made a point of reminding me again: "Don't forget in three days."

"Definitely!" Xu Yuan saw him off at the door, watching Li Qinghe's figure disappear into the alley.

Close the door.

Insert the bolt.

Xu Yuan's smile gradually faded, as if it had been scraped clean by a knife, revealing the cold face beneath.

He didn't go back inside; he just stood behind the door, leaning against the cold door panel, his eyes closed, his mind racing.