Zi Linling glared at Xue Ying, her face clouded. "What on earth goes on in that head of yours all day? Do you really think everyone is infatuated with your young lady?"
Xue Ying giggled. "Miss, since you've already broken off your engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince, why not consider it?"
Zi Linling's expression darkened further.
She was only twelve years old! Twelve! In her past life, that was still considered underage.
"You wretched girl, how desperate to get married do you think I am? I'm only twelve, you know!"
Xue Ying stuck out her tongue and mumbled to herself, "What's wrong with being twelve? You can get engaged at twelve. Three years will fly by, and by the time you come of age, you can get married!"
Zi Linling felt utterly speechless.
She really wanted to take out a scalpel and cut open Xue Ying's head to see how her brain worked.
She said exasperatedly, "You wicked girl, I heard that when one gets married, they come with a dowry of maids? Are you perhaps experiencing a bout of spring fever yourself, that you're so eager to find a husband for me?"
Xue Ying blushed beet red, stomped her foot, and said indignantly, "Miss is talking nonsense again! Xue Ying only wants to stay with Miss her whole life and never get married!"
Seeing her shy demeanor, Zi Linling continued to tease, "Never get married? That can't be right. I saw the way you were staring at Situ just now, your eyes almost popped out of your head."
Xue Ying said shyly, "Miss! You always make fun of me. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
With that, she hurried ahead.
Watching her flustered reaction, Zi Linling knew she had hit the nail on the head.
"What's wrong? Did I touch a nerve?"
She teased, then picked up her pace towards the Water Moon Trading Company.
The mistress and maid bickered playfully as they arrived at the Water Moon Trading Company.
The shopkeeper of the Water Moon Trading Company rushed out to greet Zi Linling upon her arrival.
Zi Linling didn't beat around the bush and stated her purpose directly.
The shopkeeper's eyes flickered with embarrassment as he looked at the list of medicinal herbs Zi Linling handed over. "Miss, we have everything except the Spirit Gathering Grass."
Zi Linling's brows furrowed slightly. "Are you telling me that the Spirit Gathering Grass can only be found at the Wind Cloud Trading Company?"
The shopkeeper nodded sheepishly. As a trading company, failing to meet a customer's needs was a form of mockery in itself.
Zi Linling pondered for a moment and asked, "Besides the Wind Cloud Trading Company, where else can I find it?"
She had just had an unpleasant encounter with Ji Ran, and going back now would only be adding insult to injury.
Just as the shopkeeper was about to shake his head, his eyes suddenly lit up. "Miss, there is one other place, but it's extremely dangerous. I don't think you should..."
"Where?"
Before the shopkeeper could finish, Zi Linling interrupted him with a cold tone.
If she could avoid going to the Wind Cloud Trading Company, that would be the best option. Su Dan Novel Network
"Miss..."
The shopkeeper tried to say more, but then saw a blood-red pill appear in Zi Linling's hand. A rich medicinal aroma wafted directly towards the shopkeeper's nose.
"This is... a pill?"
The shopkeeper's eyes widened.
Zi Linling nodded. "That's right, it's a Marrow Cleansing Pill! Tell me where I can find Spirit Gathering Grass, and this Marrow Cleansing Pill will be yours to auction, how about it?"
Heavens! This was like a pie falling from the sky!
The reason the Water Moon Trading Company couldn't compete with the Wind Cloud Trading Company was twofold: firstly, the Wind Cloud Trading Company's background, and secondly, the fact that they occasionally sold pills from the Medicine King Valley.
Now, the Water Moon Trading Company could also auction pills. How could the shopkeeper not be excited?
However, despite his excitement, the shopkeeper couldn't help but remind her, "Miss, I was planning to tell you, but I was afraid of the danger if you went there, which is why I hesitated."
Zi Linling nodded. This shopkeeper was quite decent. Although a merchant, he was still kind.
This was precisely why Zi Linling was willing to cooperate with the Water Moon Trading Company again.
She smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, I appreciate your kindness. Please tell me."
Seeing Zi Linling's determined expression, the shopkeeper gritted his teeth and said, "The Misty Forest! Someone discovered Spirit Gathering Grass in the Misty Forest."
"The Misty Forest? You mean the one at the border of the Tianqi, Jinxia, and Qionghua Kingdoms?"
Zi Linling asked uncertainly.
The shopkeeper nodded and continued, "That's right, it's the Misty Forest. However, things have been a bit uneasy there lately. If you're going, it's best to bring some companions for backup."
Zi Linling exclaimed in surprise, "Uneasy? What do you mean?"
"I don't know the specifics, but rumor has it that divine beasts have been sighted there, so many people are going to try their luck."
Zi Linling was astonished. "Divine beasts?"
The shopkeeper nodded and added, "They are said to be divine beasts, but it's not confirmed. However, quite a few factions have already gathered there."
Zi Linling's brow furrowed. "This is troublesome!"
Where there were people, there was bound to be killing and plundering. In the face of profit, even family members could turn against each other.
Moreover, the Misty Forest was originally the domain of the beast race, filled with all sorts of powerful ferocious and demonic beasts.
The shopkeeper sighed. "Isn't that the truth? I heard it's quite chaotic there now, with people dying every day."
Zi Linling asked for more information about the Misty Forest. The shopkeeper answered every question he could and relayed any related news he had heard, even if he didn't know the specifics.
Zi Linling was very grateful. She left the Marrow Cleansing Pill for the Water Moon Trading Company to auction, with the auction scheduled for ten days later.
The shopkeeper was also very grateful to Zi Linling. He packed the other medicinal herbs needed for the Qi Guiding Pill according to Zi Linling's required quantities and handed them over.
"Miss, these herbs total one hundred and three taels of silver. I'll charge you one hundred. Of course, you can pay now, or we can deduct it after the Marrow Cleansing Pill auction."
Zi Linling nodded with satisfaction. "Then let's deduct it after the auction."
This was also because she was currently penniless. The herbs needed for the previous purchase of Muscle Setting Pills and Marrow Cleansing Pills had depleted all her and Xue Ying's savings.
The shopkeeper nodded. "Of course!"
He had no worries about Zi Linling defaulting on the payment, especially since she had left such a valuable Marrow Cleansing Pill with the trading company.
Zi Linling stored the medicinal herbs in her Nine Spirit Ring and left with Xue Ying.
"Miss, are you planning to go to the Misty Forest?"
On the way, after hesitating several times, Xue Ying finally asked.
"Yes!"
Zi Linling nodded. "The Spirit Gathering Grass is the main ingredient for refining the Qi Guiding Pill, so I must go!"