"You've never heard of a purple waist token?" Ming Lou's face showed shock, as if he couldn't believe they were so out of the loop.
"Little tiger cub, we're all old. Who has the energy for all that random gossip? If you know, just say it," Yu Yuan urged lazily.
Hearing this, Ming Lou wiped his face and began his explanation. "The purple waist token belongs to that famous traveling merchant across the realms. Legend has it that this merchant is an incredibly beautiful woman, and the items she sells are top-tier rare treasures. The kind that are priceless but have no market."
Ming Lou spoke with utmost seriousness.
Sui You pondered, "This traveling merchant hasn't appeared for a long time, has she? Otherwise, we would know. And since this merchant is our junior sister Qi Yu, it's not surprising she hasn't appeared for so many years, considering Qi Yu has been reincarnated for over ten thousand years."
Ming Lou nodded.
He then quickly led everyone into the Winged Tiger Tribe, continuing to follow Qi Yu's footsteps.
After entering the Winged Tiger Tribe, Qi Yu turned left and right, then ducked into a seemingly inconspicuous alleyway. She pushed open a door and entered a pawnshop.
Qi Nian squatted outside, resting her chin on her hands, contemplating how to secretly peek at what Qi Yu was doing inside the pawnshop. However, upon turning around, she was pulled into a restaurant across the street by Si Qing and the others.
Ming Lou booked a private room and set up a barrier.
Si Qing opened the Yan Zhen Mirror.
Thus, Qi Yu's actions inside the pawnshop were broadcast live.
The moment Si Qing opened the Yan Zhen Mirror, Qi Yu's movements faltered.
But she quickly resumed her normal pace.
The pawnshop was vast, filled entirely with priceless ancient wood from a thousand years ago.
Even the tables were made of valuable ancient agarwood, with tea and pastries laid out on them.
As soon as Qi Yu walked in, the pawnshop's soul barrier automatically opened. The maids and the shopkeeper inside bowed to Qi Yu, then quietly returned to their tasks.
Qi Yu casually found a chair, sat down, took out the jade coral, and placed it on the table. She then said to one of the maids:
"I want to purchase some materials. The items are all on the list. Please get them for me according to the quantities. Once everything is ready, we'll settle the price, and I'll pay you."
The maid nodded, took the list, and left. After a short while, she returned, this time with a tray.
The tray held many bottles and jars, with a small palm-sized furnace in the center.
Qi Yan watched, increasingly confused. "I thought this pawnshop belonged to Qi Yu, so it doesn't?"
Chi Ming tilted his head. "Then this pawnshop has good service, allowing customers to sit inside and work on things."
"Where? Our junior sister paid for the items. Didn't she just buy a lot of materials from the pawnshop?" Ming Lou ordered some wine and food from the waiter, eating as he spoke. "This pawnshop is probably the oldest in our Winged Tiger Tribe, and it's quite large, with many tables and chairs for resting. So, as long as you buy something from them, or sell them something, it's fine to sit here."
Qi Nian nodded.
Meanwhile, Qi Yu had taken out all the bowls and jars from the tray, arranged them by her side, and placed Chen Xi's jade coral in the center. She carefully examined the cracks on it.
The jade coral had cracked in the middle, with no missing pieces on either side. In reality, repairing it was very simple, requiring only the two broken halves to be rejoined.
Qi Yu placed the jade coral in the center, her fingernails gradually elongating and sharpening. Using her spiritual power, she held the jade coral in one palm.
With her other hand, she waved gently over several materials nearby.
Soon, the various unidentifiable materials slowly rose from the tray, floating into the air. Finally, through Qi Yu's spiritual power, they mixed into a mass, like a black mud ball, enveloping the entire jade coral.
Chen Xi watched nervously, yet with anticipation, wondering if his jade coral could be repaired. His demands weren't high; he just wanted it to be stuck back together. He didn't insist on it being exactly like before, as broken mirrors cannot be perfectly mended.
Once something was shattered, no matter how it was repaired, the cracks could never be hidden.
However, after concealing the jade coral within the black mud ball, Qi Yu surprisingly played with it. Then, flames suddenly rose from her palm, suspending the mud ball containing the jade coral in the air. She continuously adjusted its angle, making the mud ball tumble, while also baking it.
After a certain period, Qi Yu withdrew one hand, reduced the flames, and then gently cupped the mud ball in her palm, kneading it back and forth.
Once she felt it was sufficiently shaped, she opened her palm and blew gently into it.
Immediately, the mud ball outside the jade coral peeled off layer by layer like charcoal ash, blown to the ground. The red jade coral inside was then held perfectly intact in Qi Yu's palm.
"How did she do that?" Qi Nian was dumbfounded.
Ming Lou scratched his head, his focus different from everyone else's. "Since Qi Yu is so skilled at repairs, why didn't she repair her own original body when it was shattered at the Xuan Yue Sect?"
Everyone cast him a look as if he were an idiot.
Qi Nian twitched her lips. "Qi Yu was young back then, and a small spiritual ornament like the jade coral is a different matter from her own original body being destroyed."
Ming Lou thought about it and felt it made sense.
Just as the group was about to continue watching the mirror...
They happened to make eye contact with Qi Yu, who had just finished repairing the jade coral.
Everyone froze.
Si Qing looked embarrassed.
Qi Yu smiled at them, then shook the jade coral in her hand. "Purely handmade repair. Genuine materials, no slacking, one million gold coins, no cheating. Plus, I even let you witness my repair skills for free. Not bad, right?"
Cold sweat beaded on Si Qing's forehead.
He tactically retreated.
Qi Yu suddenly stood up, grasped the jade coral on the table, passed through the mirror, and in the blink of an eye, appeared before Si Qing. She patted his shoulder and sneered,
"Si Qing, do you have something you need to explain to me? Hmm?"