Chapter 37: Fruit

"What is this?" Shen Tang leaned over, very surprised: "I haven't seen this thing before, such rich life energy..."

Dugu Qingli turned it over and over, examining it for a while, as if thinking: "If my guess is not wrong, this might be some kind of demon *dan*, artificially transformed. The form and aura have changed, but the essence of life is still there; it cannot change."

Shen Tang was a little surprised: "Is this thing suitable for refining *dan* to cure Lu Xingzhou's legs?"

Dugu Qingli couldn't understand the brain circuit that immediately thought about whether everything encountered had a use for others. She just said: "I am not a *dan* master. You can go ask him yourself. Things that match in attribute are not necessarily suitable for refining *dan*; these are two different matters. Don't forget the cold *ying* grass."

Shen Tang choked a bit, then thought for a moment: "Was the person just now from Yanluo Hall?"

"There was no direct fight, so it's hard to make an arbitrary judgment. I can only say it was somewhat similar."

Both were in a fog, both a bit confused.

Lu Xingzhou being a judge of Yanluo Hall should be correct, but not everyone in Yanluo Hall was his old subordinate; there were also opponents. It was impossible to guess the attributes of this person, and it wasn't necessarily from Yanluo Hall.

So, was this intentionally left for Lu Xingzhou, or accidentally dropped during a hurried escape? It was also impossible to judge, especially since it wasn't even known if it was suitable for refining *dan*.

Shen Tang took the fruit: "I'll go ask him."

Dugu Qingli always had a feeling that Shen Tang was finding an excuse to go and talk to him... The fruit was clearly in my hand, do you need to draw the wheelchair to go? Aren't you tired?

Forget it, go if you want to go, I'll practice my skills.

At this time, Lu Xingzhou wasn't resting. He had spread out a sheet of manuscript paper and was writing and drawing, pondering how to complete the last dose of medicine for Shen Tang.

Since Old Housekeeper Huo had already used a day's worth of medicine, he had to replenish it for Shen Tang. Although Shen Tang no longer demanded it, it was always good to start and finish properly.

From Old Housekeeper Huo's medicines, he also got some inspiration. If he could refine them well, they would of course be effective for himself too, which was very important.

"No matter how I think about it, I'm still missing one flavor of medicine to aid blood and flesh recovery. This kind of thing is really hard to find in Xia State. But if the rank isn't that high, not limited to just a few kinds like before, the range is much larger. If I send people to the county, they should be able to find it..."

A Nuo said: "What about the other medicines?"

"The other medicines can be taken directly from Shen Tang's warehouse. If there aren't any, just tell them to go buy some."

"Using her warehouse directly now? This might not just be helping her cure herself, oh."

"What, I didn't receive money for curing her legs, so it's okay to receive some medicinal materials, right?"

"But you received the legs."

A dry cough sounded from the door, and A Nuo quickly went out to greet her, pushing her wheelchair like a dog leg and smiling obsequiously: "Sect Master, when did you arrive..."

"Just when you said he received the legs." Shen Tang was a little amused: "Why do you look like such a dog leg?"

A Nuo smiled ingratiatingly: "Now Master is a guest official, and the Sect Master is our gold lord, after all..."

Shen Tang looked at Lu Xingzhou with a half-smile: "Is this how you define our relationship to your disciple?"

Lu Xingzhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I probably didn't say anything to her."

A Nuo's eyeballs darted around. Where is the logic of a gold lord, oh? It's because she's very likely to become a stepmother, so she needs to be flattered.

I heard that having a stepmother means there will be a stepfather...

Originally, A Nuo saw you sitting on the edge of the cliff looking pitiful, that's why he let Master go pull you...

Shen Tang didn't dwell on it. She directly took out that fruit: "This, is it useful for you to refine *dan*?"

Lu Xingzhou took it in surprise and examined it. He was very shocked: "This... this fruit is not only beneficial for blood and flesh recovery, but it also contains very pure energy. It's also very good material for refining *dan* medicine to increase cultivation. If this thing has a grade, I think it's at least four grades. What kind of fruit is this..."

Shen Tang hesitated a bit and didn't mention Dugu Qingli's judgment that this thing might be a demon *dan*. After all, many people have a cleanliness obsession towards demon things and are unwilling to use them, and Qingli was just guessing; it wasn't necessarily correct.

Then she just asked: "Are you sure it's effective for refining *dan*?"

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou was extremely surprised: "Not only is it no problem to supplement what you are missing, but even my own injuries have a great opportunity. This may not just cure a broken tendon!"

Shen Tang let out a breath: "It's good that it's useful. I was still afraid of being happy for nothing."

"But I really don't recognize this thing." Lu Xingzhou looked at the fruit over and over, quite sighing: "I once saw many strange atlases in Yanluo Hall and thought my experience was rich enough. It seems there is truly no end to learning; the world has many strange things, which I really couldn't see completely in those few years. Speaking of which, where did you get this?"

Shen Tang told the truth: "Just now there was a suspected assassin. He was blocked by me and Qingli and lost it when he escaped. Neither I nor Qingli can judge whether it was intentionally left or truly lost."

Lu Xingzhou thought for a bit but didn't think through it. He was actually too lazy to think more. The surprise of this thing was too strong: "No matter which kind, it's something you obtained. The position of gold lord seems not wrong. You see, aren't we being kept like this..."

Giving your own things to another woman to woo your own man? Haki fish, you guy 😲

Shen Tang spat: "So you really aren't a good person."

What kind of good person would say such teasing words, and deliberately touch me more?

Lu Xingzhou was in an extremely good mood and said with a smile: "Who told you that people who are judges in Yanluo Hall are good people... You still have a chance to expel me from the door now. It might be too late later."

Shen Tang rolled her eyes at him: "Match the medicine then. If you need any other auxiliary medicines, hurry up and tell me. I'll send people to find them."

Lu Xingzhou pondered for a moment and wrote a list: "This is yours. Let's get this matched first. Mine is a bit complex. Based on this new medicinal material, I have to consider how to match it. It probably won't just be one kind of *dan*."

Shen Tang took the list and looked at the never-before-seen brightness and expectation in Lu Xingzhou's eyes. Her heart also inevitably felt a little flutter.

Ten years of expectation, it was truly an obsession. He could give the life-saving medicine to A Nuo, and the tendon-continuing medicine to her, Shen Tang. In fact, the disappointment and sadness suppressed in his heart were truly hard to express, but they didn't show on his face until this moment when they were all temporarily revealed.

Looking at each other, they both thought of the empathy from their first meeting, the moment their hearts turned to "he and I seem similar."

Up until now, both had the hope of things turning for the better.

A Nuo sat to the side, propping his cheek and watching, as if watching a process of mutual salvation. He secretly sighed in his heart.

"No matter how difficult it is, it's good to have hope." Shen Tang felt that she had many words, but they were all choked in her throat and couldn't be said. Finally, they turned into one sentence: "I'll wait for you to stand up side by side."

"Mm." Lu Xingzhou's eyes flashed brightly: "I will."

Actually, Shen Tang originally wanted to ask about the next step in her business development plan, but she thought it shouldn't distract Lu Xingzhou at this time, so she didn't say more: "Then you ponder it. I'll first have people find all the medicinal materials."

A moment later, the medicinal materials were all found. Shen Tang didn't leave temporarily but sat to the side and watched Lu Xingzhou select the medicines.

The ratio of *dan* medicine matching is different from ordinary medicine grabbing. General doctors grab medicine with an approximate amount for some medicines, not needing to be accurate to the millimeter. But *dan* medicine is different; even a millimeter difference can lead to the *dan* not being refined or even the furnace exploding. How to accurately select medicines without making mistakes is a required course for every apprentice.

Shen Tang watched with interest. She originally thought that a *dan* master at Lu Xingzhou's level wouldn't need to be so careful about this extremely basic matter, but he was still very careful and focused, actually even using a magical weapon-level scale, very carefully.

When Bai Chi was hired, everyone also saw him refine *dan*. Bai Chi was obviously much more casual about this than Lu Xingzhou, often weighing by hand.

Perhaps this is one important factor why Lu Xingzhou's *dan* refining level can exceed that of Bai Chi, who comes from a famous lineage.

She didn't disturb him further and left soon after, calling for Elder Tang Yunzhong: "Uncle Zhong, what is the current situation of the Danxia Help?"

Tang Yunzhong said: "Liu Qingcang died in the Huo residence. The Danxia Help relying on Liu Yan'er definitely cannot be supported. Now I hear that the help members of Danxia Help are discussing. They say Bai Chi suggested that Liu Yan'er sell the help and bring her back to Incense Burning Building."

"Then I hope Bai Chi truly treats Liu Yan'er well, otherwise this girl's future days may not be easy." Shen Tang sighed: "Although this girl is a bit arrogant, she actually didn't commit any big mistakes."

Tang Yunzhong looked at Shen Tang a little strangely and hesitated before saying: "Sect Master..."

"What?"

"You've become much softer-hearted lately."

"Ah? Is that so? I didn't go soft when killing people."

Tang Yunzhong lowered his voice: "Are you really letting Lu Xingzhou act as Sect Master? Is it too hasty..."

"If it's about examination, this time is still not enough for me... His character has already been proven during this time."

Tang Yunzhong hesitated to speak.

What he wanted to say wasn't about these aspects of character... Honestly, he observed and also felt that Lu Xingzhou was not bad. He repaid kindness, and double repaid at that, no problem. But the problem was, the Sect Master and he were getting too close. You are an unmarried girl after all...

But this really wasn't good to say more, so he only said: "If Liu Yan'er really sells the Danxia Help's properties, should we buy them?"

Shen Tang hesitated a little.

Putting aside the *dan* refining industry which was messed up by Lu Xingzhou, the Danxia Help was originally a vendor that grew medicinal materials and sold medicine. The entire Danxia Mountain was a medicine mountain, considered a quality property. Including the help members who were fighters, they were not weak either. If it were before, Shen Tang would definitely buy it without hesitation. But now, whether the development plan is still suitable for this path needs to be consulted with Lu Xingzhou.

She had an idea in her heart and directly stated: "Regarding the current development plan, I have already handed it over to Lu Xingzhou as an advisor. I will go ask him about this matter."

Tang Yunzhong finally couldn't help but stomp his foot: "You just left his room just now, and you're going in again? You might as well just live inside!"