C5 I Owe a Favor to Her

Jiang Yuan rummaged through his money bag and withdrew the last of his 100 gold coins before making his way to the Nine Spirits Shop, the largest apothecary in town. A voice still echoed in his mind, urging him towards the allure of pills.

After consuming the Spirit Gathering Pill, its recipe was seared into his consciousness. It was as though he had refined the pill millions of times; every detail was etched into his memory. Now, he was brimming with the confidence to successfully concoct the Spirit Gathering Pill himself.

"Well, if it isn't a rare visitor! What can I do for you today, Young Master Jiang?" The shopkeeper eyed Jiang Yuan with curiosity as he entered but knew better than to question good fortune.

"I'll need one Spirit Recovering Grass, two stalks of Fantasy Blue Flower, two Four-Leaf Reds, and some Stone Enlightenment Powder," Jiang Yuan recited with ease, sliding his 100 gold coins across the counter. "This should cover it, right?"

The shopkeeper chuckled nervously, "Young master, you must be jesting... This 100 gold coins is far from sufficient. It would barely cover two stalks of Fantasy Blue Flower. The Spirit Recovering Grass alone is 150 gold coins, and your total comes to 500 gold coins..."

With an awkward smile, he reached behind him and retrieved two stalks of grass, their faint blue glow hinting at their mystical properties.

"Then I shall owe you, and pay the debt later," Jiang Yuan stated firmly after a moment's thought.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. Our store doesn't extend credit, and given your current standing, we can't take that risk. Perhaps you should return with more funds from your family," the shopkeeper replied, apologetic yet resolute.

"Give it to him," a crisp voice interjected from a corner of the shop.

The shopkeeper's face shifted, and he quickly corrected himself, "Xiao You, if that's your wish, then of course."

"Many thanks. I assure you, I will repay this debt," Jiang Yuan acknowledged, recognizing the girl's intervention. He turned to her and added, "I owe you a favor. When the time comes, I will honor it."

The girl simply nodded and turned away, allowing Jiang Yuan a clear view of her features for the first time.

The young lady was a fresh twenty-eight, her face a portrait of loveliness, her smile charming and disarming. Her large, clear eyes sparkled beneath gracefully arched brows, giving her an air of vivacity. She was clad in a simple, flowing dress that, though modest, hinted at the contours of her maturing figure—a silhouette beyond her years. Even Jiang Yuan, once hailed as a celestial being, couldn't help but be captivated.

"You refuse?" she murmured, her expression shifting subtly.

Jiang Yuan snapped out of his reverie, replying, "Of course not. I'll be glad to assist with anything reasonable."

Her smile widened just a touch. "Then it's yours. But when our paths cross again, remember you owe me a favor."

"Much appreciated. I won't forget," he assured her, accepting the herbs and departing the apothecary without further ado.

"Miss, that was Jiang Yuan, the so-called waste of Tianyang Town. Being from the imperial dynasty, you might not be aware, but a year ago, he was the darling of the heavens..." The shopkeeper, discontent with Jiang Yuan's departure, quickly filled her in.

"No matter, I'm aware of who he is. Jiang Yuan's portrait has been circulating in the Imperial City for years," the young lady said with a laugh, her form swiftly moving to the staircase of the loft.

Ascending to the loft, she continued softly, "The items he sought are key components for the Spirit Gathering Pill. My father sent me to explore the reaches of the Great Martial Country, and indeed, it's been a series of intriguing encounters."

With a playful grin, she mused, "Let's see what kind of man this 'worthless' Jiang Yuan really is," her gaze lingering on his retreating figure.

​