C14 Demonic Moon Pavilion

After leaving the Morton Auction House, Ye Han made his way out of the Martial Artist Market and took several detours around the city.

Once he was sure no one was tailing him, he sought out a secluded spot to remove his black cloak.

"Now, no one should be able to recognize me as the man in the black robe from earlier."

Ye Han re-entered the Martial Artist Market and made his way to the Demonic Moon Pavilion.

Located at the crossroads of the Pharmacy district, the Demonic Moon Pavilion stood out with its grandiose five-story structure, capturing the awe and respect of passing martial artists.

Upon entering the Demonic Moon Pavilion, Ye Han was greeted by a portly elder with a welcoming smile. "Young master, may I inquire what kind of pill you are looking to purchase?"

Surveying the spacious hall of the Demonic Moon Pavilion, Ye Han noted the absence of other customers despite the late hour.

The elder, still smiling, introduced himself, "My name is Lee Hsing, the Deacon of the Demonic Moon Pavilion. Please, young master, feel free to express your needs without reservation."

Dropping his voice disguise, Ye Han replied, "My name is Ye Han. I'm looking to buy twenty doses of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid and twenty Qi Gathering Pills. Does the Demonic Moon Pavilion have them in stock?"

"The Body Tempering Spirit Liquid is for refining the body, while the Qi Gathering Pill rapidly enhances one's cultivation level. They are indeed pricey, and you might not find them readily available elsewhere," Lee Hsing explained cheerfully, leading Ye Han into a generously sized and tastefully decorated room.

"However, our Demonic Moon Pavilion does have a batch in stock. The quality of our pills is unmatched by other pharmacies, as they are crafted from superior medicinal ingredients. I assure you, you will be pleased with them."

Shortly after, a servant clad in purple entered, carrying a finely crafted wooden box. Even before the box was opened, a refreshing and invigorating pill fragrance wafted through the air.

"These are the pills you requested: twenty bottles of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid and twenty Qi Gathering Pills. The total comes to 100,000 silver coins. However, since I feel a special kinship with you, I'll offer a 10% discount, bringing the price to 90,000 silver coins," Lee Hsing said, his lips curling into a slight smile.

Ye Han eyed the old man's cunning demeanor and chuckled. "Ninety thousand silver coins isn't steep, but I do wonder about the quality of these pills."

He opened the wooden box and picked up a bottle of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid, sniffed it, and nodded in approval.

However, as Ye Han examined a Qi Gathering Pill, his brow furrowed, prompting a puzzled Lee Hsing to ask, "My young friend, is there an issue?"

Ye Han's gaze hardened as he looked at the Qi Gathering Pill in the box and said, "Deacon Lee, do you really think you can palm off inferior pills on someone as naive as me? The quality of these Qi Gathering Pills is appalling."

The Body Tempering Spirit Liquid in the box was of top-notch quality in both appearance and essence.

But the Qi Gathering Pill was a different story. Its poor quality was one thing, but the fact that it still contained impurities and offered a mere 20% of its potential medicinal effect was quite another.

"Young Friend Ye Han, Demonic Moon Pavilion has maintained its reputation in Auspicious Cloud City for a century through integrity. These Qi Gathering Pills are the work of a seasoned alchemist, and I assure you, their quality is reliable," Lee Hsing replied, his voice tinged with frost, suspecting Ye Han was there to stir up trouble.

With a slight arch of his brow, Ye Han retorted icily, "The Body Tempering Spirit Liquid certainly lives up to Demonic Moon Pavilion's name, but this Qi Gathering Pill? Far from commendable. A mere 20% efficacy, and you claim the title of seasoned alchemist? That's barely mediocre."

"Silence!" Lee Hsing barked in anger at Ye Han's critique.

"So, we can't even speak the truth about subpar quality? This is Demonic Moon Pavilion's way? That's quite an eye-opener," Ye Han said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he dismissed the pill in the box with a glance.

Lee Hsing, faced with Ye Han's assured stance, began to harbor doubts himself. He took a Qi Gathering Pill from the box and scrutinized it closely.

Having secured the position of Deacon at the Demonic Moon Pavilion, he had an exceptionally keen eye. A mere glance at the pill was enough to change his expression dramatically as he sprang into action.

"How can this be? This pill came straight from the storeroom," Lee Hsing said, fixing his gaze on the purple-clad servant and chastising him.

"Deacon, I truly did just fetch the pills from the storeroom. They were promptly packed in a rosewood box and delivered here," the servant stammered, kneeling down quickly, too frightened to even breathe heavily.

"Ye Han, my friend, there seems to be some misunderstanding. Allow me to consult with the manager," Lee Hsing said, somewhat panicked, as he took the Qi Gathering Pill and exited the elegant room.

...

Upon reaching the fifth floor of the palace, Lee Hsing bowed and reported, "Miss Qin, there has been an issue with the Qi Gathering Pills from the storeroom; a subpar batch almost ended up in the hands of a distinguished guest."

A woman in a blue phoenix-embroidered gown sat at the center of the room, her hair swept up high and her eyes seductive. Her lips were a vibrant red, and her skin was delicate to the touch. She exuded a captivating charm and appeared to be in her mid-twenties.

She was Qin Yuyan, the manager of the Demonic Moon Pavilion.

Qin Yuyan accepted the Qi Gathering Pill and gave it a cursory glance. As her enticing lips parted slightly, a sultry voice emerged, "Deacon Lee is usually so dependable. How could such an oversight happen? You'll need to accept your punishment later."

Lee Hsing promptly dabbed the sweat from his brow and responded, "I admit my mistake!"

"Did the guest show any anger?" inquired Qin Yuyan.

"The young man was quite upset. He even commented that the creator of the Vein Rushing Pill had only mediocre skills," Lee Hsing explained.

At this, a flush of embarrassment colored Qin Yuyan's exquisite face, and her cheeks betrayed her irritation as her chest heaved slightly. She had crafted those Vein Rushing Pills during her spare time, and they had been accidentally stored in the warehouse by a servant.

"To think I'm a Grade One Alchemist, yet I'm being called a half-baked amateur," she mused.

Qin Yuyan gave a nod, her eyes narrowing into slits as she smiled and said, "He certainly doesn't mince words! Take me to meet this young man and see what he's all about."

Ye Han sat serenely in the private room, cradling a scarlet-golden glass teacup, the picture of patience as he awaited his guest.

Shortly after, footsteps approached from outside.

The door swung open, and Qin Yuyan, accompanied by two maids, entered the room.

Qin Yuyan glanced at Ye Han, noting that the young man maintained his composure, exuding a sense of maturity and steadiness uncommon among his peers.

Simultaneously, Ye Han observed Qin Yuyan, finding himself slightly taken aback by her captivating beauty.

Thankfully, Ye Han's resolve was steadfast. Even faced with such exquisite temptation, he remained largely unaffected and spoke up, "Miss, I trust you're aware of the issue with the pill. How do you explain the presence of such defective products in the Demonic Moon Pavilion?"

Hearing the term "defective," Qin Yuyan's brow creased ever so slightly, her composure momentarily unsettled. She replied with a smile, "Young Master Ye, the mishap with the Qi Gathering Pill is indeed a lapse on the part of the Demonic Moon Pavilion. The replacement may have to wait until another day, as we are currently unable to supply it. As for the Body Tempering Spirit Liquid you've purchased, I will personally cover the cost as a gesture of my apology."

"There's no need for such measures. I'm curious, though, does the Demonic Moon Pavilion have any pill furnaces available for purchase?" Ye Han inquired, catching a whiff of Qin Yuyan's subtle yet enchanting scent, which was particularly mesmerizing.

Her fragrance was incredibly enticing, filling one's mind with a myriad of fantasies, yet it was far from crass.

Truly, she was a bewitching siren!

It was the first time Qin Yuyan had encountered a man who could remain so composed in her presence, especially a vibrant young man at the peak of his youth, a time when one is most susceptible to temptation.

Yet Ye Han's gaze was clear, free from any improper desires.

"This young man is truly remarkable. To possess such profound insight into pills at his age, and to exhibit such unwavering determination, is exceptional."

Qin Yuyan nodded, seemingly finding the young man before her increasingly intriguing. She smiled and said, "It turns out Young Master Ye is an alchemist as well. However, the Demonic Moon Pavilion only deals in pills and medicinal ingredients. I'm afraid you'll only find a pill furnace at the Alchemist Guild."

"Since Young Master Ye is a valued guest of the Demonic Moon Pavilion, I happen to have a pill furnace in my quarters that I could lend to you for your use."

Ye Han gazed into Qin Yuyan's seductive eyes, feeling a shiver run through his heart. He had no doubt that falling into the clutches of this enchantress would leave him devoured to the bone.

At present, Ye Han desperately needed Qi Gathering Pills and Vein Rushing Pills to unlock the other meridians in his body.

Leaving empty-handed would severely hinder his cultivation progress.

Moreover, with the sect examination looming, he needed to rapidly enhance his cultivation level.

After a moment's contemplation, Ye Han replied, "Thank you for showing me the way, please lead on!"

Qin Yuyan's waist was as delicate as a willow branch.

She led the way for Ye Han, her figure sketching out curves that were both stunning and tempting.

Even from behind, her silhouette was captivating, ensnaring the gaze of any onlooker, rendering them unable to look away.

Such a woman seemed naturally designed to be a man's downfall, perfectly embodying the ideal of a dream lover.

If she chose to be demure and compliant, she would undoubtedly be irresistible to men. Yet, should she become irate, she would surely intimidate many.

As the head of the Demonic Moon Pavilion and a controller of vast wealth in Auspicious Cloud City, how could she be anything but formidable?

Ye Han did his utmost to keep his eyes from lingering on this supremely tempting siren.

"Greetings, Miss Qin!"

The guards stationed on the fifth floor immediately knelt on one knee, their gazes fixed firmly on the ground, not daring to steal even a glance at Qin Yuyan.