Cultivation begins with earning spirit stones

Chapter 49 The Chain Scheme

"You...you just wait!" Seeing that he couldn't intimidate Zhang Lin, the bald, burly man threw down a threat and slunk away with his companions.

As the excitement subsided, the onlookers gradually dispersed from the streets.

The girl stood behind Zhang Lin and whispered, "Thank you for saving my life, Young Master Zhang."

Her voice was soft, tinged with gratitude and shyness.

Zhang Lin turned around and looked at her.

The girl lowered her head, her sleeves slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a pair of full breasts. She twisted the hem of her clothes with both hands, her cheeks slightly flushed, like a startled fawn.

"It was nothing, no need to thank me," Zhang Lin said casually. "You said you know me, young lady, where do you live? Would you like me to escort you home?"

The girl nodded, then shook her head: "I saw you at the alchemy gathering yesterday, young master. I have no home."

Zhang Lin raised an eyebrow.

"I...I am from Shian County, Lingnan Road, Nanhuang Continent. My parents died early, and I learned alchemy from a rogue cultivator master."

The girl raised her head, her eyes reddening. "My master passed away a few days ago, and I'm all alone now. I heard there was an alchemy gathering in Qingxuan City, so I came to try my luck, but I'm too late."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.

"I...I have no more spirit stones, and I don't even have a place to live. I can only sell some pills to make a living."

"Today, while I was setting up a stall in the market, those hooligans insisted that my pills were fake and wanted to drag me to see the market steward..."

She wiped away her tears, bit her lip lightly, and looked up at Zhang Lin, her eyes full of expectation.

"Young Master Zhang, you won first place in the Alchemy Competition, and your alchemy skills are superb. I... I want to learn alchemy from you and become your apprentice. I don't need wages, just food and lodging..."

Zhang Lin looked at her, remaining silent.

The girl's eyes were full of sincerity, her words were earnest, and her pitiful appearance was so striking that anyone who heard her would soften their heart.

But Zhang Lin is no inexperienced young man.

He noticed a few details.

First, the woman's clothes were of excellent quality. Although she was dressed as a rogue cultivator, her dress was made of Yun brocade, a specialty fabric of Yunmeng Continent, which was very expensive and not something that ordinary rogue cultivators could afford.

Secondly, the white silk sash around her waist, though seemingly ordinary, was actually a mid-grade magic artifact, exquisitely crafted with smooth-flowing runes, made by a master craftsman.

Third, the jade hairpin in her hair, with its warm and lustrous texture and restrained spiritual energy, was made of chalcedony that was at least a hundred years old and was worth hundreds of spirit stones.

How could a rogue cultivator who doesn't even have a place to live afford to wear brocade and a piece of century-old jadeite?

Zhang Lin sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

"Young lady, I am also a newcomer to the Danxia Sect, and I can barely protect myself. How can I possibly take on apprentices?" He shook his head, his tone gentle yet firm. "There are quite a few pill shops in Qingxuan City. You can try going there. Those shops recruit apprentices year-round."

Seeing Zhang Lin's resolute attitude, a hint of disappointment flashed in the girl's eyes, but she quickly put on a smile again.

"Since it's inconvenient for you, young master, then that's fine." She curtsied. "I will always remember your life-saving grace, young master, and I will repay you if I have the opportunity in the future."

"Your name is Xiaoxuan, what's your surname?" Zhang Lin asked casually.

The girl nodded: "My name is Xiaoxuan, and my surname is... Lin."

She paused noticeably when she said "surname".

Zhang Lin already had the answer in his heart, but he remained calm and cupped his hands, saying, "Miss Xiao Xuan, farewell."

He turned and left, his steps unhurried.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Zhang Lin turned around and saw that Xiao Xuan had raised her head. The fragility in her eyes was gone, replaced by the reserve and pride unique to women from noble families.

She looked at Zhang Lin, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Fellow Daoist Zhang is indeed astute. Mingxuan admires you."

"Miss Zhou, you're too kind." Zhang Lin said calmly, "I've learned a lot about the Zhou family's hospitality."

A hint of coldness flashed in Zhou Mingxuan's eyes, but she still smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, you misunderstand. Mingxuan only admires your alchemy skills and wants to become your disciple to learn some basic alchemy techniques."

Mingxuan didn't know those bullies.

"Is that so?" Zhang Lin remained noncommittal. "Then why doesn't Miss Zhou use her real name?"

"Be careful when you're out and about." Zhou Mingxuan's smile remained unchanged as she took out a fur coat and draped it over herself to cover her exposed skin. "Mingxuan is a weak woman, alone out in the world, so naturally she has to be extra careful."

"But Fellow Daoist Zhang, upon seeing the woman, immediately came to her rescue; he truly has a chivalrous heart."

Zhang Lin sensed the sarcasm in her words.

This is saying that he meddled in other people's business and walked right into a trap.

"Miss Zhou, you flatter me," Zhang Lin said calmly. "I simply didn't want to see anyone being bullied. Since Miss Zhou is alright, I'll take my leave."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, please wait a moment." Zhou Mingxuan called out to him, took out a jade bottle from her sleeve, and handed it over. "Mingxuan knows that your alchemy skills are superb, so I have prepared a small gift for you. I hope you will accept it."

Zhang Lin did not answer.

"One should not accept rewards without merit."

"Fellow Daoist saved Mingxuan, that is meritorious." Zhou Mingxuan smiled. "This is a century-old spiritual liquid treasured by my father, which is very beneficial to cultivation."

"If you do not accept this, Mingxuan will not be at peace."

Zhang Lin looked at the jade bottle, then at Zhou Mingxuan's smiling face.

The Hundred-Year Spirit Elixir is indeed quite valuable.

But if he accepts it, the Zhou family can accuse him of bullying and robbing their family's century-old spiritual liquid by abusing his status as a disciple of the Danxia Sect.

Zhang Lin had already seen through the woman's scheming nature. He knew that if he showed even the slightest greed, he would be doomed.

This woman is even more difficult to deal with than Zhou Mingyuan.

Zhou Mingyuan is an open and honest man; though insidious, he is easy to guard against.

Zhou Mingxuan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a wolf in sheep's clothing, and a dagger hidden in a smile; she is impossible to guard against.

"I appreciate Miss Zhou's kindness," Zhang Lin shook his head, "but as I am new to the Danxia Sect, I dare not accept any money or valuables from others, lest I give others cause for gossip. Farewell."

He turned and walked away, quickening his pace, disappearing around the street corner in a few breaths.

Zhou Mingxuan stood there, watching Zhang Lin's departing figure, the smile on her face gradually fading.

She gripped the jade bottle tightly in her hand, her face icy cold.

"Miss……"

An elderly man in gray clothes turned out from the street corner and bowed.

"He rejected me." Zhou Mingxuan's voice was cold and indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Yes." The old man nodded. "This person is shrewd and not easy to deal with."

"Difficult to deal with?" Zhou Mingxuan sneered. "There's no one in the Zhou family that we can't deal with."

She tucked the jade bottle into her sleeve and turned to walk in another direction.

"Go back and tell your brother that this man is determined, not lustful, and not greedy. Ordinary methods will not work, and we need to think of another way."

"Yes."

The old man in gray bowed, and with a flash, disappeared into the alley.

Zhang Lin walked several dozen feet, turned into a small alley, and stopped.

He didn't turn around, but he sensed the gaze behind him, which changed from gentle to cold, from gratitude to scrutiny.

really.

Zhang Lin sneered inwardly.

No matter how well the act was performed, it couldn't fool him.

That woman was clearly after him.

Those hooligans were clearly deliberately causing trouble around her to provoke him into making a move.

If, in his youthful spirit, he were to rescue the damsel in distress and take her in, then that would be exactly what he wanted.

If a lonely and helpless girl stays at his inn and disappears the next day, or something happens to her, the Zhou family can then legitimately come knocking on his door.

"Zhang Lin, an outer disciple of the Danxia Sect, abducted a respectable woman and defiled her purity; his crime is unforgivable."