Chapter 2-16: The Hideous Pill Furnace

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“This is the black market. Fighting and causing trouble are strictly forbidden here. You would do well to obey our rules!” A voice utterly devoid of warmth rang out abruptly, its unmistakable warning impossible to miss.

Ouyang Chenxi clenched her silver teeth, barely able to suppress the fury surging within her. Yet she knew perfectly well that the black market’s power was far beyond anything she could easily oppose.

Besides, before she had left home, her mother had repeatedly warned her never to offend anyone from the black market.

Since matters had come to this, no matter how fierce her anger, she had no choice but to force it down.

She shot the stallkeeper a venomous glare, the light in her eyes vicious and sinister. Only after holding his gaze for several seconds did she let out a heavy snort through her nose, then turn and leave with great reluctance.

“Miss, please wait. You seem to have forgotten your spirit stones.”

Whether he had done so intentionally or not, the stallkeeper shouted the words at the top of his voice.

Upon hearing them, Ouyang Chenxi froze as though struck by lightning.

A burning flush swiftly spread across her face.

She instinctively glanced over her shoulder, only to find the surrounding people turning their eyes toward her. Their gazes—curious, mocking, and even faintly contemptuous—pierced her heart like sharp arrows.

Ouyang Chenxi dared not hesitate another moment. She quickened her pace, her steps almost flying.

With her head lowered and her lips tightly bitten, she wished she could flee this humiliating place at once.

At that moment, she had only one thought in mind: she absolutely could not let anyone see her in such a wretched state. Otherwise, she would be utterly disgraced.

Her clothes had long since been soaked through, clinging wetly to her skin and making her extremely uncomfortable.

Yet even worse than the physical discomfort was the embarrassment in her heart.

As she hurried along, Ouyang Chenxi silently prayed that she could leave as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, she had brought a maid with her when she went out. The maid was now waiting anxiously for her mistress just outside the black market.

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Once she found the maid, she could send her to purchase a set of dry clothes and resolve this urgent predicament.

If she delayed any longer, she would soon become the laughingstock of the entire city of Lin’an.

At the other end of the street, meanwhile, Ouyang Xiaoyue strolled along at her leisure.

She knew nothing of what Ouyang Chenxi had suffered in the black market. The guards who had been stopped outside the barrier were even more bewildered, able only to stare anxiously at the entrance, their hearts filled with concern.

As for the alchemy furnace, she had already thrown it into the Purple Void Dimension within her bracelet.

Although she had not found the herbs she truly wanted, she had still spent a few spirit stones to purchase some ordinary herbs and toss them into the space so that she could try refining pills.

“Master, what kind of herbs are you looking for?” Little Ling blinked her bright, lively eyes and gazed at her mistress with undisguised curiosity.

She secretly marveled at her master. Not only did she possess extraordinary talent in martial cultivation, she could even teach herself alchemy and master it without a tutor.

But when she heard her master’s answer, Little Ling was stunned.

“Pretty ones.”

For a moment, Little Ling did not know whether to laugh or cry. She had expected her mistress to name some profound herb or describe some unusual medicinal effect. Instead, the answer had been so simple—and so completely unexpected.

Ah, it seemed she had simply been overthinking things.

They traveled in silence. By the time they returned to the Mo residence, they had not yet entered the main gate when they heard the servants whispering and gossiping in the distance.

“Have you heard? Our Third Young Miss seemed to have suffered some terrible injustice today. The moment she saw the Madam of the House, she threw herself into her arms and burst into tears!”

“Indeed. Who knows what happened to make Third Young Miss so heartbroken?”

Ouyang Xiaoyue paid no attention to the idle gossip.

She had never been particularly interested in other people’s affairs, especially trivial disputes within a family.

At that moment, all she wanted was to return to Rongyue Court as quickly as possible so she could continue studying the art of alchemy.

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At last, they returned to Rongyue Court. Ouyang Xiaoyue eagerly shut the door, then focused her mind and willed with a thought.

In an instant, an ancient alchemy furnace covered in rust appeared before her out of thin air.

Astonishingly, this seemingly lifeless furnace appeared almost sentient. It slowly floated in midair.

A moment later, it flew straight toward Ouyang Xiaoyue and rubbed against her fair cheek like an affectionate, docile pet.

A chill suddenly swept over her. At the tip of Ouyang Xiaoyue’s slender finger, a faint flame ignited once more.

She frowned deeply and said coldly, “Stay away from me!”

Rejected so mercilessly by Ouyang Xiaoyue, the furnace, which had still been trying to draw near, seemed to have suffered a devastating blow. It slowly retreated, looking aggrieved.

Its round, pudgy body appeared especially clumsy. Each step backward seemed to carry a trace of reluctance and wounded indignation.

Little Ling stood to one side, blinking her lively eyes in confusion as she watched the scene unfold.

After all, her master had always held exceptionally high standards when it came to beautiful things. Whether it was elaborate clothing or exquisite ornaments, everything she owned had to be pleasing to the eye.

Yet now, her mistress had brought back an alchemy furnace that was plain-looking—or, more accurately, downright ugly. Little Ling found it utterly baffling.

Unable to hold back, she said, “Master, it is so ugly.”

The instant the words left her mouth, Little Ling keenly noticed Ouyang Xiaoyue give a slight nod in agreement.

Not only that, but a trace of undisguised distaste showed in Ouyang Xiaoyue’s deep, pool-like eyes.

Clearly, the two of them held exactly the same opinion of the alchemy furnace’s hideous appearance.

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