Lu Chi smiled faintly, his tone mild.

  "Brother Xu, don't worry. I'll be careful."

  Leaving Nurturing Origin Pavilion, Lu Chi did not head straight back.

  Instead, he turned and went to a sundry goods shop in the market district.

  The shop sold all kinds of items needed for cultivation.

  Talisman paper, spirit ink, low?grade magical implements—all were on display.

  Storage pouches were also among the goods in one corner.

  "Young friend, looking for a storage pouch? Come, come, take a look at these. They just arrived, with a space of twelve feet—sturdy and durable. Only six low?grade spirit stones each, with a guarantee for returns or exchanges!"

  "Shopkeeper, this pouch looks a bit worn. The edges are frayed and pale, and the spirit?patterns have faded. Six spirit stones is too much. How about five?"

  The shopkeeper’s smile stiffened. He quickly waved a hand.

  "Aiyo, young friend, you have a sharp eye! This is indeed last month’s leftover stock, but the space is a full twelve feet. Although the talisman patterns are a bit faint, it’ll last three to five years without a problem. I really can’t go lower than six. Any less and my shop would be losing money!"

  Lu Chi didn’t argue further. He simply placed five spirit stones gently on the counter.

  "Shopkeeper, this is all the capital I have. I won’t be picky about the pouch—I’ll take this one with the most faded edges. The longer it’s been used, the sturdier it is, right? Five stones, and I’ll take it. You’ll save space too."

  "Alright, alright, young friend, you drive a hard bargain! Fine, fine, five it is, take it! This pouch is bottom?of?the?barrel stock I got from my supplier. I’d planned to keep it to earn an extra stone, but who knew I’d run into someone as shrewd as you. Remember, next time you come, I won’t be this easy to talk to!"

  Lu Chi turned and left, the new pouch swaying lightly at his waist, his heart settling a little more.

  Nurturing Origin Pavilion did sell storage pouches as well.

  They claimed to focus on spirit pills and spirit?foods, but in truth, the shop’s displays were quite mixed. Low?grade magical tools, technique manuals, storage pouches—all could be found, just categorized by priority.

  But he had just bought the Qi?Nurturing Pill from Xu Yanqiu at Nurturing Origin Pavilion.

  If he then took out another five spirit stones on the spot to buy a storage pouch, it would be too conspicuous.

  For the sake of caution, it was wiser to go somewhere else.

  In just a short while, the ten spirit stones he had just obtained were already more than half gone.

  The little that remained would have to be saved for cultivation expenses.

  The storage pouch was one thing—worn on his person, useful every day.

  But pills were different: one swallowed, and the spirit stones turned into medicinal efficacy in an instant, leaving not even a trace behind.

  Lu Chi couldn’t help muttering to himself: "Pills are truly a lucrative business. No wonder everyone wants to learn alchemy."

  The thought stirred, and a flicker of anticipation rose in him.

  "I wonder if the panel will unlock the Alchemist profession in the future…"

  Returning to his lodgings, Lu Chi first put all the talismans on the desk into the storage pouch.

  After confirming everything was in order, he took off the newly acquired pouch, held it in his palm, and examined it carefully.

  But looking was all he could do. His cultivation was still shallow, and he knew nothing of artifact?forging. The principles behind it were completely beyond his grasp.

  Half a month had passed in the blink of an eye since the client surnamed Cao had last visited, yet no one else had come to seek him out. The house was unusually quiet.

  Leaving aside other sources of clients, his Spirit?Gathering Talismans were effective enough. Zhou Jinyan’s side should have brought some repeat customers by now.

  "This is strange…"

  If there was a problem with the talismans, that didn’t make sense either. If there really was an issue, Zhou Jinyan would have sent word long ago—it wouldn’t be completely silent.

  After turning the matter over in his mind a few times, Lu Chi could no longer sit still. He tidied up a bit, pushed the door open, and set out to find Zhou Jinyan in person to get a clear answer.

  Zhou Jinyan’s home was near the edge of the market district. A few acres of spirit fields lay scattered outside, the ridges neatly tended, spirit?water channels flowing slowly along them. The air carried a faint, fresh scent of plants.

  He had only just approached, his steps not yet steady, when the two people inside noticed.

  The door creaked and was pushed open.

  Zhou Jinyan stepped out first, followed unexpectedly by Xu Yanqiu.

  Zhou Jinyan saw Lu Chi, paused for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

  "You came at just the right time, kid. I was just thinking of going to look for you."

  Lu Chi was slightly taken aback. "Why?"

  Zhou Jinyan patted him on the shoulder, his smile not fading.

  "Today is your twentieth birthday. Don’t tell me you forgot yourself?"

  At these words, Lu Chi’s expression faltered.

  His mind went blank for a moment before he suddenly understood.

  So that was why the other had been so evasive and secretive all this time.

  For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

  Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, days and months had flowed by like water, passing in the blink of an eye.

  He felt he had been cultivating for a long time, yet looking back and counting carefully, his mortal age was merely that of a young man just coming of age.

  Lately, trapped in the art of talisman-crafting, being sent on errands for others, burying himself in talisman work day after day, his thoughts entirely tied to spirit stones and cultivation, he had long forgotten even the date of his own birthday.

  Yet Zhou Jinyan remembered it clearly and had even prepared in advance.

  Whether there was some other reason behind it, Lu Chi did not delve deeper.

  But this gesture, laid out before him, was after all a rare kindness, stirring a warmth in his heart.

  Coming back to himself, he cupped his hands and offered a word of thanks.

  Zhou Jinyan waved it off, laughing.

  “It was nothing special. I come from a common family myself. Back in my hometown, there was an old custom: every ten years a child lives through is considered crossing a threshold, and a feast should be held to mark it.”

  “Ten years is one barrier, twenty another—both are significant milestones in life. You’ve just turned twenty; I kept it in mind and made a little preparation, that’s all.”

  Xu Yanqiu, who had been standing to the side all along, now stepped forward and handed over the jade box in his hand.

  His expression was indifferent, his tone flat.

  “A birthday isn’t really that important. For those on the cultivation path, age is just a number added or subtracted.”

  “But since it’s a full decade, it still counts as a threshold. From now on, act more steadily, be less at others’ beck and call, and plan more for yourself.”

  Lu Chi took the jade box, hesitated briefly, then opened it on the spot.

  Inside lay a spirit herb, its veins warm and moist, spiritual energy contained within.

  It was precisely that Revitalizing Grass he had seen some days ago at Nurturing Origin Pavilion, worth a full low-grade spirit stone on the market.

  Zhou Jinyan caught a clear look at the contents of the box. First he stared, then he exclaimed in disbelief:

  “Revitalizing Grass? It’s actually this! Hah, Alchemist Xu is different after all—even his gifts are so lavish. No wonder you were hiding it earlier, absolutely refusing to let me take a peek.”

  Xu Yanqiu snorted but didn’t respond.

  Lu Chi closed the jade box, cupped his hands again in thanks, then changed the subject and asked, “Brother Xu, why are you here as well?”

  Xu Yanqiu curled his lip, his tone casual.

  “Haven’t seen you in a long time. I just came by to check on you both.”

  The truth was, ever since that day he ran into Lu Chi at Nurturing Origin Pavilion, he had sensed something must have happened to him.

  Whether it was leaving the talisman shop or buying pills outright, it didn’t match his old self. Suspicious, he had made a detour to Zhou Jinyan’s place to ask around.

  As it happened, he stumbled upon Zhou Jinyan preparing for the birthday. After a moment’s thought, he asked for half a day’s leave from Nurturing Origin Pavilion, took out his own spirit stones to buy that Revitalizing Grass, and offered it as a congratulatory gift.

  But these reasons, of course, he couldn’t be bothered to explain.

  The three entered the courtyard. Zhou Jinyan turned and went inside, returning shortly with an earthenware jug. He patted off the sealed mud, and the aroma of wine immediately wafted out.

  “Brewed from spirit grain, aged for a while—just right for drinking now.”

  The wine fragrance was clear and sharp, with a hint of grain sweetness.

  Lu Chi sniffed it and nodded.

  “Since it’s birthday wine, let’s drink it right here.”

  The three each took a cup, sat facing one another, and began to drink lightly. After a few sips, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

  Zhou Jinyan set down his cup and sighed.

  “We’ve known each other for years. That we can gather here again today is no small thing. Let’s set everything else aside for now—today, just enjoy ourselves.”

  Xu Yanqiu chuckled softly.

  “Those on the cultivation path shouldn’t indulge too much. Losing yourself in food and drink only hinders your progress.”

  As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Chi again, his tone mild.

  “I’ve heard about your situation. Being driven out of the Luo Family Talisman Shop is nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “The path is your own to walk. Just focus on diligent cultivation from now on. If you’re short on spirit stones, I can spare a few to help you out.”

  Listening to this, Lu Chi’s expression turned somewhat subtle.

  Xu Yanqiu seemed to already know why he had left the Luo Family Talisman Shop, but he didn’t yet know that Lu Chi had become a talisman master.

  Seeing this, Zhou Jinyan suddenly burst into loud laughter, rocking back and forth.

  “You spoke too soon. I was the one who told you about Lu Chi’s recent situation, but I didn’t tell you everything—I wanted to see what kind of look you’d have.”

  He pointed at Lu Chi, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

  “This one here is now a proper talisman master. As for what future prospects he may have—they might not necessarily be worse than yours, ‘Alchemist.’”

  As his words fell, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

  “You’ve actually become a talisman master?!”

  The words escaped Xu Yanqiu’s lips before he could stop them, his composure slipping for an instant.