It's Time to Understand Fan Shiyu's Attitude

Xu Mu returned home in the afternoon.

Holding the medicinal herbs in his hand, he fell into deep thought.

Eventually, he grabbed his car keys, drove off, and headed toward Yang City.

For low-grade elixirs, an oven or microwave would suffice, but this time, he intended to refine a seventh-grade elixir.

Seventh-grade elixirs were considered high-tier, so he needed to craft a simple alchemy furnace.

The quality of an alchemy furnace was easy to understand—it all came down to the materials used.

Heavenly treasures weren’t limited to medicinal herbs; they also included rare materials.

Some mysterious materials could amplify the potency of herbs, maximizing their effects.

Others possessed innate properties that could fuse into the elixir, elevating its quality.

This time, Xu Mu planned to visit Yang City’s antique market.

If nothing unexpected had happened, Dai Xingluo’s injuries should have healed by now.

Lin Yang had broken her ribs, and no matter how potent the elixir Xu Mu refined was, it couldn’t instantly mend fractured bones.

That was why he had sent her to the hospital.

But after more than a day, the medicine’s effects should have fully taken hold, and her injuries were likely nearly recovered.

Dai Xingluo owned an antique shop—perhaps she could help him find some materials.

Driving into Yang City’s antique market, Xu Mu first wandered the streets but found no high-grade heavenly treasures.

There were indeed a few valuable antiques, but at most, they were worth a hundred thousand or so. He didn’t want to waste time on them.

Before he knew it, he arrived at Dai Xingluo’s antique shop.

As usual, Li Zizai sat at the front counter, peering at a porcelain piece through his reading glasses.

Dai Xingluo had changed back into her Hanfu and was lounging on a recliner.

“Oh? What a rare guest!”

Li Zizai noticed someone entering and lifted his gaze. When he saw it was Xu Mu, he smiled.

Dai Xingluo, who had been daydreaming on the recliner, also looked up.

“Brother, what brings you here?”

Her face lit up with delight.

“Your injuries should be healed by now, right?” Xu Mu asked as he stepped inside.

Originally, he had planned to keep his distance from Dai Xingluo. But fate had other plans.

Unexpectedly, she had risked danger to help him.

Even if her assistance hadn’t amounted to much, her intentions were genuine.

Someone like Xu Mu couldn’t just coldly push her away again.

He’d have to take things as they came.

“All better, thanks to you, brother.”

Dai Xingluo nodded gently. “Did you come just to see me?”

“Partly. I also have a small favor to ask.”

Xu Mu gave a slight nod.

“So, the main reason was the favor, and seeing me was just a side trip?”

Dai Xingluo pouted, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.

“Cut it out.”

Xu Mu sighed helplessly. Admittedly, she wasn’t wrong.

If not for the alchemy furnace, he probably wouldn’t have come to see her today.

“Fine, what’s the favor?”

Dai Xingluo settled back into the recliner.

“Do you have any heavenly treasure materials? Not medicinal herbs—I need materials, even if they’re low-grade.”

Xu Mu currently had none of these. His requirements weren’t high—anything that could enhance the elixir’s potency would suffice.

“What do you need them for?”

Dai Xingluo tilted her head curiously.

After a brief pause, Xu Mu decided to be honest. “I’ve been learning alchemy. I want to make a simple furnace.”

At this, Li Zizai, who had been busy with his work, stared at Xu Mu in shock.

Dai Xingluo narrowed her eyes slightly. Could it be that Xu Mu was an alchemist?

Come to think of it, was the elixir she had taken his creation?

If so, she absolutely had to secure his help.

With an alchemist’s touch, the same heavenly treasures could yield far greater results.

With Xu Mu’s assistance, her progress would far outpace what she could achieve alone.

“Old Li, didn’t you used to collect these things?”

Dai Xingluo glanced at Li Zizai.

“I did, but I mostly used them for crafting.”

Li Zizai nodded with a smile. “I have quite a few stored at home. Why don’t you take Xu Mu there? I’ll mind the shop.”

“Sure.”

Dai Xingluo took the keys and immediately looped her arm through Xu Mu’s. “Brother, let’s go.”

Feeling the warmth against his arm, Xu Mu maintained his composure and nodded.

Li Zizai’s home was in a village just outside Yang City.

Xu Mu and Dai Xingluo arrived together.

Xu Mu hadn’t expected Li Zizai to own land here—though it wasn’t far from the city, the property must be worth a fair amount.

Dai Xingluo unlocked the gate, and the two stepped inside.

In the courtyard’s corner lay an assortment of stones of varying sizes.

Nearby stood a shed housing cutting and polishing tools.

“What about those stones?”

Dai Xingluo pointed at the pile.

“They’re decent material, but they’re not heavenly treasures.”

Xu Mu gave them a cursory glance.

“Follow me. There’s more in this room.”

Dai Xingluo unlocked another door.

When Xu Mu entered, his eyes immediately brightened. This place was a trove.

“Second-grade Crimson Tiger Iron… third-grade Crystal Jade…”

He examined each piece carefully. Coming to Dai Xingluo had been the right call.

“Brother, you’re amazing. You know so much!”

Dai Xingluo lingered by the doorway, her mind already scheming how to keep Xu Mu for herself.

This man was a rare find.

She had already been intrigued by him before, but now, her interest had skyrocketed.

As Xu Mu rummaged through the room, his fingers finally brushed against a fist-sized, deep-red cylindrical log.

“Whoa—fifth-grade Blazing Sunwood?!”

He lifted the wooden piece, inspecting it closely. “This is perfect.”

“Using wood for a furnace?”

Dai Xingluo blinked. “Won’t it burn?”

“Blazing Sunwood is practically fireproof. It can even amplify the herbs’ effects—it’s an excellent material for a furnace.”

Xu Mu turned the red log in his hands. “It’s a bit small, but it’ll do for a few pills at a time.”

“Brother, could you refine elixirs for me in the future?”

Dai Xingluo suddenly clung to his arm again. “I’ll even tend the fire for you.”

“Fine. Just don’t burn yourself.”

Xu Mu shot her a sidelong glance.

[Affection +10]

A satisfied smile curled on Dai Xingluo’s lips.

The two returned to Yang City.

As they entered the city limits, Dai Xingluo checked the rearview mirror.

“Brother, we’re being followed.”

Xu Mu sensed it—Fan Shiyu.

Since he needed to talk to her anyway, he detoured to a distant park.

Coincidentally, it was the same park where he had previously met Meng Wanyue and Dai Xingluo.

After parking, they stood by the roadside, waiting.

When Dai Xingluo noticed the trailing Volvo pull over, she immediately strode toward the driver’s side window.

Xu Mu followed at a leisurely pace.

It was time to gauge Fan Shiyu’s stance.