CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 152: DOG BITES MAN, OR MAN BITES DOG

But a round of clapping was heard, as a handsome young man stepped out from the Alchemy Hall.

The man was dressed in a maroon-colored long robe, with a distinguished nose and dazzling eyes. His stature was tall and straight, and the corners of his mouth were always slightly upturned when he spoke, as if he were smiling at others.

Despite his extremely fine appearance, Xin Lin did not overlook the shrewdness in the depths of his eyes.

"Stand down now."

The young man waved his hand, and the shop assistant retreated to one side, as if his soul had left his body.

Even with his poor eyesight, he recognized that the little girl who looked like a beggar was no ordinary person.

"I am Jiang Qing, the shopkeeper of the Purple Cloud Alchemy Hall. How may I address this young friend?"

As Jiang Qing spoke, he bent his knee to look Xin Lin in the eye.

Just this subtle gesture brought Xin Lin a favorable impression.

Although Xin Lin was actually fourteen years old, she looked no more than seven or eight. Ordinary people, seeing her appearance and clothes, would treat her with contempt, just like the assistant did a moment ago.

But Jiang Qing was different; he was indeed not your average Joe.

"My name is Xin Lin, and I’m here to participate in the Zixiao Palace Exam. But due to limited funds, I came to the Alchemy Hall to sell a few bottles of my family’s treasure medicine."

Having said that, Xin Lin calmly opened one of the bottles of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Powder.

As soon as the bottle cap was removed, a rich fragrance of medicine wafted out.

Jiang Qing gave it a light sniff and his eyebrows lifted involuntarily.

This was Mortal Upper Stage Bone Marrow Cleansing Powder; the little girl had not lied.

"Miss Xin, what is your relationship with Grand Doctor Chu... Chu Beiqing?"

Jiang Qing instantly recognized that the marks on the porcelain bottles in Xin Lin’s hands were clearly the handiwork of Chu Beiqing.

Chu Beiqing had turned into Silly Chu more than five years ago, and since then, not in Purple Cloud City, nor throughout the entire Longteng, had anyone produced Mortal Upper Stage Bone Marrow Cleansing Powder. It had become difficult to find Mortal Upper Stage Bone Marrow Cleansing Powder on the market in Purple Cloud City.

This thing, while not extremely precious, was still valuable.

Yet, for major families or children of officials, when their younger generation sought to become martial masters, Bone Marrow Cleansing Powder was an indispensable spiritual medicine.

Seeing that this little girl readily produced three bottles, Jiang Qing couldn’t help but doubt.

"This was left to me by my father. He was formerly a bodyguard to Grand Doctor Chu, but later, due to my grandparents’ old age, he retired and returned home. Out of consideration for their years of servant-master relationship, Grand Doctor Chu gifted my father three bottles. These past years, my father has treated them as family heirlooms, not allowing outsiders to touch them. If it weren’t for the flood in my hometown that took the lives of my parents, I would not have..."

After speaking, Xin Lin harshly choked up, her dainty nose turning a bright red, and a layer of tears began to fill her large eyes, giving an air of pitiable innocence.

Back in Ping’an County, Xin Lin had caught a fleeting glimpse of a medicine bottle in Monk Jun’s hands and recognized it as the work of Silly Chu.

For Xin Lin, the irregular female soldier, although it was just a glance, forging a few bottles was not a difficult task.

Xin Lin’s story was watertight, combining her age, it truly sounded impeccable.

After listening, Jiang Qing pondered briefly.

"There is still one thing I do not understand. Just now I saw Xin being humiliated and driven out. Why would you still be willing to sell medicine to the Alchemy Hall?"

Jiang Qing asked with a smile.

Xin Lin, so young, had been insulted and yet could bear the burden of humiliation, returning to the Purple Cloud Alchemy Hall — to Jiang Qing, this clearly did not make sense.

The girl in front blinked her reddened eyes and pouted.

"If I was bitten by a dog, should I bite back?"