Chapter 26: The Crescent Boat

Jiang Heng listed the names of the medicinal herbs she had already decided upon. "What is the price if I purchase a large quantity at once?"

The items she mentioned were relatively easy to obtain and carried a low market price. The shopkeeper was not surprised; after all, this was her first time doing business with them, and it was unlikely she would start with a massive order. Usually, customers began with cheaper goods to test the shop’s reliability and integrity before committing to more expensive materials.

Without a hint of neglect, the shopkeeper smiled warmly and replied, "For retail customers, Rain-Ling tree leaves are six low-grade spirit stones per catty, White Mist fruit is fifteen per catty, and Flying Butterfly evergreen vines are eight per catty. Since you are from the Myriad Spirit Sect’s Pharmacy Hall, you will naturally be buying in bulk. Let’s make it... a thirty percent discount."

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth as he said this. The profit margin at such a price was thin, but if he could cozy up to a powerhouse like the Myriad Spirit Sect, the benefits would extend far beyond mere spirit stones—he would have a reliable patron for any future troubles.

Jiang Heng quickly did the math in her head. Between the spirit stones given to her by Shen Yanchu, the compensation from Huo Shiqing, and the proceeds from selling beast materials she didn't need from her small grotto-heaven, she was well-off. Furthermore, the sect had sent her a chest of spirit stones upon her reaching the Core Formation stage, mostly consisting of mid-grade stones with some high-grade ones mixed in. She had glanced at the crates in the shop—each held about a hundred catties at most—and with a thirty percent discount, she could easily afford the purchase.

Jiang Heng nodded calmly. "That is a sincere offer. I will take ten crates of each of these three items. If the quality of this batch is satisfactory, I will make your shop my regular supplier."

The shopkeeper hurriedly dispatched his staff to pack and weigh the goods. He processed the order with great enthusiasm and even gifted Jiang Heng a bouquet of spirit flowers. These flowers had limited utility, their supposed "mind-clearing and spirit-calming" effects being more of a marketing gimmick than reality, but they were undeniably beautiful. They were fragrant, long-lasting, and required no water or nourishment to remain pristine in a vase for decades. They were quite popular among cultivators with a penchant for refined tastes.

Jiang Heng gently touched the flowers, feeling that this was a good omen. She did not know what her ultimate fate would be in this second life, but at the very least, having shed her past obsessions, she felt a sense of clarity and ease for the first time. Like these flowers, she was blooming for her own sake, no longer waiting for the gaze of others. Feeling generous, she tipped the shopkeeper a few extra spirit stones. He was so delighted that he bowed repeatedly, seeing her off with great fervor until she was far out of sight.

***

Jiang Heng visited several more shops, selecting two others based on price and quality, again ordering ten crates of each item. Just as she was about to return, she suddenly tapped her forehead—she had almost forgotten to buy a flight artifact.

Seeing that the day was growing late, she went straight to the most reputable shop in town, "Treasures Galore," and stated her requirements and budget directly. The shopkeeper, perhaps having learned his lesson through experience, did not look down on her because of her limited budget. He smiled, his face crinkling with warmth, and introduced artifacts within her price range. Most were swords, followed by flower-shaped platforms, while others were strange and eccentric in design.

Jiang Heng’s eyes were drawn to a crescent-moon-shaped boat artifact. She pointed to it and asked, "I’ll take this one. How many spirit stones?"

The shopkeeper replied, "Thirty mid-grade spirit stones. Will you pay now, Fairy, or shall I put it on the Myriad Spirit Sect’s account?"

"I’ll pay now," Jiang Heng said, placing the spirit stones on the counter.

The shopkeeper verified the stones, and once confirmed, he beamed, released the artifact’s restrictions, and presented it to her with both hands. True to the reputation of Treasures Galore, the artifact came with a jade slip containing instructions, saving her the trouble of figuring it out on her own.

Jiang Heng studied the jade slip for a moment, then channeled a stream of spiritual energy into the artifact as instructed. The palm-sized object instantly expanded to the size of a standard boat. Jiang Heng stepped inside and recited the activation mantra. The moon-boat rose into the air, steadily heading toward the Myriad Spirit Sect.

She hadn't been flying for long when she heard a voice from behind: "Junior Sister Jiang?"

Jiang Heng stopped the boat and looked back. "What a coincidence, Senior Brother Han. Are you also returning to the sect?"

Han Jie looked at the scene before him, momentarily forgetting to answer. Jiang Heng was dressed in plain robes, sitting gracefully in the crescent-moon boat, cradling the bouquet of spirit flowers. The night breeze stirred her sleeves and lifted her dark hair, making her look like a fairy from the moon. The opposing qualities of delicate beauty and cold detachment blended together without contradiction. It wasn't his imagination—the usually indifferent and rigid Jiang Heng seemed much more relaxed tonight. She was like a flower that had been tightly closed, only to bloom slightly and reveal a stunning, unexpected beauty.

"Senior Brother Han?" Jiang Heng asked, puzzled.

***

Han Jie regained his composure. "I thought I might have mistaken you for someone else. You usually dislike adornments, and your cave dwelling is incredibly simple. I never expected you to come to Qingyan Town specifically to buy spirit flowers."

Jiang Heng paused, then explained, "I didn't come here specifically for them; the shopkeeper included them as a gift with another purchase." She split the bouquet in half and offered some to him. "They are quite fragrant and pleasant to smell. They should be somewhat beneficial for cultivation."

Han Jie accepted the flowers. "Is this your new flight artifact?"

"Yes," Jiang Heng replied. "Senior Brother, why not come over here? This boat can accommodate several people; there’s no need to waste spiritual energy by operating two separate artifacts."

Han Jie did not stand on ceremony and stepped nimbly onto her moon-boat, putting away his own vessel. After they discussed matters of alchemy, Han Jie suddenly remembered something. "The sect has issued a new mission to hunt down demonic cultivators, and the reward is quite good. Unfortunately, the people at the Pharmacy Hall are too sluggish and unwilling to take on such risky tasks, so no one is willing to accompany me. Would you be willing to join?"

Jiang Heng agreed readily. "Of course."

She had been waiting for Han Jie to ask so that she could repay his past kindness. Now that the time had come, she was finally able to be of use.

After parting ways with Han Jie and returning to her cave dwelling, Jiang Heng checked the contents of her storage bag to prepare for the mission a few days later. She soon discovered a problem. She was not lacking in medicinal pills, talismans, or defensive artifacts, but she was in dire need of a reliable offensive weapon.

At the thought of the "Star-Ripple" sword that had been taken from her, a dark shadow flickered in Jiang Heng’s eyes, only to vanish as quickly as it had appeared. It was too late to forge a new life-bound spirit sword; even with the finest materials, without a sword spirit honed through years of bonding, its power would be greatly diminished.

Buy one now? She was a Core Formation cultivator, and artifacts of her level were exorbitantly expensive, not to mention hard to come by. Even if she found one, she wouldn't buy it. Having practiced the "Evil Luo Path," her demand for spiritual energy far exceeded that of an average cultivator. Even buying medicinal herbs with her spirit stones was a stretch; she truly had no resources to spare elsewhere.

Jiang Heng suddenly thought of something. Since they were going to hunt down demonic cultivators, who would the spoils of war belong to?