Chapter 1269: The Fire Swallowing Pearl
Gu Yi didn't know what kind of congratulatory gift Yun Yao had sent Yang Haoran. After Yun Yao delivered the gift, Gu Yi hadn't opened it; even though curiosity gnawed at her, she dared not open it without permission. Besides, even if she had dared, she might not have possessed the ability to open it, so she was completely unaware of what the gift truly was.
As for the true nature of Yang Haoran's relationship with Yun Yao, she also couldn't say for certain. Although she had been present when Yang Haoran and Yun Yao first met, she had no idea whether they had kept in touch or deepened their acquaintance afterward.
It was precisely because of these two considerations that she had turned to look at Yang Haoran just now.
Doing so was out of sheer helplessness. If the congratulatory gift Yun Yao gave Yang Haoran was sensitive, and she had rashly taken it out and handed it to Xu Meijing, the situation could have turned disastrous.
However, seeing her boss speak with such certainty, looking utterly unconcerned like someone who "has done no wrong, fears no knocking at the door," the stone hanging in her heart finally dropped a little. Still, a hint of regret lingered: she regretted her earlier oversight due to a moment's excitement, which had now put Yang Haoran in such a passive position.
Naturally, she herself was also in a very passive position.
As Gu Yi retrieved the congratulatory gift from a locked drawer behind the counter, she incessantly prayed in her heart that the gift was a proper, innocuous one, not anything sensitive. Otherwise, today would be ruined; not only would her boss, Yang Haoran, suffer, but she might also be implicated.
"M-Madam Boss, here you go. . ."
Xu Meijing's aura was simply too overwhelming. Even sitting perfectly still, with not a hint of anger on her face, she made Gu Yi feel breathless. As the manager of Stillness Apothecary, and with her identity as an appraiser, she had encountered numerous Underworld Officials from the mortal realm and Ghost Officials from the Underworld, yet she had never sensed such a formidable aura from anyone before.
"Mhm."
Xu Meijing responded indifferently, then took the box. At this moment, Yang Haoran also came from behind the counter, craning his neck to peer inside.
Gu Yi couldn't suppress her curiosity, so she secretly darted her eyes toward the box in Xu Meijing's hand, wanting to know what was inside at the first possible moment.
The other staff members serving Xu Meijing also found their curiosity uncontrollable, furtively glancing at the box in Xu Meijing's hand.
As for Ban Kui and the other female staff member, both stood behind Yang Haoran, thus unable to see the box in Xu Meijing's hand. Although they were both somewhat curious, neither dared to crane their necks forward to investigate like Yang Haoran.
The box wasn't locked, but it was protected by an enchantment array. Locking things was something ordinary people liked to do. Non-ordinary people also liked to lock certain items, but they didn't use ordinary locks. Generally, non-ordinary people wouldn't lock an item; their most common method was to set up an enchantment array. If one lacked the ability to break through such an array, then even if an unparalleled treasure lay before them, it would be impossible to take it.
"Hmph!"
Xu Meijing let out a disdainful snort. Her slender, snow-white finger tapped lightly on the box's surface, and a miniature black array, visible to the naked eye, appeared, enveloping the entire box. However, no sooner had this black array revealed itself than it cracked and shattered with a series of distinct clicks.
With that small gesture, Xu Meijing broke the enchantment array on the box. Without the array's protection, even a child could open the box now.
Click!
Xu Meijing's fingernail lightly flicked the box, and it immediately opened on its own. This sight made Gu Yi's heart pound, and her silent prayers involuntarily sped up.
As the box slowly opened, a bead gradually came into view. It was a fiery red bead, not large, about the size of a child's marble, and its crimson color appeared quite beautiful.
"Oh, what's this?"
A hint of interest appeared on Xu Meijing's face. She then took the bead out of the box and held it before her eyes, examining it carefully.
Now, not only could Yang Haoran and the others see the fiery red bead clearly, but even Ban Kui and the other female staff member, standing behind Yang Haoran, could make it out.
Upon closer inspection, Xu Meijing discovered that the bead was not merely fiery red; inside it, a tiny, red flame was constantly burning.
At this moment, everyone present, except for Gu Yi who was breathing a sigh of relief, developed a strong curiosity about the fiery red bead. From their expressions, it was clear that none of them recognized what the bead was.
There was no need to mention Ban Kui and the two staff members; it was normal for them not to recognize the bead, as their knowledge was still limited at this point.
However, Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's knowledge was far beyond that of Ban Kui and the two female staff members, yet even they did not recognize what the bead was.
"Is this an Avoiding Fire Bead?"
Xu Meijing spoke softly, her tone laced with uncertainty. She then gently shook her head, dismissing her own guess.
"No, that's not right. An Avoiding Fire Bead isn't like this. Not only is the size different, but an Avoiding Fire Bead shouldn't have this fiery red flame inside it either."
Xu Meijing muttered to herself, a hint of confusion on her face, then she turned her gaze towards Yang Haoran, who was outside the counter.
"Do you recognize what this is?"
Xu Meijing asked. Yang Haoran chuckled awkwardly upon hearing her, then shook his head.
"I haven't seen this item before either, but I do know about the Avoiding Fire Bead you mentioned; it's indeed quite different from this one."
Seeing that Yang Haoran didn't know, Xu Meijing shot him a sidelong glance, not even bothering to listen to the rest of his words, then turned her gaze towards Gu Yi.
Yang Haoran had originally intended to ask Gu Yi if she recognized the item, as Gu Yi was far more knowledgeable in this regard than both him and Xu Meijing. However, before he could speak, Xu Meijing's gaze had already fallen upon Gu Yi. Seeing this, he knew what Xu Meijing was about to do, so he remained silent, swallowing the words he was about to say.
"I heard you're very skilled at appraising items. Do you know what this is?"
The reason Gu Yi had just sighed in relief was that she hadn't seen anything sensitive in the box; this was good news for both Yang Haoran and herself, making her feel much more at ease. Now, seeing Xu Meijing ask her directly, she quickly nodded vigorously.
"Mhm, yes, I know, I know what this is."
Receiving Gu Yi's affirmative answer, Xu Meijing felt curious, and a hint of surprise also flashed in her eyes.
"Oh? You actually do know. Tell me, what is it?"
Gu Yi didn't try to be coy, nor did she dare to play games in front of Xu Meijing, so she quickly replied.
"This is indeed not an Avoiding Fire Bead; it's a Fire Swallowing Pearl. An Avoiding Fire Bead prevents flames from approaching, but this Fire Swallowing Pearl is the exact opposite: it devours flames, preventing them from escaping."
Gu Yi's words intensified the curiosity on the faces of everyone present, including Xu Meijing.
Gu Yi noted the curiosity on Xu Meijing's face, feeling a small surge of secret pride, and then continued.
"If one possesses an Avoiding Fire Bead, then any flame would find it difficult to get close. Whether it's naturally occurring fire or fire formed by magical arts, as long as it's fire, it will struggle to approach the Avoiding Fire Bead, unless the flame's intensity exceeds the bead's tolerance. By the same logic, this Fire Swallowing Pearl can devour any flame in the world, whether naturally formed or created by spells. The Fire Swallowing Pearl can consume them at an extremely rapid pace. Of course, the premise remains the same: the flame's intensity must not exceed the Fire Swallowing Pearl's tolerance."
With Gu Yi's explanation, everyone present immediately gained a deeper understanding of both the Avoiding Fire Bead and the Fire Swallowing Pearl.
Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing already knew about the Avoiding Fire Bead, and thus its abilities, but Ban Kui and the other two were unfamiliar, so Gu Yi's explanation served as a lesson for them.
As for the abilities of the Fire Swallowing Pearl, not only were Ban Kui and the two female staff members unaware, but Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing were also equally clueless. Therefore, Gu Yi's explanation of the Fire Swallowing Pearl was a lesson not just for Ban Kui and the two staff members, but also for Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing.
"If the Fire Swallowing Pearl's purpose is to devour all sorts of flames, then wouldn't someone wearing it be roasted alive?"
Yang Haoran first curiously examined the Fire Swallowing Pearl in Xu Meijing's hand, then smilingly asked Gu Yi.
"Boss, the possibility you mentioned would only occur if the flame's intensity exceeded the Fire Swallowing Pearl's tolerance. As long as it doesn't exceed the pearl's tolerance, the Fire Swallowing Pearl will automatically release its power to protect the wearer, and absolutely will not harm them due to devouring flames," Gu Yi explained with a smile. Upon hearing her explanation, Yang Haoran's face showed an "I see" expression.
"Comparatively speaking, which holds greater value, an Avoiding Fire Bead or a Fire Swallowing Pearl?"
Xu Meijing asked indifferently, while still carefully observing the Fire Swallowing Pearl in her hand. Although she already had an answer in her heart, she still posed the question.
"If we're talking about value, the Fire Swallowing Pearl is more valuable, because in a sense, directly devouring flames completely is certainly better than just repelling them. Moreover, Fire Swallowing Pearls are much rarer than Avoiding Fire Beads, so personally, I believe the Fire Swallowing Pearl is more valuable than an Avoiding Fire Bead."
Gu Yi answered honestly. However, after speaking, she felt that her words might be inappropriate in front of Xu Meijing at this moment, especially since the item was a gift from Yun Yao to Yang Haoran. Thus, she quickly added with an awkward smile:
"Hehe, of course, whether an item is truly valuable depends on the individual. Some things are treasures in the eyes of some, while some treasures are not treasures in the eyes of others. The true value of this Fire Swallowing Pearl versus an Avoiding Fire Bead ultimately depends on what the user thinks."
Xu Meijing didn't respond. She placed the Fire Swallowing Pearl back into the box, then casually handed the box to Yang Haoran.
"Here, for you."
Xu Meijing spoke indifferently. Although her expression hadn't changed much, her tone of voice had shifted slightly, no longer carrying the obvious resentment and dissatisfaction from before.
"Heh, this Fire Swallowing Pearl might actually be useful. You should keep it; you never know when it might come in handy," Yang Haoran said with a smile, not taking the box Xu Meijing offered. To prove his innocence, he even decided to give the Fire Swallowing Pearl to Xu Meijing.
"While this Fire Swallowing Pearl is good, it was given to you, not me. I have no interest in accepting such a gift, especially one a woman gives to my man," Xu Meijing said coolly. Her words put Yang Haoran in an awkward spot, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Although Gu Yi was usually quite talkative, she dared not speak in such a situation. She wanted to say a few good words for Yang Haoran, but she worried that if she said anything wrong, it might backfire. She had already put her boss in a terrible situation today and didn't want to make things worse for him again. If she continued to cause trouble like this, she'd probably have to pack her bags and leave.
Seeing Yang Haoran's awkward, helpless expression, a faint smile couldn't help but grace Xu Meijing's usually aloof face.
"Alright, take it. I'm not so petty as to be unable to distinguish right from wrong. You just became a Guardian, and the other party personally sent a congratulatory gift to wish you well; it's a kind gesture. I'm not some unreasonable little girl. Besides, with your utterly ordinary looks, I feel quite at ease, since there aren't many people as blind as I am."
Xu Meijing's words not only mocked Yang Haoran but also didn't spare herself. However, Yang Haoran understood Xu Meijing's personality; he knew she was just sharp-tongued and wasn't truly as vicious as her words implied, at least not towards him. So, he naturally didn't take her words to heart.
Moreover, seeing a smile on Xu Meijing's face, he understood that she no longer intended to dwell on the matter. Her earlier fuss was, at most, just a reminder to him.
"Heh, you're right. With my looks, I don't really have any luck with women. Even if you threw me into a crowd of them, I doubt anyone would even glance my way," Yang Haoran said with a laugh, then took the box Xu Meijing offered. At that moment, the smile on his face finally returned to normal.
Seeing the atmosphere relax, the stone hanging in Gu Yi's heart finally fell completely. She had genuinely feared Xu Meijing would stubbornly cling to the issue, which would have made Stillness Apothecary a lively place today indeed.
"You've all worked hard these past few days, and with Yang Haoran and I becoming Guardians, it's truly a joyous occasion. So, we'll close for business today. Let's go out and celebrate properly. Afterward, Yang Haoran and I still need to return to the mortal realm, as there's a pile of matters awaiting our attention. We can't delay too long in the Underworld."
Xu Meijing ignored Yang Haoran, her face bearing a faint smile as she addressed Gu Yi and the other three.
Upon hearing this, aside from Ban Kui, whose face merely showed a hint of a smile, Gu Yi and the other two staff members all wore excited expressions. If not for Xu Meijing's overwhelming aura, which put too much pressure on them, the three of them would certainly have jumped with excitement, just as they had three days earlier upon learning that Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing had become Guardians.
Since Stillness Apothecary opened, Gu Yi and Ban Kui had never taken a break, nor had they ever gone out for a good feast. Although the two new staff members hadn't been there long, they also hadn't had the chance to truly savor the delicacies of the Underworld. Before joining Stillness Apothecary, they hadn't even imagined that restaurants and taverns existed in the Underworld.
It was precisely because they had only heard about such places but never experienced them that Gu Yi and the two female staff members became so excited when Xu Meijing announced they would go out to celebrate properly.
Although no excitement was visible on Ban Kui's face, he too felt a small thrill in his heart, for he also wished to see the taverns and restaurants of the Underworld.
Setting that aside, simply going out to celebrate with two Guardians was something many Underworld Officials and Ghost Officials wouldn't even dare to dream of, let alone ordinary ghosts who weren't even Ghost Officials. Thus, it was perfectly normal for the four to be excited; if it had been other people, their excitement might have been even more intense than Gu Yi's and the two female staff members'.
Ghosts didn't need to eat ordinary food. However, food and drink infused with Pure Yin Qi were highly nourishing for them. Once consumed, these foods and beverages left no residue, transforming directly into corresponding Pure Yin Qi within their bodies. This Pure Yin Qi could enhance the strength of ghosts and Ghost Officials, and naturally, Underworld Officials as well. The various delicacies prepared in the Underworld's grand taverns were all such foods imbued with Pure Yin Qi, and this included their alcoholic beverages.
It was precisely because these delectable dishes contained Pure Yin Qi that their prices were not low. Ordinary ghosts wouldn't dare to spend money in such establishments, and wouldn't even dream of it, as they simply couldn't afford that much Underworld Currency.
Of course, even without consuming these foods imbued with Pure Yin Qi, ghosts wouldn't feel hunger, because these delicacies were essentially a form of entertainment for the wealthy in the Underworld. While enjoying them, one could also increase their strength somewhat, unlike mortals who ate simply to fill their stomachs.
Closing the apothecary's door, Yang Haoran tore open space, then, together with Xu Meijing, led the excited Gu Yi and the other three directly to the most luxurious tavern in the Underworld.
At the entrance of this tavern, Jiang Dashi was already waiting for Yang Haoran and the others to arrive. Before Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing returned to Stillness Apothecary, they had discussed and decided to celebrate first before going back to the mortal realm. It wasn't that they themselves particularly wanted to celebrate, but rather that they felt they should treat their staff to a celebration.
Since they were celebrating, Yang Haoran naturally wouldn't forget Jiang Dashi, his only friend in the Underworld. Thus, he had called Jiang Dashi in advance, which was why Jiang Dashi had arrived at the tavern entrance to wait for them.
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