Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 17 Senior Sister, Our Chapter is Here

For the next two days, the two continued to stroll around Lincheng. Feng Xiaolu went to replenish some "professional equipment," while Chen Anran kept an eye on the antique shops and herbal medicine shops on the street, looking for anything with potential evolution value, but unfortunately, he did not find any particularly worthwhile items to buy.

Although everything can evolve, some things are really not worth it. For example, when Chen Anran went to an antique shop to look for jade or stones, the evolution effect was very poor and it took a long time.

To give an example, a stone worth thousands of dollars will have the same evolutionary effect as a pebble. Since they are the same, Chen Anran might as well go to the river at the foot of the sect mountain to collect a few pebbles, instead of wasting this money.

You should know that space is very limited right now; there are only three evolution counters available.

And soon it was evening, the time agreed upon with Zhao Qiming.

Chen Anran and Feng Xiaolu returned to the private room of that top-tier restaurant. Zhao Qiming and Wang Anxi were already waiting there, both with expectant expressions on their faces.

After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, Chen Anran didn't say much. He simply took out an antique wooden box from his cloth bag. Opening the box, a jade pendant lay quietly on a soft silk cushion.

It was the "Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Jade" that had completed its evolution.

The jade pendant at this time was completely different from the previous Yin Sha Nourishing Corpse Jade.

The color changed from dark to a warm milky white, with a shimmering light flowing inside. It was no longer icy to the touch, but rather carried a comforting and gentle warmth.

The "yin evil script" and "blood worm pattern" on the jade pendant have also disappeared, replaced by patterns like clouds and water, which look ancient and elegant.

Zhao Qiming and Wang Anxi were instantly drawn to it. Even without expertise, they could intuitively sense the extraordinary nature of this jade.

"Chairman Zhao, this is the 'Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Jade'." Chen Anran pushed the wooden box over.

Zhao Qiming carefully picked up the jade pendant. Its smooth, warm texture sent an indescribable sense of comfort through his arm, easing the tension in his nerves from days of hard work. His eyes flashed with amazement as he exclaimed, "Fine jade! Truly fine jade! Just holding it brings a sense of peace!"

Chen Anran smiled and said, "Chairman Zhao can experience it for himself. Wearing this jade makes it difficult for ordinary yin and evil energy to get close, and it can also keep the mind clear and prevent one from being misled by illusions. It should provide good protection for your daughter's hobbies."

Zhao Qiming played with the jade pendant with great delight, becoming more and more satisfied with it. After a while, however, he sighed, "It's a pity there's only one. Otherwise, I would have gotten one for myself too."

Wang Anxi immediately chimed in, saying to Chen Anran, "Master Chen, if you ever refine another type of immortal jade in the future, you must first inform our Chairman Zhao."

Chen Anran chuckled and said, "No problem, no problem."

Zhao Qiming laughed and immediately gestured to Wang Anxi beside him. Wang Anxi quickly took out a pre-prepared check from his briefcase and presented it with both hands: "Master Chen, Master Feng, this is a check for five million. Please take a look."

Feng Xiaolu suppressed her excitement and pretended to be calm as she accepted the check. She glanced at the long string of zeros on it, her heart pounding, and carefully put it into her small handbag.

"With this jade, Mr. Zhao can rest assured," Chen Anran said.

Zhao Qiming was in high spirits and personally poured wine for the two of them. "With this jade, I can finally rest a little easier about that girl's antics. Come, let me toast you both again!"

The atmosphere at the banquet was even more lively than last time. Zhao Qiming completely abandoned his airs as the chairman of a large corporation and chatted happily with Chen Anran and Feng Xiaolu, even asking curiously about some interesting anecdotes from the cultivation world. Feng Xiaolu naturally used her expertise to embellish some of the stories she had heard, telling them vividly and eliciting Zhao Qiming's amazement.

Before parting, Zhao Qiming once again expressed his sincere gratitude and said he hoped to stay in touch in the future, as Tianhe Group might need to rely on the two experts in other aspects.

On the way back to the hotel, Feng Xiaolu, clutching the small bag containing the checks, grinned from ear to ear: "We're rich! We're rich! Junior Brother, are we going back to the mountain tomorrow? I can't wait to see Senior Sister's expression!"

Looking out the car window at the dazzling cityscape at night, Chen Anran felt a surge of anticipation for the future. He nodded, "Yes, I'll head back first thing tomorrow morning. After being away for a few days, it's time to go back and put Senior Sister and Xiaoling'er's minds at ease."

The next day, Chen Anran and Feng Xiaolu, carrying bags of gifts and the heavy check, embarked on their return journey.

The mountain path was rugged, but the two walked with unusually light steps. In the distance, they could already see the familiar old houses with blue tiles and white walls halfway up the mountain, as well as the outline of the old locust tree in the courtyard.

Smoke curled from the chimney, suggesting that Senior Sister Su Wan was preparing lunch.

The mountain gate was in sight, and the familiar aroma of herbs wafted on the breeze, mingled with the faint scent of food coming from the kitchen. Chen Anran and Feng Xiaolu exchanged a smile and quickened their pace.

"Senior Sister! Little Bell! We're back!" Feng Xiaolu shouted at the top of her lungs before even entering the courtyard, her voice filled with uncontrollable joy.

Su Wan, who was busy in the kitchen, peeked out when she heard the noise. Seeing the two returning side by side, a gentle smile instantly bloomed on her face. She wiped her hands and came out to greet them: "You're back? Was the journey safe?"

Little Ling'er, like a cheerful little deer, came running out of the house and buried her head in Chen Anran's arms: "Junior Uncle! Third Uncle! You're finally back! Ling'er missed you so much!" As she spoke, she rubbed her little head against Chen Anran, and then her big eyes stared brightly at the bags in their hands.

"Smooth sailing, very smooth sailing!" Feng Xiaolu answered eagerly, proudly raising her chin. "Senior Sister, guess how much we made this time?"

Looking at Feng Xiaolu's face, which couldn't hide her joy, and then at Chen Anran, who was smiling silently to the side, Su Wan understood that she must have gained a lot. She shook her head with a smile, her tone full of affection: "Judging from your expression, you must have had quite a lot. Come in and rest for a while, have some tea, and the food will be ready soon."

The group entered the house and sat down at the stone table under the locust tree. Su Wan poured hot tea for the two of them, while Xiao Ling'er eagerly rummaged through the gift bags, asking curiously, "Junior Uncle, are all these for me?"

"There are some for you, and some for Senior Sister and Second Senior Sister too." Chen Anran smiled and ruffled her hair, taking out her share of candy, toys, and picture books. Little Ling'er cheered and hugged the gifts with great delight.

Feng Xiaolu then presented Su Wan with a silk scarf and jade hairpin as if they were treasures. Su Wan took them, feeling their smooth and warm texture. "This... is too extravagant."

"What's the big deal!" Feng Xiaolu waved her hand dismissively, finally unable to contain herself any longer. She carefully took out the check from her small pouch, slapped it on the stone table, and said in a low voice, her excitement barely concealed, "Senior Sister, look at this!"

Su Wan picked up the check with a puzzled look. When she saw the long string of zeros on it, her gentle face was instantly filled with shock, and her hands trembled slightly: "Five...five million? Xiao Lu, An Ran, what...what's going on? Weren't you going to deal with that old building? How could this be..."

Even if Wang Anxi doubled the reward, it would never amount to this much.

Feng Xiaolu excitedly recounted the whole story with great enthusiasm, from how she used "warmed" glutinous rice and a peach wood sword to deal with the zombies, to how she outsmarted the girl in black robes, to how she met Zhao Qiming, and finally how Chen Anran sold a "secretly passed down from her sect" jade pendant for an astronomical price.

She told the story vividly, embellishing it with exaggerated details, which left Su Wan completely stunned. Even Xiao Ling'er forgot to play with her new toy, listening intently with her little mouth agape.