Proud Sword Soaring Clouds-Chapter 51 - 50: News on the Medicinal Herbs

Ling Xiao’s mouth twitched slightly. ’This Miss Huangpu certainly makes herself at home,’ he thought. ’She has no filter at all.’ He shook his head and said, "There are no Crystal Cores." Without looking at the disappointed expression on Huangpu Yue’s face, he then turned to Huangpu Cangsong and said, "I have a request!"

"Please, my young friend, go ahead!" Huangpu Cangsong was old and shrewd. Faced with a major client like Ling Xiao, he knew he had to offer the best service possible, no matter how ordinary his attire. It was crucial to build a good relationship; who knew what kind of surprise he might bring them next time?

"I’m looking for these two medicinal herbs." As Ling Xiao spoke, he took a piece of paper from his pocket. On it were descriptions of the appearance, growth environment, and characteristics of Stone Bamboo Grass and the Heart of the Earth Dragon. Ling Xiao knew with certainty that in this world, he was the only person who could craft a Foundation Establishment Pill. That being the case, he might as well cast a wide net through a place with extensive connections like the auction house. Someone might be able to find them, which was far better than searching all by himself. He decided he would also post a quest at the Adventurer’s Guild later.

Stone Bamboo Grass and the Heart of the Earth Dragon were indeed precious medicinal ingredients. However, the people of this world did not yet know their true effects! So even if someone happened to find them, they would likely be treated as nothing more than unknown herbs. Only he could realize their true value! Therefore, as long as these herbs existed, Ling Xiao wasn’t worried about failing to acquire them.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of this before, but rather that he didn’t have the money. He couldn’t bring himself to ask his parents for funds for an Elixir no one in this world even knew about. Besides, Ling Xiao wasn’t in the habit of asking them for money anyway.

Although Huangpu Cangsong’s knowledge of medicinal herbs was not quite on par with the Yisha Clan’s, it wasn’t far behind. He confidently took the paper from Ling Xiao, but as he read it, his mouth fell open. He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just gave a wry smile. "My young friend, I’ve never seen either of these two herbs. I thought my knowledge of medicinal ingredients was quite extensive, but now I see how vast the continent is and how much remains unknown. It seems we have been far too conceited!"

Huangpu Yue had always had great confidence in Huangpu Cangsong, so she was shocked to learn of a medicinal herb that even her Uncle Cangsong didn’t recognize. She took the paper from his hand in surprise, and after a glance, her brow furrowed as she exclaimed, "Stone Bamboo Grass...?"

Ling Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could someone else actually know about this herb?’ he wondered. He quickly asked, "Miss Huangpu, do you perhaps know of this medicinal herb?"

Huangpu Yue looked up, a complex light glinting in her beautiful eyes. But then, recalling Ling Xiao’s earlier mysterious act, the corners of her lips curled upward. "I don’t," she said with a smile. "I just think the name is very poetic." With that, she gave Ling Xiao a playful smile.

Even through her veil, the effect was breathtaking.

Standing to the side, Ye Wen Ni snorted with disdain. ’What a vixen!’ she thought.

Ling Xiao just shook his head, unconcerned, and turned his attention back to Huangpu Cangsong. The older man had recovered from the successive blows to his pride, realizing he couldn’t underestimate anyone. He bowed to Ling Xiao and said, "My young friend, your knowledge has earned my sincere admiration. Please rest assured. I will publicize the search for these two herbs along with our auction announcements and do my utmost to find them for you!"

Ling Xiao offered his sincere thanks, signed a consignment contract with the auction house, and then left with Ye Wen Ni.

Huangpu Cangsong had someone fetch one of the auction house’s VIP cards, intending to send it to Ling Xiao, who had already given him the address of his inn.

Huangpu Yue, however, quietly took a card made of gold from her pocket. It was exquisitely crafted. Handing it to Huangpu Cangsong, she said softly, "Send him this one."

A look of shock appeared on Huangpu Cangsong’s otherwise calm face. He hesitated. "Miss... is this... appropriate?" As a long-serving member of the Huangpu Clan, of course he recognized this card. The entire clan had issued fewer than twenty of them across this and several neighboring kingdoms!

Holding this card granted a twenty percent discount at any business owned by the Huangpu Clan! At a place like the auction house, it automatically conferred the treatment of a top-tier guest! Generally, only members of the Royal Family and the Patriarchs of the most powerful clans possessed these cards, which served as a symbol of their status. Even many a Prince couldn’t obtain one, no matter how much they desired it.

’This pair of mysterious young Adventurers had brought them the corpses of two Tier Five Magical Beasts and two Magic Beast Crystal Cores, but was it really necessary to extend such an honor to them?’

"Listen to me, Uncle Cangsong. That man is no simple character!" Huangpu Yue’s voice was soft, yet it carried an authority that permitted no refusal.

Faced with the young miss who was the most likely successor to the Huangpu Clan, Huangpu Cangsong could only comply. After all, it was Miss Huangpu Yue who had invented these cards in the first place.

Many people couldn’t understand how Miss Huangpu Yue came up with so many peculiar yet brilliant ideas, but they always managed to perfectly capture the public’s imagination. This Gold Card was a prime example. Upon its release, it was frantically sought after by the Royal Families and great clans of every kingdom. It got to the point where a clan couldn’t be considered first-class if they didn’t possess a Huangpu Clan Gold Card.

They had just stepped back into the inn when someone from the Huangpu Clan delivered the Gold Card. Ye Wen Ni took it and toyed with it for a moment before saying, "Miss Huangpu certainly treats you specially! I heard that only the various Royal Families can get their hands on a Huangpu Clan Gold Card, yet she just gave one to you!"

Ling Xiao blinked innocently, spreading his hands. "Perhaps she’s taken a fancy to a poor boy like me."

Ye Wen Ni burst out laughing. Pointing at Ling Xiao, she giggled, "You? Hehe, just look at yourself. You’re so tanned and grimy. Who would fall for you?"

Ling Xiao ignored her teasing and said, "I still have to go to the Adventurer’s Guild. Are you coming?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Ye Wen Ni lifted her chin, looking smug. Feeling victorious, she was in a great mood.

At the Adventurer’s Guild, the two of them posted a quest: thirty thousand Gold Coins for each of the two medicinal herbs. Ling Xiao left a deposit of five thousand Gold Coins with the Guild. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

As they left, Ye Wen Ni complained, "Why offer so many Gold Coins for the quest? You’re such a spendthrift!"

Ling Xiao didn’t even bother explaining himself to the little money-grubber. He just overheard her muttering to herself, "Good thing the Lightning Mad Leopard’s hide is mine..."

「Three days later.」

Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni had just arrived at the auction house when Huangpu Cangsong, already informed of their presence, came out to greet them. Seeing that the enchanting Miss Huangpu Yue was not with him, Ye Wen Ni inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment Huangpu Cangsong saw Ling Xiao, he beamed and said, "Young brother, you’ve come at the perfect time! This old man has not failed you. We have news on one of the two herbs you’re searching for!"

"Ah! Really?" A look of pleasant surprise lit up Ling Xiao’s face. This was absolutely incredible news for him. ’The Huangpu Clan truly is powerful,’ he thought. ’To get a lead on something so difficult to find in just three days is amazing.’

Seeing the expression on Ling Xiao’s face, Huangpu Cangsong sighed in relief. ’No matter what, it seems I’ve finally established a solid connection with this young man,’ he thought. ’Or rather, it’s not Ling Xiao I want to befriend, but the powerful figure backing him!’

Anyone capable of obtaining the corpse of a Tier Five Magical Beast... well, you didn’t need to be a genius to know they were no ordinary person!

As for Ling Xiao’s personal strength, neither Huangpu Cangsong nor Huangpu Yue gave it much thought. The four Demon Swordsmen guarding Huangpu Yue had already gauged the true strength of Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni. They believed the young pair were simply representatives put forth by some mysterious and powerful faction. If they could get on their good side, the Huangpu Clan would gain another powerful supplier of goods. This, in the end, was what Huangpu Cangsong and Huangpu Yue truly valued.