9: Chapter 9 is nothing more than an inexperienced, green girl.

Su Yue picked up one Spirit Stone and tucked it into her bosom, pushing the remaining fifty-four back.

"Three rejuvenation pills."

Jiang Xuan took down two more small emerald-green jade bottles, lining all three up in a row.

Su Yue reached out, picked up one of the bottles, and poured the Medicinal Pill into her palm to take a look.

The Medicinal Pill was round and plump with a bright luster, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted into her nose.

Confirming it was correct, she put away the three jade bottles.

[Congratulations to the Shopkeeper for completing a transaction. Transaction price: fifty-four Spirit Stones. Cultivation rebate gained: 10.8. Contribution points gained: +1!]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 3]

[Progress: 46%]

Su Yue spoke softly: "Shopkeeper, is there a quiet place where I can recover from my injuries first?"

Jiang Xuan led her through the curtain behind the counter and into the Backyard.

The Backyard was not large, containing a stone platform, an old locust tree, and a few clumps of wild grass growing along the base of the wall.

It was simple, certainly, but it had the advantage of being quiet, with no outsiders to disturb them.

Su Yue swept her gaze around and walked to the stone platform to sit cross-legged.

She took out a rejuvenation pill, swallowed it, closed her eyes, and circulated her spiritual power to begin recovering from her injuries.

Before recovering her strength, she dared not go anywhere.

Seeing that she had entered a state of Cultivation, Jiang Xuan retreated to the front of the counter, resting his chin on one hand, and sighed silently as he looked at the shop.

As the old saying goes, kindness does not command troops, and righteousness does not conduct business.

Over these past three days, he had only been doing loss-making deals; the Spirit Stones he had subsidized were almost catching up to the ones he had earned.

A pure female cultivator who suffered from Qi deviation, a beautiful Mortal woman taking care of her sister, and a dashing female cultivator injured during training.

For one, he discounted a Medicinal Pill; for another, he charged four fewer Spirit Stones and included two as a gift.

And here, he simply waved his hand and gave out thirty-eight.

If not for the System giving him an initial startup capital of ten thousand Spirit Stones, plus the ability to exchange for Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Techniques in the contribution point shop at any time.

He would probably truly be tightening his belt to get by.

Oh well, oh well, it was mainly because he was too kind and couldn't bear to see such suffering.

Jiang Xuan consoled himself, picked up his herbal tea, and continued to drink.

...

The sun slowly moved from the center to the west.

In the afternoon, two more Loose Cultivators arrived one after another, one to sell medicinal herbs, and one to buy talisman paper.

There were no complications; money was exchanged for goods, quick and decisive.

[Progress: 48.9%]

Jiang Xuan stood at the doorway, watching the setting sun sink bit by bit on the horizon.

Closing up shop.

He flipped the small wooden sign at the door to the "Closed for Business" side and shut the shop door.

He passed through the curtain behind the counter and came to the Backyard.

Su Yue was still sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, her complexion much better than it had been during the day.

A faint, thin halo of light flowed over her body, a sign that the medicinal power of the rejuvenation pill was repairing the injuries in her Meridians.

Sensing Jiang Xuan's aura approaching, Su Yue opened her eyes.

Her pair of autumn-water eyes met his gaze; her eyes were much clearer, not as lackluster as they had been during the day.

Jiang Xuan asked casually: "How is your recovery?"

Su Yue nodded slightly, her tone calm: "My internal injuries have mostly stabilized; another day or two of recuperation and I will be fully recovered."

Jiang Xuan nodded, asked no more, and turned to walk toward his room.

Pushing open the door, a faint scent of pear blossoms still lingered in the air inside the room, and the bedding was folded neatly.

The corners of his mouth curled up as he walked to the table and poured himself a cup of water.

After Su Yue finished her session, she sat quietly on the stone platform for a moment.

The night wind blew over the wall, carrying the scent of locust flowers that were about to fall, brushing through her dark hair.

She looked up toward the room.

The lamplight shone through the window paper, casting the silhouette of a quiet figure sitting at the table drinking water.

Su Yue lowered her eyes, her fingers tapping lightly on her knees twice.

She was not the type to be indecisive and dragging.

In all her years traveling alone, what she believed in most was keeping her word.

Things she had promised, even if she had been forced into a dead end when she spoke, she would never pretend it hadn't happened afterward.

If she didn't even have this much sense of responsibility, she wouldn't have been able to develop such a crisp and straightforward nature.

But when it actually came time to fulfill the promise, she was still panicked inside.

A moment later, she took a deep breath and stepped toward the room.

Jiang Xuan heard the movement at the door and looked up.

Su Yue stood by the doorframe, her white brocade robe dyed with a light that blended cold and warm at the intersection of moonlight and lamp light.

She appeared calm and collected, but the flush on the tips of her ears betrayed her state of mind.

Jiang Xuan was stunned for a moment.

He had thought that since this woman's internal injuries had just stabilized, she would at least delay for a day or two before coming to fulfill her promise, but he hadn't expected her to get straight to the point today.

However, since she had walked in herself, there was no reason for him to push her away.

Moreover, this shop was far safer than it appeared on the surface.

The System had laid down a protective array within the shop; once someone harbored malicious intent and took action.

The opponent's strength would be instantly suppressed to match his own cultivation level.

And he could also gain the status bonus of a Traveling Merchant, accompanied by a continuous recovery buff effect.

Therefore, Jiang Xuan was never afraid of capsizing on his own turf.

Su Yue walked into the room and stopped at a spot three steps away from him.

Her hands hung at her sides, her fingers unconsciously clutching the fabric of her sleeves, then releasing, then clutching again.

She did not look at him, her gaze falling on the blue bricks in the corner, staring for a long time, though she didn't know what was so interesting about them.

Even if she was usually shrewd and capable, or calm and collected when facing Yao Beasts in the deep mountains and old forests.

When it came to matters like this, she was nothing more than an inexperienced, naive girl.

Jiang Xuan did not urge her, smiled slightly, and stepped forward.

Su Yue was much taller than the average female cultivator; he didn't need to lower his head, and their gazes were perfectly level.

Jiang Xuan reached out and pulled her into his arms, and a cool, crisp plum blossom scent wafted from her collar.

In the coldness, there was a bitter undertone, like that kind of flower blooming alone in the snow.

It was different from the elegant orchid scent on Ye Baiyuan, and different from the sweet, moist pear blossom scent of A Xiang.

This scent was cold and clear, but if you smelled it for a long time, you would find a faint sweetness hidden beneath the cold.

Su Yue's body stiffened noticeably.

She didn't push him away, but she didn't lean in either, just standing stiffly as he circled her in his arms.

After a few breaths, he heard her speak, as if the words were squeezed out from between her teeth:

"My injuries haven't fully healed... you should hold back your strength."

Jiang Xuan let out a low laugh and nodded.

One hand rested on her waist, while the other slowly lifted, his fingertips lightly tracing her jawline to lift her face.

Su Yue's eyes finally met his gaze.

In those long autumn-water eyes, there was nervousness, embarrassment, and a trace of confusion she was trying hard to hide.

Her lips were slightly parted, but she didn't say anything.

Jiang Xuan gently pressed his lips against hers, and the bitterness of the plum blossom scent dissolved between their lips and teeth, cool and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.

"Mmm..."

Su Yue let out a muffled groan, her two hands suddenly clutching the robe at his waist, gripping it tightly.

She didn't know how to kiss.

Her lips were pressed too hard, her teeth were clenched tight, and her whole body was stiff, like a piece of cold stone.

Jiang Xuan wasn't in a hurry; one hand pressed against the back of her head, gently rubbing her dark, black hair.

After a long while, Su Yue finally relaxed, and her lips softened as well.

Her response was stiff and clumsy, completely without technique, and sometimes she would even bump his teeth.

In the interval, Jiang Xuan's fingers loosened the belt at her waist bit by bit.

The lapels of her white brocade robe loosened and slipped a few inches from her shoulders, revealing a segment of fair collarbone and shoulder.

Su Yue felt the robe loosen, her muscles tensed up again, and she instinctively raised her hands to pull the collar together.

But halfway through raising her hands, she put them back down.