The moment Qin Xiao stepped inside, he saw the Chief Manager of Lingbao Pavilion. She wore a bright red dress, her hair coiled high with a golden hairpin inserted, her enchanting eyes full of charm, lips soft and pink, skin fair as jade, and her figure graceful with alluring curves.
She looked no more than twenty-six or twenty-seven, yet her entire body radiated with irresistible charm. Qin Xiao’s eyes lit up in surprise as he sized her up. In terms of beauty, she was no less than Ye Suxin. But unlike Ye Suxin’s gentle and watery grace, this woman was like fire itself, igniting the desires of men, seductive and mesmerizing.
With a smile, she greeted warmly, “I am Nalan Feiyan. How should I address you, sir?”
“My surname is Qin,” Qin Xiao replied.
“Mr. Qin, please have a seat.” Nalan Feiyan gestured toward the sofa, then poured a cup of tea and handed it to him with a smile. “What herbs does Mr. Qin wish to purchase?”
“All the herbs I need are on this list.” Qin Xiao took a slip of paper from his robe and handed it over.
Nalan Feiyan accepted the list and looked it over. Qin Xiao sipped his tea and caught a faint, intoxicating fragrance. It wasn’t perfume or powder—it was her natural scent, subtle and alluring, stirring a man’s imagination. Yet it wasn’t vulgar in the least. Truly, she was a temptress. But Qin Xiao, a man who had weathered countless storms, had firm resolve and wasn’t about to make a fool of himself.
After reading the list, Nalan Feiyan asked, “May I ask if Mr. Qin is an alchemist? Most of these herbs are required for refining Profound Rank pills. We have them in Lingbao Pavilion, but the prices are not cheap.”
Qin Xiao chuckled, “Manager Nalan, what’s there not to ask?”
His words left her momentarily speechless.
“Ah!” Nalan Feiyan let out a soft gasp, patting her chest as though in relief. “Mr. Qin likes to joke. I thought you were angry, you nearly frightened me.”
She smiled, her expression playful, then stood and said, “Please follow me. I’ll take you to get the herbs.”
“Alright, thank you for leading the way, Manager Nalan. Please.” Qin Xiao rose and followed.
Nalan Feiyan walked ahead, her movements outlining elegant curves beneath her clothes. Even just her back could captivate countless men.
The herb storeroom of Lingbao Pavilion was vast, filled with countless herbs, all neatly arranged according to grade, price, and effect. Herbs were divided into ordinary herbs and spirit herbs—the latter rich in spiritual energy. The main ingredients on Qin Xiao’s list were all spirit herbs, precious and priceless.
Leading him to the spirit herb section, Nalan Feiyan said with a smile, “Mr. Qin, please wait here a moment. I’ll fetch the herbs for you.” She disappeared briefly and soon returned with a tray, upon which lay four spirit herbs, radiating a strong medicinal fragrance.
Qin Xiao examined each herb carefully and nodded in satisfaction. They were preserved well and of high quality. “How much are these?”
“Together with your other herbs, the total is 86,320 taels of silver. But since Mr. Qin holds our Black Iron VIP token, you enjoy a 20% discount. That will be 69,000 taels,” Nalan Feiyan said with a charming smile.
“Good, I’ll buy them.” Qin Xiao nodded. The price was fair enough. Compared to consuming Fortune Points to purchase herbs from the system, he much preferred spending silver—it was easier to earn.
“Mr. Qin, please wait. Do I look so frightening that you won’t even stay a moment longer?” Nalan Feiyan’s soft voice stopped him. A seductive smile curved her lips as she stepped closer, a delicate fragrance like orchids wafting from her.
When Qin Xiao turned, he found her face close to his—white as jade, flawless as porcelain. His eyes narrowed slightly. This woman truly knew how to wield her beauty, using it at every moment to tempt men into sin.
“If Manager Nalan could be called ugly, then there would be no beauty left in the world,” Qin Xiao said with a light smile. He wanted to see what scheme she was playing.
“Then why is Mr. Qin in such a hurry to leave?” she asked softly, her breath carrying fragrance that brushed against his face.
This was her usual method. She enjoyed watching men go mad under her charm, enjoyed their hungry gazes and desperate pursuit. Yet Qin Xiao’s eyes, though appreciative, held no lust, treating her beauty as though she were merely a vase to be admired.
This displeased her greatly.
Qin Xiao chuckled, “I’m afraid if I stay longer, Manager Nalan, you might be in danger. I’m doing this for your own good.” His gaze roamed over her with playful mockery at the corners of his lips.
“Oh? Afraid I’ll be in danger? Could it be that Mr. Qin intends to harm me?” Nalan Feiyan teased without the slightest concern. She didn’t believe someone at the 9th stage of the Postnatal Realm could threaten her, especially not here in Lingbao Pavilion, her own domain.