Chapter 55 Boating on a Rainy Night

Pedestrians on both sides of the road were becoming sparse, walking in hurried steps as if eager to reach home before the rain poured down.

"Ah, I didn't expect it to rain the moment I stepped out. What a bad omen!" Mo Xuan walked along the right side of the street and sat down at an ordinary little shop.

This was the first time Mo Xuan had ever visited this establishment; it appeared to be newly opened. The signboards were exceptionally fresh and still gleamed with a faint luster.

The shop had a decent number of patrons, and Mo Xuan chose a seat by the window.

"What would you like to order, honored guest?" A nimble young waiter hurried forward to greet him. The moment someone stepped through the doors, the waiter had quick eyes and fast hands, approaching patrons with pen and menu in hand.

"Qionghua Brew? Honored guest, perhaps you'd like to choose something else? Our humble shop has meager profits and does not carry that kind of wine."

Upon hearing the words "Qionghua Brew," the young waiter's expression tightened slightly, but he maintained a polite smile as he attempted to make up for the deficiency.

"Then let me think..." Mo Xuan almost forgot that Qionghua wine was not something easily acquired; he had simply acted out of habit.

"Before us, the bright lanterns cast flickering shadows, half-intoxicated by the Qionghua wine within our sight. Free from worries, giving no cause for others to suspect, we sleep like a drunken dream beneath the blossoms! Haha, I never imagined we shared such fate; having just come out to clear my mind today, I happened to run into you. May I sit down?"

Hearing the voice, Mo Xuan looked up in slight surprise, then welcomed her with a smile.

The newcomer was Bai Mei. Today, she wore a plain red silk gown, breaking away from her usual style, and at this moment, she appeared even more charming and enchanting.

"Of course, please sit down!" Mo Xuan did not say much, noticing that her complexion had improved significantly. "I haven't seen you in a few days, yet I never expected you to become so literary. It truly gives one a new perspective on you!"

"Alright, please wait a moment!" the waiter said.

Bai Mei had ordered directly without waiting for Mo Xuan's consent, only then realizing her oversight. "Did I disturb your peace and quiet?"

"No, not at all. Meeting is a matter of fate, and besides, with such a lovely companion by my side, going without wine is of no consequence!" Mo Xuan knew Bai Mei was at a critical stage of detoxification and was unsuited for alcohol.

"Just a lovely companion? Am I not pretty?" Bai Mei seemed somewhat displeased.

"Miss Bai is naturally a great beauty!" Mo Xuan offered a wry smile, not expecting that even a slightly flattering remark would somehow still be wrong.

"Heh!" Bai Mei covered her lips and laughed. "You really haven't changed at all!"

The dishes were served shortly afterward.

Bai Mei spoke quite a bit, while Mo Xuan said relatively less, though the conversation was still engaging. The two began discussing past events, recalling how they had first met at an inn in this very Huanxi Town.

Sharing a somewhat similar plight, they naturally had much to talk about.

Naturally, she was also curious. After all, Mengyao had been treating Mo Xuan's illness these past few days, and Bai Mei had grown somewhat familiar with Mengyao. She carefully inquired, "Say, which family does that young lady by your side belong to? Luochuan City doesn't seem to have any clan surnamed Lin!"

"Her? I'm not entirely sure. In any case, she's here to travel and sightsee."

Mo Xuan did not know much about Mengyao. She had guards at the Heaven Heart realm by her side—not even the Kesser Kingdom would dare employ Heaven Heart realm experts as mere bodyguards. From this, it was clear her background was far from simple.

"Ah, is that so? No wonder. She is so headstrong and willful; I was almost—well, never mind." Bai Mei had half a mind to complain, but ultimately held her tongue.

Mo Xuan was well aware of this aspect. "Heh, please forgive her. But I must ask you to bear with it a little longer; the detoxification process requires it."

Bai Mei's poison had fused with her flesh and blood, making conventional methods virtually impossible. Even if Mo Xuan performed the treatment himself, the result would be the same. By comparison, Mengyao was a woman, which meant fewer reservations during the procedure, and her flames were truly formidable.

Bai Mei smiled it off, then followed up with another question: "So, to what stage has your relationship with her progressed?"

"This..." Mo Xuan felt the question carried a rather strange nuance, unsure of how to reply.

He merely described her as a friend whom he had met by chance following a pursuit.

Bai Mei had only asked on a whim. Covering her lips with a chuckle, she dropped the subject entirely.

Luochuan City experienced only two seasons: spring and autumn. At present, cold, fine rain drifted through the air, embodying the crispness of late autumn, accompanied by occasional gusts of wind.

Therefore, the two remained inside until the rain stopped before planning to leave.

Unexpectedly, Bai Mei asked Mo Xuan to accompany her for a walk around the area!

Surely not—it was already dark, yet she was asking to stroll about. In normal weather, it might have been fine, but the sky remained overcast with neither moonlight nor stars.

There didn't seem to be much to see, yet he agreed nonetheless.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mei was exceptionally pleased. She grabbed Mo Xuan's hand and pulled him toward a small lake adjacent to Huanxi Town.

She seemed truly fond of such a lifestyle, and Mo Xuan had no wish to dampen her spirits.

This was Huanxi Lake. When the weather cleared just after rain, illusory skyscapes would hover and intertwine above the water, creating the appearance of double reflections. Swirling halos of color would rise, presenting a breathtaking view.

In their leisure time, people would stroll around the lakesides and even upon small boats drifting across the water, allowing outsiders to feast their eyes on the scenery.

At this moment, naturally, no one was about, save for a lone boatman wearing a straw raincoat who sat steadfastly upon a small skiff, holding fast to his post.

Huanxi Lake connected in all directions, linking the Xin River and You River from the Berger Mountains. It curved here before flowing onward to the two river mouths leading to the Pousang Sea in the south.

To a certain extent, this place served as a turning point or hub for transit, where outbound cargo ships would stop to rest.

"Haha, there's actually a boat over there!" Bai Mei cried out in pleasant surprise, looking delighted. "Come on, let's go sit on the boat for a while!"

At that moment, Bai Mei appeared truly innocent and carefree, and Mo Xuan followed her without overthinking.

"Boatman, we'd like a ride!" Bai Mei stepped forward to hail him, pulling out spirit coins to pay the fare.

The boatman lifted his head, revealing an aged, weathered face. He raised his chin slightly, his expression severe and cold. "Riding in the rain doubles the fare."

"Hey, you old codger, isn't this thousand spirit coins enough?" Bai Mei grew angry. The sum she offered was a thousand spirit coins, which was a tidy amount for ordinary people. Under normal circumstances, he might not even earn that much after a week of labor.

"I said the price is extra. If not, go find another boat yourselves!"

The boatman maintained his cold demeanor; it seemed the price was steep indeed.

"Find another one ourselves? It's not like we can fly!" Bai Mei pouted, then relented. "Hmph, fine! How much do you want then?"

"I don't want spirit coins. I only want a bottle of potion!" the boatman replied.

"Just a bottle of potion? What kind of potion do you want?" Bai Mei didn't mind the condition, but she had no idea what tier he had in mind.

"A Tier 4 potion: *Drifting Dreams of the Withered*," the boatman said, making no move to untether the boat, as if he knew the people before him could not afford it.

"*Drifting Dreams of the Withered*!"

Bai Mei had never heard of it, let alone knew what it was. Furthermore, finding a Tier 4 potion in Luochuan City would likely prove exceedingly difficult. "You old eccentric, are you out of your mind? Demanding a Tier 4 potion right off the bat—do you think these grow on cabbages, to be picked whenever you want?"

Hearing this, however, Mo Xuan's heart skipped a beat. His expression wavered uncertainly as he lowered his head in deep thought.

"Hey, do you know what that is?" Rebuffed, Bai Mei had no choice but to walk over and ask Mo Xuan, the resident master potionist.

"*Drifting Dreams of the Withered* is a rare kind of potion, quite different from ordinary ones. Generally, preparations of that tier receive such names, and one of the core ingredients must be a sacred-grade medicinal herb, regardless of its specific rank," Mo Xuan explained. "Potions of this type usually carry some legendary tale. This *Drifting Dreams of the Withered*..."

Potionists possessed another designation: alchemists or physicians. Originally, it was a profession dedicated to saving lives and healing the sick, which gradually merged with pill-crafting arts to evolve into modern potionism.

The story behind *Drifting Dreams of the Withered* was much the same. Once he finished recounting it, Bai Mei felt almost moved to tears; it was as mournful and touching as its name suggested.

His detailed explanation greatly astonished the boatman, though the old man made no further move, merely waiting quietly.

"Ah, you old greedy-guts, this is simply extortion! A sacred-grade medicinal herb is something you can only hope to encounter by chance. Even a third-rank sacred herb would cost tens of thousands of spirit coins at minimum, and they're rarely available on the market anyway. And you have the nerve to ask for this?" Bai Mei lost her temper. This was clearly a heartless profiteer using such a touching story as leverage for a transaction. She could not help but curse out loud.

"If you can't afford it, leave. Don't hinder my business!"

The boatman remained unmoved, though a brief flicker of a gaze betrayed his hidden thoughts.

"Hmph, let's go. What bad luck! Only a fool would pay that kind of price!"

Bai Mei turned and tugged at Mo Xuan, intending to leave.

However, Mo Xuan stopped in his tracks, shook his head, and signaled that he wished to stay.

Bai Mei looked completely bewildered, her face a mask of question marks.

Mo Xuan explained, "'Drifting Dreams of the Withered'—potions of this kind are subject to an unspoken understanding among potionists never to be casually discussed with outsiders. Generally, recipes are passed down orally only upon reaching a certain rank, unless one is a close friend or relative. Therefore, this person is far from ordinary!"

"Even so, this fellow has no manners whatsoever!"

Bai Mei still looked disdainful, trying to persuade Mo Xuan to leave lest he be scammed. Besides, she had just declared that anyone who agreed to such terms would be a fool, and boarding the boat now would genuinely make her words come true.

Yet Mo Xuan went forward anyway. He bowed politely to the boatman and said, "May we board first? Potions of this nature are never prepared in advance, so I will need some time to brew it!"

"This lad has good manners indeed, but goods are sold strictly for their value. Brew it right here before stepping onto the boat!" The boatman appeared even more seasoned, stubbornly demanding payment before boarding.

Mo Xuan looked up at the sky; the atmosphere carried the faint portent of another downpour. With a sudden thought, he replied, "Under normal circumstances, I would pay beforehand. However, let us board first and pay afterward. The weather looks as though it will rain again very shortly; if the ingredients were ruined by the rain, it would be a terrible waste!"

"Normally? Normally there are plenty of boats here—don't try to fool me! If you aren't going to make it, then be on your way!" The boatman refused to compromise, insisting stubbornly and even making gestures to chase them away.

"Since it has come to this, let's leave." Helpless, Mo Xuan beckoned to Bai Mei, intending to depart.