Pan Yong saw Duan Rong and immediately said with a smile, "Ah, it’s Junior Brother Duan Rong. What’s up? Looking for Senior Brother?"
Duan Rong looked at Pan Yong’s seemingly honest smile and felt a pang of disgust, but he still said calmly, "Ah, Senior Brother. I just fed the Black Blood Vine and discovered that two fruits from another vine have matured."
"Both fruits have matured?"
"Yes," Duan Rong affirmed in tone.
Pan Yong chuckled and patted Duan Rong’s shoulder, saying, "Alright, I got it. I’ll inform Master Shang later."
Duan Rong clasped his fists and said, "Then, Senior Brother, I’ll be on my way."
"Alright, Junior Brother. Go about your business."
Duan Rong turned around, glancing at his shoulder with aversion. That’s where Pan Yong had just patted.
As soon as Duan Rong turned around, the smile on Pan Yong’s face vanished. He waited for a while, and when Duan Rong was far enough away, he headed into the dense forest.
He wanted to personally check if two Black Blood Fruits had really matured.
Although he thought Duan Rong wouldn’t deceive him in such matters, he never trusted anyone, regardless of the situation.
After leaving Pan Yong’s side, Duan Rong focused his mind and devoted himself to cultivation.
That morning, while still in a foggy dream, he heard someone calling him.
Duan Rong awoke, his gaze shifted, and he walked out of the cave.
Upon exiting the cave, he saw Yin Cong at the entrance, who had the same bag tied around his waist from last time.
The day before, when Duan Rong informed Pan Yong about the two matured Black Blood Fruits, he wondered whether Yin Cong would come looking for him the next morning.
Indeed, Yin Cong had shown up!
This indicated that in recent days, Shang Xiangyu had found a solution to the furnace explosion problem.
Duan Rong held conflicting feelings about whether Shang Xiangyu could successfully resolve the furnace explosion issue.
The last time the furnace exploded, Shang Xiangyu’s reaction was so intense; if it happens again, it’s uncertain what Shang Xiangyu might do.
There’s a possibility that, in a fit of madness, he might kill them all!
Duan Rong felt that such a possibility certainly existed.
For this reason, Duan Rong naturally hoped the furnace wouldn’t explode for a second time.
But Duan Rong didn’t know what success in alchemy might bring if Shang Xiangyu truly succeeded in his endeavor.
However, these matters were beyond Duan Rong’s control; he could only adapt to the situation.
Yet, there was one thing Duan Rong had resolved in the past few days.
That is, during this visit to the Medicine Pavilion to exchange drugs, he planned to secretly exchange the auxiliary medicine for the Fourth Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, "Green Pupil."
Now, all transactions go through his hands, and he aimed to discreetly erase a small trace in the accounts.
Given Duan Rong’s expertise in accounting, this was not a difficult task.
Thus, the matter entailed no risk moving forward.
There’s no time like now; it’s better done early.
Duan Rong and Yin Cong traveled together, crossing the Iron Chain to reach the three-story gray wall and black tile building of the Medicine Pavilion.
Xia Honghua saw Duan Rong arriving an hour earlier today and was pleasantly surprised, thinking her admonishment the day before had worked.
Then she saw another person emerging from behind Duan Rong, Yin Cong, who had that bag tied around his waist with a worried expression.
Xia Honghua’s smile instantly faded as she glanced at the bag on Yin Cong’s waist, muttering, "I thought this brat changed his ways, knowing to arrive early. Turns out he’s not here to work for me at all!?"
Xia Honghua clearly realized that both were there at the Medicine Pavilion to exchange drugs for Shang Xiangyu.