Youth must be seized early, for one cannot remain young forever. Chapter 119: A Shortage of Leather

Time flowed swiftly like a river, passing by so quickly that many hardly noticed before more than half a year had slipped away.

The newly opened "Exquisite Garments Shop" in Huoying Lane gradually spread in reputation, passed along from one female cultivator to another.

Thanks to Meng Li’s exceptional tailoring skills and innovative, vibrant, and splendid designs, her robes immediately attracted many female cultivators to come and make purchases.

However, since Meng Li had been producing only women’s robes and all were of the lower yellow grade, the shop did not cause a great sensation, remaining popular mainly within a small circle of regular customers.

These regulars were mostly lower-ranked female cultivators.

As business flourished, the shop earned more spirit stones. Almost daily, two robes were sold, and sometimes five or six at once, with remarkably strong sales.

They earned over ten spirit stones each day, which allowed Bai Qingzhou and Meng Li to live quite generously. They freely indulged in various pills to accelerate cultivation and sampled all the local delicacies together.

The two grew closer and more familiar, their tacit understanding deepening with their long coexistence.

One afternoon, Bai Qingzhou was idly sitting at the counter, waiting for customers.

Meng Li emerged from the backyard, her brows carrying a hint of fatigue, and softly said, “Senior Brother, we’re out of Plum Moon Deerhide. You need to buy some.”

“All right, I understand,” Bai Qingzhou nodded and stood up, looking at Meng Li’s weary face with concern. “You should rest for a while. You look exhausted. No need to craft today; we have plenty of stock anyway.”

“Mm...” Feeling the warmth in Bai Qingzhou’s words, Meng Li smiled and nodded lightly, her spirit immediately lifting.

“I’ll head out now!” Bai Qingzhou announced.

“Senior Brother, be careful,” Meng Li gently reminded him.

Bai Qingzhou nodded and stepped out of the shop.

He was responsible not only for sales but also procurement.

After months of purchasing experience, he was very familiar with the prices of various forging materials in the marketplace.

“Plum Moon Deerhide...” Bai Qingzhou pondered briefly. “I’ll check the Artifact Pavilion first.”

The Artifact Pavilion was the largest forging materials store in Huoying Lane, with the most goods of good quality.

He quickened his pace toward the Artifact Pavilion.

Soon, Bai Qingzhou arrived at the shop entrance.

“Shopkeeper Bai, you’re here! What would you like to buy today?” A female cultivator at the door greeted him warmly.

Bai Qingzhou was a frequent customer, and the staff already knew him well.

“I’m here for Plum Moon Deerhide,” Bai Qingzhou said straightforwardly.

“Uh...” The woman hesitated before apologizing, “Shopkeeper Bai, it’s really unfortunate, but the last piece of Plum Moon Deerhide was just sold.”

“I see,” Bai Qingzhou touched his chin, a bit helpless. “Alright then, I’ll check elsewhere.”

“Next time, please come earlier; I’ll reserve some for you!” she promised.

“Haha, okay! I’ll remember!” Bai Qingzhou smiled, waved, and left.

He turned toward another shop known for good-quality animal hides.

To his surprise, after inquiring, this shop also had no Plum Moon Deerhide.

“Very well... I’ll keep looking,” he thought, a bit troubled.

Like alchemy, forging required precise materials; crafting robes demanded exact ingredients as recorded in the manuals, or else the furnace could explode.

“No luck...” Bai Qingzhou glanced toward the outskirts of the marketplace, silently wondering, “Could I perhaps hunt in the forest myself?”

He was familiar with the Plum Moon Deer, having encountered it in the demon beast forest of Logu Lane before. But at the time, lacking strength, he either fled or avoided confrontation without engaging.

Now, seeing two suppliers out of Plum Moon Deerhide reminded him of those perilous hunting days in Logu Lane.

It had been a long time since he’d lived such a dangerous life.

Suddenly faced with this opportunity, his heart stirred...

Lost in thought, he soon returned to the shop entrance.

“Huh?”

Bai Qingzhou looked up and was surprised to see a male cultivator speaking with Meng Li inside the shop.

Male customers were rare here.

His surprise deepened when he recognized the man—it was Wei Jun, the soldier who had no spirit stones to pay for his meal at the tavern that day.

Bai Qingzhou chuckled softly and stepped inside. “Comrade Wei? What brings you here?”

Wei Jun turned around upon hearing his voice, a broad smile spreading across his face. “Comrade Bai, I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”

“Ha ha, looking for me? For what?” Bai Qingzhou asked curiously.

Wei Jun extended his right hand, palm up, revealing two spirit stones. “Comrade Bai, I’ve come to repay you!”

Bai Qingzhou was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Wei Jun to come for this after more than half a year. Given Bai Qingzhou’s current wealth, those two spirit stones were long forgotten.

Yet, Wei Jun had gone to the trouble of finding him today.

“Comrade Wei,” Bai Qingzhou said, surprised, “I didn’t expect you’d remember this!”

“Of course I remember. When someone helps me, how could I forget? I searched the marketplace for you over a month. I just found you today. Comrade Bai, please take these spirit stones!” Wei Jun pressed the stones forward again.

“All right!” Bai Qingzhou took the two spirit stones from his palm with a smile. “Comrade Wei, you’re a man of your word—a true gentleman!”

“Comrade Bai, you flatter me...” Wei Jun scratched his head, embarrassed.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, and from their brief conversation, Bai Qingzhou learned why Wei Jun had been absent for so long.

Half a year ago, Wei Jun was commissioned to care for a child in another marketplace. Only recently, when the child’s father returned, did he come back to Huoying Lane.

Upon returning, he immediately sought out Bai Qingzhou to repay the two spirit stones he owed.

“By the way, Comrade Wei,” Bai Qingzhou suddenly recalled something, “You’ve lived around Huoying Lane for a while, so I have a question for you.”

“Please ask, Comrade Bai. If I know, I’ll tell you!” Wei Jun said earnestly.

“Do you know where the nearest demon beast forest is?” Bai Qingzhou asked casually.

But before he finished speaking...

“Senior Brother?! What are you planning?” Meng Li’s anxious voice rang out.

(End of chapter)