Scourge Messenger

Chapter 223 Return Gift
To be honest, Yan Qing still hoped that the pharmacist would be willing to argue with him; he was a little unaccustomed to the docile form of the husky now.

He took something out of his pocket and handed it to the apothecary, saying, "Take this."

"What is this?" The pharmacist took it and saw that it was a withered finger that looked somewhat familiar.

"The gift from Bunny Girl, Dragon's Finger, don't ask how it came about, I won't tell you. It can enhance any token to the third-tier rare level." Yan Qing stood up, ready to slip away: "Your Mingwang Armor is only a second-tier rare item, right? You're going to dive into the molten lava, so enhance your Mingwang Armor."

Yan Qing had considered using Long You's finger for himself, but after carefully counting his tokens, he found that there really wasn't one that was quite suitable. The Mountain Heart-Protecting Mirror was a third-tier rare treasure, the Bingzi Pepper Forest was a second-tier legendary treasure, the Hand of Melting a Hundred Aspects was a second-tier legendary treasure... In addition, the pharmacist was willing to cross the lava to save the Rabbit Heroine, so Yan Qing had to do something for her.

He used the name of Bunny Girl to avoid receiving thanks from Pharmacist Wish, but Pharmacist Wish not only didn't thank him, she even grabbed his arm.

"Why did I only receive my sister's gift today?" She stared wide-eyed at Yan Qing. "Didn't you say she had been in a coma?"

“That’s what she told me before she fell into a coma.”

"Didn't that happen three days ago?! Why didn't you hand it over to me three days ago?"

"forget."

"You can forget something like this? Then how come you didn't forget your tryst with the Red Serpent?" Pharmacist felt his anger burning like it was about to burst through his stomach: "If I don't come up with a feasible solution tonight, will you have completely forgotten about giving me this gift?"

"You can blame me for this? Who was it that pulled out a weapon and charged at me without saying a word? In that situation, I still gave you a gift? Do you think I'm an idiot?" Yan Qing retorted without backing down: "That's right, I deliberately didn't give it to you. Who told you to ruin my rendezvous with Red Serpent? I only let you off the hook tonight because you were being nicer. Otherwise, you could have been burning alive in the lava river!"

"It's clearly your fault, you two adulterers, for messing around at all times! I'm just so angry!"

"Is this what you meant by 'you'll listen to me on this mission'?"

"Listening to you doesn't mean I won't scold you. Where did I go wrong?"

"So you were able to stab me with one shot that day?"

"I didn't aim for your vitals, I can't kill you!"

Yan Qing and Yao Shiyuan were locked in a tense standoff, the former gripping the hilt of his knife tightly, the latter clenching his fists. The air was thick with tension, and Shang Xinlei was prepared to intervene. But in the end, they didn't fight. Yao Shiyuan turned and left, saying, "You just wait here!"

As soon as the pharmacist slammed the door shut, Shang Xinlei turned to look at Yan Qing, raised her eyebrows, and said in a subtle tone, "You two are adulterers? A secret rendezvous? Adultery? Is this what you mean by 'it's none of my business'?"

"If you can't hear me, then it's none of your business..." Yan Qing muttered, sighed, and turned to leave: "Sorry."

"How can you be so infuriating even when you apologize..." Shang Xinlei called out to him, "Black Wolf said you had to wait, and you're just leaving?"

"What if she comes back armed to retaliate? Only a fool would wait."

However, the next second, the pharmacist pushed open the door and came back. She rushed over without saying a word. With the support of her full-body Vajra Armor, she was like a chariot moving at full speed. Yan Qing had just reached the door when she saw this and immediately dodged to avoid being knocked in by her along with the door!
"Didn't I tell you to wait?!" the pharmacist said through gritted teeth. "Now you not only have a problem with your character, but you also have a problem with your hearing?"

"I'd be happy to wait for a beautiful woman's invitation, but who's going to wait for a tin can like you!"

The pharmacist felt a dull ache in her chest from anger. She glared fiercely at Yan Qing, her fury undisguised even by the black wolf mask. Yan Qing, fearing she might pull out a weapon and start a fight, softened his tone, saying, "It's getting late. Whatever it is, we can deal with it tomorrow..."

"Take it."

The pharmacist shoved a book into Yan Qing's arms, then turned and left, leaving only the words, "I don't owe you anything."

Yan Qing looked down and saw that it was a book on secret techniques.

This must be the spoils the apothecary obtained from the Central Courtyard of the Corpse Forest. He thought she had used it long ago, but he didn't expect it to still be there.

Thinking about it carefully, Yaoshiyuan doesn't need it. She has the Enlightenment Pill, and her talent is as outstanding as her appearance. She's not afraid of hardship and can quickly master the secret technique on her own... Damn, now that you mention it, I'm actually a little jealous.

"Did you tell her that you need to study books?" Shang Xinlei asked.

“No, you were there every time I talked to her.” Yan Qing thought for a moment. “I probably saw it on the trading board. After all, I’ve only ever bought secret technique research books on the trading board.”

"As expected." Shang Xinlei scrutinized Yan Qing: "Did you expose yourself on purpose or by accident? You didn't even bother to disguise yourself when you were selling stolen goods?"

"...It was intentional, an accident." Yan Qing looked annoyed.

How to disguise it? Bunny Girl has handled almost all of her loot. While others might only find one or two items familiar, Pharmacist Yuan only needs to check the records to find seven or eight items familiar. There's nothing she can do about it once she's identified.

"That's great! You gave her an enhancement item, and she gave you a book on arcane techniques." Shang Xinlei's tone was a little sour. "Speaking of which, you must have seen Black Wolf's true face, right? Is she pretty?"

Yan Qing didn't answer the question, because he could already imagine that Shang Xinlei would definitely ask something like, "So, who's prettier, me or her?" He stuffed the book on secret techniques into Shang Xinlei's arms: "Here you go."

Shang Xinlei was taken aback: "Haven't you been trying to buy it these past few days? Why don't you want it anymore?"

"Because I bought it today."

Yan Qing took out another book on secret techniques from her storage ring.

Today, I spent 800,000 spirit jades to buy a secret technique research book. If I had known earlier that the pharmacist would deliver it tonight... Yan Qing would most likely still have bought it. You can never have too many of these things.

“But even if you buy it, the Secret Techniques Research Book can be used in other places. You have so many subordinates to support, why would you give it to me?” Shang Xinlei tilted her head and stared at Yan Qing: “I’m not like Black Wolf, I don’t have any gifts to return.”

"...Black Wolf has already reached the third level, and White Fox isn't far from it either. Only you mastered the first secret technique half a month ago. You're hopeless." Yan Qing said irritably, "I just don't want you to hold us back."

“If you feel bad, then put in a little more effort in this mission.” He paused, then added, “But only within your capabilities. Don’t accidentally get yourself into a desperate situation again. I don’t want to save you again.”

Shang Xinlei looked down at her study book, then glanced at Yan Qing, a slight smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling, and replied in a drawn-out voice, "I see—" "I'm sleepy, I'll talk to you tomorrow—"

"I don't want this one, I want the one you have."

"what?"

Yan Qing was stunned. He had thought that Shang Xinlei might refuse, think it was too valuable and not accept it, or accept it without feeling guilty, or even take advantage of him... But he never expected that Shang Xinlei would want to exchange it for another book!
Both of these are secret technique research books produced by the system, and they have the same effect. They will disappear after use, so is there any need to switch them?

However, Shang Xinlei simply shoved the research book that the pharmacist had offered back to Yan Qing, and then took the research book that Yan Qing had bought that day.

Although she didn't know what it meant, Shang Xinlei was clearly much happier. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, you can get lost now. Remember to come out for lunch tomorrow."

Now it was Yan Qing's turn to be unhappy: "This is a secret technique research book worth nearly a million spirit jades, and you didn't even say thank you?"

"You're such a hassle. It's not like I asked you to give it to me. You just insisted on giving it to me, so I reluctantly accepted it." Shang Xinlei shrugged, looking helpless like an older sister being pestered by a child, and pulled Yan Qing's hand. "Then come here."

Yan Qing followed Shang Xinlei into her room, then crossed her arms and looked at her, "This time I won't close my eyes and let you flick me."

"Are you still a child? How can you be so childish?" Shang Xinlei rolled her eyes at him. "Wait here for a bit. I'll go back and prepare, and I'll repay you properly when I get back." With that, she left the Thieves' House.

Is it true? Is it really true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease? If I hadn't complained a little, would I have missed out? Although rationally I thought it was unlikely, Yan Qing couldn't help but feel a little hopeful, her heart pounding.

This time he finally had time to observe Shang Xinlei's room. Last time he came, his attention was elsewhere, and he didn't pay any attention to the details of the room. It was clear that Shang Xinlei frequented this place, mostly using it as a personal storage room. The room was filled with all sorts of odds and ends: seasonings, cosmetics, prop bags, and even a set of kitchen utensils.

Although there were many things, it wasn't cluttered at all. It was clear that Shang Xinlei had put a lot of thought into it, decorating the room with various small items such as wind chimes, paintings, and potted plants. Compared to Yan Qing's room, this place actually felt much warmer.

She probably treated this room as her secret base, using whatever nice things she saw to decorate it, even though she had a bigger and more spacious house outside... because this was a little world that only she knew about.

"I am back!"

Shang Xinlei appeared in the center of the room, her clothes unchanged except for the removal of her red snake scarf and mask. She held two large porcelain bowls filled with cherry-red ice cream, each with a spoon stuck in it.

"I knew it."

"The repayment I'm referring to is of course a late-night snack. What else did you expect me to cook for you this late at night?" Shang Xinlei handed him a large porcelain bowl. "Here, eat!"

"Where did you get the ice cream?" Yan Qing asked curiously. "Aren't you training in the military town right now?"

“But I went there by carriage.” Shang Xinlei scooped a big spoonful into her mouth, her face full of happiness from the cold: “Don’t you know that there’s an ice cream maker in my carriage? As long as the ingredients are delivered in time, I can eat ice cream anywhere.”

Rich people who die young!

"Eat quickly, or it will melt," Shang Xinlei urged.

"I'll take it home and eat it."

"No, I need to take it back to wash it. If I leave it for too long, it will attract bugs."

Are there bugs in Thieves' House?

When Yan Qing took off his mask, Shang Xinlei's face immediately showed disappointment: "You came out wearing a mask, so why are there bandages underneath?"

"That's exactly what I was doing to prevent you from doing this." The bandaged weirdo Yan Qing smiled as he ate his ice cream.

"That's not fair. You've seen both me and Black Wolf's true faces, but we know nothing about you." Shang Xinlei suddenly thought of a possibility. "Wait, does Black Wolf know what you look like?"

"I've never met her before, how would she know?"

"But the little bunny is your sister, she can describe what you look like!"

"Bunny Girl has never seen me, let alone described what I look like!"

"I don't believe it! No, let me see it now." Shang Xinlei stood up and moved closer to him: "It can't be that Black Wolf knows but I don't!"

Whether Black Wolf knows or not is none of your business!

"Don't go!"

Yan Qing dodged while eating quickly, and surprisingly, eating ice cream late at night was quite satisfying. Just then, Shang Xinlei didn't notice the ice cream had melted, and the bowl tilted, a small chunk of ice cream falling onto her lap. Yan Qing immediately said, "Don't move! This stuff will attract bugs if it falls on the ground!"

Shang Xinlei indeed stopped moving. She looked down at the ice cream on her thigh, then at Yan Qing, and her lips curled up slightly: "To be honest, a midnight snack is really not enough to repay you. How about... I allow you to change my stockings again?"

Yan Qing blinked: "Really?"

"real."

"Okay, sit down."

Shang Xinlei sat obediently in the chair, waiting for Yan Qing to come over, and then... Yan Qing flicked her forehead hard.

You little brat, that expression of yours clearly shows you want to take off my bandages when I kneel down, thinking you can fool me like that?
"Never mind, I think this late-night snack is enough." Yan Qing sat down leisurely: "Thank you for the treat."

Shang Xinlei covered her forehead, her pretty face puffed up like a bubble fish, then suddenly wiped the ice cream off her thigh and stuffed it directly into Yan Qing's mouth: "You like it, right!?"

(End of this chapter)