Between refining pills and cautiously testing Mr. Dragon’s reactions, time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the day she was allowed to leave had arrived.
Over the past several days, Mu Wanwan had awakened early and slept late every day, trying to refine as many pills as possible.
She mainly focused on Spirit-Recovery Pills.
She could refine four or five batches a day, with each batch producing approximately ten pills. However, she did not succeed every single time. Occasionally, a tiny error in control would ruin the entire batch.
Therefore, her current daily income was roughly three medium-grade spirit stones.
Even after sharing the profits with Uncle Zong, she was still becoming rich!
As for the ingredients, she discarded the portions that could not be used in pill refinement. However, she continued using the Spirit-Recovery Fruit’s stems and roots, the Purifying Flower’s stems and roots, and other parts that contained impurities but could be purified by approximately eighty percent.
Firstly, she did not want the pills she refined to appear excessively unusual.
Secondly, if she only used the purest, least contaminated portions, there would be far too little material.
Even though she had cultivated many seedlings during her enlightenment, they probably would not last through more than a few batches.
She had also attempted to refine Snow Condensation Pills.
They were considerably more difficult than Spirit-Recovery Pills. After failing twice more, she abandoned every portion containing impurities and used all her remaining Snow Condensation plants.
Finally, this afternoon, she successfully refined five Snow Condensation Pills.
When the pills formed, Mengmeng’s tiny eyes practically stuck to them.
Mu Wanwan was delighted as well.
The process of forming Snow Condensation Pills was completely different from that of Spirit-Recovery Pills.
Accompanied by a rich floral fragrance, five perfectly round white pills hovered above the furnace, surrounded by a gentle white radiance.
Mu Wanwan quickly collected the pills inside a jade bottle and sealed it—
When she first began, she had lacked experience and did not know that pills lost a considerable amount of their medicinal potency when exposed to the air.
Therefore, experienced alchemists generally stored them the moment they finished forming.
“Chirp~”
Mengmeng breathed in the fragrant air and desperately rubbed its tilted head against the jade bottle in Mu Wanwan’s hand, attempting to obtain a pill by acting adorable.
“Haha, that tickles.”
Mu Wanwan patted its little head but did not continue indulging it.
It did not matter much if Mengmeng ate Spirit-Recovery Pills, but the Snow Condensation Pills were extremely important.
They might not even be available for purchase outside, and both Uncle Zong and Mr. Dragon urgently needed them.
Of these five pills, she planned to give two to Uncle Zong and the remaining three to Mr. Dragon.
Uncle Zong had helped them far too much.
Without Uncle Zong and Aunt Yun, forget earning spirit stones, cultivating spiritual plants, refining pills, and supporting her dragon—she probably would have been surviving on husks and wild vegetables by now.
Now that she had finally gained some strength, she could not become ungrateful.
Mengmeng was a sensible chirper.
It did not insist upon having one. It merely chirped twice in disappointment before blinking and changing targets.
Its little beak seemed coated in honey as it chirped sweetly, now asking for an impurity-free Spirit-Recovery Pill instead.
Mu Wanwan pinched its tiny wing and decided to feed it one that evening.
Most of the Spirit-Recovery Fruits, Bell-Lantern Grass, and Purifying Flowers had been refined into Spirit-Recovery Pills containing some impurities.
The remaining portion had been refined into orange-yellow, uneven Spirit-Recovery Pills with no impurities.
Including the pills she had made previously, she currently possessed:
One hundred and twenty-three ordinary Spirit-Recovery Pills.
Twenty-five impurity-free Spirit-Recovery Pills.
And five Snow Condensation Pills.
“Finished.”
Mu Wanwan stored the pill furnace and cleaned the side hall.
For once, she did not simply eat spiritual fruit in place of dinner.
She cooked some spiritual-rice porridge and stir-fried a plate of green vegetables for herself.
As for Mr. Dragon…
He still ate spiritual fruit.
Hundred-Treasure Fruit, with the texture of a rotten apple and the flavour of an orange. (￣︶￣)
It was his fault for continuing not to wake up.
Mu Wanwan washed the dishes, feeling slightly depressed.
She believed she had already made herself extremely obvious.
Over the past several nights, she had always waited until that dragon secretly came over and took her hand. She would observe what he intended to do before allowing herself to sleep.
On the first night, Mr. Dragon awkwardly pressed her head against his shoulder.
And that was all.
On the second night, a certain dragon pecked her forehead twice, called her “wife” twice, and then finished.
On the third night, the cowardly dragon held her hand, sentimentally placed it against his chest to warm it for a while, then fell asleep while still gripping her hand.
Mu Wanwan genuinely did not understand what he was thinking. *(:з」∠)*
Mu Wanwan had become completely resigned.
At first, she had been extremely afraid of Mr. Dragon and worried that he truly was as cruel and bloodthirsty as everyone outside claimed.
However, ever since she discovered that he was awake, he had remained extraordinarily cautious, constantly afraid of disturbing her.
His behaviour was so careful that Mu Wanwan began suspecting he genuinely had not realised she was pretending to sleep—or that she had already noticed he was pretending to remain unconscious.
She had tested him for several nights, yet all she had received in response was this careful, protective cherishing.
Mu Wanwan washed her hands clean.
Her damp fingertips pressed against her burning cheeks, as though she could use them to suppress all that heat.
There must be something wrong with her.
How could she possibly find this frightening-looking dragon, who secretly crept around every night…
Adorable?
Could it be that she truly had begun to develop feelings for Mr. Dragon?
Whether she wished to admit it or not, that faint and ambiguous affection had gradually begun fermenting beyond her control.
Mu Wanwan walked unsteadily out of the kitchen and raised her head towards the setting sun—
Come to think of it, the weather had been excellent lately.
Although the temperature continued to drop, every day brought warm sunlight.
The clouds were edged in gold, resembling sweet candyfloss that had been lightly scorched.
Mu Wanwan patted her cheeks.
She must have gone mad.
Previously, when she had lived inside this cold palace and courtyard, Mengmeng had not been beside her.
Although her days had also been full, she had always felt lonely.
When had she ever looked at the clouds and imagined candyfloss?
Now, her pockets contained pills that could be exchanged for spirit stones.
Several rows of seedlings filled the courtyard.
Mengmeng was playing with the spirit-chicken chicks.
And the dragon…
The dragon’s tail no longer festered, and he no longer coughed blood.
Every day, he obediently pretended to sleep.
He was actually easier to care for than before.
Mu Wanwan found this somewhat amusing and turned back towards the room—
She would leave tomorrow.
There were still many things she needed to prepare.
…
Early the following morning, Mu Wanwan finished handling the household affairs.
As she prepared to leave, she immediately noticed a certain dragon’s ears and eyelashes twitching.
Feeling slightly wicked, she did not leave immediately.
Instead, she approached the bed. A faint smile coloured her voice as she softly asked, “Mr. Dragon, may I rub your ears?”
Mu Wanwan clearly saw the dragon’s body stiffen slightly.
Looking at his unaltered face, still covered in ugly curse markings, she felt her cheeks heat.
“You aren’t saying anything…”
Mu Wanwan gently placed her hand upon one of his fluffy ears and carefully squeezed it.
“So I’ll assume you’ve agreed.”
She could feel him trembling.
For some inexplicable reason, she also trembled shyly along with him.
She had merely intended to tease the wicked dragon pretending to sleep.
As though she had been burned, Mu Wanwan quickly rubbed his furry ears twice and withdrew her hand.
“Mr. Dragon, I’m leaving.”
She put on her carrying basket and stood beside the doorway filled with sunlight.
After pausing, she said, “I’ll buy some meat this time.”
Holding a spiritual fruit, the fluffy chirper also looked at her reluctantly.
“Chirp! Chirp, chirp~”
It was saying that Mengmeng would behave and keep a close watch over the wicked dragon! ^w^
…
Mu Wanwan locked the courtyard gate and met Hongye at their agreed location.
The two of them then left the residence.
“This time, I want to visit the human marketplace,” Mu Wanwan told Hongye as the ox cart travelled beyond the residence’s barrier.
Hongye looked surprised.
“Why does Madam wish to visit the human marketplace?”
Mu Wanwan smiled.
“There are too many people among the elves who are skilled at cultivation. My cultivation recently improved slightly. Last time, I purchased some seeds from the elven marketplace, so this time I want to see whether there are any methods of earning spirit stones among the humans.”
She had already known that she would not be able to conceal her improved cultivation for very long.
It was better to admit it openly.
She could also see through Hongye’s cultivation now.
Hongye was a late first-rank cultivator.
She was an extremely cautious maid and would not casually do anything difficult that offered no benefit.
“Then Madam has indeed chosen the correct place.”
Hongye smiled at Mu Wanwan, though inwardly she was shocked—
The last time, she had still been able to sense some of Madam’s aura and roughly estimate her strength.
This time, she could no longer sense her aura at all.
Either Mu Wanwan had encountered some extraordinary opportunity, or her cultivation had surpassed Hongye’s by far too much.
“Hongye, take this spirit stone.”
Mu Wanwan took out one low-grade spirit stone and pressed it into her hand.
“You’ve worked hard taking care of me lately. Now that Fuliu is gone, I also have a little more money available each month.”
Hongye’s palms were covered in sweat, but she accepted the spirit stone with a cheerful smile.
“Thank you, Madam. Hongye certainly won’t speak carelessly.”
She truly had no intention of reporting anything.
Although Lord Ao Qin had instructed them to monitor the couple, he had only occasionally asked questions during the first few days after His Majesty’s wedding.
He had not visited during this entire period, nor had he sent any of his subordinates.
Even after something happened to Fuliu, he had not sent anyone new to replace her.
If Hongye went to report Mu Wanwan, she would probably gain nothing and might even lose her life.
If she said nothing, however, she could receive some benefits from Mu Wanwan every month.
Why would she choose otherwise?
The ox cart travelled slowly and soon arrived at the marketplace jointly operated by the humans and dwarves.
Hongye had already made up her mind.
She climbed calmly down from the cart and cheerfully said goodbye to Mu Wanwan.
Carrying her basket, Mu Wanwan watched the pedestrians travelling along the road and adjusted the edge of her veiled hat—
The marketplace jointly operated by the human and dwarf races was considerably larger than the elven marketplace.
First of all, the gate leading to the fee-collection area was far more imposing. It was approximately twice the size of the elven marketplace’s entrance.
Directly before the main gate stood a large testing stone approximately half a person’s height.
Two rows of cultivators stood on either side of the stone.
One row consisted of humans, while the other consisted of dwarves.
There was nothing especially unusual about the human cultivators.
Most were young or middle-aged men.
When Mu Wanwan had visited the elven marketplace, her cultivation had still been too weak to estimate the strength of the guards at the entrance.
Now that she was stronger, she could discern somewhat more.
Most appeared to be second- or third-rank cultivators.
There were also several whose cultivation she could not determine merely from their auras.
As for the dwarves, Mu Wanwan found them rather fascinating.
This was the first time she had ever seen members of the dwarf race.
**Author’s Note:**
Mr. Dragon, ears trembling: “I’ll sit here obediently and wait for my wife to feed me.”
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