Chapter 696: Seeing Ximen Qi Again

Hearing Ximen Qi's invitation, Zhou Qingyu revealed a look of interest.

The Maple City Pill Gathering is about to be held, and various rumors about the Pill Gathering have been spreading quite hotly among the Alchemist circle of the Beast Taming Sect recently.

She has heard quite a few rumors regarding the Pill Gathering.

Naturally, she knows the benefits of attending the Pill Gathering.

Over these past three years.

Through constant study of the Pill Formula that Wang Daniu gifted her.

Her attainments in the Dao of Alchemy have improved significantly.

Now, she has already reached a bottleneck stage.

She is only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to become a Fourth-tier Low-grade Alchemist.

If she could attend this Pill Gathering and gain some inspiration from the alchemy experience shared by those high-ranking Alchemists.

Perhaps she could find the opportunity to break through and become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist in one go.

Thinking of this.

A look of gratitude appeared on Zhou Qingyu's pretty face.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Ximen."

"For Senior Brother Ximen to be able to save such a precious spot for Qing Yu, Qing Yu is endlessly grateful."

"I wonder what the value of this spot is? Junior Sister will certainly not let Senior Brother suffer a loss."

Hearing Zhou Qingyu's words, Ximen Qi waved his hand magnanimously, "Junior Sister, you and I are both New Students of the same batch, and we get along well with each other."

"It is just a mere Pill Gathering spot; talking about a transaction is too distant."

"I will just give it to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingyu hurriedly shook her head, "This spot is too precious; that Senior Brother Ximen is able to prioritize selling it to Junior Sister, Junior Sister is already endlessly grateful."

"How could I occupy it for nothing?"

"Senior Brother should still name a price."

Hearing Zhou Qingyu's response, which was still filled with a sense of distance.

Ximen Qi frowned.

Just as he was preparing to speak, he suddenly saw a somewhat familiar figure walking toward this place.

His expression shifted.

Detecting the strange look on Ximen Qi's face, Zhou Qingyu subconsciously looked in the direction of his gaze.

Immediately.

A familiar figure came into view.

After seeing that figure, a look of deep joy immediately appeared on her face.

She stood up and went to greet the person.

"Wang Daniu, you have returned safely, that is truly wonderful."

Hearing Zhou Qingyu's voice filled with surprise, Wang Jianqiang smiled and nodded, "I just returned, many thanks for Third Miss's concern."

Zhou Qingyu circled Wang Jianqiang with a face full of concern, and after noticing that there was not the slightest injury on him.

She let out a long sigh of relief.

"It is good that you are back."

Beside the stone table.

Ximen Qi watched the affectionate attitude Zhou Qingyu showed toward Wang Daniu.

His expression had already become stiff.

He had long since recognized him.

The person who arrived was that servant of Zhou Qingyu's whom he had seen before.

A mere servant, nothing more.

Even if he had died.

At worst, one could just replace him.

Where was the need to be so concerned?

As a master, Zhou Qingyu was actually so affectionate toward a lowly servant!

This affection even surpassed what she showed when facing him, her "good friend."

This caused a deep sense of jealousy to well up in his heart.

He himself was one of the most talented among the Beast Taming Sect's New Students.

In the future, he would certainly become an Inner Sect Disciple, and his future prospects were limitless.

In Zhou Qingyu's heart, was he really not as important as a slave?

Thinking of this.

A cold glint flashed in Ximen Qi's eyes as he looked at Wang Jianqiang.

He stood up calmly.

"Junior Sister Zhou."

Just as Zhou Qingyu and Wang Jianqiang were exchanging pleasantries without pause.

A voice interrupted their conversation.

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyu turned to look at Ximen Qi.

Only then did she remember that there was still a guest present.

Her previous action of leaving the guest aside to exchange pleasantries with Wang Daniu was indeed somewhat impolite.

A touch of apology appeared in her expression, "I'm sorry, Senior Brother Ximen. My servant just returned from being out, and I was a bit excited for a moment, neglecting you."

Ximen Qi shook his head with a smile, "That Junior Sister Zhou can treat a lowly servant with such sincerity—this kind of virtuous quality is truly admirable."

Hearing the word "lowly" spill from Ximen Qi's mouth, Zhou Qingyu felt instinctively uncomfortable.

However, she had always had a very good impression of Ximen Qi.

She did not think of it in a bad light.

Perhaps it was the influence of his ingrained views on servants that caused him to say those two words unintentionally.

It was not deliberately aimed at Wang Daniu.

She smiled and did not dwell on the matter, "Senior Brother Ximen, you flatter me too much."

Ximen Qi looked at Wang Jianqiang, his gaze flickering, then he looked calmly at Zhou Qingyu, "Junior Sister Zhou, didn't you just say that you didn't want to obtain the Pill Gathering spot in my hands for nothing, and wanted to get it through a trade?"

"I have suddenly thought of a condition; if Junior Sister Zhou can agree to it, it shall count as the compensation for trading that spot."

"What does Junior Sister Zhou think?"

Zhou Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Please go ahead, Senior Brother Ximen."

Ximen Qi gave a light smile and said slowly, "In the family I come from, there is an old servant who has served our Ximen Family conscientiously for a lifetime."

"His granddaughter was born in my Ximen Family and became a member of the Ximen Family with a different surname."

"She has always longed to join the Beast Taming Sect, but unfortunately, her talent is limited, and she cannot become a Beast Taming Sect Disciple."

"And my servant quota was given to a direct descendant within the family, so I cannot bestow it upon her."

"Could Junior Sister Zhou agree to change servants, and let that member of my Ximen Family with a different surname enter the Beast Taming Sect as your servant to cultivate?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingyu shook her head without hesitation, "Senior Brother Ximen, please change to another condition. My servant quota has already been given to Wang Daniu, and I have no more."

"Forgive me, Junior Sister is unable to help."

Ximen Qi shook his head with a smile, "Junior Sister Zhou, the servant quota is not fixed to any one person."

"You only need to expel your current servant, and wouldn't your servant quota become vacant?"

"Then, just recruit that member of my Ximen Family with a different surname as your servant, and wouldn't that work?"

Zhou Qingyu frowned and shook her head again, "I'm sorry, Senior Brother Ximen, I already said before that I do not wish to change servants."

"Please change to another condition."

Ximen Qi frowned, "Junior Sister Zhou, this person is merely a piece of trash at the Qi Refining First Layer; why must you be so persistent?"

"He cannot help you with anything; wouldn't it be a good thing to change to a stronger servant?"

"He is not trash, Senior Brother Ximen; please conduct yourself with dignity."

Hearing Ximen Qi once again use insulting words toward Wang Daniu, Zhou Qingyu's expression immediately turned a few degrees colder.

Ximen Qi was stunned.

Ever since the two met during the New Student Entry assessment, Zhou Qingyu had always treated him with great courtesy.

When had she ever spoken to him in such a tone, bordering on a reprimand?

All for the sake of a lowly servant.

Zhou Qingyu had actually treated him this way!

His expression immediately turned ugly.