Unsheathed

Before long, an elderly woman stepped into the room with a clay vial in her hand, and she respectfully offered up the vial to Liu Chongrun with both hands before silently departing.

While it was clear from the unfathomable old woman's aura that her best days were long behind her, Chen Ping'an knew that she was the reason why Bejeweled Hairpin Island had been able to exist in Bamboo Scroll Lake for so long.

In fact, perhaps it was only thanks to her that Liu Chongrun had been able to escape the terrible fate of being defiled by that brazen earth immortal swordsman from the Luminous Vermilion Empire all those years ago.

Liu Chongrun tossed the vial at Chen Ping'an as she said, "Make sure to keep that vial safe, Mr. Chen. Those are some of the best pills from the water residence of my former home nation, and they can replenish the spiritual energy of water palace acupoints and repair water-attribute bonded items. If this vial of pills appeared in Bamboo Scroll Lake, then it'd be sure to create a massive stir and be fought over by all of the Golden Core Tier earth immortals!

“This will be my deposit and serve as a gesture of sincerity from our Bejeweled Hairpin Island. It's now up to you to follow through on your end of the deal. If you can get it done, then my offer still stands as long as I'm still in Bamboo Scroll Lake. However, once I've moved to the Dragon Spring Prefecture, then the offer will have expired!"

Chen Ping'an ignored her final remarks as he opened the vial on the spot before tipping out a green pill from within, and after closing his eyes for a moment, he reopened them and flashed Liu Chongrun a smile before tossing the pill straight into his mouth.

"Of course, I haven't tampered with this vial of pills, but how were you so sure so quickly, Mr. Chen?" Liu Chongrun asked in a curious manner.

Of course, Chen Ping'an wasn't going to tell her the truth, which was that the green-robed water fortune children in his water palace had told him that the pills were fine to consume.

Instead, he replied, "Seeing as I'm in Bamboo Scroll Lake, I've decided to do as the locals do and gamble big to win big."

Liu Chongrun raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

"I would like to ask you about the detailed history between your former home name nation and the Luminous Vermilion Empire, so I'll have to take up some more of your time. Would that be alright?" Chen Ping'an asked.