「The next morning.」

The Third Elder, who had arranged to go with Su Xuan to the Ten Cauldrons Sect to borrow their Pill Furnace, was behaving rather oddly.

"Xiao Yun, look at this. How can you let me go out dressed like this in such cold weather?" the Third Elder asked his alchemy apprentice, Xiao Yun, with a gloomy expression after washing up.

"But this outfit is quite appropriate!" Xiao Yun glanced at the Third Elder's attire—a thick cotton coat—and saw nothing wrong with it.

She had no idea what had gotten into the Third Elder that morning. He'd woken up before dawn and spent an unusually long time just washing his face and combing his hair, which was previously unimaginable. After all, the Third Elder would sometimes go half a month without washing his face or combing his hair for the sake of alchemy.

"It is not appropriate!" Seeing that Xiao Yun had failed to catch his hint, the Third Elder decided to be direct. "I have to go out on a long journey today to help your beloved Su Xuan borrow a Pill Furnace. My image is very important, Xiao Yun. Besides keeping me warm, how else should my clothes make me look?"

Xiao Yun blushed. The Third Elder is acting so strange today, gossiping about my crush on Su Xuan! It's true I'm fond of him, but so are a lot of other girls—Ning Wan included... Hearing it come from the Third Elder's mouth is just so awkward.

"I understand. You need to look more presentable." Xiao Yun quickly turned to rummage through chests and cupboards to find a suitable outfit for him.

The Third Elder finally nodded in satisfaction.

Still, it took a great deal of fussing before the Third Elder finally donned a brilliant red robe, looking as festive as if it were the New Year.

"Xiao Yun, prepare the carriage!" Once the clothing was settled, the Third Elder instructed Xiao Yun to ready the carriage. He planned to travel in it, bringing some gifts and picking up Su Xuan along the way.

However, when Xiao Yun brought over the best carriage from the Nine Cauldrons Sect, the Third Elder found it to be beneath his standards.

"Third Elder, our Nine Cauldrons Sect may not be short on money, but we value simplicity and frugality. Where am I supposed to find you a luxury carriage?" Xiao Yun bemoaned. "You might as well ask Young Master Su. His grand mansion must have a luxury carriage."

"That could work," the Third Elder surprisingly agreed with a nod.

Just then, Su Xuan, riding a white horse, ambled into the Third Elder's courtyard.

Upon seeing the Third Elder in a bright red robe, he widened his eyes and couldn't help but exclaim, "Third Elder, are you off to your wedding?"

It was meant as a joke, but upon hearing it, the Third Elder's face turned even redder than Xiao Yun's.

"Young Master Su, you're here!" Seeing Su Xuan was like finding a savior. Xiao Yun rushed to him and said, "The Third Elder is insisting on traveling in a luxury carriage. I couldn't borrow one and was just about to suggest asking to use one from your estate!"

"I don't have any carriages left." Su Xuan spread his hands. The Ge Family had taken all of them when they moved.

"Xiao Yun, come here for a moment." The Third Elder suddenly beckoned her over conspiratorially and pressed an object into her hand. "Go to the Fortune Bank and find Manager Tian. Tell him I want to borrow his carriage."

Xiao Yun looked down and saw a pill bottle in her hand. The bank did indeed have a very luxurious carriage, one reserved for its most prestigious clients.

"Is that a good idea, Third Elder?" Xiao Yun hesitated. "Didn't you and Manager Tian have a falling out?"

Last year, Manager Tian from the Fortune Bank had asked the Third Elder to refine a pill for him. However, the Third Elder refused because he wasn't offered a visitation fee. The two hadn't spoken since, and if they happened to bump into each other on the street, they just glared at one another.

"That's why I'm giving you this pill!" the Third Elder said brazenly.

"He might not even need pills anymore," Xiao Yun pouted.

Su Xuan watched from the side, dumbfounded. He couldn't fathom why the Third Elder was suddenly so concerned with pomp and circumstance.

He had originally planned to fly the Third Elder to the Ten Cauldrons Sect on his horse. Seeing how things were, he doubted the elder would agree, but he decided to ask anyway. "Third Elder, how about we fly over on my horse?"

"Inappropriate," the Third Elder waved his hand. "I've also brought some gifts, so flying would be inconvenient. Besides, for an old man like me, riding a flying horse is far too undignified."

Su Xuan and Xiao Yun were both speechless. The atmosphere immediately grew awkward.

Even the Third Elder felt the awkwardness. He coughed lightly and said to Xiao Yun, "How about you go find Ning Wan and borrow the City Lord's carriage?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yun nearly fell flat on her face. That's even worse than borrowing the carriage from the bank!

Xiao Yun shot a helpless, pleading look at Su Xuan and said in a low voice, "Young Master Su, with your esteemed status, you must be a distinguished client of the Fortune Bank, right? Could you please go and borrow the carriage? I really can't do it… Here, take this."

With that, she opened her small palm, trying to hand the pill to Su Xuan.

"The Fortune Bank…" Su Xuan didn't take the pill, stroking his chin instead. "That makes things simple. There's no need for a gift at all."

If the Third Elder hadn't caused such a fuss, he would have almost forgotten. During the trials in the Yu Xian Sect, he obtained the Fire Spirit Sword and activated a system reward: the Fortune Bank itself! In other words, he's the owner of the Fortune Bank! Why would the owner need to *borrow* one of its carriages?

He then said to Xiao Yun, "Just send someone to give the manager of the Fortune Bank a message. Tell him to bring the most luxurious carriage to the Nine Cauldrons Sect for me."

"Uh…" Xiao Yun was stunned. Even if Su Xuan is a distinguished client of the Fortune Bank, does he really have that much clout? Enough to have Manager Tian personally deliver it?

The Third Elder also found it hard to believe. Even if Manager Tian were willing, he'd probably refuse the moment he heard the destination was the Nine Cauldrons Sect.

Then again, Xiao Yun figured Su Xuan had no reason to joke with her about this. With that thought, she hurried off to the Fortune Bank herself.

***

Upon arriving at the bank and seeing Manager Tian, Xiao Yun braced herself. She hadn't even finished speaking when something strange occurred. "Manager Tian, I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a favor to ask. Could I use the bank's carriage…"

The half-gray-haired Manager Tian pulled Xiao Yun into a corner and whispered, "Xiao Yun, did Young Master Su happen to visit the Nine Cauldrons Sect today?"

"Are you looking for Young Master Su?" Xiao Yun blinked.

"Yes!" Manager Tian grimaced. "I heard yesterday that Young Master Su returned to the city. I was desperate to see him, but he went to your Nine Cauldrons Sect and never came out. *Sigh*..."

"Young Master Su is at the Nine Cauldrons Sect right now, in the Third Elder's residence!" Xiao Yun said. "But they're about to leave on a long journey!"

"What?!" Manager Tian grew anxious. "Xiao Yun, could you do me a favor? Please, take me into the Nine Cauldrons Sect to see Young Master Su!"

Xiao Yun was speechless.

Seeing Xiao Yun's hesitation, Manager Tian immediately stuffed something into her hand. "Here, take this!"

Xiao Yun glanced down and saw a valuable jade bracelet. What in the world is going on?

Manager Tian continued, "Don't worry, I won't start a fight with the Third Elder. As long as I can see Young Master Su, I'm willing to apologize and make full amends!"

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