Rebirth of Jinxuan

She looked around in confusion, but Xiao Wu and Xiao Ba, the two little guys, had disappeared without a trace.

"Sigh, where have these two little rascals run off to again?" Lu Jinxuan shook her head helplessly, but didn't pay much attention, after all, these two little ones have always been lively and active.

She turned and went back to her seat to continue chatting with the elegant woman.

"I'm sorry, my two spirit beasts ran away just now. Please excuse the trouble."

"It's alright, they're still young, they all like to play." The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes adding to her mature charm. "My name is Hu Xinyue, just call me Xinyue."

"My name is Lu Jinxuan."

“Madam Lu, I just noticed that you have quite a bit of insight into the art of managing a husband, could it be…” Hu Xinyue gave Lu Jinxuan a meaningful look.

Lu Jinxuan smiled slightly, "To be honest, I came here to find an old friend." She paused, then continued, "It's quite a coincidence, but my old friend is also an alchemist, and I don't know if he's interested in you..."

"I'm here for the elixir too!" Hu Xinyue excitedly chimed in. "My husband is in poor health and needs a 'Soul-Condensing Pill' to strengthen his body and replenish his vital energy. So, when I heard there was one at today's auction, I rushed over."

Lu Jinxuan's heart skipped a beat. Soul-Gathering Pill? That was one of her specialties. "I see, Sister Xinyue is also a person of strong feelings."

Upon hearing the word "younger sister," Hu Xinyue's face immediately lit up with a smile. "Sister Lu, how about we become sworn sisters? I think we click right away!"

“Okay!” Lu Jinxuan readily agreed. The two hit it off immediately and chatted more and more congenially, like old friends who had known each other for many years.

"I live in the Hu residence in the west of the city. If Sister Lu doesn't mind, you are welcome to visit anytime," Hu Xinyue warmly invited.

“Okay, I’ll be going to West Mountain to gather herbs in a few days. I’ll definitely visit you when I get back.” Lu Jinxuan readily accepted.

“Speaking of medicinal herbs,” Hu Xinyue leaned closer to Lu Jinxuan mysteriously, “I heard that deep in the Western Mountains there are…” Before she could finish, Lu Jinxuan interrupted, “thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum?”

"Sister Lu knows too?" Hu Xinyue's eyes widened in surprise.

Lu Jinxuan smiled knowingly, "I know a little bit."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word. "By the way, Sister Lu, you mentioned earlier that you were looking for an old friend, I wonder..." Hu Xinyue asked tentatively.

Lu Jinxuan's eyes flickered. "He... is a tall and handsome man, somewhat aloof, but a very loyal and affectionate person."

Hu Xinyue covered her mouth and chuckled, "Sister Lu, your description sounds a bit like my nemesis! He always has a long face and never smiles at me..."

"Oh? Then what about Xinyue's husband..." Lu Jinxuan asked with great interest.

Just as Hu Xinyue was about to explain in detail, a frail voice suddenly rang out from outside the private room, "Madam, the auction for the Soul-Gathering Pill is about to begin..."

"Soul Condensing Pill?" Hu Xinyue suddenly came to her senses and realized that the auction hall was already bustling with noise and bidding.

"Oh dear, we've been chatting so much we've lost track of time!" She slapped her forehead in annoyance, then turned to look at Lu Jinxuan with a hint of apology in her eyes, "Sister Lu, I'm so sorry for neglecting you."

Lu Jinxuan smiled sweetly, "It's alright. It's only natural that time flies when I'm having such a pleasant chat with Sister Xinyue." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of slyness, "But Sister Xinyue, are you determined to get this Soul-Gathering Pill?"

Hu Xinyue's expression hardened, and she nodded heavily. "We must get it! This Soul-Gathering Pill isn't for my master..." She lowered her voice and leaned close to Lu Jinxuan's ear, "...it's for my eldest brother's youngest son to improve his health. My eldest brother came once before but failed to get it. This time, I'm determined to buy it for him!"

Lu Jinxuan raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking to herself: It seems that this Soul Condensing Pill is quite valuable.

She observed Hu Xinyue's expression discreetly, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Oh? It seems there's more to this story..."

Just as Hu Xinyue was about to explain, the door to the private room was pushed open again, and the old butler bowed and said, "Madam, the auction for the Soul Condensing Pill has begun..." Before he finished speaking, a crisp hammer sounded from the auction stage, followed by a deep voice that resounded throughout the room: "Soul Condensing Pill, starting price, five thousand taels of gold!"

Lu Jinxuan and Hu Xinyue exchanged a glance, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes.

Hu Xinyue grabbed Lu Jinxuan's hand. "Sister Lu, come on, let's go take a look!" With that, she pulled Lu Jinxuan and quickly walked towards the auction stage.

Lu Jinxuan let her pull her along, but a ripple of emotion stirred within her: she was determined to obtain this Soul-Gathering Pill...