"Big sister, did I get it right?" Yun Jin beamed, tilting her head at the woman in front of her.
The female pharmacist's mind went utterly blank. It took her a long moment to find her voice again.
"You... how did you know?"
"I just looked once, that's all," Yun Jin said casually.
The woman felt utterly defeated.
She had spent years studying, honing her senses to perceive medicinal attributes. Even now, she had to slowly focus and sense each herb in detail to uncover such information.
But this little girl...
Just one glance?
What kind of monstrous talent was this?!
As the pharmacist struggled with her existential crisis, other customers in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, drawn by the commotion, began gathering around.
"Lan Cen, what's going on?" The owner of the pavilion, a middle-aged man, approached curiously.
"Pavilion Master..." Lan Cen was still dazed. "This little girl identified the herb's properties with just a glance."
The Pavilion Master froze.
Lan Cen was a fifth-grade pharmacist—someone he had gone to great lengths to recruit. Yet even she couldn't determine herb properties instantly.
"Could this child really do it?"
A glimmer flashed in the Pavilion Master's eyes. "Young lady, would you mind identifying a few more herbs for us?"
"I don't mind," Yun Jin replied immediately.
With the crowd forming, this was another perfect chance to show off. She wouldn't miss it.
"Alright, I'll go fetch a few samples from the storeroom. Please wait a moment," said the Pavilion Master.
"Be quick about it." Yun Jin waved her hand like a proper little tyrant.
Yue Zhao's lips twitched.
Strangely enough, the Pavilion Master didn't seem offended. He actually laughed and nodded before walking off.
As soon as the man left, Yue Zhao leaned in and whispered, "The Hundred Herbs Pavilion is a major chain—they control half the herb trade in the region. That Pavilion Master might seem easygoing, but he's not someone to mess with."
Yun Jin blinked. "And?"
"So... if this was just a fluke, we should leave now before he comes back."
Yun Jin sighed. "Senior Brother, relax. I am an alchemy genius. Identifying herbs is child's play."
Yue Zhao exhaled deeply.
Somehow, that didn't reassure him at all.
~
Not long after, the Pavilion Master returned, perhaps worried they'd run off.
This time, he brought three herbs, each carefully placed in its own lacquered box.
"You're still early in your cultivation," the Pavilion Master said warmly, "so I won't make it difficult for you. These three herbs are all Tier Three or below. Take your time. No need to rush. If you can correctly identify them, I'll give all three to you."
Yun Jin tapped her chin thoughtfully.
The Pavilion Master, thinking she was hesitating, was about to reassure her again, when Yun Jin looked up and asked, "If you're giving them away, can you throw in a few more?"
Before she opened her spatial ring, she had been practically broke. Saving a bit here and there was only practical.
The Pavilion Master laughed despite himself. "If you truly have the talent you claim, I won't mind giving you even more."
"Fine, then."
Yun Jin opened the first box. Inside was a crimson herb.
[Scan.]
[Blazing Fire Grass. (Detailed analysis requires 3 simplification points.)]
Ah.
Earlier, identifying the first-grade Biling Grass only cost 1 point. This third-grade herb demanded more.
Perfect. This herb was a key ingredient for Recovery Pills—worth taking.
She spent the points, absorbing the details instantly.
Without a word, she checked the other two herbs.
Ten breaths later, Yun Jin stepped back.
The onlookers murmured.
That fast?
Was she just pretending?
[+5 Emotional Value.]
Yun Jin smiled and began:
"First herb: Third-grade Blazing Fire Grass. Age: Ninety-five years. Potency retention: 98%. However, it was artificially accelerated in growth, leading to a slight risk of explosion during refinement."
The Pavilion Master's expression shifted instantly.
She was completely correct.
"Second herb: Blood Illusion Fruit, second-grade. Age..."
"Third herb: Seven-Color Bloom, second-grade. Age..."
Without hesitation, Yun Jin rattled off every detail.
Then, before the Pavilion Master could confirm her answers, she shoved all three boxes into Yue Zhao's arms.
"Senior Brother, pack these up. They're ours now."
Yue Zhao stood dumbfounded, offering the Pavilion Master an awkward smile.
Should he... take them?
The Pavilion Master studied Yun Jin, then chuckled. "She's right. These belong to you now."
"Many thanks." Yue Zhao accepted the herbs, staring at Yun Jin like she'd grown a second head.
Was his junior sister... actually an alchemy prodigy too?!
"Young lady, with such skill at your age, you must come from a great family?" The Pavilion Master probed.
Yun Jin sighed dramatically. "Uncle, do I look like I'm from a great family? If I were, with my talent, I'd already be a ninth-grade alchemist by now!"
The Pavilion Master's eye twitched.
The sheer audacity.
"You're the first to discover my genius. So, how about investing in me? Say... a hundred herbs upfront? I'll pay you back in pills later."
"You're already an alchemist?" the Pavilion Master asked, startled.
"Not yet." Yun Jin shook her head.
The man exhaled in relief. If she were already certified, it would be too much.
"But I'm about to be," Yun Jin said. "I'm heading to the Alchemy Hall for the assessment right now. Isn't that right, Senior Brother?"
She turned and gave Yue Zhao a meaningful glance.
Yue Zhao: "...Yes?"
"Of course it is," Yun Jin said confidently. "With my talent, it'd be a shame not to become an alchemist."
The Pavilion Master couldn't help but ask, "Have you ever practiced pill refinement before?"
"Nope. But I think I can pass on the first try."
She still wore that overly confident expression.
If not for what had just happened, the Pavilion Master would've dismissed her as a lunatic.
But now...
Looking at her radiant confidence, he paused for a moment, then actually smiled.
"The exam fee is ten mid-grade spirit stones. I'll cover it. If you pass, I hope you'll supply my pavilion with your future pills. If not, consider it an investment. Deal?"
Her herb identification alone made her worth the gamble.
And if she did become an alchemist?
The returns would be astronomical.
"How could I possibly accept that?" Yun Jin said politely.
The Pavilion Master opened his mouth to reassure her again, but—
"Thank you, Pavilion Master. It's settled then!" Yun Jin grinned.
"...Alright."
"Senior Brother, look! I saved us another ten spirit stones," she said cheerfully.
Yue Zhao was numb.
This entire situation had spiraled beyond his comprehension.
There was no way she could actually... pass the exam... right?