A New Journey, Part I

Zhou Lihua stood in her ingredient room. It was a large room within her compound that had shelf upon shelf of alchemy ingredients. All the ingredients were divided by tier, then further divided by name.

She had started with the tier 1 ingredients, then moved on to tier 2, 3, and 4. There were even tier 5 ingredients within this room, but she could not refine tier 5 pills yet, so she didn’t bother. After storing everything she thought she might need into her storage ring, she left the room and made her way outside.

“Young Miss,” Zhou Wen appeared before her in the hall, hands clasped before her, hair tied in buns that made her look like a panda. “Do you have everything you need for your trip?”

Zhou Lihua nodded. “I believe so.”

“I regret that I cannot come with you, but Lord Chaoxiang has requested that I stay here,” continued the woman.

“It’s fine. I have a very capable bodyguard accompanying me.”

“… Do you mean Jian Wu?”

“Who else would I mean?”