A Win Win

The next morning, Han Yu stood outside Li Mei's workshop, arms crossed, dressed in his freshest clean-ish robes. Warlord Sniffles perched on his shoulder like a fuzzy war general.

He knocked twice.

The door opened, revealing Li Mei with soot in her hair and a rat wearing safety goggles on her head.

"You're early," she said, peering at him.

"I have a proposition," Han Yu said solemnly.

Li Mei raised an eyebrow. "If it's about selling those Panic Pellets, no."

"No, no." He waved her off. "I want you to give me something that helps my cultivation."

Li Mei blinked. "Seriously?"

"Think about it," he said, stepping inside. "If I get stronger, I can survive more of your weird pills. We both win."

Li Mei narrowed her eyes. "True… But you realize the cultivation-enhancing pills I make have, um, slightly higher chances of side effects?"

"How high?"