"I’m not like some people who hide things all day," Shang Xinlei said, giving Yan Qing a sidelong glance. "We all have two eyes, one nose, and one mouth. I don’t know what there is to keep secret."

Pharmacist’s Wish glanced at Yan Qing, who remained unmoved with his mask on, and chuckled, "Maybe it’s because he’s too ugly? I’ve seen many bizarre-looking Demonic Messengers in Shu Dao Mountain. As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart; dark-hearted people might be covered in pimples."

"Makes sense." Shang Xinlei nodded seriously. "Besides, if you hide away all the time and don’t show yourself, even if you were good-looking, you’d become more and more sinister-looking."

Yan Qing sat there as if he didn’t hear anything, thinking, no matter what nonsense you guys say, I’m wearing this mask anyway.

He wasn’t surprised at all when Shang Xinlei took off her mask. She looked like a noble lady from Jiangnan, but inside, she had the heart of a true Jianghu hero, valuing righteousness and camaraderie. She had previously cared for Jiang Shi and later worried about the Rabbit Heroine she had never met. Whether it’s the story between Pharmacist’s Wish and the Rabbit Heroine or Pharmacist’s current gesture of taking off the mask to apologize, it all fits Shang Xinlei’s taste too well. The past minor quarrels turned into marks of a friendship born out of conflict.

Yan Qing could guarantee that when Shang Xinlei took off her mask, she thought she looked fantastic because her face was flushed red. Apart from the time he took off her stockings, Yan Qing hadn’t seen Shang Xinlei this excited.

"You’re making me feel even more like I’ve made a big mistake." Pharmacist’s Wish sighed, lamenting: "To think I associated you with someone like Yellow Dog, it was such an insult to you!"

Shang Xinlei initially wanted to say not to mind it, but hearing this, she changed her tone and said sadly, "Good that you know."

"Actually, I’ve wanted to ask for a long time, why were you two having meals together back then?"

"Due to the Jiangnan City case, I owed Yellow Dog a lot, so I had to cook for him daily to repay it bit by bit." Shang Xinlei sighed, "Sometimes, I even had to bring him supper."

"So it’s just a simple debt relationship? You weren’t... lovers, were you?"

Shang Xinlei retorted, "How do we compare in appearance?"

"Although I’ve never seen what he looks like, he couldn’t be that good-looking. The gap between you two is like a mongrel to a fairy," said Pharmacist’s Wish.

Shang Xinlei asked again, "What about our personalities?"

"He’s dark-hearted, acts erratically, is greedy and lustful. Every time a conflict breaks out in the Thief’s House, you actively defend him. Compared to you, he’s like a rat seeing the moon."

"So what’s your conclusion?"

"I apologize for my initial blindness. It was really inappropriate of me. I was totally blinded by rage, which led me to make such a ridiculous judgment."

"I solemnly accept your apology."

Watching them get more and more heated in conversation, Yan Qing felt baffled.

No way, am I invisible, or has my presence dropped to the lowest? Did I hypnotize you into thinking I didn’t exist? Is it now a custom in both the Liang Kingdom and the Zhou Kingdom to badmouth others to their face?

He deliberately coughed twice, and Shang Xinlei looked at him impatiently, "If your throat hurts, I’ll bring you some sour plum soup tomorrow. Bear with it for now. By the way, Black Wolf, want to have lunch together tomorrow?"

Pharmacist’s Wish thought for a moment, "After getting the Dragon and Snake Seven Kills, I’ll probably stay at the Military Town often. When exploring the Secret Realm, each run might take a whole day. I should be able to come tomorrow, but in the future, it might be hard to say. But whenever I have time, I will come."

Shang Xinlei blinked, wait a minute, didn’t I just invite you for lunch tomorrow? Why does it feel like you intend to become a regular at my lunch table? Did I imply that in my words?

She suddenly felt a slight sense of disquiet. Her numbed instincts started to sound an alarm, but Pharmacist’s Wish was already looking at Yan Qing.

"Yellow Dog," Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly took out the Dragon and Snake Seven Kills, "what do you think of this Legendary Token?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"It’s perfect for you, compensating for your weaknesses and enhancing your strengths." Yan Qing commented, "If you had the Dragon and Snake Seven Kills tonight, you alone could deal with the Divine Marquis Mansion constables and Chu Luoyan."

"I think it suits me too," Pharmacist’s Wish put away the Dragon and Snake Seven Kills, saying leisurely, "But this is rightfully mine. Don’t expect me to thank you."

"No, no, I let you have it."

How could Yan Qing miss the chance to hold this over Pharmacist’s Wish’s head? He immediately widened his eyes and said, "If it weren’t for me not intending to bid from the start, how could you have snatched it?"

"Didn’t you bid? You even bid alongside me at the end, with the same price."

"I only didn’t want White Fox to get it for 56 Thief Points! If her points were close to ours, I wouldn’t have bid, just to watch you two fight."

"But you did bid alongside me, you can’t deny that, can you?" Pharmacist’s Wish crossed her arms and snorted, "You refrained from bidding at first intending to let me have it, but who knows if you changed your mind later? Actions speak louder than words, and since you showed the intent to bid, don’t expect me to thank you. Moreover, we were tied for first in points. It’s not like you had more than me, so it can’t be said anyone let anyone else have it. I got it by my own ability."

Actually, Yan Qing hadn’t planned on using this favor for anything. At most, he would pull this card to suppress her when Pharmacist’s Wish had a bad attitude. If Pharmacist’s Wish were being nice, Yan Qing probably wouldn’t even feel right using this card. But as Pharmacist’s Wish was being so irritating, and Yan Qing wasn’t made of mud, he naturally got a little temperamental.