"By the way, did you know your father isn’t dead?" Nan Gong Shuixie shifted the heavy topic aside, feeling it was necessary to let Nan Gong Huan know. "Your grandfather went to look for him."

  Nan Gong Huan was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "Grandpa went to look for Dad? Where is he?"

  As for her father, Nan Gong Huan didn’t have much of an attachment. She was more concerned about her grandfather’s safety.

  "It seems he’s in a secret realm somewhere in the Silent Mountains. Most secret realms are formed through spatial collisions, which tear open entrances and exits. Their trajectories are like the movement of stars, usually traceable, but it’s hard to predict when the next collision will occur," Nan Gong Shuixie explained.

  So the chances of Nan Gong Jieming finding Nan Gong Yilü were extremely slim.

  "I see," Nan Gong Huan pursed her lips. She decided she would go to Yue Zun later to inquire about those secret realms and see if she could get any useful information.

  After saying goodbye to her uncle, Nan Gong Huan returned to her dormitory to freshen up, then immediately headed to the herb pavilion.

  Jiang Huairou had initially wanted to follow but worried that being too clingy might raise suspicions, so she held back and stayed in the dormitory to brew potions.

  The herb pavilion was larger than two training grounds combined. It was shaped like a massive circle, with three layers inside and out, leaving a large open space in the middle where many flat baskets were placed, drying magical herbs.

  At the moment, some herb apprentices were carrying herb baskets and moving about, organizing the herbs.

  Only alchemy students were allowed to enter the herb pavilion. Students could use the magical herbs here for free every day, but they had to brew the potions within the pavilion, and the finished potions belonged to the pavilion. In return, they could earn credits.

  Credits could be used to exchange for magical herbs, and only then would the potions brewed belong to them.

  Nan Gong Huan stepped into the main hall of the herb pavilion, hoping to find the herbs she needed. However, the first person she saw upon entering was Lu Sui’an.

  Lu Sui’an was holding two bundles of magical herbs, seemingly preparing to brew potions.

  "Nan Gong Huan, are you here to brew potions too? How about a little competition to see who has a higher fusion rate?" Lu Sui’an puffed out her chest, looking arrogant.

  However, Nan Gong Huan merely glanced at her before walking past, focusing on the herbs on the shelves.

  Being ignored, Lu Sui’an’s face flashed with embarrassment. She turned and glared at Nan Gong Huan, still speaking in a haughty tone. "Could it be that you know you can’t beat me, so you’re avoiding me? Well, at least you have some self-awareness."

  "Yeah, I can’t beat you," Nan Gong Huan replied dismissively.

  Yue Zun had mentioned that the magical herb "Moonlit Encounter" could be found in the herb pavilion, so she began scanning the vast space.

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  The outermost ring of the pavilion was filled with magical herbs, making the search somewhat tedious, but Nan Gong Huan searched meticulously.

  "Hmph," Lu Sui’an, seeing Nan Gong Huan’s dismissive attitude, grew even more frustrated. "Nan Gong Huan, if you compete with me, I’ll give you one magical herb. How about that?"

  As she searched, Nan Gong Huan replied, "One? Too little. Make it a hundred, and I’ll compete with you."

  "You!" Lu Sui’an stomped her foot in anger. Who in their right mind would wager a hundred magical herbs for a competition?

  "Senior Sister Lu, please keep your voice down in the herb pavilion," an herb apprentice standing by the shelves reminded her.

  Lu Sui’an immediately shut her mouth, her face twisting in frustration as she stormed off.

  She’d show Nan Gong Huan her skills sooner or later!

  With the noise gone, Nan Gong Huan felt much more at peace.

  Soon, she spotted the name "Moonlit Encounter" on the task board in the herb pavilion.

  The task required her to tend to the herb fields daily for half a month, and in return, she would receive the Moonlit Encounter and some credits.

  Although Moonlit Encounter was somewhat rare, it wasn’t widely used in most potion recipes, so few students took on this task.

  "I’ll take this task," Nan Gong Huan stood at the task registration counter, presenting her student crystal board. An herb apprentice assisted her in registering the task.

  "The herb field currently in need of help is East Field Twelve, with three acres of Dream Spiral Grass. For the next half month, Senior Sister will be tending to this field. The precautions have been transferred to your crystal board. You can start today, and the final credit evaluation will depend on the overall condition of the field. Any questions?" The herb apprentice explained in a formal tone.

  "No problem, thank you," Nan Gong Huan nodded without hesitation. She glanced at her student crystal board and saw the new task’s precautions.

  Basically, it involved weeding, watering, fertilizing, and there was a note at the end saying that pleasant singing could help the Dream Spiral Grass grow better.

  Nan Gong Huan couldn’t help but twitch her lips. She knew about Dream Spiral Grass—it was a common magical herb but extremely finicky. Under ideal conditions, its yield could increase tenfold, but if anything went wrong, it would wither overnight.

  If the sunlight wasn’t sufficient or the weather was too humid, it would die by evening.

  Nan Gong Huan looked up at the sky. It was almost evening. According to the care instructions for Dream Spiral Grass, she only needed to tend to the fields in the morning and evening. It was the perfect time to go check the field now.

  Nan Gong Huan quickly left the herb pavilion. She didn’t notice that behind her, a head peeked out from the side of the pavilion’s entrance.

  Lu Sui’an had been hiding there and saw Nan Gong Huan take on the herb field task. An idea began to form in her mind.

  Just then, a female student walked by, and Lu Sui’an grabbed her arm.

  "Nan Gong Qian’er? Do you know that Nan Gong Huan?" Lu Sui’an held onto Nan Gong Qian’er’s arm. She had seen this person at the third princess’s tea party and had a passing acquaintance with her.

  Nan Gong Qian’er was startled at first, then her expression turned pitiful, and she said with a hint of tears, "Yes, she’s the legitimate daughter of the Nan Gong family. She’s framed me multiple times, bullied and oppressed me, and even almost killed me."

  Now that Nan Gong Huan had joined the alchemy department, Nan Gong Qian’er was filled with resentment.

  Her act was convincing, and it stirred sympathy in Lu Sui’an.

  Lu Sui’an immediately found an ally. "I just saw her take on a task to tend to the herb fields. How about we team up?"

  "Oh?" Nan Gong Qian’er’s interest was piqued. "You mean to deal with her together?"

  "Exactly! She humiliated me, and I can’t let that go unpunished!" Lu Sui’an clenched her fists, her eyes filled with disgust.

  "Good! She’s bullied me so much in the past. It’s time to give her a taste of her own medicine." Nan Gong Qian’er’s fighting spirit was ignited. She wanted to humiliate Nan Gong Huan, cripple her limbs, pierce her with a thousand arrows, and make her wish she were dead!

  "By the way, what are you doing at the herb pavilion?" Lu Sui’an now felt like she had found a kindred spirit in Nan Gong Qian’er. They were on the same wavelength.

  Nan Gong Qian’er smiled softly. "My master asked me to come and get a few potions from Elder Tingming."

  "What a coincidence! Elder Tingming is my master too. I’ll take you there!" The two naturally linked arms and walked into the herb pavilion, chatting and laughing.