Definitely Not a Purebred Antler Serpent

"No need," Grace said, pointing at her carriage. "I’m riding in a carriage with the Zhu Family crest. In Danyang City, besides Queenie Zhu, no one would dare openly cause trouble for me."

"That’s true," Samuel Summers hesitated, then added, "Grace, since I ran into you, could you help me with something?"

"Sure, just tell me!" Grace nodded.

"I need to talk to Maya Summers," Samuel said, looking troubled. "But I can’t say it in front of others—I need to meet her alone somewhere. Could you help me set up a meeting at the Guardian Temple?"

"At the Guardian Temple, huh…" Grace scratched her forehead, finding it a bit tricky. "Why not just tell me what you want to say? I’ll pass the message to her."

Samuel shook his head.

"Or you could write her a letter, and I’ll deliver it?"

"That’s not ideal either. It’s best if I tell her face-to-face," Samuel replied. "Don’t worry, Grace, I’m not trying to pester her—there’s something important she needs to know."

"I’ll give it a shot! But you know how my aunt avoids you these days, so I’ll have to make up a story. Then you two can have a ‘chance encounter’?"

"Whatever works for you," Samuel said with a smile. "Once it’s set, just send word to me anytime. I’ll cooperate fully."

Grace nodded. "Then go home and wait for news!"

"Thank you, Grace."

"I should be the one thanking you," Grace laughed. "If it weren’t for you, Queenie Zhu might have killed me today!"

Samuel frowned. "Next time you go out, bring more guards."

"Okay, got it!"

Samuel gave her a gentle, sunny smile.

...

The two parted ways, and the crowd at the bulletin board had mostly dispersed.

Grace boarded her carriage and continued toward the pharmacy.

Inside the carriage, she grabbed Cutie Pie and pried open his mouth: "Cutie Pie, let me see your teeth."

Cutie Pie was forced to open his mouth wide, looking rather silly.

"Huh? I just noticed, your teeth... don’t look like snake teeth at all," Grace said curiously. "Two neat rows of big white teeth—they look more like human teeth..."

The Antler Serpent squirmed, freeing its head from her grasp, looking rather sulky.

"Such strong jaws—you actually bit through Queenie Zhu’s sword in one go. You really are a special Antler Serpent..." Grace muttered.

"Miss Lawrence, it definitely isn’t a purebred Antler Serpent," Claire declared.

"Exactly! Maybe its mom was an Antler Serpent, but its dad was some other spirit beast..." Hope chimed in.

The Antler Serpent lay on Grace’s lap, unmoving, ignoring the three women entirely...

...

At the pharmacy, Grace bought some common medicines to stock up in her spatial storage.

Then she boarded the carriage again, instructing Tenner and Edward Wang to drive on.

This street’s first half was lined with pharmacies, and the second half had plenty of blacksmiths and spirit weapon shops.

After getting the Fireheart Gem from the Infernal Drake’s spine, Grace wanted to forge a sword that suited her.

There were tons of blacksmiths on this street—big and small, old and new, some even about to close down and sell their shops.

After circling the street, Grace had the carriage stop in front of the largest and busiest shop, then got out and walked inside.

The shop had a bold, eye-catching name: "Good Luck Forge."