Yun Yi had finally awoken from her dream world. After cleaning her room, taking a shower, and dressing simply, she sat in the living room with a tired expression on her face.
"I didn't expect to feel this exhausted just from doing simple chores. This body is so weak... I'm starting to wonder if I can really train it to the required state to start absorbing spiritual energy for cultivation," Yun Yi mumbled to herself, feeling a little dizzy from the strain. She tried to shift her thoughts elsewhere.
"This is really a hard choice. I need more credits if I want to start training. Technically, it can be done without medicine, but the training will be less effective and take much longer," she thought, checking the balance in her account through the Jade Abacus.
"I'm not even sure if this amount is enough to cover the cost of medicine. And is there even medicine like the ones from my previous world? Maybe not. But at least... there has to be something with similar properties, right?" Yun Yi wasn't confident in her own assumptions.
"I need some fresh air and also something to eat. But is there a good place nearby? Let me try to remember..." She searched through this body's memories, and then slowly opened her eyes.
"Oh, there's one. A place called Aurum Alley. A local food area, and it's pretty close," Yun Yi recalled and decided to head out after preparing herself.
Some minutes later, while walking in the Exalting Sanctum, she noticed a small Vidyadhara child with a long, light-purple tail ending in a tuft of fur running toward her—clearly not looking ahead—and suddenly bumping into Yun Yi.
"Ouch... Sorry, I didn't see the road clearly," the small Vidyadhara fell to the ground and tried to stand up using both hands.
"Right! Are you okay? I'm sorry for bumping into you. Did my horn leave a wound anywhere?" The child quickly checked Yun Yi, concerned she might have hurt her.
"Eh... Fortunately, no wounds. And—wait a second—isn't this the 'dragon lady' from the Alchemy Commission?" Yun Yi recognized the child and searched the memories she had, finding information about her.
"You know me? Oh right, my name is Bai Lu. Are you really alright? And please... could you shelter me for a while, just for a bit?" The child—now known to be Bai Lu—was clearly distressed and asked for help.
"Hiding? From whom?" Yun Yi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I ran away from the Alchemy Commission, and now they're chasing me to take me back again! I mean—I'm not running from work, okay!" Bai Lu explained, then realized her wording and tried to correct herself. "RIGHT."
"Well, sure. I'll help shelter you from them," Yun Yi said casually, raising one hand and activating a small domain technique to conceal Bai Lu.
"What are you doing? Where do I hide?" Bai Lu asked, confused.
"You're already hidden," Yun Yi replied, lowering her hand.
"What? I'm hidden? Don't joke— They're coming this way!" Bai Lu looked around nervously as members of the Alchemy Commission approached.
"Young miss, did you happen to see Lady Bai Lu come this way? She ran down this path earlier," one of them asked Yun Yi.
"Lady Bai Lu...? If you mean a small Vidyadhara child, she ran that way," Yun Yi lied without flinching, pointing in the opposite direction.
"That way? Thank you!" The Alchemy Commission member ran off in the direction Yun Yi had indicated.
"W-What just happened...? Why didn't they notice me?" Bai Lu stared as the man ran past, then turned to look at Yun Yi. "Did you... do something to me?"
"Just a small concealment technique," Yun Yi replied nonchalantly.
"How did you do that?! Ahem, sorry... as you know, my name is Bai Lu. If you ever need healing, you can come to me! Right, I didn't even get your name!" Bai Lu said quickly, realizing how impolite she had been.
"My name is Yun Yi. Glad to make your acquaintance, little girl," Yun Yi responded with a small smile.
"What?! I'm not a little girl! Even if my height doesn't reach yours, I'm way older than you! That's the difference of being a long-lived species!" Bai Lu protested, waving her arms.
"Still doesn't change the fact that you're short," Yun Yi teased her with a slight smile.
"It's not my fault, okay! They keep me locked up in the Alchemy Commission every day. A child needs to run to grow up!" Bai Lu pouted, trying to explain.
"And that technique earlier... you just raised your hand. Was that your Path's ability?" Bai Lu asked, clearly curious.
"Hmm... Paths? Oh right, in this world people gain power through some medium... what was it—Aeon?" Yun Yi thought for a moment and answered.
"No. That wasn't a Path ability. It's called Domain," she replied.
"Domain?" Bai Lu tilted her head in confusion.
"Let's change the topic. Want to come with me to Aurum Alley? I'm headed there now," Yun Yi offered casually.
"Aurum Alley?! Of course I'm coming! There's tons of food, and running away is easier with a full stomach!" Bai Lu eagerly accepted, falling in step with her.
"Let's go, then," Yun Yi said, and the two of them made their way to Aurum Alley.
They spent the afternoon at Aurum Alley, enjoying the local food and slowly building a bond. As the day wore on, they eventually went their separate ways to rest for the night.