Chapter 1021: Warm Baby

Zu'an had originally intended to ask directly about Shen Zhou. However, seeing the other person's politeness, he felt a bit awkward and changed his question to inquire about Wu Yangyu instead.

Wu Yangyu was one of the essential materials for Daji's level breakthrough. When he had inquired about it at the Imperial Hospital in the capital, even the most knowledgeable imperial physicians were unfamiliar with it. They had told him that if anyone in the world knew, it would undoubtedly be Yu Yanluo.

After all, the Yu family managed the jade business across the land, and Yu Yanluo was the head of the family.

"Wu Yangyu?" Yu Yanluo was taken aback, then a slight blush appeared on her face. "Please wait a moment."

Zu'an wondered why she was blushing while speaking. He then watched as she turned away, a rustling sound reaching his ears. From her movements, it was unclear if she was lifting her top or skirt, but she took something out from her lower abdomen.

She then turned back, a faint hint of shyness on her usually dignified and poised face. "Are you referring to this?"

As she spoke, she opened her hand. A thin jade piece lay quietly in her palm, entirely snow-white, yet a hint of red flame seemed to slowly flow within it. Its translucent white, tinged with red, resembled her own skin.

Zu'an took it, feeling the lingering warmth of her body. He also faintly perceived a delicate fragrance, neither quite like orchid nor musk, unsure if it was Yu Yanluo's natural scent or the inherent aroma of the jade itself.

"I've never seen it before either; I only knew that Wu Yangyu is fire-attributed and a rare, precious jade..." Zu'an's eyes instinctively flickered to her lower abdomen. Where had she been hiding this jade just now?

Aside from a lingering blush, Yu Yanluo had regained her composure. "Yes, that must be it. This item is indeed the essence of fire and truly rare. Because I'm prone to feeling cold, I usually carry a piece with me. It continuously emits a comforting warmth..."

"Oh?" Zu'an's face immediately fell with disappointment, his gaze shifting to a nearby box. "It seems I've wasted my efforts then."

"What is it?" Yu Yanluo asked, looking at the box with a puzzled expression.

Zu'an thought for a moment, then took a square fabric pouch from the box. "The last time I saw you, Madam, I realized you were sensitive to cold, so I went back and created this. It's called a 'warm baby' (nuan baobao), and as the name suggests, it can continuously generate heat when placed on the body. Each one stays warm for six hours."

"'Warm baby'? That name is rather cute," Yu Yanluo said, taking it. She extended a slender, elegant finger and poked it. "Hmm, I don't feel any warmth."

"You'll feel it quickly once it's against your body," Zu'an explained.

Yu Yanluo hesitated for a moment, then turned away again.

Zu'an quickly reminded her, "This cannot be placed directly on the skin; it could cause burns. It's best used over a layer of close-fitting clothing."

Yu Yanluo's movements visibly stiffened, as if she were adjusting something.

After a short pause, she turned back, her cheeks a deeper shade of rosy red than before. "Oh, I really do feel the warmth now. You are truly skillful and clever to be able to create something like this, so perfect for women."

"Uh, actually, it's not necessarily just for women; men can use it too," Zu'an explained, not wanting to be mistaken for a pervert.

"This warm... warm baby only lasts for six hours?" Yu Yanluo asked, subtly shifting her body, seemingly trying to feel the warmth from all angles.

Zu'an handed her the box. "Yes, it loses its effect after six hours. You can replace it with a new one then. This box contains twenty more pieces; I was pressed for time, so I could only make this many. Always keep the box tightly closed, otherwise, the warm babies will become ineffective if exposed to air and moisture."

"Thank you," Yu Yanluo said, a hint of delight on her face, "I really like this gift. It's the best I've received in years." She looked like a little girl who had just found her favorite toy.

Zu'an gave a wry smile. "Madam, there's no need to comfort me. Having Wu Yangyu on you is far more convenient and effective long-term than these warm babies."

"While the Wu Yangyu lasts longer, its fire element gradually dissipates over time," Yu Yanluo mused, then asked, "What are your warm babies made of, and what is their cost to produce? If it's inconvenient to say, please don't feel obligated to answer; it was a bit abrupt of me to ask."

"Madam, you're overthinking it; there's nothing I can't say," Zu'an explained. "The contents are a mixture of iron powder, vermiculite, activated carbon, salt, and other materials, all encased in a specially designed, waterproof yet breathable fabric. All the raw materials are relatively easy to acquire; the most challenging part of the process is actually the wrapping material itself."

"Iron powder, vermiculite, carbon..." Yu Yanluo nodded subtly. "These are indeed readily available materials, but in my opinion, the precise mixing ratio is the key. As for the necessary fabric, with so many textile workshops in the world, someone is bound to have the expertise."

Zu'an was momentarily stunned. He realized he had fallen into a mental trap, fixated on non-woven fabrics. While this world lacked a technological development tree, many cultivation methods could achieve effects similar to modern technology.

At this point, Yu Yanluo added, "Regarding your comment that Wu Yangyu is more convenient, I must respectfully disagree. Wu Yangyu is incredibly rare and precious; I've had difficulty finding even a few pieces myself. It simply doesn't have widespread applicability."

"But your warm... warm baby is different. If the production process is streamlined, the cost can be significantly reduced, making it accessible to ordinary people. Besides providing warmth, it could also help treat rheumatism and various pains in the back, legs, and joints..." As Yu Yanluo spoke, her eyes lit up. "This could be an excellent business venture."

She rose and paced back and forth, pondering for a moment, then looked at Zu'an excitedly. "Would you consider letting me manage this business? After all costs and expenses are deducted, we could split the profits 70-30, with you taking seventy percent and me thirty."

Watching her discuss business, Zu'an noticed her entire demeanor shift instantly. Her previous gentle, somewhat delicate air vanished, replaced by the astute competence of a strong businesswoman.

He smiled and said, "This item was originally a gift for you, Madam. I'll write down the formula for you later, and you can produce it yourself. There's no need to share any profits with me."

"No, that won't do. In business, it's business. While our relationship is good, I can't simply take advantage of you," Yu Yanluo stated firmly. "If you insist, I'll have no choice but to abandon this business. Ah, what a pity for the countless poor people suffering from the cold across the land."

Zu'an was speechless.

With her argument escalated to such a point, there was little he could say.

"Uh, Madam, if you insist, then I can only agree. However, a 70-30 split isn't reasonable. I haven't invested anything; you'll be managing everything. A 30 percent share for me would be sufficient; I don't need seventy."

"You naive boy, you have no idea how immense the business opportunity within this truly is," Yu Yanluo said, playfully rolling her eyes at him. "Alright, let's split it fifty-fifty. You can't take any less, or I'd rather not pursue this business at all."

Indeed, the subsequent stages would require significant manpower and resources, so a fifty-fifty split was quite fair.

Zu'an mused that his alchemy, cultivation, and the breakthroughs of the Valkyries would all require vast sums of money. He was already concerned about a lack of funds, so he stopped being coy and readily agreed.

"Then, I wish our cooperation complete success," Yu Yanluo said, gracefully walking to the table. She poured two cups of wine and handed one to Zu'an.

Zu'an had no fear of her poisoning him. He gently clinked glasses with her and then drained his cup.

This wine, brewed with honey, was a specialty of Yunzhong Commandery. It had a low alcohol content, was sweet, and particularly suited for women.

Yu Yanluo covered her lips with her sleeve. After one cup of wine, her skin flushed with a rosy hue. She rarely drank, and whenever she did, her entire body would turn red.

She smiled, her lips pursed. "In the past, business negotiations were always about scrutinizing every penny. This is the first time I've encountered a deal where people are vying to push profits away, as we did today."

"I originally came to give a gift, but instead, I gained a business opportunity. This is also the first time I've experienced something like this," Zu'an remarked with a sigh of wonder.

"Please wait," Yu Yanluo said, before stepping into the inner room. After a moment, she emerged with a small box. "Besides the piece I just showed you, here are two more pieces of Wu Yangyu. Please take them as well; now that I have your warm babies, I won't have any use for these."

"I haven't earned it; how can I accept something so precious?" Having just learned of its immense value during their conversation, Zu'an naturally felt uncomfortable accepting it.

"Didn't you also give me a wonderful gift? Please take them. The value of your warm babies is far greater than these few pieces of Wu Yangyu," Yu Yanluo insisted, pressing them into his arms without further discussion.

"Then, thank you very much, Madam." Zu'an placed the Wu Yangyu piece she had initially given him into the box as well. As he caught a faint, lingering fragrance from it, his heart unexpectedly fluttered.

Yu Yanluo also awkwardly averted her gaze. In truth, she felt a slight regret, thinking she should have only offered the latter two pieces. The first one was something she had always worn close to her body.

However, mentioning it now would seem too deliberate, so she reluctantly let it pass.

Zu'an tucked the box into his embrace. "Madam, I wonder where you acquired this Wu Yangyu?"

"Are these not enough?" Yu Yanluo, ever astute, immediately detected a subtle shift in his tone.

Zu'an nodded. "I need them for alchemy; I'm still short a few pieces..."

Daji required five pieces of Wu Yangyu to break through from the sixth to the seventh rank, and more would be needed for each subsequent breakthrough.

Yu Yanluo's delicate brows furrowed. "This could be a bit troublesome."