I Want to Improve

Yang Heng had no idea that after he left, the others had filled in the gaps with their imaginations, mistakenly believing he had a martial artist backing him.

If he knew about this, he'd probably laugh himself awake even in his dreams.

But even if he did know, he couldn't laugh right now.

At this moment, he was holding a shovel in the latrine, scooping up excrement—one scoop, one dump—the stinking filth sent into a manure bucket.

Once the bucket was full, he placed it on a single-wheeled cart, pushed it to the side door of the pharmacy, and sold it to the night soil collector. The money earned was handed over to the pharmacy in full.

Half an hour later, with the help of three other apprentices working together, the latrine was cleaned. The master checked it over, and only then did they go to eat.

They apprentices had no dedicated dining area. The cook would leave the food at a fixed spot, with someone watching over it.

Each apprentice had a fixed portion, and going hungry was common.

Of course, if you were in the master's good graces, the cook would ladle out a bit more.

Breakfast was a bowl of congee and two coarse grain buns for each person. From the day Yang Heng entered the pharmacy, it had always been this way, never changing.

After collecting his food, Yang Heng went to a corner, crouched down, and started wolfing it down.

Calling it congee was generous—it was really just thin broth, with barely a few grains of rice visible in the bowl.

The coarse grain buns weren't skimped on in quantity, but the texture was terrible. Eating them felt like chewing dirt—dry and harsh on the throat.

Washed down with the "congee," he could barely choke them down.

Many apprentices grumbled in private that, according to pharmacy rules, their meals shouldn't be this bad. Most of their rations were being embezzled by the kitchen steward.

But that man was a distant relative of the pharmacy's owner, so complaining was useless.

Someone had complained before, and the result was that his meals were reduced to a single bowl of "congee" each time. Before long, he starved to death.

After that, no one dared to speak up.

Finishing his meal, Yang Heng noticed that the previously empty Marrow Cleansing Pearl now had a single, barely visible white thread inside it.

Eating this stuff every day, at this rate, when would the Marrow Cleansing Pearl ever fill up with energy?

No good.

He had to think of a way.

Find a way to get money.

But his status was lowly now. He had half a day off every fifteen days, and only on those days was he allowed to leave the pharmacy. Trying to make money while stuck inside was harder than reaching the heavens.

Only by going out was there hope.

To go out every day, he'd have to be one of the apprentices who delivered medicine.

Yang Heng furrowed his brow, pacing back and forth. The Copper Coins in his pocket jingled with a crisp sound, catching his attention.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He had an idea.

In an antique-style room on the east side of the pharmacy, Yang Heng bowed low, his face full of respect, and said:

"Master Zhang, I was ignorant before. This silver was left by my father, and it's just taking up space on me. I'd like to trouble you to look after it for me. I'd be truly grateful."

Standing across from Yang Heng was a middle-aged man in a gray cloth robe, with a pair of beady eyes and two wisps of rat-like whiskers at the corners of his mouth. This was Master Zhang, known for his greed, who oversaw all apprentice affairs and was the one who had punished Yang Heng earlier.

Weighing the cloth pouch of coins in his hand, the sound was heavy, and the weight was considerable—no less than two taels of silver. Master Zhang was delighted. Money coming to him first thing in the morning—how could he not be happy?

And the amount was substantial, equivalent to a month's wages at the pharmacy.

Master Zhang nodded, looking at Yang Heng with an approving gaze, and said with a smile, "Yang Heng, is it? Not bad, not bad."

"From the day you entered the pharmacy, I knew you were a promising lad. After half a year of tempering, you've finally shaped up."

"I'll keep this money safe for you. You can come to me anytime to retrieve it."

Tempering?

If I hadn't brought the money today, I'd probably still be tempering myself in the latrine for another half year.

Yang Heng sneered inwardly.

Retrieve it?

Once money goes into your pocket, can it really be taken back? That's a story for kids.

If I actually came to ask for it, you'd sing a different tune.

But even if that's what he thought, he had to keep up appearances.

Yang Heng said with a smile, "Master Zhang, leaving the money in your care puts my mind at ease. I'm sorry for the trouble."

As for the word "retrieve," he didn't even mention it.

Yang Heng's purpose in coming was to give away the money, to secure a position delivering medicine outside, and see if he could find a way to make some cash out there.

Master Zhang was an old fox too. He knew that Yang Heng's voluntary offering of money meant he wanted something. If it was a small matter, for the sake of the money, agreeing wouldn't hurt.

If it was something difficult, he'd flatly refuse, and Yang Heng wouldn't dare say much.

After a moment's thought, Master Zhang said casually, "Yang Heng, you've been performing well lately. The pharmacy is thinking of giving you more responsibility. What do you think?"

Yang Heng put on a look of deep gratitude and declared with excitement, "I thank Master Zhang for his recognition, and the pharmacy for its trust. Whatever tasks the pharmacy assigns me, I'll pour my heart and soul into doing them well, and never let down the teachings you've given me."

Hearing this, Master Zhang nodded with satisfaction. "If you have any thoughts, you can tell me. I'll relay them to the pharmacy on your behalf."

Yang Heng didn't hesitate and said directly, "The job of delivering medicine outside suits me well. I hope Master Zhang will put in a good word for me with the pharmacy. I'd be endlessly grateful, and I'll come by often to visit you, sir."

With that, Yang Heng bowed.

"Mm, I'll pass it along to the pharmacy. If there's nothing else, go on and get to work."

Yang Heng bowed as he withdrew, knowing that since he hadn't been outright refused, the matter was already half settled.

His actions today didn't mean the grudges of the past had vanished. He was merely bending low for the moment, biding his time until circumstances changed.

To be able to stoop and to stand tall—that was the mark of a true man.

To be rigidly upright, seeing only black as black and white as white, without knowing how to embrace and blend, to harmonize with the dust of the world—it was hard to survive in these chaotic times.

Only by staying alive could there be a future.

Sure enough, early the next morning, Yang Heng's job was adjusted to delivering medicine outside.

After Master Zhang announced this order, the looks the other apprentices gave Yang Heng changed instantly. They became much warmer, unlike before when they were cold or even ignored him.

The apprentices who shared a room with Yang Heng were even more convinced that he had a martial artist backing him.

Otherwise, why would Master Zhang, who had been suppressing Yang Heng before, suddenly change his tune, treating him kindly and even reassigning his post?

They all crowded around Yang Heng to offer their congratulations, their smiles noticeably more genuine than the others', and even carried a hint of awe.

Li Kui watched this scene, his heart turning cold.

He had still been fantasizing that Yang Heng might have stumbled upon some medicine that stimulated his body's potential, with no connection to a martial artist.

But Master Zhang's sudden shift in attitude shattered that fantasy.

He had been by Master Zhang's side for two years, and he knew the man's character inside out.

Greedy, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

If someone said Yang Heng had given Master Zhang money to change his attitude, Li Kui wouldn't believe it for a second.

That blockhead Second Fool—would he understand such matters of human sentiment?

If he had, he wouldn't have waited until today; he'd have acted long ago.

The possibility of a martial artist backing him was far more likely.

A sudden surge in strength—that he could believe.

But a mind suddenly sharpening, learning without a teacher, deeply versed in the ways of the world—no one would buy that.

For now, he was dead set on finding a chance to kill Yang Heng, striking first.

Delivering medicine outside was just the right opportunity.

Li Kui stared coldly at Yang Heng's retreating figure, a glint of icy light flashing in his eyes.