Seeing a Fellow Countryman

In the courtyard.

Neatly arranged medicine racks stood there, with various herbs drying on them.

Wei Yang was sorting through them at the moment.

After all, he might be away for quite a long time this trip, so these herbs had to be properly stored.

He had purchased all the herbs from the marketplace.

Over the past three years, aside from cultivating each day, he had also studied and experimented with herbs on his own. By now, he could be considered a physician.

Wei Yang had developed ordinary wound-healing and hemostatic powders, scar-removal ointments, and the like himself, and their effects were quite good.

Sometimes, he took those medicinal powders and ointments to the marketplace to set up a stall and sell them for money. He had successfully opened up a market and gained a modest reputation.

After all, even someone with great martial skills still had to eat.

Knock, knock, knock~

At that moment, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Is Little Physician Wei here?"

A booming voice called out from outside.

"Yes, coming." Wei Yang answered, set down what he was doing, and went to open the gate.

The courtyard gate opened.

Outside stood a broad, powerfully built man dressed like a mercenary, radiating a fierce and rugged air.

"Little Physician Wei, do you still remember me?" The burly man forced a somewhat ferocious-looking smile onto his face and spoke as gently as he could.

"I remember. You're Captain Meng."

Wei Yang nodded and asked, "Here to buy medicine?"

"That's right. Our team is planning to head into the Magic Beast Mountain Range in a couple of days, so we wanted to buy some medicine to bring along." The burly man replied in a deep, muffled voice.

"Come in."

Wei Yang turned and walked inside. "What medicine do you want?"

Captain Meng followed after him. "All kinds. Some for stopping bleeding, treating bruises, detoxifying—give me some of each."

Wei Yang nodded and led him into the main hall, where bottles and jars sat on a counter to one side.

The cabinet against the wall behind it was also filled with bottles, jars, wooden boxes, and the like.

Ever since his reputation had spread, Wei Yang had rarely gone out to set up a stall. Usually, regular customers came directly to his door to buy from him.

He walked behind the counter and pointed at the wooden compartments used to sort the medicines. "Pick whatever you want. The names and descriptions are all there."

"Alright." Captain Meng nodded, then lowered his head and began selecting carefully.

Before long, Captain Meng had chosen the medicine he needed: bottled ones and boxed ones, forty portions in total.

Seeing this, Wei Yang took out a paper bag and handed it to him. "Forty Gold Coins. Here, pack them yourself."

Captain Meng took the paper bag with a grin, readily pulled out Gold Coins from his pocket to pay, then packed everything away.

"Little Physician Wei, I'll be leaving now." Captain Meng said, carrying the paper bag.

"I may be going out soon, possibly for two or three months, so don't come looking for me to buy medicine during that time. I won't be here." Wei Yang said. "Also, Physician Wei is just Physician Wei. Why add 'Little'?"

"Uh... I'm used to calling you that." Captain Meng scratched his head.

"Alright, got it, Little... Physician Wei. Then I'll come buy medicine from you again in three months." Carrying the bag, Captain Meng turned and left.

Watching his departing back, Wei Yang shook his head and began organizing the counter.

That bunch of big, brawny idiots.

Then he looked down at himself. He was fifteen years old, nearly one hundred and seventy centimeters tall, and handsome. Though he looked fair, refined, and perhaps a little lean, he was actually the type who looked slim in clothes but muscular without them.

His muscles were not exaggerated, but lean and well-built.

In short, what exactly was little?

Damn it.

Wei Yang reached into his robes, took out his money pouch, opened it, and put the Gold Coins inside.

A Storage Ring?

Don't joke around.

Even the lowest-grade Storage Ring started at fifty thousand Gold Coins.

Started at!

In reality, it would not be strange for the final price to reach eighty or even a hundred thousand.

How could he possibly afford something like that?

A classic luxury item of the Dou Qi Continent.

Exclusive to nobles.

The next day.

Early morning, the rising sun had just begun to crest the horizon.

Wei Yang locked the courtyard gate, slung a beast-hide bundle over his back, and headed out.

He left the alley and arrived on the street outside.

Beneath the morning glow, all of Wu Tan City had already begun to wake. It was bustling with life, packed with people, and brimming with energy.

People and carriages flowed through the streets.

Groups of mercenaries could occasionally be seen passing by in twos and threes, blades at their waists and swords on their backs, their bodies radiating a fierce aura.

With the Magic Beast Mountain Range nearby, there was no shortage of these mercenaries who lived by the blade. They were also the foundation of Wu Tan City's popularity.

Wei Yang strode toward the city gates.

Before long, the entrance to a large marketplace appeared ahead.

This marketplace belonged to one of the Three Great Families: the Xiao Family.

The guards at the entrance stood ramrod straight, dressed in neat uniforms and fully equipped. Every one of them looked spirited and alert.

Whoosh~

Just then, a burst of noisy commotion erupted at the marketplace entrance.

Curious, Wei Yang stopped and looked over.

"Xiao Yan is here!"

"It's Young Master Xiao Yan!"

"The Third Young Master!"

"Ah, Young Master Xiao Yan is so handsome!"

"Xiao Yan?"

Wei Yang raised a brow and looked intently ahead.

Was he finally going to meet this fellow countryman?

On the street ahead, a handsome young boy of twelve or thirteen, his face still full of childishness, arrived at the marketplace entrance surrounded by a group of boys and girls.

Wherever he passed, cheers and praise followed. It was practically like a celebrity making an appearance.

And Xiao Yan, who led the group, faced the scene with perfect composure.

A smile rested on his face as he accepted the crowd's cheers, praise, and flattery.

Without a doubt, at this moment, among that crowd of boys and girls, Xiao Yan was the coolest guy on the entire street.

The Xiao Family's Third Young Master.

A favored son of heaven, a genius renowned throughout the empire.

Xiao Yan was not yet twelve, but he was already a One-star Dou Practitioner.

At this sight—

"So high-spirited, so sharp and dazzling. Tsk, tsk."

Wei Yang watched with a smile. "I was already a Six-star Dou Master at fifteen. Did I get cocky?"

"Hm?"

Wei Yang carefully observed this fellow countryman. Amid the spirited look in Xiao Yan's brows, he could vaguely make out a trace of anxiety. And... the smile at the corner of his lips seemed somewhat stiff as well.

"Oh? So that sneaky old bastard Elder Yao has already started?"

Wei Yang secretly guessed.

Xiao Yan had not yet suffered a drop in cultivation, but the Dou Qi he cultivated every day had probably already begun vanishing for no apparent reason.

He worked hard at cultivation every day, yet his Dou Qi made no progress at all. He did not dare tell anyone either. How could he not be anxious?

Very soon, his cultivation would begin to fall.

Elder Yao did not actually lack this little bit of Dou Qi. It was probably more of a test for his future disciple.

After all, Elder Yao had once been betrayed by his own disciple. It was hardly strange for him to be more cautious.

Besides, both the former and current Xiao Yan truly did not meet Elder Yao's standards in terms of temperament.

He was too ostentatious and had never experienced setbacks.

So, this was Elder Yao's loving concern!

Thinking this, Wei Yang shook his head with a smile, then shifted his gaze to someone else.

Beside Xiao Yan stood a beautiful girl of eleven or twelve, her temperament like a green lotus.

Xiao Xun'er—ah, she should be Gu Xun'er.

What a thick thigh, little rich girl.

Wei Yang could not help feeling fired up inside. He really wanted to stop trying so hard.

Envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Unfortunately, no chance.

As if sensing Wei Yang's gaze, Gu Xun'er looked over.

When her eyes fell on Wei Yang, a faint trace of surprise flashed through her cool, beautiful eyes.

A Six-star Dou Master. So young, and such strong soul fluctuations. An alchemist? Gu Xun'er was somewhat surprised.

She noticed me just from one glance? What sharp perception. Wei Yang was startled inwardly, but his expression did not reveal the slightest hint of it. He simply smiled and nodded at her before turning to leave.

This was someone he could not afford to provoke!

He had no desire to attract even a shred of Gu Xun'er's attention right now. She even brought a Dou Emperor bodyguard whenever she went out.

Gu Xun'er tilted her head slightly, her gaze faintly following Wei Yang's departing figure. Her willow-leaf brows furrowed as surprise lingered in her eyes.

Very young, probably no more than fourteen or fifteen. His aura is solid, without the slightest trace of instability. His foundation is excellent. I never expected to see a youth with such talent in this remote Jia Ma Empire. Did he come from somewhere else?

Gu Xun'er soon withdrew her gaze and paid him no further mind.

There were plenty like Wei Yang in the Ancient Clan, and quite a few who were even more outstanding.

She had merely been slightly surprised to encounter one so talented so suddenly in this remote Wu Tan City.

He was not worth further thought.