Little Fairy Doctor's Request

After resting in Green Mountain Town for two days, my convoy set out again on the morning of the third day. The only difference was that I was no longer alone; there was now a girl in a white dress inside the carriage.

I leaned back against several layers of soft furs and tilted my head to look at Little Fairy Doctor sitting across from me.

She seemed to always wear a light white dress. With her fresh, ethereal air, she held the Seven Coloured Poison Scripture in her hands and studied it closely with her head lowered... without paying me any attention at all.

I pursed my lips, feeling a little unhappy, but I could not bring myself to interrupt Little Fairy Doctor. I could only sit there bored. After some thought, I took out a copy of Primer of Medicinal Herbs and began flipping through it.

Neither of us spoke along the way. By dusk, the convoy stopped in a small town. This town was not even as large as the bizarrely prosperous Green Mountain Town, and its streets were narrow and poorly kept.

We found the best inn in town, but it was still rather shabby. I looked at Little Fairy Doctor somewhat awkwardly and said, "Little Fairy Doctor... I've made you suffer."

Little Fairy Doctor froze. Perhaps no one had ever spoken to her so warmly before. She paused before saying, "It's nothing..."

The inn rooms were rather dirty. Several guards were cleaning them inside while Little Fairy Doctor and I stood in the crude courtyard outside. Her delicate brows suddenly furrowed as she asked, "How much longer until we reach Gama City?"

After thinking for a moment, I said, "According to our itinerary, we'll reach Wu Si City in another three days. It's a large city. Once we get there, we'll switch to a large Flying Magical Beast and reach Gama City in just six days."

Little Fairy Doctor immediately frowned and muttered, "It'll still take that long!"

I laughed and said, "Aren't you studying that Poison Manual? You can study it on the road too. It won't delay anything."

Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes at me and said irritably, "What do you know? Studying prescriptions isn't just about reading them; practice is even more important! What I need now is a large amount of medicinal herbs and a stable time and place to study the Seven Coloured Poison Scripture."

"Is that so?"

I scratched my head and said helplessly, "Then bear with it for now. Once we reach Gama City, I'll provide you with medicinal herbs. How about that?"

The night passed without incident. The next morning, Little Fairy Doctor and I set off again.

Today, Little Fairy Doctor did not continue reading the Seven Coloured Poison Scripture. Just as she had said, what she needed now was hands-on practice rather than theoretical knowledge.

That was undoubtedly good news for me. I took out yesterday's copy of Primer of Medicinal Herbs, got up, sat beside Little Fairy Doctor, and began asking her about the medicinal herbs described within.

Little Fairy Doctor looked at me and asked curiously, "Why are you studying this? Instead of cultivating properly and becoming a Dou Zhe, are you planning to become a pharmacist?"

I grinned and said, "I'm not trying to become a pharmacist. I want to become an Alchemist! I have the talent to be an Alchemist. Once I officially become a Dou Zhe, I'll find an Alchemy Grandmaster to take as my master."

I looked at Little Fairy Doctor sincerely and said, "When that happens, you can be my assistant, and we can study together. I've heard that every pharmacist dreams of becoming an Alchemist. Perhaps you can become an Alchemist too, Little Fairy Doctor!"

Little Fairy Doctor looked somewhat downcast. She shook her head and said, "I don't have the talent to become an Alchemist..."

I knew it was because Little Fairy Doctor had been born with the Calamity Poison Body, which meant she could not become an Alchemist. Still, that did not stop me from currying favor with her, so I continued persuading her:

"You can't say that. Maybe you haven't become an Alchemist because no one has guided you. Once I find a master, you can stay by my side and learn with me. I think you're so clever that you'll definitely become an Alchemist, and the best Alchemist at that!"

Little Fairy Doctor looked at me with a complicated expression. After a long while, she let out a soft sigh. Then she suddenly smiled, like an epiphyllum blooming. Brushing the strands of hair from her forehead with her fingers, she nodded and softly said, "All right."

Three days later, Little Fairy Doctor and I arrived in Wu Si City. It was a large city, and the Nalan Family naturally had a shop here—or rather, an outpost. Dad and I had passed through here before when we traveled from Gama City to Wutan City.

When we arrived at the Nalan Family's shop in Wu Si City, the Shop Manager hurried out to welcome us after hearing the news. I could not be bothered to be polite to a Shop Manager posted outside the family, much less put on an approachable, talent-respecting act. I casually dismissed him and moved into the shop's guest rooms with Little Fairy Doctor.

To my surprise, Little Fairy Doctor could no longer suppress her eagerness. She came to my room and asked me to prepare medicinal herbs and tools so she could begin studying the Seven Coloured Poison Scripture.

I asked in confusion, "Little Fairy Doctor, we're leaving on a Flying Magical Beast tomorrow morning. What can you possibly study in just one night?"

"Why don't we wait until we reach Gama City? I'll find you a courtyard so you can study properly."

Little Fairy Doctor shook her head and said, "I want to study on the back of the Flying Magical Beast. I've heard Flying Magical Beasts fly very steadily and have plenty of space. We also have six days of travel ahead of us, which should be enough for me to study a thing or two."

I was startled. Studying poison on the back of a Flying Magical Beast? Little Fairy Doctor really dared to think big. If anything went wrong, wouldn't everyone aboard the Flying Magical Beast be doomed? There would not even be anywhere to run!

I hurriedly refused, but I could not withstand Little Fairy Doctor's coaxing and pleading. Especially when those bright, large eyes of hers kept staring at me, I had no way to resist...

Thinking of the Purple Cloud Wings Dou Technique, I wailed inwardly. Let others die if they must, as long as it isn't me! For Little Fairy Doctor's sake, so be it—study the Poison Manual if she wanted to!

"Hehe, you're so good to me..."

Little Fairy Doctor smiled sweetly, then somehow pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to me. She said, "I've written down all the materials we need on it."

I opened it and saw that it was densely covered in writing. There were countless items listed, and I did not even know what some of them were.

I gave a dry cough and awkwardly rubbed my nose. Then I summoned the Shop Manager, tossed the paper to him, and told him to hurry and purchase everything on it.

When the Shop Manager looked at it, his face filled with shock. He frowned, then looked at me hesitantly and said, "Young Master Nalan Ye, these items aren't particularly precious, but the quantity is enormous. I'm afraid they'll cost more than thirteen thousand gold coins..."

The Shop Manager stopped short, but I understood what he meant. Was he actually asking me for money again?

I gave a dry cough. Unwilling to pay for it myself, I asked, "Can it be charged to the shop's account?"

The Shop Manager asked, "May I ask, Young Master Nalan Ye, is this a purchase requested by the family? Do you have an authorization from the Finance Elder?"

Naturally, I had no authorization, and these were not items the family wanted to purchase either. I could only reluctantly take a crystal card from my Ring of Holding and fling it over.

After sending the Shop Manager away, Little Fairy Doctor saw that everything had been settled. She thanked me cheerfully again before returning to her room.

I felt quite pleased with myself, but when I thought of the ten thousand-plus gold coins that had vanished for no reason, my heart began to ache. I blamed it all on the Shop Manager.

If it couldn't be charged to the shop's account, couldn't he have paid for it himself? He didn't understand the slightest bit of social etiquette. No wonder he had been sent to Wu Si City to be a Shop Manager!

And that Finance Elder... Thinking about it, the Finance Elder seemed to be the elder responsible for the family's shops in various regions?

Hmph. Once I returned to the family, I would have a good word with the Finance Elder and make sure that fellow remained in Wu Si City for the rest of his life, never even thinking of being transferred back to Gama City!