The benefits at the Demon Suppression Bureau's branch were quite good.
The bureau provided three free meals a day, and talented newcomers even received free housing.
Xiao Yun's current residence was one such perk.
It wasn't very large, but it was more than spacious enough for the Xiao siblings.
"So... you were taking your younger sister to the morning market today when Zheng Qian happened to set his sights on her?"
Gu Cheng sat upright in the Xiao family's living room, sipping tea as he watched Xiao Qing'er apply medicine to her older brother.
A hint of suspicion flickered in his dark eyes.
This kind of lecherous young master harassing a respectable girl was a stale, clichéd affair—and far too much of a coincidence.
Considering the grudge he'd already formed with Zheng Baihu...
Rather than being smitten at first sight, the young master Zheng had probably been plotting this for a while, coming specifically to pick a fight on his younger brother's behalf!
"Lord Gu, I'm truly sorry. I've caused you trouble again..."
Xiao Yun sat across from Gu Cheng, lowering his head apologetically as he said in a low voice,
"If it weren't for my sister and me, you wouldn't have had to kill anyone, let alone completely make an enemy of the Zheng Family!"
"No need to apologize. You work under me, so of course I have to protect you."
Gu Cheng waved it off, unconcerned.
"Besides, it's only the Zheng Family. If I've offended them, so be it. I'd be delighted if they hired more people to come after me..."
Gu Cheng's strength was already leagues beyond what it had been.
He was no longer the man who, after attracting the attention of the Young Master Pig Demon, had hurried to nip the threat in the bud while taking care not to reveal his identity.
If an enemy truly posed a threat, then naturally, he had to strike like thunder and snuff out the danger before it could take root.
But if he had enough strength to protect himself, Gu Cheng would actually rather cast a long line to catch a big fish—lure the enemy into sending more people to their deaths, and keep draining the pond to catch fish, all while raking in a fortune in lifespans.
Even now, Gu Cheng still hadn't figured out exactly how the system defined "evil cultivators."
But one thing was certain.
Every last one of the people who maliciously provoked him had turned out to be an evil cultivator!
Every kill was a sure thing!
Gu Cheng had deliberately spared Zheng Qian this time, hoping the spoiled young scoundrel would keep at it and hire a few more experts like Dong Lei to come die.
Putting the Zheng Family matter aside for now, Gu Cheng took a small sip of tea and told Xiao Yun why he'd come.
"I need a pill that can greatly boost my vitality. Do you have any recommendations?"
"A pill to boost your vitality?" Xiao Yun furrowed his brows.
Before the big man could answer, the frail girl tending his wounds spoke up first.
"There are many kinds of pills with that effect. May I ask what you need it for, Lord Gu? Do you have any special requirements?"
Xiao Qing'er's voice was clear and gentle. Her lovely eyes rested quietly on Gu Cheng.
"Qing'er?"
Xiao Yun started to say something, but his sister raised a hand and stopped him.
"..."
Gu Cheng couldn't help but give the frail girl another look.
Xiao Qing'er wasn't quite as beautiful as Lin Qingyan or Xu Nianxue. She was still young, and after suffering from illness for so long, her figure was far too slender.
She simply didn't catch the eye of a "big-sister type" enthusiast like Gu Cheng.
But when the subject turned to pills, the girl's delicate, flower-like air gave way to an unusual confidence.
She looked like an expert speaking about her own field.
"Interesting..."
Gu Cheng's gaze shifted as his curiosity about the siblings' background grew.
But he didn't dwell on it. He simply stated what he needed.
"I want to use it to help me cultivate a Body Refinement technique. As for special requirements... the stronger the effect, the better. Ideally, it would be like a demon core."
"A Body Refinement technique..."
Xiao Qing'er's brows drew together. She thought for a moment, then answered without hesitation.
"I have a family secret medicine called Boiling Blood Powder. It should suit your needs almost perfectly."
"But its effects are so fierce and overbearing that most people can't withstand them.
"Taking large doses over a long period won't just damage your meridians; it will also shorten your lifespan..."
"That's fine. I'll take it."
Hearing how potent the medicine was, Gu Cheng was delighted and instinctively dismissed the so-called "side effects."
Shorten his lifespan?
By how much?
The last time he'd gone berserk while refining a Blood Claw demon core, it had taken over a hundred years of lifespan before he returned to normal!
Could the side effects of Boiling Blood Powder possibly be worse than a demon core?
"What ingredients does it need? Can you make it for me?"
"Of course. Boiling Blood Powder isn't a high-grade medicine. An ordinary pot for brewing medicine will do."
Xiao Qing'er nodded slightly, picked up a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and swiftly wrote out a list.
Gu Cheng took a look. He barely recognized any of the ingredients, so he put the list straight into his storage pouch.
He'd accomplished what he came for.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the Xiao siblings, Gu Cheng rose to leave.
Once Lord Gu had disappeared from sight, Xiao Yun slowly closed the front door and turned to his sister, worry plain on his face.
"Qing'er? Are you really going to make Boiling Blood Powder? Can your body handle it?"
"I'll be fine..."
Xiao Qing'er shook her head gently. Her pale little face was full of resolve.
"Brother, Lord Gu saved your life before. And now, to stand up for us, he's even made a mortal enemy of the Zheng Family."
"We've fallen this low, and we have nothing of value. This is the only way we can repay him."
Xiao Yun fell silent, a trace of melancholy passing over his resolute face.
Gu Cheng's talent was simply astonishing, and his strength was growing by leaps and bounds.
Xiao Yun had once considered himself a genius, too.
But now, he was stunned to realize that he might not even be qualified to stand behind Gu Cheng as his underling.
"Try to look on the bright side, Brother."
Seeing how despondent he looked, Xiao Qing'er gently tugged at his sleeve and comforted him softly.
"A prodigy like Lord Gu will never be content to stay trapped in a tiny place like Changle County."
"His stage is all of Tianshui Prefecture, all of Yunzhou, even the entire Great Yan!"
"What we should do now is help him as much as we can before he truly takes off, and build a good relationship with him..."
"Wait... Qing'er, are you thinking of..."
Xiao Yun abruptly raised his head and stared at his sister's pale little face. He could already guess what she had in mind.
"That's right."
Xiao Qing'er nodded solemnly and murmured,
"If Lord Gu's body can withstand the full effects of Boiling Blood Powder,
"I intend to give him the keepsake Father left me!"
Gu Cheng had no idea that a certain frail young girl was already preparing to place a bet on him.
Holding the list of ingredients Xiao Qing'er had given him, he made a beeline for the city's apothecaries and began a major shopping spree.
Changle County lay in a remote mountainous region, surrounded by ranges that produced all kinds of medicinal herbs, including Heavenly Treasures like the Star Cloud Flower.
Gu Cheng had expected the shopping to go smoothly.
Instead, after half a day of running around, it wasn't until the sun was sinking in the west that he managed to buy only half the ingredients on the list.
For one thing, several ingredients on the list were rather unusual.
The apothecaries stocked them, but wouldn't accept silver. They only bartered for rare items like demon cores.
But if Gu Cheng had a demon core, wouldn't it be better to swallow it and refine it?
Why trade a demon core for ingredients to make Boiling Blood Powder? That would be like taking off his pants to fart.
For another thing... Gu Cheng was running out of silver.
No matter what world you lived in, pills and medicine were always a money-burning business.
The few hundred taels of silver he'd "picked up" from Li Tianhao earlier were a drop in the bucket.
"One coin can leave even a hero helpless..."
"I need to find a quick way to make money..."
Gu Cheng stood on a street corner, gazing at the blood-red sunset on the horizon. An inscrutable glint flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was calculating whether he ought to raid the wealthy-but-uncharitable Zheng Family tonight and rob the rich to aid the poor,
two Demon Suppression Bureau banner officers hurried over from afar. They stopped in front of Gu Cheng and bowed with clasped fists.
"Banner Chief Gu, the Thousand-Household Officer requests your presence. Please come with us at once to report for duty."
"???"
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