Secret Medicine, An Investment from a Frail Girl

The Demon Suppression Bureau branch had excellent benefits.

Not only did the yamen provide free meals, but newcomers with exceptional talent were also given free housing.

This was where Xiao Yun's current residence came from.

Although the area wasn't large, it was spacious enough for the Xiao siblings.

"So... you were targeted by that Zheng Qian today when you were taking your sister to the morning market?"

Gu Cheng sat upright in the Xiao family's living room, sipping hot tea as he looked at Xiao Qing'er, who was applying medicine to her brother.

A hint of suspicion flashed in his dark eyes.

The trope of a rich idler harassing a good woman felt a bit melodramatic and too coincidental.

Considering the previous conflict he had with Centurion Zheng, it wasn't so much that Young Master Zheng had acted on lust as it was a pre-meditated plan to find trouble for him on behalf of his brother!

"Lord Gu, I'm truly sorry for causing you more trouble..."

Xiao Yun sat opposite Gu Cheng, lowering his head with a face full of apology, and said in a deep voice:

"If it weren't for us siblings, you wouldn't have had to kill anyone, nor would you have completely offended the Zheng family!"

"No need to apologize. You work under me, so I naturally have to look out for you."

Gu Cheng waved his hand dismissively and said calmly, "Besides, it's just the Zheng family. If they're offended, they're offended. I even wish they'd hire more people to retaliate against me..."

Gu Cheng's strength was now vastly different from before.

He was no longer the person who would hastily eliminate a threat after being targeted by the Young Master Pig Demon, and who still feared exposing his identity.

For him, if an enemy posed a real threat, Then he would naturally use thunderous methods to nip the danger in the bud.

But if he possessed sufficient self-protection capabilities, Gu Cheng actually preferred to play the long game and lure the enemy into sending more people to their deaths, engaging in sustainable fishing to acquire a large amount of lifespan.

Moreover, Gu Cheng still hadn't figured out the system's criteria for judging "evil cultivators."

But one thing was certain.

Those who harbored malice and actively provoked him were, without exception, all evil cultivators!

He hit the mark every time!

Gu Cheng had deliberately spared Zheng Qian's life this time, hoping that this spoiled brat would continue his efforts and hire more experts like Dong Lei to come and die.

Setting aside the Zheng family matter for now, Gu Cheng took a sip of tea and stated his purpose for visiting Xiao Yun:

"I need a pill that can significantly enhance blood and qi. Do you have any recommendations?"

"A pill to enhance blood and qi?" Xiao Yun frowned.

Before the big man could answer, the sickly young girl who was applying medicine to him spoke first.

"There are many types of pills with this effect. May I ask what Lord Gu intends to use it for, and if you have any special requirements?"

Xiao Qing'er's voice was clear and gentle, her beautiful eyes quietly fixed on Gu Cheng.

"Qing'er?"

Xiao Yun wanted to say something but was interrupted by his sister's gesture.

"..."

Gu Cheng couldn't help but re-examine the sickly young girl.

Xiao Qing'er's appearance was slightly inferior to Lin Qingyan and Xu Nianxue, and due to her young age and long-term suffering from illness, her figure was also too slender.

She didn't catch Gu Cheng's eye, as he was more into "older women."

However, when the word "pill" was mentioned, The girl's delicate and petite demeanor became uncharacteristically assertive.

She exuded the unique confidence of an expert discussing their specialized field.

"Interesting..."

Gu Cheng's gaze shifted, his curiosity about the siblings' origins growing.

However, he didn't probe further and directly stated his needs:

"I want to use it to assist in cultivating a Body Refinement technique. As for special requirements... the stronger the effect, the better. Preferably, it should be similar to a Demon Core."

"Body Refinement technique..."

Xiao Qing'er lightly furrowed her delicate brows, pondered for a moment, and then blurted out:

"I have a secret family medicine called 'Boiling Blood Powder,' which almost perfectly meets your requirements."

"It's just that its medicinal effects are too potent and domineering, definitely not something ordinary people can endure.

If taken in large quantities for a long time, it will not only damage the meridians within the body but also deplete one's lifespan..."

"No matter, I'll take this one."

Upon hearing how potent the medicine was, Gu Cheng was secretly delighted, and subconsciously ignored the so-called "side effects."

Deplete lifespan?

How much could it deplete?

The last time he refined the Blood Claw Demon Core, he went mad and spent over a hundred years of his lifespan just to return to normal!

No matter how strong the side effects of the Boiling Blood Powder were, could they be stronger than a Demon Core?

"What ingredients are needed to refine it? Can you help me refine it?"

"Of course, Boiling Blood Powder isn't a high-level pill. A regular medicinal decoction furnace is sufficient." Xiao Qing'er nodded slightly, picked up the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and quickly listed a set of ingredients with swift strokes.

Gu Cheng took it and saw that he only recognized a few of the medicinal ingredients. He directly put it into his storage pouch.

The main objective had been achieved.

Gu Cheng chatted with the Xiao siblings for a while longer before getting up to leave.

After the figure of the esteemed Gu disappeared from sight.

Xiao Yun slowly closed the large door and turned to look at his sister, asking with a face full of worry:

"Qing'er? Are you really going to refine the Boiling Blood Powder? Is your body alright?"

"I'm fine..."

Xiao Qing'er gently shook her head, her pale little face filled with seriousness:

"Brother, Lord Gu saved your life before. This time, to stand up for us, he even didn't hesitate to make an mortal enemy of the Zheng family."

"We siblings have fallen to this state, with nothing else to our name. This is the only way we can repay him."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yun fell silent, a hint of melancholy flashing across his resolute face.

Gu Cheng's talent was truly astonishing, and his strength advanced by leaps and bounds.

Xiao Yun had once considered himself a genius.

But now, he was shocked to realize that he didn't even seem to qualify to stand behind the other party and be his subordinate.

"Try to look on the bright side, brother."

Seeing her elder brother's dispirited appearance, Xiao Qing'er couldn't help but gently tug at his sleeve, comforting him softly:

"A prodigy like Lord Gu definitely won't be confined to a mere backwater place like Changle County."

"His stage is the entire Tianshui Prefecture, the entire Yun Province, and even the entire Yan Dynasty!"

"What we should do now is to help him with all our might before he fully takes flight and establish a good connection with him..."

"This... Qing'er, could it be that you intend to..."

Xiao Yun suddenly raised his head, gazing at his sister's pale little face, his heart already vaguely guessing her intentions.

"That's right."

Xiao Qing'er nodded solemnly, murmuring:

"If Lord Gu's body can fully withstand the medicinal power of the Boiling Blood Powder.

I intend to gift him the [heirloom] that Father left me!"

Gu Cheng, naturally, had no idea that a certain sickly young girl was preparing to bet on him.

Holding the list of medicinal ingredients given by Xiao Qing'er, he headed straight to the various pharmacies in the city and began his shopping spree.

Changle County was located in a remote mountainous area, surrounded by mountains that produced all sorts of herbs, including rare treasures like the Star Cloud Flower.

Gu Cheng had expected this medicinal ingredient purchase to go very smoothly.

Who knew that after toiling for most of the day, by the time the sun began to set, he had only managed to buy half of the ingredients on the list.

One reason was that a few of the ingredients on the list were quite special.

Although the pharmacies sold them, they couldn't be bought with silver. They only accepted bartering for rare items like Demon Cores.

But if Gu Cheng had Demon Cores, wouldn't it be better to just swallow and refine them?

Why would he use Demon Cores to exchange for medicinal ingredients to refine Boiling Blood Powder? Wasn't that just a pointless endeavor?

The second reason was... Gu Cheng was running out of money.

No matter which world it was in, alchemy and medicine refinement were always money-consuming activities.

The few hundred taels of silver he had "picked up" from Li Tianhao before were completely insignificant.

"A single coin can stop a hero's progress..."

"I need to find a way to make money quickly…"

Gu Cheng stood at the street corner, gazing at the blood-red sunset on the horizon, a strange cold light flashing in his eyes.

Just as he was secretly contemplating whether to raid the Zheng family, who were rich and unkind, tonight and pull off a Robin Hood-style act of robbing the rich to help the poor.

Two low-ranking officers from the Demon Suppression Bureau hurried over from a distance and stopped in front of Gu Cheng, cupping their fists in greeting.

"Banner Chief Gu, the Centurion requests your presence. He asks that you report to him immediately with us."

"???"