Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Recently, everyone in Ningyun City's Duan Family had been discussing one thing: during the family head's half-yearly assessment of his four sons, the fourth son, Duan Zhengqing, who had always ranked last in the previous rounds, had suddenly begun to shine. Not only had he defeated the Duan Family's third son in combat, but his cultivation had also successfully broken through to the mid-stage of the Qi and Blood Realm, earning him repeated praise from the Duan Family head.
Duan Zhengqing's unusual performance attracted quite a bit of attention. Under the scrutiny of those with ulterior motives, they all discovered the Crimson Blood Pills from the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion.
After they tried the Crimson Blood Pills themselves, their reputation completely spread throughout the Qi and Blood Realm circle in Ningyun City. Qi and Blood Realm martial artists from Ning'an City flocked to the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion to purchase them, often causing the pills to sell out in no time and creating a situation where even one pill was hard to obtain.
Because of this, Bi Changsheng had no choice but to introduce a new rule at the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion: only seventy Crimson Blood Pills would be supplied each day, and each person could purchase no more than three at a time.
With Bi Changsheng's current pill-refining speed, he could refine twelve batches of Crimson Blood Pills in an hour. Since he could multitask and refine three Crimson Blood Pills simultaneously in each batch, he could refine thirty-six Crimson Blood Pills in an hour.
On top of that, he occasionally had to refine other pills. Now, in order to keep the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion supplied, Bi Changsheng had to spend at least two hours refining pills every day.
For Bi Changsheng, this was already his limit. Any more would affect the speed of his cultivation in other areas.
As the Crimson Blood Pills became wildly popular, the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion inevitably attracted covetous eyes. It was only after Bi Changsheng, disguised as Ximen Xue, revealed the cultivation of a late-stage True Qi Realm grandmaster at the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion that he finally intimidated those lurking covetously in the shadows.
Time drifted on, and another ten days passed.
At a luxurious teahouse on Gold-Sprinkled Street, a group of richly dressed young men and women were taking their leave.
"True Disciple Fu, until we meet again."
A handsome young man was surrounded by a crowd as though he were the moon among stars. This young man was none other than the strongest cultivator among the current generation of Divine Fist Sect disciples, as well as one of the Ten Great Young Lords of Great Gan—Fu Ziping.
"Everyone, until we meet again."
After bidding farewell to the others, Fu Ziping wandered alone along Gold-Sprinkled Street. He had just attended a tea gathering held by the younger disciples of Ningyun City's various major powers. Such tea gatherings were nothing more than opportunities for everyone to build connections before having a few friendly exchanges at the end.
Fu Ziping did not like such occasions. He felt that he might as well spend the time cultivating. Unfortunately, as the leading figure among the current generation of Divine Fist Sect disciples, his identity sometimes forced him to appear at such events.
"I heard there's a Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion in Ningyun City that's been very famous recently. The Crimson Blood Pills they sell have a powerful effect on Qi and Blood Realm martial artists."
The Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion's reputation had spread far and wide recently, so Fu Ziping had naturally heard of it as well. His cultivation had already reached the limit of the mid-stage of the Qi and Blood Realm and was on the verge of breaking through to the late stage, so he planned to visit the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion and take a look.
"Welcome..."
"Young Master Fu, long time no see."
After seeing someone enter the shop, Uncle Fu had intended to call out a welcome, but upon recognizing the visitor as Fu Ziping, whom he had met a few times in Lin'an City, he immediately changed his words.
"What a coincidence. I never expected to run into you here, Uncle Fu."
Fu Ziping was also extremely surprised to see Uncle Fu as soon as he entered. However, after thinking about it, given the medical attainments Senior Ximen had displayed before him, it was not strange for this pill pavilion to have been opened by Senior Ximen.
"What kind of pill has Young Master Fu come to purchase from my Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion?"
After exchanging greetings, Uncle Fu asked him.
"I heard that the Crimson Blood Pills from the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion have remarkable effects, so I came to purchase a few."
Fu Ziping stated the purpose of his visit.
"Is Senior Ximen here? This junior would like to pay him a visit."
After purchasing three Crimson Blood Pills, Fu Ziping seemed to think of something and asked Uncle Fu.
"Master isn't here at the moment. May I ask why Young Master is looking for him?"
To distinguish between Bi Changsheng's two identities, Bi Changsheng had instructed Uncle Fu and the others to address him as Master whenever he was disguised as Ximen Xue.
Bi Changsheng was naturally in the rear courtyard at that moment, but Fu Ziping's question had come so suddenly that Uncle Fu could only blurt out that he was not there.
"Senior Ximen once saved the lives of several fellow disciples and me in Lin'an City. Now that I've encountered him in Ningyun City, I should naturally pay him a visit."
"Besides, one of my seniors has encountered a problem with his health. I wanted to ask Senior Ximen whether he had any way to resolve it."
"Since Senior Ximen isn't here, this junior will come back another day to pay his respects."
Fu Ziping honestly voiced his thoughts.
"Although my master isn't here, my young master is. My young master inherited his skills from my master, and his medical attainments are in no way inferior to my master's, especially in the field of medicine. Why don't I go ask my young master on your behalf?"
Since he did not know Bi Changsheng's attitude toward the matter, Uncle Fu said this to Fu Ziping. In any case, Bi Changsheng was Ximen Xue, and anything Ximen Xue knew, Bi Changsheng certainly knew as well.
"Senior Ximen has a disciple as well? Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Fu, to introduce us."
Fu Ziping was somewhat surprised by Uncle Fu's words. However, he still intended to meet this disciple of Ximen Xue, Bi Changsheng.
Uncle Fu then brought Fu Ziping to Bi Changsheng in the rear courtyard. After introducing the two of them, he returned to the front of the pill pavilion to keep watch.
"Young Master Fu, Uncle Fu said that one of your seniors has developed a health problem, and you wanted to learn whether there was any way to resolve it."
"May I ask what kind of problem it is specifically?"
Bi Changsheng had a good impression of Fu Ziping. The way Fu Ziping conducted himself in Lin'an City had left him with considerable goodwill. Aside from Uncle Fu and Liu Zhengqing, Fu Ziping was probably the person in this world whom Bi Changsheng felt most favorably toward.
Therefore, after hearing that Fu Ziping needed his help, Bi Changsheng, who had no urgent matters recently, agreed.
"Young Master Bi, do you have any knowledge of poisons?"
Fu Ziping was also very surprised upon meeting Bi Changsheng. He had not expected the disciple of Ximen Xue mentioned by Uncle Fu to be even younger than himself, so he could not help but grow somewhat suspicious of Uncle Fu's claim that Bi Changsheng possessed extraordinary medical skill.
However, recalling Ximen Xue's character—and since he had already come—he decided to ask anyway.
"I haven't conducted any special research into poisons, but a so-called poison is merely something whose ingredients are harmful to the human body..."
Bi Changsheng answered Fu Ziping honestly. He also explained some medical principles and offered a few suggestions.
"Young Master Bi truly is worthy of being Senior Ximen's disciple. Your medical attainments are indeed profound."
After listening to Bi Changsheng's analysis of the medicine, Fu Ziping began to trust his medical abilities.
"I earnestly request that Young Master Bi examine my senior."
Fu Ziping immediately asked Bi Changsheng to examine his senior from the sect.
"My abilities are limited. I can only do my utmost."
Bi Changsheng had already been inclined to agree because he had a good impression of Fu Ziping; otherwise, he would not have discussed the matter with him. However, he still made the worst clear at the outset and offered no guarantee.
"Thank you, Young Master Bi. I'm already immensely grateful that you're willing to help."
Fu Ziping was an upright man and understood what Bi Changsheng meant, so he hurriedly spoke up.
Fu Ziping had originally intended to invite Bi Changsheng to the Divine Fist Sect for the examination, but Bi Changsheng was too lazy to leave home and also had pills to refine. Thus, he and Fu Ziping agreed that Fu Ziping would bring the person to Bi Changsheng the next day for an examination.
The next day, Fu Ziping brought an old man whose entire body was packed with muscle to the rear courtyard of the Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion.
Before you continue