Young Master Du

The Eight Treasures Blood Nourishing Soup sold quickly; the Blood-Stopping Powder and Trauma Medicine sold even faster.

After collecting all the silver, Zhong Lin headed straight for the Ghost-Faced Man's stall.

The man was still sitting there in cold desolation, several porcelain bottles laid out before him. Among them was the Bone Strengthening Pill Zhong Lin had been longing for.

Just as he was about to take out his silver, Zhong Lin suddenly asked another question.

"It hasn't gone up in price, has it?"

"..."

"Good, then. Five Bone Strengthening Pills."

"One hundred and fifty taels of silver."

Zhong Lin readily handed over the silver, but he could not hide the feeling that his heart was bleeding.

After tucking the porcelain bottle containing five Bone Strengthening Pills into his clothes, Zhong Lin stared straight at the Ghost-Faced Man.

"I'm not joking. I'm the kind of peerless alchemy genius who only lacks the right opportunity. Teach me alchemy. Once I learn it, I'll make the pills and you'll sell them. We split the profits fifty-fifty. Seventy-thirty works too—I take thirty, you take seventy. What do you say?"

"Get lost!"

"Right away!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhong Lin got up and backed away, his gaze inconspicuously flicking toward the saber at the man's side.

This Ghost-Faced Man was a vicious character. Just one look from him made Zhong Lin feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar, as if he had encountered a natural predator.

Anyone who could make him feel this way was at least a Middle Three Ranks expert.

"Can't afford to provoke him—at least not yet. I need to raise my strength quickly. Once I cultivate qi and blood, I'll head straight to the Prefecture City. With the system, I refuse to believe I can't learn alchemy. Then I'll finally have pill freedom."

He touched the porcelain bottle in his clothes, and that heartache came surging back once more.

Zhong Lin did not leave immediately. Instead, he took a turn around the Black Market. When he finally came out, he was carrying a large rooster and a bag of eggs.

Grain purchases in the County Town were rationed and price-controlled. Although Zhong Lin had bought a great deal of grain in advance, meat could not be stored for long. Now that he had come across some, he naturally had to make a proper offering to his five viscera temple.

"The eggs can be saved for Little Shi to eat one every morning. Half the chicken can be stewed, and the other half can be made into spicy chicken."

Zhong Lin wore a broad smile as he imagined what to eat once he got home. Then a tall figure suddenly blocked his way—it was Yun Ye, the guardian at the Black Market entrance.

Zhong Lin did not dare be negligent. He clasped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Master Yun. What is this about?"

"Painter Zhong, my young master wishes to see you. Come with me."

Zhong Lin's pupils contracted. Yun Ye had actually called him by name. Though he knew it would not be difficult for a businessman to investigate him—the Eight Treasures Blood Nourishing Soup from Xu's Clinic had gained some fame in Black Mountain County—he had not expected his identity to be exposed so quickly.

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Lin forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and respectfully asked, "Master Yun, the young master you mentioned is...?"

"Second Young Master Du."

So it was him!

Black Mountain County had two great families: one surnamed Du and the other Zhang. By coincidence, the County Town's commandant was surnamed Du, while the other official in power, the registrar, was surnamed Zhang.

Second Young Master Du was the Du Family's second son. But why was he looking for him?

"Since Second Young Master has summoned me, Zhong Lin would not dare delay. Please lead the way."

Yun Ye nodded and walked ahead. Zhong Lin followed close behind, carrying the rooster and eggs, looking rather comical.

As the two departed, discussion broke out among the Black Market crowd.

"Who was that? Master Yun came personally to invite him?"

"No idea, but anyone Master Yun personally invites can't be an ordinary person."

"What nonsense. Master Yun is from the Du Family, and he's a Seventh-Rank Bone Forging Realm expert himself. Of course anyone he personally comes to invite isn't ordinary."

"You idiots, didn't you recognize him? He's the one who sold medicine last time."

"Hiss! It was him? He didn't die?"

Some recognized Zhong Lin and were deeply shocked. They still remembered the two groups who had tried to kill Zhong Lin last month.

"He didn't die, but Skinny Monkey and Dong Yan have disappeared. Tsk, tsk. Another ruthless one."

"Hey, do you think one of the Du Family's young masters took a fancy to the medicine he sells?"

"Now that you mention it..."

"Shh! Watch your mouths. This has nothing to do with little people like us."

Zhong Lin followed Yun Ye out of the Black Market. After twisting and turning for several li, they arrived at a secluded courtyard.

The courtyard's decorations were not extravagant, but its layout was orderly and clearly arranged with great care. A small stream even ran through its center, though the recent drought had cut off the water upstream.

"May I ask, Master Yun, what does Second Young Master want with me?" Zhong Lin asked quietly.

"You'll know when you get there."

Yun Ye gave Zhong Lin a strange look but said nothing more.

After entering the courtyard, Yun Ye fell silent, and Zhong Lin kept quiet as well. They passed through a bamboo grove before arriving at the main hall.

Before he even approached, Zhong Lin smelled the rich fragrance of wine and meat, along with the laughter and frolicking of women and the sound of strings, woodwinds, and pipes within.

Two maidservants stood bowed at the entrance. Upon seeing Yun Ye, they gave a slight curtsy and opened the doors.

Inside, twelve smokeless candles arranged in two rows brightly illuminated the room. On the wooden floor, seven women dressed in sheer gauze danced gracefully to the accompaniment of strings, woodwinds, and pipes.

Behind the table at the center of the hall sat a handsome twenty-year-old man with a broad, full forehead. He wore brocade robes, with a Jade Pendant at his waist and golden tassels hanging beneath it, drinking as he watched the singing and dancing.

Two maidservants attended him on either side. They wore only pink dudou over their upper bodies and white underpants below, their dark hair spilling over their shoulders. Their faces were lovely and their beauty outstanding, not the least bit inferior to the Courtesan of the Highest Rank at the Warm Fragrance Brothel.

"This must be Du Chong, the Du Family's Second Young Master."

Though Zhong Lin had never met this Third Young Master of the Du Family, he had heard his reputation. It was said that he was exceedingly fond of beautiful women.

"Young Master, Zhong Lin has been brought," Yun Ye said in a low voice.

Zhong Lin hurried forward as well and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Second Young Master."

Du Chong waved a hand. The singing and dancing in the hall immediately stopped, as did the music from both sides.

"You are Zhong Lin? I never expected a painter to possess such strength, enough to kill Dong Yan in return."

Zhong Lin took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I do not deserve Second Young Master's praise. I only killed Dong Yan to protect myself, and I also had the advantage of a surprise attack."

Zhong Lin first made clear that he had killed for self-defense, since he did not know whether this Second Young Master Du had any connection to Dong Yan.

Then he said that he had only succeeded because of a surprise attack, lowering the threat he presented from the outset.

Before a powerful person who could decide his fate, the first thing he had to do was proceed with caution and understand the meaning of reverence.

You could say Zhong Lin was cowardly, but sometimes only cowardice let one live long. Those who were not cowardly, unless they were protagonists, probably already had grass three feet high growing over their graves.

A curve appeared at the corner of Du Chong's mouth. He had clearly seen through Zhong Lin's little scheme, but he liked seeing others tread carefully before him. Only that could highlight how far above them he stood.

Like a god, with a mere wave of his hand, he could determine another's fate.

"You... are quite good."

"Thank you for Second Young Master's praise."