What was the meaning?
Did helping him avert his bloody calamity require payment too?
Chang Wu's eyes widened as he watched Ye Tong rub his fingers together. He nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. This damn... money-grubber? Did he have to poke several bloody holes in him first?
"What are you doing? Take the herbs and get out."
Ye Tong's expression shifted slightly as he said coolly, "Manager Chang, do you truly not understand, or are you pretending to be muddled when you know perfectly well? I helped you avert your bloody calamity to repay the favor you did me regarding the herbs. But this jade pendant was bought with real gold and silver at a hefty price. Are you trying to cheat someone kind enough to help you? Become a greedy man?"
A jade pendant?
Chang Wu slowly lowered his head, then suddenly came to his senses. He had only been agonizing over his losses and had forgotten that this jade pendant seemed quite valuable!
"How much blue silver?"
"Two hundred taels."
Chang Wu looked again at the exquisitely carved jade pendant, then thought of tomorrow's bloody calamity. Gritting his teeth, he pulled two blue-silver banknotes worth one hundred taels each from his sleeve and handed them over. "We're even now."
Ye Tong smiled. "We are even, Manager Chang. Farewell."
Chang Wu watched the two figures disappear through the door once more, vaguely feeling that something was not quite right.
"Averting the calamity was free."
"The jade pendant cost money."
"But wasn't the jade pendant needed to avert the calamity?"
"Then in the end, was it the jade pendant that cost money? Or was it averting the calamity that cost money?"
"..."
For a time, even Manager Chang's shrewd mind found itself unable to work out the math.
Ye Tong carried the herbs and held the banknotes, with Yin Xiaojiu following at his side. He returned to the Precious Medicine Workshop in high spirits. Even though the fine courtyard had become ruins, he still found the scenery picturesque.
"Heavens! How did this place become like this? Was there a fire?" Yin Xiaojiu stared at the ruins in stunned disbelief, hardly daring to trust her eyes.
The Medicine Slave, who had been supervising the craftsmen at work, turned back with a smile. "If the old isn't burned, how can the new be built? Ninth Girl, it won't be long before an even grander Precious Medicine Workshop rises here."
Yin Xiaojiu's lips moved as she murmured timidly, "But it will cost a great deal of silver."
The Medicine Slave looked at Ye Tong, his eyes flashing with barely perceptible satisfaction. That fire had seemingly burned down the Precious Medicine Workshop, but what it had truly burned away was the young master's immaturity and naivety. It was as though he had suddenly awakened. The young master was no longer like a wolf cub hiding in the Precious Medicine Workshop, licking his wounds and struggling bitterly to prolong his life.
He was different now!
In his transactions with those seeking medicine, the young master could see through the ways of the world, understand worldly affairs, and fight for the greatest possible benefit. That was not something a youth should be capable of. He was more like a shrewd sage.
The Medicine Slave could not see through what had happened to the young master, but he was certain that this sudden change was an immense blessing. In a place filled with deceit and schemes, amid the brutal struggle to snatch life from heaven, only by understanding the world and mastering human feelings could one seize more chances of survival.
"Young Master, rebuilding the Precious Medicine Workshop will take several dozen days. Where shall we stay in the meantime?"
Ye Tong had considered that question on the way back and already had an answer in mind. Without hesitation, he said, "The Golden Phoenix Mountain Range."
The Medicine Slave hesitated. "The Golden Phoenix Mountain Range is fraught with dangers. If we do not have to venture into it lightly, it is best to stay far away. We have gained quite a lot lately. We can purchase all the herbs you currently need. Is there really any need to risk danger in the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range again?"
"We cannot sit and eat until the mountain is empty."
In Ye Tong's mind appeared the gleaming display cabinets of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, filled with pill after pill of crystal-clear Silver Crystals. In times like these, only the strong could live better. He needed to obtain Silver Crystals as soon as possible, hasten the improvement of his cultivation, and gain more capital to preserve his life.
The Medicine Slave asked, "When do we leave?"
Ye Tong looked at Yin Xiaojiu and asked, "Where do you live?"
Yin Xiaojiu pouted with a trace of displeasure. "Brother Yezi, I've told you so many times. I live in the ninth house of the Stone House District, but you've never visited even once!"
Ye Tong said, "We'll stay at your place tonight."
"Really? Great!" Joy appeared on Yin Xiaojiu's face, but in the next instant, her delicate little face drooped again. She said somewhat dejectedly, "But my place is very small. I'm afraid you won't like it."
Ye Tong smiled. "No matter how small Xiao Jiu's home is, I'll like it."
Yin Xiaojiu's eyes brightened. She happily grabbed Ye Tong's sleeve and said, "Brother Yezi is the best. But Brother Yezi is different from before!"
Ye Tong's heart skipped a beat, but he asked without revealing anything, "How am I different?"
Yin Xiaojiu said with a smile, "Brother Yezi never smiled before, and you never said things Xiao Jiu liked hearing. I know now—you saw Xiao Jiu being bullied today, so you're comforting Xiao Jiu, right?"
"Right..."
Ye Tong secretly found it amusing. A child's heart truly was pure enough.
Night fell, and darkness shrouded the world.
The Stone House District, also known as the slums, was filled with low houses built of bluestone. Though they stood in neat rows, the place was smoky, filthy, and chaotic. Muddy, uneven paths ran everywhere, with foul mud and murky water in every direction. Many vagrants were disheveled and filthy, giving off unpleasant odors that even stray dogs were unwilling to approach.
The ninth house stood in the most remote northeastern corner. The small room, only a dozen or so square meters in size, was extremely simple: one bed, a three-legged long table against the wall, a battered stove, and a washbasin and kettle.
"This place is quite clean."
Ye Tong stood alone inside the room. After looking around, he opened the sack he had brought, took out the herbs he had purchased, and began preparing medicine. The cauldron behind him had also been brought from the Precious Medicine Workshop. To him, a poison man who needed to refine medicine and fight poison with poison in order to stay alive, it was equally vital.
Tomorrow.
Ye Tong would enter the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range.
Ye Tong did not know what dangers and difficulties he would encounter there, nor whether he could return safely to Cold Mountain City within two months. Therefore, he had to prepare for a rainy day and guard against the slightest possibility.
"Creak..."
The door was pushed open from outside. The grave-faced Medicine Slave and the dejected Yin Xiaojiu entered the room.
Ye Tong swept his gaze over them, and his brows immediately furrowed. As he controlled the fire, he asked, "What happened?"
The Medicine Slave gave a bitter smile. "Young Master, you ordered this old servant to redeem Ninth Girl from the textile shop, but we arrived one step too late. Her deed of sale was redeemed and taken away by someone unknown two hours ago."
"You didn't ask around? Who did it?"
Ye Tong's expression darkened.
The Medicine Slave said, "I did. They said it was a young woman, but she wore a veil, so they could not see her face clearly. There was no way to investigate her identity or background."
Veiled?
A young woman?
Mu Qianlan's figure immediately surfaced in Ye Tong's mind, but he quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought. Mu Qianlan should not have known about his relationship with Yin Xiaojiu. The woman who took the deed of sale should have only noticed Yin Xiaojiu recently—when Yin Xiaojiu was on the arena stage.
Could it have been Butcher Zhang and the others?
Or perhaps...
Tong Kaishan?
Did he intend to use Yin Xiaojiu to threaten him?
Ye Tong's thoughts raced as countless inferences churned within his mind. Only after the medicinal liquid inside the cauldron began giving off a pungent scent did he compose himself and carefully pour the refined liquid into two warm-jade bottles.
Suddenly, he remembered something and immediately cursed himself for being foolish.
Ye Tong then looked at Yin Xiaojiu and studied her face. Her glabella was rosy, and her forehead was lustrous, broad, and open, indicating that she would be free of illness and disaster in the coming days. Her Migration Palace was bright, clear, and clean in complexion; between her brows...
Wait...
She would travel far?
Her future path was smooth and open?
Confusion arose in Ye Tong's heart. Yin Xiaojiu had grown up here since childhood. Her parents and family were alive, and her relatives and friends were all here. She was also utterly unfamiliar with the world beyond Cold Mountain City. Why would she travel far?
It would not be with him!
He was about to enter the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range, but it was fraught with peril, and he could not take her there to face danger. Besides, he would not go too deep and would return soon.
Then...
What kind of opportunity would she encounter?
Ye Tong could not figure it out, so he stopped wasting thought on it. He regarded Yin Xiaojiu as a younger sister. Seeing that she was not in danger and might instead obtain a stroke of fortune, he could only be happy for her.
Only, once she left, who knew when they would meet again?
"Young Master, you..."
The Medicine Slave hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Ye Tong came back to himself and shook his head with a smile. "If we cannot find out, there is no need to rack our brains over it. No matter who took Xiao Jiu's deed of sale, as long as she has a purpose, she will inevitably show herself. Medicine Slave, go buy some wine and dishes. We've all been busy for a day and must be hungry."
"Alright!"
The Medicine Slave agreed and turned to leave.
Ye Tong reached out and pulled Yin Xiaojiu before him, gently stroking her hair. He said softly, "Xiao Jiu, I'm entering the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range tomorrow. I don't know when I'll return. Construction is underway at the Precious Medicine Workshop, so when you have nothing to do, go over there and look around. Help Brother Yezi keep an eye on things."
"Mm!"
Shallow dimples appeared in Yin Xiaojiu's smile.
Ye Tong sighed inwardly and asked, "Xiao Jiu, if you had the chance in the future, would you be willing to go outside and take a look? See the skies beyond, the lands beyond, and that magnificent, surging world outside?"
"I would!"
Without hesitation, Yin Xiaojiu said, "Whenever I have nothing to do, I love listening to stories from the storytelling grandpa. In the future, Xiao Jiu wants to become an adventurer, crossing mountains and seas, catching dragons and turtles. Xiao Jiu wants to become strong, like those great figures who stand high above, roaming freely across the Eastern Mu Continent, protecting Brother Yezi, my family, and Grandpa Medicine Slave."
Warmth filled Ye Tong's heart. He said gently, "My Xiao Jiu has lofty ambitions. Brother Yezi is happy for you. But remember this: whether Brother Yezi is by your side in the future or not, and wherever you may be, you will always be Ye Tong's little sister. If anyone bullies you, fight them if you can win. If you cannot, endure it for now. Tell Brother Yezi afterward, and Brother Yezi will avenge you."
"Alright."
Yin Xiaojiu's smile grew even brighter.
Ye Tong turned to look outside the door, a trace of determination flowing through his eyes. He did not know what his future would be, nor what he would experience, but a fierce tiger dwelled in his heart, its will set upon the nine heavens.
But the most urgent matter was to resolve the hidden danger within his body, then cultivate with every second counting.
In the future, if possible... he had to find her!
Before you continue