Karmic Retribution

Sky Net Empire, three counties and eighteen cities.

Cold Mountain City fell under Zifu County's jurisdiction. It was not only the southernmost part of Zifu County, but also the southern frontier of the Sky Net Empire, bordering the Barren Great Marsh to the south. To the north lay the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range, stretching for thousands of miles—a place that made the people of Zifu County turn pale at the mention of it.

Memories.

Were a precious treasure.

After living on Earth for a hundred years, he had gone from a spirited youth through glory and wealth, then into hiding his brilliance and living in tranquil peace. He had witnessed too much life and death, endured too many partings and farewells.

He was Ye Tian!

And now, he was Ye Tong.

As for the previous Ye Tong, his memories had been fused with Ye Tian's. Ye Tian was the dominant one, yet he had inherited everything from Ye Tong, including this Poison Body. Ye Tong of this world had been solitary by nature and skilled at enduring in silence. Ravaged by deadly poisons year after year, his willpower had become exceptionally strong.

Two personalities.

Two lives.

The current Ye Tong could feel that his former personality had clearly been influenced by the previous Ye Tong.

And this place...

Ye Tong knew full well how vast and splendid this world was. Compared with Earth in its Age of Spiritual Decline, they were as far apart as clouds and mud. Cold Mountain City, where he had been trapped as if in a cage for ten whole years, might have been regarded by outsiders as a chaotic land, an adventurer's world, and the largest trading market in the south. Yet to the current Ye Tong, it was like an undiscovered treasure trove, brimming with opportunities everywhere.

Once, he had been a hundred times stronger than he was now.

But if he had to choose, he preferred this rebirth-like circumstance.

Because...

There were immortal mountains here, spiritual lands, and cultivators capable of summoning wind and rain, chasing stars and moon.

The Precious Medicine Workshop had been destroyed, and his blue silver had run dry. For Ye Tong, whose body was plagued by deadly poison, this was truly snow upon frost. Yet it also stirred the fighting spirit deep within him. After all, a hundred years of hardship on Earth and countless brushes with death had long forged his unyielding resilience.

"Young Master."

The hunchbacked old medicine slave swept a cold gaze over Zhang Pinsou and Zhang Zhongying, the father and daughter standing outside the courtyard, then said calmly, "There are still people outside seeking medicine."

Seeking medicine?

The corner of Ye Tong's mouth curled upward, his smile concealing an icy chill. Had he been the previous Ye Tong, he would have been quite dissatisfied.

But in his previous life, he had suffered all the warmth and coldness of human relationships and seen through the essence of many things. Thus, he did not blame Zhang Pinsou and his daughter for not helping put out the fire. When faced with danger, some people chose to preserve themselves wisely. On the other hand, the stunning girl beside him had earned his favor.

Mu Qianlan stared at Ye Tong's expression, a strange feeling rising in her heart. She had seen people smile with chilling menace before, but seeing such a smile on the face of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth made a shiver run through her.

In that instant, she keenly caught the look in the youth's eyes. They were deep, weathered, and tinged with sharpness. She found it hard to imagine how a gaze that only an old man battered by wind and frost should possess could appear on a youth.

What had he experienced before?

Mu Qianlan asked herself inwardly, her curiosity toward Ye Tong growing stronger.

"My name is Ye Tong. Ye as in 'one leaf blinds the eye,' Tong as in 'bright, cold pupils.'" Ye Tong turned slightly toward Mu Qianlan and said with a faintly amused smile, "The Heavenly Dao turns in cycles; karma brings retribution. Since you lent a hand this time, I will surely repay you someday."

"The Heavenly Dao turns in cycles? Karma brings retribution?"

Brilliant light burst from Mu Qianlan's star-like eyes, deep and luminous. She could scarcely believe her ears. Such words containing the profound truth of the Heavenly Dao had actually come from this youth's mouth.

Whether it was interest or curiosity.

Her heart was like iron drawn deeply toward a lodestone, with a tendency to sink ever deeper.

Remembering the purpose of this visit, Mu Qianlan softly said, "There is no need to wait until someday. I came here with the Zhang family head to seek medicine. It concerns a human life, and I hope you can help."

"Is it worth it?"

Ye Tong turned slightly and faced Mu Qianlan directly.

An indescribable feeling welled up in Mu Qianlan's heart. She glanced again at Zhang Pinsou and his daughter before saying faintly, "My... my father received kindness from the Zhang family's ancestors in his early years. Just as you said, the Heavenly Dao turns in cycles; karma brings retribution. Consider it my way of fulfilling my father's long-held wish and repaying the Zhang family's favor."

Ye Tong said nothing more. His steps as he left the ruined courtyard were much steadier than before. After arriving before Zhang Pinsou and Zhang Zhongying, he asked indifferently, "What medicine are you seeking?"

Zhang Pinsou and Zhang Zhongying had heard every word of Ye Tong and Mu Qianlan's conversation. Though they never could have dreamed that the favor owed to their Zhang family by the Fifth of the Nine of the Sky Net Empire would be repaid under such circumstances, Zhang Pinsou, being an exceedingly filial son, was still willing to obtain the medicine to save his mother.

"Hundred Solutions Liquid."

Ye Tong froze, and his brows instantly furrowed.

Hundred Solutions Liquid was an antidotal liquid that was extremely difficult to prepare, and the medicinal ingredients it required were worth a fortune and nearly impossible to obtain. Though he had spent nine years observing medicine preparation and pill refinement and one year practicing it himself, he still had only a sixty to seventy percent chance of successfully preparing Hundred Solutions Liquid. One failure alone would waste medicinal ingredients worth an astronomical sum.

When Zhang Pinsou saw Ye Tong's expression, his heart immediately skipped a beat, and a bad premonition arose. Over the past half month, he had nearly searched all of Cold Mountain City without finding a medicine master capable of preparing Hundred Solutions Liquid. In the end, he had learned of the obscure Precious Medicine Workshop from Cold Mountain City's lord, Long Zhancheng, and caught sight of a glimmer of hope.

"You... can't prepare it?"

Ye Tong said calmly, "Find a way to gather the ingredients for Hundred Solutions Liquid. I do not have much time, so I hope you can finish within two days. Once it is successfully prepared, I will take no payment."

Zhang Pinsou's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "Please tell us what ingredients are needed. So long as they can be found in Cold Mountain City, I am confident I can buy them."

Deep pockets indeed!

Ye Tong felt a faint regret. A fat sheep had practically delivered itself to his doorstep—how easy it would have been to shear its wool!

What a pity!

To repay Mu Qianlan for helping extinguish the fire earlier, he could not accept any blue silver. Whether it was the Ye Tian of his past life or the Ye Tong of today, neither liked owing favors.

Over the past year, the previous Ye Tong had practically worn a path through every medicinal shop in Cold Mountain City and knew the situation at each one well. Therefore, not wishing to waste time, Ye Tong said calmly, "Warm Medicine House has the largest and most comprehensive stock of medicinal ingredients in all of Cold Mountain City. Let's go there."

Zhang Pinsou froze and asked in confusion, "Where is that?"

Ye Tong looked at the man before him in surprise and asked, "You are not locals?"

"No." Zhang Pinsou shook his head and said, "We are from the county city of Zifu County. We brought our family to Cold Mountain City this time primarily to conduct trade, and also to let the family come out and relax. My mother had been healthy, but who would have thought she would suddenly fall ill? That is why we have remained in Cold Mountain City for many days."

"How old are you?"

Ye Tong asked with a slight frown.

Zhang Pinsou answered, "This year, I have reached my seventieth year."

Seventy years old... seventy?

Ye Tong was secretly speechless. This Zhang fellow was already seventy. His mother had to be at least ninety, didn't she? At such an advanced age, he had actually brought her thousands of miles from Zifu County's county city to Cold Mountain City. What utter nonsense, what reckless fussing about. Was he not afraid of shaking that old woman's bones apart?

South City.

Warm Medicine House had existed for several hundred years and was considered an old-established medicinal shop in Cold Mountain City. Whether in terms of supply channels or sales volume, the other shops in the medicine market found it difficult to compare. Rumor had it that Warm Medicine House possessed an experienced and highly formidable herb-gathering team. They traveled through the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range year-round, gathering herbs while also purchasing medicinal ingredients from other herb gatherers deep in the mountains. It was said that they even occasionally dared venture into the Barren Great Marsh in the south to search for medicine.

At this moment.

Chang Wu, the chief steward of Warm Medicine House, sat listlessly beside the entrance to the medicinal shop, idly playing with the seven-holed flute in his hand. On the street before him, six Lion Mule Beast carriages capable of traveling hundreds of miles a day had already been loaded with goods. At a single command from him, they could set off to make deliveries.

"Steward Chang."

Ye Tong arrived with the others and stepped forward to greet him.

Chang Wu narrowed his eyes. Upon seeing Ye Tong, impatience flashed in his gaze. He waved his hand as though shooing away flies and said, "Why are you here again? We sell medicinal ingredients wholesale. We sold to you retail before only because we pitied you, but are you going to keep this up forever? Go, go, go. Buy wherever you want, just stop bothering me."

Ye Tong knew that his former self deeply disliked Chang Wu. When he had come here in the past to buy medicinal ingredients, Chang Wu had only been willing to sell to him because he did not dare offend Poison Demon Huo Lanqiu. But the longer Poison Demon had been missing, the worse Chang Wu's attitude had become. Now, he was even shutting Ye Tong out entirely.

No retail sales?

It was simply the lowest sort of excuse.

Apart from medicinal wholesalers, Warm Medicine House received more retail customers each day than could be counted on two hands. Chang Wu's refusal to sell Ye Tong medicinal ingredients was also because Ye Tong's former self had limited blue silver and had to haggle every time.

However.

This time, Ye Tong was preparing to make Hundred Solutions Liquid. Not only would he earn not a single tael of blue silver, he would also have to work himself to the bone. Why should he put up with such nonsense? Besides, bringing people here to purchase medicinal ingredients was bringing business to Warm Medicine House.

Ye Tong's attitude turned cold as he said indifferently, "I am not here to buy medicinal ingredients this time. I brought them here. According to the rules of medicinal shops, every broker who brings in customers receives a five-percent commission. I hope you do not renege on the payment later."

The brokers Ye Tong spoke of!

Were a type of people active in Cold Mountain City who drummed up customers for all sorts of trades. Every year, large numbers of adventurers came here. Whether they were selling goods or buying items, many were unfamiliar with the place and needed brokers to lead the way and make introductions. Afterward, the brokers could receive commissions from the various shops as well as tips from the customers.

Chang Wu had been in low spirits earlier and had not paid much attention to the people behind Ye Tong. Now that he gave them a few looks, the impatience on his face receded like the tide. Having struggled in the business world for decades, he had long cultivated a pair of Fiery Golden Eyes. From the clothes and adornments of the people behind Ye Tong, he could tell that they were of extraordinary origin, either wealthy or noble.

"Ah, so honored guests have arrived."

Chang Wu changed his face faster than turning the pages of a book. He stood with a beaming smile and greeted them warmly. "Is this your first time at our Warm Medicine House? May I ask what medicinal ingredients you require? Warm Medicine House has kept its doors open for business for several hundred years. Our goods are fine, our prices fair, and we never deceive young or old. We are absolutely the finest place in Cold Mountain City to buy medicine."

Zhang Pinsou was likewise a shrewd man. He knew that his earlier failure to help extinguish the fire had already displeased Ye Tong. To ensure that Ye Tong would prepare Hundred Solutions Liquid, he did not mind elevating Ye Tong's standing. He said evenly, "The medicinal ingredients we need are very precious, and the quantity will likely not be small. But exactly which ingredients we purchase will be decided by him."

"Hmm?"

Chang Wu revealed a surprised expression. He looked at Ye Tong, then examined Zhang Pinsou several more times before piling on a smile and asking, "Brother Ye, what medicinal ingredients do you need?"

"Stone Yellow, Blood Droplet, Thousand Needle Leaf, Purple Tea Fruit... sixteen kinds in total. Three portions of each." Ye Tong was very familiar with the prescription for Hundred Solutions Liquid and casually listed the names of the medicinal ingredients and spiritual fruits required.