Karma Repays

The Sky Net Empire, spanning three commanderies and eighteen cities.

Cold Mountain City belonged to the territory governed by Zifu County. It was not only the southernmost point of Zifu County but also the southern frontier of the Sky Net Empire, bordering the vast southern wilderness. To the north lay the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range, a place that struck fear into the hearts of Zifu County's residents, stretching for ten thousand miles.

Memories.

They were a precious treasure.

Having lived for a hundred years on Earth, he had gone from a spirited youth, through wealth and glory, to a period of quiet obscurity and peaceful contentment. He had witnessed countless lives and deaths, experienced innumerable partings and farewells.

He was Ye Tian!

And now, he was Ye Tong.

The memories of the previous Ye Tong had been merged with his own. He was in control, yet he had inherited everything that belonged to Ye Tong, including this poisonous body. The Ye Tong of this world was solitary, adept at enduring hardship, and had been ravaged by poison for years, possessing an exceptionally strong will.

Two personalities.

Two lives.

The current Ye Tong had a feeling that his former personality was clearly being influenced by the previous Ye Tong.

And this place…

Ye Tong was acutely aware of the vastness and splendor of this world, which was worlds apart from Earth in the era of the Dharma's End. Cold Mountain City, a place that had felt like a cage for ten years, was considered a chaotic land, a world of adventurers, and the largest trading market in the south by outsiders. However, for the current Ye Tong, it was like an undiscovered treasure trove, brimming with opportunities everywhere.

In his past life, his strength was a hundred times greater than it was now.

But if he had to choose, he would lean towards this reborn experience.

Because…

This place had immortal mountains, spiritual lands, and cultivators who could summon the wind and rain and chase the stars and moon.

The destruction of the Precious Medicine Workshop and the depletion of Blue Silver had plunged Ye Tong, with his poisonous body, into an even more dire predicament. However, it also ignited the fighting spirit within him. After all, a century of tempering on Earth, with countless brushes with death, had already forged his unyielding resilience.

"Young Master."

The hunchbacked old Medicine Slave's eyes glinted with coldness as he glanced at Zhang Pinsou and his daughter Zhang Zhongying, who were standing outside the courtyard. He spoke calmly, "There are still people outside asking for medicine."

Asking for medicine?

Ye Tong's lips curved upwards, his smile laced with a chilling edge. If he were the previous Ye Tong, he would have been quite displeased.

But having experienced the fickleness of human relationships and seen through the essence of many things in his past life, he didn't blame Zhang Pinsou and his daughter for not participating in the rescue. After all, when faced with threats, some people would choose self-preservation. However, the Stunning Girl by his side had earned his favor.

Mu Qianlan gazed at Ye Tong's expression, a strange feeling stirring within her. She had seen people smile, but never with such an openly chilling demeanor. Yet, seeing this kind of smile on a boy of sixteen or seventeen sent a shiver down her spine.

In that instant, she keenly captured the depth and vicissitudes in the young man's eyes, mixed with a hint of sharpness. She found it hard to imagine how such a gaze, typically possessed by seasoned elders, could appear on a young boy.

What had he truly experienced before?

Mu Qianlan asked herself, her curiosity about Ye Tong growing even stronger.

"My name is Ye Tong. Ye, as in 'a leaf blocking the eye,' and Tong, as in 'bright, cold eyes.'" Ye Tong spoke to Mu Qianlan with a half-smile, "The Heavenly Dao cycles, karma dictates. Your assistance today will be repaid in the future."

"The Heavenly Dao cycles? Karma dictates?"

Mu Qianlan's deep, bright eyes, like stars, erupted with a dazzling light. She could hardly believe her ears. Such words, imbued with the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao, were actually coming from this young man's mouth.

Whether it was interest or curiosity, Her heart felt like iron being drawn to a magnet, sinking deeper and deeper.

Mu Qianlan thought of the purpose of her visit and said softly, "There's no need for the future. I've come today to accompany the Zhang family head to request medicine. It's a matter of life and death, and I hope you can help."

"Is it worth it?"

Ye Tong turned slightly, facing Mu Qianlan directly.

An indescribable feeling arose within Mu Qianlan. She glanced again at Zhang Pinsou and his daughter before saying softly, "My... my father once received a kindness from an ancestor of the Zhang family. Just as you said, the Heavenly Dao cycles, karma dictates. Consider this as 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 dilapidated courtyard were much steadier than before. Upon reaching Zhang Pinsou and Zhang Zhongying, he calmly asked, "What medicine are you seeking?"

Zhang Pinsou and Zhang Zhongying had heard every word of the conversation between Ye Tong and Mu Qianlan. Although they never dreamed that the favor owed by the dignified sovereign of the Sky Net Empire to their Zhang family would be settled in such a manner, as filial children, Zhang Pinsou was willing to obtain the medicine to save his mother.

"Hundred Solutions Liquid."

Ye Tong froze, his brow furrowing instantly.

Hundred Solutions Liquid was an extremely difficult-to-formulate antidote. The required medicinal ingredients were also incredibly rare and expensive. Even with his nine years of observation and one year of practical experience in formulating and refining medicine, his success rate in producing Hundred Solutions Liquid was only sixty to seventy percent. Failure each time meant wasting astronomically priced ingredients.

Seeing Ye Tong's expression, Zhang Pinsou's heart sank, and a bad premonition arose. He had searched almost the entire Cold Mountain City for the past half month without finding any Alchemist capable of formulating Hundred Solutions Liquid. Finally, he learned about this obscure Precious Medicine Workshop from the Cold Mountain City Lord, Long Zhancheng, seeing a glimmer of hope.

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

Ye Tong said calmly, "Figure out a way to gather the medicinal ingredients for formulating Hundred Solutions Liquid. My time is limited, and I hope you can complete it within two days. After successful formulation, I will not take any payment."

Zhang Pinsou's eyes lit up, and he said urgently, "Whatever medicinal ingredients are needed, just tell me. As long as they can be found in Cold Mountain City, I'm confident I can acquire them."

Such wealth!

Ye Tong felt a slight regret. What an easy "fat sheep" to fleece, delivered right to his doorstep!

What a shame!

To repay Mu Qianlan's earlier kindness in saving the fire, he couldn't accept Blue Silver. Whether it was Ye Tian in his past life or the current Ye Tong, he disliked owing favors.

In the past year, the previous Ye Tong had visited almost every medicinal herb shop in Cold Mountain City, familiar with the situation in each one. Therefore, to avoid wasting time, Ye Tong calmly said, "Warm Medicine Hall. Their medicinal ingredient reserves are the largest and most comprehensive in all of Cold Mountain City. Let's go there!"

Zhang Pinsou was taken aback and asked, "Where?"

Hearing this, Ye Tong glanced at the person in front of him with a hint of surprise and asked, "You're not from around here?"

"No," Zhang Pinsou shook his head and said, "We're from the county seat of Zifu County. Our main purpose for bringing our family here to Cold Mountain City is for business. We also wanted our family to get out and relax. My mother was originally in good health, but she suddenly fell ill, which is why we've been staying in Cold Mountain City for many days."

"What's your age?"

Ye Tong asked with a slight frown.

Zhang Pinsou replied, "I've reached the age of seventy this year."

Seventy years old...

Ye Tong silently thought it was absurd. This Mr. Zhang was already seventy, meaning his mother must be at least ninety! To bring her, at such an advanced age, all the way from Zifu County, thousands of miles to Cold Mountain City, was utterly reckless and a pointless endeavor. Wasn't he afraid of his elderly mother's frail bones falling apart?

South City.

"Warm Medicine" had been around for hundreds of years, considered an old establishment in Cold Mountain City. Its procurement channels and sales volume were unmatched by other shops in the medicinal materials market. Rumor had it that Warm Medicine had a highly experienced and powerful herb-gathering team that traveled through the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range year-round. While gathering herbs, they would also purchase them from other gatherers in the deep mountains. It was even said that they occasionally ventured into the Southern Savage Great Marsh to search for medicinal ingredients.

At this moment.

Chang Wu, the chief steward of Warm Medicine Hall, sat listlessly by the entrance of the medicinal materials shop, fiddling with a seven-holed flute. In front of him, six ox-cart carriages, capable of traveling hundreds of miles a day, were loaded with goods. They were ready to depart at his command.

"Steward Chang."

Ye Tong arrived with his group and greeted him.

Chang Wu narrowed his eyes. Upon seeing Ye Tong, a flicker of impatience crossed his gaze. He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly and said, "Why are you here again? We're a wholesale dealer of medicinal materials. I sold to you retail before out of pity, but you're being relentless, aren't you? Go on, go buy from wherever you usually do. Don't bother me anymore."

Ye Tong knew that his predecessor had strongly disliked Chang Wu. The reason Chang Wu had been willing to sell him medicinal materials in the past was solely because he was afraid of offending the Poison Demon Huo Lanqiu. However, as the Poison Demon remained missing for longer periods, Chang Wu's attitude had become increasingly hostile, and now he was outright refusing him entry.

Not selling retail?

It was the most basic of excuses.

Besides wholesale dealers, Warm Medicine Hall had fewer than ten retail customers a day. His unwillingness to sell him medicinal materials was also related to his predecessor, Lan Yin, being poor and always haggling over prices.

However.

This time, he was preparing to refine the Hundred Solutions Liquid. Not only would he not get a single tael of Blue Silver, but he would also have to work himself to death. Why would he tolerate such mistreatment? Moreover, bringing people here to buy medicinal materials was essentially bringing business to "Warm Medicine Hall."

Ye Tong's attitude turned cold, and he said indifferently, "I'm not buying medicinal materials this time; I'm bringing them. According to the rules of the medicinal materials shop, every person who brings a customer to the shop is entitled to a commission. I hope you won't go back on your word later."

The "Tooth Eye Official" that Ye Tong mentioned!

They were people active in Cold Mountain City who brought customers to various businesses. A large number of adventurers came here every year. Whether they were selling goods or buying items, many were unfamiliar with the local customs and needed guides. These guides were responsible for introductions and, afterward, not only received commissions from various shops but also tips from customers.

Chang Wu, who had been in low spirits earlier, hadn't paid much attention to the people behind Ye Tong. Now, after a closer look, the impatient expression on his face receded like a tide. Having been in the business world for decades, he had developed a discerning eye. Judging by the attire and demeanor of the people behind Ye Tong, he determined that they were of extraordinary background, either wealthy or noble.

"Ah, it seems we have distinguished guests."

Chang Wu's expression changed faster than flipping a book. He stood up with a smile, warmly greeting them, "Is this your first time visiting our Warm Medicine shop? May I ask what medicinal materials you require? Warm Medicine shop has been doing business for hundreds of years, offering quality products at fair prices and treating all customers with honesty. We are undoubtedly the best place to buy medicinal materials in Cold Mountain City."

Zhang Pinsou was also a shrewd individual. He knew that Ye Tong was displeased with him for not helping to put out the fire earlier. To ensure Ye Tong could concoct the Hundred Solutions Liquid, he didn't mind boosting Ye Tong's status. He said lightly, "The medicinal materials we need are very precious, and the quantity should not be small. As for which specific medicinal materials to purchase, he will decide."

"Hmm?"

Chang Wu showed a surprised expression. He looked at Ye Tong, then at Zhang Pinsou again, before his face filled with a smile as he asked, "Young Master Ye, what medicinal materials do you need?"

"Stone Yellow, Blood Droplet, Thousand Needle Leaf, Purple Tea Fruit... a total of sixteen types, three portions of each," Ye Tong said casually, listing the names of the medicinal materials and spiritual fruits he needed, as he was very familiar with the prescription for the Hundred Solutions Liquid.