Mutual Benefit

Ye Tong took out the completed design drawing and handed it over. "I need a prosthetic limb made. This is the design; every component has precise numerical markings. After you look it over, answer a few questions. First, can you make this kind of prosthetic? Second, if you can, how long will it take? Third, how much silver will it cost?"

Master Tielang could not help laughing. He had lived in seclusion in Cold Mountain City for decades. Though his reputation was not prominent here, decades ago, throughout the entire Sky Net Empire, who had not known the name of Tielang, the Artisan God?

Now.

Being questioned by this young lad, who looked as though a gust of wind could knock him over, left him with a feeling both laughable and absurd.

Master Tielang accepted the drawing and swept his gaze over it. His expression immediately turned stunned. Then his brows furrowed, deeper and deeper, until light began to shine from his eyes. His body even trembled faintly, and the hands clutching the drawing tightened with extraordinary force.

After a long while.

Master Tielang slowly raised his head and stared at Ye Tong. "Who drew this design? Who designed this prosthetic?"

"I did!"

Ye Tong answered without hesitation.

Master Tielang revealed a horrified expression. He had never imagined Ye Tong would give such an answer. After scrutinizing Ye Tong, he stepped back, cupped his fists, and said, "May I know this young brother's honored name? Such an exquisite design is as ingenious as nature itself, with craftsmanship beyond heaven's reach and a unique artisan's touch. It is truly a model for our generation. Tielang has learned much."

Ye Tong felt somewhat guilty at those words. Though he had drawn this design, he had merely copied the form of prosthetics from Earth, drawing the gourd by tracing the ladle. It was nothing more than a knockoff.

"Master, there is no need for such ceremony. My name is Ye Tong. You still have not answered my questions."

Master Tielang drew a deep breath and said in a grave voice, "Do special materials need to be added? Do you want an ordinary prosthetic, or the finest prosthetic I can forge?"

Ye Tong asked, "How long will it take? How much silver?"

Master Tielang replied seriously, "If it is an ordinary prosthetic, two days will be enough, and it will cost one hundred taels of blue silver. If it is the finest prosthetic, it will take half a month, and I will not charge you a single coin."

Ye Tong said, "I need the finest prosthetic, but it must be finished within ten days. As for the price, I will pay it in full."

Ten days?

Master Tielang pondered for a moment, then nodded readily. "No problem. Return here in ten days, and I guarantee I will forge something that satisfies you. However, this old man has an unreasonable request. If you can agree, not only will I forge this prosthetic without taking a single coin, I am also willing to pay you ten thousand Blue Silver."

Ye Tong asked thoughtfully, "You want to mass-produce this kind of prosthetic and sell it in your shops?"

Master Tielang laughed heartily. "Little Brother Ye is exceedingly intelligent. That is precisely my intention."

Ye Tong nodded. "No problem. This deal benefits both sides. It can be done."

Master Tielang turned to Big Brother Daqiang. "Go to the accounts room, withdraw a ten-thousand-Blue-Silver banknote, and give it to Little Brother Ye."

Big Brother Daqiang had never dreamed that a customer seeking to have an item forged would actually strike a deal with his master. Though his master looked very satisfied, and the other party had said it was mutually beneficial, he could not understand it at all. He wanted to say something, but seeing his master's pleased smile, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips back into his stomach.

A short while later.

Big Brother Daqiang returned with a banknote worth ten thousand and handed it to Ye Tong.

"Farewell!"

Ye Tong cupped his fists, turned, and left.

In the courtyard.

The young clerk watched the place where Ye Tong's back had disappeared. Suddenly, as though remembering something, he cried out, "I remember now! He said his name was Ye Tong. Could he be Ye Tong from the Precious Medicine Workshop?"

Big Brother Daqiang asked in confusion, "Who is Ye Tong from the Precious Medicine Workshop?"

The young clerk said, "Big Brother Daqiang, you still do not know? The news has spread everywhere outside. The Tong Family of Cold Mountain City publicly announced that Ye Tong of the Precious Medicine Workshop is their friend. Whoever dares become Ye Tong's enemy becomes the Tong Family's enemy, and will suffer the Tong Family's frenzied retaliation. Everyone in the city is asking just who this Ye Tong from the Precious Medicine Workshop really is!"

"Oh!"

Big Brother Daqiang nodded without much concern.

Master Tielang, however, revealed a surprised expression. His gaze shifted once more toward where Ye Tong had disappeared, and he fell into thought.

There was not much to do at the Precious Medicine Workshop. Since the buildings were newly constructed, the craftsmen had thoroughly cleaned everything inside and out once their work was finished. As for how Medicine Slave trained Ye Dingding, Ye Tong did not wish to ask. Once he finished the final two matters, he would temporarily leave Cold Mountain City.

After returning.

He saw the Crippled Old Woman, looking completely refreshed, still leaning on that Black Carbon Cudgel as she stood in the courtyard and surveyed the surroundings.

Ye Tong nodded to her, then plunged headfirst into the newly rebuilt Alchemy Room. Of the large quantity of medicinal herbs he had purchased earlier, only one-fourth had been used. Ye Tong decided to use all the remaining herbs over the next ten days, refine a batch of pills, and take them to Zifu County's county city to sell.

After all, prices in the county city were very high, and the value of pills should be considerably higher than in Cold Mountain City.

The next morning.

When the first ray of sunlight rose in the east, Tong Siyuan arrived at the Precious Medicine Workshop with two Tong Family experts. Learning that Ye Tong was refining pills in the Alchemy Room, he tactfully did not disturb him. He handed over banknotes worth five hundred thousand to Medicine Slave, exchanged a few pleasantries, and left directly.

Medicine Slave held the thick stack of banknotes and felt utterly dazed.

Though the wealth Poison Demon Huo Lanqiu had left behind before his disappearance was no less than this, these banknotes had arrived far too strangely. Yesterday, people had still come to the door to fight and kill. How had the Tong Family head personally come calling today? Every word, overtly or subtly, carried the flavor of currying favor.

Young Master...

What earth-shattering thing had he done to make that miser from the Tong Family so lavish?

Could it be...

Because of Mu Xiaochen?

No, that was not right!

If it were because of Mu Xiaochen, the Tong Family head should have come long ago. Why would he wait until now?

Medicine Slave felt that his brain was no longer enough to use. In a muddle, he brought the banknotes to the Alchemy Room. Seeing Ye Tong wholly focused on refining pills, he hesitated, but ultimately did not disturb him and quietly withdrew.

Time rushed by.

The ten-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

When Ye Tong emerged from the Alchemy Room, exhausted beyond measure, his face was pale, his spirits listless, and a sour stench wafted from his entire body. Seeing him, Medicine Slave said nothing aloud, but his heart ached deeply.

Now.

The conditions at home had improved so much. Did Young Master still need to work himself this hard?

Ye Tong took a bath and changed into clean clothes. When he appeared before Medicine Slave again, his steps swayed, and he nearly fell headfirst onto the ground. His lips had faintly turned purple, the circles around his eyes were darkened, and his entire face had taken on a blackish hue.

"Young Master!"

Medicine Slave quickly caught and supported Ye Tong.

Ye Tong smiled bitterly. "I just finished bathing. The hot water altered my qi and blood, causing the poison to flare up. It seems I must soak in a medicinal bath again."

Medicine Slave said, "Did you not refine poisonous liquid before? You can simply drink it directly. There is no need to soak in a medicinal bath."

Ye Tong shook his head. "We are leaving for the county city tomorrow. The refined poisonous liquid must be saved for later, when taking it is inconvenient. Make the preparations!"

Medicine Slave revealed a strange expression and muttered, "Young Master, why are you still thinking of going to the county city?"

Ye Tong said, "To attend the auction and bid for the Blood Demon Worm!"

Medicine Slave did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Young Master, you are not old, so how have you become muddleheaded? From Cold Mountain City to the county city, even traveling day and night without rest, it will take at least twenty-five days. There are only twenty days left before that auction begins. There is simply not enough time."

What?

Ye Tong's heart jolted. He had never been to the county city and had little contact with the outside world, so naturally he did not know how long it took to travel from Cold Mountain City to the county city.

What should he do?

The silver banknotes and gold banknotes were already prepared. If he could not make it to the auction in time, would he not pass by the Blood Demon Worm and lose it forever?

No!

He had finally encountered such a virulently poisonous thing as the Blood Demon Worm. Missing it would not be a good thing for him. After all, it concerned whether he could preserve his life in the future.

"Medicine Slave, is there truly no way?" Ye Tong asked.

Medicine Slave hesitated before saying, "It is not that there is no way at all. If we travel to the county city by Dragon Lion Eagle, we can arrive in only seven days."

Ye Tong said decisively, "Then we will travel by Dragon Lion Eagle. Make preparations. We will set out first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes!"

Medicine Slave nodded, then suddenly remembered something. He took out the thick stack of banknotes and said, "Young Master, these are the banknotes the Tong Family head sent over some days ago. This old servant counted them. They total five hundred thousand Blue Silver."

Five hundred thousand?

Ye Tong nodded in satisfaction. Rather than taking that stack of banknotes, he took out another thick stack and handed it to Medicine Slave. "This is one million Blue Silver, including silver banknotes and gold banknotes. Tomorrow, go to the bank and exchange all the silver banknotes for gold banknotes."

"Gasp..."

Medicine Slave sucked in a cold breath. One million Blue Silver, plus five hundred thousand Blue Silver—one and a half million Blue Silver in total. Young Master... what exactly had he done? Even if the War Tiger Adventurer Team had settled the remaining payment, it would not amount to this much!

Very soon.

Medicine Slave learned where these silver banknotes and gold banknotes had come from, and secretly clicked his tongue in astonishment at the Tong Family's extravagant gesture.

"Young Master, m-meal... meal is ready."

A timid voice came from not far away. Ye Dingding wore an apron, her fingers pinching the corner of her clothes, her expression somewhat nervous. After ten days of life at the Precious Medicine Workshop, the lifeless look she once had had finally vanished, and her eyes had gained a spark of vitality.

Ever since she had been bought back, although she had to clean every day, wash clothes and cook, and study medicinal cuisine under Medicine Slave, she had not suffered any abuse. The panic in her heart had eased considerably.

But!

Over these days, she had seen Ye Tong very rarely.

Therefore, she was still somewhat afraid of the young master of the Precious Medicine Workshop.

Ye Tong looked Ye Dingding over several times and found that her complexion had grown much rosier, no longer as lifeless as before. He was secretly satisfied, answered casually, and walked toward the dining table.

A figure slowly approached.

It was the Crippled Old Woman, leaning on the Black Carbon Cudgel.