Prefecture City's main street, with the sun sinking in the west.
A figure emerged from the Benevolent Relief Pharmacy on the street corner, unhurried.
He wore a plain gray robe. His hair was grizzled, his build tall and lean, and his face unremarkable. Amid the crowd, he drew no attention at all.
It was Jiang Ye.
He had come down the mountain this time to avoid drawing eyes, and had deliberately changed out of his Azure Sky Sect steward's robe.
He lowered his eyes to the square jade box in his hand. Inside, dozens of dark-red medicinal herbs lay neatly arranged. They were Heart-Bewitching Grass.
The herb wasn't rare. Ordinary pharmacies sold it, and he'd paid only a hundred taels of silver.
As far as most people knew, Heart-Bewitching Grass was merely a common remedy for clearing heat and relieving melancholy. Few knew it was also a demonic herb recorded in the Poison Control Scripture, one that could make poisonous insects recognize their master.
"Quite a bargain."
He murmured to himself, tucked the jade box into his robes, and headed toward Liu Qingshi's home.
Thud! Thud! Thud...
As soon as Jiang Ye approached the gate of Liu Qingshi's residence, he heard the muffled sound of someone practicing their fists inside.
"Oh?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Ye's eyes.
The punches sounded muffled, but lacked weight. It clearly wasn't Liu Qingshi practicing.
Jiang Ye lightly pushed off the ground and sprang several feet into the air, landing soundlessly on the roof's eaves.
He looked down, and a pleased smile appeared on his aged face.
The figure practicing in the courtyard, drenched in sweat, was none other than Shi Lei, whom he hadn't seen in some time.
The kid's punches carried a solid force and made a distinct sound. Clearly,