Meeting Friends with Medicine

At dinner time, Yang Wudi did not come to the table.

He sat on the sofa, clutching the bottle containing the medicinal soup, staring at it as if it were some rare and priceless treasure.

Ning Rongrong held her bowl, sneaking glances at him while she ate. She could usually finish two bowls of rice with the braised pork Zhang Mo made, but today she only managed half a bowl—with Yang Wudi nearby, she couldn't eat in peace.

Yang Wudi suddenly looked up at her.

Ning Rongrong hurriedly lowered her head and shoveled rice into her mouth.

Yang Wudi said, "Little girl, how long can you maintain that Spirit Power of yours?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned and put down her bowl. "What?"

"When refining medicine," Yang Wudi said. "How long can you sustain that Spirit Power output?"

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment. "At full strength, about a quarter of an hour."

Yang Wudi frowned. "A quarter of an hour is too short."

He stood up, paced the room twice, and suddenly stopped.

"That Spirit Bone of yours, is it of the mental type?"

Ning Rongrong nodded.

Yang Wudi said, "Take it out and let me see."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo. Zhang Mo nodded.

She closed her eyes and activated the Illusion Wisdom Skull. A faint purple light flickered between her brows, pulsing on and off.

Yang Wudi stared at the purple light for a few seconds.

"It's passable," he said. "It can enhance mental power. But your Spirit Power is too weak to bring out its potential."

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and said nothing.

Yang Wudi pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"How do you usually cultivate?"

Ning Rongrong said, "Just... according to the sect's methods, meditating every day and circulating my Spirit Power."

Yang Wudi let out a scoff.

"That set of methods from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is long outdated," he said. "Your sect members only know how to amplify, not how to temper the body. What's the use of having high Spirit Power if your body can't keep up?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned.

Yang Wudi continued, "In our Breaking Clan, those who refine medicine must first temper their bodies. If your body isn't up to par, you can't withstand the medicinal potency. Someone like you would be completely exhausted within half an hour if you tried to refine a furnace of potent medicine."

Ning Rongrong looked down at her hands and remained silent.

Yang Wudi suddenly stood up and walked over to her.

"Hold out your hand."

Ning Rongrong instinctively recoiled.

Yang Wudi frowned. "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo. Zhang Mo nodded again.

She slowly extended her hand.

Yang Wudi gripped her wrist, closing his eyes to sense for a moment.

"The meridians are alright," he said, releasing her. "They're just too weak."

He walked back to the sofa, sat down, thought for a moment, and said:

"Starting tomorrow, I will teach you a body-tempering technique."

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.

Yang Wudi said, "Don't get happy too soon. That technique is extremely grueling; most people can't endure it."

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she only whispered:

"Thank you, Uncle Yang."

Yang Wudi was taken aback for a moment.

Then he waved his hand. "Don't call me Uncle. Just call me Old Yang."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

After dinner, Ning Rongrong went to wash the dishes. Zhang Mo and Yang Wudi sat in the living room.

Yang Wudi stared at the two medicinal herbs on the coffee table and suddenly said:

"When that old man gave you this item, what else did he say?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and repeated the old man's words.

After listening, Yang Wudi remained silent for a long time.

"Changbai Mountain..." he muttered. "Guarded by a snake... this thing has a spirit of its own..."

He raised his head and looked at Zhang Mo.

"That old man is very likely a practitioner as well."

Zhang Mo was stunned for a moment.

Yang Wudi said, "Although this world lacks Spirit Power, there are places where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is dense. Medicinal herbs with spiritual properties will attract spiritual beasts to guard them. That snake was guarding the medicine."

He paused, then added, "That the old man could snatch this thing from the snake's jaws means he is certainly no simple character."

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds before asking:

"Why would he give it to me?"

Yang Wudi thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps he saw that you understand medicine. Or perhaps he saw that you are no ordinary person."

He stared at Zhang Mo's right eye.

"He can sense the thing inside your eye."

Zhang Mo did not speak.

Yang Wudi suddenly laughed.

"Interesting," he said. "This world is more interesting than I imagined."

Ning Rongrong came out after washing the dishes and was a bit surprised to see the two of them sitting and chatting.

She walked over and sat down next to Zhang Mo.

Yang Wudi glanced at her and suddenly said:

"Little girl, do you know how strong a Title Douluo is?"

Ning Rongrong nodded.

Yang Wudi said, "Then do you know that the three of us combined couldn't defeat a single Title Douluo?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned.

Yang Wudi continued, "A full-strength strike from a Title Douluo above level 95 could blast this building into dust."

He looked at Zhang Mo.

"That sword of yours is fine for stabbing Huyan Li. But stabbing a Title Douluo? You wouldn't even break his defense."

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds before asking:

"Then what should we do?"

Yang Wudi said, "Two ways. First, hide. Hide until he cannot find you."

Zhang Mo shook his head.

Yang Wudi smiled, "I knew you would shake your head."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night view outside.

"The second way," he said, "is to improve our strength before he arrives."

He turned around and looked at the two of them.

"I am level 83. The little girl is level 42. And you—" he looked at Zhang Mo, "you have no level, but with two spirit bones and that strange purple light, you barely count as a Spirit King."

He paused.

"The three of us combined against a level 95 Title Douluo have less than a ten percent chance of winning."

Ning Rongrong's face turned pale.

Yang Wudi said, "But if it were a level 92, the win rate could reach thirty percent."

Zhang Mo was stunned, "What do you mean?"

Yang Wudi said, "Between Title Douluos, a difference of one level means a massive gap in strength. If we could make them arrive at a lower level—"

He suddenly stopped and looked at Zhang Mo.

"Can your system control the level at which they descend?"

Zhang Mo shook his head, "It cannot."

Yang Wudi frowned.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Then before they arrive, we kill a few of the low-level ones first. Doesn't your system delay time every time you kill one?"

Zhang Mo nodded.

Yang Wudi said, "The longer we drag it out, the lower their level will be when they arrive. A level 97 might become a level 95 if we drag it out for a year or so."

He stared at Zhang Mo.

"What do you think of this idea?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said:

"It is feasible."

Yang Wudi smiled.

He walked back to the sofa and plopped down.

"Then it's settled," he said. "Starting tomorrow, I'll refine medicine and prepare to kill people."

He paused, then added:

"Right, about your system, when's the next Crisis Summon?"

Zhang Mo brought up the panel and checked.

[Next Crisis Summon Countdown: 5 Days]

[Target: Unknown]

[Level: Unknown]

Yang Wudi leaned over to take a look and frowned.

"This damn system, it doesn't know anything?"

Zhang Mo said, "We won't know until a day before."

Yang Wudi tutted.

He stood up and picked up the Soul Breaking Spear leaning against the wall.

"Then I'll go out and wander around for these few days," he said. "Get familiar with this world. And maybe find some good stuff."

Zhang Mo was taken aback. "Where are you going?"

Yang Wudi said, "That... Changbai Mountain?"

He looked at Zhang Mo.

"I want to see the origin of the things that old man gave you."

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said:

"That place is very far."

Yang Wudi waved his hand. "What's there to fear about distance? I walk fast."

Zhang Mo thought for a moment, then rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a map, pointing to it.

Yang Wudi stared at the map, his brow furrowed.

"What are all these twists and turns on here?"

Zhang Mo said, "It's the route. We'll take a car."

Yang Wudi was stunned. "A car?"

The next morning, Yang Wudi left.

Zhang Mo saw him off downstairs and pointed him in the direction of the train station.

Yang Wudi, carrying the Soul Breaking Spear on his back, strode forward. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Zhang Mo.

"Save those two medicinal ingredients for me," he said. "I'll refine them when I get back."

Zhang Mo nodded.

Yang Wudi then looked at Ning Rongrong, who was standing by the door.

"Little girl, I'll teach you the cultivation technique when I get back. For now, practice your horse stance on your own."

Ning Rongrong nodded.

Yang Wudi turned and left.

After a few steps, he stopped again and said without looking back:

"If that old man is really not simple, I'll invite him over."

With that, he strode away.

Ning Rongrong stood at the door, watching his retreating figure disappear at the end of the alley.

She turned to look at Zhang Mo.

"Will he... really come back?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because the medicinal ingredients are still here."

Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment, then she smiled.

She turned to walk back, and after two steps, she suddenly said, "Zhang Mo, what if he really invites that old man over—"

Zhang Mo said, "Then we'll have two helpers."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up.

She skipped upstairs.

Halfway up, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Zhang Mo.

"Zhang Mo."

"Mm?"

"That cultivation method, will he really teach me?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he also needs your help with alchemy."

Ning Rongrong paused for a moment, then smiled.

Her smile was especially beautiful in the morning light.

She continued upstairs, her skirt swaying.

Zhang Mo stood downstairs, watching her retreating figure.

The morning sun shone on her, gilding her entire being.

He suddenly remembered what Yang Wudi had said last night.

"The three of us combined, against a Title Douluo, the win rate is less than ten percent."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the distant sky.

The sky was very blue, with a few white clouds drifting by.

He said softly:

"Ten percent is ten percent."

Then he turned and went upstairs.

Upstairs, Ning Rongrong was rummaging through something in the kitchen.

"Zhang Mo, what's for breakfast?"

Zhang Mo walked in and tied on an apron.

"What do you want to eat?"

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and said:

"Buns."

Zhang Mo nodded and began to knead dough.

Ning Rongrong leaned against the doorframe, watching him busy himself.

The morning sun streamed into the kitchen, warm and cozy.

Birdsong could be heard from outside the window, and a vendor was shouting downstairs.

Everything was as usual.

But Ning Rongrong knew that someone was working hard for them.

For the unknown enemy five days from now.

And for the even more terrifying enemies in the future.

She looked at Zhang Mo's back and suddenly said:

"Zhang Mo."

"Mm?"

"When Yang Wudi returns, I'll train hard."

Zhang Mo looked back at her.

She stood in the morning light, her eyes bright.

"Then, I'll help you."

Zhang Mo looked at her, silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Okay."

Ning Rongrong smiled.

She turned and skipped out of the kitchen.

Her voice came from outside:

"I'm going to fold the blankets! Your sofa is too hard, we need to add a blanket today..."

Zhang Mo listened to her voice, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

He continued to knead the dough.

The flour was worked between his fingers, slowly turning into a smooth dough.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

Three days after Yang Wudi left, the system's warning arrived.

That afternoon, Ning Rongrong was practicing horse stance downstairs. Yang Wudi had instructed her before he left—practice for one hour each day, for seven consecutive days, and he would check when he returned.

Her legs were trembling as she practiced, sweat streaming down her cheeks, but she gritted her teeth and didn't move.

Zhang Mo sat beside her, holding a book, occasionally looking up at her.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the ground with light spots. The alley was quiet, with only the occasional sound of cars in the distance.

Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke:

"Zhang Mo."

"Hmm?"

"What time is it?"

Zhang Mo glanced at his phone: "You've been practicing for forty minutes."

Ning Rongrong's face fell: "Only forty minutes? It feels like an hour."

Zhang Mo didn't say anything.

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and continued practicing.

After another ten minutes, she couldn't hold on any longer and plopped onto the ground, gasping for breath.

"I can't do it anymore... my legs are going to break..."

Zhang Mo handed her a bottle of water.

She took it and drank a few gulps, then suddenly remembered something and looked up at him.

"Do you think Yang Wudi will really come back?"

Zhang Mo said: "He will."

"It's been three days."

"Changbai Mountain is far. It takes time to travel back and forth."

Ning Rongrong said "oh" and took a few more sips of water.

She looked down at her legs, then suddenly said:

"This cultivation method is really tough. Much tougher than our sect's training."

Zhang Mo said: "Hardship leads to progress."

Ning Rongrong glared at him: "Why do you talk like Yang Wudi?"

Zhang Mo didn't say anything.

Ning Rongrong snorted and continued drinking water.

Just then, Zhang Mo's right eye suddenly ached.

A purple light screen popped up automatically:

[Warning--]

[Detecting the imminent trigger of the fourth "Crisis Summon"--]

[Target: Chen Xin]

[Identity: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo, wielder of the Seven Kill Sword martial soul]

[Soul Power Level: Level 96 Title Douluo]

[Spirit Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black]

[Characteristics: Sword Dao Grandmaster, extremely strong attack power, extremely high speed]

[Arrival Time: 48 hours later]

[Arrival Location: SH City District]

[Mission: Kill Chen Xin]

[Reward: World Origin Point × 1000, Random Spirit Bone × 1]

[Failure Penalty: Dual World Collision accelerated by 120 days]

Zhang Mo stared at those lines of text, his expression changing.

Ning Rongrong saw his expression and leaned over to look.

Then her expression changed too.

"Grandpa Sword..." she murmured, her voice trembling.

Zhang Mo turned to look at her.

She stared at the name, her eyes slowly reddening.

"Grandpa Sword is coming..." she whispered, "He's coming to kill us..."

Zhang Mo didn't speak.

Ning Rongrong suddenly grabbed his sleeve, holding on tightly.

"Zhang Mo," her voice trembled, "What do we do?"

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said:

"Stick to the original plan."

Ning Rongrong froze.

Zhang Mo said, "Use medicinal ingredients to lure him. Just like we lured Yang Wudi."

Ning Rongrong shook her head: "It's useless. Grandpa Sword isn't Yang Wudi. He has no interest in medicinal ingredients."

Zhang Mo fell silent.

Ning Rongrong continued, "Grandpa Sword only cares about two things in his life—swords, and me."

Her voice grew softer and softer.