Zhang He explained why he had come.
"Selling medicine?" The young shop assistant was taken aback. He looked at Zhang He, seeming a little doubtful, but still said, "Come with me."
As he spoke, the young shop assistant led Zhang He to the black counter and called inside, "Shopkeeper Liu, someone's here to sell medicine."
A middle-aged man with thinning hair and a slightly paunchy build popped his head up from beneath the counter.
"Who's selling medicine?"
The young shop assistant pointed at Zhang He.
"You're here to sell medicine?" Shopkeeper Liu glanced at Zhang He's tattered clothes and furrowed his brow slightly. His manner was cool as he asked, "What medicine?"
"Five Poison Beads," Zhang He said calmly.
"Five Poison Beads? Never heard of them. What kind of medicine is that?" Shopkeeper Liu's expression turned displeased. "We don't buy just any medicine here. If you've got rat poison, turn left outside and sell it at the farmers' market."
He had worked here for many years and knew at least a little about every somewhat famous pill. The name Five Poison Beads was entirely unfamiliar to him.
The young shop assistant also eyed Zhang He with suspicion. He had brought the man here, and if he really was trying to sell rat poison, Shopkeeper Liu would surely reprimand him for having no eye for people.
Zhang He smiled faintly. "My medicine can cure poison, including the venom from a Corpse Poison Beetle's bite."
"What!" Shopkeeper Liu's expression changed, then he sneered. "If you dare come here and spout nonsense, if you're making a fool of me, I'll have someone break your legs!" The city's most skilled physician had already declared that the venom of a Corpse Poison Beetle could not be completely eradicated.
"Why not believe me? I can demonstrate. Find someone who's been bitten by a poisonous insect, and I'll show you how well it works." Zhang He frowned slightly, but his confidence was plain.
"It really works?" Seeing Zhang He's confidence stirred something in Shopkeeper Liu. He no longer looked down on him and hurriedly said, "As it happens, Old Sun, who's watching the back gate, was bitten by a Corpse Poison Beetle too. Come with me."
Shopkeeper Liu led Zhang He toward the back courtyard.
There was a back gate in the courtyard, beside a low building with its doors and windows shut tight.
The young shop assistant hurried ahead and opened the door. Shopkeeper Liu led Zhang He inside.
In the shabby room, a sturdy, middle-aged man lay groaning. His flushed face was tinged with black, and his symptoms were just like those of someone bitten by a Corpse Poison Beetle.
Zhang He immediately took out a Five Poison Bead and had the young man feed it to him.
"He'll wake up after the time it takes to brew a cup of tea," Zhang He said calmly.
Shopkeeper Liu stood beside the unconscious Old Sun and watched, waiting. Before even half a cup of tea had passed, the flush quickly faded from Old Sun's face. Wonder showed on Shopkeeper Liu's face. He already knew the Five Poison Bead really worked.
After a full cup of tea, the unconscious Old Sun truly stirred awake.
"Old Sun, how are you feeling?" Shopkeeper Liu hurriedly asked.
"I'm fine... Ah, I need the latrine!" Old Sun's expression suddenly changed. Clutching his stomach as it rumbled, he leaped up and dashed outside.
Shopkeeper Liu's expression turned quite something. Seeing Old Sun move so quickly, just like a healthy man, only confirmed how effective Zhang He's Five Poison Bead was.
"The Five Poison Bead helps him expel the toxins from his body." Zhang He breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the Five Poison Bead hadn't let him down. Its purpose was to flush toxins from the body. Old Sun was built like an ox; once the toxins were gone, he would immediately be full of energy. Zhang He's mother, however, had grown weak from years of hard labor, so even after the poison was removed, she still needed to recuperate.
"Shopkeeper Liu, you've seen how well the medicine works. What do you think?" Zhang He looked at him.
Shopkeeper Liu seemed to snap out of a dream. He abruptly came to his senses, and the shock and delight on his face vanished in a flash. His expression returned to normal as he drawled, "Not bad. This medicine does work against the venom of the Corpse Poison Beetle. Come, let's discuss it out front."
Zhang He nodded slightly.
In the room, Shopkeeper Liu sipped his tea as he spoke. "Let's get straight to the point. I think this medicine is good, but we still need to verify whether it has any other side effects."
"This medicine is a secret recipe passed down in my family. Apart from giving you diarrhea as it expels toxins from your body, it has no other side effects."
Zhang He licked his lips. He knew Shopkeeper Liu was about to discuss the price.
A secret family recipe? Could he be a hunter from the mountains? Shopkeeper Liu's thoughts shifted, and he said unhurriedly, "Talk is cheap. We can't just take your word for it and believe it has no other side effects. If someone has a bad reaction, we'll be held responsible, won't we?"
"Heh." From the way things were going, Zhang He knew the other man planned to use that as an excuse to drive down the price. "Shopkeeper Liu, let's not beat around the bush. Give me your highest offer. If I'm satisfied, we can do business."
Shopkeeper Liu's expression changed slightly. His eyes swept over Zhang He's worn-out clothes, and thinking of what he had just said, he made up his mind.
Shopkeeper Liu held up five fingers, looking as if it pained him dearly, as though he were taking a huge loss. "For each Five Poison Bead, I can offer at most fifty silver coins! You seem like a straightforward fellow, so I won't haggle you down!" He thought, He dresses shabbily and says it's a family secret recipe. He must come from a commoner's family and have no experience of the world. Fifty silver coins would keep an ordinary household working hard for half a month. This kid will surely accept with delight!
The young shop assistant beside them was pouring tea. Hearing Shopkeeper Liu's offer, his eyes widened in shock. "Shopkeeper, if the owner finds out you offered such a high price, he'll surely reprimand you."
"It's fine. The owner will understand my good intentions," Shopkeeper Liu said with a wave of his hand.
Zhang He saw this and gave him a faintly amused look. "May I ask what you pay for Rejuvenation Pills?"
"Well... that's a trade secret. How could we just reveal it?" Shopkeeper Liu rubbed his hands together. "So, what do you say? I've already made a huge concession. If you don't believe me, go ask around at other shops. No one else could offer such a high price."
"Fine. I'll ask at some other shops first." Zhang He stood up without another word and headed straight for the door.
Shopkeeper Liu was stunned. What was going on? He had never seen anyone haggle like this before! He had barely named a price, and the other fellow was already walking away! He hurriedly gave the young man a look, and the other immediately stepped in front of Zhang He.
"What?" Zhang He took a step back and regarded Shopkeeper Liu with amusement.
"We can still discuss the price. I'll give you seventy silver coins. How's that?" The fat on Shopkeeper Liu's face quivered as he forced a smile.
"Shopkeeper Liu, do you still take me for a lamb to slaughter? If you're not going to show any sincerity about working together, don't waste each other's time." Zhang He smiled as he turned to leave.
"Impudent! You stole our goods and still dare act so brazenly? Seize him!" Shopkeeper Liu's expression changed. He gritted his teeth and shouted. He had seen the Five Poison Bead's effects with his own eyes and knew its potential. Seeing how down on his luck Zhang He looked, he had felt no qualms about simply having him seized.
The young shop assistant immediately lunged at Zhang He, reaching for him.
"Trying to frame me?" Zhang He's expression turned grim. He swung his arm and slapped the young shop assistant across the face.
Zhang He had cultivated true qi, which continually nourished his body. He had already possessed the strength of two hundred pounds, and now, as he struck, a slight burst of true qi sent the young shop assistant flying with a scream. He slammed into the wall and fainted.
This one was no pushover! Shopkeeper Liu's face changed drastically. He was scared out of his wits and dropped to his knees to beg for mercy. "I was wrong! A great man shouldn't stoop to the level of a petty person. Treat me like a fart and let me go!"
Shopkeeper Liu frantically kowtowed and begged for mercy.
Seeing this, Zhang He couldn't be bothered to argue with him and simply left.
He had just stepped outside when Shopkeeper Liu suddenly shouted from behind him, "Seize him! He dares hurt someone in our shop! Grab him and teach him a good lesson!"
Zhang He turned around and saw four burly men in tight-fitting clothes charging after him, each holding a saber.
Zhang He's gaze fell on the man leading them, and he cursed inwardly. The man's temples bulged, a clear sign that he had cultivated true qi. If Zhang He tried to fight him with the little true qi he had, he'd be taken out in an instant.
Shopkeeper Liu appeared behind the men. Seeing the fat bastard, Zhang He was both shocked and furious. That bastard really was a petty villain. He should've taught him a harsher lesson earlier! Then things wouldn't have reached the point where there was no way to make peace.
Zhang He took a deep breath. He knew he would only be safe if he dealt with the man in the lead. His true qi was scant, enough for only a few moves. He had to save his best steel for the blade and make sure his first strike landed!
Zhang He stood motionless as the four men charged at him.
"Has that kid been scared witless? Why isn't he even running?"
"Run? Where could he go? Their leader, Wang Dahei, has cultivated true qi to the Godspeed Realm. He runs like a horse. Where could that kid possibly get to?"
"Alas, he'd better get down on his knees and beg for mercy before he gets a sound thrashing. What in the world gave that kid the guts to come here and hurt someone?"
Onlookers gathered at the entrance, all talking at once.
At that moment, a carriage had just rounded the corner up ahead. The driver heard the commotion and looked over, only to spot a figure standing there who seemed vaguely familiar.
His expression shifted, and then he was suddenly overjoyed. Turning toward the person inside the carriage, he said,
"Young master, the person who saved you that time is right up ahead! But it looks like he's run into trouble. People from Biyuan Pavilion are about to attack him."
"What?" The curtain was lifted, revealing the face of a dashing young man. Seeing what was happening ahead, he said without hesitation, "A'can, go save him!"
"Yes." The red-faced man seated on the other side grunted in reply and leaped down from the carriage. He moved as nimbly as a monkey.
At that moment, in front of Biyuan Pavilion, Zhang He suddenly shouted, "How dare you! Do you even know who I am? Do you want to die by laying a hand on me?"
"Hm?" Wang Dahei paused. Zhang He had been calm and composed the entire time, carrying himself with extraordinary poise. Hearing him say this, Wang Dahei's mind raced with possibilities, and his hand reaching for Zhang He slowed. "Who are you?"
"I'm a martial trainee from the Martial Academy." Zhang He widened his eyes, seeming extremely proud.
"You dare make a fool of me!"
Wang Dahei was instantly furious. The hand he had paused now shot out without mercy. The moment he moved, Zhang He's figure suddenly sprang into action. He spun around and vanished from sight.
Wang Dahei was startled. He tried to turn around, but he had just charged forward at full speed, then been bluffed by Zhang He and stopped, only to attack in a fit of anger. With the powerful momentum already carrying him forward, he couldn't turn around quickly enough.
Wang Dahei knew something was wrong. He felt a gust of sinister wind beneath his ribs, followed by a needle-sharp pain along his left side. His vision darkened and his throat turned sweet; he spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot, and the entire left half of his body went numb.
"What... what did you do to me?" Wang Dahei was terrified. He crashed to the ground and asked in a trembling voice.
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