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This old man was none other than Yao Ya, the shopkeeper of Daliang Pharmacy.

"No. I've been training in martial arts a lot lately, and the Qi and Blood Nourishing Soup I've been using doesn't seem to cut it anymore. I came to ask if there are any new prescriptions."

Qin Yang had his excuse ready.

Besides, in this case, he wasn't lying.

With his cultivation of the Primordial Qi Shield, he needed to replenish an immense amount of qi and blood every day.

Nowadays, he ate five meals of meat daily, along with various blood-nourishing soups, just to sustain his training.

In fact, most of the Qin Manor's income was being funneled into Qin Yang's own cultivation.

"Young master truly has a remarkable constitution. If even the Lingzhi Qi Boosting Soup isn't enough, we may need to resort to the Single Ginseng Prescription."

"This formula uses ginseng as the main ingredient, supplemented by various herbs, to amplify the medicinal effects. It has the miraculous ability to solidify the foundation, nurture the root, and boost qi and blood."

"The potency of this medicine is too strong—for ordinary people, it's poison."

"But for the young master, it should be quite suitable."

Yao Ya said with a smile.

"Single Ginseng Soup sounds good."

"Have it delivered to the manor tomorrow."

Qin Yang was satisfied.

"Very well. Is there anything else, young master?" Yao Ya asked.

"No. I'll head over to Dashan Pharmacy and Laifu Inn to take a look."

Qin Yang made it seem like he was just making the rounds.

As the head of the household, this move was perfectly reasonable, and Yao Ya didn't grow suspicious.

Qin Yang left Daliang Pharmacy, frowning slightly.

Yao Ya had acted far too normal—not a trace of guilt, completely open and honest.

It really didn't seem like he was embezzling money.

"Let's keep watching. I refuse to believe I won't find a handle."

Qin Yang's eyes flickered.

Since he was already out, he actually did go to Dashan Pharmacy and Laifu Inn for a look.

He spent every day cooped up in Qin Manor training, so he did need to show his face.

After making the rounds, he killed some time at a tea shop. Watching the sky darken, he headed back toward Daliang Pharmacy.

He hid in a corner, quietly observing.

Yao Ya was having a few apprentices pack up the herbs while he handled the accounts at the counter.

Once everything was in order, Yao Ya sent the apprentices home first, staying behind to lock up the shop.

Only after the sun had fully set did Yao Ya seem to finish tallying the books. He took the account book, locked the pharmacy door, and left.

He walked through the streets and alleys.

Every now and then, he glanced back over his shoulder, looking quite wary.

Qin Yang, following behind, felt a flicker of doubt. Had Yao Ya noticed he was being tailed?

He watched a little longer and decided Yao Ya was probably just nervous on his own.

So what was Yao Ya so nervous about?

He followed quietly.

They entered an alley filled with stagnant sewage and piled-up garbage.

"What is Yao Ya doing here?"

In Qin Yang's memory, this area was the poorest, most rundown part of Linjiang City.

Crumbling buildings, even thatched huts, and beggars and drifters lurking in every corner.

As the shopkeeper of Daliang Pharmacy for so many years, there was no way Yao Ya lived in a dump like this.

If he was here, it had to be for something else.

Sure enough, the next moment.

Yao Ya arrived at a relatively clean courtyard and knocked lightly on the door.

A head poked out from the wooden door. Seeing it was Yao Ya, he quickly let him in.

Qin Yang took in the scene.

His expression flickered with suspicion. Feigning a casual passerby, he circled around to the back of the courtyard, then quietly climbed over the wall. Crouching low, he crept to the corner of a house where voices could be heard.

"Sorcerer, here is today's silver."

"Thirty-two taels in total."

A cautious voice came through—it should be Yao Ya's.

"Silver. Must be the silver he pocketed today."

"Who's he handing this silver over to?"

Qin Yang frowned slightly.

This was all his money!

He shifted position, slipped beneath a window ledge, poked a tiny hole through, and peered inside.

The room was dim, lit only by a single candle flickering.

Then Qin Yang saw a bald man in a White Sacrificial Robe sitting cross-legged.

The man was around forty, plain-faced, with a short beard.

Yao Ya stood before him, setting down a few pieces of silver.

"Yao Ya, you've offered so much wealth these days."

"Your child, struggling in the Yellow Springs, is about to reach the other shore."

The bald man saw the silver on the ground and broke into a smile.

"As long as he can reach the other shore and transcend, that's enough."

"I don't mind giving up everything I have."

Yao Ya's voice turned fervent.

"Your sincerity will be felt by the other shore."

"Go. Bring back more wealth."

"This wealth will transform into a Ferry of Guidance, carrying your son out of the Yellow Springs."

The bald man's voice carried a hypnotic lure.

"Sorcerer, I'll come again tomorrow."

Yao Ya bowed respectfully to the Sorcerer, took his leave, and exited the house.

"What the hell?"

"The other shore? Yellow Springs? Guidance?"

Qin Yang eavesdropped from outside the window, baffled.

But then a memory struck him.

A few years back, Yao Ya had a son late in life—Qin Yang's original self even attended the full-moon banquet. But the child caught some strange illness and died before his first birthday.

Pity Yao Ya, who spent his life healing others and saving countless people, yet couldn't save his own only son.

"So that bald bastard figured that out and tricked Yao Ya into offering tribute nonstop."

Qin Yang fumed inwardly.

But not long after Yao Ya left, another person walked in to offer money to the bald man.

Over the next half hour, Qin Yang grew more and more alarmed.

It wasn't just Yao Ya—many people seemed bewitched by the bald man, constantly offering tribute.

"I thought he was just some Jianghu con artist."

"Looking at this now... he's more like a cult leader playing with ghosts and gods."

Qin Yang's heart jolted.

Linjiang City was already chaotic enough—he hadn't expected some shady operation lurking in the shadows.

He'd glanced at everyone who came in.

From street vendors and laborers to wealthy merchants and nobles.

Nearly every class in Linjiang City had shown up here.

That was terrifying.

What kind of cult was this?

After a while, no one else entered the house.

The bald Sorcerer stood up, called over a few Yellow-robed men, and had them gather most of the money from the floor.

Then they divided it into small pouches.

"Go." The bald Sorcerer waved a hand.

The Yellow-robed men sorted the pouches, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.

Qin Yang thought it over, decided not to act rashly, and quietly slipped away from the estate.

He waited in a dark corner for a while, then watched the Yellow-robed men file out of the courtyard gate and scatter in different directions.

Qin Yang picked someone at random and followed him.

He wanted to see what these cult members were up to with the money.

He tailed him the whole way.

Before long, Qin Yang saw the yellow-robed man stop at a house and knock on the door.

Soon, a gaunt, sallow-faced middle-aged man came out.

The yellow-robed man placed the money pouch in his hands and said a few words.

The man fell to his knees in tearful gratitude, kowtowing repeatedly to the yellow-robed man.

The yellow-robed man helped him up, said a few more things, and then left.