Selling Medicine

After leaving the clothing store, Dugu Yan hailed a carriage on the road and rode with Huo Yuhao toward Dugu Bo's manor.

Through the carriage window, the scenery outside gradually shifted from shops lining the road to lush, verdant trees. The clamor of vendors' calls faded until all they could hear was the sound of hooves striking the ground.

"Little Yuhao, do you want to go to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy too?"

"Sister Yanzi, I don't have any plans to do that for now."

"Little Yuhao, do you not like going to school either?" Dugu Yan teased.

"Sister Yanzi, do you not like going to school?"

"Of course not. Who would like going to school? Ever since I started at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it's either been listening to teachers talk about a bunch of things in class or meditating and cultivating. But most of the time, we just train by fighting our classmates. Every day is actually pretty dull. Students like you, Little Yuhao, who even look for books to read, are rare oddballs at the academy. By the way, Little Yuhao, what's your Martial Soul?" Dugu Yan asked.

"Sister Yanzi, my Martial Soul is my eyes." As he spoke, Huo Yuhao pointed to his eyes.

Hearing that his Martial Soul was his eyes, Dugu Yan found it quite curious. She had never seen anyone with a Martial Soul like that. Gazing at Huo Yuhao's eyes, which seemed like a brilliant starry river, she exclaimed, "Your eyes are so beautiful! You don't even need to put on eye makeup."

"Sister Yanzi, it's not that exaggerated."

"Don't be so modest. Your eyes really are beautiful." After saying that, Dugu Yan realized something was off and asked, "Yuhao, you said your Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes. Then where did that cold energy you used on my grandpa come from?" Dugu Yan stared at Huo Yuhao suspiciously.

"Sister Yanzi, you're very clever. Haven't you already guessed?" Huo Yuhao said helplessly.

"I didn't expect you to be like His Holiness the Pope!" Dugu Yan said with a smile. Huo Yuhao offered no further explanation, and Dugu Yan changed the subject to chat about other things.

As Huo Yuhao and Dugu Yan chatted along the way, the carriage came to a stop before they knew it.

"This is my home. Not bad, right? Isn't it beautiful?" Dugu Yan glanced out the window, then said to Huo Yuhao.

Through the carriage window, Huo Yuhao saw a manor surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful scenery. It sat among the trees, luxurious without seeming out of place.

"It's very beautiful," Huo Yuhao said.

Following Dugu Yan out of the carriage, he saw servants already waiting at the gate to welcome them. Beyond the gate, the manor's grounds looked even more splendid than they had from the carriage window. The garden was full of flowers, and the greenery had been neatly trimmed. Rockeries stood in the pond, where lotus flowers bloomed across the water. Exquisite statues adorned the man-made fountains. After walking for about ten minutes and passing through the gardens ahead, they reached the manor's main building: a beautiful, ornate three-story villa.

"How is it? Not bad, right?" Dugu Yan said, pointing to the villa in front of them.

"It's beautiful. It seems Senior Dugu is quite fond of art too."

"Not at all. My grandpa doesn't understand art. All he does every day is cultivate or tinker with his bottles and jars. Someone else gave him this manor, and at the time, my grandpa just picked a quiet spot," Dugu Yan said teasingly.

"All right, let's hurry inside." Dugu Yan didn't wait for Huo Yuhao to say anything else before taking her by the hand and leading her inside.

Huo Yuhao followed Dugu Yan into the villa's entrance hall. The marble floor tiles were exquisite, as were the murals on the walls and the stained-glass windows. The pillars were carved with intricate, ornate patterns. Everything was beautiful, luxurious, and spotless.

"Grandpa, I'm back!" Dugu Yan walked into the hall and called out.

"Yanzi is back." As soon as Dugu Yan finished calling, a cheerful voice answered. Huo Yuhao looked toward the sound and saw someone coming down the stairs. It was Dugu Bo. He no longer looked as burdened as he had when Huo Yuhao first met him; he seemed much more optimistic, and even his hair wasn't quite as green.

Looks like he's been taking his medicine on time, Huo Yuhao thought when he saw Dugu Bo's current state.

"Greetings, Senior Dugu." Huo Yuhao politely greeted Dugu Bo.

"Grandpa, look who I brought!" Seeing Dugu Bo come down, Dugu Yan ran over to him and said.

"So you've come. I was actually thinking of going to see you in a few days." Dugu Bo patted Dugu Yan's head, then said with a smile to Huo Yuhao.

"Thank you for thinking of me, Senior Dugu."

"You don't have to be so formal. The Detoxification Pill you gave me was very effective. After I took the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew you gave me that day, my spiritual power really did make a qualitative leap. I can also control the poison in my body much more freely, and even my Soul Power, which hadn't increased in years, went up by one level." Dugu Bo was still smiling broadly as he spoke.

"Then it seems my method really did help you, Senior. By the way, I've also come to return something." As he spoke, Huo Yuhao took the little snake from the Wishful Treasure Bag and handed it to Dugu Bo.

"Haha, I was so happy that day, I forgot to give it back to you." As he spoke, Dugu Bo took the Nine-Section Jade back.

"Actually, Senior, I have one more thing to discuss. I know you're skilled at making medicine. I happen to have some pills I'd like to sell. Could you take a look and see if you want this?" As he spoke, Huo Yuhao took a box from his Bracelet and opened it. Inside were the Mystic Water Pills he had made a couple of days earlier.

With Dugu Bo's discerning eye, he could tell the Mystic Water Pill was extraordinary, but after examining it for a long while, he couldn't figure out what made it so. He had to ask, "What does this pill do?"

"This pill is called a Mystic Water Pill. Its main effect is to cleanse and strengthen the body. For people whose Innate Soul Power is below level five, it can also raise their Innate Soul Power."

At that, not only Dugu Bo but even Dugu Yan beside him was astonished. After all, the pill's effects were simply too astonishing.

"Is this Mystic Water Pill really that powerful?" Dugu Yan remarked casually.

Huo Yuhao smiled and said, "Sister Yanzi, would you like to try one?"

"This Mystic Water Pill must be expensive, right?" Dugu Yan said.

"If you take one, you'll be my first customer. I won't charge you, and you can see for yourself how well it works." As he spoke, Huo Yuhao extended the hand holding the Mystic Water Pill toward Dugu Yan.

"Since you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony." As she spoke, Dugu Yan took the Mystic Water Pill. As soon as she had swallowed it, she naturally sat down and began absorbing its medicinal effects.

"Name your price for this medicine," Dugu Bo said helplessly.

"It's fine. I won't charge for the one Sister Yanzi took. But cleansing and strengthening the body will expel impurities, so please prepare a change of clothes for Sister Yanzi."

Dugu Bo understood at once and hurriedly called for a servant to prepare them. Seeing that Dugu Yan would need some time to absorb the pill, Dugu Bo and Huo Yuhao went to the living room.

"Yuhao, tell me, how many Mystic Water Pills are you planning to sell through me?" Dugu Bo asked first.

"I have two more here. I'll leave them in your hands, Senior Dugu." As he spoke, Huo Yuhao placed the other two boxes in front of Dugu Bo.

"All right. I'll bring you every last coin from the sale. Here, take this. It's a small token of thanks for helping Yanzi with her problem before." As he spoke, Dugu Bo put away the two boxes and took out a Black Card to hand to Huo Yuhao.

"Thank you, Senior."

"You're too polite. It's getting late today. Would you like to stay for dinner? I'll have a room prepared for you."

Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.

Dugu Yan absorbed the pill quickly. When she woke, she experienced the usual reaction after absorbing a Mystic Water Pill: a shriek and retching.

The sound of water stopped in the bathroom. After changing her clothes, Dugu Yan came out and headed straight for Huo Yuhao. His face felt that familiar sensation again. "Sister Yanzi, what's wrong?"

Dugu Yan kneaded Huo Yuhao's cheeks, looking a little puffed up. "The Mystic Water Pill is great. My skin's gotten quite a bit fairer. But, Little Yuhao, why didn't you tell me the pill would smell so awful after I took it? That stench is still making me sick."

"It's part of cleansing and strengthening the body. That's normal. Also, Sister Yanzi, let go of me. Dinner's about to be served."

"All right, I'll let you off for now."

Dinner was very sumptuous. While they were eating, Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo about Huo Yuhao looking for books. When Dugu Bo heard that Huo Yuhao didn't want to enter the Heaven Dou Royal Academy yet but wanted to read books, he said heartily, "That's no problem. Tomorrow I'll go talk to those three fellows and get them to give you a pass for the library."

After dinner, Dugu Yan dragged Huo Yuhao around the villa to play for a while.

"Yuhao, when you come to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, I'll introduce you to a few of my friends." As she spoke, Dugu Yan yawned again.

"All right, Sister Yanzi. We'll have plenty of time later, so hurry off to bed."

"Okay, Yuhao." As she spoke, Dugu Yan went into her bedroom and closed the door, then opened it again. "Little Yuhao, are you really tired? Should we play a little longer?" As she spoke, she yawned again.

"I'm really tired, Sister Yanzi. Besides, staying up late is bad for your skin." Seeing Dugu Yan like this, Huo Yuhao said helplessly.

"Then all right. Good night." After saying that, Dugu Yan quickly shut the door.

Seeing her go, Huo Yuhao also headed toward the bedroom prepared for him.