Were We Throwing Money Away?

Ying Huaixu was genuinely a little excited.

Side quests and daily quests were still available, which meant he could keep getting stronger.

Daily quests, in particular, were extremely important to players.

After all, they were one of the ways to earn large amounts of experience.

Although that amount of experience was negligible in the late game, it was definitely the best perk in the early game.

What baffled Ying Huaixu most, however, was Doctor Li.

Back when he played the game, Doctor Li had sold pills.

People had even joked about it: what mortal physician sold cultivation pills? Doctor Li had to be some almighty expert.

After all, they could still find Doctor Li when they traveled to other cities later on.

Sometimes he even appeared in all sorts of different outfits.

Ying Huaixu had never imagined that he would actually deserve some of the credit for Doctor Li being able to sell pills now!

What a strange sense of involvement.

And Doctor Li's reward was outrageous, too.

Ten Bone-Strengthening Pills!

Those were something players could only obtain after joining a sect, and they were used in the very first cultivation realm.

Seriously, he was handing them out already?

No, that wasn't the point.

The point was, how did Doctor Li know how to refine Bone-Strengthening Pills?

"Do you know what kind of pills these are?"

Seeing Ying Huaixu staring blankly at the pills, Doctor Li couldn't help asking.

Ying Huaixu looked up at Doctor Li, then asked with a serious expression, "Did you really refine these yourself just now?"

Doctor Li nodded.

But the look on Ying Huaixu's face made his heart flutter with unease.

As far as Doctor Li was concerned, Ying Huaixu was kind.

But kindness aside, Ying Huaixu was also a highly skilled, ruthless fighter who could kill without blinking, and he was shrouded in mystery.

In short, Doctor Li saw Ying Huaixu as a mysterious man with extensive knowledge.

Take Rending Light Grass, for example. Without Ying Huaixu, he probably wouldn't have found it for a very long time.

"Could I take a look at the pill formula?" Ying Huaixu asked.

Doctor Li readily agreed and took out the formula.

As soon as Ying Huaixu accepted it, a voice suddenly rang out in his head again.

[Ding! Bone-Strengthening Pill formula discovered. Learn it?]

Ying Huaixu froze.

Holy crap, this works too?

After a moment's thought, Ying Huaixu said silently, Learn it!

In an instant, the knowledge contained in the formula flooded into his mind.

Ying Huaixu glanced down. The formula in his hands hadn't disappeared.

His eyes lit up.

This feature still works too. Perfect!

Although he was excited inside, Ying Huaixu maintained a serious expression as he said, "Don't refine these again. Even if you do, don't let anyone find out, or you could get yourself killed!"

He wasn't exaggerating. This wasn't a game anymore. A mortal possessing pills that cultivators needed was practically asking to die.

Doctor Li didn't doubt him in the slightest.

"I understand. And thank you!"

Doctor Li's expression was equally grave.

He decided that even if he refined more in the future, he would never show them to anyone-except Ying Huaixu.

Something suddenly piqued Ying Huaixu's curiosity.

When players first explored Peaceful Town in the early game, they even helped defend it against wolf packs and capture wanted criminals.

Throughout those early stages, they bought their Blood-Recovery Pills and Spring-Return Pills from Doctor Li.

Doctor Li was the very first pill vendor in Primordial Immortal Cultivation Record.

Players could even spot him outside dungeon entrances in the late game.

Since Ying Huaixu now had over four hundred taels, he really wanted to stock up on pills.

So he asked, "Do you have any other pills here?"

Doctor Li shook his head.

"No!"

Ying Huaixu was dumbfounded.

"Really?"

Doctor Li looked perfectly earnest. "Why would I lie to you?"

Ying Huaixu was dumbfounded.

How could he not have any?

Ying Huaixu took out a red pill and a blue pill.

"You really don't have pills like these?"

Doctor Li examined them carefully.

"I didn't before, but I think I will in the future!"

Ying Huaixu was utterly bewildered.

Doctor Li grew excited.

"Could you let me study these two pills? I think I can refine them!"

Ying Huaixu stared in disbelief.

So... he was the reason Doctor Li became a pill vendor in the first place?

A complicated expression crossed Ying Huaixu's face.

Somehow, it felt disjointed yet strangely logical.

In the end, Ying Huaixu nodded.

"Sure. Go ahead!"

Ying Huaixu gave Doctor Li both kinds of pills.

Naturally, Doctor Li accepted them with excitement.

Still, he made sure to ask one more question.

"These pills are safe to sell openly, right?"

Ying Huaixu nodded.

"Of course!"

Upon hearing that, Doctor Li rushed into his room to study them.

With nothing else to do, Ying Huaixu continued wandering around Peaceful Town.

Back when he played the game, he had spent every day grinding for money, farming materials, and leading raids. He had never really taken the time to appreciate this world.

Now that he had actually transmigrated here, he had to satisfy his curiosity.

He had to admit it.

The real Peaceful Town felt far more alive than its in-game counterpart.

Something else surprised-or rather, delighted-Ying Huaixu even more.

Despite the ancient setting, things were different from what he had expected.

The food wasn't nearly as terrible as he had imagined. In fact, since this was a cultivation world, even the ingredients contained traces of spiritual energy.

The resulting dishes tasted countless times better.

Like a starving ghost, Ying Huaixu ate his way through the town.

He didn't even pass up the candied hawthorns.

The ordinary townsfolk grew even fonder of him.

How many people who loved good food could really be bad?

And the more he enjoyed their food, the happier the vendors became.

It wasn't until dusk-

Ying Huaixu returned to Ye Ningshuang's home laden with purchases.

Ye Ningshuang hadn't returned yet.

Ying Huaixu's earlier happiness vanished without a trace.

Alone in another world without a single familiar face, he felt an indescribable loneliness and an ache he couldn't put into words.

Ying Huaixu sat alone on the threshold of the main room, staring into space.

He had no idea how much time passed.

At last, Ye Ningshuang returned.

The sight of so many things on the stone table startled her.

"Heavens, why did you buy so much? Are we throwing money away?"

Despite her words, Ye Ningshuang couldn't resist taking a curious look at what Ying Huaixu had bought.

When she saw all the meat and seasonings, she wanted to tell him how extravagant it was.

But on her way home, when she had stopped by Doctor Li's to sell her medicinal herbs, he had mentioned something.

"Ningshuang, I suspect our young friend Ying used to live with a wealthy family. He's also a martial artist, so he's particular about his food. I saw him buying plenty of meat earlier. Don't ask any questions. Just cook it for him when you get home!"

Remembering Doctor Li's advice, Ye Ningshuang could only sigh.

Then she continued looking through the purchases.

Sure enough, she even found rice.

Ye Ningshuang couldn't help blushing.

Her household really was poor. She hadn't expected the young master to think of even that.

Once again, Ye Ningshuang felt indebted to him. She also finally understood why so many people liked serving young masters like him.

Who wouldn't envy a life like this?