Hunter or prey

Xie Jinhuan inserted the needles from a distance as instructed. Within moments, Lin Wanyi's complexion gradually improved.

Once he was certain nothing was wrong, Xie Jinhuan set down the needle pouch and returned to sit beside the tea table.

"How do you feel?"

Having been treated in such a manner, Lin Wanyi was so astonished and uncertain that she even set aside the chilly sensation behind her. She carefully studied Xie Jinhuan's extraordinary bearing and asked curiously:

"Thank you for saving me, Young Master Xie. May I ask which distinguished household you come from?"

"Hardly a distinguished household. My father was merely a minor official in the Capital City. He went south three years ago and only recently returned."

"Really?" Lin Wanyi did not quite believe him. She asked again, "Then what about your mother's family?"

Seeing that Lin Wanyi had barely recovered before she began investigating his family background, her eyes brimming with "possessiveness," Xie Jinhuan could not help growing wary.

According to the rumors, Witch Cult Demonesses were terribly troublesome. They would plant love gu in men, forcing the men to fall for them. Afterward, if those men touched another woman at any point in their lives, they would die...

Xie Jinhuan knew Lin Wanyi was beautiful, with full breasts and lush hips-a textbook figure built for hands-on action-but he had no desire to become a Witch Cult Demoness's essence-draining slave...

Lin Wanyi was pondering her plans when she noticed the wariness in Xie Jinhuan's eyes. Realizing she had been too calculating, she hurriedly sat up properly.

"I was only curious. I meant nothing else. It's truly surprising that someone so young could possess such abilities without coming from a powerful background."

Maintaining a measure of caution, Xie Jinhuan returned to the matter at hand.

"We can chat later. From how you looked just now, something seemed to have gone wrong with your cultivation technique-and it followed the Witch Cult's methods..."

"?"

Lin Wanyi's expression stiffened slightly. She realized that her episode had exposed her down to her underwear.

Oh no, oh no. What now? If Xie Jinhuan reported this to the authorities...

Xie Jinhuan had come seeking pills. He had no desire to cause a misunderstanding and get a gu planted in him, so he hurriedly added:

"Don't worry. Although the court classifies the Witch Cult as an evil path, its members aren't all wicked villains. Witch doctors, for instance, also hang out their medicine gourds to heal the world. Shamanic Cult priests can even serve as state preceptors in Northern Zhou. You come from a medical family but follow this path, so perhaps there are circumstances behind it. I won't use this to make trouble for you."

In truth, Lin Wanyi had no particular hidden circumstances. Her father had contracted a terrible illness, and in her desperation to find a cure, she had joined the Witch Cult. Her lineage came from its largest faction, the Gu Poison Sect, backed by the Witch Cult's headquarters in the Southern Border Wasteland. She was a core disciple whose roots were thoroughly black.

However, she had remained near Jingzhao Prefecture since childhood and had never committed any atrocities. Pushing up the gold-rimmed glasses that had slipped down with her sweat, she explained somewhat awkwardly:

"Mm... I only learned a few things out of curiosity about witch doctors' methods. I'm not one of those fiends from the Corpse Witch Sect who prey on ordinary people, and I've never harmed anyone before. You can investigate that yourself. If you can understand, that would truly be a blessing."

Xie Jinhuan nodded lightly and returned to the subject. "Witch Cult techniques invariably involve poisonous gu and sinister forces. The slightest carelessness can injure the practitioner. If something has gone wrong with your technique, I can take a look. As for the cold yin energy accumulated in your body, I can help resolve that too..."

Lin Wanyi raised a hand and politely declined. "The cold yin energy has been building up in my body for a long time, and I have a way to deal with it. There's no need to trouble yourself. You're being so helpful, young master. Is there something you need from me?"

Xie Jinhuan knew it was not difficult to handle-she merely had to find a man and absorb his yang energy. It was only natural that Lin Wanyi did not need his help. Seeing that his bargaining chip was gone, he could only state his purpose plainly:

"I need pills to strengthen my foundation. Do you have any here?"

"Pills?"

Lin Wanyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"The Lin family specializes in Alchemy Medicine. How could we not? What kind would you like?"

Given Xie Jinhuan's current circumstances, nothing short of an immortal pill could break the deadlock. He answered sincerely:

"The very best kind. Ideally, once it strengthens my physique, I won't encounter any significant bottlenecks before Transcendent Grade."

A miraculous pill like that was clearly a major undertaking.

Lin Wanyi had so many expenses that she was actually rather short of money. Hearing that Xie Jinhuan wanted a top-tier miraculous Body Tempering formula, she set their earlier interruption aside and explained in a gentle voice:

"The finest miraculous Body Tempering formula currently available is the Dragon Blood Pill. It originated in the Capital City's Imperial Pharmacy Directorate and has been passed down for centuries. It's mostly used by Upper Third Rank masters to strengthen their foundations and heal old ailments. In a little over a month at most, it can completely remold a person's body."

A little over a month...

Xie Jinhuan thought that was rather long, but it was better than standing still and waiting to die.

"The Imperial Pharmacy Directorate supplies the imperial palace exclusively. Those without meritorious service can't obtain its medicines. Are you certain you can get it, Miss Lin?"

Lin Wanyi's eyes curved into crescents. Leaning closer, she whispered, "Zisu studies at the Alchemy Medicine Institute and knows the formula. She can report it to the academy as 'practice' and refine a batch for you. However, this formula is rather costly. Even leaving aside the Alchemist's labor, the ingredients alone would cost eight thousand taels of silver..."

"Eight thousand taels?"

Xie Jinhuan knew the Dragon Blood Pill would not be easy to obtain, but he truly had not expected such an outrageous production cost.

The bowl of mutton soup he had eaten that morning had cost only twenty copper coins. Converted into mutton soup, eight thousand taels of silver would feed him and Coal Ball for several lifetimes!

No wonder it was a top-tier Body Tempering pill...

Knowing the price was enough to scare someone to death, Lin Wanyi said gently:

"Whether in Danyang or the Capital City, you can count the people with access to the formula on your fingers. Those capable of refining it are rarer still, like phoenix feathers and qilin horns. This is already my lowest price. Neither the ingredients nor the labor comes cheap, and there's also a twenty-percent cut to pay the Alchemy Medicine Institute. I can't lower the price any further. If you don't believe me, you can ask around Wencheng Street. Director Zhang of the Alchemy Medicine Institute can refine this pill too, but without a hundred taels of silver as a greeting gift, you won't even get through his door."

Hiring a renowned Alchemist to make custom pills was expensive to begin with. Ordinarily, ingredients and labor each accounted for half the price, and the Alchemist might not even accept the commission.

Xie Jinhuan currently had no money to hire an Alchemist or buy ingredients. Fortunately, he had not come to purchase anything anyway. Seeing the bespectacled woman tirelessly pitching her wares, he thickened his skin and said:

"Your condition is quite serious. I can help fix the flaws in your technique and guarantee it won't happen again. In exchange, could you..."

"?"

So you came to get a free ride off me?!

Lin Wanyi sat a little straighter and instinctively covered her little purse. However, remembering that Xie Jinhuan had helped her, she still answered gently:

"Young master, that's nearly ten thousand taels of silver. I only charge three-tenths of a tael for a house call. I truly can't afford it. However, I must thank you for your gallant assistance yesterday. If you really need something, I can give you a bottle of Meridian-Stabilizing Pills."

Meridian-Stabilizing Pills could also temper the body and were not cheap, but they were meant for eighth- and ninth-rank apprentices.

What Xie Jinhuan had to contend with was "Great Qian's iron fist." Those pills would not even fill a gap between its teeth.

Seeing the hesitation in Xie Jinhuan's eyes, Lin Wanyi preemptively added:

"You're a chivalrous man, young master. I'm sure you wouldn't threaten a woman over her Witch Cult background. Still, I hope you'll keep this matter sealed behind your lips. I have people above me. If word really gets out, they can handle it, but it would be troublesome."

People above her...

I don't have anyone above me anymore!

Xie Jinhuan was no fool either. He knew this was a friendly reminder to weigh the situation carefully and not forget that a Witch Cult Demoness was still a Demoness.

Seeing that neither soft nor hard tactics would work and that he might even invite trouble, Xie Jinhuan could only rise.

"Very well. I'll keep my lips sealed. Just pretend I never came."

Seeing Xie Jinhuan about to leave, Lin Wanyi thought for a moment, then hurriedly raised a hand.

"Wait, young master."

"Hmm?"

Xie Jinhuan thought Lin Wanyi could not bear to lose the sale and wanted to discuss a discount.

Eight thousand taels-even at ninety percent off, he could not afford it right now. Unless it was like what had happened with Steward Hou...

Remembering his bizarre experience renting a house, Xie Jinhuan swiftly sat back down.

"I don't have much traveling money. If you charge me one percent of the price, we might be able to make a deal."

One percent?

Lin Wanyi was a little bewildered, but she did not dwell on it. Her eyes curved as she said:

"The Dragon Blood Pill is expensive to produce. Most people can't afford it, so it's perfectly normal that you don't have the cash on hand. As it happens, I have a small problem that needs someone to handle it. If you can help, I can waive the cost of the pills. Consider it making a friend."

Working off the payment...

Xie Jinhuan thought this sounded promising. He looked around, leaned closer, and asked quietly:

"Who do you want killed?"

"?"

Lin Wanyi froze, looking rather bewildered.

"What do you mean, who do I want killed?"

Xie Jinhuan was equally bewildered. Spreading his hands, he said:

"Eight thousand taels is enough to buy dozens of lives. If it's not murder for hire, do you want me to pound medicine? Pound whom?"

Pound whom?!

This time, Lin Wanyi understood. She hurriedly explained:

"You've misunderstood, young master. I'm an innocent, respectable woman. I never commit crimes."

Xie Jinhuan blinked. Seeing that the Witch Cult Demoness did not seem to be pretending, he gave a light cough.

"I was only joking too. I'm a righteous hero. I never take dirty jobs like that."

*?*

I don't believe you!

You were clearly choosing someone to slaughter just now!

Lin Wanyi strongly suspected Xie Jinhuan had gone mad from poverty, daring even to accept bloody underworld work. However, she truly did not commit crimes.

"I'm not asking you to do dirty work. It's a legitimate task, just a little difficult."

Xie Jinhuan felt that its difficulty was probably going to defy the heavens.

"What is it?"

"There's a copy of the Dragon-Steed Response Art inside the Dan King Pavilion..."

Xie Jinhuan stared in astonishment. "You want me to steal something from the Dan King Pavilion?!"

"Not steal it. Learn it, then teach it to me. I'm interested in the Martial Dao too."

Lin Wanyi had sponsored so many talented young men of humble origins precisely to cultivate a two-headed dragon connecting her to the Martial Dao Divine Canon. Xie Jinhuan clearly possessed boundless potential, so he obviously had a chance. She explained pleasantly:

"In Luojing, the expert retainers of the Pill King’s Residence, military officers and commanders, and outstanding young talents can all receive special permission to consult this scripture, provided they've rendered distinguished service.

"You're young, but your martial skills are impressive. You have a good chance of winning the Pill King's appreciation. As long as you learn it successfully and teach it to me, the task will be complete."

It sounded simple enough.

But Xie Jinhuan had grown up in the Capital City. He was hardly ignorant.

The Dragon-Steed Response Art was said to be a supreme manual left behind by the Martial Ancestor. The requirements for consulting it were high enough, but mastering it was even harder.

As far as he knew, only two people in the Capital City were qualified to consult the scripture and had successfully grasped its basics-the Scarlet Qilin Guard's chief eunuch, Cao Fo'er, and the Chief Astronomer of the Directorate of Celestial Observation, Lu Wuzhen.

Would anyone capable of mastering that thing still need silver?

Besides, learning it would require winning the Pill King's appreciation, spending his days in the Dan King Pavilion amid crowds of experts, and interacting with all those powerful figures...

Xie Jinhuan could barely hide from them fast enough right now. Would taking this job not be throwing his life away?

"Although the court hasn't forbidden teaching it to others, passing on the Martial Dao Divine Canon is ultimately taboo. Besides, it's too difficult. My current abilities are inadequate..."

"That doesn't matter."

Lin Wanyi reclined against her chair, her beautiful, limpid eyes brimming with amusement.

"This was never something that could be rushed. I'll give you three years. Even if you can't master it, memorizing it will count. If you truly can't manage it, you can pay the market price three years from now instead. I won't charge interest. As for the Dragon Blood Pills, I'll provide them upfront. You can have the first batch by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Faced with this proposal, Xie Jinhuan honestly could not refuse. He was even a little pleasantly surprised.

"That's eight thousand taels of silver, and I won't fulfill my promise for three years. Aren't you afraid I'll take the pills and run?"

Lin Wanyi reminded him softly, "I'm not alone! If you're willing to spend your whole life guarding against the Witch Cult over this little sum-and can actually keep us at bay-I'll consider it sowing a seed of goodwill."

Thinking about it, Xie Jinhuan agreed.

If you offended the Confucian, Buddhist, or Daoist schools, they would at most beat you to death. They disdained sneak attacks.

But if you offended the Witch Cult, you would have to eye even a sip of water with suspicion. After death, you would even need to grind your own bones and scatter your ashes, lest someone drag you away and recycle you into a puppet...

If he failed to obtain the Martial Dao Divine Canon and could not repay the debt, he would probably have to "pay with his body." Whether he became a puppet or a live-in son-in-law afterward would depend entirely on Lin Wanyi's mood...

Although the Witch Cult was not to be trifled with, Xie Jinhuan could not refuse right now, not when he needed to put out the fire singeing his eyebrows and gain every possible scrap of strength to protect himself.

"All right. Within three years, I'll teach you the Martial Dao Divine Canon. If I fail to learn it, I'll pay the market price. Shall we put it in writing?"

Lin Wanyi was exceedingly magnanimous. "No need. Knowing your face is enough. It doesn't even matter whether your name is real."

"..."

Hearing that, Xie Jinhuan knew a colossal power stood behind Lin Wanyi. Even fleeing to the Southern Border Wasteland would do him no good. He nodded slightly.

"All right. I'll collect the pills the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes. In a little while, I'll go with you to buy the ingredients, so you'll know the cost and won't accuse me of cheating you."

Lin Wanyi had already recovered. After speaking, she rose and went behind the side room to remove the silver needles.

Xie Jinhuan remained seated, quietly analyzing the potential dangers of this transaction. During that time, he heard rustling as well. Presumably, the needle between her breasts was difficult to remove through her clothes, so she had opened her collar.

However, Xie Jinhuan had heard about Witch Cult Demonesses' ways. If he looked, he would have to marry her. Most importantly, he would have to "remain faithful to the end"-he could not so much as glance at another woman. Thus, he let neither his monkey mind nor his galloping thoughts run wild...