Wei Shao'er Comes Calling

Zhang Xuezhou has money again.

Dong Zhongshu had little concept of money; he was very generous when he had money, but when he was broke, he would borrow money from others.

The other party hadn't even had time to warm up the ten taels of gold ingots they received before handing them over to Zhang Xuezhou after finishing their business and washing away the bad luck.

This gold ingot is enough to buy a bungalow in Chang'an City.

The bungalows in Chang'an City were not thatched huts in slums, but rather had an area of at least 200 square meters, including a main hall, main room, guest rooms, kitchen, toilet, and other complete structures.

However, buying a house in Chang'an City is not an easy task.

Lacking local residency, Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding could only hope to obtain a minor official position to purchase property.

As for Xu Yuan, he needs to settle down Chang'an City for the time being. With their occasional assistance, his life won't be too difficult.

"I never thought I couldn't even sell the medicinal herbs," Xu Yuan said dejectedly.

"The poor can't be registered in the city, so they can only go to the city to sell vegetables and millet," Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

Most poor people don't have a "festival" (a permit for obtaining city residency), otherwise they can't be traced if there are problems with the goods they sell.

The poor had to pay one and a half taels of silver to enter the city, and then they had to leave the city in the afternoon.

If something like the Northern Army was stationed there, the poor wouldn't even be allowed to enter the city, which was one of the reasons why prices in Chang'an City skyrocketed.

Xu Yuan lacks 'frugality'. He can temporarily resolve matters related to moving to the city with money, but he cannot do things involving buying a house, opening a shop, or making a living.

Xu Yuan never imagined that his Chang'an City to find Zhang Xuezhou to refine elixirs would be so arduous.

Zhang Xuezhou hasn't even settled down yet, so naturally there's no way he could help him refine pills.

Alchemy isn't something you can just do by finding any furnace and burning it; it requires a specific environment and various adjustments.

"Cousin, if you can make nourishing tonic in an earthenware pot, why are you dangling this Xu Yuan around?"

The three eventually parted ways. Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding quickly returned to their inn in Chang'an City under the cover of darkness, while Xu Yuan went back to cultivating his reclaimed land.

On the way back, Rong Tianding couldn't help but ask Zhang Xuezhou about it.

"Firstly, you and he need to cultivate a relationship before you can possibly obtain the 'Shizi' from the Xu family's collection," Zhang Xuezhou said. "His father is quite old and has suffered trauma; he might pass away at any time. It's more practical to cultivate a relationship with Xu Yuan than to please his father."

"That makes sense," Rong Tianding said.

"Secondly, the Agricultural Sect has a significant advantage in medicinal herbs. We need Origin-Nurturing Pill at the beginning of our cultivation, but we will have even more needs later," Zhang Xuezhou said. "If we don't solidify this relationship, it will be very difficult for us to obtain medicinal herbs in the future!"

Zhang Xuezhou has personally experienced the many troubles involved in purchasing medicinal herbs.

He wanted to refine some Three-Day Grain Avoidance Powder, but he ran himself ragged trying. Wang Er Ermazi had to send people to buy it from all around. In the end, it was only after Master Zhao used a lot of money to mobilize a large number of people from Shu County to search for it that the problem was solved.

This goes without saying that it involves refining some medium- to high-grade elixirs.

Elixirs can play a huge role, but they are also a wasteful resource; without a solid foundation, they are impossible to develop.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't have any major power under his command. If he wanted to continuously refine pills to benefit himself, he could only rely on his network of connections for mutual assistance.

This happens to be the pattern that agricultural religions have always followed.

He introduced Xu Yuan in a low voice, and then mentioned in a low voice the various troubles in developing elixirs.

This made Rong Tianding immediately see the down-on-his-luck Xu Yuan as a god of wealth.

"Leave this to me. I'm sure I can get on good terms with Xu Yuan and get him to come to the city and join us as soon as possible!"

Helping Xu Yuan is helping yourself. Xu Yuan needs the Origin-Nurturing Pill to improve his cultivation, Rong Tianding also needs the Origin-Nurturing Pill.

Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting; compared to the little skill I gain from my daily haphazard practice, it's far more beneficial to cultivate a relationship with Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan not only provided a continuous supply of the Origin-Nurturing Pill he needed, but also possessed the secret manuals of the Corpse-Slaying School, making him someone Rong Tianding couldn't afford to miss.

He was determined to win over Xu Yuan, which made Zhang Xuezhou much easier.

Although Zhang Xuezhou is currently struggling with cultivation, if he can resolve his physical issues, he will need a significant number of Spirit-Forging Pill before reaching the Zhang Xuezhou Divine Ability Realm. Fortunately, the Agricultural Sect cultivators have a large supply of medicinal materials for manufacturing low- to mid-range pills.

Helping others is helping yourself, Zhang Xuezhou firmly believes.

When he entered Chang'an City again, he found that everything in Chang'an City was the same as before.

The city did not decline because of the absence of Emperor Jing, nor will it change because of Dong Zhongshu's departure.

Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Even a ruler like Emperor Jing was no exception, let alone those who simply followed the crowd.

No matter what storms he may have stirred up there, everything will remain the same once the storms have subsided.

The Xieluosi River Holy Land remains unchanged, the Yedie River Holy Land is no different, and the Kunlun Sacred Land is merely a fleeting glimpse. Whether the Great Han Dynasty has him or not makes no difference.

If someone occasionally mentions him, it's only in passing during casual conversation before the topic is dropped.

"The past and present are called the universe. This word describes how the world changes in an instant, not only because we humans are insignificant, but also because all things in the world are like this. We are just fleeting visitors in the universe. Only by controlling the universe can we leave an indelible mark and achieve eternity..."

As Zhang Xuezhou shared his insights, Rong Tianding responded.

Rong Tianding's response was somewhat philosophical, but when he mentioned controlling the universe to achieve eternity, it stirred something in Zhang Xuezhou's heart.

He was about to chat with Rong Tianding a bit more when he suddenly felt a chill on his head.

"You little wench, what are you doing splashing water downstairs in broad daylight...? I'd thank you for splashing water to cool us down!"

Before Zhang Xuezhou could even raise his head and start cursing, passersby had already spoken up for him.

But then the other person's insults took a turn.

Zhang Xuezhou looked up and saw that the window of their room was open, and Wei Shao'er was holding a basin of water on it.

Perhaps because he was in a hurry to find Zhang Xuezhou and the others, Wei Shao'er seemed somewhat angry.

The thought that this girl was capable of beating people without hesitation made Zhang Xuezhou's heart skip a beat. He felt that Wei Shao'er was being rather polite by splashing water on him at this moment.

But when Zhang Xuezhou looked up, he saw Wei Shao'er glare at him, then her eyes filled with tenderness, and her gaze turned to the side of him. After a sweet laugh, Wei Shao'er closed the window again.

Zhang Xuezhou glanced at Rong Tianding, then shifted his gaze to the passersby who had been splashed.

"This fellow?"

"Ah?"

Zhang Xuezhou looked at the passerby who had been splashed with water, asked him a question, and only then did the person come to their senses.

The passerby was young and of ordinary appearance, but dressed in rich clothes. He also wore a white jade pendant around his waist. He seemed to be a martial arts expert, as there were straps wrapped around his arms.

A faint smell of blood wafted over, and Zhang Xuezhou felt that business was likely on its way.

"You seem to be injured?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Hey, I just accidentally got stabbed in the arm, it's nothing serious. Do you guys know that young lady upstairs?"

The passerby shook his head repeatedly, standing on tiptoe and looking up until he could no longer see even a gap in the room, at which point he had no choice but to pull his legs back.

"I don't recognize you. I thought you came to see a doctor!" Zhang Xuezhou shook his head and said.

"Originally, I came to this West Market to find a miracle doctor who specializes in treating skin injuries. Someone said that doctor lives in this inn, but now I feel like I'm suddenly completely cured!"

The passerby wiped the water off his face with his sleeve, then sniffed the sleeve at his nostrils, as if he had some kind of fetish for it, followed by a look of utter satisfaction.

Before Zhang Xuezhou could even mention his expertise in treating superficial wounds and his fair pricing, the young man, a stranger, had already rolled up his damp sleeves and stepped into the inn.