Chapter Eighty-Two: The Apothecary [Requesting Subscription]

Early the next morning, before dawn, in a quiet courtyard not far from the Cloud Guest Inn.

A massive bronze cauldron stood in the center of the yard, its belly bubbling with steaming medicinal broth. Li Yang tended the fire beneath the cauldron while adding various herbs to the boiling liquid. He continued until the potion gradually turned a vivid crimson. Only then did Li Yang shed his clothes and leap into the cauldron.

A sharp hiss escaped his lips the moment he entered. An itchy, tingling sensation rose from deep within his bones, as if countless tiny insects were burrowing under his skin, gnawing at his marrow. Li Yang involuntarily drew in a cold breath.

Enduring the discomfort radiating from his bones, he focused his mind and drew upon his vital energy, his form twisting within the cauldron. As he performed one difficult movement after another, the potion grew visibly turbid. After two rounds of practice, the sun had climbed high in the sky before Li Yang finally emerged.

He dried himself, donned a white robe, and twisted his body left and right. His joints crackled like a string of firecrackers. A sensation of thorough clarity flowed outward from his bones, and Li Yang felt lighter and more relaxed than ever.

He clenched his fists, watching the ripples in the air as it split under pressure, and nodded with satisfaction. The body-refining technique modified by the old Taoist Zi Xiao was truly remarkable. Though Li Yang had only just begun cultivating it, his spirit felt unprecedentedly refreshed, and his strength was easier to command.

The only drawback was the prodigious cost. The medicinal concoction for body refinement, prepared according to Zi Xiao’s formula, cost as much as the entire process of making a batch of pills. The thought gave Li Yang a headache. Most of the Ren family’s wealth had been taken to Port City by the two madams, and what remained had nearly all been spent acquiring medicinal resources.

Yesterday, he had scoured every pharmacy in Kun City. There were many fine herbs, but his purse was too shallow to buy more than a handful. For someone used to sweeping up supplies wherever he went, it was pure torment.

Watching precious cultivation resources slip from his grasp was not in Li Yang’s nature. He already had a plan to deal with this.

...

Leaving the courtyard, Li Yang made his way toward the bustling streets. Soon, he arrived at a pharmacy called “People’s Relief Hall,” which he had visited yesterday. Though not the largest shop in Kun City, its prices were the fairest.

As he entered, he saw two young women behind the counter. One was strikingly beautiful, tall and elegant in a pink dress, her figure graceful, her skin radiant with youthful charm. The other, with a cherubic face and petite stature, wore a vivid red dress. Her proportions, rounded and full, contrasted sharply with her innocent features, creating a striking effect.

“Miss Sun, is Doctor Sun here?” Li Yang approached the girl in pink and spoke.

“So it's you! Please wait, my father will be out shortly.” Her voice, gentle and sweet, belied her cold expression, as if she were softly coaxing.

“Yuran, do you know him? Why not introduce us?” the red-dressed girl asked curiously, tugging at the sleeve of her companion.

“I don’t know him. He’s just a customer who came for medicine yesterday.” The pink-dressed girl shook her head, brushed off the other’s hand, and continued sorting herbs, seeming indifferent to everything.

“Ah, young man, you’re back. What herbs do you need today?” Before long, a scholarly-looking middle-aged man entered from the back, surprised to see Li Yang seated in the hall.

He remembered this handsome, uniquely poised young man well. Having started in business late, the doctor was a straightforward man, lacking flexibility, which kept the shop’s clientele thin and made big spenders like Li Yang exceedingly rare.

“Doctor Sun, I am here to ask a favor of you today.” Li Yang smiled, greeting the refined man.

“No need for formalities, young man. Please, speak freely.” Doctor Sun poured him tea, then glanced helplessly at the pink-dressed girl behind the counter. “Don’t mind my daughter—she’s spoiled, and neglects proper hospitality.”

“Doctor Sun, you needn’t worry. I’m imposing on you, so I hardly count as a guest.” Li Yang shook his head, then took two porcelain bottles from his robe and handed them over.

“What’s this?” Doctor Sun eyed the bottles curiously, uncorked them, and poured out a vermilion pill from one and a reddish pill the size of a longan from the other. After sniffing them, his face lit up with delight. “These are excellent medicines!”

Though Doctor Sun had come late to the profession, his medical skills were among the best in Kun City. Even if he didn’t know how Li Yang prepared these pills, the fragrance alone told him they were rare treasures of the same type.

“These are some qi-tonifying and blood-strengthening pills I made myself. Funds are tight lately—do you accept such medicines here?” Li Yang smiled at Doctor Sun’s questioning look.

“So you’re a fellow practitioner! No wonder you bought so many herbs at once. At your age, to have such skill in pharmacology—I am truly humbled. How much are you asking for these two types?” Doctor Sun’s admiration was evident, and his tone grew more familiar.

“My pills come in two versions: ordinary and premium. The vermilion one you hold is the ordinary, priced at one hundred silver dollars apiece. The reddish one is the premium, valued at ten thousand silver dollars each.” Li Yang sipped his tea and spoke leisurely.

“The price for the ordinary version is not excessive, though it’s beyond the reach of most common folk. My shop is modest—I can only take ten of them. As for the premium, I must admit I don’t see the difference.” Doctor Sun deliberated and shook his head with a wry smile.

Li Yang offered no explanation, only smiled and asked, “Do you know anyone else who might be interested in such pills?”

Seeing Li Yang’s sincere expression, Doctor Sun hesitated, then took out an invitation card and handed it to him. “If you don’t mind waiting a few days, there will soon be a merchants’ trading event in the city. I am a member myself—if you’re free, you can attend.”

“That would be ideal!” Li Yang accepted the card with joy. He hadn’t expected the pharmacy to buy many pills, nor could a few thousand silver dollars procure the resources he needed. Doctor Sun’s offer was a timely boon. Kun City, with its myriad pharmacies, could surely absorb his batch of pills, even by barter.

“By the way, may I know your name, young friend? I am Sun Cheng. That’s my daughter Sun Yuran, and her friend Zhou Xin.” Doctor Sun gestured to the pink-dressed girl, and the red-dressed girl winked playfully at Li Yang, her expression lively and adorable.

Li Yang merely smiled and replied, “I am Li Yang.”

“Please wait a moment, young man—I’ll fetch your payment now!” Returning the two bottles, Doctor Sun headed to the back.

“Are these really your own pills?” As soon as he left, the mischievous red-dressed girl leaned over, resting her chin on the table, her eyes fixed on Li Yang’s porcelain bottles with innocent curiosity.

“Good brother, may I see them?” Though her manner was childlike, the cunning in her gaze did not escape Li Yang. He inhaled her scent, and as she leaned over, her petite form revealed alluring curves. Li Yang only smiled, offering no reply.

The pink-dressed girl rolled her eyes and said to her friend, “Don’t be fooled. This wild girl is clever—she loves to play cute just to tease people!”

“Oh, Yuran, why are you exposing me today? You used to enjoy watching the fun!” The red-dressed girl, her trick uncovered, jumped up and lunged at her companion.

“Hmph! You’re shameless. Your pranks have cost our pharmacy enough business!” The pink-dressed girl retorted without backing down.

“Yuxin, you’ve changed! Admit it—you’ve got your eye on this handsome young man...” Seeing her friend unmoved, the red-dressed girl’s expression shifted. Her large, watery eyes brimmed with tears, and her adorable face looked so pitiful it would stir anyone’s heart.

“Save your act!” The pink-dressed girl seemed to see right through her friend’s antics.

“Forgive these two wild girls, young man,” Doctor Sun said as he returned, carrying the silver dollars, and caught sight of the scene in the hall, his face full of helpless amusement.

Li Yang only smiled, saying nothing more.