Chapter Thirty: Bundled Sales

With eyes full of anticipation, Qi Xiu stared at the two bowls of Golden Lock Vitality and Kidney Strengthening Soup before him. He picked up the first bowl, took a sip, then rinsed his mouth and picked up the second bowl, sipping gently along the rim.

Yes, the medicinal properties were identical.

Setting down the bowls, Qi Xiu wore a blissful smile. Both bowls of soup were brewed by his own hand. The difference lay in the second bowl—he had specially prepared it to test the miraculous effects gained from reaching the first realm of alchemy.

The result left him thoroughly satisfied.

“I thought the first realm of alchemy would be like calligraphy, where the miracle imbues the medicine, enhancing or altering its properties. I never expected it to manifest in this form. Clearly, I underestimated the possibilities.”

He sat in his rocking chair, his expression carefree.

The miraculous effect gained from breaking through the first realm of alchemy was simple, yet supremely practical. As everyone knows, the art of medicine—whether soup or pill—depends on the Four Pillars. That is, a prescription must be composed of the monarch, minister, assistant, and courier, each with its own medicinal role.

The monarch is the main drug, its potency foremost, and its application essential. The minister is the supporting drug, aiding the monarch but with lesser strength. The assistant, also called the modifying drug, serves to eliminate or mitigate the toxicity or harshness of the monarch and minister. The courier, commonly known as the guide, leads the medicines to the required meridian or organ.

The miracle of the first realm is that Qi Xiu can break the shackles of the Four Pillars, directly exempting certain ingredients.

At first glance, it seems modest, but upon closer thought, it is truly extraordinary. For a given recipe, while others must use twenty ingredients, he uses only nineteen.

And most crucially, this is merely the first realm. If one realm exempts some ingredients, what about the second realm, or the third? When he advances to the fourth or fifth realm, could he exempt all ingredients entirely?

At that point, even roadside weeds tossed into the cauldron could produce a peerless medicine!

“I’m on the city tower, watching the mountain scenery, listening to the chaos outside the walls…” Humming a tune from his past life, Qi Xiu’s buoyant mood made him temporarily forget his earlier anxieties.

…

Night fell.

At the hour of the ox, the Qian family’s back gate slowly opened. Six Taoists, clad in Rainflower Temple robes, their bodies bloated and faces expressionless, walked out.

Each carried a face-basin-sized black wooden box. After a brief consultation, they split up, heading in different directions.

Chanting strange, guttural scripture, the bloated Taoists walked slowly, as if awaiting something.

…

In the surrounding streets and homes, those who had attended the Qian family’s funeral feast and were now deeply asleep suddenly slumped unconscious. Within seconds, their mouths bulged, as if something were writhing within.

In the next moment, slender segmented limbs forced open their lips, and a bizarre insect, beetle-shaped with spider-like hairy legs, slowly crawled out.

Emerging from the bodies, the monsters followed the sound of scripture, gathering before the bloated Taoists and burrowing into the black wooden boxes.

The six Taoists traversed the entire Baohe County. The once-empty boxes were now overflowing with those eerie creatures.

As if by prior arrangement, just before dawn, the Taoists returned to the Qian residence, presenting the brimming boxes to Wu Changqing.

“Excellent. Xuan Chang, how many have we collected now?”

Wu Changqing’s lips curled into a smile as he gazed at the writhing insects, questioning the bloated Taoist beside him.

“Reporting, Master, in the past few days we have gathered a total of 6,431 Yuan Worms. We are short by 3,569. Within seven days, we should be able to collect the rest,” Xuan Chang answered respectfully.

“Good. Once the Jade Bodhisattva is unsealed, I can wipe out those rabble from the Tai Bao Sect.”

A fierce gleam in his eyes, Wu Changqing waved his disciples away and quietly stroked the white jade whisk in his hand.

With ten thousand worms to unseal the Jade Bodhisattva, and the youth of the city to forge my ‘Autumn Sandalwood,’ with two magical implements in hand, mere Condensation Realm… hmph!

…

Ghost Market Treasure Ship, street stalls.

Qian Yuchuan, face dark and brooding, surveyed the endless line of stalls beside him.

Nearly twenty days had passed since his senior brother had given him instructions. In that time, he had scoured every pharmacy in Baohe County and visited the Ghost Market three or four times.

Yet, he hadn’t found either of the two items required.

Seeing the increasingly hostile looks from his senior brother and fellow disciples, he was frantic, but no solution presented itself. He could only try his luck again at the Ghost Market.

“Hey, Seven Smelly Mouth, any news about the items I asked you to watch for?”

In a corner, Qian Yuchuan flicked a silver bean toward a gaunt, ragged man who reeked of fish.

“Ah, you’re here.” Seven Smelly Mouth quickly caught the silver bean and scratched his body with a grin.

“Lucky timing—today, the market actually has what you need.”

“Really?” Qian Yuchuan’s brows shot up. “Where?”

“Don’t rush, they won’t run off. But there’s my labor fee…” Rubbing his fingers together, Seven Smelly Mouth grinned sheepishly and extended his hand.

“Typical, you never miss your cut.” Impatient, Qian Yuchuan tossed him a silver ingot. “Lead the way!”

“Right away, sir.” With silver in hand, Seven Smelly Mouth moved ahead.

…

“Is it him?”

Standing before Qi Xiu’s stall, Qian Yuchuan eyed the vendor suspiciously and glanced at the goods.

The stall was small: three porcelain bottles and an old redwood talisman.

“That’s him. Don’t judge the talisman by its looks—it’s the real deal. In Jiayi Prefecture, Old Xue’s daughter was taken by a rogue cultivator. As a desperate measure, she bought this guy’s talisman. Guess what? One talisman, and all the evil arts failed instantly. Without his magic, the rogue was captured and tormented on the spot—he was in a bad way! After that, this fellow’s reputation spread. But he’s odd; every time, he only sells three talismans, never more. And the talismans don’t last—five days at most before they lose their power. If you want one, you’d better hurry, they might be gone soon.”

Listening to Seven Smelly Mouth’s earnest introduction, Qian Yuchuan squatted down, reaching to pick up the talisman.

“Don’t touch if you’re not buying.” With his face hidden by a bamboo hat, Qi Xiu spoke in a muffled voice.

“Hah, got an attitude—I like it. How much for your talisman?” Qian Yuchuan, seeing no other option, decided to try his luck.

“Talismans are not for sale.”

He removed his bamboo hat, revealing a pale mask, and pointed to the porcelain bottles on the stall. “Golden Lock Vitality and Kidney Strengthening Soup—a man’s evergreen. One hundred silver per bottle, minimum of three bottles.”

Frowning, Qian Yuchuan glanced at Seven Smelly Mouth. “What kind of medicine costs a hundred silver per bottle? I don’t need it. That talisman…”

“Our shop’s special promotion: buy three bottles of Golden Lock Vitality and Kidney Strengthening Soup, get a talisman free. Are you sure you don’t need it?”

Staring at the faintly smiling white mask across from him, Qian Yuchuan took a deep breath. “Fine, I’ll take it!”

“Thank you for your patronage. That’ll be three hundred silver.” Swiftly wrapping up the three bottles, Qi Xiu handed over the talisman as well.

“If this isn’t as good as you claim, Seven Smelly Mouth, you’ll spend your life on this ship, never setting foot ashore again.”

With a snort, Qian Yuchuan strode off with his purchase.

“Heh, bundled sales really save trouble. Seven Smelly Mouth, here’s a tip for you.” Qi Xiu tossed him a silver ingot.

Another nine hundred silver earned today—Qi Xiu cheerfully packed up his belongings. At this rate, amassing fifty thousand silver for the true technique would be within reach.

Tsk, that man’s voice sounded familiar…

Standing up, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes, watching Qian Yuchuan’s departing figure, a face fond of hearty laughter emerging faintly in his mind.

…