Chapter 10
I snapped awake. My eyes remained shut, but my consciousness rallied against the overwhelming drowsiness that threatened to consume it.
This venom is vicious, I thought as I struggled to stay awake. Efficient though. Making sure your food couldn't escape was rather useful, I had to admit.
The problem with being conscious once more was that I could feel the burning venom as it dissolved my body from within. The sludgy swamp was eating through the last layer of skin, a million biting fangs of acid burrowing into me every instant.
This… maybe dying wouldn't be so bad.
No, don't give in. Don't be a coward. There has to be a way out. You're a doctor, for fuck's sake! I argued with myself, wondering if the venom had driven me to madness just like the bear.
Despite my protests there wasn't much I could do. I couldn't even move my body. What was left of it, anyway.
My blood essence had been beaten back and now only a few brave sparks remained. I wondered what would happen if I lost it all.
Would my cultivation regress back to seven-stars? Perhaps it would be permanently broken. I hoped I wouldn't find out, but even that slim hope was fading fast.
Ah, that's what it feels like.
The venom destroyed the last spark of my blood essence and instead of the devastating loss I expected, there was only a feeling of emptiness. Like I was a beautiful vase, devoid of flowers.
My cultivation was still there, I could faintly feel it. However, without blood essence I couldn't grasp it. I couldn't exert a fraction of my power.
I was an empty vessel.
Though fast filling up with venom and acid. Just then, the swamp water burnt through my ribcage and the first drops splashed against my exposed lungs.
If I could move my mouth I would scream. It burned like the flames of hell, dissolving the first of my vital organs.
This was worse than death. That fucking snake would pay if I somehow made it through this ordeal.
Another drop splashed against my lungs, but this time it felt… cold? That was odd. A rib broke as the water ate through it and a surge of corrosive sludge raced to fill my chest.
I grimaced, expecting an inferno of agony.
Until now I'd tried to hold my breath but I could no longer resist. Coughing, I let my lungs deflate and the swampy sludge raced to fill the gaps.
Instead of the burning pain, I shivered. It was like my lungs had been submerged in an ice bath. That helped ease my suffering, but it was far from comfortable.
No longer able to hold myself back, I inhaled. Corrosive acid and vile venom rushed to fill my lungs and I grit my teeth, expecting the wave of agony.
It never came.
A deep, slumbering hunger rose within me. I realised that most of the venom and sludge I'd inhaled was gone.
My lungs weren't burning, breaking down under the corrosive onslaught. Instead they seemed to be glowing with vitality.
I focused inwards, struggling against the fog clouding my mind. The torrent of sludge splashed against my lungs and instead of dissolving the vulnerable flesh, it was absorbed!
But my blood essence is gone… I wondered how I was still absorbing the corruption. Suddenly my head exploded with information, struck like lightning.
At that moment, I understood.
Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique.
This was the name whispered in my ears, the secret behind my strange body and mysterious sight.
It could've been dormant since Zhao Dan's birth, but I suspected that wasn't the case. This had to be the oath. I knew that a single technique wasn't all I'd been granted in exchange for my crippled spirit roots.
While all its mysteries had not been revealed to me, I'd been granted enough to know it was my one chance to make it through this ordeal alive.
Like the name suggested, this physique involved five layers that one would need to progressively cultivate. To begin with, I would need to refine my internal organs by absorbing various medicines—or poisons.
This would not only increase my body's resistance to such things, but also grant me greater regeneration and wholly twist my blood essence—and eventually qi—to have healing properties.
If Zhao Dan had possessed this physique all along, it made complete sense why he'd struggled to advance using the Cloudy Falls Sect's cultivation method. Those who possessed the Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique had powerful healing techniques, but the drawback was they were unable to cultivate in the usual manner.
All along, my explosive growth had been driven by my use of my hastily created healing technique.
I hadn't realised it back then, but I'd accidentally stumbled onto the right path. Most cultivators in this world were cruel and violent, stomping their rivals and leaving a trail of blood and death as they climbed towards the peak.
However, I could only progress by doing the opposite. Cultivation through healing. It suited me well, but to be honest knowing this didn't change much.
It was just a confirmation that I had made the right choice. At the time I was frustrated with the heavens for being so stingy, but it had inadvertently led me to this discovery.
I exhaled, bubbles escaping my mouth and racing to the surface of the swamp.
I inhaled, greedily sucking in the sludge and the viper's venom.
My lungs had begun the process of refinement. The first layer of my physique was to cultivate the internal organs.
I continued to breathe, each time hungrily devouring more of the corruption that tainted my body.
The venom seemed to tremble, realising it was no longer the apex predator in this environment. This was my body and I refused to give it up.
Every breath restored more movement to me and cleared away the fog that clouded my mind. My finger twitched.
Looking down, I winced at the state of my body. Most of my skin had been dissolved, exposing muscle and bone.
However, as I continued to breathe and absorb the foul venom, I noticed that with every exhale, wisps of green energy were released into the swamp.
On my next breath, instead of letting that energy escape, I trapped it. I sucked it back in and it didn't resist much.
The green energy splashed against my throat and I gasped, watching as the flesh was restored through its power.
Converting poison to medicine. This was the most basic technique of the Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique, besides my crude healing art.
After that realisation, I refused to let any more of the precious energy escape. Every wisp my lungs released was trapped and guided through my body, slowly healing me.
****
I exhaled, directing the final green wisp to heal the hairline fracture in my rib. Restoring my whole body had taken too long.
Was the bear still fighting, struggling against the vile viper? It had to be, or the snake would've returned to devour its prey. The swamp sludge was thick and dark, blocking my vision.
That wasn't going to be a problem much longer. I wasn't content with just healing myself.
Now that I knew the strength of my physique, I would put it to full use. My body felt weak, still lacking blood essence.
I was unable to use my cultivation, but that would soon change. Letting out the final remnants of sludge in my lungs, I inhaled.
And continued to inhale, even when it felt like my lungs would burst. Even when I felt a mounting pressure building in my chest.
The top of my head was blasted with a wave of hot air. I wanted to smile, but that would've been too much to handle. Truly, my whole body felt swollen.
My lungs were doing their utmost to refine the disgusting sludge and with every portion they cleansed, shined a little more. Soon the level of the swamp had dropped enough that I could see my surroundings.
My brow furrowed and I squinted, wondering if the lingering venom was making me hallucinate. We'd been in the middle of the forest, so where were the trees?
I stood up, my muscles stiff from underuse. Even with my lungs refining and cleansing the corruption in my body I wouldn't be free from such things until I broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm and shed the chains of a mortal body.
Taking a better look around, I realised that all the trees near the swamp had been smashed apart, the trunks lying scattered. There was no sign of the bear or the snake, but it was clear their battle had been fierce.
Not wasting time, I began searching for their tracks. I couldn't leave the bear to die after all that effort. And my reasoning wasn't purely altruistic…
My damn blood essence was inside the spirit bear. If I wasn't able to find it in time, there was a chance I'd have to start cultivating again from scratch, crawling from one-star Body Tempering back to my peak.
Soon I found splattered venom and trails of blood, all leading in a single direction. That was a good sign.
That the fight had been steered away from the swamp meant the bear had managed to draw the snake away from its lair, where it no longer reigned supreme. Though the amount of blood and clumps of fur I spotted were worrying.
Enemies that fought with venom and poisons were tricky, since they only needed to strike once and wait for their foul creations to weaken you. The bear had been healing through my technique, but I didn't expect it to last forever.
Suddenly, a tree exploded on my left and I threw myself backwards as a blur of brown sailed past, crashing through two more trees and then stopping. I heard a pained growl and winced at the sorry state of the bear.
Fur was missing, ripped from its skin all over the spirit beast's body. Cuts tinged with venom, rotting and festering, covered its body and I could see the telltale signs of madness creeping in.
"Damn bear, I already cured you once. The only person allowed to kill you is me," I yelled, snapping it out of its stupor.
I ducked under a swipe of its claws, but it seemed to recognise me and let out a weak grunt. Finally, I'd returned to the fight.
Placing a hand against the bear, I gasped at the colossal wave of essence that slammed into me.
It was like trying to force a raging river into a drainpipe. My body strained, but I was starved of essence and needed this like a man stranded in the desert needed water.
I felt the weakness leave my body as more blood essence surged in. One-star, two-star, three-star.
The amount of strength I was able to wield rapidly grew until I'd reached my peak once more. But it didn't stop there.
The essence continued to flow, carrying me through eight-star Body Tempering. It only stopped when I was about two-thirds of the way towards the ninth star.
Clenching and unclenching my fist, I relished in the feeling of my cultivation returning. With my Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique and my raw strength, I would finish this once and for all.
Something splashed against my back. I felt a soft sting as the snake's venom started corroding my skin, but no sooner had it started did a single breath suck it in, refining the venom into medicinal energy that restored my skin.
That wasn't all I had at my disposal. My blood essence, after healing so much of the toxic wounds for the bear, had grown more potent.
A deep green hue shimmered around each red spark. Unlike the soft, gentle green of the energy my lungs released, it was a dark, venomous green. Despite their similarities, my blood essence and lungs didn't react or work together.
They were separate sources of strength. Now that I knew the snake wasn't much of a threat, I had nothing left to lose.
Pumping half of my blood essence back into the bear to heal its wounds, I motioned for it to stay down when it roared and tried to join me.
"Just lie there, you dumb furry beast," I chuckled. "Let me have some fun."
The snake hissed and spat more venom at me. I rushed forward, not caring if the corrosive spit splashed me or not.
It wasn't painless, the venom burned my skin where it landed, but I figured the quicker I finished the job the better. The snake panicked when I drew close, but it was too late.
I reached out and grabbed hold of its body, wrapping my arms around and digging my fingers under its scales. Blood trickled out and it hissed in pain.
The snake opened its jaws, revealing those venomous fangs that had caused me so much pain. I would never let myself be tortured like that again; be powerless to control my own fate.
The sludge from the swamp had gone a long way to letting me refine my lungs, but the first layer of my physique was far from complete. I needed more.
Luckily there was a gigantic source of venom within my grasp. The snake hissed and struck, biting down on the same shoulder as before.
I barely flinched.
Instead I smiled right into its yellow slit-eyes as it pumped my chest full of venom once more. My chest rose and fell, a single breath.
The snake seemed confused as to how I was still standing and pumped more venom from its fangs. That was a mistake.
Looking at the state of the surrounding forest and the wounded bear, I had no doubt that leaving this spirit snake alive would only spell disaster for everything that lived here.
That included the people of Nine Paddy Village. I refused to leave such an infection to fester so close to Xiao Cui's home.
Finally my fingers broke through the snake's tough skin. The moment they made contact I started to devour the beast's poisonous energy.
Instead of fighting back, it was too focused on trying to inject its venom into my chest. Foolish.
Once it did realise what was happening it immediately reared its head, ripping its fangs from my shoulder in a spray of blood. However, it was far too late to stop me.
I'd drained a third of the energy in its body and my lungs were working overtime to purify it, constantly healing my own wounds. There was so much that a lot of it was wasted, expelled into the surroundings.
By now the snake had lost the strength to fight back and could only hiss in rage. It struggled, smashing its tail against me as I continued to drain its venomous energy.
Once it was too weak to do even that, I put it out of its misery, snapping its neck. It hadn't been so kind to me, but I was no torturer.
I continued absorbing energy until the snake was just a shrivelled sack of scaly skin, letting the corpse fall to the forest floor. I wondered if I could bring it back to the village and make use of the spirit beast parts, but the moment I tried to gather the corpse I heard a growl.
The bear was snarling at me, bearing its fangs despite the battle we'd just fought together. Was this my reward for healing it? Betrayal?
However, the spirit bear didn't move to attack, just continued to growl. I looked down at the snake corpse in my hand, then back to the bear.
"You want this?" I asked, puzzled.
To be honest, I wasn't even sure if the villagers would be able to use the materials, so there was no harm in letting the bear take it. I threw the body towards the creature and it stopped snarling.
The moment it caught the body it tore it apart, ripping through the papery scales with ease. I frowned at the excessive waste but the bear soon stopped, pulling a red marble from inside the snake and crushing it between its teeth.
I saw a stream of blood essence flowing down its neck. It seemed like the bear only wanted the snake's beast core. That was how spirit beasts advanced their cultivation.
After devouring the core, the bear seemed sluggish. I placed a hand against its fur and let my blood essence flow back to me.
My temporary ally was healed and its enmity had been resolved. There was still a month of winter left, so it would likely head into hibernation once more.
Gazing into its eyes I felt the bear's gratitude. I felt the same way. I'd nearly died in this forest, but that torturous tribulation had been worth it to discover the secrets of my physique.
I was pleased with my gains. All this because of my curiosity… Now though, it was time to return to Nine Paddy Village.
Sniffing myself I recoiled in disgust. I was covered in blood and dirt, still cursed to suffer from body odour.
I needed a bath.
****
In the end, I headed straight for the old granny's house. She raised an eyebrow after seeing my condition, but didn't say much.
There was a wooden bathtub in one of the spare rooms which I filled with water heated over the fire. It was quite an ordeal collecting it, but well worth the trouble.
Letting myself sink into the steamy water, I felt the tension lift from my sore muscles. Moments like this made life worth living.
I looked back at the events since being expelled from the Cloudy Falls Sect. I'd come a long way in just a few months.
Certainly, the speed my cultivation had grown was the most outstanding part of the journey by far. Only the most talented geniuses of the sect might be able to boast a similar rate of improvement.
However, I knew it wouldn't last forever. I'd noticed during the battle but the more I healed the bear's wounds the less my blood essence seemed to multiply.
Either healing the same patient over and over again became increasingly less effective or I would need to seek out patients with higher realms of cultivation.
I suspected it was the latter, because the actual potency of my healing hadn't dropped one bit. Though I would need to do more tests to make sure.
All my adventures and encounters had led me to consider my purpose here. I hadn't chosen this new life, but I was determined to make the most of it. The day I'd left the sect I'd boasted to Wang Ren about becoming the world's first medicine immortal.
At the time it was easy to say. Without knowing much of this world, its culture, or how absurdly difficult it was to cultivate to that realm, I'd simply believed it a continuation of my career as a doctor.
Now that I had more experience, my perspective had shifted. But my goals hadn't changed one bit.
I still wanted to reach the pinnacle of medicine in the Celestial Jade Empire. And then perhaps, the entire world.
To accomplish my goals I would need to come up with a better way of practicing my techniques than stumbling into lucky encounters with the wounded. To that end, I decided to mix a little knowledge from Earth with the customs of this world.
As the population of Earth grew, treating the ailments of countless humans became trickier, so we dedicated whole buildings to it—hospitals. I hadn't seen anything similar here, save for the odd room reserved for recovery after ingesting a pill.
The problem was, I didn't think I could just set up shop in Three River City without arousing suspicion from the locals. So instead of calling it a hospital, I borrowed some inspiration from my new world.
I was going to found the Celestial Jade Empire's very first medicine sect.
Chapter 11
The next morning I made sure to check on the old granny and the cat before heading out into the snow. The sun was shining today and the raging blizzard had passed.
Nine Paddy Village was rather picturesque on days like this and I would've loved to spend my time walking idly, admiring its idyllic beauty. However, I had a goal to accomplish.
I was itching to leave, but there wasn't long left until winter's end. I promised Xiao Cui I would at least stay that long and so I would.
Walking to her house didn't take long. I knew the route like the back of my hand by now and with my speed it only took a few minutes, even though the old granny lived on the outskirts.
When I knocked, her mother greeted me. She was much healthier now, with a rosy glow on her cheeks. "Cultivator Zhao!" she exclaimed upon seeing me, "Come in, come in. You're just in time for breakfast."
As it turned out, Xiao Cui wasn't home. I declined her offers to feed me at first—I barely needed to eat anymore—but Xiao Ai was a persistent woman.
The stew did smell good, so I relented and joined the married couple as they ate breakfast. I needed to wait for Xiao Cui to return anyway, so I might as well do it with a full belly.
It wasn't until two hours later that the girl finally returned home, cheeks red from the cold. She lit up when she spotted me.
"Big brother Zhao, where have you been?" she cried, rushing towards me with eager eyes.
"Just for a stroll in the forest," I replied with a smile.
"Boring," she sighed, deflating visibly. "Why did you visit?"
"I came to tell you that I'll be leaving as soon as the frost thaws. I have had a wonderful stay in your village, but I need to move on."
"What?! You can't leave… you're…" Xiao Cui stuttered, going red in the face. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "I'm coming with you!"
Now it was my turn to be confused. What did this little girl think she was going to accomplish by following me?
Don't get me wrong, I'd enjoyed our short time together—I saw her like the little sister I'd never had, in some ways. However, I was on the path of cultivation and she was just a mortal. Our fates did not align.
"Look, Xiao Cui. That's not going to be possible. I am a cultivator. You're a wonderful girl, but it would not be safe for you to accompany me," I told her.
It was better to be honest, even if that sometimes meant hurting people's feelings. I saw her cheeks get redder and her brow crease. Then she stormed back out of the house.
I sighed, watching her leave. There was still a month until I had to depart. I was sure she would come around eventually.
After thanking Xiao Ai for the meal I left their house and went for a walk to clear my head. I needed to figure out how I was going to set up my hospital—ahem, sect—and where.
****
A cacophony of shouts and cries of rage woke me from my nap. I'd only been asleep for a few hours—my body didn't seem to need as much these days—but already something else demanded my attention.
I didn't have to go, of course, but I was a curious bastard. The type of person who would curse themselves for a month if they didn't check out every little mystery they passed by.
That was part of why I loved medical research so much, often more than the actual doctoring. The relentless pursuit of discovery was addictive.
Although I suspected whatever was happening in Nine Paddy Village today would be far from thrilling, I decided to check it out anyway. There was little else to do after all and since I only had a week left here I wanted to make the most of my time.
I found the whole village gathered in the central area. The village head was standing alone in front of the crowd, talking to a familiar man dressed in expensive robes—and a chestplate.
I wondered why the tax collector had felt the need to return with a cohort of soldiers, given that Nine Paddy Village was a tiny collection of maybe fourty or fifty houses.
From what I knew, even if they were annoyed about it the people here would never refuse to pay the tax. They couldn't risk it—losing the protection of Three River City's City Lord would spell doom for them.
Bandits and spirit beasts ran rampant in the lawless areas and the moment the army was withdrawn the village would become a juicy target ripe for the picking. So as I drew closer I strained my ears to try and catch what the pair was saying.
"This is ridiculous! We gathered the amount you asked for before winter, yet you claim we are short by ten percent?! I know that feeding an army is expensive but how are we supposed to live? This is daylight robbery and you know it, Administrator Gao," the village head exclaimed.
I admired his guts. Taking a stand against the City Lord's advisor when he'd brought soldiers as back up was no easy thing.
However, I saw Administrator Gao's face twist in fury and the soldiers behind him took a step forward at the man's outburst.
"Head Wei, are you refusing a direct order from the City Lord?" he sneered, tapping a rolled up scroll hung from a sash around his waist. "You know what that means, don't you?"
The village head took a step back, face paling. "Of course not, Administrator Gao! How could this lowly one dare? I only mean to say that we need to survive in order to produce the food for the army. This amount, it's just-"
A slap rang through the crisp morning air.
I watched the village head stumble backwards, clutching his face. Blood trickled from his nose and his face was already swelling where the administrator had struck him.
"Are you refusing to obey the City Lord's order?" Gao roared. "Just a lowly mortal and yet so bold. There are hundreds of villages around Three River City, the lord won't miss one."
With a wave of his hand the soldiers stepped forward in unison, reaching for their halberds. I took a step forward, preparing to intervene, when something completely unexpected happened.
The old granny walked out from the crowd, looking healthier than a woman ten years her junior. She stood in front of the village head and grabbed him by the chin.
"Little Wei, are you a man? Stop crying about a little slap," she scolded him, before giving him a gentle slap on his swollen face.
Head Wei let out a gentle cry when her wrinkled hand made contact but didn't resist. I stayed where I was, blending in with the crowd, to watch what this crazy old granny was about to do.
She called the village head 'Little Wei' so I could only assume she was his senior and given that he didn't talk back when she scolded him she clearly held a lot of sway in the village. Had she tricked me with her weak old woman act or was my healing just that potent?
"Administrator Gao, forgive my foolish son," she said, fixing the man with a sharp gaze. "We've had a difficult winter and he is only thinking of his people. Of course, gathering the extra ten percent won't be a problem. We just need a few days."
The man harrumphed. "You think I'll forget an insult to the city lord with a few flowery words from you, woman? A few days is too long. You have until sunset. I will return. Make sure the full amount is gathered."
With that, he waved his arm and the soldiers stopped their advance. Swishing his robe he turned around with his chin raised high and mounted his horse before departing.
Of everything that had happened, what surprised me the most was discovering that the old granny was the village head's mother! Why did she live alone at the edge of the village?
I'd find out soon enough, but for now I wanted to see what I could do to help. I didn't want to leave the village only for it to be razed to the ground.
****
Darkness fell over the valley as the sun bid the day farewell. I'd been out in the fields for eight hours, helping the farmers harvest whatever was ready.
The extra ten percent was a knife to the gut for the already strained village. They should be able to survive the spring, given that they could hunt in addition to using what little food they had stored, but it would be tough.
I'd seen firsthand just how hardy these mortals could be when it came down to it, so I wasn't worried about them. Everyone had gathered in the centre of the village once more in preparation for Administrator Gao's arrival.
If anything went wrong I could intervene, but that would only make the problem worse. I couldn't just keep beating up whoever the City Lord sent and besides, the man himself was rumoured to be a late-stage Qi Gathering cultivator—if I kicked up enough of a fuss he might decide to just snuff out the problem himself.
No, it was best for the village and its people if they solved this problem themselves. I'd helped out as much as I could and now I would have to watch things play out.
Of course, I would step in if I had to. I wasn't the type of coward who would watch while innocent people were hurt, but I knew my limits.
I noticed the village head approaching me, wringing his hands. His forehead had been creased all day and his face was still red and swollen from the administrator's vicious slap.
"Head Wei, what can I do for you?" I asked with a smile that seemed to put the man at ease.
"Cultivator Zhao, I wanted to ask if there was any way you could help us out? If your esteemed self was to speak up against the administrator-"
I raised a hand to cut him off before he could start rambling. "Head Wei, do I look like your father? I've spent the winter here, cured a deadly fever, and even helped out in the fields today. I can't solve everything for you," I answered with a shake of my head.
"Besides, even if I wanted to help, what can I do? I'm just a vagabond," I chuckled.
He sighed, dropping his head and returning to the crowd of villagers. I noticed the old granny was absent, having not shown her face since stepping up to defend the village.
Perhaps the little stroll had taken more effort than she let on. Given how bad her health had been I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
Finally, the administrator arrived. If I wasn't mistaken he'd brought along a few more soldiers than before and the villagers all looked terrified.
"Head Wei," he called out as if greeting an old friend. There was a smile on his face, but it was sickening. "I sure hope you aren't going to go back on your word."
"Of course not Administrator, how could this lowly one dare to defy the magnanimous City Lord?" he replied, lathering on the praise like butter.
"Hmph. We'll see. Show me," he demanded with a wave of his hand.
A few of the villagers dragged two carts laden with bags of rice over to the administrator. He barely glanced at the amount before frowning, his face twisting into a scowl.
"You dare defy this Administrator?!" he cried. "I said ten percent, what is this paltry offering? Are you hiding food that could be feeding our loyal soldiers?"
"This lowly one wouldn't dare! I assure you the full amount is here, we even spent the entire day harvesting extra rice to meet the City Lord's quota," Head Wei cried.
"Enough! Men, search the village and find out where these greedy villagers are hiding the City Lord's tax," Administrator Gao ordered, glaring at the village head.
I'd counted those sacks myself. The villagers definitely harvested enough. Something strange was going on…
The soldiers stepped forward in unison, one in particular who wore a much shinier chestplate than the rest started barking orders and pointing around the village.
They broke into smaller groups of two and started making their way towards the houses. The villagers started yelling and crying.
I had been content to stand by earlier, but this was blatant trickery. This Administrator Gao had seemed like a reasonable fellow when we last spoke, but he was clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Stepping forward I prepared to speak up for the villagers. I will never forget what happened next.
The fastest of the soldiers kicked open the door to the nearest house. A woman rushed towards him and grabbed his arm. He shoved her to the ground making her husband shout in rage.
A ferocious roar cut through the noise and everyone froze for a moment. But that roar was only the beginning.
Three silver lines sliced through the air followed by a titanic mass of brown fur. A severed head flew through the sky and landed at the village head's feet.
He stared down at the bloodstained grass in horror, before turning to his savage saviour. I recognised the new arrival too.
It was a nine-star spirit bear.
Letting out a hearty chuckle, I stayed where I was to watch the chaos unfold. It seemed my friend had grown over the winter.
And most importantly, the bear hadn't forgotten what I'd asked of it. Just when the village was in need of a protector, it arrived.
Though I had to wonder about its safety. The City Lord may send even more soldiers to put down a spirit beast that had gone wild, but ultimately I would have to leave it in the bear's hands.
I had goals of my own to achieve.
It didn't take the bear long to slaughter all of the soldiers. While a few of them were in the Body Tempering Realm, the strongest of them was only three-star.
Against the bear it was like cattle to the slaughter.
The villagers were panicking too, screaming and running for their lives. However, the bear didn't make a move against them even once.
I had to give Head Wei credit. He was able to remain standing despite a three-ton spirit bear rampaging beside him.
Though I believed that was out of terror rather than bravery. His eyes were still locked on Administrator Gao's severed head.
In the end, the bear had left after going on a rampage. It didn't damage a single plank of the villager's houses or touch a hair on their heads.
Only the administrator and his unfortunate soldiers had met their demise at my furry friend's claws. They brought it upon themselves, letting their greed blind them.
I hadn't even arrived at Three River City and I already thought the City Lord was a scumbag. Even if this wasn't done directly on his orders, the fact his subordinates behave in such a manner was telling enough.
Now that I knew Nine Paddy Village was in safe paws, I figured there was no better time to leave and make my way to the city. First though, I needed to say goodbye to a few people.
****
"You're finally leaving me in peace then, brat?" wheezed the old granny.
The cat was curled up in her lap, the pair of them wrapped under a blanket by the fire. I'd come here first, knowing it would be the easiest farewell.
"Well, don't get too comfortable without me here to bother you. I might just get bored in the city and decide to stay here permanently," I quipped.
"Bah! You wouldn't dare," she exclaimed, bursting into a fit of harsh coughs.
The cat meowed in complaint when she stopped stroking it. I wondered if it would grow bored without someone to chase it around the village.
Maybe it could wander into the forest and make friends with the bear. If it didn't decide to eat it first…
There wasn't much left to say, so I stood up to leave. As I was closing the door behind me I heard her shout after me.
"Thank you, Zhao Dan. For everything you've done for this village."
With a smile on my face I made my way to Xiao Cui's house. It seemed the old hag had a heart, after all.
Once again Xiao Cui was nowhere to be found. I waited a while, her mother insisting on feeding me as usual. However, even after a few hours the girl didn't return home.
I was disappointed not to be able to say goodbye but I wasn't going to bow to the whims of a teenage girl. I'd end up spending my whole life telling her stories if I did.
I made a short stop at the village head's place, just to thank him for his general kindness and to make sure he was recovering from the earlier incident. He seemed rather shaken, but after he realised a spirit beast protector meant no more taxes, he cheered up.
Money made the world go round. Even the honourable disciples and masters of the sects would kill for another spirit stone to further their cultivation.
The rest of the journey to Three River City was rather simple. The road went all the way there and it was maintained by the City Lord's men.
Whether they would continue to do that after today's events was questionable. But it wasn't my problem. With a spring in my step, I thought about the best way to advertise a hospital as I walked.
The sun continued to climb to its zenith, the gentle warmth of spring rejuvenating my body. It had been a tough winter, but I emerged stronger for it.
Alongside setting up my hospital I needed to experiment with my Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique. So far I'd only absorbed toxins to refine the first layer. My lungs were not fully refined either, so discovering suitable materials was a priority.
My thoughts were consumed by these questions for the rest of the day and I covered a vast distance thanks to my speed. I stopped to take a break as dusk fell, sitting on a boulder by the side of the road and sipping some water from a gourd.
"Now, I wonder if there's an inn nearby or if I will end up sleeping rough?" I asked aloud.
The grass rustled in the wind.
I chuckled. My old habit of talking to myself was making a comeback. I used to do this when I had a difficult research problem to crack.
"Umm… there's an inn about three li down the road," mumbled a familiar voice.
"Hmm? Oh, thank you. That's very kind," I replied without thinking.
Then I leapt to my feet, spilling water as I whipped my head around to face the newcomer. How hadn't I heard them approach?
When I saw who it was I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Chapter 12
My second stay in a roadside inn with Xiao Cui was much less eventful than the first. A soft bed, two warm meals, and a glaring lack of lusty bandits rejuvenated me for the final leg of the journey.
As we drew nearer to Three River City, the roads grew wider and at a certain point the packed dirt paths gave way to thick slabs of stone. Merchant caravans, farmers, and all kinds of travellers joined us in our pilgrimage.
Occasionally I stopped for a brief conversation with those we passed, but other than tidbits of gossip that I had no context for or the odd bit of advice for someone new to the city, these conversations were of little importance.
Having already seen the majesty of the Cloudy Falls Sect, Three River City fell short in my mind. However, that didn't mean it wasn't impressive in its own right.
Even compared to some cities on Earth it was a sprawling metropolis. Towering walls almost fifty feet high ran the full circumference and beyond that there was a wide moat that fed a colossal river.
On the river's surface I could see countless barges and rafts travelling in both directions. This river was the reason for Three River City's prosperity and status as a major trading hub in the Celestial Jade Empire.
It was fed by three slightly smaller rivers that flowed into the city from the opposite side. We couldn't see the tributaries from here, but I had no doubt I would visit them during my stay.
In some ways this place reminded me of London—a vast trade centre with a colossal river splitting it down the middle. Except in this case it was three rivers.
There was a winding queue to enter the city, with every single person requiring a check and approval from the city guards. For most it was a formality—if they'd visited the city before the guards simply glanced at their papers and gave their goods a cursory check before waving them through. After they paid the entrance fee, of course.
Luckily my meagre funds covered the two silver required to pay for Xiao Cui and I to enter.
I was entranced by the unique architecture of the city. Unlike the sect, where almost everything was built in harmony with nature even if it was the hovel of an outer disciple, the city was sheer chaos.
Buildings were stacked against each other and in many cases packed so close it was as though they were trying to devour their neighbours. I was shoved constantly, the endless crowds surging and swelling as they rushed from one task to the next.
It was a hive of productivity. With that came the deafening clamour of the crowds, the overpowering stench of mortals—which was made worse by my improved senses—and the endless array of vibrant colours the city was painted in.
Suddenly I felt something brush against my waist. With a smile I whipped my arm out and grabbed the little thief by his wrist.
The boy's eyes widened in shock but he was tenacious. He kicked out at my knee and pulled his arm simultaneously, but instead of the cunning escape he expected, his foot met steel.
He cried in pain as his ankle twisted unnaturally and his wrist popped from its socket. My coin purse fell into my palm and I tucked it safely inside my robes.
Instead of shock he was staring at me in resolute terror, crying from the pain of his injuries. Though he had done this to himself, trying to rob a Body Tempering cultivator, I wasn't heartless.
A quick pulse of my healing technique was enough to cure his wounds, though the miniscule rush of essence I received in return was a trickle compared to the torrents I'd grown used to. Perhaps my rapid gains so far had spoiled me.
Even this trickle was more than Zhao Dan had managed to accumulate in over a year of desperate struggle. Though I now knew it wasn't a lack of talent but rather a mismatched technique that had held him back.
After healing the boy I released him. He vanished into the crowd without a whisper, eager to escape my clutches. I watched him go with a chuckle, before realising my other hand was being held in a closing vice.
Xiao Cui looked terrified, sporting a pale face while grasping my hand tight enough to make her knuckles white.
"Relax, little Cui. No one can hurt you while I'm here and you're going to hurt yourself if you hold my hand any harder," I assured her. Her face gained a little colour and her grip loosened, but I saw she was still uncomfortable.
That didn't surprise me. Most of her life had been spent in a tiny village where she knew the names and faces of every single person.
Nine Paddy Village could fit inside this single street and there were more people in every restaurant and pavilion dotting the pavements than the whole population of her home.
I'd allowed her to stay with me on the condition that she became my assistant and worked for her keep. As things stood there wasn't much for her to assist me with.
My first order of business was to have a look around Three River City and figure out what the locals did for healing or medicine. If I wanted to stand out from the competition I needed to find the right angle.
Mortals were wary enough of cultivators to begin with and I doubted they would easily accept the idea that one was willing to exert their strength to heal mere mortals. Before that however, I needed to get out of this crowd.
****
After what seemed like an endless series of barging, petty arguments, and attempted thievery, we made our way out of the throng of people surging into Three River City and found a more secluded district. The streets here were paved with darker stone and the buildings no longer melded into one another.
I figured it was one of the classier areas of the city, whereas the spot right by the gates housed the less fortunate alongside enterprising businesses trying to capitalise on the extra footfall. Though how anyone could read a sign or hear someone hawking their wares over the infernal racket was a mystery.
Xiao Cui was tired and hungry and I wanted information, so we stopped at the first teahouse we saw. The patrons threw her a few disgruntled looks but upon noticing my robes, tattered as they were, most turned away and pretended they hadn't seen anything.
A cute waitress soon arrived at our table, a beaming smile and shining eyes lighting up the room. The conversations picked up once more and she led us to a booth.
It wasn't so secluded that we were hidden from the other customers, but it afforded us a little privacy. I think Xiao Cui appreciated the break from people.
"Is every city like this? I think… I should've stayed in the village," she sighed in exasperation, taking slow sips of water.
"You made your choice, little Cui. I'm going to work you to death and you can't change your mind," I replied with a malicious smirk. "Perhaps you should've thought about what it meant to follow me before you decided to run away from home… again."
I was only half serious, of course, but she didn't know that. The sooner she understood what her decision entailed the better it was for both of us.
When I told her she'd be my assistant it wasn't just an empty title. I truly couldn't do this alone and having someone to do the small tasks I couldn't focus on while building my hospital would make a world of difference.
Well, I hadn't told her the extent of my plans yet but just my cold gaze seemed to do the trick. She swallowed the mouthful of water and shrank in her seat.
"Sorry…" she mumbled. "I just… don't want to stay in that tiny village for the rest of my life. I know there's more to life than farming and barely surviving through the winter each year."
"Of course there is. Far more. But not everything life has to offer is good for you. And not everyone you meet has your best interests at heart."
"I know that," she sniffed, balling her fists. "I'm not an idiot. But isn't it better to be hurt while experiencing everything the world has to offer than to hide away in my tiny, idyllic corner of it?"
My gaze softened and I let a hint of a smile creep onto my face. I didn't expect to hear such profound wisdom from Xiao Cui. It seemed she was more mature than I gave her credit for.
Though she hadn't exactly cultivated a stellar image with the various tantrums she threw…
With her reply I was confident she had the mindset necessary to follow me. Even putting aside the fact I was a cultivator through and through, approaching the Qi Gathering Realm and bound to seek out bloody conflict in my journey to expand the art of healing, mortal medicine could be a gruesome affair.
Surgery, sickness, violence—all these and more were just another part of my daily routine. Perhaps even more so since arriving in this world.
The waitress returned with impeccable timing and we ended up ordering braised pork buns in soup along with a pot of Three River Tea, a local specialty.
It arrived quickly, the buns steaming and the soup scalding my mouth. However, I didn't care. The pork was soft and melted in my mouth, the spices in the soup elevating it to a new dimension.
The tea was a perfect compliment, floral and delicate. A single sip was enough to cleanse my palette after the fatty meal.
I baulked at the price. 3 silvers and 4 copper coins for a single meal!
City life wasn't for the faint of heart… or slim of wallet. My plan to acquire startup capital for my medicine sect was even more of a priority. I wasn't even sure I had enough money left to afford our stay at an inn that evening.
****
I'd been exaggerating. In the end I found a reasonably priced inn not too far from the teahouse. It came highly recommended by our waitress, though the smirk she wore as she waved us goodbye told me she and the owner of the inn had likely cut a deal on the side.
I wasn't fussed if she received a cut, because the food was good and the beds soft. They even had a self heating bath, which was a luxury I could get used to.
The next morning I woke before the sunrise, hoping to get out and start researching my competition. And I still needed a way to make money.
My best bet was to lean on my healing technique, but commoners were too poor to afford a luxury like that. So either I had to undervalue my services or seek wealthier clients.
The latter was probably a better option, but I didn't want to get the attention of anyone remotely close to the city lord until the recent incident at Nine Paddy Village wasn't fresh in his mind.
I doubted they knew the full details yet, given that there were no survivors, but it was better to be safe than sorry. So I figured I'd keep my head down and get to work.
Leaving a note for Xiao Cui, instructing her to look for anywhere that sold medicinal or toxic herbs, pills, and the like so I could continue refining the first layer of my physique, I made my way into the heart of Three River City.
Wandering aimlessly I soon found my way into a market buzzing with activity. Merchants competed to see who could shout the loudest, most exaggerated slogan while thousands of people weaved their way through the stalls in search of culinary or artistic delight.
For a while I only observed, but soon I found myself drawn into one of the stands. The middle aged man was selling spiked red fruits that looked dangerous to eat, but the queue spoke for itself.
After waiting for a while I found myself at the front and purchased one. When he saw my struggle he laughed and showed me how to peel it so the spikes didn't cut my mouth as I bit into the soft white flesh.
It was deliciously sweet, reminding me of a plum. Plus, it only cost two coppers. Expensive for a single fruit, but a bargain compared to yesterday's meal.
After my distraction I stood in the centre of the market and came to a realisation. The purpose of setting up a hospital was to have my patients come to me. Until I could afford a permanent place to set up shop, why not sell my services in the market?
****
As it turns out, setting up a market stall wasn't as easy as choosing a spot and setting up a sign. There were dozens of bureaucratic hoops to jump through.
After asking the fruit seller for a little help, which he was more than happy to provide—after I bought two more fruits—I knew where to go and which officials to speak to. Unfortunately for my dwindling fortunes, getting a stall as quickly as possible would require me to grease a few palms.
So, five meetings with viciously corrupt officials who knew how to tear me apart with a single sentence later, I was two gold poorer and exhausted.
But, I was now the proud owner of a market pitch!
I could only hope that I could drum up enough business to earn back the money. Frankly, I wasn't too hopeful but the first days of a new business were always the toughest.
Once people knew that what I offered was the real deal, they would flock to get a taste of my essence. Though I had no doubt the alchemists and healers of this city—if there were any—wouldn't take too kindly to me undercutting their services.
I had just five copper coins left. The small fortune I'd left the sect with had rapidly dwindled and I'd only been in the city for a single day.
I ended up spending three of those coppers on a few planks of wood to construct my sign. And the final two went on a brush and some ink.
Now, I was well and truly broke. I'd staked everything on this little venture of mine. I had great faith it would succeed.
Even if it didn't, I wasn't too bothered. The life of a vagabond wasn't the worst. Though I also had Xiao Cui to think of.
Speaking of little Cui, she'd been hard at work while I was struggling through excruciating meetings.
"How could you!?" she exclaimed upon seeing me walk through the door of the inn.
"What are you talking about? What have I done now…" I sighed.
"You- You heartless bastard. I woke up and you were gone and I panicked and almost broke down until I saw your note," she spluttered, tripping over her tongue. "I'm not a servant!"
"Well…" I chuckled. "I'm sorry for not waking you up, but I wanted to get a lead on making money."
I took the empty coin purse out and shook it.
"So, we're flat broke. Did you at least spend it on something important?"
"I think it's probably going to buy some lazy bastards a trip to a broth—inn," I coughed, catching myself. I didn't want to be the one to poison her mind.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.
"Whatever. Let's eat. I need to tell you what I discovered."
We sat down and I waved to the innkeeper, who nodded and ducked into the kitchen. There wasn't a menu here, just whatever they had that day. But it was quality food, so I didn't mind the lack of choice.
"So, what did you discover? Are there a lot of healers here? What about alchemists?" I asked eagerly. The outcome of my venture could hinge on what she'd discovered.
"Healers? A few… but they mostly serve the wealthiest merchants and the city lord's cronies. There's nothing for the commoners except hope and shoddy family recipes-"
"And the alchemists?" I interrupted, already excited.
"Again, a few. Similar story, though there were one or two shops selling cheaper herbal remedies and foraged ingredients. Not sure how reliable they were but the old ladies running them seemed nice enough."
This was the best case scenario. Other than praying to the heavens or spending their meagre savings on a homebrew remedy, commoners had no choice when it came to healing.
Which meant a cheap alternative that guaranteed results might be exactly what I needed to take the city by storm. Once word got out, I might be able to lure in some wealthier clients. And then… the sky was the limit.
"You look creepy," Xiao Cui giggled.
Realising I'd been smiling to myself I schooled my expression. "Don't be rude to your master," I scolded her.
"Master? Since when?!"
"Since you decided to sell yourself into my services. Now, listen closely. Here's what we're going to do. I've secured a market pitch to sell my healing. Your job will be to drum up business…"
****
Our strategy set, Xiao Cui and I made our way to the market nice and early. I'd painted a simple sign—'Cultivator Zhao's Miracle Medicine'.
It was cheesy. Really cheesy. But it would get the job done. All I needed was one patient. Once people saw that my technique truly was as miraculous as advertised, they would flock to me like sheep.
While I sat cross-legged on the ground, trying my best to look as scholarly as possible, Xiao Cui rushed around the market spreading rumours about the new miracle healer. Rather than directly draw customers, it was best to let the buzz spread organically and wait to see who took the bait.
Plenty of market-goers wandered past and almost all of them raised a brow or widened their eyes at the sign, but none took my offer. The morning went by without a single customer.
I hadn't even spoken to another human since leaving the inn.
Fuck. Realising the problem, I cursed my stupidity. Markets were amazing for a new business—high footfall and lots of visibility. However, my target audience were those wounded or sick.
What wounded or sick person was wandering around a market in the middle of the day!? Then again, many mortals didn't have the luxury of skipping a day's work just because they'd caught a little fever.
So, despite my horrible realisation I was still hopeful that my venture would work out. And eventually it did, but not in the way I expected.