Chapter 89: Paying a Visit
The medicinal herbs that Lanshan and his group brought back from Celestial Barrier Mountain had finally been sorted through.
In the end, Bai Mo was left with only a meager three or four herbs.
They were all excellent for neutralizing snake venom and clearing heat toxins.
These herbs lacked the unique medicinal properties of Climbing Vine; they simply possessed a powerful detoxifying effect.
Bai Mo was now contemplating how to guide a change in their medicinal properties, to imbue them with the power to remove the Blood Curse.
This was no easy task, and Bai Mo only had the beginnings of an idea.
The herbs were laid out by the window.
Bai Mo stood up, pondering potential combinations with other herbs.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
Bai Mo had just looked up when he saw a rushing figure hurry toward the residence of Young Master Wang and Young Master Wei.
CREAK!
The window opposite him slid open, revealing the face of his good neighbor, Sun Qiao.
These days, the city’s pleasure houses only served food and drink. There were a few singers, but not even any hostesses to share a drink with.
So, for once, Sun Qiao was actually staying home.
But it was clear that when he frequented such establishments, he was definitely there for more than just the music.
He watched the disheveled man pass by, his clothes tattered, and clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk."
"Could that be some poor relative showing up at their door?"
"Those two young masters living back there don’t seem particularly sharp."
"Looks like someone’s come to take advantage of them."
Bai Mo shot him a sideways glance.
"Can’t you think a little better of people?"
Sun Qiao waved a dismissive hand.
"Hah!"
"I’ve seen plenty of people like that. I feel for those two young masters. They’re a bit dense, but they’re not bad kids!"
...
THUD!
Young Master Wei and Young Master Wang were kneeling on the floor.
Young Master Wei had a large, purplish-blue lump on his forehead. He looked like he wanted to cry but couldn’t shed a tear.
"Uncle! Why did you hit me the moment you got here!?"
"I even found a Pill for you! All I did was think of you!"
Young Master Wang, next to him, was in an even worse state. He looked defiant as he knelt, but he still dutifully called out:
"Wei the Third! I’m not a member of the Wei family! What right do you have to hit me!?"
The man known as Wei the Third sat in the seat of honor. His face, crisscrossed with several small scars, was rather intimidating.
"How about the fact that I saved you two little bastards? Is that reason enough?"
With that, he couldn’t stop himself from scolding them with a dark expression.
"You two. Why did you come to Immortal Arrival City? Have you no self-awareness at all?"
"Your parents just wanted you to gain some experience, to get through it safely and quietly."
"Who would have thought something this major would happen, and you two only decide to inform the family now!?"
He was exasperated with them for failing to live up to expectations.
Young Master Wang looked up. "Is it really that serious?"
Wei the Third nodded.
"Both of your families are on their way here. What do you think?"
"You nearly caused a catastrophe. Luckily, nothing went wrong. I guess fools really do have dumb luck."
"Hiss!" Young Master Wei conveniently ignored the last part of that sentence.
"So, who all is coming?"
"You’ll know when they get here," Wei the Third said faintly, closing his eyes to rest.
Young Master Wang looked suspicious.
"Where are they?"
"Still on the road."
"Huh?" Young Master Wei was stunned.
"Third Uncle, why did you come on ahead of them?"
"Obviously!" Wei the Third’s eyes snapped open as he started cursing.
"I don’t know what the old man was thinking, but he didn’t assign me to come. I rushed over here on my own initiative!"
"A Xingye forced march, and it wore me the hell out!"
Young Master Wei finally caught on and tugged his friend.
"We’ll go get some food for you right away, Third Uncle!"
"Mm," Wei the Third’s expression softened as he straightened his clothes.
"Finally showing some sense. While you’re at it, hire a horse-drawn carriage and prepare a sedan chair."
"After I’ve cleaned up and prepared some gifts, I’m going to pay a visit to that Pill Master."
"Er..." The two young masters exchanged a glance. Young Master Wei was the first to speak.
"Third Uncle, a visit is a great idea, but you can skip the carriage and sedan. Shopkeeper Bai is right up front, just a few steps away."
"You must have passed his place on your way here."
"Huh?"
Wei the Third was baffled. He glanced in the direction Young Master Wei was pointing, and his voice instinctively dropped.
"Then what are you two waiting for? I’ll go pay my respects in a bit!"
「Not far outside the courtyard.」
Sun Qiao was a little disappointed.
He had crept over to the residence of Young Master Wei and Young Master Wang but hadn’t heard any sounds of crying or wailing from within.
The medicinal power of the pill hadn’t fully dissipated from his body, leaving him full of energy.
According to him, he hadn’t slept a wink all night.
Bai Mo watched his return with a cool gaze.
"If you just let the power of the Fire Marrow Pill fade naturally, it will take more than a day or two."
"Fellow cultivator, you should hurry up and cultivate. Don’t waste the pill’s power and needlessly exhaust your own energy."
Sun Qiao scratched behind his ear, feeling inexplicably antsy.
’My mind is full of distracting thoughts, I just can’t settle down.’
’If it weren’t for this, I’d have already made my ancestral business flourish. Why else would I be stuck on those two Talismans for so long?’
’I might as well go clear my head.’
Bai Mo shook his head.
"You cultivate a metal-and-fire art and are skilled at drawing Talismans. You’re the perfect type of cultivator for a Fire Marrow Pill."
"You should think it over carefully..."
Sun Qiao had been lucky. He’d somehow gotten his hands on an ancient Pill Formula, and the Pill it produced was a perfect match for him.
Any ordinary person would have been ecstatic. Who would dally at a time like this?
As they were speaking, Young Master Wei and Young Master Wang shuffled over, looking thoroughly aggrieved.
A rough-looking cultivator followed behind them.
"Hey!" Sun Qiao’s interest was piqued. "Shopkeeper Bai, where do you suppose they’re headed?"
Bai Mo simply backed away and shut the window.
Sure enough, a moment later, he saw the three of them arrive at his door.
Young Master Wang remained silent, leaving Young Master Wei to make the introductions dutifully.
"Greetings, Shopkeeper Bai. This is my third uncle."
"He heard of your great name and knows you are renowned throughout Immortal Arrival City, so he traveled a great distance just to pay you a visit!"
The words sounded awkward to Bai Mo, and seeing the two young masters’ strange expressions, he knew they had been coached.
Wei the Third, however, saw nothing wrong. He abruptly shoved the two younger men aside from behind and stepped forward, puffing out his chest.
"Hahaha!"
"Alchemist Bai, I’ve heard so much about you! It’s an honor."
The corner of Bai Mo’s eye twitched. He quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Fellow cultivator, you’re too kind. I don’t deserve such praise."
"May I ask what brings you here?"
Wei the Third shot a glare at his nephew, his tone once again full of exasperation.
"It’s because these useless juniors of mine don’t understand how to properly ask for help! They just show up with empty words and no sincerity whatsoever!"
He pulled a walnut-shaped object from his sleeve and shoved it into Bai Mo’s hand.
Bai Mo froze.
"This is..."
Wei the Third gave a self-satisfied smile.
"A treasure. A fine item I fought a Sect Disciple for back in the day."
"I don’t know its name, but I know it’s a valuable treasure. It would be an excellent material for either alchemy or forging hidden weapons."
Bai Mo held the object. Even through its shell, he could feel a warm energy radiating from within.
"This is far too valuable. My dealings with the two young masters were just a normal transaction. I can’t accept this!"
Wei the Third waved his hand nonchalantly.
"It’s nothing."
"My family will be here soon. Before they arrive, I have another important matter to ask for your help with, Alchemist Bai!"
As he spoke, he stepped forward, grabbing Bai Mo’s hand in an earnest plea.
Bai Mo looked at the man’s rather unfriendly face and, for a moment, found he couldn’t meet his gaze.