Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

"My place is indeed short-handed."

Bai Mo hesitated for a moment, assuming this senior brother of his was just trying to find a good position for a junior relative.

"But my place is no walk in the park. People are always spinning like tops."

’That so-called nephew is probably the young man I saw yesterday.’

’He was being scolded by Hou Mingsheng so harshly he didn’t even dare to lift his head. He didn’t look particularly bright.’

Hou Mingsheng let out a sigh of relief.

"No matter, that’s completely fine."

"To be honest with you, my nephew is completely devoted to the Alchemy Dao. Unfortunately, the masters of this path have all looked at him and said he doesn’t have the aptitude to become a Pill Master."

Hou Mingsheng had been worrying about this for a long time. Now that he had found a breakthrough with this Junior Brother Bai, he felt quite fortunate.

"The boy is incredibly stubborn. His lack of talent prevented him from entering a sect, so he has nowhere to receive proper teaching. I had no choice but to seek you out, Junior Brother."

Bai Mo was taken aback.

"He understands the Alchemy Dao?"

"He knows a little, but when it comes to the advanced levels, he doesn’t know a damn thing."

"That’s good enough," Bai Mo said, nodding slowly.

He wasn’t looking to hire a powerful Alchemy Cultivator anyway. Working for someone else, and in such a demanding job at that, was something few would be willing to do.

Now, being able to earn a favor from Hou Mingsheng in the process was even better.

"But, Senior Brother, you must know that if he joins my shop, his future will no longer be his to decide."

Bai Mo set the tone in advance.

’From Hou Mingsheng’s description, his nephew must have a stubborn personality, perhaps a bit willful too.’

’If he’s insubordinate, it’ll be difficult for everyone.’

"Don’t you worry, Junior Brother."

A flash of anger crossed Hou Mingsheng’s face as he said coldly,

"I’ve already spent more than enough energy on his affairs. If he really causes any trouble, I’ll discipline him myself. I’ll break his legs if I have to, just to make him behave!"

Only then did Bai Mo feel relieved.

"That’s good to hear."

The two discussed matters for a long time before Hou Mingsheng personally saw Bai Mo to the door.

"Junior Brother, rest assured."

"My nephew isn’t a difficult person to manage. He’s very down-to-earth. If you could give him a pointer or two about the Alchemy Dao, he’d probably be willing to die for you."

Once you start working under a Pill Master and get exposed to their secret Pill Formulas, it’s very difficult to leave.

There were unwritten rules to this, much like an apprentice learning a trade in the common market.

In the end, Hou Mingsheng still cared for his junior and was putting in a good word for him.

"I’ll personally bring him to your door later."

...

Having solved the problem of the Fire Tongue supply, Bai Mo was quite pleased.

Wei An was flabbergasted.

"Two hundred Water and Fire Mutual Aid Pills... That’s five thousand Spirit Stones! As expected of a sect Cultivator."

Bai Mo waved his hand dismissively.

"What are you talking about? Many sect Cultivators are very hard-pressed for cash. We at least have a business to run. A lot of them live off sect missions."

"After accounting for cultivation resources, and then preparing for all sorts of weapons and secret manuals, there isn’t much left over."

Many of the senior brothers who came looking for him were people just like that.

"By the way, we’re getting a new assistant at the shop. Just so you all know."

At these words, Qin Wen, who was cleaning the shop, looked up.

"What kind of person is he? What can he do?"

Bai Mo said, "He’s a Cultivator who knows a bit about the Alchemy Dao. He’ll be helping out in the Alchemy Room too."

"That’s great," Qin Wen nodded.

"Xue Ning and the other guy are swamped right now. I think they’ve lost a few pounds from all the work."

Wei An didn’t quite agree with him.

"To get a chance like this, to practice Alchemy hands-on every day, is already a rare opportunity."

"How many Cultivators never get a chance like this?"

With that, he turned to the account book, his fingers flying across the abacus as he muttered to himself.

Bai Mo could hear him clearly. He was mumbling about the shortfall in Pill quotas.

The shop had a lot of business these days. Fortunately, it wasn’t too complex, so they could manage without a dedicated bookkeeper.

Two days later, Hou Mingsheng arrived at the door with a young man in tow.

Hou Mingsheng tossed a large, sturdy-looking travel pack to the side of the door.

"Hou Cheng, greet Shopkeeper Bai."

"Hello, Shopkeeper Bai," the young man said obediently.

Bai Mo sized up the young man.

His skin was dark, the calluses on his hands were thick, and his face was angular, giving him a resolute look.

’He’s someone who’s done hard labor.’

’He’s probably the type of Cultivator who goes up the mountains to find his own medicinal herbs and tries to figure out the Alchemy Dao by himself.’

Bai Mo’s eyes lit up.

’Well, well!’

’It’s rare for this type of Loose Cultivator to make a name for themselves. The Alchemy Dao is already difficult, and to divide one’s attention like that? How could they possibly succeed?’

’But right now, someone who can endure hardship is exactly what I need.’

’If a Loose Cultivator can’t endure hardship, how can they ever hope to get ahead?’

Hou Mingsheng, unaware of Bai Mo’s thoughts, said,

"I’m leaving my nephew in your hands, Junior Brother. How you arrange things for him, I won’t interfere at all."

"I just want him to have a place to settle down."

"Of course, of course."

Bai Mo saw Hou Mingsheng off. Both parties were very satisfied.

Turning back, Bai Mo said to the young man,

"Your name is Hou Cheng?"

"Yes. From now on, I’ll be in your care."

The young man nodded. He looked to be in his early twenties, but he lacked any trace of rashness or frivolity. He was very steady.

He was even a bit taciturn.

Bai Mo smiled. "Just as expected of a fellow practitioner of the Alchemy Dao!"

"So, what do you know?"

Hou Cheng fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"I can refine some Pills, understand quite a few Pill Formulas, and I know how to gather herbs in the mountains. I’m also quite strong."

He seemed a bit embarrassed, unable to think of any other strengths on the spot.

He usually focused all his energy on gathering herbs and Alchemy, to say nothing of socializing; he didn’t even have the energy for other matters.

Qin Wen came over, squeezed his bicep, and couldn’t help but nod.

"A fine young man. Even if he doesn’t pursue Alchemy, with a little training, he’d be a great hand at hunting demons in the mountains."

Hou Cheng shook his head.

"I won’t join a Demon Hunting Team."

"Why not?" Qin Wen asked with interest.

"When I was a kid, I always watched an old Taoist refine Pills at the village entrance. I learned a little from him. After he passed away, I didn’t want to let go of this craft."

Hou Cheng scratched his head, his words filled with a mix of nostalgia and longing.

"Your family isn’t in the city?"

Hou Cheng grunted in affirmation.

"I came to the city to rely on my uncle. I didn’t expect to cause him so much trouble."

"He didn’t want me to keep immersing myself in the Alchemy Dao, but I just wasn’t willing to stop..."

Bai Mo didn’t want to get too involved in the uncle and nephew’s personal affairs, so he just said,

"In that case, you can live with the other assistants."

"Brother Qin, is there a spare room in that courtyard you’re renting?"

"There’s a storage room. We can clean it up and it’ll be fine."

And so, Hou Cheng’s arrangements were settled.

But just as he was about to leave to get settled, Hou Cheng grabbed his travel pack and suddenly remembered something.

"Shopkeeper Bai, my uncle said I can learn Alchemy Skill here."

"How long do I have to work before I’m allowed to learn?"

Bai Mo chuckled, knowing he only asked such a question because he must have been an apprentice at some merchant guild before.

"We don’t have so many rules here. Just work hard, and I guarantee you’ll learn."

Hou Cheng was a bit confused, but Qin Wen pushed him along.

"Don’t ask so many questions. Just relax. It’s not like your uncle would set you up to be harmed, right?"

As it turned out, Hou Cheng was indeed a person who could endure.

After being led by Wei An into the smoke-filled Alchemy Room, he could barely walk away, wishing he could stay inside all day.

Unfortunately, his Alchemy Skill was poor, forcing Xue Ning and the other person to spend their time giving him extra guidance.

However, with the help of a big young fellow like him, the work in the Alchemy Room was finally not so hectic.

This left Xue Ning and the other one quite satisfied.

"Once he gets the hang of it, things will probably get even easier,"

Xue Ning said.

"I saw it. Wei An has a Pill Book filled with Alchemist Bai’s annotations. I’ve been wanting to borrow it for a long time."

"But I just never have the free time..."