I had barely given the girl any training and I was certain she knew nothing of healing, alchemy, or herbalism, so what in the eighteen hells was she up to? If she was scamming innocent people, I would see to it that she received a severe scolding.
“Hey! There’s a queue, you can’t just walk in,” a lady shouted at me as I strode through the front doors of the building.
I ignored her. I wasn’t going to let a stranger tell me what to do in my own damn place… The line ended at the marble countertop, where a woman was nodding her head with wide eyes sparkling as Xiao Cui explained something to her.
Rather than interrupt the conversation, I snuck close enough that I could eavesdrop on what was being said without drawing attention to myself. When I heard what they were talking about, I was shocked!
“Madame Cui, you’re telling me that if I give my husband just one drop of this mixture at night, he will be able to keep going until the sunrise? I don’t believe you,” the woman protested, but her devious smirk told another story.
Xiao Cui, the little demoness, waved the woman closer to whisper in her ear. “You will see the effects for yourself. He will be like a man reborn, possessed with the stamina of a dozen horses. If you are not satisfied, I will refund every coin.”
The woman let out a girlish giggle, unbecoming of a lady her age, before thanking little Cui for her generosity and walking out the door. She clutched the fabric wrapped package she’d received as though it was a heavenly treasure, throwing sideways glances at everyone she passed.
I scoffed, before cutting in front of the line. “Little Cui, what an interesting business you’ve created in my absence. How did a young lady like yourself create a mixture with such… hair raising effects?” I asked, silencing the complaints of the other patrons as Xiao Cui shot out of her chair like a jack-in-the-box.
She raced around the marble counter and bowed to me. “Master! You’re finally back. I… can explain everything, just give me a moment,” she stuttered.
Turning to the long line of expectant women, Xiao Cui raised her hands to silence the chatter. Since her pronouncing me her master, I noticed a few appraising gazes landing on me. I shivered. Women could be scary.
“Ladies, I am terribly sorry to say that the emporium will be closing for a brief break. It will be opening again this evening so that you can get last minute orders before night falls,” she declared, outrage erupting at her first statement with relieved pacification following in the wake of the second.
The village head appeared from thin air, herding the disgruntled women out along with Xiao Cui. Annoyance dispersed down the long line, but eventually they made their way back into the city, leaving the building in peace.
I took a seat on a comfortable padded sofa, gazing over the transformed lobby. Xiao Cui and the village head had done an impressive job decorating in my absence, turning the empty marble tiled room into a luxurious reception that could’ve been the lobby of a five star hotel.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” I said, waving a hand and dispersing the nervous looks on their faces.
Xiao Cui collapsed into a padded armchair, letting out a heavy groan of relief. “Thank the heavens, I was worried you’d be furious,” she said, then she sat bolt upright as though struck by a cattle prod. “Even if you hated it, you’d have no right to complain, bastard master! You just ran off for over a week without telling us anything.”
I chuckled. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to be gone for so long, but I ran into a series of fortuitous opportunities. One thing led to another and well… I’ll tell you how that ended up,” I apologised as I gave them a brief recounting of my outing.
They reacted at the appropriate times, oohing and aahing. When they heard my cultivation had skyrocketed they were overcome with happiness.
Of course they were glad for my personal accomplishment, but I believed most of their relief stemmed from the fact they no longer needed to fear the threat of the city lord’s reprisal. I was a few star-realms ahead of him in the Qi Gathering Realm now, after all.
“...To make a long story short, I saved the day, defeated the bad guys, and managed to slip the grasp of a Foundation Building Elder like a devious eel. Isn’t your master incredible,” I preened, flashing a dazzling grin.
Xiao Cui scoffed. “Yes, you’re amazing, Master,” she intoned impassively.
The village head at least nodded and offered a decent reply. “You are truly a dragon amongst men, Cultivator Zhao.”
I waved him off. “You overpraise me, village head. There is a far more important matter to deal with than my brief misadventure, however,” I said, my gaze turning serious as it fell on Xiao Cui. “How did you hear about such mischievous deeds and set up this little operation, my dear disciple?”
She went bright red and the village head coughed, turning away from her when she looked to him for support. “Well… let me explain. When you left, the first day I sat around wondering what to do with myself. The second day, I figured that if I was going to be your disciple I should at least try to learn about healing, so I wandered around the city exploring the different remedies available to the citizens. Alchemists, herbalists, and even breweries. What I realised was that compared to master’s healing arts, they were all a bunch of crap,” she began telling her story with plenty of colourful language, but I was satisfied she had the prescience to recognise my greatness.
“So one day I was in a herbalist’s shop, when I overheard a conversation between the owner and a female customer. She requested something for fertility as she and her husband were having trouble… you know… and the owner seemed disgusted but still brought out a herb, proclaiming that he normally doesn’t sell that kind of thing,” she continued, drawing me into her tale.
“I realised then that this was an easy opportunity to make some money while you were gone, so I researched around the different stores and eventually figured out a recipe that helps… things along. As you can see, it worked out well. What do you think?”
“I think you really were born to be a saleswoman,” I replied with a smile. “I was worried I’d get back to find you holed up in the house or getting up to no good again.”
“What kind of disciple do you think you’ve taken on? I’m always on my best behaviour,” she said with faux horror.
“Hah! As if,” the village head exclaimed, shaking his head with mirth.
“However, despite your success I wasn’t exactly hoping to build that sort of clinic. Now that I am back, I plan to dive into research surrounding healing available to the commoners of this city and return to my original goal of making healing more accessible,” I explained, standing up from the comfortable sofa and walking across the lobby.
“What about us?” Xiao Cui asked.
“You can keep doing what you’ve been doing. I see no reason to shut down a profitable business and while you aren’t exactly transforming the world, you’re not hurting anyone. Though I imagine the men of this city will be a lot more subdued in the near future…”
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It reminded me of the stories of returning home the soldiers used to tell me. Their wives would go wild, having not seen their husbands for months or even years at a time. When they flew back out, they were a little less excitable for the first few weeks.
There were the sadder stories too, like those whose wives and girlfriends hadn’t been patient enough to wait, but that wasn’t relevant right now.
“Thank you, Master! I won’t disappoint you,” she exclaimed with joy, before rushing into the back room.
When she came out, she had a small leather pouch in her hands. “Here, take this. It’s your share from the profits,” she said, throwing it to me.
I caught it and opened it up. There were a bunch of silver coins inside along with a few coppers. Considering she’d had almost no money when I left and this was just my share, I was truly impressed.
“That’s great, I was just thinking I needed some money to do my research. I do need one thing from you though.”
“Oh? Whatever you need, I will do my best!”
“Can you give me a list of all the alchemists and herbalists in the city? I want to trial the existing healing pills, medicines, and tonics that are available. I could wander around but if you can tell me where to go it will make my life easier,” I asked, pocketing the coins.
“That shouldn’t be an issue, I remember most of the places that I visited so I can just write them down for you, give me a moment,” she replied while grabbing a piece of bamboo paper and a brush.
She handed me a long list of names that all sounded like snake oil merchants, but I wasn’t surprised given the standard of healing in this world. After thanking her and saying goodbye I made my way into Three River City.
****
The first alchemist’s shop had been a complete waste of my time. The man running the store had bent over backwards to accommodate me when he sensed my cultivation, but he only offered me pointless cultivation aids.
In fact, when I’d asked to see his most basic healing pills he refused, claiming that “such trash isn’t worthy of sir cultivator’s attention.”
I’d dismissed him and left after that. It didn’t stop him rushing after me begging to show me his most valuable products, but I had little interest in his sycophantic desperation.
Crossing his name off my list and scoffing at the ridiculous name of his shop—Zu An’s Heavenly Pill Pavilion—I searched for the first store that was a herbalist rather than an alchemist. I would eventually make my way through the entire list but I felt that getting some variety in early would stop me growing bored, especially if the rest of the visits would go in a similar manner to the first.
My plan was to use my Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique to analyse the various remedies available in the city and then hopefully learn enough basic alchemy to create my own formula that was more effective. Ideally at a low cost so that I could then make it widely available to the common people.
Yet I had been stumped at the first step by something entirely unexpected. I was too overqualified for the products I was attempting to obtain. Then again, one bad experience didn’t necessarily mean all the alchemists and herbalists in Three River City would be the same.
With renewed vigour I asked the nearest person for directions to Yu Chun’s Blossom Parlour. They gave me a strange look and hurried away without answering.
The second person I asked actually replied, giving me directions and then winking as they walked off. I thought nothing of it, rolling up the list and tucking it into my robes before stepping into the busy streets to make my way there.
****
Standing outside the cherry wood building with flowery balconies, from which scantily dressed women with layers of makeup caked on their face waved to the passersby, I understood the reactions of the two people who I’d asked for directions. This was not a herbalist’s shop, but a brothel…
I would be having severe words with Xiao Cui when I returned, but for now I simply crossed off the shop on my list and turned to walk away. That was when I heard an alluring voice drip into my ears like honey.
“My, it is a rare occasion that such a powerful man graces my humble establishment. Are you disappointed, Young Master? Why the hurry to leave?”
I turned to see a stunning beauty, with skin like milky jade and glistening eyes. She wore makeup, but it was far more expertly applied than on the other women, elevating her natural features rather than masking her insecurities.
Her blood red lips curled upwards when she caught me staring, snapping open a fan and waving it a few times as she approached. “Do you like what you see, Young Master? Anything you see can be yours, for the right price,” she purred.
I coughed, covering my mouth with a fist as my cheeks flushed. I’d almost lost myself for a moment. It had been a while since I’d last been with a woman, but now wasn’t the time for such activities. Especially not in such a place…
“You are beautiful, madam, but I am not here in search of pleasure. My… assistant told me that this was a herbalist’s shop, but she seems to have made a mistake. Enjoy your day,” I replied with a shallow bow, turning to leave before she could suck me inside.
“Ha! There is a first time for everything under the heavens,” she chuckled, even her laughter sending tingles down my spine. “Your assistant made no mistake, but perhaps your directions were wrong. There is indeed a Yu Chun’s Blossom Parlour that sells herbal remedies. In fact, that old hag is always complaining about how many lustful men find their way to her shop in search of my parlour. However, this is the first time the reverse has happened.”
I slapped a hand over my face. This was like a plot straight out of a television drama. Could one of the proprietors not change the name of their business to ease confusion?
For the second time, as dangerous as it was, I gave the seductive beauty my attention. She fluttered her eyelashes as I did so, not giving up the hard sell even knowing I hadn’t intended to be here. A businesswoman through and through.
“Would you be so kind as to give this clueless one directions to the herbalist’s shop, madam?” I asked in a firm tone, attempting to suppress the redness in my cheeks.
“Stop with this madam nonsense… I’m still a young and delicate flower,” she protested, fluttering her fan. “You may call me Miss Yu. What is your name, handsome cultivator?”
“My name is Zhao Dan. It is a pleasure to meet a woman more beautiful than the stars in the night sky, but I really must insist on those directions, Miss Yu.”
“Tch. All the handsome men are already married or too well behaved. Go two streets down and then enter the fourth building on the right. You should tell her you came here first, she’ll find the story hilarious,” she muttered, waving me off once she realised I wasn’t going to fall for her charms.
As I walked away, I turned back to look at her delicate arms as she ordered a few of the girls about. Hopefully this herbalist had what I was looking for, or I would perhaps need to resort to stealing the pills I sought…
****
Yu Chun told Feng Ai to handle the running of the house while she entered her office and locked the door behind her. After waiting a moment to ensure no one had followed or was listening—a brothel had eyes and ears in every corner—she sat at the cherry wood desk and pulled out a slip of jade.
She tapped the jade three times, before waiting while staring at its smooth surface. It took an incense stick’s worth of time before it finally flashed with orange light, breaking her from her nervous tapping on the desk.
“What is it, wench? I’m busy enough dealing with things today, I don’t need to listen to your prattling,” a harsh and gritty voice hissed from the jade.
“Oh? In that case I suppose you won’t want to know who visited my parlour just now…” she drawled, letting the temptation hang in the air.
“Out with it, woman,” the man snapped.
Yu Chun kissed her teeth. “You’re no fun, Councillor. A cultivator calling himself Zhao Dan just had a pleasant conversation outside my front door. He was quite an interesting fellow, but rather boring. You’re quite similar in that regard.”
“What? That bastard’s finally back. I could kiss you, Yu Chun. This is wonderful news. If you run into him again, keep him busy and let me know,” the man on the other end of the communication jade replied, his attitude having done a complete turnaround.
“I’ll try. He didn’t seem very interested in my charms… Perhaps he prefers spring rolls to bao buns,” she giggled.
“Enough. I don’t care who you need to throw at him to keep him occupied. You can’t deal with the consequences of failure,” he snapped as the orange lights vanished and the jade went inert once more.
Yu Chun replaced the jade in her desk and sighed, rubbing her temple. “That councillor is so overbearing. He can’t even handle a little joke,” she sighed. “Well, perhaps I should get Du Wen here just in case he does like his pork belly grilled upside down.”
She composed herself and unlocked the door, marching out into the parlour and yelling orders at everyone she saw. Soon the Blossom Parlour was a hive of activity as they prepared an enticing honey trap for the unsuspecting cultivator.
“Now I just need to figure out a way to get him back here…” she muttered, staring into the sky.
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