"Have you seen a doctor?"
Cultivators possess strong bodies, immune to a hundred diseases. Ordinary poisoning and injuries can be resolved with the use of Elixirs. Doctors have not been rendered obsolete, as medicine and Alchemy are intertwined. Many doctors are also Alchemists.
"The doctor prescribed Purifying Spirit Pills, but I can’t afford them. I’m only hanging on thanks to two doses of medicine."
"Go and invite the best doctor from the Inner City. Don’t worry about the Spirit Stones."
Jia Ren spoke a few words to Yun Niang, then waited quietly.
Yun Niang hesitated for a moment but still went to fetch a doctor. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, she returned with a doctor, an older man with a white, peppered beard.
"The situation is very severe," the doctor stated gravely. "If delayed for another two days, the poison will penetrate deep into the bone marrow, and there will be no hope of recovery."
"The poison from the Blue Flower Poisonous Beast can only be countered by high-grade Detoxification Pills like the Purifying Spirit Pill, and those are not cheap."
"Once the poison is neutralized, treating the broken leg won’t be difficult."
"The Bone-Continuing Jade Paste, the Resurrection Pill, and the Life Creation Pill can all regenerate severed limbs."
The doctor offered his suggestions and solutions.
"Do you have Purifying Spirit Pills and Bone-Continuing Jade Paste?" Jia Ren asked.
The Life Creation Pill was a legendary, top-tier Elixir. Even if it were available, Jia Ren knew he couldn’t afford it. The other options weren’t overly expensive. Jia Ren still had five hundred Spirit Stones, so purchasing the necessary Elixirs wouldn’t be a problem.
"The Purifying Spirit Pill is thirty Spirit Stones."
"Many Cultivators were disabled in the wars between sects, so the cheaper Bone-Continuing Jade Paste sold out. Due to a lack of materials, there is still none in stock."
"The Resurrection Pill is a First Order, Superior Grade Spirit Pill. It’s capable of restoring a severed limb in at most half a day but is much more expensive, costing eighty Spirit Stones."
The total price was not outrageous; one hundred and ten Spirit Stones were still within his affordable range.
"Please proceed with the treatment, Doctor."
Jia Ren respectfully handed over one hundred and fifteen Spirit Stones; the extra five Spirit Stones were the doctor’s consultation fee.
With Spirit Stones, things proceeded smoothly. The doctor took out a Purifying Spirit Pill to administer for the poison. The Purifying Spirit Pill was highly effective. The poisonous aura wreathing Yang Shengwu’s face visibly retreated.
The doctor then removed the blood-soaked gauze and cleaned the bone fragments from the wound.
Yang Shengwu was given the Resurrection Pill, and its medicinal power was activated. At the wound site, bone and new flesh grew rapidly. It wouldn’t take long for the severed limb to be fully restored.
This was Jia Ren’s first time witnessing such a scene, and he couldn’t help but marvel.
This is indeed the Cultivation World; one couldn’t judge it by the experiences of a previous life.
In less than three hours, a new, fair-skinned thigh had grown, starkly contrasting with Yang Shengwu’s otherwise dark complexion.
"The poison has been cleared, but he will need some more time to awaken. This old one shall take his leave," the doctor said.
Seeing Yang Shengwu recovering, Yun Niang’s eyes reddened. She wiped away her tears and gave Jia Ren a deep bow. "Jia Ren, your Spirit Stones... I’ll find a way to repay you."
She had never imagined that Jia Ren would be the one to save her husband.
"Brother Yang has helped me greatly. It’s only right that I help him in return," Jia Ren said.
"Jia Ren... you’re still alive! COUGH! I’m not dead either. Our lives are certainly tough."
Yang Shengwu, as if hearing Jia Ren’s name, gradually regained consciousness.
My leg... it’s been restored too.
We have no Spirit Stones left at home. Jia Ren must have helped.
"Jia Ren, as soon as I left the Inner City, I went to find you... Your place had been empty for so long, I thought you were dead... It’s good that you’re alive!"
"I’ll repay your Spirit Stones as soon as possible. Monster Beast Meat sells for a high price. Once my injuries heal, I’ll go hunt Magical Beasts. Repaying your Spirit Stones won’t be difficult..."
Yun Niang opened her mouth as if to object, but then hesitated and said nothing. Her husband was the family’s pillar. If he didn’t hunt Magical Beasts, they’d have no food for their pot. If not for this, she wouldn’t have pushed Yang Shengwu to go hunting Magical Beasts in the first place.
"There’s no rush to repay the Spirit Stones, Brother Yang. You should think about the future."
"You were lucky to return alive from this Magical Beast hunt. But what about next time? If an accident happens, what will Sister-in-law Yun do?"
"The Cloud Attire Pavilion even came looking for you..."
Before Jia Ren could finish, Yun Niang shot him a sharp glare.
Yang Shengwu opened his mouth but was speechless. He faced the same dilemma Jia Ren had initially. He had no particular skills. Apart from hunting Magical Beasts, he had no other way to earn Spirit Stones.
"Do you have a solution?"
"I have a business venture, and I’ll need Brother Yang’s help."
Upon hearing this, Yang Shengwu seemed to guess something. "You’re not planning to open a brothel, are you? I can’t bring myself to force women into that..."
Jia Ren was at a loss for words.
Is my reputation really that bad?
He could feel Yun Niang’s unfriendly gaze. For someone with no particular skills to earn substantial Spirit Stones, the methods were usually deceit, swindling, or other shady, quick-money schemes. Given that Jia Ren had frequented the ’flower lanes’ for years, transitioning from a client to a brothel operator wouldn’t be out of character. It was no wonder Yang Shengwu had jumped to that conclusion.
"AHEM. Brother Yang, you’ve misunderstood. I’m a Talisman Maker. I plan to sell Demon-Spotting Talismans in the Inner City, and I’ll need your help."
"Hunting Magical Beasts is too dangerous. The roles of hunter and prey can switch at any moment. It’s not a sustainable livelihood."
Before coming, Jia Ren had wondered how to convince Yang Shengwu.
Now... this should work.
"Huh? Your Cultivation Level... you’ve broken through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement?"
"How’s that possible!"
Yang Shengwu had only just noticed the change in Jia Ren’s Cultivation Level and was visibly astonished.
"Your Cultivation Level has improved so quickly? How did you become a Talisman Maker?"
Just half a year ago, Jia Ren had broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement. How much time had passed for him to make two consecutive breakthroughs to the Fifth and then the Sixth Layer?
After asking, Yang Shengwu realized his gaffe. Jia Ren must have had his own fortuitous encounters. Prying into someone else’s opportunities was a great taboo in the Cultivation World.
"I obtained Elder Wu’s Talisman Crafting techniques. I can make Demon-Spotting Talismans, but that hardly makes me a true Talisman Maker."
Since they would be collaborating long-term, there was no need for him to hide this.
"A Talisman Maker! HEH HEH. Jia Ren, you’ve really made something of yourself! The Old Master’s spirit in heaven will be at peace."
"You don’t have Inner City residency yet, so entering costs Spirit Stones each time. I’ll sell them for you; you don’t need to give me any Spirit Stones for it."
Yang Shengwu stared at Jia Ren, grinning foolishly.
Yun Niang’s gaze toward Jia Ren also changed.
Formations, Elixirs, Tools, and Talismans—the Four Arts of Cultivation—were exceedingly precious. It was difficult for low-ranking Loose Cultivators to obtain their legacies. Even mastering a single type of Talisman made one a respected Talisman Maker, a status vastly different from before.
"Brother Yang, this isn’t just helping out for a day or two. How could I let you work for nothing? Besides, the daily stall fee isn’t a small sum."
"Moreover, even if you don’t consider yourself, you must think of Sister-in-law."
"You’ll manage the stall, sell the Talismans, and also help me purchase Talisman-Making Materials. I’ll take seventy percent of the profits, and you’ll take thirty. You’ll also bear the risk of being targeted by others. Even so, the danger is far less than hunting Magical Beasts."
Jia Ren laid out the benefits and risks clearly; only then could their cooperation be stable. Partnerships based on mere sentiment often collapsed. Only when both parties stood to profit could an alliance be long-lasting and stable.
"Ten percent... that’s enough. It’s just manning a stall."
Giving him too small a share would make long-term cooperation impossible.
Exchanging a portion of the profits for Yang Shengwu’s safety and commitment was well worth it.
"Brother Yang, expenses in the Inner City are high. Sister-in-law shouldn’t have to endure hardship with you."
"Rest well for now. In a few days, I’ll bring you the Demon-Spotting Talismans."
After saying this, Jia Ren turned and left.
Yang Shengwu and Yun Niang watched his retreating figure, sighing with emotion.
"Jia Ren has really made something of himself!" Yang Shengwu exclaimed.
"HMPH! Knowing him, he’s probably off to the Cloud Attire Pavilion again!" Yun Niang sniffed.
"That won’t do!" Yang Shengwu declared. "Jia Ren has worked hard to become a Talisman Maker; we can’t let him degenerate. Yun Niang, you should help arrange a marriage for him. Find him a good wife."