Gu Zuo still remembered the instant that those rays of light shining on Gongyi Tianheng’s body. Due to a sudden premonition of extreme danger, he practically lost his senses. When he came to, he had already thrown himself into that light and tossed his dear big brother out. Following that…
He carefully thought back.
Following that, he was immediately sucked into the black hole. He was surrounded by terrifying hurricane-force winds. It was as if the winds were going to rip him apart in an instant. If it hadn’t been for his consciousness being faster than his reaction speed, he would’ve used his psychic power to protect his entire body in the blink of an eye. It was very likely that, at that time, he would’ve been twisted and crushed to pieces!
Fortunately, he had the Divine Medicine Palace Hall. Thus, even though Gu Zuo could only persevere for a moment, he still smoothly entered the hall and avoided even more winds.
However, the place from which he entered the Divine Medicine Palace Hall would still be the location where he exited. Even if he could hide for a long time, he would still have to face the hurricane-force winds of this wretched black hole.
It was also at that time when the system spoke once more, asking whether he would activate the function for automatic defense.
Gu Zuo naturally agreed. After that, he himself possessed this function. Moreover, the power of this function was to defend against external damage. Even the black hole’s hurricane outside wouldn’t be able to do anything to him at all!
It was just that this defensive function couldn’t be activated for free.
Upon activation, he needed to burn one strand of medicinal qi every second. In other words, one minute needed sixty strands, and one hour needed three thousand six hundred strands!
Who knew if he would be floating through this black hole for several hours… If by any chance he suddenly ran out of medicinal qi halfway while floating, what was he going to do?
Fortunately, the system’s capabilities were powerful. After Gu Zuo spent five strands of medicinal qi, the system calculated the “floating” time. Altogether, it would take a dozen or so hours. However, Gu Zuo only had a little more than twenty thousand strands remaining. Therefore, this simply wasn’t enough!
With no other option, Gu Zuo started refining medicine in the Divine Medicine Palace Hall.
Currently, if he refined comparatively low-level medicinal pills like the Qi Generating Pill or the Rejuvenation Pill, he could refine one cauldron’s worth per minute on average. And with his present psychic power, he could operate eight cauldrons at once.
Thus, if he didn’t stop to rest or sleep, he could accumulate around ten thousand strands of medicinal qi every day. Gu Zuo tried his best, and in the blink of an eye, he refined for three days and three nights!
Finally, the amount of medicinal qi he gathered had reached sixty thousand strands. The extra portions would probably be enough to use.
After that, Gu Zuo activated the defensive function and left the Divine Medicine Palace Hall. He was prepared to float along the currents. Only, it was a pity that he couldn’t float back from whence he came. He could only drift towards the Central Continent.
Fortunately, however, he wouldn’t die in this black hole. In addition, he didn’t make his big brother suffer this hardship together with him.
Following this was the automated process of Gu Zuo’s endless floating journey. As he felt the sensations of being battered by countless hurricane-force winds, he silently waited and endured. However, gradually, the strength of the collisions became bigger and bigger. Gu Zuo was finally knocked dizzy. Reaching that point, he straightforwardly lost consciousness!
Ignorant and unaware, he floated out of the black hole’s lengthy corridor and was flung into the Central Continent…
Gu Zuo was now fully awake. He discovered that he was lying down in a rather exquisite carriage. On the side, there was also a person keeping watch. This should’ve meant that he had been rescued by someone. Though, he didn’t know what kind of person saved him.
Soon after, Gu Zuo looked all around. Sure enough, he didn’t see any traces of Gongyi Tianheng. For a moment, he was somewhat sad.
He originally thought that, because he had been delayed for three days and because the black hole wasn’t the normal way out, he had most likely been separated from his big brother. But now that he discovered that he was truly separated, the feelings in his heart weren’t particularly pleasant to accept.
These thoughts flashed by. He looked at the girl keeping watch at the front of the bed. She was in the middle of flipping through an ancient text, and hadn’t noticed that he had reawakened. Gu Zuo opened his mouth, and called out with a voice that was a little hoarse: “This young lady…”
That girl heard this, and quietly muttered: “Ah.”
She promptly lifted her head and looked over: “You’re awake this time?” After that, she hurriedly shouted to the other side of the carriage, “Quick, tell the young master that the person he saved is awake!”
Outside, someone moved away. Gu Zuo watched her act so hurriedly, and didn’t bother her. Once she was finished, he spoke with words that carried some gratefulness: “Many thanks for saving me.”
The girl also smiled: “It wasn’t us maidservants who saved you. It was the young master’s command.”
Hearing the words “young master”, Gu Zuo thought about Tianheng again and his heart ached with a sour feeling.
Ah, they were separated…
But Gu Zuo didn’t show his feelings, and only said: “Then, many thanks to you all.”
Just as he spoke, the carriage door was opened, and someone else entered.
Gu Zuo inclined his head and looked over. What he saw was a young man who had put on some weight. His figure wasn’t too good and his face was a little swollen, but his facial features appeared gentle and soft. His temperament was warm and genuine… At the very least, Gu Zuo’s first impression of him was very good.
However, this appearance didn’t seem too normal. Did this person have some kind of…illness?
That portly young man came over. The girl stood up first, and yielded her seat at the bedside.
After walking closer, the young man sat in that seat, and asked Gu Zuo in a warm voice: “Where did this little brother come from, and why did you faint halfway on your journey?”
Gu Zuo thought it over, and decided not to mention that he was someone from the Peripheral Continents — Who knew what attitudes the people of the Central Continent had towards the Peripheral Continents? However, he also felt that deceiving the person who saved him wasn’t appropriate either.
As a result, Gu Zuo said: “I’m called Ah Zuo. I can’t talk about my origins, but because I accidentally intruded into a place where I shouldn’t have, I was thrown out, and lost consciousness. If this young master hadn’t rescued me, I’m afraid I would’ve fallen into dire straits.”
When Gu Zuo finished speaking, that girl wasn’t happy. Her household’s young master had saved this fellow’s life, but he didn’t give a full name nor did he talk about his origins or the cause of his wounds. What was the justification for this? Moreover, this guy was very strange. A basic checkup didn’t reveal any ailments. His internal organs had only been shaken up a little bit. Against reason, he had been in an unconscious state for so long!
Contrary to what one might expect, that portly young man was adept at empathizing with other people. He noticed that Gu Zuo was speaking like this, and responded warmly: “Since Brother Ah Zuo has some hidden troubles that can’t be mentioned, this one won’t force the issue. A chance meeting is to be brought together by fate. Since we’ve crossed paths, there also isn’t any reason to watch one die without trying to help. Brother Ah Zuo, there’s no need to express your thanks. However, does Brother Ah Zuo have a destination in mind?”
Gu Zuo heard this, and couldn’t help forcing a smile.
How could he know where he was supposed to go now… He was completely unfamiliar with the Central Continent.
That portly young man understood Gu Zuo’s expression. He further asked: “In that case, what plans does Brother Ah Zuo have?”
Gu Zuo slightly shook his head: “I was with…” He sighed, “Originally, I was with my family’s big brother, and we had gone out to experience the world together. Later on, we were met with an accident and got separated. Now, I want to find a place to stay for a time, and make discreet inquiries for information on my big brother. Then, I’ll do my best to reunite with my big brother as soon as possible.”
The portly young man listened to what was said, and his face showed a sympathetic look. He considered things, and spoke with comfort: “The heavens will help the worthy. If Brother Ah Zuo doesn’t mind, why don’t you stay a few days in this one’s small abode? This humble one’s household also possesses a few family properties that can make discreet inquiries on Brother Ah Zuo’s behalf.”
Once these words were uttered, the tender and charming face of the girl standing by in attendance suddenly revealed a somewhat anxious expression. Only, due to unequal status, her cherry-red lips slightly opened and closed, but she didn’t say anything in the end. It could be seen that, although her heart had different opinions, she still treated her young master with great respect.
Gu Zuo heard this, and his heart was moved.
He wasn’t someone who didn’t keep his guard up, but this young man’s moral standing seemed somewhat greater than his own. The expression in this young man’s eyes was clear and limpid. Moreover, seeing as how his maidservant wasn’t happy, Gu Zuo realized that this wasn’t the first time that this young man acted with such charity. Perhaps, this was the result of suffering a loss.
On top of that, this person saved him. No matter how he considered it, this young man wasn’t the type of fellow who harbored treacherous intentions. Also, as Gu Zuo was on the Central Continent, he was but a stranger in a strange land. If he went off on his own, he would certainly wander aimlessly like a headless housefly. Gu Zuo was better off following this young man for temporary lodgings. After that, he would slowly search for his big brother’s whereabouts.
Additionally, this young man had the kindness to save his life and look after him. Seeing that worried frown, perhaps there was trouble afoot… Maybe, he could help a little bit?
With this kind of thinking, Gu Zuo hastily spoke to the portly young man: “Then, many thanks, young master.” Speaking up to here, he was a bit embarrassed, “As for the cost of lodging… I wouldn’t dare to inconvenience this young master to cover the cost. I’m a pharmacist, so I can refine some medicinal pills…”
The portly young man showed a smiling expression that would let anyone who saw it feel comforted: “Brother Ah Zuo is actually a pharmacist? Then, that’s even better. This one’s household just happens to do business in medicinal pills. With Brother Ah Zuo lending a hand, it’ll be like adding wings to a tiger.”
Off to the side, the girl softly mumbled to herself: “Our household has plenty of pharmacists. What skills could someone so young have…”
The portly young man heard this, and he furrowed his brows as he glanced at the girl. He softly reproached: “Qing He!”
The girl also didn’t want to make her household’s young master angry. After hearing this, she promptly shut her mouth and didn’t say anything else.
Upon seeing this, Gu Zuo said at once: “I wouldn’t dare presume. I only have some negligible, small skills that are hardly worth mentioning.”
Meanwhile, the portly young man said: “Brother Ah Zuo doesn’t need to take it to heart…”
As the two of them exchanged courtesies, Gu Zuo gradually learned about some of this young man’s household matters. He silently summed everything up.
The portly young man’s surname was Hu, and his first name was Chang’an. He was the eldest son of an aristocratic family’s direct line of descent. He was twenty years old this year, but he wasn’t a pharmacist. Rather, he was a Xiantian stage eight martial artist. There were many pharmacists in his clan. Moreover, many generations had operated businesses in medicinal pills. The clan head of each generation would generally be the eldest son of the clan’s direct line, but under normal circumstances, this eldest son would also be a pharmacist. And if the eldest son wasn’t a pharmacist, then an outstanding pharmacist from the direct line would also suffice. Otherwise, the clan head’s position would be unstable.
During this generation, Hu Chang’an was the eldest son of the direct line. Without a doubt, he was the clan’s heir. Under him, there was also a younger brother and sister who were both pharmacists. However, his younger sister was just blooming into her teenaged years, and his younger brother wasn’t even ten years old. There was still a long time before the two fully matured. Unfortunately, there was a remarkable pharmacist in the cadet branches who was exceptional in all fields.
As one could well imagine, Hu Chang’an’s position wasn’t that secure, but he was kindhearted and good-natured. In the clan, he was considered to be rather well-connected, too — At the very least, he was deeply respected among the servants by his side.
The author has something to say.
It isn’t memory loss. The relationship hasn’t fully developed, so what’s so good about memory loss? Of course, even if the relationship develops, amnesia isn’t within my estimations… Unless I suddenly think of some kind of plot to incorporate it. Otherwise, it won’t happen.
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