After Ming Wanzhu finished talking about everything, she said tearfully: “We know that a prismatic Innate Mending Pill is extremely difficult to refine. We wouldn’t dare make this request. We only hope that if this senior has any flawless Innate Mending Pills remaining, this Wan could purchase a pill to heal my little brother…”
That’s right. What they wanted to buy wasn’t a prismatic Innate Mending Pill. Rather, it was a flawless Innate Mending Pill, which could equivalently treat Xue Shen. It was because they understood the level of difficulty when it came to prismatic Innate Mending Pills. However, since this senior could refine a prismatic pill, flawless pills ought to have been somewhat easier.
Although a flawless Innate Mending Pill could cure Xue Shen’s body, his original strength and realm had turned to nothing. Once he recovered, it would certainly require a long period of nursing to start practicing martial arts once again. However, this would be a better life than dragging around a crippled body day after day. They were pressed for time because Xue Shen had already been enduring for ten-plus years. Who knew how many years he could live while being tortured like this…
Having listened to these words, Gu Zuo made several imperceptible glances at Shopkeeper Fang.
He remembered that he gave Shopkeeper Fang three flawless Innate Mending Pills. But it appeared that Ming Wanzhu and the others didn’t know about it?
After thinking it over, it wasn’t that strange. If Shopkeeper Fang took out the Innate Mending Pills so quickly, it would be considered as a leak of his information. That would certainly draw his ire, which wouldn’t be advantageous to Shopkeeper Fang. Moreover, flawless Innate Mending Pills were rare items. Shopkeeper Fang should’ve delivered these three flawless pills and the other prismatic pill to the previously-mentioned owner of Medicine Heart Pavilion.
With a plan in mind, Gu Zuo looked at these four men and women. The sound of his voice was hoarse and rough: “This type of pill isn’t easy to refine, and I don’t have that many flawless ones lying around. If I do this for you, what kind of price will you pay? Spirit crystals are unnecessary. This venerable one doesn’t lack these things.”
Ming Wanzhu and the others listened as these words were uttered. At first, they sighed in relief. Shortly thereafter, they grew apprehensive.
They guessed that the other party had noticed their eagerness. Maybe this pharmacist wouldn’t easily allow them to use spirit crystals for a trade, but they had no idea what the other party wanted in exchange.
Becoming nervous was unavoidable.
After the group of four glanced at each other, it was still the courageous and dazzling Ming Wanzhu who spoke anxiously: “Senior, please tell us. Regardless of the price, so long as we have it, we’ll take it out in exchange!”
Having heard what was said, Gu Zuo kept silent. It seemed that he was thinking about something.
The four men and women didn’t dare to urge the other party. With the passage of time, their backs became damp with thin rivulets of sweat and their hearts were weighed down with intense pressure.
Under the cloak’s distortion, Gu Zuo’s lowered voice became even more sinister: “This venerable one wants the four of you to become my medicinal slaves…”
The moment these words were spoken, Ming Wanzhu and the others were already trembling all over.
— Medicinal slaves?
On the Central Continent, everyone knew that the people who followed pharmacists were either retainers, servants, or medicinal slaves. Among them, medicinal slaves needed to take the pharmacist’s poison pills and were branded with the pharmacist’s psychic power imprint. Following that, once they betrayed their pharmacist, they would immediately perish!
In addition, the most common function of a medicinal slave was to test the medicine…
Gu Zuo acted as if he didn’t discover that these people had stiffened. His tone was unhampered: “Normally, this venerable one is most fond of delving into pill prescriptions. However, without enough experimental subjects, progress is slow-going. The four of you have now delivered yourselves to my doorstep. If you all consent to this arrangement, this venerable one will do his best to refine another prismatic Innate Mending Pill — Even if I can’t produce another prismatic pill, this venerable one still has flawless Innate Mending Pills to bestow. So, what do you all intend to do?”
Those four heard this, and their minds were shaken.
However, the astonishing thing was that they didn’t hesitate for too long. They only pondered for less than three seconds, and the exact same expression appeared on each person’s face.
After that, the four people bowed down:
“Ming Wanzhu.”
“Lian Xinzi.”
“Chang Min.”
“Yu Fei.”
“We are willing to become medicinal slaves to obtain an Innate Mending Pill in exchange!”
Once they paid their respects, Chang Min clenched his fingers: “We’re ready to accept this senior as our master. It’s…it’s just that little brother is handicapped and can’t endure any testing. Will master permit us to support little brother by our side?”
Gu Zuo watched their display, and let out a scoff: “Someone with an enfeebled body is useless for testing medicine. What would I need of him? For the time being, you four are enough!”
Gratitude appeared on the faces of Ming Wanzhu and the others. They bowed and expressed their thanks again. Then, they looked at Shopkeeper Fang and expressed their appreciation.
Gu Zuo flicked a finger, and four pitch-black medicinal pills appeared in front of the others: “Swallow.”
Chang Min grabbed his pill first. He knew that this was a necessity, and didn’t hesitate to take it. Yu Fei and the two women were the same, and took their pills one after another.
Gu Zuo faintly nodded his head: “Very good.” Then he said, “Send someone to fetch Xue Shen. After that, you’ll go back with this venerable one to become medicine testers.”
Naturally, Ming Wanzhu gave several prompt affirmations. As the men and elder brothers of the group, Chang Min and Yu Fei were unwilling to pass their responsibilities onto others. At this moment, they bade farewell in advance. They were going back to meet up with Xue Shen.
At this point, the matter had been settled.
Gu Zuo didn’t spare a second glance at those two beautiful women, and said to Shopkeeper Fang: “I presume that there’s nothing else, right?”
Just now, Shopkeeper Fang had been watching how Gu Zuo handled the matter of these four brothers and sisters. His face had been wearing a smiling expression the entire time, but a restraining fear of Gu Zuo had rose up from the bottom of his heart. Although he had known earlier that Gu Zuo’s appearance was pretty good and he had brief encounters with Gu Zuo before, perhaps because of the cloak’s functions and because he believed that Gu Zuo exposed his own style of doing things, there was a big difference in his perception of Gu Zuo at this moment. In response, he became even more cautious and prudent.
After a slight pause, Shopkeeper Fang still maintained a cordial attitude. He didn’t allow anyone to see his thoughts in the slightest. He brought out a few lists, and pushed them towards Gu Zuo’s side: “Pharmacist Gu, please take a look. These are the things this Fang found out. It concerns the information of the organizations that are inquiring about any traces of thee. Pharmacist Gu can personally check through these lists. If there’s anyone thou wishes to meet, there’s no harm in telling this Fang. This lowly one shall thoroughly investigate them again, and present a visitation notice or an invitation card.”
Gu Zuo took these lists, and immediately put them away.
He was prepared to investigate, but meeting these people would have to wait until after his big brother came out of secluded cultivation. This meant looking at the results of the investigations and the follow-up development before making any decisions.
Shopkeeper Fang was considerate in his work.
With such thinking, Gu Zuo made a sound of affirmation: “ We’ll keep contact the same old way.”
Shopkeeper Fang smiled and said: “Yes.”
After that, someone came up and arranged the table with fine wine and delicious food. Shopkeeper Fang was eagerly attentive as he recommended dishes to Gu Zuo one after another. Gu Zuo used the hood to cover his face. Although the delicacies here were really tasty, he couldn’t eat much. He was quite sullen.
However, Ming Wanzhu and Lian Xinzi weren’t above eating. After all, they were female martial artists at the Immortal Realm. At this moment, they promptly and diligently divided the dishes and poured the wine on the other side.
Gu Zuo…found it even more awkward to eat.
As a gay guy with a beloved sweetheart — That’s right, he already regarded himself as such — Being surrounded and attended by beautiful women wasn’t actually a wonderful thing.
Most of all, when a person’s entire face was obstructed, so too was their line of sight. One wouldn’t even have the ability to appreciate another’s good looks. No matter how beautiful the women were, they would be the same as doorposts.
After about two hours, someone knocked on the door outside the private room.
The chopsticks in Gu Zuo’s hand stilled.
Shopkeeper Fang hastily said: “Those two brothers probably brought that person back.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “Let them in.”
Shopkeeper Fang instructed a subordinate right away.
Soon, the private room’s door was opened. Yu Fei and Chang Min walked inside while carrying a soft chair. And on this soft chair sat a frail-looking young man.
Gu Zuo watched as those two brothers carefully placed the chair down, and listened to that young man, who arduously lowered his head in salutation: “This younger generation, Xue Shen, greets this senior.”
What was beyond expectations was that this young man’s face didn’t show any expressions of resentment or unwillingness — The emotions between him and the four brothers and sisters ought have been rather good. The group of four was compelled to become medicinal slaves. He shouldn’t have been this tranquil and undisturbed. Unless, he was an ungrateful white-eyed wolf?
However, Xue Shen didn’t seem like a thankless wretch.
Originally, he had been born with jet-black hair and eyes. His appearances had been gallantly handsome. It was just that, because he was prone to sickness and was bed-bound for long periods of time, he looked thin and weak. It seemed like his life was already on the verge of collapsing like a flickering candle. It wasn’t known when his light would be snuffed out.
However, Xue Shen’s sight was clear and true. His eyes didn’t blame gods or accuse others. On the contrary, his temperament was firm and unswerving.
This kind of person wouldn’t show ingratitude to a friend.
After thinking better of it, Gu Zuo understood.
This was precisely how Xue Shen expressed his appreciation to the four brothers and sisters.
Xue Shen definitely heard about the matter of Ming Wanzhu and the others swallowing poison pills from the two brothers. Regardless of how unreconciled or unwilling he was, Xue Shen must have already sorted out his own feelings. If he acted excessively in front of Gu Zuo, he was worried about angering this pharmacist. When his elder brothers and sisters were testing medicine in the future, they would suffer greatly.
As a result, Xue Shen displayed deference and respect as much as possible.
Gu Zuo looked at this group of five people, and felt a bit satisfied.
After that, he bade farewell to Shopkeeper Fang, brought away the five sworn brothers and sisters, and left this restaurant.
Once they were outside, Gu Zuo glanced at Ao Ying.
Ao Ying whistled to summon a wild bird. Immediately following which, everyone leaped onto its back. The wild bird spread its wings, and streams of air surged. It had already travelled several hundreds of meters.
Up in the sky, the wild bird spiraled several times as it took a winding course. Then, it swooped down towards Ten Ultimates Sect.
At this moment, several people who were sitting on the wild bird’s back looked ahead — Their heartstrings were stretched taut at the thought of their unknown fates.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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