Wu Xing was extremely quick to bow: “Greetings, young master.”
Gongyi Tianheng slightly nodded to Wu Xing. Then, his gaze turned to Gu Zuo: “Ah Zuo, have your affairs been handled?”
Gu Zuo replied: “Everything’s been taken care of.”
Tianheng smiled: “Ah Zuo has worked hard.”
Gu Zuo hurriedly stated: “I’ve just been talking and giving orders. The one who’s really been taking action is the Wu Clan Head.”
Tianheng swept a glance over the deferential Wu Xing, and said: “The Wu Clan Head has been working hard, too.”
This time, it was Wu Xing’s turn to reply without delay: “This subordinate wouldn’t dare talk of ‘working hard’. These are all matters that are part of this one’s duties.”
After speaking a few simple sentences, Tianheng spread out his palm, and a card appeared.
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
Tianheng said: “A member of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Race came to deliver this thing. Because Ah Zuo wasn’t present, this message was handed over to me.”
At this time, Wu Xing tactfully withdrew.
Gu Zuo took the card, and looked at it: “It’s a message from Shopkeeper Fang.” He slightly furrowed his brows, “Hasn’t it been only a few days since we last met? Why has another card come?”
Shopkeeper Fang previously gave him some information, which was passed along to Tianheng to read through. However, he felt that he didn’t have to agree to a meeting so easily. Otherwise, it would seem out of line with his character. When these people saw there was no response, they would naturally consider things more. If they still wanted to meet, then there was probably more to discuss. It was just that he didn’t expect it to happen again so quickly… Who knew if there was anything strange going on.
With such thoughts, Gu Zuo unfolded the message.
Inside the card, Shopkeeper Fang wrote clearly. Besides reporting how he had perfunctorily declined several clans that had come searching once more, he mentioned that a new person arrived to make an appointment. This person brought forth a worthy gift, and his identity was that of a member of the Divine Wind Trading Company. Naturally, this person knew that Shopkeeper Fang was someone familiar with Gu Zuo. Consequently, this matter was difficult to conceal or brush aside.
Thus, another message had been delivered.
Gu Zuo paused: “Someone from the Divine Wind Trading Company?”
Tianheng took the card, and looked it over. Then, he smiled and said: “Ah Zuo’s prismatic pill had been given to the Divine Wind Trading Company by Shopkeeper Fang, but while the Divine Wind Trading Company and Medicine Heart Pavilion have a good relationship, it may be assumed that the trading company isn’t willing to get in touch with Ah Zuo only through Shopkeeper Fang. Thus, it’s to be expected that they’ll want to contact you personally.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “In that case, shall I go see them?”
Tianheng asked a question in return: “What does Ah Zuo think?”
Gu Zuo thought about it: “I feel that Shopkeeper Fang definitely knew that the Divine Wind Trading Company would make this request. It’s just that they might’ve discussed something before finding me?”
Tianheng praised: “It’s more than likely to be like this. If the Divine Wind Trading Company didn’t offer an adequate price tag, Shopkeeper Fang certainly wouldn’t have been willing to act as a bridge of his own volition.”
Gu Zuo felt that these kinds of twists and turns were particularly taxing on one’s mind, but he could see how this affected his benefits: “Also, I think that since I’ve made friends with Medicine Heart Pavilion, it wouldn’t hurt to make another friend of the Divine Wind Trading Company. After all, if I can’t find certain medicinal ingredients in the sect one day, then I can ask the trading company to make some discreet inquiries. Moreover, I wouldn’t want all aspects of the transactions between me and the Divine Wind Trading Company to be known to Medicine Heart Pavilion.”
Tianheng said: “Ah Zuo’s considerations are valid. No matter how good the relationship is between the owners of Medicine Heart Pavilion and the Divine Wind Trading Company, they wouldn’t want to share everything like this elder brother and Ah Zuo. Therefore, it would be even more advantageous to make friends separately.”
Hence, Gu Zuo settled the matter: “Then, we’ll send the news to Shopkeeper Fang, and let him find a suitable place for big brother and I to go together.”
Tianheng gave a faint smile: “Okay.”
After going through the experience once, the second meeting went smoothly.
Shopkeeper Fang was waiting at the same location. As the door opened, he was surprised to discover that the party to come this time wasn’t one person. Rather, it was two people &#k2014; Of course, Ao Ying and the other bodyguards weren’t counted.
That Pharmacist Gu still looked the same as before. As for the other person, his bearing was natural, and his complexion was handsome. He seemed like an aristocratic family’s young master, but when one looked into the depths of this fellow’s eyes, one could tell that this wasn’t a simple personage.
Compared to Pharmacist Gu, who previously made him feel some restraining fear, the sense of danger coming from this fellow was even greater.
Gu Zuo saw Shopkeeper Fang, and lifted his chin: “This is my big brother, Gongyi Tianheng. Surely, you know his identity?”
Shopkeeper Fang heard this, and blanked. But soon, his eyes slightly turned and he cleared his throat. At once, his expression turned solemn. He stood up and bowed: “Ten Ultimates Sect’s newly joined, all-star prodigy — Gongyi Tianheng. This Fang has been looking forward to meeting thee for a long time.” Shortly thereafter, his words slightly flickered with a tone of regret, “So it turns out that Pharmacist Gu stands beside Prodigy Gongyi. Please forgive this one’s presumptions.”
Tianheng’s attitude was magnanimous. Although he gave people a somewhat distant feeling, his temperament didn’t appear that peculiar compared to that of ordinary prodigies: “Ah Zuo is my personal pharmacist. Previously, I was in the middle of secluded cultivation inside the sect, and didn’t know about this matter. Since I’m out now, I ought to accompany him for a turn.”
Gu Zuo pretended to be proud of himself: “That’s right. My big brother and I have been together for a very long time.”
At this moment, Shopkeeper Fang had already given up on introducing Gu Zuo to his master. In addition, his idea of inviting Gu Zuo to stay beside his master switched directions. Now, it had changed to facilitating a good relationship between the two parties: “So it’s like this. People would look up to the profound friendship between these two sirs.”
Sure enough, once these words were spoken, Shopkeeper Fang discovered that Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s expressions had improved. He silently noted this in his heart.
From last time’s meeting, Shopkeeper Fang knew that Gu Zuo wasn’t the type of person who liked to waste time with pleasantries. As a result, after both sides exchanged conventional greetings, he agilely took something out from his sleeve. He nudged it towards the pair, and said: “The manager of the Divine Wind Trading Company that this Fang got in touch with greatly admires Pharmacist Gu’s skills. After properly settling the matters of the auction house, he made a few overtures to meet Pharmacist Gu. Although this Fang made several evasions, magnificent hospitality is hard to refuse. And the visitation gift he took out is truly too precious… Thus, this Fang didn’t dare act arbitrarily.”
Gu Zuo heard Shopkeeper Fang speaking in this way, and somewhat curiously looked at the wooden box he pushed over: “It’s something that precious?”
Shopkeeper Fang nodded: “If the person whom he wanted to deliver it to wasn’t Pharmacist Gu, this Fang would’ve wanted to appropriate it for himself.”
Gu Zuo was even more astonished. He turned his head to look at Tianheng: “Big brother, come have a look, too.”
Tianheng had a smile on his face, and moved to sit even closer to Gu Zuo. Then, he took that wooden box, and opened it.
In a split second, a rich and intoxicating fragrance assailed the senses. An extremely irresistible feeling arose unbidden from the bottom of their hearts.
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes, and felt as if he had been struck into a daze.
And at this very moment, Tianheng composed himself, and reached out a hand to grasp the object inside that wooden box. The particulars were revealed before everyone’s eyes: “This is a…stone ovum?”
At this time, Gu Zuo also snapped out of it. His gaze settled onto the item between Tianheng’s fingers.
Sure enough, that thing’s appearance wasn’t ordinary.
It was about the size of a pigeon egg, and its entire body was ash-white. At first glance, it looked like an unremarkable stone, but upon closer inspection, one would almost think that its outer shell was formed out of jade. The surface should’ve been covered in tiny pores that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye, which were faintly releasing the fragrance that they smelled just now.
However, what was a stone ovum? A stone egg?
Such an interpretation was naturally correct, but Gu Zuo felt that what his big brother specially mentioned wasn’t only a description. Rather, it was a specific designation.
Shopkeeper Fang smiled and said: “As expected, Prodigy Gongyi is knowledgable. That’s right, this is a stone ovum!”
Tianheng sighed: “Indeed, this is extremely precious.”
For the sake of maintaining a unanimous front with his family’s big brother, Gu Zuo didn’t ask any questions in his presence.
However, Tianheng was aware of Gu Zuo’s thoughts, and secretly transmitted to him.
[Ah Zuo, a stone ovum is something produced from leylines. It’s wondrous medicine.]
Gu Zuo’s pupils suddenly shrank.
Wondrous medicine?
He knew about wondrous medicine. It was just that Details of Ten Thousand Medicines only gave a comprehensive explanation of ordinary medicinal ingredients and spirit medicines. As for wondrous medicines, it only stated that such things were stored in rocks. Only a non-descriptive footnote was written about it. So for a short while, he didn’t make a connection to the stone ovum.
But now that he heard his family’s big brother mention this, he had a realization.
— Wondrous medicines were actually a type of wondrous object born from leylines, and protected by an outer stone shell. Because the wondrous objects usually had medicinal effects, they were directly called “wondrous medicine”.
And wondrous medicine was indeed more precious than ordinary medicinal ingredients. This was because their characteristics were usually quite special. According to Gu Zuo’s thought process, this ought to have been due to growth under the protection of the earth’s qi as well as the corresponding mutations that would arise. As a result, places that produced wondrous medicines were often located within environments of extraordinary geography.
Gu Zuo returned the voice transmission.
[Big brother, is this wondrous medicine so precious?]
It was just like his skewed sense of valuation towards prismatic pills. When it came to wondrous medicine, which he had heard about long ago, he also didn’t have a clear understanding of its true worth.
Tianheng’s reply was swiftly sent.
[Leylines produce special wondrous objects. Due to changes in a leyline, it may form stone ova with jade-like qualities. After cutting one open, a person can obtain whatever’s inside. While the wondrous object within the stone ovum usually can’t be seen, if the stone ovum hasn’t completely transformed into a jade ovum — Just like the stone ovum we’re looking at today — It’ll still release some qi emissions for people to analyze. However, once it becomes a jade ovum, it’s hard to predict what’s inside. The object is always extremely rare and precious, causing others to rush like a flock of ducks. Therefore, a stone ovum isn’t as valuable as a jade ovum, but stone ova aren’t ordinary at all.]
Gu Zuo finished listening, and carefully thought about it.
[So to say, one still needs to look at the thing inside to determine the specific value…]
Tianheng wore a smiling expression.
[Correct. Though, based on the qi emissions and rich fragrance this item is releasing, it’s certainly extremely precious.]
Gu Zuo understood.
In any case, stone ova seldom appeared. Some had great uses, and some were rarely seen. However, from the qi emissions of the stone ovum that had been taken out now, it was judged to be both rare and useful. As a result, it was incredibly precious.
To put it simply, the other party had given him a type of wondrous medicine that was perfectly intact and of the highest quality!
It was no wonder that Shopkeeper Fang expressed that he didn’t dare to take action for himself.
Gu Zuo previously showed how much he liked medicinal ingredients. Whether it was based on a sense of fair play or selfish motives, Shopkeeper Fang had to look to Gu Zuo to make the final decision.
The conversation within the pair’s consciousness lasted only a breath of time. The connection had already ended.
Shopkeeper Fang was none the wiser. After Tianheng confirmed the stone ovum’s value, he said: “Since it’s like this, would these two sirs please accept this gift?”
Tianheng handed over the stone ovum to Gu Zuo: “If Ah Zuo is interested, it’s better to open it now, and take a look.”
Gu Zuo took the stone ovum, and simply nodded his head: “Shopkeeper Fang, does this place have any tools?”
Shopkeeper Fang heard these two speak in such a way, and his smiling expression became even more distinct. He knew that so long as the two cut open the stone ovum, it indicated that they had already accepted the gift. The matter of meeting the other person was basically settled. He didn’t dare to neglect anything in the slightest, and immediately reached into his sleeve again to take out a knife that had been forged from a special metal. He passed the knife into Gu Zuo’s hand: “Pharmacist Gu, please take this.”
Gu Zuo placed the stone ovum inside the wooden box. Using his fingers to hold it in place, he readied the knife. After lightly placing the knife against the stone ovum’s shell, he slowly tapped it.
As it turned out, Tianheng was sharing another voice transmission with him.
[Ah Zuo, when cutting open the stone ovum, lightly knock on the ovum’s shell. Bring down the knife where there’s a hollow sound…]
Without missing a beat, Gu Zuo strictly did as instructed.
Sure enough, upon hearing a crisp noise, his fingers slightly exerted the knife on that spot. That knife moved like it was cutting through tofu, and a hole was sliced out of the stone ovum.
In the blink of an eye, an even heavier fragrance billowed out, and almost instantly filled the entire room.
The stone ovum rapidly split apart. After a clear and melodious sound echoed out, a beam of white light burst forth!
Gu Zuo was startled, and swiftly mobilized his psychic power.
Tianheng had already stretched out a long arm, and a formless palm closed around that white light!
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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