1

I spotted the flaming spear wielder among the red robed figures, my eyes narrowing as he carved through beasts and cultivators with ease. I was only human; letting go of grudges wasn't easy.

For now I decided to assist the disciples of my former sect. I had a few allies among them at least, whereas I had no friends in the Soaring Sword Sect and had already put myself at odds with the local beast population. Beating half of them to the edge of death wasn't the finest way of forging a positive relationship.

A sudden gust of wind brushed my cheek. I was still falling through the air towards the edge of the pond, unable to adjust my position. Three sharp blades of qi carved apart the air in their wake as they raced towards me.

An unassuming man in loose fitting blue robes walked through the battlefield as though he was on an evening stroll through a field of flowers. His blade lazily floated back into his scabbard and his face was relaxed.

He seemed truly uncaring of the carnage unfolding around him. A red robed disciple stepped into his path, their clothes bloody and torn. They brandished a spear and yelled something incoherent as they thrust it at the peaceful man.

I threw up my hands to guard my face and chest as the three blades of qi sliced into my skin. My tough skin offered little resistance as the sharp qi carved deep wounds along both forearms and my right side.

As I dropped my arms and landed heavily on the ground, I looked up and saw the man still walking forwards, with the spear wielder nowhere to be seen.

No, that was wrong. A single drop of blood was splashed onto his cheek like a falling teardrop, a fresh corpse sliced in two at his feet.

He had reaped a life like wheat in an instant, even as his sword technique carved my defenses apart like tofu. A six-star Qi Gathering cultivator, likely approaching seven-star.

This otherwise regular fellow was actually the strongest cultivator present, a deadly threat who had decided to make me his target. That was perfect.

Taking on an opponent two small realms above me was the fastest way to establish my dominance of the battlefield and test my newfound strength. I exhaled, releasing a breath that rose in a cloud of steam as the spiritual water evaporated from my body.

Mysterious green energy was released from my lungs in a cloud, filling me with energy as the three wounds left by his sword technique healed in a single breath. The man's unbothered expression finally broke as he raised a single eyebrow.

"Impressive," he drawled, as though the very act of speaking was too exhausting. He suddenly frowned. "I was supposed to claim the lily. Die."

I blinked and he disappeared. All that remained in his place were a few falling flower petals. Wind blew against the side of my head and I leapt away.

He'd missed.

Or so I thought, until I felt hot moisture dripping down my neck and soaking my collar. Reaching up a hand I touched my ear, only to find half of it missing.

He stood a few metres away from me, his sword still in the scabbard and his face expressionless. I took a deep breath, the wound healing as I exhaled once more. Not fully—I was far from being able to regrow flesh in moments—but enough to stem the bleeding.

He sniffed and vanished. I tensed, drowning out all my senses except hearing and touch. A breeze. The scent of flowers.

I twitched, bending backwards. Cold air buffeted my face as I opened my eyes to see his sword passing over my head.

His eyes widened and I saw a flower petal falling from the tip of his sword. He stepped backwards and I saw his body blurring, but I was already on the move.

My fist planted itself square on his jaw, his head snapping to the side with a satisfying crack. I saw him cough blood as his body disappeared.

He reappeared a few metres away, stumbling and spitting blood. I didn't want to give up the advantage, so I began closing the distance.

When he saw that he instantly reacted, stomping on his blood and smearing it across the rocky ground in a fluid motion. He drew his sword from its scabbard while I increased my speed and began twisting and writhing on the spot.

Just before I reached him I kicked against the ground and my leg exploded outwards like lightning. It smashed into his chest, but the impact felt strange. Soft.

My strike continued onwards, but not a moment later his body exploded into a cloud of petals. Every petal was like a tiny blade, slicing into my skin.

I winced as dozens of burning wounds appeared across my body. Every petal left behind a drop of sticky orange sap, which began seeping into my blood.

He attacked again before I had a chance to examine the sap, slashing across my chest in a wide swing filled with openings. As his sword descended I moved to strike the flat of the blade to parry, but found my joints locking up.

The steel parted my tough skin like tofu, blood spurting in a crimson fountain in its wake. I staggered on the spot, my movements clunky as my ligaments and joints ignored my mind's command.

He wasn't done yet. Even as I gasped for breath, my right lung partially severed, his hand twisted slowly and his sword swirled back towards me.

I raised a hand, but it felt as though I was dragging it through honey, failing to stop his blade as it lazily sliced my neck. Streams of blood poured down, joining the waterfall of life escaping my body.

Even then he gazed upon me with utter disregard. He stepped towards me and his sword curved around a third time. His movements looked sluggish while being paradoxically fast, flashing through the air like lightning.

He thrust the ornate blade into my heart, delivering the final judgement. At once all of my blood started flowing upwards, crimson streams dancing along the blade's edge. My heartbeat slowed to a crawl and a powerful scent of orchids crawled under my skin, my vision blurring.

This was unfair.

The difference in cultivation was one thing, but his ridiculous technique was another. Against another six-star cultivator, I might have had a chance of victory, but this was an awful matchup.

I grew dizzy with the scent of orchids and iron, my mouth filled with blood. My heart thumped weakly, a final protest against the blade lodged inside it.

This kept happening. Against the spirit snake. Before my breakthrough to one-star Qi Gathering at the end of the fire cultivator's spear. And at my new peak, the most powerful I'd ever been, I'd still lost.

It stung.

And that wasn't just the sap in my wounds, though most of it had been burned away by my qi by now. I'd lost too much blood to move my limbs, despite the joints no longer being jammed.

Another heady burst of flowers struck me, threatening to tip me over the edge. I was dancing the line between life and death, my performance fast approaching its end.

I frowned, the small movement sending bursts of pain down my neck. This fresh scent was different to the man's technique. It was familiar.

The scent of lilies.

"In the end, trash is still trash, even if they obtain the favour of the heavens. Meeting your end by my sword is your fate, but fear not. Your blood shall feed my blade and I will carry your will as I ascend to immortality, as I do with every soul she reaps," the man murmured, stroking the blade as my blood continued to stream down its edge.

I saw true passion in his gaze, his previously dead eyes sparkling with life as he spoke about his sword. Creepy.

Bad timing, too. Why was he telling me this now? I'd rather die in peace. Suddenly I smelled an overpowering floral aroma, making my head spin.

Unlike the dizzying scent of the sword cultivator's techniques, this scent was familiar. Lilies.

I wasn't sure what it meant, aside from the obvious. I was still refining the energies of the Ten Ascensions Lily, but a breakthrough wouldn't save me now.

My vision went black. I snapped my eyes open, forcing myself to stay conscious. As soon as I let myself slip under, it was truly the end.

The fifth petal of the Ten Ascensions Lily withered, the spiritual energy all gobbled up by the abyssal void in my dantian. It had stopped producing qi a while ago, but I hadn't noticed while fighting for my life.

I still didn't know what it was, the mysterious hole in my spiritual core that had appeared while I passed out during my breakthrough. All I knew was that it sometimes stole my cultivation resources and paid me back in qi.

For all I knew it was a hidden aspect of my Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique. In the end, my speculations wouldn't change my fate.

"You are close, insignificant one. It was a gift from I, your predecessor. Your reckless actions led me to intervene as you woke me from my slumber. Those who desire my favour number in the trillions. Be grateful you were graced by my presence," an ancient, heavy will spoke directly into my mind.

I wondered if I was going insane as I died, but it continued, shaking my very soul with each word. "You released your innate vital qi, a lethal action without proper precautions. It is the essence of life, brought into existence at birth. Every drop spent represents your very lifespan vanishing. For you though, inheritor of the Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique, it represents a unique opportunity."

Time was frozen in this moment as an incomprehensible existence imposed its thoughts upon my being. I was frozen in the instant before my death, staring into the crazed eyes of my lethargic murderer.

"What are you?" I thought to myself, but it seemed to hear my question.

"Perhaps you may find out one day, if you can crawl high enough. A frog in a well cannot see anything except the sky. First climb Mount Tai before you try to gaze upon what lies beyond. For now, I have corrected your mistake. It will be the only gift you receive from this exalted one. If you cannot even break free from that pathetic, crippled realm then you are not worthy of further attention."

Time resumed, the streams of blood meandering along the steel blade. The strange sword cultivator looked into my eyes and furrowed his brow.

The void in my dantian collapsed, leaving behind a stream of golden qi, far denser than anything I'd ever felt. The stream exploded into mist, countless tiny droplets infusing every inch of my body.

My wounds healed instantaneously under the influence of the golden qi, but that wasn't all it did. About a third of the qi was directed to my heart, infusing the bleeding muscle with life.

Pierced through by the insidious flower sword, it hadn't beat for a few seconds. However, that changed the moment the potent golden qi appeared.

My heart absorbed the energy like a man dying of thirst in a desert, the withered organ regaining a lustrous sheen. A metallic thump echoed across the basin, like a giant pounding on a steel drum.

I recognised the sound, even if it was a variation on the last two. My heart had been fully refined according to the Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique, the process accelerated by the mysterious golden qi.

A feeling of indignation welled up inside and I was confused as to the source, until I looked down at the sword that still pierced my heart. Two thoughts crossed my mind simultaneously as I moved to act.

The sword cultivator noticed something was off and had already begun to withdraw his blade, but it was too late to escape my grasp. My body was healed, my qi circulating as I purged the fifth meridian of impurities having broken through to five-star Qi Gathering without much effort.

I had paid in suffering instead. A price worth paying. I gripped his sword by the blade, not caring about the sharp edge digging into my skin.

Thankfully the impurities expelled were eradicated by the golden qi that suffused my body. The source of my indignation was this bastard trying to steal my blood to fuel his sword.

It was an insult to the heavens. An insult to me—which in my opinion was the graver offense of the two. With my touch and the influence of the golden qi, which seemed unbound by worldly restrictions, my blood began to flow in reverse.

Now I drank from the blade. I saw a dark qi gathered in the hilt of his sword, the screams of dozens of tormented souls unable to have their final rest. A sinister technique, even by the standards of this world.

He'd claimed it was my bad fortune to encounter him, but today I would teach this man an important lesson. There are heavens beyond the heavens. With a twist of fate, destiny had reversed and now I was in control of this moment.

I had reclaimed my blood, tearing the sword from my heart as my body became whole and unblemished once more, brimming with power. As the last drops of blood left his sword, I scowled.

"I've been called a demonic cultivator for my techniques, but this weapon is truly evil," I admonished him, eliciting a frown and narrowed eyes from the cultivator.

"She is simply acting as is her nature, imparted by the man who forged her. To carry the blood of the defeated on my path is to give them face even in death. You dare impugn this sovereign's honour!?" he cried, voice crescendoing as he spewed his nonsense.

I didn't respond. There was no reasoning with someone who either didn't understand the truth of his weapon's power, or knew and was blind to the implications.

Instead, I began doing what I do best—healing. The souls trapped inside his sword were beyond my medicinal skills, but that didn't mean there was nothing I could do to help.

To be forged into a sword, metal must undergo a myriad of processes that warp it from its natural form. It is twisted, this evil sword even more so than other blades. I wasn't sure what trapped the souls within, despite being able to feel their desperate pleas for help.

Nonetheless, I had confirmed my application of the poison technique on the awakened bear beast earlier and now had another opportunity to put it to use. Poison, when applied correctly, can be used to treat all manner of afflictions.

I was no saint; I could not return the sword to its natural state, nor could I bring a soul back from the dead. Or at least whatever unnatural state they were trapped in.

What I could do was release them and return the sword to the earth. Balance restored, the natural order healed. Poisonous qi surged from my fingertips and grasped the blade.

Under the corrosive nature of my technique, the once magnificent sword returned to dust. As the ornate, flowery hilt crumbled I felt the gratitude of the released souls as they were returned to the six paths.

I clenched my fist, the cut on my palm already healed. All this had felt like an eternity, but in reality only a moment had passed. I inhaled sharply, my gaze descending on the hapless villain.

What was a sword cultivator without a sword? He discovered that they were nothing as my fists unleashed my fury upon him, bursts of toxic qi surging through his flesh with each strike.

I preferred to leave my opponents with a single breath remaining, thus leaving them a path to salvation through healing. For this man, the only treatment I could devise was a swift death.

The old me—the me who yet to experience this world—would have perhaps let him live. I was merciful, but only to a point. I knew now that to reach the peak and bring true enlightenment I needed enough strength to give weight to my philosophy.

Might makes right in the Celestial Jade Empire. The only language cultivators like this understood was their own and I was growing more proficient by the day.

He coughed blood as I held him by the neck. His head rolled to the side and I tossed away his corpse like trash. There was nothing to be gained.

I felt another wave of qi spread through my body as the remnant energies of the Ten Ascensions Lily were fully refined. The fifth petal hadn't allowed me to break through another small realm to six-star Qi Gathering, but I was already satisfied with my current cultivation.

It would be enough to deal with the rest of these violent children. I surmised this six-star sword cultivator was one of, if not the strongest person present.

With his death, I noticed a few of the elite cultivators of the Soaring Sword Sect despair, their battles growing desperate and hurried. Mistakes were made and in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, every blue robed disciple lay dead or incapacitated.

"Junior Brother… your cultivation," Wang Ren exclaimed, scratching his blood soaked chin as he approached.

His glaive was equally baptised. I could see he had fought well, the man's strength spoke for itself. His technique was fearsome and I doubted anyone at two-star Qi Gathering was his match. Perhaps he could even handle a three-star.

"I was fortunate to obtain the Ten Ascensions Lily for myself," I replied with a wry smile.

More than anyone else, Wang Ren knew how meteoric the rise of my cultivation was. From a mere four-star Body Tempering practitioner I had ascended an entire realm since leaving the Cloudy Falls Sect. If one counted the extra ten and eleven-star small realms and my current cultivation, then it was even greater than that.

"Fortunate indeed. Truly, the heavens are smiling on you, Zhao Dan. I am not sure I understand how one can accomplish such a rate of cultivation, but it makes me happy to see you thrive."

"As are you, Senior Brother Wang. Your glaive technique is formidable, even more so than it was when we last met. If not for this treasure I would still be looking up to you like a tiger cub does its father."

"Nonsense, you overpraise me for my meagre accomplishments. You must tell me what you have been up to since leaving the sect. I am intrigued. First though, let us deal with these beasts," he said, planting his feet in the ground before swinging his heavy glaive overhead.

A strange beast struck him. It looked like the bastard child of a wolf and a lizard, with scales and fangs in all the wrong places. A three-star awakened beast and yet he cleaved it in half with a single slice.

Looking at Wang Ren's bulging arms I couldn't help but joke, "You certainly didn't slack off in the Body Tempering Realm, Senior Brother!"

He raised an eyebrow as he looked towards me. "Unlike you, I didn't rush through it in a matter of months," he retorted.

****

Clearing out the beasts was only a matter of time. Once the Soaring Sword Sect had fallen all of the Cloudy Falls Sect disciples gathered at the summit worked together to slaughter or drive them back into the mountain range.

Now, the only people who remained in the rocky basin were red robed inner disciples of the Cloudy Falls Sect and myself. With no enemies to unify them, they had already begun arguing amongst themselves as long standing rivalries flared up.

I had many bones to pick myself, especially with the spear cultivator whose name I had yet to discover. "Who is that disciple?" I asked Wang Ren to finally put a name to his sneering face.

Wang Ren's gaze flickered to the haughty man, eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the flaming spear. "That is Huo Ze Qiang, one of the inner disciples closest to becoming a core disciple," he replied. "He's also an arrogant bastard and the heir of some powerful cultivator clan," he added with a snide chuckle.

That made a lot of sense given his behaviour until now. All that spouting about demons and evil was just him compensating for his failures after the elders poured all their spirit stones into his training. Or something like that, anyway…

All I cared about was getting a little satisfying revenge. Killing him felt too far, but he had killed me—or would have, if not for my breakthrough.

He believed I was dead, which meant the intent was there. Although with an elder of the Cloudy Falls Sect supposedly on the way, I would have to be careful about my actions.

Until that point, however, I was free to do as I pleased. At five-star Qi Gathering I was among the strongest there. Most of the other disciples were injured after the harrowing battle, whereas I'd received a second wind through the release of my innate vital qi healing me.

I followed Wang Ren until we joined the disciple leading his group, where three large groups were having a standoff. Sun Deng was leading the group we joined, gazing down on the others like an emperor looks upon a common criminal.

He heard our approach and turned to face us. I saw his fingers twitch upon seeing my face, but he didn't act. "You survived, Junior. Impressive," he said, his tone indicating he felt otherwise.

"Is junior the correct form of address still, Sun Deng?" I replied with a smirk. "We are both five-star cultivators now, after all."

He exhaled heavily, cocking his head to one side. "I suppose not, Zhao Dan. An impressive journey. From a four-star Body Tempering trash to a Middle Qi Gathering cultivator in a matter of months. Who else could boast such a speed of progression? I imagine there are those who would accuse you of cultivating unorthodox methods," he replied, eyes sweeping over the crowd.

I saw many small conversations break out in hushed whispers, weaker cultivators throwing wary glances my way. I ignored them all and strode forward, joining Sun Deng at the front of his group.

"Let us put aside our… differences for now, Sun Deng. Let me ask you a question. What is your relationship with Huo Ze Qiang?"

I gazed at the spear cultivator himself as I spoke, the man noticing my stare and meeting it in kind. His eyes widened and his jaw fell open as he recognised my face. I smiled and waved.

His eyes lit up with rage and he turned to the person next to him, waving his arms as he shouted something I couldn't hear. Which was strange, because my hearing had improved a lot with four breakthroughs.

Perhaps he had some kind of talisman that guarded against eavesdropping. Knowing he was the young master of some clan, it made sense that he had plenty of extravagant treasures on hand.

"We have our differences. Differences I would happily settle here and now, before the elder arrives," Sun Deng intoned slowly, sounding out my reaction. "If that is what you were suggesting, of course."

I turned to him with a frown on my face. "What!? You would kill a disciple of your own sect in front of all these witnesses? Of course I would never suggest something so villainous," I exclaimed, internally chuckling as his face paled and he stepped back.

Sun Deng coughed. "Of course, I was only testing fellow cultivator Zhao to see his true intentions. Forgive me," he said sheepishly behind his hand.

I burst out laughing, wheezing and pointing at him. "You're too easy, dude. This is why you need to care less about face. Let loose. You know what the best way to blow off some steam is?" I asked once my ribs began to hurt and I had to stop teasing him.

"This is not the time for trickery, Zhao Dan. We have limited time. Will you move on Huo Ze Qiang or not?" he demanded, gripping the hilt of his sword.

"So impatient," I tutted. "Regardless, I'll tell you. The best way to blow off steam is to slap the face off an annoying bastard. Lucky for us, we have one right there."

I'd lied. The true best way to relax and de-stress was a hot bath with a gorgeous woman by your side, but as I'd so painfully discovered, there were no baths out here—especially not the steaming hot variety.

I would settle for a small dose of petty revenge followed by a long stint of healing the wounded. Personal satisfaction and improved cultivation would be a well deserved reward for my efforts.

Leaving Xiao Cui alone with the village head was a hasty decision. I didn't regret it, but I did need to check up on them. The few silver coins I'd left wouldn't last much longer.

Sun Deng interrupted my idle thoughts, appearing beside me as we both appraised our shared enemy. Huo Ze Qiang was arguing with another cultivator in his group, while the twin leaders of the third group watched the unfolding action with interest.

"Do you know those two women?" I asked, nodding my head towards the startlingly similar female disciples. I guessed twins, but it could also be coincidence.

"Xin Xue and Lei Chunhua. They are the top inner disciples on Gentle Lake Peak, both candidates to become core disciples under Elder Ling Liling. The reason for their appearance is the Gentle Lake Peak's unique method of cultivation—Refining Purity Scripture," Sun Deng explained.

Wang Ren interrupted. "Most disciples of the Gentle Lake Peak are stunning beauties—the object of desire for all male disciples in the Cloudy Falls Sect. Which among us hasn't dreamt about Senior Sister Lei before," he said, smiling as he looked around the group.

Many of the male disciples were red in the cheeks while plenty of the women scowled at Wang Ren. I appraised him with fresh eyes. Had he always been that bold?

"That's very interesting. Their beauty is akin to the first drop of dew rolling from a lily as the sun rises," I replied, earning a few nods of appreciation. "However, none of that information is useful. Will they intervene if we attack Huo Ze Qiang?"

"Unlikely. Not only is he arrogant and domineering, but he constantly tries to seduce the female disciples. They'd be more likely to help us kill him," Sun Deng snorted.

For once, the world didn't seem to be throwing a pile of dragon shit my way. This was one grudge I could settle before returning to Three River City.

There, with my newfound cultivation, I could return to the palace and settle the grievances I had there—for both mine and Xiao Cui's sake. I looked forward to a clean slate, though I suspected I would need to leave the city and the influence of the Cloudy Falls Sect depending on what unfolded here on the Jagged Sword Peak.

However, there was nothing that would stop me. I was a healer, but I was not a saint. I tried not to be violent when I didn't need to. Maybe a doctor working in safer conditions would've had different views, but my life had always been lived on the edge.

I came to these mountains to seek enlightenment so that I could protect those around me, but all I found was the callous cruelty of a cold spear and the indifference of cultivators.

Sometimes, healing the world began with a beating. Even the body followed this principle. Devouring damaged and rotten cells was the first step in defeating an infection.

"Don't kill him," I said as I cycled my qi through five meridians, each completed cycle filling my body with an overwhelming sense of power.

Sun Deng raised an eyebrow at my remark. "I thought the goal was to kill him before the elder arrived?"

"We have plenty of time… and I need to practise my healing techniques. Don't ruin this," I replied, cracking the stone ground as I kicked away from the group.

I leapt forwards, arriving in front of Huo Ze Qiang before he realised we were on the move. However, he reacted fast, his spear whirling around as flames erupted at the tip.

He jumped to the side and thrust his spear at my neck, but I had no need to defend. Sun Deng appeared in a gust of wind, his sword expertly parrying the spear to the side.

Huo Ze Qiang frowned. "You would work with this demonic scum, Sun Deng? I always knew you were a despicable bastard but this is a new low," he sneered, his confidence unshaken even though he was battling against the odds.

"Ze Qiang, you would doubt the judgement of the Elders? Either you're more of a fool than everyone believes or you're more arrogant than a damn dragon," Sun Deng retorted without pause.

I was tired of all this talking. The only thing cultivators seemed to love more than slaughtering each other was the sound of their own voices.

My leg flashed, a sharp kick aimed at his knee. Ze Qiang avoided it but a swift slash from Sun Deng's sword blocked off his path of retreat.

He grunted in annoyance as the pressure continued to increase. I erupted into a flurry of punches and kicks, ducking and weaving as his flaming spear danced through the air like a phoenix.

Sun Deng interspersed the clash with precise thrusts and cuts of his sword. As a surgeon I could appreciate his surgical attacks, but now was not the time for admiration.

I was forced away from the clash as another cultivator joined the battle. It was the guy that had been whispering with Huo Ze Qiang earlier. He was only three-star Qi Gathering, but I couldn't ignore his heavy sword strikes.

I couldn't avoid every single one, his sharp blade carving gashes along my arms and legs as we traded blows. Eventually I delivered a swift whirling kick to his chin, his head whipping to the side with a sharp crack.

Exhaling, a wave of medicinal energy flowed from my lungs towards the wounds on my skin. Since breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm, my healing techniques had been far more potent on my own wounds.

I'd noticed it before but could confirm it now; every time I healed myself the renewed flesh was a little tougher than before. In Body Tempering I'd achieved two extra small realms, so was the Qi Gathering Realm going to be an endless cycle of self improvement instead?

There was no time to ponder such things. Without my assistance Sun Deng was at a standstill in the fight against Huo Ze Qiang, the overpowering techniques of the spear user made a perfect defense against Sun Deng's elegant sword style.

I leapt back into the fray, pushing back Huo Ze Qiang once more. He was on the backfoot, his spear suited to defend against two enemies at once but not fast enough to block all the strikes headed his way.

More of my punches and kicks connected, with a few of Sun Deng's slashes also drawing blood. When it seemed as though we were about to finally break his guard, I sensed his qi erupting from his dantian and leapt away, grabbing Sun Deng's arm.

However, I couldn't get away in time. Sun Deng was hit worst as a storm of flames radiated outwards from Huo Ze Qiang.

I smelled the burning flesh before I saw it, the acrid stench of meat assaulting my improved senses. I weathered the fire, my body and dantian working overtime to sustain itself. However, my qi was draining rapidly.

An attack of this scale had to be a final technique. I doubted Huo Ze Qiang could use any techniques after this, let alone unleash another one on this scale.

Unfortunately I wasn't sure whether my healing could outlast the burning maelstrom, while retreat would mean leaving Sun Deng to suffer alone. We were only allies of circumstance, but I wasn't the type of pig bastard to leave him suffering while saving my own skin.

Surprisingly, I was taking a little less damage from the flames with each passing moment. I still had to clench my jaw through the agony. Burning alive was not a fun experience, but it was growing more bearable with each breath.

I had a sudden spark of inspiration. This was fire born from qi, not natural flames, which meant that when reduced to its base it was just energy. My physique refined energy into healing…

What I was about to do was extremely risky but would have enormous payoff if it worked. Not only for the immediate battle, but for future techniques and my path.

I exhaled, letting the cold wave of medicinal energy restore my flesh. It tingled and I hesitated for a breath, knowing if my theory was wrong I was about to experience an entirely new level of agonising torture.

Preparing myself I took a deep breath, letting the violent flames race down my throat into my stomach. If not for my stomach being refined I may not have risked this. It didn't seem to have the same function as my lungs but I was betting it would be similar.

The fire qi went wild as soon as it entered my body. My tongue melted, my throat ablaze as the qi seared away my flesh. However, as the breath came to completion a portion of the fire qi was absorbed into my lungs.

Instead of burning away the flesh, it was devoured. I exhaled, an action that should be natural sending waves of devastating pain through my chest. Along with the pain came the most potent stream of healing energy I'd created, rejuvenating every burnt cell in its wake.

Once my flesh was restored, the fire qi attacked again with renewed vigour. However, it was far less effective. It still burnt through my flesh but it took about twice the time as before.

What happened next surprised me. The remaining fire qi in my body suddenly all moved in a single direction, sinking into my stomach as though it was being drawn into a black hole.

My stomach sucked in the flames and I watched as it drew a stream of qi from my dantian. The swirling mess reminded me of my healing technique, the fire qi blending with my own as it was mixed inside my stomach.

The stream of qi sped up as the two types of qi merged, the line between the flames and my own qi blurring. Soon a single strand of qi was all that remained, a gentle orange that reminded me of the sky at sunset.

Instead of being forced outwards into my body, the new strand of qi became inert within my stomach. I realised it would not move without me exerting my will.

I couldn't know what the effect of this new qi would be however, without having experienced it before. My body continued to burn under the onslaught of the fire storm, so I repeated the process a few times until I had five strands of this strange new qi stored in my stomach and my flesh no longer burned.

The fire qi storm began to withdraw as Huo Ze Qiang was drained of energy. I raced forwards, finding Sun Deng kneeling on the ground.

I barely recognised him, every inch of his skin was blackened and charred like meat that had been left on the grill too long. His qi was faint, barely a pulse.

I placed a hand on his shoulder and he didn't even react. His skin cracked at my touch, a few flakes peeling away and crumbling to the ground.

The fact he was still alive was testament to his immense willpower and the fortitude of his physique. I was a healer first; before claiming vengeance on Huo Ze Qiang I would ensure Sun Deng would not die or be forced to live as a burnt cripple.

What I was about to do was risky, but I had a gut feeling it was going to be more effective than any of my previous healing techniques. Plucking two strands of the strange new qi from my stomach, I guided them into Sun Deng's body while clamping down with my intent.

The steps were identical to any other use of the qi healing technique, but every single component was unique to me and my physique. The final outcome was a mystery, but the instant the orange qi entered his body I watched it explode with vitality.

The charred flesh on his shoulder cracked and fell away, revealing pristine skin like jade. This spread like a wave across his body as the two strands of orange qi exploded into a mist of rejuvenating energy.

His scarred eyes opened as he inhaled sharply, coughing black blood. He leapt to his feet and then staggered.

I caught him and chuckled. "Take it easy, Sun Deng. That fire storm technique was potent. You were on death's door."

He stared at me wide-eyed. "You healed me? How!? No technique exists to heal such wounds, unless you're…" he exclaimed, suddenly going quiet towards the end. "Are you a hidden nascent soul sage!?"

"Hah!" I snorted, doubling over at his outburst. What a ridiculous accusation, though given how lacking this world's healing techniques were I wasn't too surprised at his line of thought.

"Not quite," I replied. "I have a unique physique suited for healing. My techniques are derived from that and far more potent than the regular qi healing technique or any healing pills."

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with my explanation but still threw me suspicious glances every now and then. The whirlwind of qi within his body came to an end and I watched as the strands of orange qi reformed.

However, they seemed to have lost the unique effect that had been created in my stomach, returning to the vibrant green of my regular qi. Additionally, the quantity of qi had doubled, four strands rushing into my dantian as I gasped at the cold sensation.

I wasn't sure if that was unique to the qi refined in my stomach or if I could expect similar gains through every application of my healing technique in the Qi Gathering Realm.

Before discovering the answer to that question, I had to finish the battle. I walked forwards to where Huo Ze Qiang stood.

He was panting, the flow of his qi erratic and weak after unleashing the devastating storm of fire qi. His spear still burnt brightly and he levered it at me as he noticed my approach.

He couldn't stop the shock from showing on his face however, eyes wide and mouth open. "How are you still alive!?" he exclaimed. "I was right, you truly are a demon."

I slapped him, the sound reverberating across the basin as the gathered cultivators watched. Everyone else had rushed away from his technique, though I spotted a few unfortunate souls who had been caught in the blast, burnt and bloody on the rocky ground.

"Enough."

He stumbled backwards, clutching his face. "You dare?"

I rushed forwards, sweeping his legs from beneath him as I delivered a chop to the back of his neck. He fell to his knees, unable to move.

Some weaknesses still remained even on a cultivator's body, it seemed. "Stop blabbering. Your ass must be jealous of the shit that comes out of your mouth. Calling me a demon while your own fellow disciples tread the line between life and death after burning in your technique," I snarled.

At first this had been for personal satisfaction. To pay him back for trying to kill me during my breakthrough. I'd planned to leave him beaten for his master to drag back to the Cloudy Falls Sect.

That was letting him off lightly.

For a moment I stood in silence, watching the flow of his qi. His body was like a furnace, his dantian the bellows blowing the fiery energy around his meridians.

Qi could be used to heal, reversing the damage left by a weapon. A surgeon's scalpel could carve out a tumour, but it could also sever tendons.

A man like this did not deserve to have power over others. He was irresponsible, rash, and cared little for the collateral damage he caused.

Not to mention that he was trash who had constantly betrayed fellow disciples of the same sect. For a man like this, there was only one punishment I felt would suit his crimes.

Qi gathered around the tip of my finger as I bent down so that my face was level with his. "You throw your power around without care. As a healer it is my duty to eradicate infections anywhere I find them," I said as I placed my finger against his stomach, right above his dantian.

"What are you doing! Stop!" I heard a panicked voice cry from above right as I unleashed my qi and shattered his dantian.

Chapter 43

Crippling Huo Ze Qiang's cultivation had been surprisingly simple. Figuring out the connection between the dantian and the spirit during my breakthrough to Qi Gathering was the foundation.

Once I knew where to cut, the actual application of the technique was as easy as turning my hand. A few strands of my qi and decades of painstaking cultivation were gone.

At the moment I'd crippled him I'd heard an unfamiliar voice crying out from above. Throwing my gaze to the skies as a shadow fell over me, I saw a man in white and gold robes standing in the air. The next moment I staggered as a presence like a dozen mountains slammed into me.

I righted myself, clenching my teeth as the elder continued to hammer down on me with the full weight of his cultivation. It seems my timing was rather unfortunate…

The earth rumbled as the elder slammed into the rocky ground, his robes billowing as the nearby disciples seemed either relieved or terrified. I immediately thanked the heavens that it was not Huo Ze Qiang's master who had arrived or I might already be dead.

Nonetheless, crippling the cultivation of a Cloudy Falls Sect disciple in front of one of their elders was not a wise move. I didn't regret my actions though, defiantly staring down the elder as his furious gaze fell on me like a meteor.

"Hmph! Junior, you dare?" he flicked his sleeve and a scroll appeared in his hands, the inscriptions glowing with mystical golden light.

I reached into my dantian, knowing I would need every drop of qi I possessed if I wanted to survive the elder's strike. My chances were slim, but even a deer can escape a tiger in the right circumstances.

The pressure of the elder's aura reached a peak as the golden inscriptions began to peel from his scroll. "Let's see if you can remain so audacious in the face of my Seven Edicts Judgement Scripture!" he cried, flicking his other sleeve.

I imagined he could have utilised his magic treasure with a lot less fanfare and yelling, but I had to admit he made a fearsome figure as he prepared to end my life. Suddenly Sun Deng threw himself between me and the elder, hands raised.

"Elder Shen, wait!" he exclaimed.

The elder harrumphed and shot Sun Deng a look of disdain, all but one of the glowing characters falling back onto his scroll. The final glowing character continued to vibrate and suddenly it shot into the sky, where it exploded into countless golden chains as thunder rumbled in the background.

"Junior Sun, I expect a plausible excuse for this ridiculous behaviour. Forcing me to waste the first edict of my Seven Edicts Judgement Scripture is no small cost," he snarled, rolling the scroll and keeping it with a wave of his sleeve.

"Elder Shen, this man is no enemy of our sect! He fought with us against the treachery of the Soaring Sword Sect and the fury of the local beasts, even claiming the Ten Ascensions Lily. Furthermore, he is an ex-disciple of our sect, not some random vagrant. I owe him a life debt and I ask that you honour this and spare him," Sun Deng proclaimed, waving his hands dramatically and bowing to his waist.

Honestly I'd half expected him to leave me to my fate, taking two of his enemies off the table in a single swoop. However, I had to respect his honour and the face he was giving me.

I sighed. I truly was becoming part of this world. The elder's gaze flicked back to me. He looked me up and down like a merchant appraising a fresh shipment of fruit, then his heavy eyes returned to Sun Deng.

The crushing weight of his cultivation lessened and he rubbed a palm against his temple, sighing. "Rise, Junior Sun. It seems this situation is complicated. Explain this business with the Soaring Sword Sect. I may need to report this to the Sect Leader," he ordered.

Before allowing the disciples to approach, the elder rushed to Huo Ze Qiang's side and placed a hand against his stomach, frowning as he realised what I'd done was incurable. The boy would never cultivate again.

Sun Deng was joined by others as they began babbling to the elder, who had a look of severe annoyance on his face. No doubt he would have preferred to remain at the sect cultivating rather than deal with a bunch of junior disciples.

I turned my attention to the countless wounded across the rocky basin. Any of the beasts still able to had fled when the battle turned, but there were endless beasts and cultivators lying in their own blood, painting a gory scene.

It was as though a dozen asuras had carved their way through the mountain summit, leaving nothing but death and destruction in their wake. I would do my utmost to heal those who still lived, but lamented that I could only focus on a single patient at a time.

Identifying those closest to entering the six paths, a step away from death, would be crucial. Triage was as effective here in this new world as it had been on Earth.

Actually, why did I have to limit myself to a single patient? The qi healing technique had those limitations and my own version which I had derived from Wang Ren's display shared those limits, but that didn't mean I couldn't improve it.

After all, my goal was to advance the healing arts of the Celestial Jade Empire. In order to do that I would need to build on the meagre foundations that already existed.

The only issue was that I still had a limited understanding of qi. My Fivefold Medicine Forge Physique had proved to have myriad functions and incredible utility for healing, but I wasn't sure it could help here.

I'd seen the potent healing effect of the mysterious orange qi when I used it on Sun Deng, but it had taken two full strands to heal him. Whether I could glean enough to create a working technique from the three remaining strands was uncertain, but I would give it my all.

A plethora of techniques existed at the Qi Gathering Realm which could disperse one's qi over a wide area, though most of them were combat techniques. Then again, most techniques were combat techniques in every realm…

Nonetheless, I could learn a lot from the methods used to direct the flow and dispersal of qi and apply those lessons to my own techniques. Unfortunately I wouldn't have the time to do so in the immediate future, meaning I instead needed to tend to every patient individually.

I began my task after spotting a beast with the faintest hint of qi emanating from its core. The strange awakened beast resembled no creature from Earth, with slimy scales covering its body, a curved beak filled with a dozen rows of razor-sharp fangs, and two sets of wings.

Despite my apprehension at approaching such a hideous creature, I swallowed my fear and kneeled beside it. Every living being was deserving of healing and I was simply the guiding hand.

It had dozens of sword and spear wounds across its body along with light burns from Huo Ze Qiang's firestorm technique. I separated a single droplet of the mysterious qi from one of the strands. It seemed successful at first but as soon as the drop was pulled from the strand the entire construct collapsed and dissipated.

Crap.

Those were extremely valuable resources, which I assumed I could create more of using my refined stomach, but only if I had the prerequisite ingredients. Namely, a foreign source of qi alongside my own.

Restoring the beast was relatively simple despite the severity of its wounds. I opted not to use the mysterious qi until I knew more about how to manipulate it, only infusing my own qi with the technique.

The beast's wounds rapidly healed and I soon felt a surge of qi returning to my dantian. The increase was not double as it had been when I healed Sun Deng with the mysterious new qi. However, I was not disappointed.

In this case I would be able to use quantity over quality, with dozens of patients awaiting treatment the gains would surely stack up. I felt as though I was not close to reaching the bottleneck for six-star Qi Gathering and hoped to draw nearer by the time I returned to Three River City.

After healing the beast I wandered through the corpse-strewn battlefield, healing cultivators and beasts one after another. At first I was uninterrupted, but I soon had a growing crowd following my work.

When one of the disciples grabbed my arm and tried to stop me in the middle of healing a wounded disciple, I was faced with a difficult trial. Cancelling the technique midway would put the patient at risk, but I couldn't ignore the man's actions.

Thankfully, Wang Ren had noticed the commotion and stepped in to assist, removing the disciple's grip and scolding him severely. After that, the number of disciples watching my actions only increased with even the elder gaining an interest.

"Junior, what are you doing? This lot can simply take some healing pills and sleep it off back at the sect. Don't waste your qi," he scoffed.

I threw him a look of disdain. "Is that truly how the Cloudy Falls Sect treats its disciples? I am glad I was expelled in that case. Healing others is my path, Elder. Do not attempt to stop me."

"You dare!?" he exclaimed, but Sun Deng once again threw himself between us.

"Elder, forgive him. Zhao Dan is a fervent follower of the healing arts. To stop his work is tantamount to blaspheming against the heavens in his eyes. He means no disrespect," he hurriedly explained.

That was an over exaggeration, but it seemed to placate the elder. Me nodding and bowing my head with a brief, "Indeed," was enough to quell his rage.

My qi was growing with every patient I healed and I felt myself approaching the limits of five-star Qi Gathering. Every new meridian I opened increased the rate I could cycle my qi and the amount I could infuse into a single technique, which meant every small realm in the Qi Gathering Realm represented a qualitative increase in the potency of my healing techniques.

When I moved onto the disciples of the Soaring Sword Sect, I felt countless gazes piercing my back. The disciples of the Cloudy Falls Sect clearly didn't like the fact I was healing their enemies, but I didn't care.

The lion does not listen to the opinions of sheep. There were very few of them left alive, so they would not be able to escape the clutches of the Cloudy Falls Sect regardless. Especially with the presence of a Foundation Building Elder.

After healing everyone I took a short rest on the least bloodstained boulder, with Wang Ren joining me. We reminisced on our days in the sect and promised to meet again in the future—under less violent circumstances.

As I prepared to return to Three River City, Elder Shen appeared in front of me, barring my path.

"Junior, I would ask that you return with us to the sect. The other elders may have questions and your techniques would be of great interest to the council and perhaps even the sect leader," he declared, his gaze no longer holding so much contempt towards me.

"I must decline your offer, Elder Shen. I have business in Three River City and I have been gone for too long already," I replied, realising as I spoke it had been almost a week since I left.

His mouth twitched. "Are you sure, Junior Zhao? Refusing will not look favourable for you when I recount the events of today."

"I am sure, Elder. I appreciate your perspective but I am no longer a disciple of the sect. You may tell the sect leader or the other elders they may seek me out in Three River City if they have further questions."

That was a risky move, inviting further scrutiny from cultivators who could squash me like a bug, but I needed a way to politely decline, giving the elder face while not bending to his will.

Additionally, I had a throbbing headache. About halfway through healing the wounded my temple had spiked with pain and my dantian felt weak, the flow of my qi a trickling stream compared to the raging river it had been.

I suspected that even though my healing technique increased my total qi, constant use still exerted me in some unseen ways and I would need rest in order to be at my full potential once again.

The clamouring of the disciples who were barely injured to heal their minor cuts and bruises hadn't helped the headache, but Wang Ren and Sun Deng had put a stop to that. Sun Deng had even gone as far as saying I could call on him whenever I needed as he now owed me a life debt.

A little extreme in my opinion, but I would not complain about having another ally. Especially one as talented as Sun Deng. He was sure to rise through the ranks of the Cloudy Falls Sect to a position of power one day, so having him owe me such a debt was no small affair.

I knew cultivators took these sorts of things seriously and to renege on his word would bring great dishonour, stripping him of face. Once expertly slipping away from Elder Shen I began the long walk back to the city.

A long walk which would be far quicker than it had been on the way there thanks to my improved cultivation. I wondered how little Cui was getting on alone. I hoped she hadn't caused any trouble…

****

The sun was approaching its zenith as I reached the city walls, the roads filled with caravans of merchants and citizens alike. The guards inspected each and every one, but upon sensing me one of them immediately rushed out to greet me.

I didn't recognise him as he wasn't on duty the first time I'd entered the city or been present in the palace during my brief incarceration. He bowed once he appeared in front of me in the queue.

"Honoured cultivator, you need not wait with the rest of the rabble. Please, follow me," he said, a little out of breath.

I wasn't usually the kind of guy who skipped queues, but looking out along the winding line of caravans that still needed inspection I decided that for once I would allow myself the luxury.

"Lead the way," I replied with a flick of my sleeve. One had to play the part, after all.

The city was buzzing with action, the restaurants full of patrons and endless mortals going about their daily business in the streets. I made a beeline for my building, avoiding the crowds.

When I was a street away I saw a line of young women that snaked around the corner. Turning onto the street I saw it went all the way down. Following the line I ended up in front of my own building, where the queue of women went inside.

I raised an eyebrow as I read the sign above the door. At least Xiao Cui hadn't been slacking off in my absence…

Chapter 44

Looking above the door of the building that was supposed to be my clinic, I sighed. Someone—I assumed Xiao Cui—had affixed a sign that read 'Madame Cui's Mystic Spice Emporium'.

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…"

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.