Chapter 002: Potion Boy

The incident from last time had passed by half a month already, without any contact with that woman whose face he did not clearly see at the time. Over these two weeks, Yang Fan had continuously been searching for his senior apprentice sister, but unfortunately, there was still no news. Sometimes Yang Fan was quite frustrated; damn it, I finally saved a woman, at least she should give me some thanks and reward, but that night, Murphy's Law was in full effect. There were no stars, nor moonlight, not a single speck of light. The night was vast and the location was on the outskirts where not even the birds would defecate, so he hadn't really seen the woman's face; moreover, the woman had left in a hurry after only a few perfunctory words of thanks. Half a month had passed, where on earth could he find this woman to ask for a reward?

Yang Fan stood in the plaza of East Park in Xinghai City, watching the summertime parade of beautifully dressed women, an image he would never get to see in the mountains, much to his delight. It's just a shame that he wasn't really in the mood to pay attention.

Crouched on the ground, dressed in a simple outfit of jeans and a T-shirt, with canvas shoes on his feet, he stared at the bottles of medicine he had placed on the ground, daydreaming. He hadn't sold a single bottle all day long.

Having arrived in Xinghai City half a month ago, the money he had was nearly spent, and there was still no sign of his senior apprentice sister. His master had told him that if he couldn't find his senior apprentice sister within a month, she would die. Now, half of that time had already passed, and Yang Fan truly didn't know if he would be able to find her.

Half a month ago, he was still living in the mountains with the old man, his master, and had never left. Then one night, his senior apprentice sister came home covered in blood, and neither his master nor Yang Fan could get her to respond to any questions. The next morning when Yang Fan woke up, his senior apprentice sister was gone.

His master had told him that his senior apprentice sister had been poisoned with something even he couldn't cure. She didn't want to burden her master and Yang Fan, so she left alone. Therefore, this time his master decided that no matter what, Yang Fan had to leave the mountain to find his senior apprentice sister and bring her back to Kongming Mountain, where there might still be a chance to save her.

For half a month, he worked odd jobs while searching for his senior apprentice sister, sustaining himself solely through these odd jobs.

Now that he had run out of money, Yang Fan was "out of resources", and of necessity had concocted some simple medicine to sell in order to make ends meet through the rest of the month; however, city folk didn't recognize the value of his goods. After spending half the day, he hadn't sold a single bottle and received many disapproving looks, with most passersby throwing him harsh words:

"In this day and age, people so young are coming out as fraudsters, claiming their medicine cures all diseases. Do you really think there are such miracle medicines and elixirs?"

"20,000, what a joke. I wouldn't buy this untraceable stuff even for 200."

"What backward village is this kid from, thinking city folks are fools with too much money, what a joke."

...

Such comments were incessant. Out of options, and needing to eat, Yang Fan dropped his price from twenty thousand to two hundred, ready to sell if anyone was willing to pay that amount.

"There are so many people here, there's not even space for my dog to move." Two beautiful women were walking towards him, roughly the same height, one carrying an air of cold arrogance, the other more like a bright and sunny girl-next-door, with the dog nestled in her arms.

The cold beauty curled her lips, "Shanshan, let's go home, it's too crowded here."

"But cousin, although the villa is big and has a garden, the dog doesn't want to stay. The vet said it just got over an illness and needed to be walked." Yuan Shanshan wasn't going to just go home right after coming out.

Murong Yan seemed helpless but decided to let it be; her cousin seldom came to Xinghai City, she needed to accompany her around.

"Hey, that beggar looks so pitiful, still selling medicine." Yuan Shanshan, holding the dog, stopped in front of Yang Fan, her gaze lingering on him.

Damn, I'm not a beggar, okay? Are there any beggars as handsome as me? This lady's vision… "Miss, would you like to buy some medicine? Whether for animals or people, if they're sick, this medicine can surely cure them. Only two hundred yuan, I guarantee it's worth it. Would you like to buy a bottle?"

Yuan Shanshan shook her head: "Not interested, but you look so pitiful; here's two hundred yuan." Yuan Shanshan took out two bills and handed them to Yang Fan.

Seeing her cousin's overwhelming sympathy, Murong Yan snatched the money away: "Silly girl, this area is full of professional beggars, all con-artists. Are you just burning through your money?"

Yuan Shanshan was unmoved: "Cousin, it's fate. It's just two hundred yuan." She took the money back and handed it to Yang Fan.

When Yang Fan received the money, he stood up: "Miss, aid in urgent need is the code of Jianghu. I won't take your money for nothing." Yang Fan handed her a bottle of the medicine: "Maybe we'll meet again." He then turned and left with the money.

Yuan Shanshan was left somewhat amused and exasperated, what a world where even beggars have such character.

"Better throw it away, Shanshan, it's all a trick."

Yuan Shanshan verbally agreed, but looking at the delicate little bottle, she couldn't bear to throw it away and sneakily stashed it in her bag.

...

With the two hundred yuan, he could barely cover the rent, not leaving much left. He returned to the dilapidated urban village, where the fat female landlord, as wide as a barrel from any angle, was already waiting. Upon seeing Yang Fan return, she raised her voice, "Yang Fan, it's time to pay the rent."

Always looking to flirt with Yang Fan, the kid from the mountains, she probably wouldn't mind bartering the rent to take a few liberties with him, given how good-looking this kid was.

Every time he saw that woman stagger over flirtatiously, Yang Fan felt like he could go three days without food and still not be hungry.

After paying the landlord one hundred yuan for rent, Yang Fan changed his clothes and left his small room.

His only method to find his senior female apprentice was to wander aimlessly, or at most, spend a little money to print some flyers and distribute them in crowded places.

As night fell and the lights of Xinghai City came on, Yang Fan still hadn't found any trace of her. Hanging his head in dejection, he walked back. Another day passed with no sign of her. Fifteen days left, not long but not short either. If he couldn't find her… sighing involuntarily, Yang Fan thought he must not lose hope. He definitely could!

After eating a bowl of noisy noodles at a small roadside restaurant, Yang Fan headed to the crowded areas of the mall, carrying hundreds of flyers to try his luck.

The mall was indeed crowded. On the second floor, it was packed with people. Yang Fan handed out dozens of flyers, and annoyingly, many people threw them straight into the trash after taking one—it was such a waste, those were printed with money! There was no choice but to pick them back out of the trash and continue distributing.

"Stop right there, thief, don't run!" A loud voice came from the side, followed by a running figure who flashed by and disappeared into the crowd before Yang Fan could react. Then, a woman bumped into him. Fortunately, his footing was stable. Touching his chest, Yang Fan remarked, "Hey, in a rush to reincarnate?"

A woman with long hair and a delicate face, catching her breath, fiercely glanced at Yang Fan: "What are you doing? In cahoots with the thief?"

It's true what they say, big cities do have more beauties—you run into them everywhere. Yang Fan, taking a few extra looks, rolled his eyes: "What are you talking about? The thief has long been gone."

"You're blocking my way. I bet you're an accomplice of the thief, just here to meet up; show me your ID," the woman demanded, reaching out for Yang Fan's identification.

"Look… who are you? Why should I show you? Are you a cop?" Though Yang Fan was from the countryside, he had seen enough TV dramas to know not just anyone can ask for his ID, what a joke!

"You're right, I am a cop." The woman took out her badge and held it up in front of Yang Fan, raising her voice: "Show your ID."

Damn, real bad luck, she really was a cop. Yang Fan hesitated about showing his ID when suddenly trouble found him again: "It's you?" Murong Yan, panting heavily, ran up from the side. Seeing it was Yang Fan, everything clicked for her: "This guy! I've seen him before—he conned my cousin out of two hundred yuan, definitely not a good person, a total scammer."

Hearing her close friend Murong Yan's words, policewoman Yang Huiru reevaluated Yang Fan: "ID, now."

Reluctantly, Yang Fan handed over his ID to the policewoman without a word.

Yang Huiru glanced at the ID and found nothing unusual, then handed it back to Yang Fan: "I still think you're the most suspicious…"

"Officer, which eye of yours sees me as suspicious?" Running into such an unreasonable woman was just outright bad luck.

"Huiru, don't waste words on him, just arrest him." Murong Yan, having no patience for such disagreeable characters, was in no mood to be kind.

Just then, two security guards brought over a young man: "We caught the thief."

A smile formed on Yang Fan's lips: "Officer, any more you want to say now?"

Yang Huiru stubbornly retorted, "Well, your clothes look so similar."

Yang Fan noticed, indeed, the thief wore a shirt very similar to his own, both N-brand T-shirts, and even their ages were similar.

"Alright, respected police officer, my mistake. I shouldn't have worn the same type of shirt as a thief. It's my fault."

"You…" Yang Huiru was left speechless by Yang Fan's mocking words.

Murong Yan immediately stepped in to defend: "It was just a mistake, and it's not like we did anything to you, right?"

Yang Fan, who had long found this woman unpleasant, blurted out, "Miss, what if I strip you naked and don't even apologize? Can I then also say it didn't affect you at all? Or what if I casually declare you a prostitute, that you work in that industry, and just say 'it didn't affect you at all'? Should we consider the matter settled then?"

"You… you're the prostitute." Enraged, Murong Yan raised her voice. This jerk, in full public view, could really say anything.

"I could never be one, but if you, miss, ever take up that profession, you must tell me—I'll be your first customer." After saying this, Yang Fan turned and left, with laughter erupting from the surrounding crowd.

Murong Yan, unable to vent her anger, had been ridiculed publicly by Yang Fan. Without another word and pulling Yang Huiru along, she swiftly left the mall crowd and calmed down somewhat only on the first floor: "What low class, hope I never see you again, jerk!" She stomped her feet and cursed a few more times.

Yang Huiru, looking helpless, quickly tried to soothe her.