Chapter 3: Meeting a Fellow Townsman

In the courtyard.

Neatly arranged medicine racks stood in place, with various medicinal herbs laid out to dry.

At this moment, Wei Yang was carefully organizing them.

Since he would be leaving for quite some time, he needed to properly store these herbs before his departure.

All of these herbs had been purchased from the marketplace.

Over the past three years, aside from his daily cultivation, Wei Yang had also spent time researching and experimenting with herbs. By now, he could even be considered a physician.

He had successfully concocted several common medicinal products, such as hemostatic powders for wounds and scar-removal ointments, all with effective results.

Sometimes, he would set up a stall in the marketplace to sell these medicines for extra income. Over time, he had managed to establish a small reputation for himself.

After all, no matter how strong one's martial skills were, they still needed to eat.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, the sound of knocking came from the courtyard gate.

"Is the little physician Wei here?"

A loud voice called out from outside.

"I'm here. Coming." Wei Yang responded, setting aside his work and turning to open the gate.

As the gate swung open, he saw a burly man standing outside. The man was dressed as a mercenary, exuding an aura of rugged fierceness.

"Little Physician Wei, do you still remember me?" The burly man attempted to pull a grin, though his expression remained rather intimidating. He deliberately lowered his voice as he spoke.

"I remember. You're Captain Meng."

Wei Yang nodded before asking, "Are you here to buy medicine?"

"That's right. Our team is preparing to head into the Magical Beast Mountain Range in a couple of days, so we want to stock up on some medicine." Captain Meng responded in his deep, rumbling voice.

"Come in."

Wei Yang turned and walked inside. "What kind of medicine do you need?"

Captain Meng stepped in and followed behind him. "Everything. Hemostatic, bruise relief, antidotes—get me a bit of everything."

Wei Yang nodded and led him into the main hall. Inside, there was a counter with various bottles and jars neatly arranged on top.

Behind the counter, cabinets lined the walls, filled with even more bottles, jars, and wooden boxes.

With his growing reputation, Wei Yang rarely needed to set up a stall anymore. Most of his customers were regulars who came directly to him.

Standing behind the counter, he pointed to a set of wooden boxes labeled for different categories. "Pick what you need. Each has a name and description."

"Got it." Captain Meng nodded and immediately began selecting carefully.

Before long, he had chosen a total of forty sets of medicine, some bottled, others packed in wooden boxes.

Seeing this, Wei Yang handed him a paper bag. "Forty gold coins. Here, pack them yourself."

Captain Meng grinned, took the bag, and readily pulled out the gold coins to pay. After securing all the medicine, he hoisted the bag up.

"Little Physician Wei, I'll be off then." Captain Meng said as he prepared to leave.

"I'm going away for a while—maybe two or three months—so you won't find me here if you need medicine during that time." Wei Yang added, then frowned. "And stop calling me 'Little Physician.' Just call me Physician Wei."

"Uh… force of habit." Captain Meng scratched his head awkwardly.

"Alright then, I got it, Wei Xiao… I mean, Physician Wei. I'll come back in three months." With that, he carried his bag and strode away.

Watching his departing figure, Wei Yang shook his head and began tidying up the counter.

These big, burly guys…

He glanced down at himself. At fifteen years old, he stood nearly 170 cm tall with sharp and handsome features. Though his skin was fair and his demeanor refined, making him seem somewhat slender at first glance, he was actually the kind of person who looked slim in clothes but was well-built underneath.

His muscles weren't exaggerated, but they were lean and strong.

So… what part of him was 'little,' exactly?Damn it.

Wei Yang reached into his pocket, took out his coin pouch, and placed the gold coins inside.

A storage ring?

Yeah, right.

Even the lowest-grade storage ring started at fifty thousand gold coins.

Started!Realistically, the final price could easily be eighty or even a hundred thousand.

That thing was a luxury item in the Dou Qi Continent.

Exclusively for nobles.

The next day.

At dawn, as the morning sun began to rise.

Wei Yang locked his courtyard gate, slung a beast-hide backpack over his shoulders, and stepped out.

Walking out of the alley, he arrived on the bustling streets outside.

Under the morning glow, the entire Wu Tan City had already begun to awaken early, brimming with liveliness. The streets were teeming with people, a sea of movement filled with energy.

On the streets, people bustled about, and horse-drawn carriages moved in an endless stream.

From time to time, groups of mercenaries could be seen, carrying blades and swords, walking in threes and fives, exuding an air of ferocity.

Because this place was close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the one thing Wu Tan City never lacked was these mercenaries who lived by the blade. They were also a major reason behind the city's high popularity.

Wei Yang walked forward, heading in the direction of the city gate.

Before long, an entrance to a large marketplace appeared ahead.

This marketplace belonged to one of the three great clans—the Xiao Clan.

The guards at the entrance stood straight, clad in neat uniforms and well-equipped. Standing there, they looked exceptionally spirited.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance of the marketplace.

Wei Yang, curious, stopped and looked over.

"Xiao Yan is here!"

"It's Young Master Xiao Yan!"

"Third Young Master!"

"Ah! Young Master Xiao Yan is so handsome!"

…

"Xiao Yan?"

Wei Yang raised an eyebrow and focused his gaze.

So, he was finally going to meet this fellow countryman?

On the street ahead, a handsome young boy, around twelve or thirteen years old, his face still filled with youthful innocence, walked toward the marketplace entrance, surrounded by a group of young boys and girls.

Wherever he passed, cheers and praises followed, resembling the scene of a celebrity making an appearance.

At the forefront, Xiao Yan handled the situation with great composure.

A faint smile adorned his face as he welcomed the cheers, praises, and compliments from the crowd.

Without a doubt, at this moment, amidst a group of young boys and girls, Xiao Yan was the brightest star on the entire street.

The Third Young Master of the Xiao Clan.

A heaven's chosen prodigy, a genius renowned throughout the empire.

Xiao Yan was not yet twelve years old, yet he was already a one-star Dou Zhe.

At this scene…

"Brimming with confidence, sharp and dazzling. Tsk tsk."

Wei Yang watched with a smile. "I was already a six-star Dou Shi at fifteen. Should I be proud?"

"Hmm?"

Wei Yang carefully observed his fellow countryman. From Xiao Yan's spirited brows, he vaguely noticed a trace of anxiety? Moreover… the smile at the corner of his mouth seemed somewhat stiff.

"Oh? So Yao Lao, that old sly fox, has already started?"

Wei Yang silently speculated.

At this moment, Xiao Yan had not yet experienced his cultivation decline, but his Dou Qi was probably already disappearing mysteriously every day.

Training diligently day after day, only to find that his Dou Qi showed no progress, and yet he dared not tell anyone about it—how could he not feel anxious?

Before long, his cultivation would begin to plummet.

Yao Lao didn't actually need to absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, but it was likely a test for his future disciple.

After all, Yao Lao had been betrayed by his previous disciple. It was only natural for him to be more cautious.

Moreover, the past and present Xiao Yan, in terms of temperament, did not yet meet Yao Lao's standards.

He was too arrogant and had never experienced setbacks.

So, this was a benevolent lesson from Yao Lao!

Thinking of this, Wei Yang couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle. Then, his gaze shifted toward another figure.

Beside Xiao Yan stood a beautiful young girl, around eleven or twelve years old, exuding a temperament as pure as a green lotus.

Xiao Xun'er… no, she should be called Gu Xun'er.

A golden thigh to cling onto. A little rich lady.

Wei Yang couldn't help but feel envious, even tempted to stop striving altogether.

Jealousy, envy, and hate.

Unfortunately, there was no chance.

Seemingly sensing Wei Yang's gaze, Gu Xun'er turned to look.

Her gaze landed on Wei Yang, and in her pair of clear, beautiful eyes, a hint of surprise flickered.

"A six-star Dou Shi, very young, and possessing a strong soul fluctuation. Is he an alchemist?" Gu Xun'er thought to herself, somewhat astonished.

"Just a glance, and she already noticed me? What a sharp perception." Wei Yang was inwardly shocked, but his face remained calm. Instead, he smiled at her and nodded slightly before turning away.

This one cannot be provoked!

Right now, he did not want to attract Gu Xun'er's attention in the slightest.

After all, she had Dou Huang-level bodyguards escorting her wherever she went.

Gu Xun'er tilted her head slightly, her gaze subtly following Wei Yang's departing figure. Her willow-like brows furrowed faintly, and a trace of surprise lingered in her eyes.

"So young… at most fourteen or fifteen years old. His aura is solid, with no signs of instability—his foundation is excellent. I didn't expect to see such a talented youth in this remote Jia Ma Empire. Could he be from somewhere else?"

However, she quickly withdrew her gaze and paid it no further attention.

In the Gu Clan, individuals like Wei Yang were commonplace, and there were many even more outstanding than him.

It was just surprising to encounter one in this tiny Wu Tan City.

Nothing worth dwelling on.