Chapter Nineteen: Brother, Want to Buy Some Medicine?

After spending half the day in the teahouse, his achievement progress climbed to over five hundred people.

Then Yu Ge felt he couldn’t take it any longer.

He had thought his skin was thick enough to withstand all the gossip and cold stares. In reality, he had greatly overestimated himself. While he managed to endure at first, as time dragged on, every minute felt like an eternity.

It was unbearably awkward—so much so that he nearly wanted to crawl out of his own skin. No matter how hard he had tried to feign indifference, his composure eventually crumbled. Now, his face was still an iron gray, burning with embarrassment.

He decided he would no longer look forward to this achievement.

As the last pot of tea ran dry, Yu Ge paid the bill and made his way downstairs as swiftly as if he were fleeing from the piercing, meaningful, almost mocking gazes at his back.

This teahouse—he wouldn’t be coming back any time soon. The shame was just too much.

No sooner had he walked down the stairs than a chubby, well-dressed young man hurried after him.

He searched for Yu Ge’s figure, then followed behind.

The young man’s attempts at stealth were hardly subtle. After trailing Yu Ge for two streets, even in his distracted state, Yu Ge noticed the shadow tailing him.

His expression shifted slightly, and his fingers instinctively brushed the hilt at his waist.

Though he should be unafraid of most people in this small town by now, there was always the risk of running into trouble—one could dodge a spear in the open, but not an arrow in the dark.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the chubby figure.

He tried to recall if he had made any mistakes recently, but remembered that every time he took the Underworld-Cleaving Blade out, he wrapped it in black cloth, and he hadn't brought it out today. There was nothing on him that should attract this much attention.

Unable to discern the identity of the person following him, Yu Ge continued forward as if nothing was amiss.

After a while, he deliberately turned into a secluded alley, his steps slowing almost imperceptibly.

The pursuer, oblivious to Yu Ge’s awareness, continued to follow, creeping along with a suspicious air.

Unknowingly, the chubby youth followed him deeper into the side alley off the main street.

Yu Ge’s steps slowed further; the distance between them narrowed.

When only a few paces remained, Yu Ge’s right hand subtly gripped the hilt of the iron dagger at his waist, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.

But just then, the man behind him spoke up first, his voice sly and furtive.

“Hey, want to buy some medicine?”

Yu Ge suddenly froze. This was not at all what he had expected.

However, with the dagger already half-drawn, there was no turning back; he spun around, weapon in hand.

The slightly plump youth seemed startled and involuntarily took a step back, a look of alarm overtaking his round face.

“What kind of medicine?” Yu Ge asked.

Yu Ge stared fixedly at the plump youth’s broad face, but his gaze, contemptuous, flicked briefly to the area below the other’s waist.

If the man’s answer was off, Yu Ge had no qualms about letting his iron dagger taste blood.

That one casual glance made the chubby youth feel a chill at his core, as though a cold current was crawling up his spine from his tailbone. Every hair on his body screamed warning: the boy before him was dangerous.

It was as if any wrong answer would summon unknown horrors upon him.

A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead; for a moment, he nearly forgot what he meant to say and wondered whether he should continue at all.

But judging by the young man’s demeanor, it seemed not saying anything was not an option.

“Ahem… it’s the kind that’s good for your health!” The chubby youth’s tone was awkward, and he coughed lightly as he explained.

“Selling medicine?” Yu Ge was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned dark.

So this man was peddling tonics—and those kinds of tonics, at that!

But that wasn’t even the point. What truly stung was that the man thought he needed them!

Yu Ge’s hand tightened on the dagger, furious as he pondered whether to let the youth see a flash of crimson—to teach him a lesson in judgment.

Noticing Yu Ge’s unconscious movement, the chubby youth grew even more flustered.

He couldn’t understand it; by all appearances, the dagger in Yu Ge’s hand was perfectly ordinary, yet for some reason, it inspired a deep unease.

But hearing Yu Ge’s response, he realized he had likely said the wrong thing, or poked at a sore spot.

Noting Yu Ge’s martial bearing, the chubby youth’s eyes lit up as he changed tack.

“You look like someone who trains in martial arts. Are you interested in a business opportunity?”

“What kind of business?” Yu Ge’s tone eased, so long as the subject of medicine was dropped.

The youth continued, “I’m Lin Maozhi from the Hundred Herbs Hall. In a few days, I’m gathering some people to hunt mountain specters. I wonder if you’d be interested?”

Yu Ge raised an eyebrow.

To hear someone speak so casually about hunting mountain specters, as if it were nothing, was a first for him.

He had heard of the Hundred Herbs Hall; there was a shop right in town, and he remembered their injury balms were of good quality.

Finding out this youth was from the Hundred Herbs Hall and intended to hunt mountain specters, Yu Ge realized he had underestimated the apothecary.

“Aren’t you worried I might hold you back?” he asked, intrigued.

Lin Maozhi grinned. “You’re joking, brother. Anyone who’s reached the level of body-strengthening couldn’t possibly drag us down.”

Clearly, the chubby youth had already discerned his strength.

Yu Ge realized that Lin Maozhi’s eye for talent was sound. Recalling the offer, he couldn’t help but feel tempted.

He needed to kill mountain specters—not out of some civic duty, but because the second, larger star on his astral chart required slaying a certain number of them to complete its achievement.

The last reward he’d earned had increased his strength severalfold. Without a doubt, the main achievement this time would bring rich rewards as well.

Completing it was naturally his top priority.

Mountain specters were low-level spirits, but not easy to encounter. He couldn’t venture into areas too dangerous, and his chances in the wild were slim.

This invitation was clearly an excellent opportunity.

After all, anyone able to hunt mountain specters—creatures ordinary people couldn’t hope to resist—must know a great deal more about them than he did.

He couldn’t refuse such a chance.

“Alright, I accept. How’s the pay?”

“For each one we kill, fifty taels of silver per person,” Lin Maozhi said, holding up five chubby fingers and smiling.

Yu Ge nodded. Fifty taels a head was about a month’s living expenses for the average family, and since it was a group effort, the offer seemed fair. No reason to turn down extra payment.

After confirming the time and place, Yu Ge sheathed his iron dagger, and the chilling pressure that had weighed on Lin Maozhi evaporated.

Lin Maozhi smacked his lips, puzzled. He’d met many martial artists at the body-strengthening stage, but none had ever made him feel such pressure—and such a strange kind of pressure, at that.

Still, after a stroll to the teahouse and finding a capable helper, he was quite satisfied.

Even if, he thought, this fellow seemed to have some very unusual interests.

Just before leaving the alley, Lin Maozhi couldn’t resist one more sales pitch.

“How about a Rejuvenation Pill? Just a tiny one—you’ll feel the effects for two whole hours! Works wonders!”

Yu Ge’s face darkened again. He drew his dagger, flashing a cold gleam, prompting Lin Maozhi to flee at top speed.