Reception hall.
Jun Changxiao placed the formula listing the Meridian Opening Pill ingredients on the table, interlaced his fingers, and smiled. “Family Head Ai, how many of the medicinal herbs listed above does your Ai Family have?”
Ai Shangni glanced at it, thought briefly, and said, “Sect Master Jun, my Ai Family doesn’t have much of these four herbs. We have roughly three hundred of each type.”
“This seat wants them all.” Jun Changxiao said straightforwardly.
Meridian Opening Pills increased meridian opening rates, and the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture also increased meridian opening rates. Combining the two—wouldn’t that be heaven-defying? So they must be refined as soon as possible!
Ai Shangni smiled. “Sect Master Jun, please wait a moment.”
He gave Shopkeeper Ma a signal. The latter hastily went to the inner courtyard, then returned with several spatial rings and placed them on the table.
The Meridian Opening Pill ingredients weren’t particularly precious, so the medicine shop had them in stock.
After Jun Changxiao inspected the goods, he said, “Family Head Ai, name your price.”
Ai Shangni said, “These medicinal herbs total one hundred and ten thousand taels. Just give me a round one hundred thousand, Sect Master Jun.”
For any other customer, he definitely wouldn’t haggle.
But whether the Ai Family could earn a fortune through the Healing Pills in the future depended on this god of wealth.
Jun Changxiao said, “Deal.”
Following proper procedures, the two signed and sealed the agreement. The medicinal herb transaction was complete.
“By the way.”
Jun Changxiao pointed to the old man trimming herbs outside, quite curious. “What’s this senior’s background?”
Ai Shangni said, “An herbalist.”
Herbalist?
Jun Changxiao hadn’t heard of that before.
The original owner had grown up in Qingyang Village and later joined the Iron Bone Sect. He had rarely left and didn’t know much about many things on the continent.
Ai Shangni explained, “An herbalist is a profession that cultivates and grows medicinal herbs.”
“I see.”
Jun Changxiao understood. “No wonder he’s so knowledgeable about herbs.”
Ai Shangni shook his head. “Sect Master Jun, this person is merely a third-rank Herb Apprentice. There are many herbalists stronger and more knowledgeable than him.”
Herbalists also had rank divisions, similar to martial arts, such as Apprentice, Master, Grandmaster, and King.
The same was true for alchemists and spirit stone specialists.
Third-rank Herb Apprentice.
Very ordinary on the Xingyun Continent.
Compared to other professions, herbalists were relatively common. Their status wasn’t considered noble, and they were even mockingly called herb farmers.
Of course, without their meticulous cultivation and planting of medicinal herbs, relying solely on harvesting herbs from deep mountains would be difficult to supply the Xingyun Continent’s enormous market demand, so herbalists were also indispensable.
Many factions would specifically hire herbalists, establish herb gardens, and cultivate and plant medicinal herbs to be self-sufficient.
“Even a third-rank Herb Apprentice is still an herbalist. Family Head Ai, don’t look down on this old man!” Hearing Ai Shangni’s words, the white-haired old man spoke up in rebuttal.
“Hey, you mad old man, how dare you speak to our family head like that! Are you tired of living?” A servant rolled up his sleeves and walked over aggressively.
Ai Shangni waved his hand. “Stand down.”
The servant glared at the old man before reluctantly backing off.
Jun Changxiao walked out and smiled. “Senior, my Iron Bone Sect still lacks an herbalist. Are you interested in joining?”
The old man waved his hand. “There are herbalists stronger than this old man everywhere. Sect Master Jun should ask someone else.”
“Tch.”
The servant snorted coldly and muttered, “Being noticed by Sect Master Jun is your good fortune, yet you decline. Truly a mad old man.”
Ai Shangni smiled. “Sect Master Jun, my Ai Family has quite a few herbalists, most at the seventh or eighth rank. If your sect is short-handed, Ai can…”
Jun Changxiao interrupted. “Just let this senior come with this seat.”
Ai Shangni’s mouth twitched. “Sect Master Jun, Elder Wei is just a day laborer for my Ai Family. Whether he goes or not must be decided by himself.”
“Is that so?”
Jun Changxiao said, “Senior, this seat is willing to hire you with generous pay. Would you be willing to go to the Iron Bone Sect and serve as an herbalist?”
Ai Shangni was somewhat puzzled.
While third-rank Herb Apprentices weren’t exactly everywhere, he could pick out a dozen or so from the Ai Family. Why was the Iron Bone Sect’s master so taken with this eccentric old man?
Elder Wei said, “Sect Master Jun, you truly want to hire this old man as the Iron Bone Sect’s herbalist?”
“That’s right.” Jun Changxiao said.
Elder Wei placed his scissors on the rack. “This old man has been an herbalist for sixty years now, and only Sect Master Jun has sincerely invited me.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Swift horses are common, but those who recognize them are rare.”
“One who recognizes talent?”
Elder Wei smiled. “If Sect Master Jun is sincere in his invitation, this old man is willing to go to the Iron Bone Sect. But how much is this generous pay you mentioned?”
“Ten thousand taels monthly salary.” Jun Changxiao said.
Ai Shangni was stunned.
Even his eighth and ninth rank Herb Apprentices only earned ten thousand taels monthly. For a third-rank Herb Apprentice, a thousand taels monthly would already be quite high.
Elder Wei said, “Sect Master Jun is very sincere. Let this old man return home to make arrangements, then I’ll follow you to the Iron Bone Sect.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Family Head Ai, this seat is taking this person away. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“No problem, no problem.”
…
Southern part of the city, in a secluded alley.
Jun Changxiao followed Elder Wei to his residence.
The house was very dilapidated, the environment gloomy.
As soon as they entered, a group of eight or nine-year-old children surrounded them, calling out “Grandfather” one after another, their faces showing pure innocent smiles.
Jun Changxiao said, “Elder Wei has many children and grandchildren—truly a person of fortune.”
Elder Wei distributed the candies he’d bought one by one, his eyes full of loving kindness. “These are all orphans this old man has taken in.”
Jun Changxiao was stunned.
In a cruel world, to have someone adopt orphans was truly inconceivable.
Sect Master Jun was thinking of the high martial world as too dark. In fact, in any place, there would always be good people doing seemingly ridiculous good deeds.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Elder Wei said, “Can you advance some salary?”
“Yes.”
Jun Changxiao straightforwardly produced a thousand taels.
After Elder Wei received it, he only gave three hundred taels to the older boy. After some instructions, he packed his belongings and left.
On the road, Jun Changxiao said, “Elder Wei, actually you could bring them to the Iron Bone Sect together.”
Elder Wei shook his head. “This world is cruel. They must ultimately learn to face it themselves. This old man can only help for a while, not for a lifetime.”
“So.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Giving them a few hundred taels is also to avoid having them overly dependent on you?”
“Correct.” Elder Wei said.
This old man must have an extraordinary past.
“Ding! Side quest completed. Host obtains 50 contribution points.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 313/500.”
After Jun Changxiao completed the transaction with Ai Shangni, a side quest had been triggered. The content was—hire Elder Wei as the Iron Bone Sect’s herbalist.
No wonder he was willing to hire him at a monthly salary of ten thousand taels.
Actually, even without the side quest, Jun Changxiao would have recruited Elder Wei, because his intuition told him this was no simple person.
Alright.
Your Iron Bone Sect is full of people with stories. We’ll grab a few cases of beer and sit listening to you tell stories.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Elder Wei said, “Since you’re hiring this old man as the Iron Bone Sect’s herbalist, does the sect have any herb seeds?”
“We’ll buy them.” Jun Changxiao said.
The two made a trip to the medicinal herb market, bought many varieties of herbs, and then returned to the Iron Bone Sect.
As soon as they returned to the sect, Li Qingyang handed over an item. “Sect Master, two hours ago, someone delivered this letter.”
“Oh?”
Jun Changxiao accepted it and tore open the envelope. On it was written—Three days from now, please have the Iron Bone Sect’s master come to the Lingquan Sect ruins for a battle. Signed, Shengquan Sect inner disciple Mo Shangfei.
Li Qingyang said gravely, “Sect Master, this is a challenge letter!”
Jun Changxiao crushed the letter in his palm and smiled faintly. “The Shengquan Sect finally can’t sit still. But sending just an inner disciple—aren’t they looking down on me, Jun Changxiao, a bit too much?”