Youth must be seized early; one cannot remain forever young. Chapter 109: The Apothecary Turns into a Butcher Shop

When Bai Qingzhou returned to the shop, he discovered that Fan Tianhe had already made his way back as well.

The young man was holding several talismans and turning them over for a closer look. The moment he saw Bai Qingzhou return, he hurried forward and said, “Senior Brother Bai, I’ve bought the talismans and all the odds and ends too!”

With that, he handed over the talismans in his hand.

“Is that so? Let me take a look.” Bai Qingzhou took them and examined them carefully with his spiritual sense. After confirming that everything was in order, he asked, “What about the rest?”

“Everything’s over there.” Fan Tianhe pointed to a corner, where various supplies had been stacked. Bai Qingzhou stepped over and inspected them one by one.

After a moment, he nodded. Everything Fan Tianhe had bought was correct.

“Not bad. You’re quite conscientious in your work. No wonder Senior Brother Chen Li sent you here to keep watch over the shop by yourself,” Bai Qingzhou praised.

Fan Tianhe grinned and scratched his head, saying modestly, “That’s only because Senior Brother gave such clear instructions...”

After a pause, he suddenly said, “Oh right! There’s still some spirit stones left from the ones Senior Brother gave me. I didn’t use them all, so I should return the remainder...”

As he spoke, he reached into his robes for the spirit stones.

“No need.” Bai Qingzhou raised a hand to stop him and pushed the gesture back with a smile. “Keep that little bit for yourself.”

After arriving at the Hundred Herbs Hall, he had immediately taken over all of the shop’s funds. Today he had withdrawn quite a bit to let Fan Tianhe buy the supplies.

He had not expected there to be any left over. It must have been because Fan Tianhe knew how to haggle.

“Thank you, Senior Brother!” Fan Tianhe was not the least bit polite and took the spirit stones back with delight.

Bai Qingzhou glanced at the shelves scattered in disarray throughout the shop, the broken-down tables and chairs, and then looked again at the gloomy, cheerless interior. He clapped his hands together, exhaled slowly, and then called out with vigor, “Come on, let’s transform the shop!”

“Right!” Fan Tianhe responded at once.

Busy days always passed quickly. Through the efforts of Bai Qingzhou and Fan Tianhe, in less than two days the once-shabby Hundred Herbs Hall had been transformed into a brand-new meat shop.

The two stood at the entrance, looking at the store with smiles on their faces.

At this moment, the shop was bright and spotless. The broken tables, chairs, and shelves had all been discarded, and the floor was already thoroughly cleaned. The front was wide open, with a huge meat-cutting table placed directly in the center. Around the shop, several square wooden tubs had been arranged, each labeled with the name of a different kind of meat.

Sunlight poured in, making the place look clean and neat.

“Finally done!” Fan Tianhe stretched lazily and smiled with satisfaction.

“There’s still more work to do next...” Bai Qingzhou reminded him.

“I know! The next step is to find wandering cultivators and talk to them about cooperation!”

Bai Qingzhou smiled in relief. “Smart! Exactly so! But it’s already getting late today. We’ll go tomorrow.”

“I’ll listen to Senior Brother,” Fan Tianhe said with a grin.

After spending this time together, he had come to trust Bai Qingzhou deeply, and was now clearly the sort to follow his lead without question.

“All right, let’s go out and get something to eat first!” Bai Qingzhou clapped his hands and walked ahead.

“What are we eating tonight?” Fan Tianhe asked, swallowing hard.

Ever since Bai Qingzhou had arrived at the Water Camp District, he had been taking Fan Tianhe out every day for delicious food and drink, and the two of them had sampled many of the district’s specialties.

For Fan Tianhe, who had long lived rather badly, this had been a feast beyond measure. Now that food was being mentioned, his mouth was already watering.

At the question, a figure suddenly flashed through Bai Qingzhou’s mind. Then he said softly, “Come on. I’ll take you to eat some pork.”

The two moved along the road. At night, the market district sparkled with lights; every shop hung up lamps for illumination, and lanterns were strung all along the roadside. The streets were packed with people, lively in a way no less bustling than by day.

Before long, they arrived at their destination.

It was a two-story tavern, brightly lit. Looking inside, one could vaguely see many people drinking and chatting.

A rich aroma of meat drifted out, making one’s mouth water.

“Two for dinner,” Bai Qingzhou said to the cultivator greeting guests at the door.

“Right this way, fellow Daoist.” The welcoming cultivator turned to lead them inside.

The two found a seat and sat down at random. Bai Qingzhou ordered three dishes with practiced ease, among them the tavern’s signature dish: stir-fried Black Yaxi pork.

Seeing how familiar Bai Qingzhou was, Fan Tianhe could not help asking, “Senior Brother Bai, have you been here before?”

“Yes...” Bai Qingzhou nodded gently and sighed. “Back when Hall Master Li Yuyun was still alive, he once brought me here.”

This tavern belonged to Xuan Qiang. During the previous tournament, when the disciples of the Azure Sun Sect first arrived in the Water Camp District, this had been their first stop.

Yet two years had passed, and their sect master was already dead and buried. The world had changed beyond recognition.

How unpredictable life was. How impossible to foresee the turns of fate...

Hearing Bai Qingzhou mention the former sect master, Fan Tianhe did not know what to say and could only remain silent.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

After a moment, Bai Qingzhou felt the atmosphere grow somewhat stifling. He shook his head and sighed. “Ah, let’s not talk about that. Tianhe, you must understand: Hall Master Li has already passed on. What we need to do is cultivate diligently. In the future, we should devote our strength to the sect. Only then will we not have wasted the kindness of the sect’s nurture, and only then can we bring comfort to the master’s spirit in heaven.”

“Senior Brother, I understand,” Fan Tianhe said solemnly.

Bai Qingzhou nodded to himself, then smiled lightly. “By the way, this Black Yaxi is still a tier-two demon beast. You didn’t know that, did you?”

“A tier-two demon beast? Doesn’t that mean only Foundation Establishment cultivators can handle it?” Fan Tianhe asked in surprise.

“Yes! Tier-two demon beasts are extremely fierce...”

Then the two began chatting idly over the table. Bai Qingzhou used his own knowledge to teach Fan Tianhe some of the common sense of the cultivation world.

Soon, the dishes were served.

The two began eating and talking.

While they were dining, a burly cultivator with a fearsome air suddenly came over to their table.

Upon seeing him, Bai Qingzhou immediately rose and bowed.

“Senior Xuan!”

Fan Tianhe, not understanding the situation, hurried to imitate him and also stood to bow.

This man was the owner of the tavern, Xuan Qiang, known by the nickname Pork Master Qiang.

“No need for such formalities. I find you familiar. If I’m not mistaken, you should be a disciple of the Azure Sun Sect, yes?” Xuan Qiang sat down directly beside the table.

“That is correct,” Bai Qingzhou replied, then sat down as well and asked softly, “May I ask what brings Senior Xuan here?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Xuan Qiang shook his head. “I merely have a great deal of respect for your sect master, Hall Master Li. I was unable to attend his funeral last time because I had urgent matters to deal with, so please accept this magical artifact as my apology.”

With that, Xuan Qiang handed over a fan-shaped magical artifact.

Bai Qingzhou took it, still uncertain what to make of the situation, and said awkwardly, “This... there’s really no need...”

“This is a magical artifact that once belonged to a cultivator from Mount Dragon-Tiger. I accidentally obtained it years ago and have kept it until now. Your sect master was ambushed and killed by cultivators from Mount Dragon-Tiger. This artifact can be placed beside his grave, as my way of seeing him off...” Xuan Qiang said calmly.

At this, Bai Qingzhou clasped his hands and bowed deeply, saying, “Rest assured, Senior. I will certainly carry it out.”

“Good.” Xuan Qiang stood and continued, “Then eat at your leisure. This meal is on me today!”

Before Bai Qingzhou could refuse, Xuan Qiang’s figure flickered, and he had already leaped to the second floor, disappearing at once.

This left Bai Qingzhou unable even to finish the words on his lips.

He had plainly given no chance to decline...

End of chapter.