Two weeks passed quickly.
Xitu stood at the edge of the forest, eyes narrowed at the withered tree ahead. He took a deep breath, muttered the chant, and formed a few hand seals. Then he raised his hand.
'Fireball!'
A small orb of flame hissed into existence above his palm. It flickered weakly, trembling under his control.
'Keep it stable!'
Sweat gathered on his brow as he focused, circling Qi through his meridians. The fireball swelled, then pulsed.
He launched it. The small globe shot forward in an unstable arc, wobbling slightly before smashing into the tree trunk. Flames burst against the bark, but the impact was underwhelming—more scorch than explosion.
Xitu clicked his tongue. "Again."
Like that, he spent the entire morning practicing the Fireball Spell with minimal success.
In a dimly lit room deep within the inner district, the air hung heavy with the scent of burned incense. A young man knelt on the cold floor, sweat dripping from his forehead as he faced a towering, scarred man.
"Please, Boss Ye! Just give me a few more days! I'll definitely pay it back!" he begged, voice cracking.
The scarred man's expression was stern.
"It's been over 2 months now, little Lu Fan. Where are my 300 Spirit Stones?" he demanded fiercely.
Lu Fan trembled, lowering his head further. "Almost… I almost have it now! Just a few more days, and I'll pay you back in full!"
Boss Ye stood up and stepped toward Lu Fan. In a blur of motion, his hand shot out and clamped around Lu Fan's throat.
The young man choked, his legs kicking helplessly as he was lifted off the ground. His face contorted, tears and snot streaming down as he clawed at the iron grip crushing his windpipe.
Boss Ye brought his face close, the jagged scar across his cheek twitching slightly. Their noses nearly touched.
"Do you know what I hate the most?" he hissed. "Liars. You think your empty promises will trick me again?"
He tightened his grip. Lu Fan's eyes bulged as color drained from his face, his mouth opening in silent gasps.
Just as Lu Fan was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, Boss Ye flung him aside like a ragdoll. He crashed to the ground with a thud, coughing and heaving for breath, his limbs sprawled in a heap.
"Don't say I never show mercy for old times' sake. I'll give you 10 more days. After that... you know what'll happen if you don't pay me back, right?" He smirked cruelly.
Lu Fan scrambled to his feet on shaky legs. "Thank you! Thank you so much, Boss Ye! You won't be disappointed! I'll definitely pay you back!" he stammered, his voice trembling.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and rushed out of the room as if afraid Boss Ye might change his mind at any second.
Outside, Lu Fan racked his brain.
'What to do?! I don't have enough. And I can't reach it in 10 days either.'
'Gruh... It's all because of that bastard Han. He said his friend's newly opened gambling den would 'adjust' the odds the first few days to attract customers. I should never have listened.'
'I almost broke even at the old gambling house in the central area. Next time I earn back the money, I'll return to make a profit.'
As he pondered for a solution, a figure caught his attention. Like a god-sent signal, or maybe the devil's call, Lu Fan followed the figure into the Alchemist Association out of curiosity.
Xitu now had a whopping 250 Spirit Stones saved. For a normal Vein Opening cultivator, this was an enormous amount. Unless one saved everything and never spent on cultivation improvements, a Vein Opening cultivator would never have that much.
Today was the scheduled day to buy pills for the next sale. In the afternoon, Xitu headed to the Alchemist Association.
Everything went smoothly. Xitu exited the store with 8 bottles of Qi Harmonization Pellets. He walked down the road with leisurely steps, intending to go home for duplication now.
Unbeknownst to him, a man watched from afar with suspicious eyes—Lu Fan.
'This stingy Xitu went and bought pills for cultivation? He never used them before, afraid of wasting money! And where does he get enough wealth to buy 8 bottles at once?' suspicion stirred in Lu Fan's mind.
'Did he find a lucky encounter like me? But the last time I saw him, his attitude was just as pathetic as usual. Or maybe it was all a pretense? To grow quietly without anyone noticing?'
'This won't do. I have to investigate. After all, good things must be shared, right?' Lu Fan snickered sinisterly.
A few days later, Xitu sat quietly in a guest room inside the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
He had spent the afternoon selling his usual batch of pills. Just as he was about to leave, Qi Yue stopped him, inviting him to stay for a conversation. After a moment's thought, he agreed.
A few minutes later, Qi Yue returned carrying 2 cups of tea. She spoke softly, "Daoist Fang, please enjoy this tea brewed from Red Lotus Leaves. It's on the house."
Fang Xiu—Xitu's alias as a hermit middle-aged Alchemist, accepted the cup politely. The tea's surface shimmered with a soft reddish hue, while steam curled upward in delicate wisps.
Bringing the cup close to his nose, Xitu inhaled deeply. The aroma was faint but rich, soothing with each sniff. He then took a slow sip.
The warm liquid carried a gentle sweetness balanced by a faint bitterness that lingered on his tongue. The heat spread comfortably through his chest, flowing along his meridians like a calming tide. His tense shoulders eased.
'This is high-quality tea. I'm not sure what Red Lotus Leaf is exactly, but it must be a Mid Rank herb. Even a 'Low Rank Alchemist' like me can enjoy this for free. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion truly lives up to its name,' he thought, impressed.
He nodded slowly and spoke with a hoarse voice, "The tea is excellent. I'm honored to receive such a generous treatment from your store."
Qi Yue smiled warmly. "Thank you for the compliment. This tea helps stimulate blood circulation and ease fatigue. I'm glad you like it."
Xitu leaned forward slightly. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this high-quality tea?"