Gongyi Tianheng also seemed to suddenly feel something. He turned around and gave a faint smile to the teenager who showed up: “Ah Zuo.”
Gu Zuo’s heart was extremely happy. There was a spring in his step as he jumped down the stone stairs. Only, it was a pity that he was rushing too much. After a few jumps, his foot tripped and his entire body moved forwards like he was going to fall face-first.
Tianheng’s expression slightly changed, and his body flashed as he approached. He reached out a hand to catch the other just in time — This tiny collision didn’t affect him at all, and his steps didn’t waver in the least. He just stably embraced this person.
Soon after, he couldn’t help laughing: “Ah Zuo, is this any way to greet your elder brother?”
Gu Zuo originally thought he was going to have a hard fall. Just then, he considered how to use his true qi to give himself a cushion or something. He didn’t anticipate that he would be smoothly saved by his dear big brother before he could react. However, he soon heard Tianheng’s teasing, and was somewhat embarrassed: “Big brother, I was hurrying too much.”
Tianheng smiled and said: “It looks like Ah Zuo has missed his elder brother very much.”
Gu Zuo’s face heated up, but he didn’t refute this.
It went without saying that, because he frequently sensed his dear big brother getting closer, he really had been constantly...thinking about him.
After this, Tianheng loosened his arms.
Gu Zuo moved out from the crook of Tianheng’s arm, and looked up and down at Tianheng, whom he hadn’t seen in many days: “En. Big brother, did you break through to Xiantian stage five?”
Tianheng smiled: “I did. Now that I’m on the same level as Ah Zuo, Ah Zuo needs to do his best.”
Gu Zuo nodded: “I understand.”
The two had met once again after a long separation. After speaking in hushed voices, Gu Zuo remembered that there were other people there. He raised his head just to see a familiar face: “Tianyang?”
At first, Tianyang remained on the side and hadn’t disturbed them. When he saw that Gu Zuo remembered him, he also walked over: “Brother Ah Zuo.” Soon after, he made a gesture at the Ling Clan siblings, “This is my big brother’s most trusted pharmacist. His surname is Gu.”
The Ling Clan siblings glanced at each other:
“This one is Ling Ziqi.”
“Ling Ziwei.”
“Greetings, Pharmacist Gu.”
Gu Zuo looked at the two people.
Based on their facial features, they were a pair of brother and sister.
The elder brother was very handsome, and the younger sister was... Ah, one would rarely see such a beautiful young lady.
How did they meet his big brother? Were they very familiar with his big brother?
Gu Zuo nodded at them as well: “Young Master Ling, Young Lady Ling.”
Tianheng watched them getting acquainted, and didn’t spend too much energy on this. He only raised his eyes to look behind Gu Zuo. He smiled and said: “Ah Zuo, aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Gu Zuo stared blankly. Then, he turned around and looked back to see that Xin Bailin, Li Yunquan, and Xu Lingxiu were all standing at that large doorway.
Xu Lingxiu faintly lifted his chin: “Junior Sect Brother Gongyi.”
Tianheng gaze moved slightly: “Senior Sect Brother Xu.”
Gu Zuo felt a little helpless.
His dear big brother was obviously older than that little prince, but because Tianheng had joined the Sect later, he still needed to address Xu Lingxiu deferentially in the presence of outsiders... To be honest, he sometimes felt that the titles in the Sect were a little confusing.
In order to avoid any awkwardness, Gu Zuo gave Tianheng an introduction. This time around, he also switched how he addressed his big brother: “Young master, that handsome and preeminent young master wearing the white robes is the son of Danyun City’s City Lord, Pharmacist Xin Bailin. He is also a mid-level pharmacist. The other senior person is our Qingyun Sect’s high-level pharmacist Li Yunquan, Senior Sect Brother Li.”
Tianheng observed the proper etiquette and politely gestured towards those two.
Immediately following that, Gu Zuo pulled his big brother and gave those people an introduction: “This is the young master I follow. He’s also an Inner Sect disciple of Qingyun Sect. His name is Gongyi Tianheng.”
Tianheng had a smile on his face: “Ah Zuo is this one’s adoptive-brother. I’ll have to thank everyone for taking care of him for the past few days.”
Xin Bailin also smiled: “Brother Gu is very powerful. I dare not claim to have looked after him.”
Li Yunquan was very amicable facing Tianheng’s bearing.
To tell the truth, Xin Bailin and Li Yunquan were both very curious about Gu Zuo and Gongyi Tianheng’s relationship.
Of course, Li Yunquan knew from the start that Gu Zuo was just a nominal disciple. He also knew the reason why Gu Zuo never joined the Pharmacist Hall. It was only afterwards that he found out that Gu Zuo’s potential actually wasn’t any lower than Xu Lingxiu’s. In addition, although he wasn’t certain whether it was through luck or genuine ability, but Gu Zuo seemed to be slightly better than Xu Lingxiu... At that time, he immediately felt flabbergasted. Why would such a person follow someone else?
Xin Bailin had taken the initiative to follow them out. There were more doubts in his mind compared to Li Yunquan.
Even though Li Yunquan was a high-level pharmacist, in actuality, he wasn’t considered the most outstanding among those of the same rank. However, Gu Zuo was different. From what Xin Bailin could see, Gu Zuo, Xu Lingxiu, and himself should’ve belonged to the same rank. They were extraordinarily talented geniuses walking along the path of medicine refinement.
Geniuses were all arrogant, especially because the medicinal pills refined by pharmacists brought great benefits to martial artists. In identical ranks, even in a situation where a martial artist was one or two ranks higher than a pharmacist, the pharmacist would have a higher status than that martial artist... Thus, while pharmacists could follow martial artists, martial artists could also follow pharmacists. Under normal circumstances, unless a martial artist’s capabilities were much stronger than that of a pharmacist, there was no way to attract a pharmacist to follow them.
Xin Bailin felt that, with himself and Xu Lingxiu as examples, it was absolutely impossible for them to follow other martial artists. On the contrary, the martial artists who were attracted by their medicine refining abilities and who wanted to follow them were even more numerous.
But against reason, Gu Zuo followed a young master... In that case, how many breathtaking and shocking abilities did this young master have to make Gu Zuo act this way?
Because of this curiosity, Xin Bailin couldn’t help giving Tianheng a few more looks.
His appearance and presence...were indeed excellent in every respect.
It was, indeed, very interesting.
But Xin Bailin could also tell that the friendship between Gu Zuo and Tianheng was deep. The intimacy revealed by the two’s conversation could also let one know that if someone wanted to incite disharmony in the two’s relationship, that probability would’ve been very small.
Xu Lingxiu swept his eyes over Tianheng: “Since you’ve come, just stay with us.” He turned to look at Xin Bailin, “How does Brother Bailin feel about that?”
Xin Bailin smiled and said: “Brother Lingxiu doesn’t need to worry. Since he’s a member of Qingyun Sect, he’ll be my Danyun City’s guest. When a guest arrives, how can we justify locking our doors and refusing entry? Please come in.”
Tianheng heard what was said, and smiled: “In that case, many thanks to Senior Sect Brother Xu and Pharmacist Xin.”
Gu Zuo stood next to Tianheng. He was in an especially good mood.
No matter how great his own abilities were, he always felt more relieved when standing beside the person he was closest to.
Soon after, they all spoke a few sentences with each other.
Tianyang was also classified as a Qingyun Sect disciple, so he was permitted entry into the City Lord’s Mansion. As for the Ling Clan siblings, because they were outsiders, they could only be settled down in a nearby tavern under the arrangements of an intermediary of the City Lord’s Mansion.
But after Tianyang considered things, he still didn’t follow them inside. Instead, he decided to check in with the Ling Clan siblings. Firstly, this saved some trouble. Secondly, it could be regarded as grasping the situation of the Ling Clan siblings.
After that, the four people who arrived then split into two groups.
Tianheng and Gu Zuo walked together with smiles on their faces, and came to the residential courtyard of Qingyun Sect.
Because Xin Bailin was curious about Tianheng, he chatted a little bit with him: “Although the courtyard has guest rooms, they haven’t been prepared in advance. Allow this Xin to instruct someone to come and tidy up a room for Brother Gongyi. I ask that Brother Gongyi doesn’t take offense.”
Tianheng smiled: “There’s no need for that. This one can stay together with Ah Zuo.”
Eh?
Xin Bailin’s footsteps paused, and his expression was somewhat subtle: “Then, wouldn’t it be a bit crowded?”
Tianheng still wore a tranquil smile: “Today is getting late. Ah Zuo and I haven’t seen each other for many days, but we share the same bed and sleep together.”
Gu Zuo listened to this conversation, and also followed up to say: “I’ve been living together with the young master ever since I started following him. There’s no need to trouble yourselves to set up a guest room. When the room needs to be tidied up, Dragon One can do it.”
Xin Bailin understood in a flash.
So this was what it meant.
Then, he couldn’t help but laugh a little. His heart felt it was a little weird, but it didn’t matter in the end.
Following which, the group entered the courtyard.
A streak of a human shadow suddenly descended from one of the large trees. The shadow half-knelt on the ground: “Young master.”
Tianheng brushed his sleeve: “Go.”
That person’s shadow flashed by, and instantly disappeared.
Tianheng then said to Xin Bailin: “This is my former household commander. His power is negligible. He accompanied Ah Zuo this time, but it’s just to do minor things for Ah Zuo. Ah Zuo is young, and I’ll be somewhat uneasy if he’s placed by himself.”
The peculiar feeling, which had just disappeared in Xin Bailin’s heart, emerged once more, but it didn’t cause him to pay too much attention.
Following that, Tianheng got acquainted with the other few pharmacists and the martial artists who accompanied them as bodyguards. Everyone was a disciple of the same sect, so there wasn’t any disharmony.
After exchanging some conventional greetings, Tianheng was pulled into a room by Gu Zuo. The two stayed together, and started to talk to each other about what happened after their separation.
Regarding Gu Zuo, it was naturally about how he came over, how he was ambushed en route, how Xu Lingxiu analyzed it, how he sparred with others after arriving, how he blossomed and shined during the Pill Battling Assembly, how he... En, went on a spending spree in the Myriad Medicine Tower.
When he talked about everything, it was neither too long nor too short. It was quite wonderful.
Tianheng smiled the whole time and listened attentively. From time to time, he would say a few words of agreement or praise.
After he finished listening, both of his eyes met Gu Zuo’s, and then he started to narrate his own adventure.
As for what Tianheng’s adventure was?
It was encountering the Ling Clan siblings and making use of crafty plots and machinations —Ah, that’s incorrect. He used his extraordinarily refined intelligence to take care of that rotten white-eyed wolf who harmed the Ling Clan siblings’ whole family as well as all of the evil bandits of the Mount An Bandit Gang.
For the time being, he didn’t mention how every step was meticulously calculated during the course of events. He only said that the remaining corpses of those killed would’ve ultimately piled up into a small mountain had the bodies not been corroded away.
When compared to Gu Zuo’s adventure, opinions would differ on whose was more marvelous. However, Tianheng’s adventure definitely had a lot more carnage.
Among all of this, there was still something that was even more important — That was the information of the Great Tomb of the Human King, which was brought by the Ling Clan siblings.
If this information was revealed, perhaps the countless powers of the Qingyun Continent would respond instantly and flock towards that Great Tomb of the Human King.
It was impossible for Qingyun Sect to be an exception.
After Gu Zuo heard this, he couldn’t help biting his tongue: “Big brother, in other words, the Great Tomb of the Human King is now grasped in your hands? So long as you want, it can be opened at any time?”
Tianheng nodded with a smile.
Gu Zuo was suddenly astounded.
What kind of heaven-defying luck... Tianheng was schemed into doing a mission of certain death, but not only was the mission completed perfectly, he also brought back a hidden treasure that was concealed for many years. This was truly amazing.
Gu Zuo spoke from the heart: “This is really an enormously good thing. Congratulations, big brother.”
Tianheng’s lips hooked up: “If I didn’t have the countless medicinal pills that Ah Zuo gave me prior to leaving, dealing with that bandit gang wouldn’t have gone that smoothly. Naturally, perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten the secret key to the Human King’s tomb either. For this matter, at least half of the credit goes to Ah Zuo.”
Gu Zuo blushed: “I didn’t do much...”
Tianheng was doubtless: “I say you contributed, so naturally you contributed.”
Gu Zuo: “...Okay.”
He didn’t argue with his big brother on this — Whatever his big brother said was how it went.
Tianheng saw that Gu Zuo was still very obedient, and reached out a hand to ruffle his hair: “The location of that Human King’s tomb is at Queying City, which is five hundred kilometers from Danyun City. Ah Zuo, once the Pill Battling Assembly ends, bid farewell to Xu Lingxiu and the others. Say that you’ll be going on an adventure with me first.”
Gu Zuo let Tianheng ruffle his hair, and blinked his eyes: “Big brother wants to bring me along?”
Tianheng smiled and said: “Naturally. This chance was hard to come by. Doesn’t Ah Zuo want to go see the world?”
Gu Zuo nodded his head vigorously: “I do!”
Tianheng’s gaze softened: “So, I’ll bring you with me.”
Gu Zuo looked into Tianheng’s eyes, and his heart warmed up for some reason.
After that, there was intense happiness.
...Though, he didn’t understand if this was in response to Tianheng’s kindness or his desire to see the world.
The two basked in this kind of comfort for a short while.
Suddenly, Tianheng recalled something, and swiped his outstretched hand.
In the blink of an eye, on a wooden table to the side appeared a dozen or so boxes and chests of various purities. Those were the ancient ingredients he obtained from the underground treasury during the course of the bandit extermination.
Tianheng said: “There weren’t many good things in that Bandit Master’s treasury. These will all be given to Ah Zuo.”
Gu Zuo looked at those medicinal ingredients, and promptly dashed over.
Hey, hey, hey! This was truly unexpected! From the medicinal properties of these ingredients, they had matured for a very long time. Although they couldn’t be called spirit medicines, they could be considered superior to the relatively expensive and high-quality goods on the Myriad Medicine Tower’s fourth floor!”
He wanted them very much!
Immediately after that, Gu Zuo hurriedly examined them one by one, and impishly collected them all.
Soon after, he cheerfully said: “Many thanks, big brother!”
Tianheng said: “Is there anything that needs thanks? Usually, if Ah Zuo has good pills, you always give them to me first. Now that I have good medicinal ingredients, I’ll naturally want to give them to Ah Zuo.”
Gu Zuo promptly nodded.
That’s right, that’s right. In this aspect, he never stood on ceremony with his big brother!
Afterwards, Gu Zuo seemed to think of something: “By the way, big brother. During my leisure time in here, I’ve refined many medicinal pills. I’ve put them all in your region of the storage space. If big brother wants them at any time, just tell me.”
Tianheng smiled: “I haven’t used up all of the medicinal pills here. It’ll be safer in Ah Zuo’s storage space than in my inter-spatial tool.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head. In any case, he mentioned it just to let his big brother know.
Tianheng thought for a moment, and suddenly, the lips of his smile deepened: “In that treasury, I also found lots of gold. Since Ah Zuo likes the medicinal ingredients in the Myriad Medicine Tower so much, we might as well go there again. There was an unexpected windfall, which can let Ah Zuo satisfy his cherished desires.”
Gu Zuo didn’t know how much gold Tianheng found, but now it seemed like there was a lot? Hence, he somewhat hesitatingly asked: “Big brother, that gold had how much?”
Tianheng’s tone was tranquil: “A couple hundred million gold.”
Gu Zuo’s eyes widened.
Shit... A couple hundred million gold?!
At this moment, Gu Zuo didn’t have any intentions of refusing. He immediately grabbed Tianheng’s sleeve: “Big brother wants to give it to me to buy lots of medicinal ingredients?”
Tianheng smiled as he ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair again: “Buy.”
At once, Gu Zuo’s smile became unprecedentedly brilliant.
His medicinal ingredients! Lots and lots of medicinal ingredients!
Tianheng saw Gu Zuo acting this way, and laughed.
Now that his little pharmacist revealed outstanding talent, he wanted to let everyone know that he had sufficient capabilities to properly provide for Gu Zuo.
Xu Lingxiu got up in the early morning. When he reached the courtyard, he only saw Li Yunquan sipping tea underneath a tree. However, he didn’t see Gu Zuo, who would get up at this time every day.
He plainly glanced at the door of Gu Zuo’s room.
Could it be due to Gongyi Tianheng’s arrival? Could he have turned Gu Zuo into a truant?
Li Yunquan had understood Xu Lingxiu’s way of thinking during this period of time. Upon seeing this, he shook his head and said: “Junior Sect Brother Xu, Junior Sect Brother Gu had already left with Junior Sect Brother Gongyi around a joss of incense earlier.”
Xu Lingxiu sat across from Li Yunquan: “Oh? What are they going to do?”
Li Yunquan forced a smile: “Reportedly, they’re going to purchase medicinal ingredients.”
Xu Lingxiu paused: “Hasn’t Junior Sect Brother Gu already bought several million’s worth of medicinal ingredients?”
Li Yunquan sighed: “It’s probably due to Junior Sect Brother Gongyi’s arrival.”
Xu Lingxiu was speechless.
Although his main business was refining medicinal pills, Xu Lingxiu wasn’t that sort of person who’d be obstructed by conventional affairs. He had many businesses under his banner, so he naturally knew that Tianheng had some methods to make money.
However, it looked like he still might’ve underestimated Tianheng’s foundations.
Xu Lingxiu coldly harrumphed: “At least he knows how to behave.”
In his opinion, Gu Zuo was lowering himself by following Tianheng. So Tianheng being considerate of Gu Zuo was basically what should’ve been done.
As for Gu Zuo and Tianheng?
Even earlier in the morning, they had gone to visit Medicinal Ingredient Street.
According to Gu Zuo’s statements, he had already visited all five floors of the Myriad Medicine Tower. He clearly saw everything that was and wasn’t inside, but it wasn’t the same for Medicinal Ingredient Street. He simply hadn’t gone there yet — He didn’t have money before, but he did now. So, of course, he went to search for anything that he might’ve overlooked.
Once he plundered Medicinal Ingredient Street, it wouldn’t be too late to go back to the Myriad Medicine Tower to buy those ten-thousand year old ancient ingredients, too!
Tianheng listened to Gu Zuo’s words, and only raised an eyebrow: “Everything will be according to what Ah Zuo says. Today, I’ll just be an accompanying guest.”
Gu Zuo’s mood was very good. He tugged at Tianheng’s robe sleeve and ran headlong into Medicinal Ingredient Street.
The Medicinal Ingredient Street of Danyun City was really the largest among all of the Medicinal Ingredient Streets that Gu Zuo had previously seen.
Basically none of the stores that could be here were small. Those large doors alone could’ve accommodated a dozen or more people going in all at once. All categories of medicinal ingredients inside were arranged very neatly. Medicinal fragrances assailed one’s nose; with just a sniff, it made people’s hearts feel refreshed. It was hard for them to extricate themselves from it.
Besides this, there were also plenty of vendor’s booths that were put up. The medicinal ingredients placed here were processed well. Aside from some special ones, the others were all laid out in the open. It was very eye-catching.
In addition, there were some tarpaulins or other fabrics spread out on the ground to act as street stalls. Most of the medicinal ingredients were freshly dug up and harvested. The amount of ingredients in each street stall wasn’t many, but it was no match for the appearance of row after row of street stalls! It was also particularly spectacular!
Gu Zuo stepped up to the frontmost part of Medicinal Ingredient Street. He was somewhat stunned by the scene before his eyes.
Ah, there was loads of medicinal ingredients... So many medicinal ingredients!
Of course, while the ingredients in the Myriad Medicine Tower were more comprehensive, only a single stalk of each kind of ingredient was placed in a square frame of the tower. It was just the huge variety that dazzled one’s eyes.
This place was different. On the vendor’s booths here, the precious medicinal ingredients were stacked up in piles. That kind of spectacle was truly stunning!
Gu Zuo took a deep breath: “Big brother, this place...”
Tianheng smiled warmly at him: “Whatever Ah Zuo wants, just buy it.”
Gu Zuo’s heart silently rejoiced.
Soon after, he swiftly searched for page after page of pill prescriptions in his mind, and ran towards those fantastic-looking medicinal ingredients — As for those that looked very ordinary? In the Myriad Medicine Tower, he’d gotten most of them.
Tianheng unhurriedly followed behind Gu Zuo.
Whenever Gu Zuo sought out a store owner to purchase a batch of medicinal ingredients, he would leave behind a pile of gold in the area that the store owner designated. He never made any mistakes, but he also didn’t let the store owner get too greedy. It was as if he had a clear understanding of the price for each type of ingredient in his heart — Although, in actuality, it were merely because Gu Zuo talked with Tianheng, who had a considerable grasp of the psychology of the store owners.
Gradually, the morning passed. Gu Zuo, who was wantonly monopolizing medicinal ingredients here, as well as the handsomely-dressed young master, who was following Gu Zuo and recklessly flinging out money, became well-known to many of the medicine stores.
As a result, when Tianheng let out rumors that he wanted to collect ancient ingredients that were worth tens of thousands of gold, some local tyrants who were in charge of pulling the strings started to secretly get into contact with him.
Although the general conveyance wasn’t that clear, Tianheng was a nouveau riche. The two were also cash cows who never defaulted on their debts... This matter was certain in the hearts of those local tyrants.
One side had money, one side had ingredients, and one side built a bridge.
It was mutually beneficial for everyone!
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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