Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: All of a Sudden

Uncle Mo wiped his sweat with his sleeve.

"I met that man at a manor outside the city when I was copying calligraphy and paintings for someone."

"At the time, he was helping out at the manor, raising dogs and tending to birds. He was a real expert at it."

"And then?" Qin Wen asked.

"How did he end up in the city?"

Uncle Mo said, "After we got to know each other, we’d often drink and play chess."

"Then, just a few days ago, he suddenly said he wanted to move into the city and asked me to help cover for him."

Bai Mo and Qin Wen exchanged a glance.

’This whole thing sounds fishy. If he wants to move in, he should just move in. Why the need for a cover story?’

’This Uncle Mo is a bold one, daring to let a man of unknown origin stay in his home.’

"He gave me fifty Spirit Stones."

Uncle Mo said with a sigh.

"I fell ill a while back. If it weren’t for those fifty Spirit Stones, I’m afraid I would have been a goner."

"But Brother Bai, don’t you worry. From what I’ve seen, he doesn’t seem to be here specifically to cause trouble for you. He often leaves the city and has never asked about you..."

Regardless of the truth, since the man himself had practically shown up at his doorstep, Bai Mo couldn’t just ignore it.

After asking for the whole story, it was clear Uncle Mo had nothing more to tell.

Bai Mo then said, "Uncle Mo, you understand the gravity of the situation."

"You should head back for now. Don’t tell anyone you came here today."

Uncle Mo nodded quickly.

"I know, but what about him..."

Qin Wen interrupted.

"I had someone keep an eye on the old man at the market. They’re probably causing a scene right now, so he won’t be back anytime soon."

With that settled, there was nothing more to worry about. Uncle Mo and the man at the courtyard gate both left.

Qin Wen lowered his voice, "Shopkeeper."

"Do you think that old man is connected to that group of Demonic Cultivators?"

"Probably not."

Bai Mo shook his head and turned his attention back to the Pill Furnace before him.

"I’ve already asked someone from the sect. The Cultivation Technique those Cultivators practice is flawed. They have red lines on their faces that can’t be concealed, and their muscles don’t move naturally."

"Even with disguises, they can’t hide such defects."

Bai Mo stood up, brought over a bucket of water, and washed the Pill Furnace.

"We’ll see. We don’t know if there’s anyone else behind this old man."

"If there are no further complications, we’ll just turn a blind eye and leave it be."

Qin Wen thought for a moment.

"I feel like you’re taking that old man very seriously, not as casually as you say."

Bai Mo shook his head.

"Others might not notice, but I can see it."

"That old man has an obscure aura about him that lingers. At first, I thought it was just a unique air that people of his trade have."

"Now, it seems that’s not the case."

"Here, give me a hand..."

With some effort, the two Pill Furnaces were moved into the quiet room.

Instantly, the quiet room seemed much less spacious.

Qin Wen was rather puzzled.

Bai Mo explained, "I need to refine a type of Pill that has a great many steps."

After all, with members of the Demon Hunting Team around, not just Bai Mo, but even Wei An and the others weren’t too worried about the old man.

Xu Ruyuan, however, was a bit worked up.

"I was away for a few days, and I came back to find we have a new dog. An acquaintance bought it for my grandson, and he loves it."

"Heaven knows if there’s something wrong with it."

"No, I have to deal with it when I get back."

The others didn’t know what to say.

It was plausible that a dog trained by that old man would have some hidden trick to it.

Seeing Xu Ruyuan calm down, Bai Mo finally said:

"I remember there’s a copy of the *Dog Scripture* in the bookshop. It contains methods for judging dogs, as well as some strange tales and rumors."

"Why don’t you go take a look, Daoist Friend Xu? The book is in the shop, completely covered in dust."

Bai Mo had flipped through that book before to pass the time. Later, after he found the Pill Book, he never paid it any mind.

The book had been sitting idle ever since.

"Also, have you gathered all the medicinal ingredients I asked for?"

Bai Mo was referring to the ingredients for the Jade Flower Pill—a long list that filled two large pages. It was hard to say when they could all be gathered.

Sure enough, Xu Ruyuan started complaining:

"That list is as long as a roll of foot-binding cloth! And there are many ingredients on it I’ve never even heard of."

"I’ve already sent people to look for them, and they’re having to identify them as they search. I’m afraid we won’t be able to gather them all in such a short time."

"Are you in a hurry, Brother Bai?"

Bai Mo shook his head. "Not particularly."

"But if we can speed things up, we should."

As they were chatting, they saw the old man hurrying over again.

"Everyone, everyone, this old one has returned."

Xu Ruyuan raised an eyebrow.

"My friend, I doubt your pup has even recovered its energy yet."

"Don’t tell me you’re trying to dump it on us?"

The old man quickly waved his hands.

"Of course not! This old one’s livelihood depends on my reputation. How could I act so recklessly?"

"I came because I heard the shop has Feeding Pills. I’d like to buy some for my little treasure to try!"

The others remained expressionless. Seeing the two of them talking, they dispersed to do their own things.

Xu Ruyuan leaned against the wall, looking very interested.

"What, your pup can be compared to a Spirit Beast? It can eat this stuff?"

The old man looked quite pleased with himself.

"They’re both rare breeds. In my heart, they’re much rarer than any Spirit Beast."

"Besides, I have to process the Feeding Pills after I take them back before I dare feed them to the dogs. There’s nothing to be afraid of."

Xu Ruyuan didn’t understand any of this, but he was a good conversationalist.

"You certainly sound meticulous."

"With skills like yours, my friend, I imagine you can make a living anywhere. Where did you work before?"

"I wandered around, barely scraping by..."

Just as the two of them were speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street.

"Get lost!"

An impatient shout could be faintly heard.

Qin Wen rushed out of the shop and looked toward the shouting. He then saw two figures leaping toward them.

His eyesight was sharp, and he immediately recognized the face of the person fleeing in front. His body trembled.

"It’s a Demonic Cultivator!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the pedestrians on the street began to scatter. Their eyesight wasn’t bad either.

As a result, the few men who held their ground immediately stood out.

Seeing this, the eyes of the Cultivator charging at the front lit up.

"Not running when you see me? Such courage!"

His clothes were in tatters, revealing the Soft Armor underneath.

With a cold sneer, the man puffed his cheeks, circulated his energy, and spat out a bloody arrow that reeked of iron and rot.

CLANG!

The disciple chasing the Demonic Cultivator was unfazed. With a flick of his hand, he threw the sword from his waist.

The sword left its sheath and, arriving in an instant, struck the bloody arrow.

DING!

A sinister, gleaming silver hook fell from within the bloody arrow. Had it hit, it could have easily torn off a chunk of flesh.

The group of men watched, both shocked and furious.

His first attack having failed, the Demonic Cultivator laughed dismissively. He took a few large strides and charged straight toward the crowd.

But the pursuing Xuandao Sect disciple gave him no chance. As he rushed forward, he smoothly pulled his Longsword from where it had fallen and stuck into the ground.

The disciple swiped a hand along the Longsword, and its blade grew even brighter.

He let out a fierce shout and took a series of profound steps, seeming to ride the wind as he suddenly appeared behind the fugitive.

With a single horizontal sweep, the Demonic Cultivator’s body was sliced in two.

However, before the disciple could breathe a sigh of relief, the front half of the body swung its palm, bringing it down hard on the crown of his head.

The disciple’s head felt as if it had been struck by a massive blow. He screamed, stumbled back several steps, his ears ringing deafly, and stood there in agony.

The Demonic Cultivator grabbed his own lower body with one hand, pressing it against the wound, and ran while blood gushed out like a torrent.

Just as it seemed he was about to escape, several windows along the street suddenly burst open, and chains flew out from within.

To the Cultivator’s astonishment, the chains had already wrapped around his body several times, their sharp iron hooks digging into his flesh.

The men from the Demon Hunting Team leaped out of the windows, pulling hard on the chains.

The men who had remained on the street also drew their weapons.

"Brothers, kill this freaky thing!!"

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