Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Traditional Performance

The visitor was a Cultivator who had been hunting for treasure in the mountains.

He hefted the bundle off his back, swung it forward, and unfurled it inside the shop.

"It’s all good stuff, freshly dug up from the mountains. I just couldn’t find the herbs you have a bounty on."

The Cultivator rubbed his hands together, a practiced, fawning smile on his face.

"Alchemist Bai, please see what you can offer."

Bai Mo reached out and sifted through the man’s herbs, which were still damp with dew.

"Hmm?"

"You rascal, did you go fifty li into Celestial Barrier Mountain?"

Seeing a few yellowish-brown medicinal roots inside, Bai Mo knew the man had dug up at least a square li of the river valley.

He didn’t look like he had much meat on his bones. To think he had such a strong back!

"Heh, I shamelessly tagged along with someone for half the journey to find this good stuff."

He had indeed found good herbs. Bai Mo picked out over twenty stalks and tossed out seven Spirit Stones.

"Alchemist Bai is so generous!"

The Cultivator pocketed the Spirit Stones and left, satisfied.

No sooner had he walked out the door than another Cultivator entered the shop, carrying a bulging sack.

Bai Mo’s eyelid twitched, and he began sorting through the contents as usual.

More Cultivators arrived one after another. Seeing someone ahead of them, they simply took a step and lined up behind.

They even shot a smug grin at the Cultivators who were hurrying up from further behind.

The shop hadn’t even officially opened for the day, yet a good number of Cultivators had already arrived to sell herbs.

Bai Mo set a few selected herbs aside, feeling a bit puzzled. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

’When did business from Celestial Barrier Mountain get this good?’

All these Cultivators looked as if they’d had a bountiful harvest.

Finally, it was an old man’s turn. He walked in with a hearty laugh.

"Brother Bai, take a look at the quality of my herbs!"

It was a familiar old stall owner, his face ruddy and glowing today.

Bai Mo couldn’t help but ask:

"How come everyone’s struck it rich?"

The old stall owner glanced around before whispering:

"We followed a few sect Cultivators into the mountains. They cleared a path along the way."

"We reached places no one’s been before. Of course the harvest was huge, wasn’t it?"

Bai Mo’s hands paused. "Sect Cultivators?"

"They were kind enough to clear a path?"

Treasure Hunters all have their own agendas and can be unpredictable. Ordinarily, people don’t like being followed by them.

The old stall owner chuckled.

"Exactly."

"But they went into the mountains to find something. With us spreading out, it’s much easier for them to search."

Bai Mo understood. Spotting a decent herb, he quickly picked it out.

"What are they looking for?"

"I heard it’s a type of bee-like insect, the kind you don’t normally see..."

As he spoke, the old stall owner took a booklet from his robes and opened it for Bai Mo to see.

Bai Mo was taken aback. The calligraphy on it was neat, but it looked like the final strokes hadn’t been completed yet.

Ignoring the contents, Bai Mo tilted his head to look at the booklet’s cover.

Mountain Travelogue. Beside it was a name: Xu Ruyuan.

"Who is this?"

Bai Mo pointed at the cover.

"That humble person would be me."

The old stall owner lifted his head and said proudly.

"Hiss!"

Bai Mo sucked in a sharp breath.

"You write books?"

The old stall owner, Xu Ruyuan, was a little displeased.

"What’s so strange about that? My ancestors were wealthy, after all. Even if my generation doesn’t make a grand name for itself, I should at least leave my mark."

"That’s the only way to live up to the fine name my elders gave me!"

He waved the booklet, looking rather smug.

"To be honest with you, Brother Bai, the shopkeeper at the bookstore on the corner has already agreed to help me print and sell it!"

Bai Mo nodded. He never would have thought that the man everyone called an "old coot" had such a distinguished side to him.

"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Xu every success!"

Xu Ruyuan’s old face beamed.

"I’ll take you up on that kind wish!"

With that, he held the booklet out to Bai Mo, pointing with one finger to a spot on the page.

"This is the thing the sect Cultivators are looking for. I heard the big ones are the size of a finger!"

He turned a page, which had an illustration he had drawn himself.

"They say it looks just like this!"

Bai Mo stared at the familiar thoracic and abdominal structure of the bee-like insect and froze for a moment.

"What color is this insect?"

"Colorful. Greenish and all that. I imagine it’s quite pretty."

A strange expression came over Bai Mo’s face.

"Where did you enter the mountains? What route did you take?"

If it had been anyone else, Xu Ruyuan would have immediately started cursing.

A Treasure Hunter’s route into the mountains wasn’t something you could just ask about. Was this person trying to steal his livelihood?

But then again, the Alchemist Bai before him wasn’t the type to make a living this way.

Xu Ruyuan thought for a moment, then quietly told Bai Mo a bit about the route he took.

The path had already been cleared once, and he figured the people who went with him would keep their mouths shut.

He could probably try taking it again next time.

Bai Mo was completely lost listening to the description, but he was certain it wasn’t a place he knew.

"Why are those sect Cultivators looking for that insect?"

"From what I overheard, it seems they want to bring the insects back to their sect to raise and study them."

A reminiscent look appeared on Xu Ruyuan’s face, and he gave an almost imperceptible purse of his lips.

"They’ve already returned to the mountain, but they left word that anyone who can provide clues will be handsomely rewarded."

Bai Mo read his expression and asked:

"Is there something strange about it?"

Xu Ruyuan leaned in closer.

"Some of the disciples from the Marvelous Dharma Sect are extremely domineering. They won’t stop until they get what they want."

"If you show up at their door to claim the reward, you’ll probably be dragged into the mountains with them."

He shook his head.

"If you go too deep, they’re unlikely to protect an outsider. It’s not worth putting yourself in danger."

Understanding now, Bai Mo paid the matter no more mind.

He quickly picked out the herbs he wanted, gave some advice on the value of the remaining ones, and then saw the grateful Xu Ruyuan out.

After a busy morning, Bai Mo had spent almost all the Spirit Stones on hand and finally sent off the last of the visiting Cultivators.

In exchange, he had acquired a good number of top-quality medicinal herbs.

He had even managed to get his hands on many of the ingredients for the Tier Two Pill Formula his good neighbor had given him.

Bai Mo was very satisfied. In the afternoon, he dealt with more customers and sold a fair number of Pills.

He’d basically recouped his losses.

He happily tallied up the day’s income and expenses, getting a clear picture of his finances.

Just as he was about to close up, a familiar figure rushed to his door in a flurry.

The wiry man was panting heavily, looking travel-worn as he slapped a pile of Spirit Stones down in front of Bai Mo.

"Do you have any more Evil Exorcism Pills?"

Seeing the man’s furious expression, Bai Mo quickly nodded and said:

"Yes, I always keep the Evil Exorcism Pills aside for regulars like you!"

After handing over the Pills, Bai Mo asked:

"How did it get this bad?"

The wiry man took the Pills and left, his actions and expression uncharacteristically agitated.

"I was too late getting out of the mountains!"

"Tsk, tsk." Bai Mo sighed as he watched the man disappear into the distance.

’For the Blood Curse to accumulate to this point... that’s rough.’

But it was also clear that the man’s strength was considerable.

He glanced around again and saw that the shops along the street were closing up one by one.

Bai Mo put up his door boards as well.

’Such muggy weather. Is there a storm coming?’

’What strange weather.’

After closing up and eating dinner, he set up his bronze cauldron in a few quick movements.

’Today was a good day.’

He tossed the medicinal herbs into the cauldron one by one to stir-fry them, waiting until most of their moisture had evaporated before taking them out and setting them aside.

Next, he placed the herbs that needed to be peeled in front of him and turned his attention to the Pill Formula.

’I wonder how many years old this Pill Formula is.’

He compared the descriptions on it with the herbs he now had on hand.

’The medicinal properties of quite a few herbs have changed.’

’If I really refine this, I won’t end up in a coffin right after eating it, will I? Following the senior from the tomb where the Pill Formula was unearthed?’

Bai Mo thought for a moment and tapped himself on the forehead.

’I can’t just follow the recipe blindly. I’ll have to use the ingenuity of us later generations.’

[Pill Master: Bai Mo]

[Realm: Qi Refining Third Layer]

[Identity: Pill Disciple (0/900)]

[Aptitude: A Glimpse of the Leopard, Comprehension Awakened]

Glancing at his comprehension aptitude, Bai Mo smiled faintly, feeling a surge of motivation.

’It should be fine!’