Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 419 Ghost Fairy
Meanwhile, in a mountain forest outside Linjiang City.

A dark figure was leaping and bounding among the trees, its movements light and graceful, like willow catkins dancing in the wind.

Before long, the figure leaped into a cave where a faint light flickered.

"Ahem. You're late today."

Having just regained his footing, Zhong Wen heard a weak, aged voice coming from inside the cave. He took out the calming pills and two bottles of heart-protecting pills from his pocket and walked into the cave.

"Sorry, senior, I ran into some annoying guys earlier and it took me a while to shake them off."

As Zhong Wen entered the cave, he saw a gaunt old man sitting cross-legged on a bamboo mat beside a fire in the center of the cave, meditating with his eyes closed.

A misty aura was slowly rising from the old man's body, making Zhong Wen's eyes itch with envy.

He expended so much manpower and resources just to find this senior and learn his unique skills.

"Senior, your condition seems to have worsened."

The withered old man slowly opened his eyes, and the aura around him gradually dissipated.

"Don't worry, since I promised to entrust everything to you, I naturally won't go back on my word. It's just that my problem is incurable; you've come a little too late after all."

As the old man spoke, he coughed twice more, then stretched out his withered hand and slowly lifted the books beside him.

"Take a look. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me, while I'm still alive."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Wen quickly took the book and handed the heart-protecting pills and calming pills to the old man opposite him.

"Senior, this is a heart-protecting pill I bought in Linjiang City. This bottle contains a secret heart-stabilizing pill from the Niu family pharmacy, which is said to be much more effective than the heart-protecting pill. Would you like to try it?"

The old man didn't speak, but simply extended his finger and slightly beckoned to the three small porcelain bottles. The three small porcelain bottles quickly fell into his hand, and the red cloth stopper flew out and fell to the side.

The old man sniffed lightly, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He looked at the heart-protecting pill on the far right, and without making any move, a small emerald green pill slowly flew out of the bottle and quickly flew into the old man's mouth.

The old man swallowed the calming pill, closed his eyes to feel it for a moment, and nodded slightly.

"Good things are more potent, but their medicinal properties are very mild."

"It's just a pity that it's only an ordinary pill. It can keep me going for a little longer, but it can't save my life."

The old man's tone was tinged with regret, but Zhong Wen's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He thought of the mysterious and unpredictable shopkeeper, and a strange sense of anticipation rose in his heart.
"Anyway, cough cough~ you should go to that pharmacy and buy some more of these calming pills. That should help me hold on a little longer."

"I understand, senior!"

The next morning, Niu Yi and Niu Sanjin arrived at the pharmacy in a donkey cart full of medicine boxes, only to find Zhong Wen waiting at the door.

"Shopkeeper, Brother Guangyi, you two have kept me waiting for quite a while."

Upon seeing the two of them, Zhong Wen's face lit up with a smile. He then took out a silver ingot weighing fifty taels from his sleeve and handed it directly to Niu Yi.

“Brother Guangyi, I previously said that if that old man is willing to take the reassurance pill, I will give him an additional ten taels of silver as a reward.”

"Now that the old man has indeed taken it, and the calming pill is even more effective than you described, young man, please accept this fifty taels." Fifty taels?
Niu Sanjin watched this scene in surprise. He turned to look at his eldest son beside him, only to see that his eldest son remained unmoved and smiled:
“Brother Zhong, I cannot accept a reward without merit. If you need it, I can exchange this silver for a peace of mind.”

Seeing that the young man opposite him remained unmoved and unfazed by the silver ingot in his hand, Zhong Wen couldn't help but cup his hands in praise:
"Brother, you are indeed remarkable. I really misjudged you before."

If the young man in front of him accepts the fifty taels of silver, he can then rightfully ask this man for help.

"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to do so. Even if these two people are in trouble, there will likely be room for negotiation."

Fifty taels of silver was nothing more than a drop in the ocean compared to his wealth, so if he could accomplish this, it would certainly be well worth it.

But now that the person in front of him had refused outright, he couldn't help but think more highly of the young man.

Niu Yi smiled and said:
"If Brother Zhong needs anything, please feel free to tell me. If it can help you, I will certainly not refuse."

Zhong Wen nodded with a smile, and even changed "little brother" to "brother".

"Alright, since you speak frankly, I won't hold back anymore. Actually, the reason I came to see Brother Guangyi is to ask you for a favor."

"I wonder if you have any knowledge of the illness described on this paper."

As Zhong Wen spoke, he took out a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Niu Yi.

Niu Sanjin watched this scene without saying a word, standing calmly to the side, letting the two talk without any intention of interrupting.

His eldest son has been very decisive and reliable since he was a child; otherwise, the couple would not have trusted Niu Guangyi to come and help at the pharmacy.

Especially during this period, he had seen Guangyi's changes. Niu Sanjin guessed that his eldest son might have made some other discoveries in that ancient book, but he did not tell him.

But over the years, his trust in his eldest son led him to not ask many questions and let things take their course. Now it seems that everything is moving in a positive direction.

Niu Yi unfolded the paper, glanced at it, and then handed it back.

"Brother Guangyi, if you can cure this illness, I will give you not only fifty taels of silver, but also mountains of gold and silver!"

Zhong Wen spoke with absolute certainty and utmost sincerity, but this caused Niu Sanjin's expression to change.

He knew Zhong Wen was no ordinary person, but anyone who could promise mountains of gold and silver must be a very important figure.
Niu Yi slowly shook his head and said directly:

“I can cure this disease, but I don’t want any mountains of gold or silver. What I want is a favor from you, Brother Zhong.”

"Favor?"

Zhong Wen gave the young man before him a deep look, then slowly nodded and said:
"Alright, if Brother Guangyi can cure this illness, I will promise to do you a favor!"

"make a deal."

Niu Sanjin watched this scene from the side, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

He was actually not very willing to greet these high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Don't be fooled by their current amiable demeanor; if a real problem arose, they would probably kill them without a trace.

Sometimes, in transactions where the two parties are not of equal status, they simply have no chance of taking the initiative.
(End of this chapter)