Minglong

Chapter 13 Hunter or prey
Xie Jinhuan performed the acupuncture remotely according to the instructions, and after a while, Lin Wanyi's complexion gradually improved.

After confirming that everything was alright, Xie Jinhuan put down his needle bag and returned to sit down at the tea table.

"How does it feel?"

Lin Wanyi was quite surprised and puzzled by the rescue. She even put aside the chill on her back and carefully examined Xie Jinhuan, who had an extraordinary aura, and asked curiously:
"Thank you for rescuing me, sir. May I ask what noble family you come from?"

"It's not a high-class family. My father is just a minor official in the capital. He went to the south three years ago and just returned recently."

"Really?" Lin Wanyi didn't quite believe it and asked, "Then who is the young master's maternal family?"

Seeing that Lin Wanyi had just returned to normal and started checking her household registration with a look of possessiveness in her eyes, Xie Jinhuan couldn't help but become alert.

According to rumors, the witch cult is very difficult to deal with. She will put a love poison on men, forcing them to fall in love with her, and if they touch another woman in this life, they will die...

Xie Jinhuan knew that Lin Wanyi was pretty, with a full chest and a rounded hip line, a typical combat-ready figure, but he didn't want to become a slave to the witch cult...

Lin Wanyi was pondering her own plan. Seeing Xie Jinhuan's alert eyes, she realized that she was too utilitarian and quickly sat up straight.

"I'm just asking out of curiosity, nothing else. It's surprising that you have such ability at such a young age, yet you don't come from such a great background."

Xie Jinhuan remained cautious and returned to the topic:
"Let's talk about this later. It seems that something went wrong with your cultivation method, and it's related to witchcraft..."

"?"

Lin Wanyi's expression froze slightly, realizing that she had just had a seizure and her underwear was visible.

It's over, it's over. What should I do? If Xie Jinhuan reports this to the government...

Xie Jinhuan came to ask for the elixir, but he didn't want to cause a misunderstanding and get poisoned, so he quickly added:
"Don't worry. Although witchcraft has been labeled an evil by the imperial court, not all of its practitioners are evil. For example, witch doctors also provide medical treatment, and shaman priests can even serve as imperial preceptors in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Miss, you come from a medical family, but you chose this path. Perhaps there is another hidden reason. I won't use this to embarrass you."

Lin Wanyi actually had no secret. Her father had contracted a serious illness, so she was desperate and joined the witch cult. She was taught by the largest "Gu Du School" in the witch cult, and behind it was the witch cult's base in the southern border wilderness. She was a core disciple of Miao Zhenggenhei's witch cult.

However, she had lived near Jingzhao Prefecture since she was a child and had never done anything harmful. At this moment, she pushed her gold-rimmed glasses, which had slipped due to sweating, and explained a little awkwardly:
"Well... I was just curious about witch doctor techniques, so I learned a few things. I'm not a demonic corpse witch who harms the people, and I've never harmed anyone in the past. You can check this out, young master. If you can understand, I'd be very lucky."

Xie Jinhuan nodded gently and turned to the main topic: "Witchcraft techniques are inseparable from poisons and evil spirits. If you are not careful, you will hurt yourself. If there is a problem with your technique, I can help you take a look. As for the cold energy accumulated in your body, I can also help you solve it..."

Lin Wanyi raised her hand and politely declined, "The cold energy in my body has been pent up for a long time. I know how to deal with it, so please don't bother. My dear Master, you are as kind-hearted as ever, but do you have anything to ask of me?"

Xie Jinhuan knew that it would not be difficult to deal with. He just needed to find a man to absorb his Yang energy. It was reasonable for Lin Wanyi not to need his help. Seeing that his bargaining chip was gone, he could only make his intention clear:

"I need some elixir to strengthen my foundation, do you have any here, young lady?"

"Elixir?"

Lin Wanyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled:
"The Lin family is good at medicine and alchemy, so how could they not have any? Which one would you like?"

Xie Jinhuan's current situation is so difficult that even a magic pill cannot break it. He responded sincerely:
"The best ones, preferably after strengthening their physique, won't have any obvious bottlenecks before becoming super-quality."

This kind of magical pill is obviously a big deal.

Lin Wanyi spent too much and was actually quite short of money. Seeing that Xie Jinhuan wanted to spend the most on the body-building formula, she put aside the previous episode and introduced it in a gentle voice:

"Currently, the most superior body-building formula is the 'Dragon Blood Pill.' This recipe comes from the Imperial Pharmacy in the capital and has been passed down for hundreds of years. It's mostly used by top-three-rank masters to strengthen their foundation and heal old ailments. It can transform a person completely in just over a month."

More than a month...

Xie Jinhuan felt that it was a bit long, but it was better than standing still and waiting to die:
"The Imperial Pharmacy supplies medicine exclusively to the Imperial Palace. Only those with great achievements can obtain it. Miss Lin, are you sure you can get it?"

Lin Wanyi's eyes curved as she leaned closer and whispered, "Zi Su is studying at the Alchemy Hospital and knows the recipe. She can report to the academy under the pretext of 'practicing' and help you make one. However, this recipe is quite expensive. Even if you ignore the alchemist's work, the cost of the medicinal materials alone will be eight thousand taels of silver..."

"Eight thousand taels?"

Xie Jinhuan knew that the Dragon Blood Pill was difficult to obtain, but he did not expect the price to be so exaggerated.

He had a bowl of mutton soup in the morning, which only cost him twenty cents. If he exchanged eight thousand taels of silver for mutton soup, he could eat coal balls for several lifetimes!

No wonder it's a top-tier body-building elixir...

Lin Wanyi knew that the price was terrifying, so she said softly:
"Whether in Danyang or the capital, there are only a handful of people who have the connections to obtain the elixir formula, and even fewer who are capable of refining it. This is already my lowest price. The ingredients and craftsmanship for this elixir are not cheap, and I still have to pay the Dan Hospital a 20% profit. The price cannot be lowered. If you don't believe me, you can go to Wencheng Street and ask. Director Zhang of the Dan Hospital can also refine this elixir, but if you don't have a hundred taels of silver as a gift, you won't be able to enter."

Hiring a well-known alchemist to customize pills is expensive. Normally, the cost of the ingredients and the labor are split equally, but the alchemist may not necessarily take the job.

Xie Jinhuan currently had no money to hire an alchemist to buy medicinal herbs. Fortunately, he was not here to buy them. Seeing the woman with glasses tirelessly selling them, he said shamelessly:
"Miss, your condition is quite serious. I can help you fix the flaws in your technique and ensure that you won't make the same mistake again. In exchange, can you..."

"?"

So you're here to get my sister for free?!
Lin Wanyi sat up straighter and subconsciously covered her small purse, but considering Xie Jinhuan's help, she still responded softly:

"Sir, this is nearly ten thousand taels of silver. I only charge three taels for a consultation, which is really unaffordable. However, since you generously helped me yesterday, I still have to thank you. If you really need it, I can give you a bottle of pulse-strengthening pills."

The Vessel Strengthening Pill can also strengthen the body. It is not cheap, but it is used by apprentices of the eighth and ninth ranks.

What Xie Jinhuan has to deal with is the 'Daqian Iron Fist', which is not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan's hesitation, Lin Wanyi said in advance:

"Young Master, you are full of chivalry, and you would definitely not do something like using your witchcraft background to blackmail a woman. However, I still hope that you will keep this matter a secret. I have someone above me, and if the news really leaks out, although they can handle it, it will be very troublesome."

There's someone up there...

There's no one above me!
Xie Jinhuan was not stupid. He knew that this was a kind reminder to him to judge the situation and not treat the witch cult witch as a witch.

Seeing that both soft and hard tactics were not working and might even cause trouble, Xie Jinhuan could only stand up:
"Well, I'll keep my mouth shut. Miss, just pretend I was never here."

Seeing Xie Jinhuan about to leave, Lin Wanyi thought about it and quickly raised her hand:
"Sir, wait a minute."

"Ok?"

Xie Jinhuan thought that Lin Wanyi was reluctant to give up this business and wanted to negotiate a discount.

Even at a 10% discount, he couldn't afford eight thousand taels of silver at the moment, unless he was like the Hou steward...

Thinking of the bizarre experience of renting a house, Xie Jinhuan quickly sat back down:
"I don't have much money, young lady, if you give me a 10% discount, maybe we can make this deal."

0.1% off?
Lin Wanyi was a little bewildered, but didn't care. She smiled and said, "Dragon Blood Pills are very expensive, and most people can't afford them. It's normal that you can't come up with cash. I happen to have a small problem that needs someone to take care of it. If you can help, I can waive the money for the pills. Let's just consider it a friendship."

Work-for-pay…

Xie Jinhuan felt that this matter had something to do. He looked around and leaned in to ask in a low voice:

"Kill who?"

"?"

Lin Wanyi was stunned and a little confused:

"What kill who?"

Xie Jinhuan was also confused and spread out his hands:

"Eight thousand taels of silver is enough to buy dozens of lives. If it weren't for the murder business, why would the young lady ask me to make medicine? Who would I be making medicine for?"

Who are you hitting?!
Lin Wanyi understood this time and quickly explained:

"You have misunderstood, sir. I am a pure and innocent woman and have never committed any crime."

Xie Jinhuan blinked his eyes, and seeing that the witch cult woman did not seem to be faking it, he also coughed lightly:
"I was just joking. I'm a righteous knight and I never take on such dirty work."

?

I do not believe!
You were clearly choosing someone to kill just now!

Lin Wanyi suspected that Xie Jinhuan had gone crazy because of poverty, and even dared to take on bloody dirty work, but she was indeed not a criminal:

"I'm not asking you to do any dirty work, it's just a legitimate errand that's a little bit difficult."

Xie Jinhuan felt that this difficulty should be against the will of heaven:

"what's up?"

"Inside the Danwang Pavilion, there's a copy of the Dragon Soaring Decision hidden..."

Xie Jinhuan looked stunned: "You want me to steal things from Danwang Pavilion?!"

"He didn't steal it. He learned it and then taught it to me. I'm also interested in martial arts."

Lin Wanyi funded so many talented people from poor families just to cultivate a two-headed dragon to connect her with the martial arts canon. Xie Jinhuan saw that there was unlimited potential and it was obvious that there was such an opportunity. She explained with a pleasant face:
“Luo Jing also has the retainers, distinguished guests, military officers, and outstanding talents of the Dan Palace. As long as they have made outstanding contributions, they will be specially allowed to borrow this book.

"Young Master, you are young, but you have excellent martial arts skills. You have a good chance of winning the Dan King's appreciation. As long as you successfully learn and teach me, this matter will be completed."

It sounds simple enough.

But Xie Jinhuan grew up in the capital and is not ignorant.

It is said that "Long Xiang Fu Ying Jue" is the supreme secret book left by the Martial Ancestor. Not only is the threshold for borrowing it high, but it is even more difficult to learn it.

According to his understanding, there were only two people in the capital who were qualified to borrow this book and successfully entered the door - Cao Fuer, the official of the Chilin Guard, and Lu Wuzhen, the director of the Imperial Observatory.

Does someone who has the ability to learn this thing still need money?

And to learn this, one must win the recognition of the Alchemy King, hang out in the Alchemy King Pavilion where many experts gather, and interact with many bigwigs...

Xie Jinhuan doesn’t have time to hide now, is he going to die by doing this?

"Although the imperial court didn't prohibit me from teaching others, passing on the martial arts canon to outsiders is still taboo, and it's far too difficult. I'm currently not strong enough..."

"It doesn't matter."

Lin Wanyi leaned back in her chair, her beautiful eyes full of smiles:

"This matter cannot be rushed. I give you three years. Even if you don't learn it, as long as you can memorize it, it will count. If you really can't do it, I can pay you according to the market price after three years, without charging you interest. As for the Dragon Blood Pill, I will give it to you first. You can get the first batch of medicine the day after tomorrow at the latest."

To be honest, Xie Jinhuan couldn't refuse this proposal and was even a little surprised:

"This is eight thousand taels of silver. The promise will be fulfilled in three years. Miss, aren't you afraid that I will run away after taking the pill?"

Lin Wanyi reminded him softly, "I am not alone! If you are willing to be on guard against witchcraft for a lifetime for this little money, and you can still prevent it, I will consider it a good relationship."

Xie Jinhuan thought about it and agreed.

If you offend the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, they will at most beat you to death and will not bother to launch a sneak attack on you.

If you offend the witch cult, you will be suspicious of everything you drink from now on, and after you die, you will have to grind your bones and scatter their ashes to avoid being taken away and refined into puppets for waste use...

If he didn't get the Martial Arts Divine Codex and couldn't repay his debt, he would probably have to pay with his body. Whether he would become a puppet or a son-in-law in the future would all depend on Lin Wanyi's mood...

Although the witch cult was not easy to provoke, in order to deal with the urgent need and to protect himself as much as possible, Xie Jinhuan had no choice but to refuse:
"Alright. Within three years, I will teach you the Divine Martial Arts Canon. If you don't learn it, you'll pay the market price. Do you want a written agreement?"

Lin Wanyi was very generous: "No need, knowing your appearance is enough, it doesn't matter whether your name is true or not."

"..."

When Xie Jinhuan heard this, he knew that there was a giant behind Lin Wanyi. It would be useless for him to escape to the southern border wilderness. He nodded slightly.

"Alright. Come get the pills the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes. I will go with you to buy some herbs later so that you can know the cost and avoid you saying I am cheating you."

Lin Wanyi had recovered. After she finished speaking, she stood up and went to the side room to remove the silver needle.

Xie Jinhuan sat in his original position, secretly analyzing the possible hidden dangers of this transaction. During this time, he heard a rustling sound. It should be the needle between the cleavage that was difficult to pull out through the clothes, so he unbuttoned his clothes.

However, Xie Jinhuan had heard about the style of witch cult women. Once you see a woman, you must marry her. The most important thing is that you must be "faithful to one woman" and not even look at other women. At the moment, he did not have any distractions...

(End of this chapter)