Chapter 325 - 126: Ten Years (2)

Chapter 325: Chapter 126: Ten Years (2)

CLINK!

Beneath the swaying tree, amidst the mottled light and shadows, the two men clinked their cups. The fine wine, buried ten years ago, had now become even more mellow and fragrant.

...

In the middle of the afternoon, the drinking session ended, and Zhou Changfa departed.

"Brother Fang! Brother Fang!"

Yu Song had arrived.

This caravan master had grown very close to the Fang Family over the past ten years, supplying Caozhi Hall with high-quality medicinal herbs at a price just slightly above cost.

Every time he returned from a business trip, or during holidays and festivals, he would visit the Fang Family, bringing some rare curios. He was now extremely familiar with the Fang family.

It wasn’t that he was after anything in particular; it was more about making preparations ahead of time. That way, if he ever found himself in a bind, it would be easier to ask for a favor.

Of course, to this day, he had never actually asked Fang Rui for anything.

Initially, Fang Rui had intentionally kept his distance, but Yu Song was thick-skinned enough to persist. After so many visits, Fang Rui gradually stopped pushing him away.

’Relationships between people are built over time, after all. At the very least, Yu Song’s actions don’t repel me. He’s a far sight better than many of the lukewarm, so-called "relatives" from my previous life.’

"Yu Dongzhu, you must be here to deliver the herbs, right? To be honest, the quality of your herbs is superb and the price is so low, I almost feel bad."

"Heh heh!"

Yu Song directed his men to unload the goods, handling everything so thoroughly that Fang Rui didn’t have to worry about a thing. "I’m not losing out, Brother Fang. We’ve known each other for ten years. Why are you being so formal?"

"Oh, right. On this trip, I picked up some more interesting trinkets. Please take them; they’re for your two young ladies to enjoy."

At Fang Rui’s invitation, Yu Song sat down for tea. He selectively recounted the latest news and interesting stories from all corners of the land that he had heard on his travels, choosing topics he knew would interest Fang Rui.

When the time was about right, he didn’t drag out the conversation. He proactively stood up and took his leave, his sense of propriety absolutely perfect.

Interacting with him was like a gentle spring breeze and a soft rain—utterly comfortable.

After Yu Song left.

Fang Rui reflected on their interactions over the years and couldn’t help but marvel at how well Yu Song handled people.

’The world is vast and full of all sorts of people. Cats have their ways, and rats have theirs. Everyone has their own way of living.’

’This Yu Song... for ten years, day in and day out, he’s cultivated this relationship. An ordinary person could never compare. He’s really someone special!’

...

In the evening, Fang Rui left Caozhi Hall under the setting sun, went to the Exotic Fruit Shop, and bought half a catty of Purple Crystal Li before returning.

After practicing medicine for so many years, he had naturally built up a considerable network of contacts. His status had risen accordingly, and he was now qualified to enter the Exotic Fruit Shop to make purchases.

"Elder Yuan?! Old Yuan?!" Instead of heading straight back, Fang Rui went to the adjacent courtyard.

He used to respectfully address Yuan Haogu as ’Elder’, but after discovering the old coot’s truly foul and stubborn temper, and as their relationship grew closer, he started calling him ’Old Yuan’, just like Zhou Changfa did.

The old man didn’t mind.

"Is that you, Fang the Kid?!"

At that moment, Yuan Haogu was reclining in a rattan chair, his eyes half-closed, polishing his Celestial Heart Seal. Hearing the voice, he carefully set it down.

The Celestial Heart Seal was a Qi Fortune Secret Treasure. After Fang Rui and Yuan Haogu had grown close, he had even borrowed it to examine, but he couldn’t figure out anything special about it.

However, according to Yuan Haogu, once one entered the Central Hub’s Purple Cloud Pavilion in the Divine Capital and had their name inscribed on the Primordial Golden List, the Celestial Heart Seal could draw upon Qi Fortune to automatically defend, counterattack, and even backlash against attackers, making its wielder invincible below the Upper Three Grades.

Furthermore, it seemed to possess a special state similar to ’Celestial Demon Dissolution’, capable of taking down even existences above the First Grade. This was why, despite the countless powerful figures in Shangluo City, they allowed him to root out injustice and dared not provoke him.

"Fang the Kid, you brought me something again? Is it Exotic Fruit this time? Let me make it clear: if you keep bribing me, I’ll still come down on you if you do anything heinous."

Yuan Haogu paused, then added warily, "Also, don’t even think about trying to get information out of me. It won’t work."

Fang Rui couldn’t help but laugh.

’Only I could put up with this old coot’s foul temper.’

"Alright, alright, Old Yuan. I’ve only ever taken a loss like this from you. This is the Exotic Fruit, ’Purple Crystal Li’. Have a couple and nourish your body!"

He knew that Yuan Haogu lived an extremely frugal life. It wasn’t that he lacked money, but that he gave his entire salary to the oppressed and pitiful, even dressing only in simple cloth robes.

Aside from a room full of books, he truly possessed nothing of value.

Oh, and even this courtyard was assigned by the Court; it wasn’t Yuan Haogu’s personal property. Otherwise, the old coot would have probably sold it too.

’I heard Old Yuan used to have a wife and children, but because of a major case, he endured a backlash and they were killed in retaliation...’

Fang Rui mused to himself, shaking his head slightly.

He could never be a person like that, but that didn’t stop him from admiring such a man.

CHOMP! CHOMP!

Yuan Haogu chewed on the Purple Crystal Li, letting Fang Rui apply needles to treat some of his aches and pains.

"Elder Yuan, ’Spiritual Qi is poisonous’—what does that mean? How does it affect Spirit Cultivators?" Fang Rui asked as he administered the needles.

He felt the timing was right to ask again.

"Spirit Cultivators, you say!"

Yuan Haogu muttered, "Speaking of which, my talent as a Spirit Master is actually quite high. It’s a one-in-ten-thousand Green Talent."

Fang Rui was speechless.

’Green ’Ordinary Talent’... It was true that it was one-in-ten-thousand, but it was also just barely over the threshold for a Spirit Master’s cultivation. Was that really something to be proud of? My Nannan has that talent! Besides, who asked you about your Spirit Master talent?’

Fang Rui’s movements paused. He waited for Yuan Haogu to continue and explain the "poisonous Spiritual Qi," but the old coot had shut his mouth. He just kept chomping on the Purple Crystal Li, one after another.