Mother Gu always adhered to the principle of being kind to others. Even though the family was poor, she often helped the neighbors on the street.
But previously, when Gu Yuan was severely injured by a vicious dog and bedridden, his parents spent all their savings to treat his wounds and had to borrow grain from the neighbors.
In the end, they begged everyone but found no way out, neither in heaven nor on earth, and didn't borrow even a single grain.
Moreover, most people shut their doors and paid no attention to the old couple, and some even spoke coldly and sarcastically.
This situation was truly disheartening.
When the Gu Family was down in the past, these people stayed far away, afraid of being caught up with the family of three. Now that the Gu family has money, these people smell the blood and come to join the fun, with smiles trying to take advantage.
How is there such a good deal under heaven?
...
Beiliang County, Jade Cauldron Tower.
"Gu brother, long time no see."
Gu Yuan had just entered the hall and immediately bumped into a man, who greeted him directly upon seeing him.
The man's physique was burly, with a tiger-back bear-waist, and a sharp axe hanging on his waist. His rugged face, along with a thick circle of stubble, gave him quite the appearance of a bandit.
"Huh?"
The man seemed to notice something, carefully assessing for a moment, and said with some surprise:
"Looking at you, younger brother, it seems your cultivation has greatly improved."
"I won't hide it from you, brother. I've indeed made some progress recently."
Gu Yuan nodded, shook his head, and sighed: "Unfortunately, the savings I've painstakingly accumulated have been completely spent in this period. Now I'm a penniless wretch again."
The person in front of him, named Zhou Zhong, came from a hunting background and accidentally found a Spirit Medicine in the mountains, sold it to Jade Cauldron Tower, and became a Medicine Gatherer like Gu Yuan.
However, Zhou Zhong is more experienced, having been a Medicine Gatherer for several years.
Simply put, Zhou Zhong can be considered Gu Yuan's "colleague."
During this period, Gu Yuan often came to Jade Cauldron Tower to buy Medicine Doves, borrow books, and consequently got to know a few people, including Zhou Zhong, who is fairly decent.
"Haha, us Martial Masters rely on our strength to earn a living. If the strength improves, isn't making money easy?"
Zhou Zhong patted Gu Yuan's shoulder and sighed: "You've just started practicing martial cultivation, so it's normal to progress quickly, unlike me, stuck in the phase of Refining Tendons for over a year now without any sign of breakthrough."
"If I were to have a Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pill, surely I could achieve Great Success in Marrow Refining. At that point, I'd be a notable figure in Beiliang County, large or small."
When mentioning the Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pill, Zhou Zhong's expression was complex: "But alas, such treasures as Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pills, each costing over five hundred silver, and two hundred Contribution Points too. Selling myself by the pound wouldn't afford it."
Gu Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.
Jade Cauldron Tower's business scope involves acquiring various long-standing herbs, even Spirit Medicines, and selling diverse medicinal items for healing, detoxification, tendon strengthening, bone reinforcement, for Martial Masters' cultivation, including miraculous Spirit Pills!
The medicinal Yellow Ginseng Pigeon Soup he brewed during this period, the pigeons used were actually Medicine Doves bought from Jade Cauldron Tower, which have the effect of Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence and are extremely nourishing; one pigeon costs a silver.
Buying a pigeon for one silver was something that the old Gu Yuan wouldn't have even dreamed of!
Plus other various expenses, in less than a month, Gu Yuan's savings have been spent, totaling about two hundred silver.
And these Medicine Doves are the most ordinary items sold in Jade Cauldron Tower.
The Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pill mentioned by Zhou Zhong, however, is one of the renowned Spirit Pills in Jade Cauldron Tower, mainly made from the placenta of a mountain leopard excavated from the female leopard's belly, specially prepared and refined into the essence, then combined with various precious Spirit Medicines to refine into a Spirit Pill.
Its effect can cleanse the tendons and muscles, making the major tendons of the whole body resilient, strong, powerful, and the physique will become more robust!
In other words, this Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pill is a special Spirit Pill for the Refining Tendons phase.
Besides the Leopard Embryo Marrow Cleansing Pill, there's the Clear Wind Jade Dew Ointment, Tiger Bone Marrow Nourishing Pill, Blood Mushroom Nourishing Pill, among others, each with unique effects and miraculous Spirit Elixirs.
If the quantity is sufficient, they can make a person's martial cultivation smooth sailing, progressing rapidly.
But like I said, the prices of these Spirit Elixirs are excessively high, and these Medicine Gatherers need not only silver but also enough Contribution Points to buy them.
Gu Yuan smiled: "Then I wish Brother Zhou breakthroughs soon and all wishes come true."
"Haha, Gu brother, you surely know how to talk."
Zhou Zhong laughed at the words, then deliberately lowered his voice: "By the way, brother, aren't you short of money? There's a good opportunity right now!"
"Oh? Why did brother say so?"
Gu Yuan showed some interest but also felt a tinge of wariness.
He never believed there's luck where pies fall from the sky, especially when the other party was unfamiliar with him.
If pies fall on his head, he's only suspicious it's poisoned bait deliberately thrown to fish.
"You've been a Medicine Gatherer for almost a month now, hasn't there been a task?"
Zhou Zhong spoke mysteriously: "The good opportunity I mentioned is exactly this task."
"Task?"
Gu Yuan suddenly realized:
"I see."
Any organized influence, once joined, while receiving protection and various benefits, also requires undertaking certain responsibilities and obligations.
Jade Cauldron Tower is no exception.
According to Jade Cauldron Tower's rules, Medicine Gatherers like Gu Yuan must complete at least one task every month, and while completion is secondary, rejection is absolutely forbidden, or his status as a Medicine Gatherer will be revoked.
Of course, each task completed earns certain Contribution Points and other rewards.
Aside from other rewards, these Contribution Points can be exchanged for Martial Arts Techniques, Spirit Elixirs, etc., which are highly sought-after by all Medicine Gatherers.
In these twenty days, Gu Yuan focused entirely on practicing the Golden Snake Swallowing Yuan Technique, and hasn't even begun his primary job of gathering medicine.
As for gathering medicine, although there's a requirement every month, it's not mandatory.
At most, in the upcoming period, Gu Yuan could venture into the mountains to gather more herbs.
But the monthly task is the only thing Gu Yuan can't decline.
His intention in coming this time was to receive a task.
However, Gu Yuan now has a question.
He wondered:
"But I've only been a Medicine Gatherer for about a month, and my strength is weak. Even if there are good tasks, shouldn't they be for newcomers like me? Also, how do you know about these matters?"