Junming stepped inside the store. The air smelled faintly of ash and dry herbs. Behind the counter sat an old man with a wrinkled face and a scowl that seemed permanent.
"What do you want?" the old man asked in a flat, impatient voice. Like one of those shopkeepers who couldn't care less whether you bought anything or dropped dead.
Junming approached. "Do you have any Qi-increasing pills?"
"What?"
Junming frowned. "Pills. For increasing Qi?"
"What?"
He raised his voice. "QI-INCREASING PILLS!"
The old man cupped a hand to his ear. "What?"
Junming clenched his jaw. He wasn't deaf... he was just ignoring him.
He muttered under his breath, "What a shitty store."
The old man looked up. "What was that?"
Junming flashed a fake smile. "Nothing."
They stared at each other for a long second, silent, locked in an invisible battle of wills.
Then Junming sighed, releasing the tension in his shoulders, and began browsing the shelves himself.
The store was small and cramped. Dust lined the wooden racks. There were maybe a dozen pills at most. He scanned the labels, then picked one up, from the left row.
A system prompt appeared.
Would you like to consume this pill?
Item: Coagulated Bitter Pellet (Low-Grade)
Effect: Expels minor impurities (includes blood clots)
Efficiency: 100%
Junming glanced at the old man, still sitting behind the counter, casually peeling sunflower seeds, not even sparing him a glance.
'Is he really this careless? What if I just…?'
Junming whispered, "Yes. Consume."
Error: Item not owned by user.
Consumption denied.
"…Huh." Junming blinked.
'So I really have to own it for the system to function...'
But then he remembered the stolen pill and the martial technique he found under the floorboard. The old Junming had planned to sell them for some extra money. Yet the system had let him use them without any problem. That probably meant his father knew and just let it happen. Either his parents were neglectful... or just too soft?
Junming didn't think about it much.
He picked up another pill.
Would you like to consume this pill?
Item: Spirit Surge Pill (Low-Grade)
Effect: Increases Qi slightly
Efficiency: 100%
Another.
Item: Red Lotus Paste (Low-Grade)
Effect: Heals minor surface wounds
Efficiency: 100%
And another.
Item: Silk Glow Bead (Low-Grade)
Effect: Slight cosmetic enhancement (skin glows faintly)
Efficiency: 100%
He kept checking. All the others were the same skin-glow pills. At least ten in a row.
He turned to the right row, and scanned again.
Bright Skin Pill.
Silk Light Pearl.
Glow Essence Bead.
Ten out of twelve pills were basically just spiritual-energy-infused makeup.
Junming stared, deadpan.
"…This shop is even shittier than I thought."
Outside the Store
A short distance away, just far enough to not be noticed, two figures sat by a small noodle stall.
Shen Xueya blew lightly on her bowl. "Senior Brother, why are we eating noodles here? The inn's noodles are way better."
Liang Chen didn't answer. He was hunched forward slightly, eyes locked on the storefront across the street, watching Junming through the narrow doorway gap.
His cheeks were puffed out, full of noodles. "Itt's... grea'at... he're... too..."
Xueya stared at him. Her perfect, righteous Senior Brother, usually so refined, elegant, and aloof. Now looked like a squirrel stuffed with leftovers. Noodle broth dripped down his chin.
Her mood soured slightly.
She said nothing else, and quietly resumed eating.
Junming stepped out of the store. At the same time, Liang Chen slurped the last of his noodles and lifted the bowl to his mouth, drinking all the broth in one go. He stood up and said, "Xueya'er, follow me."
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, but a line of broth dripped from his chin.
Xueya frowned. "But I haven't even eaten half of it."
Liang Chen didn't answer. He was already walking toward the pill shop.
She looked at the bowl, then at her Senior Brother. With a sigh, she shoved the rest of the noodles into her mouth and drank the broth in one breath. She nearly choked, but used her qi to control it and forced it down.
She tossed two low-grade spirit stones on the table, called the stall owner, and ran after him.
Inside the store, Liang Chen walked straight to the counter. "What did that guy buy from here?"
The old shopkeeper blinked. "What?"
Liang leaned closer, speaking near his ear. "What did that guy before me buy?"
The old man leaned back. "Why are you shouting, lad? I'm not deaf."
Liang Chen took a breath. "Then tell me."
The old man waved a lazy hand from right to left across the small shelves. "Everything."
Liang Chen frowned. "What?"
The old man scratched his head. "He bought everything. Haven't seen a stranger youngling like him."
Liang narrowed his eyes. "What do you sell?"
The old man shrugged. "Skin Glow Pills."
He wasn't lying. He honestly didn't know what half the pills in his shop did.
Junming had already returned to the inn. In his room, he sat cross-legged, his upper robe loosened, sweat forming across his back.
Even with his system boosting the pill's effect, the pain didn't lessen. If anything, it felt worse than what normal cultivators went through. They absorbed only part of the pill. He absorbed everything.
He placed several pills on the floor in front of him. All Low-grade.
He took a breath, slow and steady, calming his pulse.
His hand hovered over the first pill.
The room was silent.
Then… he began.
Later that night, a knock came at his door.
Junming opened one eye. "Who is it?"
A voice came from outside. "Shen Xueya. I've come to challenge you."
Junming muttered, "What a headache…"
She heard it. "What did you say?"
He stood up and opened the door.
Shen Xueya's eyes widened.
Junming looked… radiant. His skin glowed so softly it was almost childlike, smooth, clear, unnaturally bright. For a moment, she hallucinated a faint halo behind him, like some reincarnated Buddha.
He raised a brow. "Hey. Let's get this over with. I'm busy."
She blinked, shaking off the daze. "O…kay. Follow me. I know a quiet place."
Junming nodded, and they walked. Past the inn, down a narrow alley, out into a quiet field.
She turned, her voice cold again. "Raise your sword."
The anger and hatred were back in her eyes.
"I'll personally check what forbidden technique you used," she said, stepping into stance.
"My Senior Brother would never lose to trash like you."