Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 64: Robbed

Watching Zhang Heng’s shifting expressions of concern and delight, the young woman could not help but ask in confusion, “Young Master Zhang, are you feeling unwell?”

Zhang Heng opened his eyes and smiled calmly, then said with a meaningful tone, “Miss, my health is fine, but it’s your body that seems to have quite a problem.”

“Oh? And why do you say that?” she replied coolly.

Zhang Heng rose, intending to approach her, but suddenly thought better of it and stopped in his tracks, asking from a distance, “May I ask your name, miss?”

She answered, “My name is Yun Yanrou, Young Master Zhang. But you have yet to say why you think there is something wrong with my health.”

“Miss Yun,” Zhang Heng began, pacing as he spoke in detail, “your complexion is somewhat pale and your body seems frail. For an ordinary woman, that might not be concerning, but you are a cultivator at the Pure Spirit stage. It’s rather unusual, no matter how one looks at it.”

In recent days, Zhang Heng had perused many medical texts in preparation for his future alchemy endeavors, so he could tell at a glance that something was amiss with the young woman’s health.

Hearing this, Yun Yanrou’s gaze turned cold. “Young Master Zhang, you have no spiritual power about you, yet you can discern my cultivation level. Clearly, there is something unusual about you.”

Now that they were at a critical point in escorting their goods, the group was especially vigilant. Zhang Heng’s odd behavior naturally aroused her suspicion.

Sensing her growing wariness, Zhang Heng cursed himself for his carelessness. Of course—he was now just a mortal without cultivation, so how could he possibly see through another’s level of attainment? How should he talk his way out of this?

After a moment’s thought, he smiled and replied with an air of profundity, “Miss Yun, in fact, I am an alchemist. That’s how I can estimate your cultivation.”

“An alchemist?” Yun Yanrou gave a faint smile. “Young Master Zhang, you do have a sense of humor.” She fixed a sharp gaze upon him.

The path of alchemy was notoriously difficult. Without decades of devoted study, one could not become an alchemist. To be able to craft all manner of first-tier pills at around twenty-five years of age would already mark one as a genius. Zhang Heng looked no more than eighteen or nineteen—how could he possibly be an alchemist?

She quietly gathered her spiritual energy, ready to act at the slightest sign of trouble.

Noticing her vigilance, Zhang Heng quickly explained, “Miss, please believe me. I have a modest talent for alchemy and can already refine various common first-tier pills. I am indeed an alchemist.”

“Is that so?” Yun Yanrou still appeared unconvinced.

“Of course,” Zhang Heng replied with utmost certainty.

After a moment’s hesitation, she took a pill from a finely crafted box nearby. At once, the pill’s fragrance filled the air. Turning to face Zhang Heng, she asked, “Young Master Zhang, since you claim to be an alchemist, can you tell me what this pill is?”

Though Zhang Heng had yet to begin pill refinement himself, he had nonetheless seen a fair number of pills recently. With just a glance, he recognized what Yun Yanrou held.

He answered serenely, “Miss Yun, the pill in your hand is a third-tier Detoxification Pill.”

Yun Yanrou showed little reaction to this answer. The Detoxification Pill was quite common. Besides alchemists, even some ordinary cultivators would recognize it.

Seeing her lack of satisfaction, Zhang Heng continued, “Miss, while your pill is indeed third-tier, it is clearly a failed product. The impurities have not been fully removed, and it’s been excessively refined. Its detoxifying effect is weak at best, and as for the so-called pill fragrance, it’s nothing more than a ruse—a deceitful person must have used other herbs to imitate it. You’ve been tricked.”

“Are you certain?” Yun Yanrou examined the pill repeatedly but found nothing amiss, and could not help but ask in confusion.

Zhang Heng did not waste words. He took a pill from his spatial ring and tossed it to Yun Yanrou. “Miss Yun, I happen to have a Detoxification Pill as well. Compare them, and you’ll see which is genuine.”

The pill from Zhang Heng was lustrous and round, its fragrance far richer. Compared to her original pill, it was clear at a glance which was genuine and which was a failure.

After some silent consideration, Yun Yanrou made her decision. She looked at Zhang Heng and asked in a grave tone, “Young Master Zhang, would you be willing to sell this pill? I am willing to pay a high price.”

She’s quite decent, Zhang Heng thought. With no spiritual power emanating from him, she could have simply taken it by force.

He shrugged and replied flatly, “Not for sale.”

Yun Yanrou’s mood visibly darkened, but she did not press him. She prepared to toss the pill back to Zhang Heng.

He smiled calmly and said, “Alchemists never lack for pills, Miss Yun. You saved my life and are helping me escape this endless desert. As a token of gratitude, please accept this Detoxification Pill.”

Such simple words, yet for the ever-composed Yun Yanrou, they stirred deep emotion. This was at least a third-tier pill, and he was simply giving it away?

Though Zhang Heng claimed to be an alchemist, Yun Yanrou doubted it. She suspected he was merely an apprentice. Still, she had great need of the pill, and as he was willing, she accepted it.

Carefully placing the pill in the ornate box, Yun Yanrou inclined her head and said sincerely, “Thank you.”

The caravan continued its slow advance. Zhang Heng and Yun Yanrou sat quietly, exchanging no further words.

Suddenly, the beast-drawn carriage came to an abrupt halt.

Puzzled, Yun Yanrou stepped down, and Zhang Heng quickly followed.

Ahead of their caravan stood more than a dozen masked men, lined up in perfect order.

Moments later, Zhang Heng joined Yun Yanrou at the front.

A handsome man, seeing Zhang Heng following behind Yun Yanrou, wore a dark expression. As Yun Yanrou approached, he immediately attempted to ingratiate himself, saying, “Yanrou, why don’t you go back and rest in the carriage? Leave this to me and Uncle Mu.”

She ignored him, merely nodding in acknowledgment to the man called Uncle Mu, who stood at the head of the group.

Witnessing this, Zhang Heng sneered inwardly. Pathetic—flatterers always end up with nothing.

Uncle Mu, too, seemed puzzled. “Whale Sand Gang? What are they doing here?”

The Whale Sand Gang was a bandit group outside Shayan City, notorious for robbing passing cultivators. Their strength was such that ordinary cultivators dared not provoke them. However, the Yun family was a major clan within Shayan City, and ordinarily, there was no conflict between them and the Whale Sand Gang.

Yun Mu stepped forward and shouted sternly at the bandits blocking their way, “Men of the Whale Sand Gang, what is the meaning of this?”

The leader of the bandits laughed heartily. “Don’t you know what kind of business the Whale Sand Gang does?”

Yun Mu’s anger flared. “How dare you! This is the Yun family’s caravan. Do you mean to start a war with us? Move aside at once!”

But the man seemed not to hear, turning to his fellows with a mocking laugh. “Brothers, the Yun family’s quite impressive! Today, I’ll let you all see for yourselves.”

With that, he brandished his weapon, releasing the aura of a Core Formation cultivator. At once, all the bandits let their spiritual energy surge forth.

Seeing this, the Yun family’s party was shocked.

All of them were at the Qi Sea stage, and their leader was at the Core Formation stage.

Impossible, everyone thought. The Whale Sand Gang was never this strong. In Shayan City, the Qi Sea stage already counted as an expert—there was no way the bandits could have so many at this level.

This was bad. The strongest among the Yun family’s guards was Yun Mu, at the seventh rank of the Qi Sea stage. The other guards reached only the second or third rank, and some were merely at the Pure Spirit stage.

The disparity in strength was overwhelming.

If the Whale Sand Gang attacked, the Yun family’s caravan would stand no chance.

The bandits paid no heed to the Yun family’s reaction and began to advance slowly toward them.