You Can't Have Your Cake and Fish Too

"Sun-Bathing Grass! 1...2...3...6! 60 years old, brimming with yang energy, its stems and leaves are thick and strong—this is wild Sun-Bathing Grass!"

A surge of immense joy instantly filled my mind, but it quickly cooled down.

Damn it, how come it's that kid from the Wang Family Escort Agency!

Those guys travel all over the country. If today's events get out and those old buddies find out, they'll be laughed at to death.

He glanced at the shopkeeper beside him, his eyes urging him to hurry up and take it.

But the shopkeeper just awkwardly shrugged and whispered in his ear:

"That kid is cunning. He saw that I was determined to get this medicinal herb, so he asked for an insane price, and I always complained that it was too low."

He glanced at the struggling employee, his eyes darting around, and continued:

"Senior Li, the medicinal herb has been found and the request has been fulfilled."

"It's just that I'm not good enough to take him down, so I hope you can help me."

The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, looking forward to it.

After all, the requirement was to find a Muyang Grass that was over 50 years old, not to hand it over to him, so strictly speaking, he did not break his promise.

Of course, trying to play such a trick in front of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is tantamount to courting death.

However, Senior Li is different. He may have a sharp tongue, but he is a good person and won't hold a grudge over such a small matter.

Li Danshi was caught in a dilemma, torn between his pride and the pain of impotence.

He was experiencing the agony of not being able to have his cake and eat it too at that moment.

However, this young man is a bodyguard, and comes from an old-school bodyguard agency. His strict adherence to integrity is something that the new bodyguard agency cannot match.

After quickly thinking it over, he decided to take the risk.

A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one. You might forget about being scolded for erectile dysfunction after a few years, but the inability to enjoy the pleasures of erectile dysfunction is a lifelong torment.

He stepped out of the back hall, pretending to be about to leave, when he inadvertently caught sight of Chen Lu. He stopped abruptly, somewhat surprised, and said:

"Hey! You...you're that...who was it again?"

Li Danshi tapped his head in frustration, as if trying to recall something.

Chen Lu quickly bowed and introduced:

"My name is Chen Lu, a bodyguard from the Wang Family Escort Agency, and a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

After hearing this, Master Li suddenly realized:

"Oh! What's that talented kid from yesterday doing here today?"

After saying a few polite words, Li Danshi got straight to the point without further pleasantries.

"While hunting, I unexpectedly came across a medicinal herb called Muyang Grass, which is said to have excellent aphrodisiac effects."

I heard that this pharmacy specializes in selling aphrodisiacs, so I came here specifically, thinking that the prices would be higher.

Why is Master Li Dan here?

After Chen Lu revealed the characteristics of the aphrodisiac specialty store, he looked at Master Li with curiosity, though he couldn't help but smile.

Master Li coughed awkwardly and pulled him aside, inviting him to continue:

"Young friend Chen, there are too many people and too many eyes around here. Why don't you come with me to the back room for a chat?"

Chen Lu looked at the empty front hall of the pharmacy and nodded in agreement.

In the soundproofed back room, Master Li Dan directly revealed the truth:

"Young friend Chen, there's no need for further words. Name your price for this wild Muyang Grass."

Chen Lu shook his head and presented the Muyang Grass with both hands:

"Since the senior needs it, how can the junior wait for a higher price?"

Being able to get to know a senior is the best reward for a junior.

Having grown accustomed to others fawning over him, Li Danshi didn't feel much about this.

If he asks for an exorbitant price, I won't hesitate and will simply agree.

But after hearing what he said, she immediately became suspicious. Could it be that Chen Lu was deliberately waiting for her here?

He had many friends in the Red Bamboo Immortal City, but there were also quite a few people who wanted to kill him.

Such a cunning young man must not be allowed to live.

Upon realizing this, a murderous intent suddenly arose within him.

But then he thought about it again. He always traveled very secretly, and he had specially traveled a long way to this pharmacy to buy medicine.

Therefore, no third person in the world knows that he has come here.

The two people at the pharmacy had conflicting interests with him and had no possibility of knowing him, so it was naturally not them who exposed him.

"Could it really have been a chance encounter?"

After thinking it over for a while, he felt that Chen Lu had no chance of knowing his whereabouts, and this was indeed a chance encounter.

Since that's the case, I can accept this medicinal herb.

However, 1,800 spirit stones is no small amount.

However, he did not want to expose the matter, as a secret transaction would inevitably cause tax trouble.

Therefore, we can only offer some assistance in cultivation.

This kid has exceptional talent, and I naturally have a slight affinity for people like him.

If he doesn't court death, then reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is only a matter of time, and even the Purple Mansion stage isn't out of the question.

It would be better to make friends with one or two of them. If one's disciples encounter trouble after one's death, they might be able to help out of consideration for past favors.

Master Li Dan picked up the pile of Muyang grass, still covered in soil, and examined it carefully for a while.

After confirming that there were no problems, he nodded and replied:

"I, Li Mang, have always been clear about my gratitude and grudges. If you don't want it, I can't refuse to give it to you."

Although I am not a metal-element cultivator, the essence of cultivation is no different.

"Young friend Chen, if you trust me, please extend your hand, and I will help you search for the hidden obstruction within your body."

Chen Lu quickly bowed deeply, said some kind words of thanks to his senior, and then extended his hand without hesitation.

Master Li gently supported him, and instantly, a warm and soothing energy flowed into his meridians.

He is very meticulous in his work, preferring to expend more effort rather than miss any place that might be suspected of having a hidden injury.

After a long while, he withdrew his hand and wearily wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He took out a booklet and wrote down in detail the hidden injuries he had discovered and the methods for their treatment and maintenance.

Chen Lu was heartbroken. What happened to the cultivation manual or the promise of becoming an apprentice?

He so carelessly exchanged some insignificant items for his Muyang Grass.

If he had known it would be like this, he would have just sold it for money.

Just as he was feeling secretly sad, Master Li pointed at him and couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"Kid, didn't you say that getting to know me was the greatest reward?"

I not only introduced you to me, but I also gave you a booklet to help you with hidden injuries.

As a token of my gratitude, are you going to give me something else?

Chen Lu smiled awkwardly, realizing that his little tricks were nothing in front of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Since Master Li is in a good mood, let's just tell the truth.

Even if I don't become an apprentice, I can still have the cultivation manual as a safety net.

"Senior Li, I would like to learn alchemy from you!"

Master Li sighed and shook his head with some regret.

"You don't understand pharmacology or medicinal properties, and you can't treat cultivators' illnesses."

I don't know why this medicine was used instead of others, or why it was extracted with water instead of being calcined.

These things require years of immersion and learning; only after mastering them can one be qualified to attempt alchemy.

If you skip these steps and directly follow the recipe to refine the pills, even if the pills you refine are exactly the same as the original recipe...

In essence, he is nothing more than a foolish person who merely parrots the ideas of his predecessors and imitates them blindly.

Knowing what to do but not why will inevitably lead to a life of mediocrity.

He then offered words of comfort:

"Why not give up this idea and focus on cultivation? Then, based on your situation, I will write a cultivation manual specifically for you. If you follow it, you can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage sooner."

If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me, and I will provide you with careful guidance.

This is the choice you should really make.