As soon as the patient left and there were no outsiders in the clinic, Doctor Hu's attitude underwent an earth-shattering change.
"Godfather, put those things down, I will clean it up!" Doctor Hu's face revealed a flattering smile. He snatched the medicinal herbs from Cangshu Bai's hands and kept smiling, "Go sit down and rest."
Cangshu Bai asked, "Is there any news in town?"
Doctor Hu hastily replied, "Hongfu saved Old Man Longsword's life, wanting to interrogate him about where those treasures were hidden. However, at night, I overheard the sound of a cup being smashed coming from Hongfu's room. I'm afraid she didn't get what she wanted."
Cangshu Bai said, "Continue."
Doctor Hu continued, "I investigated the man who died from demonic beast transformation that day. He was a resident of the neighboring town. Recently, there have been disappearances around here. I'm afraid they were all captured by demonic cultivators to be refined into demonic beasts."
Cangshu Bai said, "Did the disappearances start only after these cultivators appeared?"
Doctor Hu nodded, "Exactly. But I haven't found out who is exactly behind these wicked deeds. Godfather, should we intervene?"
Cangshu Bai opened the medicine cabinet, took out a few medicinal herbs, and said casually, "As long as they don't disturb the peace here, there's no need to intervene."
Doctor Hu knew that Cangshu Bai was a man who walked the line between good and evil. To put it bluntly, as long as his own interests were not harmed, he would be indifferent to everything.
Cangshu Bai had no sense of justice, nor any sympathy. He truly had some talent for cultivating the Dao of Ruthlessness.
Doctor Hu looked at the medicinal herbs Cangshu Bai took out and asked curiously, "Godfather, what medicine are you planning to make?"
"Soul-Nourishing Pill."
"For Godmother?"
Cangshu Bai gave a hum of acknowledgment, took the medicinal herbs to the side, placed them in a mortar, and pounded them into a fine powder with a pestle.
The Soul-Nourishing Pill didn't have much effect on cultivators, but if given to ordinary people, it could prolong their lives.
The century-old Yellow Yan Grass, millennium-old Flood Dragon Gallbladder, and ninth-grade Soul-Condensing Flower he took out... these were all extremely precious holy items for nourishing the soul. For ordinary cultivators, seeing just one of them would be a massive stroke of luck; gathering a complete set was harder than ascending to the heavens.
And these medicinal herbs, which many cultivators consumed to break through their cultivation realms, were actually being used by Cangshu Bai to make an ordinary Soul-Nourishing Pill?
When Cangshu Bai was about to get married, it was agreed that he would only be a husband to a mortal woman for a hundred years, all for the sake of overcoming a romantic tribulation, comprehending life and death, and tempering his state of mind.
Now he was even feeding her Soul-Nourishing Pills. How did this look like he only wanted to be husband and wife for a hundred years!
Doctor Hu's eyes widened, finding it inconceivable.
It was over. This baleful star seemed to have truly fallen in love.
Cangshu Bai ordered without even looking up, "Bring the sugar jar over."
Doctor Hu: "...Ah?"
He raised his eyes, "Ranran can't handle bitterness, go get the sugar."
Doctor Hu: "..."
With floating footsteps, he turned around, questioning his life, and obediently went to get the sugar jar.
Mu Ran bent over, staring at the little wooden dog on the workbench that had laid down after walking just a few steps. She rubbed her chin and pondered.
"Where exactly did it go wrong? Why can it only walk three steps before laying down motionless? Is there a problem with the structure, or are there not enough spirit stones?"
Boss Song suddenly shouted from outside, "Little Lady Mu, there is a guest who wants to see you!"
Mu Ran responded, temporarily put down the work in her hands, and walked out quickly.
Standing in the shop was a young woman dressed in extraordinary clothes. She was examining the items displayed in the workshop. Upon seeing Mu Ran, her scrutinizing gaze swept over Mu Ran from head to toe. Perhaps finding her rather ordinary, the woman looked quite disappointed.
Boss Song whispered to Mu Ran, "This is the maidservant who follows Fairy Hongfu. That is the legendary Fairy Hongfu! So many people can't even get to say a single word to her. You, girl, are in luck today."
Mu Ran asked politely, "Miss, is there something you need me for?"
A pile of wooden parts materialized in the young woman's hand. "Did you make this?"
Mu Ran looked at it for a moment, nodded, and said, "I made it."
"It was only used once, and this Paging Chicken broke. Your craftsmanship doesn't seem to be very good."
Mu Ran secretly thought that if a Paging Chicken could be used infinitely, how would others come to buy new ones, and how would she make money?
But she couldn't say such things out loud, so she could only smile and say, "I am just an ordinary artisan, naturally incomparable to those artifact masters who can refine magical treasures. It's just a small trinket, please forgive my poor skills, Miss."
Most cultivators looked at ordinary people with a lofty sense of superiority. This young woman was a respectful maidservant in front of Fairy Hongfu, but in front of ordinary people, she carried a lofty arrogance.
Mu Ran could somewhat understand. The environment dictated it; such were the rules of this world.
Those with inferior strength were ants.
Those with equal strength were fellow Daoists.
Those with superior strength were seniors.
In the eyes of many, Mu Ran merely remained at the level of an ant.
The young woman said in a commanding tone, "My Fairy wants to order three of these Paging Chickens. Deliver them to the Yueran Inn tomorrow."
Mu Ran said in a troubled tone, "Miss, the process of making Paging Chickens is rather complicated. Making three in one day is truly..."
"Once it's done, you will be rewarded with five hundred spirit stones."
Mu Ran: "I will do it, I can definitely make them. Yueran Inn, right? I've memorized it. I will definitely deliver them on time tomorrow."
People in this mortal world were indeed mostly greedy for money.
The young woman didn't stay any longer and turned to leave.
Boss Song asked worriedly, "Can you really manage to make three in one day?"
Mu Ran was full of confidence, "It's fine, I'll just stay up late."
That was five hundred spirit stones! She wouldn't necessarily earn that much in half a year.
Mu Ran had it all figured out. With this money, she could buy a few more life-saving talismans, adding another layer of guarantee for her survival in this dangerous world.
At dusk, Cangshu Bai arrived at the workshop to pick her up.
Mu Ran came out carrying her toolbox. Seeing him, she smiled and said, "Were there more patients today? You got off work a little later than usual."
Cangshu Bai took the toolbox from her hand, "There were a few more patients."
In truth, making the medicine took him some time.
He placed a wooden candy box into her hand, "I saw someone selling sweet pills on the street. Since you love sweets, I bought a box."
Mu Ran said, "I'm not a child anymore, yet you still buy me sweet pills. If the aunties in the village find out, they will laugh at me again."
"Should I throw it away then?"
"No." Mu Ran protected the candy box with both hands, "Since you already bought it, I will properly eat everything that cost money."
She opened the candy box. Inside lay plump, round black pills. Their appearance wasn't that great, but she popped one into her mouth. Tasting the sweet flavor, she narrowed her eyes in enjoyment.
She clearly liked it, but still said, "Jinzhi, don't spend money recklessly from now on."
Cangshu Bai's eyes curved slightly, "Okay."
Once they reached a secluded area, he took her hand. Noticing the heavy toolbox in her other hand, he asked softly, "Why are you bringing your tools home today?"
"I took on a big order. The customer is in a rush, so I need to make the most of my time and work on it today."
"A big order?"
"Yes! It pays five hundred spirit stones. Even after taking out Boss Song's cut, I'll still make quite a bit!" Mu Ran hugged his arm. Whenever there was no one else around, she loved being clingy and pressing herself close to him.
Smiling radiantly, she said, "I have it all planned out. Once I get the money, I'm going to the talisman shop to buy the most expensive one they have—specifically, a talisman from Mount Biyun. The talismans from that mountain are the absolute best at saving lives. I'll put it inside a protection amulet for you to wear. That way, whenever you have to go out in the future, I'll have peace of mind."
Cangshu Bai asked, "How do you know that Mount Biyun's talismans are the best at saving lives?"
Mu Ran's gaze briefly darted away before she smiled. "I asked the owner of the talisman shop. He said the ones from Mount Biyun are excellent, so they must be."
Cangshu Bai gently squeezed her hand. "Ranran, I don't need it. You've saved up all that money; you should buy something you want for yourself."
"What I want most is for you to be safe, for me to be safe, and for our home to be safe."
Cangshu Bai's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, barely able to conceal the emotions surging in his eyes.
His tall frame leaned forward slightly as he bent down with unmistakable tenderness.
A soft kiss landed on the corner of Mu Ran's lips.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly.
Cangshu Bai's Adam's apple bobbed, and his emotions finally melted into a soft chuckle. "Let's go home."
