Chapter 166: Physician Zhang

Boss Wang spent the better part of an hour browsing the shop. He picked up every piece to weigh it in his hand, held it up to the light, and turned it over to compare, muttering to himself all the while. Finally, he settled on a decent jade pendant priced at a mere fifteen spirit crystals, satisfied he had found the best bargain.

Just as he was about to pay, he heard Jiuyou casually mention that the more expensive jade pendants might hold a trace of immortal qi left by an immortal master. Boss Wang paused. After a moment of hesitation, he pocketed the fifteen spirit crystals and selected a Green Snake Jade Pendant worth a full spirit stone instead.

After the purchase, he examined it over and over, laughing and claiming he felt completely refreshed the moment he put it on.

Jiuyou didn't bother explaining. He merely nodded and humored the man with a few polite words.

Boss Wang lingered in the shop a little longer before walking out the door, thoroughly satisfied.

Jiuyou watched him go, then sat back down behind the counter.

That Green Snake Jade Pendant truly was different from mundane trinkets. For any piece priced at a spirit stone or higher, he used spirit jade and deliberately left a faint trace of spiritual qi inside. While this wisp of qi wasn't enough to cure a mortal's illness or extend their lifespan, wearing it for years would still strengthen their physique and ward off minor ailments.

He considered it a small gesture of goodwill for his neighbors. He would never mention it aloud, though; doing so would only invite trouble.

After Boss Wang left, the shop fell quiet again. The only sound was the carving knife scraping across jade—a crisp, rhythmic tink-tink that sounded like rain pattering against roof tiles.

Jiuyou flipped over a newly carved jade pendant and added a few more strokes.

At the same time, his divine sense swept casually outward. He noticed that Boss Wang hadn't returned to his grocery store; instead, he was standing at the alley entrance, stroking the newly bought Green Snake Jade Pendant at his waist as he spoke exuberantly with several neighbors.

He bragged about the jade's clarity, claimed it had an indescribably cool touch, and declared that you really got what you paid for. He even lifted his hem to show it off. His words left the neighbors itching with curiosity; some leaned in to touch it, clicking their tongues in wonder.

Jiuyou withdrew his divine sense, his carving knife never pausing, though the corner of his mouth twitched. Boss Wang was usually a shrewd man, but today he was acting as a walking advertisement. Jiuyou wasn't sure if the man simply couldn't stand seeing the shop so deserted, or if Xiao Ling'er's situation had stirred his pity.

He didn't dwell on it, lowering his head to continue carving.

The sun was slanting to the west when Li Daniu and Xiao Ling'er walked back into the alley side by side. They were both covered in dust and mud, and the wind had left their hair in a tangle, but they wore happy expressions.

Li Daniu held an herb between his fingers, announcing that he had found the Brilliant Flame Herb Physician Zhang had asked for, and the woven basket on Xiao Ling'er's back was more than half full.

When Xiao Ling'er passed Azure Jade Pavilion, she ran up to the door and stopped, lingering just outside the threshold. She looked down at the dust on her clothes.

"Shopkeeper, I'm dirty," she said timidly. "I'm afraid I'll get your jade dirty."

Jiuyou glanced at her without a word. He grabbed an empty basket from behind the counter, walked to the door, and transferred the herbs from Xiao Ling'er's basket into his own one by one. He weighed it in his hand—it was roughly ten jin.

Xiao Ling'er pursed her lips in a smile.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper," she chirped, then hugged her basket and ran off. Her steps were brisk, her hem swaying back and forth in the light of the setting sun.

Jiuyou stood at the door, watching her disappear at the end of the alley. He turned around, dumped the herbs into an unused storage pouch, and casually tossed it behind the counter.

The herbs were far from spiritual herbs, nor were they worth much. He had just accepted them in passing; he had no plans to throw them away, nor did he intend to sort through them carefully.

Twilight crept in through the doorway, dimming the light inside the shop.

He sat back down behind the counter, laid his carving knife on the table, and leaned back in his chair to rest.

Night deepened, but the lamp in the shop remained lit.

Jiuyou sat at the counter, a half-finished jade pendant resting by his hand. The carving knife moved delicately across the jade surface, letting out a soft, rhythmic scrape. Just then, a few light knocks sounded at the door.

He set down his carving knife and got up to open the door. Physician Zhang stood outside, an old cloth bag hanging from his waist. He wore an extra outer robe draped over his day clothes, looking as if he had just climbed out of bed. That jade pendant hung around his neck, giving off a faint, warm luster in the night.

"I apologize for intruding so late at night. I hope you won't take offense, Shopkeeper," Physician Zhang said, standing in the doorway with an apologetic look.

"Please come in, Physician Zhang. The wind is strong outside," Jiuyou said, stepping aside to let him through.

He led the elderly man toward the counter. Once he was back behind it, Jiuyou casually picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it over.

"Did you come all this way in the middle of the night because of the jade pendant for your granddaughter?" he asked.

Physician Zhang didn't sit. He stood, bowed slightly, and cupped his hands toward Jiuyou in a formal salute.

"Many thanks, Shopkeeper Qing," he said, his tone turning solemn. As he spoke, he looked down and touched the jade pendant at his chest, his rough thumb sliding gently over the jade's surface as if confirming something.

"The girl told me everything." He glanced at Jiuyou before averting his gaze. "She's young and doesn't understand these things, but I know this was out of kindness. We can't just take it for free. I have a few spirit crystals here that I've saved up over the past few days. It's not much, but it should be enough to buy a piece of jade."

He pulled a neatly folded old cloth from his robe and opened it layer by layer. Inside sat five spirit crystals, each the size of a fingernail, glowing with a faint azure light under the lamp.

Jiuyou didn't take them. He merely picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at the elderly man.

"I already settled the matter of the jade with the little girl," Jiuyou said after a moment of silence. "She offered to trade her herbs for it, and I agreed. If you give me these spirit crystals and she finds out, I'm afraid it won't sit well with her."

Physician Zhang paused. He stared down at the handful of spirit crystals in his palm, as if realizing something.

After a brief silence, he folded the old cloth back up, tucked it away into his robe, and chuckled.

"You have a point," he admitted, his tone lightening. "That girl is sensitive. If she finds out I ran over in the middle of the night to pay her debt, she'd probably throw a fit." He cupped his hands toward Jiuyou again. "We'll do as you say, Shopkeeper. But I will remember this kindness."

Jiuyou didn't reply; he just nodded and refilled the man's teacup. Physician Zhang sat there for a while before suddenly bringing up Xiao Ling'er.

"Truth be told, that child isn't my biological granddaughter," he said, holding his teacup as he stared at the rim. "Eight years ago, I found her in a wasteland outside the city. She was wrapped in a torn cotton jacket, and half a piece of shattered jade was pressed beside her. She was only a few months old at the time. She didn't even have the strength to cry."

He paused. "I've never had any children of my own, so seeing how pitiful she was, I brought her home..."

Jiuyou's fingertips paused lightly on the tabletop for a fraction of a second. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he picked up his teacup and took a sip, his face revealing nothing.

The lamp wick softly popped, and the scent of tea still lingered in the room.