Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy

Moonlight shimmered, and a few wild plum blossoms scattered their hidden fragrance in the depths of winter.

The blind boy's world, however, had no color, only ink and blank spaces.

He saw his strength stats rising, which filled him with increasing joy. Ignoring the night, ignoring the weather, and ignoring the pain in his arms, he just focused intently on sharpening his blade, again and again.

The pure white lines of the blade moved back and forth in the darkness, the rust falling like fine dust spreading over ink-wash blank spaces.

The more he sharpened, the more Song Cheng anticipated.

He longed desperately to grow stronger.

Not for anything else, just to live peacefully.

Fighting for dominance, seeking to rule, or engaging in brutal confrontations, these were things he had no wish to do at all.

His previous life's plan was to "silently protect the young lady of the master's house, watch her get married, serve as a servant all his life, and then devote himself to serving the beloved young lady and her husband." That plan had already been over-fulfilled.

Song Cheng's plan, however, was to relocate to the county capital, the prefectural city, the state city, and even the Imperial City.

The reason was simple.

Eight or nine times out of ten, this world fit the worldview of "Endless Hell."

"Filling the Yin" was an extremely important aspect of this worldview.

In sparsely populated places, it was difficult to fill Yin Qi.

The first places to be in trouble, the first to reach the "end times" were inevitably the mountains, villages, mass graves, and battlegrounds—places sparsely populated. When the first taboo appeared, forbidden grounds would soon follow, and as the forbidden grounds increased, counties would fall, followed by prefectural cities, and state cities...

Finally, it would come to the most densely populated Imperial City.

Of course, this was a theoretical perspective. In these chaotic times... who knew if there might be a change of dynasty in between, or other variables.

Song Cheng planned to go with the flow, to move to the bustling Great Capital City, thereby avoiding the initial shocks of the taboos.

But...

Without a road guide, without household registration, all this was just empty talk.

The road guide, in the village, was issued by the village chief.

Household registration required acceptance by a local power or a legitimate reason for settlement to be processed at the government office and obtained.

Otherwise... even if you secretly ran to another town, without a road guide, you would still be treated as a thief.

This was the government office's method for controlling the flow of people.

And more importantly, one certainly needed to have strength.

...

...

Song Cheng didn't know how long he had been sharpening the knife. He lifted his eyes slightly and saw four figures approaching from afar, one of which had a [Favorability: 100], which was naturally the young lady of the master's house.

The other three around also had a favorability score of 80.

A physician's help could indeed earn some favor from certain people.

Soon, the sound of the fence door opening arrived.

"Brother Cheng, what are you doing?"

"Sharpening a knife."

"Pfft..."

Tong Jia covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and then said, "Isn't it just a thin iron rod? You're sharpening a stick, aren't you?"

Clearly, she had not perceived the power of this iron rod.

But as soon as she spoke, she didn't know what came to mind, and she started laughing "hee hee hee."

Song Cheng didn't mind the young lady's unmalicious mockery and said lightly, "The edge hasn't been sharpened out yet. Initially, I wanted to pick one for you, but aside from this knife, the others were all ordinary goods. Oh, and I only spent twenty-two wen on this knife."

Twenty-two wen?

That's cheaper than a kitchen knife.

Tong Jia pursed her lips, dismissive of this topic, then glanced again at the rusty iron rod, doubting whether her man was truly qualified to be a "common disciple of a gang." But she said no more, just asked, "Bathing?"

Song Cheng nodded, and washed the fine blade with water again.

The two were busy today and sweated quite a bit, so they rarely went to the kitchen to heat a pot of hot water.

In the tub, this pot of water was insufficient, but enough for the two to use towels to clean each corner thoroughly.

In the kitchen, the couple shamelessly bathed together, momentarily helping each other scrub here, then cleaning there.

Finally, a bit of water was saved for Tong Jia to wash her hair, and then she wrapped herself in clothes, hurriedly running across the yard back to the bedroom.

On the bed, the two warmed themselves, then embraced and began talking about pillow talk.

"I went to the Ding Family today, couldn't find the money."

"Who hides the loot at home?"

"The main issue is it was hidden too quickly. Crippled Chen surely thought those three brothers from the Ding Family just took the money. They must have stored it in the house, but... hey, if those three kids did take the money, what sly little devils!"

"Kids? Does this world have children who commit home invasions and molest women?"

"They're young."

"So what if they're young?"

Tong Jia sighed, "Regarding the cultivation technique, I quietly asked Yune. Yune didn't want to talk, but..."

The young lady thought for a moment and said, "She didn't refuse either. Anyway, I'll be visiting her mother-in-law to treat her illness these days, so I'll keep probing."

Finished speaking, she suddenly twisted her hips.

Song Cheng was stunned.

The young lady silently issued an invitation.

Song Cheng clenched his teeth and drew close like a cicada clinging to a tree.

After a while, calm returned.

The young lady commented, "Not as strong as the first few days. Are you tired of me?"

"No way! It's just my body is weak," Song Cheng hurriedly explained, then raised a fist, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years on the west bank, don't underestimate a young man in poverty. Once I get a cultivation technique, I'll surely subdue you, little enchantress."

The young lady giggled, taunting, "The little enchantress awaits you."

They were joking on the bed.

However, honestly, Song Cheng really felt this body was weak. Previously, he didn't go out, and plus the excitement, he was quite vigorous, but today he indeed felt tired, all over achy, as if he had run several laps around Tang River Village.

He couldn't help but cover his face.

This body was lacking, even in bed matters, he had to strive to avoid disgrace.

Song Cheng lay there for a while, recovering, then said, "Wife, I'm going out of body, will be back in half an incense stick's time. If the body turns cold, don't be afraid."

Tong Jia nodded.

...

...

Song Cheng visualized the pagoda, his Divine Soul leaving the body, deftly slipping through the window seam and swiftly heading in the direction of the Ding Family.

As for the points, he hadn't added any today.

He was holding onto these points waiting for the cultivation technique.

Once the cultivation technique arrived, he could go from "Uninitiated" to "Perfection" in a moment.

No matter how good the skill, having realm as a foundation was necessary.

He and Yune weren't that close and didn't have a convenient way to get closer.

The only one who could help him get a cultivation technique was the young lady.

Just as he was thinking, suddenly... a figure stealthily moving through the night caught his eyes.

Song Cheng focused his gaze.

[Strength: 2~2]

[Favorability: 70]

It was Crippled Chen!

Crippled Chen was using one hand to prop a crutch, holding a knife with the other, making his way swiftly in the darkness.

No!

Not far away.

But to the Ding Family.

Crippled Chen had already stopped outside the Ding Family's gate, leaning against the lime wall, slowly groping his way to the shaded part on the other side, putting his ear to the wall to eavesdrop.

Song Cheng slipped straight into the house.

What he saw!

Goodness, the Ding Family's three brothers were clutching a dirt-covered money box, counting its contents of copper coins and silver fragments.

The eldest, Ding Siyu, said, "Crippled Chen is truly abominable! He alone insisted on coming to search our house. Damn him!"

The second, Ding Siyan, said, "Thankfully, the youngest was quick to bury the money early on."

Ding Sigu's eyes flashed with an eerie cold light, then he said, "We still need to hide this money and only retrieve it when necessary. Keeping it out is safer than keeping it close.

Right, elder brother, now is not the time to rest."

Ding Siyu seemed to share his thoughts, suddenly raising his head.

Ding Sigu asked, "Elder brother, dare you?"

Ding Siyu asked, "Kill Crippled Chen?"

Ding Sigu said, "He's still here, surely watching us. It's better to resolve this early. Don't we have that treasure we picked up?"

Ding Siyu fell into thought.

Truly committing murder, he still had some hesitation.

Beside him, Ding Siyan asked, "Crippled Chen is, after all, from our village. Are we just going to kill him like that?"

Ding Sigu said coolly, "Second brother, that's why you are the most useless among us three.

Elder brother wants to do great things; in these chaotic times, if you don't eat meat, others will eat you.

Yune is beautiful and doesn't know how to hide wealth, stubbornly has a sick mother-in-law, which is heaven giving but refusing is a curse."

Ding Siyan remained silent.

His elder brother practiced some skills, and the youngest had been sent to private school for a few days of study... he, however, did nothing and just guarded the house.

Ding Sigu saw his silence, patted his shoulder, and smiled, "Second brother, once Crippled Chen is dead, we'll sneak in through Yune's back door. Then... we three brothers will get that beautiful woman together."

Ding Siyan hesitated for a moment, thinking such a delicate woman must be incredibly tempting and finally gritting his teeth, slapping his leg, he said fiercely, "Let's do it!"

Ding Siyu listened to the two younger brothers' discussion. Seeing Ding Siyan's reaction, he smiled, "That's the spirit."

Then he said fiercely, "In this life, I'm not content to live this way, not content to stay stuck in the village, and not content to have worked half my life only to go bankrupt with just one conscription!

Since the officials have determined this societal class, I will become a bandit!

There's a mountain bandit gang outside, I'll join them!"

Saying this, he went to Ding Siyan, heavily patted his shoulder, "Second brother, now's the time to build guts. The youngest had you scout, that's called being a scout. You're pretty good at it too.

Once we finish off Crippled Chen, there won't be anyone to control us in Tang River Village.

Tomorrow night, when we go to Yune's house, I'll let you go first!"

After saying this, the eldest pulled at his groin and said, "I'm off to take a piss."

With that, he swayed as he walked towards the back door.

Behind the door, Crippled Chen leaned against the wall, having heard everything inside clearly. He was so angry his hair stood, his eyes bulging. As the back door creaked open, he held his breath. Once Ding Siyu stepped out, he abruptly stabbed.

Ding Siyu was startled, his body dodging back, but still felt a chill in his chest.

He fell backward, taking Crippled Chen down with him.

"Beast!"

Crippled Chen cursed in anger, throwing aside his crutch, his palm striking the hilt.

Thunk!!

The knife went completely through Ding Siyu's back.

Just then, Crippled Chen heard the whistle of sharp projectiles in the dark.

Lifting his head, he felt a sharp pain in his eye socket.

A short crossbow bolt shot into his left eye, passing out the back of his skull.

The youngest, Ding Sigu, wore a cold expression and held a powerful crossbow, something unseen in the village.

Crippled Chen stared in disbelief.

The youngest brother lifted another weapon, stepping forward to strike again mercilessly.

Crippled Chen, dead!