Chapter 107: New Drug

Kuangsha City's Wushen Temple.

Inside it are packed with sparse Beastfolk, voices booming, each clamoring for a spot in front of the counter, making the splendid palace seem livelier than a market.

Xiang Sa, the leader of the Wind Erosion Gang, the biggest force in Xicheng Qu, after acquiring a drug called "Sheng", pushed his way out of the crowd, and without even stepping out of the temple, immediately tilted his head and drank it in one gulp.

His younger brother Xiang Zhuang and several close followers gathered nearby, waiting anxiously.

When Xiang Sa just set down the hand holding the empty drug vial, Xiang Zhuang immediately leaned in, anxiously asking, "How is it!"

Xiang Sa's deep brown eyes glittered, and he touched the back of his neck with his other hand, his voice a bit excited as he said, "I feel the energy of my spirit core is abundant."

"Compared to drinking the suppressing drug, 'Sheng' makes my current beast transformation feel easier than before; I can kick with greater force."

Xiang Zhuang exclaimed with delight, "Brother, that's right! I previously drank the drug from the Shamaness, and felt the same!"

Xiang Sa laughed loudly, "My spirit core is even more energetic than before; let the Tiger Whirlwind of the North District still dare to provoke us from time to time, hum!"

The Beastfolk surrounding him roared with laughter in agreement, and the irritations of the dry season vanished with the booming laughs.

Su Wuchi, who can produce the Sheng drug, is truly formidable; she can make the accumulated restlessness in a Beastfolk's spirit core disappear, eliminating the fatigue that usually comes from prolonged fighting in beast form.

But the quantity is far too small!

Moreover, Su Wuchi actually limits each person to buying only one vial per month, forcing them to have someone guard here every day; their anger burns but they can't strike at others.

Xiang Sa felt a hidden resentment.

Beastfolk who fight inside the Wushen Temple are barred from purchasing the Sheng drug.

As a powerful gang leader in Xicheng Qu, with tens of thousands of subordinates, he still comes here daily to queue, having waited almost half a month, and only now does his turn come to buy a vial.

Pah! Once I deal with those four in Kuangsha City, I'll find a way to snatch Su Wuchi away in secret, hide her from everyone, and make her my female.

Then, with the Sheng drug, every brother in the gang will have it, and we won't have to queue for this tedious line anymore.

Xiang Sa, leading a few men, squeezed his way out through the crowded mass of bulky male Beastfolk, shoulder‑bumping each other, muttering curses, his face looking quite sour.

Just as they reached the doorway, they ran into several young, muscular, tiger‑backed male Beastfolk.

The leader untied his headscarf, revealing a short, gray‑fuzzy crew cut; his head was small, and beneath his slender neck was a stout, powerful torso.

He caught sight of Xiang Sa, stepped forward to block him, and sneered, "Xiang Sa of Xicheng, bringing so many people to the Wushen Temple for a drug—your spirit core illness must be severe? If your mania hasn't been cured, call me 'big brother' now, and I'll take good care of the brothers you left behind."

Xiang Sa stared at the blocking Tuo Zong, who was the strongest leader of the forces in Central City.

In Kuangsha City they were divided into five territories—east, south, west, north, and center—by those five, and they treated each other like rivals; even without fighting, they wouldn't give each other a friendly look.

Before Xiang Sa could speak, Xiang Zhuang, standing behind his brother, said angrily, "If you want me to call you big brother, fine—give me a dozen wells, and I'll call you right away."

At those words, Tuo Zong's face darkened.

One of his subordinates behind him pointed at Xiang Zhuang and said, "Who do you think you are, daring to ask for a well? You don't even deserve a single well!"

"And who do you think you are! Want to fight?" A subordinate behind Xiang Sa also stepped forward, indignant.

Everyone in Kuangsha City is accustomed to power struggles and fights; a few hot‑tempered individuals, vying for this point of pride, impulsively were about to recklessly start brawling.

Just as the two sides stood facing each other at the temple gate, a guard inside the Wushen Temple shouted loudly:

"Today's thirty vials of the Sheng drug are all sold out; you don't need to crowd inside. If you want to buy, come back tomorrow."

Hearing the voice from the hall, Xiang Sa's thick eyebrows lifted, and he raised his hand toward the dark‑faced Tuo Zong, shaking the empty drug vial in his hand: "I got one today."

Having said that, he swaggered away with his men.

Behind Xiang Sa, the male Beastfolk emerging from the hall grumbled repeatedly.

"I've been queuing for over ten days and still haven't gotten one; the Sheng drug is too hard to obtain!"

"Everyone who gets the Sheng drug drinks it on the spot; trying to buy it elsewhere at a high price is impossible…"

"Heh, buy at a high price? I'd say just snatch it. We're not stupid; this Sheng drug is only safe when ingested, who would keep it…"

"What are you dissatisfied about? Even several of Kuangsha City's folks come here daily. If you ask me, Su Wuchi is truly benevolent; Sheng sells for 100,000 per vial, yet it's only sold to the elite!"

"That's true; if it were in another lord's domain, we'd never even see the Sheng drug!"

The crowd was massive, and many were talking while heading outward, making it hard to pinpoint which Beastfolk dared to speak out; Tuo Zong could only leave in anger.

After leaving the Wushen Temple, they disappeared in groups of three or five onto the streets, each pairing up on the way back, their chatter loud enough to attract passing male Beastfolk who turned their ears to listen.

Passersby, hearing about the Sheng drug crafted by Su Wuchi, were instantly stirred.

Lately, the Beastfolk of Kuangsha City talked most about the Sheng drug.

After two days trekking through the desert, Lin Manzhi, Mo Lie, and Hua Zheng arrived at Kuangsha City with the merchant caravan.

The three followed the caravan into the city; the two male Beastfolk faintly heard nearby people discussing a drug called "Sheng" that had appeared in Kuangsha City.

Lin Manzhi sat on the camel's back, listening as Mo Lie relayed the conversation below about the Sheng drug, and, intrigued, lifted the sun‑shade blanket to look outward.

At that moment, Sha Cheng of the caravan walked nearby, and Lin Manzhi smiled and asked, "We haven't been here in ages; has anything big happened in Kuangsha City lately? I see everyone chatting even while walking on the road."

When Sha Cheng heard Lin Cixing's question, he immediately replied, "Su Wuchi in Kuangsha City has newly created a drug called Sheng; it went on sale before the rainy season, and every male Beastfolk who has used it so far raves about it. Our caravan leader heard this, went to negotiate buying Sheng with Su Wuchi a few days ago, and was outright rejected…"

"Our caravan leader was furious after being turned down, but still sent people to queue at the Wushen Temple daily. Unfortunately, the Sheng drug is selling like crazy; despite our long‑term trade partnership with the temple, we still can't get any!"

He kept going without pause, saying, "I have no idea where Su Wuchi sourced the medicinal herbs. Our caravan always helps transport herbs from various places, and we've never heard of any other city's Wushen Temple selling a drug called Sheng."

Lin Manzhi listened quietly, and after Sha Cheng finished his rambling complaint, she gently nodded, "So it's a new drug."