Chapter 13: Hunter or Prey

Xie Jinhuan followed the instructions to needle from afar, and soon after, Lin Wanyi’s complexion gradually improved.

After confirming there were no issues, Xie Jinhuan put down his needle case and returned to sit beside the tea table.

“How do you feel?”

Having been rescued in such a manner, Lin Wanyi was deeply puzzled; she set aside the chill creeping up her back and studied Xie Jinhuan—whose aura was extraordinary—with curiosity.

“Thank you, Master Xie. May I ask which noble house you hail from?”

“Not a noble house. My father is merely a minor official in the capital; he went south three years ago and just returned recently.”

“Is that so?” Lin Wanyi didn’t believe it and asked further: “What of your maternal lineage?”

Seeing Lin Wanyi, barely recovered, start interrogating him like a census officer—with her eyes brimming with possessiveness—Xie Jinhuan grew wary.

According to rumors, the seductresses of the witch cult were notoriously difficult: they cast love charms on men, forcing them to fall deeply in love with them, and any man who touched another woman would die…

Xie Jinhuan knew Lin Wanyi was beautiful—full bosom, plump hips—a classic combat-ready figure—but he had no intention of becoming her energy-sucking slave.

Lin Wanyi was lost in her own schemes when she noticed Xie Jinhuan’s wary gaze; realizing she’d been too opportunistic, she quickly sat up straight.

“I was just curious, nothing more. It’s surprising that someone so young possesses such skill yet comes from no prominent family.”

Xie Jinhuan maintained a cautious three-tenths vigilance and steered the conversation back on track:

“Let’s set aside idle talk. Just now, your cultivation technique seemed to have gone awry—and it bore the hallmarks of the Witch Cult.”

“?”

Lin Wanyi’s expression stiffened slightly; she realized her underwear had just been seen through.

Oh no, oh no—what should she do? If Xie Jinhuan reported this to the government office…

Xie Jinhuan had come for elixirs and didn’t want to be cursed by misunderstanding, so he quickly added:

“Relax. Though the Witch Cult has been branded heretical by the imperial court, not all its members are evil. Witch doctors, for instance, still heal the sick; even Shaman priests have served as national advisors in Northern Zhou. You come from a medical family but follow this path—perhaps there’s a deeper reason. I won’t use this against you.”

Lin Wanyi had no hidden backstory—her father had fallen gravely ill, and in desperation, he joined the Witch Cult, where she trained under its largest faction, the Poison and Charm Sect, directly beneath the Witch Cult’s southern wilderness stronghold, making her a core disciple with pure roots but a tainted lineage.

Yet she’d grown up near the Jingzhao capital and had never harmed anyone; now she pushed up her gold-threaded spectacles, slightly flustered, and explained:

“I… I merely studied witch doctor techniques out of curiosity. I’m no corpse-witch who preys on the people. I’ve never harmed anyone—this you can verify. If you understand, I’d be deeply grateful.”

Xie Jinhuan nodded slightly and returned to the matter at hand: “Witch Cult techniques rely on poison and dark charms; one misstep harms yourself. If your technique has gone awry, I can help you fix it; as for the accumulated yin-cold energy in your body, I can resolve that too…”

Lin Wanyi raised her hand, politely declining: “The yin-cold energy in my body has built up for years—I have a method to manage it. No need for your concern. You’re kind-hearted, but do you have a request?”

Xie Jinhuan knew the solution was simple: find a man to absorb yang energy. It made sense she didn’t need his help; seeing his leverage vanish, he laid his cards bare:

“I need an elixir to solidify my foundation. Do you have any?”

“Elixir?”

Lin Wanyi silently exhaled, then smiled faintly:

“The Lin family excels in medicinal alchemy—how could we lack any? Which one do you seek?”

Xie Jinhuan’s current state wasn’t one even celestial elixirs could fix; he replied sincerely:

“The highest-grade one—ideally, one that fortifies the body so thoroughly that no major bottleneck appears before reaching the supreme rank.”

Such a divine elixir was clearly a major undertaking.

Lin Wanyi had spent heavily and was short on silver; seeing Xie Jinhuan wanted the top-tier body-forging formula, she set aside the earlier awkwardness and spoke softly:

“The finest body-forging formula currently available is the ‘Dragon’s Blood Elixir.’ This formula originates from the Imperial Pharmacy Supervision in the capital, passed down for centuries, used primarily by top-tier cultivators to solidify their foundations and heal old injuries—within a month, it can transform a person entirely.”

A month…

Xie Jinhuan thought it too long, but better than standing still to die:

“The Imperial Pharmacy supplies only the palace—only those with meritorious service can obtain it. Are you certain you can acquire it?”

Lin Wanyi’s eyes curved with a smile as she leaned close and whispered: “Zi Su studied at the Elixir Hospital and knows the formula. She can request to ‘practice’ under the Academy’s auspices and brew one for you. But the formula is costly—even without the alchemist’s labor, just the raw ingredients cost eight thousand taels of silver…”

“Eight thousand taels?”

Xie Jinhuan knew the Dragon’s Blood Elixir was hard to obtain, but he hadn’t expected such an outrageous price.

He’d paid twenty wen for a bowl of lamb soup this morning—eight thousand taels could feed him and Meiqiu for generations!

No wonder it was the top-tier body-forging elixir…

Lin Wanyi knew the price was staggering and added gently:

“In either Danyang or the capital, those with access to the formula are few; those who can brew it are rarer still. This is already my bottom price—the ingredients and labor are expensive, plus I must pay the Elixir Hospital a twenty percent tribute. The price can’t be lowered. If you doubt it, ask around Wencheng Street—the Elixir Hospital’s Director Zhang can brew this too, but unless you bring a hundred taels as a greeting gift, you won’t even get past the door.”

Hiring a renowned alchemist to custom-brew elixirs was always expensive—normally, ingredients and labor cost half each, and they often refused the job.

Xie Jinhuan had no silver now to hire an alchemist or buy ingredients, but he hadn’t come to buy anyway; seeing the spectacled girl persistently pushing, he bluffed:

“Your condition is serious. I can fix your technique flaw and guarantee it won’t recur. In exchange, could you…”

“?”

So you’re here to freeload on me?!

Lin Wanyi sat up straighter, instinctively clutching her small purse—but remembering his help, she replied softly:

“Master, this is nearly ten thousand taels. My consultation fee is three cash per visit—I simply can’t afford this. But since you helped me yesterday, I’ll give you a bottle of Solidified Meridian Elixir as thanks.”

The Solidified Meridian Elixir could fortify the body too, and it wasn’t cheap—but it was meant for ninth- and eighth-rank apprentices.

Xie Jinhuan needed to face the ‘Great Qian Iron Fist’—this wouldn’t even fill a tooth gap.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan hesitate, Lin Wanyi preempted:

“You’re a righteous hero—you wouldn’t threaten a woman with her Witch Cult ties. But I still ask you to keep this quiet. I have powerful connections—if word leaks, they can handle it, but it’ll be troublesome.”

Powerful connections…

I have no one above me!

Xie Jinhuan wasn’t foolish—he understood this was a kind warning: don’t underestimate the Witch Cult seductress.

Seeing both soft and hard tactics failed—and fearing further trouble—Xie Jinhuan rose:

“Very well. I’ll keep silent. Consider me never here.”

Seeing Xie Jinhuan leave, Lin Wanyi quickly raised her hand:

“Master, wait.”

“Hmm?”

Xie Jinhuan thought she’d changed her mind—perhaps she wanted to negotiate a discount.

Eight thousand taels—even at one-tenth, he still couldn’t afford it, unless he did what Hou the steward did…

Remembering his bizarre rental experience, Xie Jinhuan sat back down:

“I have little silver. If you give me a one-percent discount, maybe we can close the deal.”

One percent?

Lin Wanyi looked puzzled, but didn’t press it; her eyes curved again:

“The Dragon’s Blood Elixir is too costly for most. Not having silver is understandable. I have a small problem needing someone to handle—if you help, I’ll waive the elixir fee. Consider it making a friend.”

Payment in labor…

Xie Jinhuan sensed opportunity; he glanced around and leaned in to whisper:

“Who do I kill?”

“?”

Lin Wanyi blinked, confused:

“Kill who?”

Xie Jinhuan was equally baffled, spreading his hands:

“Eight thousand taels can buy dozens of lives. If it’s not a hit job, are you asking me to grind herbs? Whose?”

Grind whose?!

This time Lin Wanyi understood; she hurried to explain:

“Master, you misunderstand—I’m pure and upright. I’ve never committed crimes.”

Xie Jinhuan blinked, seeing the Witch Cult seductress wasn’t lying, and cleared his throat:

“I was joking. I’m a righteous hero—I never take dirty jobs.”

?

I don’t believe you!

You were clearly sizing up targets just now!

Lin Wanyi suspected Xie Jinhuan had gone mad with poverty, willing to take bloody jobs—but she truly didn’t break the law:

“I’m not asking you to do anything dirty. It’s a legitimate task—just slightly difficult.”

Xie Jinhuan guessed the difficulty must be astronomical:

“What task?”

“Inside the Elixir King Pavilion, there’s a copy of the ‘Dragon Soaring Response Scripture’…”

Xie Jinhuan’s eyes widened in shock: “You want me to steal from the Elixir King Pavilion?!”

“Not steal—learn it, then teach it to me. I’m interested in martial arts too.”

Lin Wanyi had funded many poor scholars to cultivate a double-headed dragon—linking her to the martial scripture. Xie Jinhuan clearly had immense potential; seeing this opportunity, she explained gently:

“In Luojing, guests of the Elixir King’s mansion, military officers, and talented scholars—all who’ve earned great merit—are permitted to study this scripture.”

“You’re young but already skilled. You have a real chance to earn the Elixir King’s favor. If you succeed in learning it and teach it to me, the task is complete.”

It sounded simple.

But Xie Jinhuan had grown up in the capital—he wasn’t naive.

The ‘Dragon Soaring Response Scripture’ was rumored to be the supreme secret left by the Martial Ancestor. Even gaining access was hard; mastering it was harder still.

From what he knew, only two people in the capital had both access and success: Cao Fuer, the eunuch commander of the Crimson Lin Guard, and Lu Wu, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Anyone who can master this thing would need silver?

And to learn it, you must win the Alchemy King’s favor, linger in the Alchemy King’s Pavilion surrounded by experts, and interact with countless big shots…

Xie Jinhuan is barely avoiding trouble already—would he dare do this and risk his life?

“Though the imperial court hasn’t forbidden teaching it, spreading the Martial Dao Divine Scripture is still taboo, and the difficulty is immense—I currently lack the strength…”

“No problem.”

Lin Wanyi leaned back against the chair, her autumn-eyed gaze brimming with amusement:

“This isn’t something to rush. I give you three years. Even if you don’t master it, memorizing it counts. If you truly can’t manage it, you can pay market price after three years—no interest. As for the Dragon Blood Pill, I’ll give it to you now; the first batch will be ready no later than the day after tomorrow.”

Faced with this proposal, Xie Jinhuan honestly couldn’t refuse—he was even pleasantly surprised:

“That’s eight thousand taels of silver, payable only after three years. Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the pills and run?”

Lin Wanyi whispered a reminder: “I’m not alone. If you’re willing to spend your whole life fearing the Witch Cult over a few taels—and still manage to stay safe—I’ll count it as a good connection.”

Xie Jinhuan thought that over.

Angering the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist sects? They might just kill you outright—they’d never stoop to ambush.

But angering the Witch Cult? You’d forever suspect poison in every sip of water, and if you died, you’d have to grind your own bones to ash, lest someone drag your corpse off to turn you into a puppet slave…

If he failed to obtain the Martial Dao Divine Scripture and couldn’t repay the debt, he’d likely have to pay with his flesh—whether he became a puppet or a son-in-law would depend entirely on Lin Wanyi’s mood…

Though the Witch Cult was dangerous to provoke, to handle this urgent crisis and gain as much self-preservation as possible, Xie Jinhuan had no choice but to accept:

“Fine. Within three years, I’ll teach you the Martial Dao Divine Scripture. If I don’t master it, I’ll pay market price. Should we draw up a written agreement?”

Lin Wanyi waved it off generously: “No need. I know your face well enough—your real name doesn’t matter.”

“...”

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan knew Lin Wanyi answered to a colossal power—he’d flee to the southern wilderness and it wouldn’t help. He gave a slight nod:

“Alright. I’ll pick up the pills the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’ll accompany you to buy the herbs now, so you know the true cost—so you won’t accuse me of swindling you.”

Lin Wanyi had recovered; after speaking, she rose and went to the side room to remove the silver needles.

Xie Jinhuan sat where he was, silently analyzing the hidden risks of this deal, during which he heard a faint “rustling”—the needles were hard to remove through clothing, so she’d unfastened her robe.

But Xie Jinhuan had heard of the Witch Cult’s seductresses’ ways: if you see them, you must marry them, and most crucially, remain utterly faithful—not even glancing at another woman. He felt no stirrings of desire…

(End of Chapter)