Chapter 38: Human Joys and Sorrows Do Not Connect

Unlike the tossing and turning AdaiEr, Ji Ming was lying very comfortably on the bed at this moment.

After seeing off the youths whose chat left some lingering words, he did not reopen the shop.

Instead, he locked the iron door and took inventory of his current assets.

First, his personal panel.

【Name: Ji Ming】

【Level: 4 (9/130)】

【Race: Pure-blood Human】

【Talent: Wood Element Affinity·Excellent】

【Profession: Alchemist Apprentice】

【HP: 6】

【Agility: 4】

【Intelligence: 11】

【Charisma: 10】

【Combat Skills】

【Stun Club Lv. 2, Fart Technique】

【Life Skills】

【Corpse Stitching Technique, Grave Digging Technique, Basic External Injury Treatment】

【Rejuvenation Elixir Crafting·Proficient, Coagulation Powder Crafting·Proficient, Poison Gas Bomb Crafting·Perfect】

【Calming Talisman Crafting·Excellent, Evil-Quelling Talisman Crafting·Excellent, Breath-Stopping Talisman Crafting·Excellent】

【Equipment】

【Long-handled Shovel, Hand Shovel, Hand Axe, Stealth Dragon Dagger, Flame Explosion Scroll, Sharp Claw Dagger】

After Intelligence, his Charisma also broke through to ten.

Whole numbers are a hurdle; perhaps that's one reason he could bluff and move the Stone macho to tears.

Yet looking at this line of equipment, Ji Ming fell into contemplation.

Hand Axe, Shovel, Fist Dagger, Recurve Hunting Knife…

"Where's my Little Ice Dragon?"

Why are they all mainstream blade weapons from Xiyafuli?

He vaguely sensed the malicious twist of fate, fearing he would soon encounter a big wave.

Besides that, there were some items not recorded on the panel that Ji Ming disliked entirely.

Three wallets, a pile of medical fees, medicine sale profits, and an adventure income received today.

He poured a scattering of gold, silver, and copper onto the table with a clatter; under the oil lamp, the glittering specks nearly blinded his eyes.

Ji Ming rubbed his hands excitedly, first respectfully moving the three gold coins given by Baolis aside, then carefully counting each silver and copper coin one by one.

The final tally was astonishing; without even trying to earn money, he had already saved a massive sum of six gold, twenty‑three silver, and fifty‑seven copper.

Even if roughly counted as one copper coin equals one soft‑girl coin, it's still over sixty thousand cash.

But I've only been transmigrated for a few days? Five days!

I thought earning ten thousand a day in the real world was impressive, but I didn't expect money to come even faster in this other world!

So refreshing.

Yet as a paranoid freak who even calculates a bowl of noodles three times, Ji Ming, amid his excitement, also noticed the problem.

—His money was coming too quickly.

As a level‑4 alchemist, he expected to live a poor life of being robbed every few days, eyes lighting up at every silver coin.

But now? He's already measuring his net worth in gold coins.

Making money is fine, but you still have to keep it.

Ji Ming would say, even the three dominant forces in Sunlight City would…

…upon learning his true earning efficiency, would definitely turn green with envy!

So after some calculation, the Ji Ming who had worried about funds a few days earlier reached a laugh‑and‑cry conclusion.

"I have to find a way to curb my earning speed."

The sales plan for the fourth‑generation Rejuvenation Elixir must be canceled, and the Calming & Evil‑Quelling Talisman set must be limited in supply…

In short, all fast‑money projects must be scrapped, and I can continue being a rogue.

"Better to be steady; how can I keep making money if I'm fighting every day?"

Just as he resolved to sleep peacefully, a sound of something being pushed open came from downstairs.

No way, someone's coming already?

Ji Ming silently sat up from the bed and began stuffing one piece of equipment after another beneath his robe.

Human joys and sorrows don't connect; fortune, that ethereal thing, is like a scale.

When some make huge profits, others inevitably suffer huge losses.

For example, a gang among Sunlight City's many bandits is a bunch of such unlucky fools.

First, the leader codenamed "Lao Da", who went through Smoke Willow Alley looking for a wandering nightingale, ran into a black‑on‑black encounter, got drugged, stripped, and tossed into a trash heap.

Then the enforcer codenamed "Liu Zi", who while browsing the market fell for a swindler, spent a fortune on a so‑called kingdom knight's sword, only to find the blade already bent before reaching home.

Finally, the henchman codenamed "Tang Kuai", who entered an underground casino hoping to win two rounds, actually won the first two but almost lost his pants on the subsequent ones.

As a fledgling team that had already earned some reputation in the circles, they lost all their wealth on the same day.

Penniless, the three dejected thugs huddled together.

"Do you still have money?"

"None left."

You look at me, I look at you, all shaking our heads.

The boss crouched on the ground, worrying for a moment, then suddenly realized the rent day was approaching; he had to quickly think of a way to make money.

"Come on, come on, do you have any suitable target? Let's quickly pull off a job."

After muttering for a while, several people naturally thought of Ji Ming and his clinic.

This is the biggest ATM nearby, the kind that routinely helps out the neighbors.

"I heard this kid's business has been good lately; he's got a lot of silver on hand."

"Then it's him! Let's strike first, don't let others snatch it!"

When the night grew deep and quiet, the three prepared to set out; Tangkuai poked around and found a piece of bread in the cabinet.

"Boss! How about we eat something before we go? Without energy we can't really work."

"Okay!"

The boss, whose stomach was already flattened from hunger, happily took a bite, but felt the bread tasted sour.

"This…… when did you buy it?"

Liuzi frowned, thinking hard, but couldn't recall; he could only guess offhand.

"The day before yesterday?"

That…… might be the mixed yogurt sauce……

Delay brings change; the boss, busy trying to strike it rich, couldn't worry about that much, and finished his portion in a few bites.

He clapped his hands and softly urged them on.

"It's late, let's go!"

The other two also had to hurriedly finish up, grabbing their tools and rushing out.

Detouring around several teams similarly struggling on the front line, they sneaked along and finally arrived outside the back wall of Ji Ming's clinic.

"I'll go over and take a look first!"

But just as the boss climbed onto the wall top, he heard a sudden gurgling from behind.

In the silent night, even the sound of intestinal movement was so clear it startled the boss, who turned and glared.

Tangkuai scratched his head and gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Seems, my stomach isn't feeling good."

The boss wanted to get angry, but then thought, this guy even gave himself the nickname Tangkuai……

He could only lower his voice and scold.

"Don't mess up!"

With the boss scouting ahead, the other two also climbed in turn into the overgrown small courtyard, slowly feeling their way to a wooden door.

The door was reverse-locked, but no problem; Lao Er took out his tool kit and began picking the lock.

The lock on this old door wasn't great, and it was picked open quickly.

However, if the lock is no good, it often means the door hinge isn't either.

Just a slight push, and all we heard was a creak, like a female ghost's sinister laugh echoing far into the night sky.

Yikes!

The three held their breath, nearly popping their eyeballs out, staying motionless for a long while.

Seeing no movement on the second floor, they slowly entered the clinic's lobby.

He made a gesture signaling to spread out and look for money; the boss headed toward the clinic counter.

But after searching high and low, he found nothing inside except medicine bottles.

Or…… steal some medicine?

But in this darkness, which bottle is the most valuable Revitalizing Elixir in Ji Ming's clinic?

The boss tilted his head, recalling the chat others had after their sage time last night when he strolled through Smoke Willow Alley.

They said…… the Revitalizing Elixir smells sweet?

Let's give it a try.

However, just as he lifted one bottle intending to examine it closely, a sharp piercing sound suddenly came from beside his ear.

He's been discovered!

His heart jolted, and he rolled with the momentum to dodge the sneak attack.

Just as he was about to draw his waist blade to slash someone, he felt his stomach also gurgle.

Suppressing the urge to burst forth, he clenched his teeth.

Oh no, my stomach's acting up too!