Chapter 49: Chapter Forty-Nine: You

Er...

As expected, AdaiEr, like every fresh college graduate, fell into a state of complete bewilderment.

She sat on the chair, fidgeting uneasily, hesitated and pondered for a while, then clasped her hands and spoke tentatively.

"Five silver coins per week…… plus…… three bottles of fourth-generation Rejuvenation Elixir—would that work?"

Moreover, her voice grew softer and softer, until when she mentioned the Rejuvenation Elixir it was almost just a mosquito's buzz.

"Ah?"

Ji Ming could hardly believe his ears.

If I just casually cry and beg outside, I can easily earn a silver coin.

You want five per week……

I also need to take weekends off, otherwise I might earn too much.

And those three bottles of Rejuvenation Elixir are even more of a stretch.

Outsiders don't know, but I'm clear: although it looks high-end, it actually has no precious ingredients at all.

The cost of those three bottles adds up to nothing—you could even cover it by picking up and selling scrap paper while begging.

All things considered, this compensation works out no matter how you calculate it.

Even as a mighty sixth-level mage, my expected income is still less than that of a professional part-time beggar.

Even so, the young lady drooped her brows, looking worried and fearful of being rejected.

Such wishy-washy behavior—are you AdaiEr or an idiot?

Thinking this over, a corner of Ji Ming's conscience also faintly began to ache.

Although I don't know much, but…

Family upheaval, fleeing alone, leaving home and homeland, enduring humiliation, and now I even bear a bloodline curse that could kill me at any moment.

Apart from the last one, haven't I myself endured all these hardships back then?

Now that I have a chance to help someone, why would I let the junior go through the same suffering again?

……

No matter what, it should be at least six silver coins per week!

After making this difficult decision, Ji Ming felt his heart instantly fill with compassion, as if a halo were about to sprout behind his head.

He spread his arms like a savior in a painting and spoke softly.

"AdaiEr, I think five silver coins…"

But before he could finish, AdaiEr quickly blurted out a line.

"Actually, three would also work!"

"What???"

Seeing the surprise in the doctor's black eyes, AdaiEr gripped his white robe and slowly extended a finger.

"If it really can't be done, even one would work……"

"No no no no no!"

Ji Ming hurriedly interrupted her bizarre self‑bargaining.

He feared that if this continued, AdaiEr would truly have to take out a loan just to go to work.

"Miss AdaiEr, what I mean is, we can use another method of settlement."

He grabbed a sheet of paper and pen and began to write and draw on it.

The doctor has many things to do each day; sometimes I might be busy with other matters, so the clinic isn't open every day.

When the clinic is open, I'll let you know in advance, and I'll give you one silver coin for each day you work.

Besides that, for every two days you work, I'll reward you with a bottle of fourth‑generation Rejuvenation Elixir. How does that sound?

AdaiEr tilted her head, did the math, and found it actually seemed more reasonable.

And if luck is good, in a week she could earn seven silver coins and three and a half bottles of Rejuvenation Elixir—more than her original asking price.

She couldn't help feeling a warm current rise in her heart, and the frail‑looking doctor before her seemed a bit kinder.

Ah, I never expected the doctor to look so frail and helpless, yet he's actually quite a nice person.

"Okay, I agree!"

She readily agreed.

Ji Ming picked out a silver coin from the consultation fees, pinched it between his fingers, and handed it over.

Then let's start from today—it's also my sincerity as an employer.

But just as AdaiEr was about to take it, Ji Ming hooked his finger back.

He leaned in a bit and lowered his voice.

However, I still have one point I want to emphasize.

AdaiEr's heart jolted, and she also leaned forward a little.

Please go ahead.

The fourth‑generation Rejuvenation Elixir works too well; for now I don't plan to sell it.

Ji Ming paused for a moment, staring into her eyes.

I hope everyone will pretend it doesn't exist. Do you understand what I mean?

AdaiEr pondered for a moment in her confusion, then suddenly understood.

I understand, Doctor.

These potions…… I obtained them through connections in the Inner City, and I don't even know which alchemy master made them.

Even though the high‑end crowd is clueless, they still have basic common sense.

Ji Ming broke into a smile, placing the silver coin in her hand.

"Very good, then let's have a pleasant cooperation."

"Mm!"

Clutching the coins in her hand, AdaiEr's mind drifted to the Rejuvenating Elixir offered as a reward.

Actually, she had spur-of-the-moment decided to take this assistant job just to be able to obtain more Rejuvenating Elixir in a proper way.

She had indeed considered directly telling Ji Ming that a large amount of Rejuvenating Elixir might directly break the bloodline curse.

But after a second thought, she ultimately gave up.

First, she simply had no confidence at all in confirming that the fourth-generation Rejuvenating Elixir would work.

Second, whether it succeeded or failed, she, who had consumed a large amount of precious medicine, would owe the doctor a huge favor.

In this life and the next, she would have to live under the shadow of indebtedness.

She hated the feeling of her fate being completely pinched in someone else's hands; she might as well just die.

Even to the point of saying.

I have no close ties to the doctor, so why would he go to any lengths to help me?

If rejected, I wouldn't even have a friend left.

It would be better to figure out my own way, obtaining the medicine bit by bit from other channels.

Little by little accumulates; I'll secretly stake it all!

What if it succeeds?

After resting a while on the sofa, Ji Ming first got up and tidied the treatment room.

Then he went into the bedroom, pulling out a set of ordinary clothes that were still wearable from the wardrobe.

He straightened his collar and pushed up his glasses.

"It's about time; where should we go for the meal?"

AdaiEr, who had been lost in thought, finally snapped out of it and quickly replied.

"At the Lei Nuo Tavern!"

Lei Nuo...

Ji Ming was directly amused.

"It's kind of my home turf, let's go."

With AdaiEr leading the way, this was Ji Ming's most stylish outing.

There was no need to look for any major or minor roads; the two arrived smoothly at the Lei Nuo Tavern.

Although the goblin merchant wasn't there today, the tavern's attendants still recognized Ji Ming.

"Mr. Lei Nuo said he wants as much third-generation Rejuvenating Elixir as available? Wow, that's really flattering me."

"Unfortunately, I'm not here to sell medicine today; I have a big brother here to treat me to a meal."

"Fine, just add two barrels of black malt beer, then thanks for your hospitality."

After chatting and laughing with the attendants for a while, Ji Ming's smile undiminished, he slipped into a nearby private room.

"Everyone, sorry for the wait—I didn't expect to run into an acquaintance and chat for so long."

"That person? Eh, just a business acquaintance, basically a familiar face."

"Mr. Lei Nuo? I can barely exchange a few words with him; we occasionally chat like this."

For a seasoned veteran, an establishment of this level is merely a small pre-meal dessert.