Chapter 60: Ah, who asked me to have so many friends?

In his shock, Kupo instinctively thought this was money Ji Ming had snatched.

But after thinking it over, with his scrawny frame, whether robbing wealth or lust, he'd only be the one getting robbed.

Then this money…

Ji Ming ignored him and started making up an excuse.

"Probably because I usually do more good deeds and I'm somewhat handsome."

"Yesterday a large group of very good adventurers came and looked after my business."

"Plus this morning a few more patients came, and some friends helped out, so I barely scraped together enough money."

Yesterday afternoon, Dasike of the Wolf Squad brought a bunch of people to the clinic, and Kupo naturally knew about this.

But even so, how could Ji Ming possibly scrape together fifty silver coins in just one afternoon?

Could it be that that damned gray wolf treats Ji Ming like a father to support him!?

"Come on, take a look and see if the amount is right."

A big bag of silver coins required Ji Ming to hold with both hands, but in Kupo's hands it was merely a small pouch.

As a top-tier debt collector, he could tell just by hefting whether there were really fifty silver coins inside.

But this time, he wore a grim face, opened the seal, and counted them out one by one.

Not one too many, not one too few—exactly infuriating.

"Doctor, congratulations on scraping together the money."

Although he'd like to give Ji Ming a harder time, the Business Union has survived in chaotic Sunshine City today only by relying on rules.

Since they paid you the owed money on time, no matter how unhappy you are, you absolutely cannot make things difficult for them.

Otherwise.

The bad thing would be the Business Union's reputation.

What you'd lose could very well be your own life!

"Doctor, stay vigilant even in safety—I hope you still have money to pay this month's rent."

So he merely glared at Ji Ming, then lifted the bag and left.

"See ya."

He practically followed him to the door, and Ji Ming felt enthusiastic, somewhat like sending off a plague god at New Year.

Kupo stormed off with angry steps; hearing that, he almost tripped over a protruding tile.

Having settled the rent issue, the rest of the time was nothing more than an ordinary workday.

Only during today's consultation did the doctor inexplicably ramble on.

"Sigh, I just paid last month's overdue rent, and now I have to pay this month's rent right away—life is hard."

"I originally wanted to go to the market to scrounge for some prescriptions and expand my medicine stores, but now I daren't."

"Running a clinic is exhausting; I'm busy day after day nonstop, yet I earn not a penny."

So when the afternoon patients came to the clinic, the first thing they heard was that the doctor had gone bankrupt again.

"I roughly figured that it'll be hard to save any money all the way to the end of this month."

"If we're poor, we're poor—worst case, we'll just drink a few more bowls of thin porridge this month."

"No need to worry, we'll get through it somehow—we won't starve to death."

After this day, AdaiEr was so frightened she almost wanted to refund today's wages.

"Eh, I was just saying it casually—I'm just afraid a few more patients might try to run up a tab."

Listening to the doctor's vague explanation, the little girl said nothing and left, half-believing, half-doubting.

Ji Ming rubbed his slightly throbbing temples, sat on the sofa, and watched the sunset.

"Having cried all day from poverty, surely no one will come disturb me now."

Night fell, and the clinic closed as usual.

But he didn't go to the Underground City as usual; instead, he put on a Breath Seal and sneaked out.

The night in the Outer City was dark as ever.

Even with a talisman as cover, Ji Ming didn't dare stride boldly forward, but kept cautiously along the small path.

He passed two fresh corpses, went through an alley reeking of cheap perfume, and casually tossed a robber into a trash bin.

Ji Ming arrived silently at today's destination and began to rhythmically knock on the big door.

Just as Sun Houzi once knocked on the Bodhi Patriarch's door to learn his art.

I never expected that one day I would receive this treatment.

So he knocked with growing joy, even adding a hint of drumbeat to it.

Until the door trembled slightly and an eye appeared from within.

"What tune are you playing on my door?"

Ji Ming's expression turned solemn, and he spoke in a low voice.

"Just thinking about being able to learn your superb combat skills makes me feel extremely excited!"

Buluowa let out a faint hum, opened the door, and let Ji Ming enter.

"Come with me."

To be honest, Ji Ming had never before come to this tall counter of the materials shop.

This seems to be Buluowa's living quarters; the decor is quite similar to my own.

——basically nonexistent things.

Even saying that, my clinic at least has a ratty sofa to relax on, whereas Buluowa's room is truly bare walls.

Only in the corner there is a peculiarly shaped large chest, and I don't know what good stuff is inside.

"Cough!"

Hearing Buluowa's dissatisfied cough, Ji Ming quickly averted his gaze.

"Sorry."

He easily moved the heavy bed aside, then lifted the wooden board pressed underneath; a gust of cold air seeped out from the deep darkness.

Who could have thought there would be a secret passage beneath the sick tree material shop?

"Stay close to me; it's steep here."

Under Buluowa's guidance, Ji Ming followed her into an underground chamber.

The underground construction was rougher than above ground; in many places the wall planks weren't even nailed, leaving bare soil and stone exposed.

Yet the platform before them was spacious, lined with all kinds of targets, heavy cast iron, and compact sandbags.

It was unmistakably a training arena; who knows how long Buluowa has prepared this place, or how long she has been honing her skills here?

"Prepare yourself; let me test the depth of your skill first."

Speaking that, Buluowa shed her loose robe, revealing a short outfit that allowed easy movement underneath.

One can only say that the elf's bloodline talent is truly formidable, far beyond what humans can match.

Even though she is aged and frail, even though she is covered in scars.

Buluowa's physique still remains strong and graceful, the very image sculptors dream of.

Because he guessed that she might practice a bit, Ji Ming is not fully armed today.

At a glance, inside the lining of his white robe there were only two bottles of rejuvenating liquid and a hand shovel, and he wasn't afraid of revealing any hidden cards.

But…

What the heck, how could a several‑hundred‑year‑old old lady be dragging a huge chunk of cast iron in circles?

Holding the freshly unbuttoned black coat, Ji Ming was completely bewildered by Buluowa's vigorous warm‑up.

Grandma, Lao Bo Er says he can kill a tiger with a single punch just for fun, but you actually have to kneel on the ground and beg the tiger cub not to die.

While silently ranting, he gathered his courage and also looked down at himself.

Broken.

Feels like I can't match the old lady's… abs.