Meanwhile, at Qinghe Village
Doctor Lu Cheng paced back and forth in front of his small medicine shop, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Why isn't that brat back yet…" he muttered.
He glanced at the sky. The sun was already sinking, dyeing the clouds a dull orange.
"It's getting late," he sighed. "That little rascal should've returned by now."
An uneasy feeling crept into his chest, growing heavier with each passing breath.
"…Why do I feel so restless?
Suddenly, a thought struck him like lightning.
Ah Old Lady Shen!
"She must not know I sent him into the forest…Lu Cheng swallowed hard. "I really can't bear to see that witch's face.
"Hm?
A cold voice sounded behind him.
"Who are you calling a witch?"
Doctor Lu Cheng froze.
His blood ran cold.
Slowly very slowly he turned around.
"O–Oh… Old Lady Shen," he forced a smile. "You're here? I'm sure you came to buy herbs, right?"
"Herbs?" Old Lady Shen snapped. "You think I came here to buy herbs?!"
Her voice rose sharply, cutting through the street like a blade.
"You sent Wang Fang into the forest, didn't you?"
"Huh? Me? Why would I ever do that?" Lu Cheng denied immediately, though his heart was pounding wildly.
Inside, he cursed.
Damn it. This old hag is already here…
"You're still denying it?" Old Lady Shen's eyes narrowed.
In the next instant, her anger exploded.
"I warned you before!" she shouted. "I told you—never even think about sending him into that forest again! Didn't I?!"
The villagers nearby sensed danger immediately. One by one, they quietly backed away from the shop, pretending they saw and heard nothing.
Suddenly—
"AHHHHHHHH!"
Doctor Lu Cheng screamed.
"I—I didn't mean to! I really didn't! I sent him there, yes, but—AHHHHHHH!"
Moments later, both of them stepped out of the shop.
The crowd that had been staring froze then instantly scattered the moment they saw Old Lady Shen's face.
She swept her gaze across them coldly.
"Hmph. Looks like you all want to taste my fists too."
No one dared respond.
Old Lady Shen took a deep breath, then muttered softly, almost to herself,
"I need to go find him… If I don't, I won't have peace of mind."
She turned to leave.
Then
"Huh? Granny Shen?"
A familiar voice called out.
Old Lady Shen froze.
Doctor Lu Cheng froze too.
They slowly turned around.
Wang Fang stood there calmly.
For a moment, neither of them could speak.
Shock flashed across Doctor Lu Cheng's face not because Wang Fang had returned safely, but because of what he was carrying.
A beast carcass.
Old Lady Shen's eyes narrowed sharply.
Impossible… she thought. A Tier-3 beast? A Body Tempering cultivator shouldn't be capable of this.
She quickly suppressed her thoughts.
Maybe someone else killed it… and he merely brought it back.
She spoke aloud, her tone stern.
"Where have you been?"
"I went to kill a beast" Wang Fang began.
"A Tier-3 beast?!" Doctor Lu Cheng suddenly shouted in excitement. "I knew it! It was worth giving you that task!"
Old Lady Shen's expression darkened instantly.
Smack!
She slapped him on the head.
"Can't I be happy for once?" Lu Cheng groaned.
"Granny, please stop," Wang Fang said quickly. "I know you and my mother were worried. I'm sorry I came back late."
As Wang Fang passed her, Old Lady Shen's eyes sharpened.
She noticed it instantly.
Internal injuries.
And something else… something abnormal.
They completed the trade as planned—but Wang Fang only handed over a Tier-1 beast.
Doctor Lu Cheng was devastated.
"Noooo! A perfect chance to study a Tier-3 beast gone!"
Ignoring him, Old Lady Shen took Wang Fang home.
At Home
A soft cough sounded from inside the house.
Wang Fang hurried in, poured water, and helped his mother sit up.
"My child… Xinyi said softly. Age had weakened her body, her bones frail and thin.
"I brought you a pill from Doctor Lu Cheng," Wang Fang said gently.
"Oh… good boy," she smiled faintly.
After taking the pill, she soon drifted back to sleep.
Wang Fang touched her forehead.
Still warm… that's good.
Outside, Old Lady Shen spoke,
"The medicinal bath is ready. Come."
"Yes, Granny.
As he stepped outside, Wang Fang whispered to himself,
…I wonder how my mother from my past life is doing.
He shook his head and focused.
He removed his clothes and stepped into the herbal bath one leg, then the other until his entire body was submerged.
"Close your eyes," Old Lady Shen instructed. "Cultivate.
She left quietly.
Cultivation Begins
As Wang Fang cultivated, the temperature of the herbal water began to rise.
Hotter.
Hotter still.
His breathing grew heavy.
Strange thoughts surfaced in his mind as his body reacted instinctively.
His blood and essence began to glow faintly.
They clashed and surged violently within him, colliding again and again.
His skin shimmered with a dim light.
Qi from the medicinal bath rushed into his body, flooding his meridians like a tide.
His body began to absorb everything
Relentlessly