C6 He Is a Master

Seeing Liu Changqing overlook his fault and spare Tang Qingshan, Tang Zhenye finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sir, could you enlighten me as to why this century-old mountain ginseng is a fake?"

At that moment, Tang Zhenye regarded Liu Changqing with utmost respect.

A Master in his twenties was not someone to be taken lightly; it was crucial not to make an enemy of him. For the Tang family, such a feud could spell catastrophe.

To the outside world, the Tang family was a prominent and esteemed household in Gliatol. Yet, even prominent families have adversaries. Offending a Master and having rival families catch wind of it would surely lead to relentless attacks against the Tangs, all in an effort to curry favor with Liu Changqing.

Should that happen, the Tang family might never recover, possibly facing total ruin.

The stakes were simply too high for Tang Zhenye to gamble with.

"A genuine century-old mountain ginseng has ten roots. Examine its roots closely."

Liu Changqing spoke with a calm detachment, his demeanor that of an elder imparting wisdom to a younger relative.

"The roots..."

Prompted by Liu Changqing, Tang Zhenye hastily opened the wooden box to inspect the century-old mountain ginseng he had purchased for a hefty sum.

Yet, no matter how he looked, Tang Zhenye could only count ten roots, which left him baffled.

"Sir, there are ten roots indeed! It's correct!"

Tang Zhenye said, looking at Liu Changqing, perplexed.

"The final root is short, indicating it's less than a hundred years old. While a true century-old mountain ginseng could be a life-saving remedy for your wife, one that's just shy of a hundred years is a lethal poison!"

Liu Changqing's tone remained even.

"Lethal poison!"

At those words, Tang Zhenye's hands shook violently, and the wooden box clattered to the floor.

The last root was significantly shorter than the others. Had Liu Changqing not pointed it out, they might have unwittingly given it to his wife, with dire consequences.

"Benefactor, I am in your debt. Please accept my deepest gratitude!"

Tang Zhenye looked at Liu Changqing with solemn reverence and bowed deeply.

"There's no need for that," Liu Changqing spoke with a hint of detachment.

"How may I address you, kind sir?" Tang Zhenye rose to his feet and inquired.

"Liu Changqing."

"I'm deeply grateful for your guidance, Mr. Liu. My granddaughter showed you disrespect, and yet, you've not only overlooked that but also saved my wife. I'm at a loss for how to express my gratitude. I noticed you've purchased some herbs, so please accept this old mountain ginseng as a token of my thanks."

With those words, Tang Zhenye bent down, gingerly picked up the wooden box, wiped it clean, then opened it and offered it to Liu Changqing.

"I cannot accept a reward without having earned it. Besides, this old mountain ginseng will serve you well."

Liu Changqing declined the offer.

Though the old mountain ginseng would aid in healing his body, he was reluctant to accept it, knowing it would incur a debt of gratitude and bind him with karma.

While the people of Dookdil might disregard such matters, for the Evergreen King, the concept of karma was to be greatly feared and avoided.

"How can you say there's no merit? Without your intervention, I would have committed a grave error! Please, take it. Otherwise, I'll be wracked with worry, living in constant dread."

Tang Zhenye's anxiety was palpable as he saw Liu Changqing's refusal to take the ginseng.

Liu Changqing understood his predicament well.

If he refused the gift, Tang Zhenye would likely be tormented by the fear of retribution against his family.

"Very well! If that's the case, there's only one thing I require. Just give that to me," Liu Changqing relented.

"Anything you desire, just name it, and it's yours!" Tang Zhenye's relief was evident, his face alight with gratitude. He feared not Liu Changqing's demands but the possibility of him making none at all.

If Liu Changqing desired nothing, it could mean he had not forgiven their earlier transgression, and that could spell disaster for the Tang family.

"Don't worry. Simply hand me the box that holds the old mountain ginseng."

Liu Changqing pointed to the wooden box in Tang Zhenye's grasp and spoke.

"Ah? The box? This one?"

Tang Zhenye had braced himself for a hefty loss, yet to his surprise, it was the box that Liu Changqing desired.

"Yes, just this box. Fill it with medicinal herbs for me."

Liu Changqing nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Very well! If this is what you wish, I shall honor my word."

As a Master, Liu Changqing lacked for nothing. Therefore, satisfying his request was the only course of action. To protest would only invite displeasure.

With that, Tang Zhenye retrieved the mountain ginseng and passed the wooden box to Liu Changqing.

Liu Changqing accepted the box, feeling its coolness confirm it was precisely what he needed.

"To save your wife, keep her breathing. I'll give you a prescription; just form it into pills."

Having said this, Liu Changqing took up the brush from the table, penned a prescription on paper, then collected the bundled herbs and stepped out the door.

"Hey... you haven't paid for the medicine yet!"

The female attendant at the Hall of Rejuvenation called out as Liu Changqing departed.

"Charge it to my account, please!"

Tang Zhenye instructed the attendant.

"Mr. Chiang, follow this prescription to prepare the pills for me."

Tang Zhenye handed the prescription to Chiang Huangqi.

"Isn't this a bit rash..."

Chiang Huangqi harbored doubts about Liu Changqing's intentions.

"I trust him. Just do as he asks."

Tang Zhenye stated with conviction. His experience with people assured him of Liu Changqing's honesty.

"Understood!"

Chiang Huangqi, though puzzled by the prescription's unique combination, trusted Tang Zhenye's judgment and set to work.

Holding the prescription, Chiang Huangqi turned and entered the inner sanctum of the Hall of Rejuvenation. With Tang Zhenye's wife's life in the balance, there was no room for error. He would personally select the herbs and oversee their preparation.

"Grandpa, why are you so terrified of him? He's nothing but a young punk!"

Tang Qingshan couldn't shake off the frustration that had settled in his chest, a simmering anger he couldn't quite dispel.

"Ah, my girl, you don't understand! He's a Master! Have you ever seen such a young Master? Picking a fight with a Master is like asking for a death wish. When a Master's wrath is kindled, blood will flow like a river!"

Tang Zhenye adored his granddaughter, having always treated her with the utmost care, as if she were too precious to risk losing. However, when it came to Liu Changqing, he knew he couldn't indulge her.

The Tang family dared not cross a Master!

"Have someone dig up Liu Changqing's background and address. I'll find an opportunity to pay him a visit myself," Tang Zhenye instructed Tang Qingshan.

"Yes..." Tang Qingshan murmured, her head bowed in embarrassment.

Despite her sense of injustice, she was acutely aware of the significance of a Master.

Meanwhile, Liu Changqing, having left the Hall of Rejuvenation, returned to his quarters with his medicinal herbs. He filled a large wooden tub with hot water and added the herbs he had purchased.

As the herbs steeped, their potent essence infused the water, and the pungent aroma of traditional medicine permeated the room.

With a splash, Liu Changqing shed his clothes and settled into the tub. The steam rose in thick clouds, and within moments, he was enveloped in a veil of white mist.

With a hum, Liu Changqing closed his eyes, channeling the techniques of the Primordial Scroll, drawing the water's medicinal properties into his body.

As time ticked away, a black grime began to surface on his skin, a viscous substance accompanied by a foul odor that not even the room's herbal fragrance could mask.

With a sharp exhale, Liu Changqing's eyes snapped open, a sharp gleam within them. He stepped from the tub and dashed to the shower. The water cascaded over him, washing away the accumulated impurities.

In that moment, Liu Changqing emerged with an aura transformed.