C14 Enemies.

Bai Yu paused in front of a barbecue stall on a street corner when she spotted Hsiao Rann.

"It's you!"

Hsiao Rann, who was waiting for his skewers, heard a delightful voice. Looking up, he saw Bai Yu.

"It's you!" echoed Hsiao Rann.

He couldn't fathom why a beauty like Bai Yu would strike up a conversation with him. Bai Yu, on the other hand, recognized Hsiao Rann because of his renown at Polytechnic University.

"Are you Hsiao Rann?" Bai Yu inquired, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

She had been astounded by the way Hsiao Rann had handled the books in the bookstore. Initially, she had pegged him as just another guy, but to her surprise, he had become a campus celebrity overnight.

Bai Yu's friend had downloaded a video of Hsiao Rann fielding questions from professors and shared it with her. She had watched it repeatedly at home, impressed by his intellect.

"He went to the bookstore to research that day. He's truly impressive," Bai Yu mused.

Eventually, Hsiao Rann's exam paper was circulated on the campus network, challenging many who attempted it.

Yet no one was confident they could score above 90. Hsiao Rann, however, had achieved a perfect score, becoming a legend. The proctor of that exam was none other than Professor Bai, Bai Yu's grandfather.

Bai Yu bombarded Professor Bai with questions about Hsiao Rann, but all her grandfather could offer was a wistful smile.

With over thirty years of teaching under his belt, Professor Bai had never encountered a student as extraordinary as Hsiao Rann. He even believed that Hsiao Rann's grasp of ancient literature had surpassed his own.

Regrettably, Professor Bai had not recognized Hsiao Rann's exceptional talent earlier. By the time he did, Hsiao Rann had already aced the exam and graduated ahead of schedule.

Bai Yu had also tackled the same exam, but upon seeing her results, she felt unworthy of the title 'talented girl.' Having been tutored in ancient literature by her professor grandfather from a young age, she had always considered herself among the elite in the field.

Bai Yu was nowhere near as accomplished as Hsiao Rann.

Hsiao Rann had left the university. His classmates were at a loss; they couldn't locate him anywhere. His phone was operational, but he seemed to have no interest in staying in touch with his peers.

Bai Yu had resigned herself to the likelihood of seldom encountering the senior she so admired, yet, to her surprise, she ran into Hsiao Rann again just two days later.

"Senior, what are you doing here?" Bai Yu asked, her voice filled with joy.

"I live around here. Why are you still out and not at home?" Hsiao Rann was momentarily taken aback by the title 'senior.' His youthful appearance often led others to mistake him for a student.

"I was just at Xinhua Bookstore looking at some books, and now I'm heading home. It's only eight in the evening, not too late," Bai Yu responded. Usually, other guys would jump at the chance to ask her out to dinner. So why didn't Hsiao Rann? She would gladly accept if he ever did.

"You should head home, though. It's getting late, and it's not safe for a young woman to be out walking alone," Hsiao Rann advised. The thought of inviting her to join him for a meal hadn't crossed his mind; he assumed Bai Yu wouldn't take up such an offer.

"Okay, Senior, I'll head home then," Bai Yu said, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she looked down.

"Hold on a second. Here's some freshly grilled squid and gluten. Take some with you to eat."

At that moment, the barbecue shop owner brought over a batch of skewers. Hsiao Rann selected a few tasty ones and handed them to Bai Yu.

Truth be told, Bai Yu wasn't fond of such foods; barbecue and fried items were a quick ticket to gaining weight, so she usually avoided them. But now, she accepted them with a delighted smile.

She gave Hsiao Rann a sweet smile, then after a brief pause, she asked, "Senior, could I borrow your phone for a moment?"

Hsiao Rann, puzzled about why Bai Yu needed his phone, nonetheless passed her his old mobile.

Grasping the phone, Bai Yu balanced her books under one arm while clutching the skewers Hsiao Rann had given her in her other hand, and began tapping away on his phone.

Before long, her phone began to ring. It was then that Hsiao Rann realized what the girl was up to.

Afterward, Bai Yu handed the phone back to Hsiao Rann. Even as Bai Yu walked away, Hsiao Rann was still somewhat perplexed. He gazed at Bai Yu's number on his phone and whispered to himself, "Bai Yu... that's such a beautiful name."

He then got ready to dive back into his barbecue feast. Previously, money had been tight, so indulging in barbecue was a rare treat. But today was different; Hsiao Rann had made tens of thousands of yuan in just one day, so he was all set to treat himself to a hearty meal.

As Hsiao Rann reached for a skewer of chicken wings, his phone buzzed. A new text message appeared: "Senior Hsiao Rann, let's stay in touch, okay?" It was from Bai Yu. Hsiao Rann couldn't contain his excitement.

Bai Yu's presence had left Hsiao Rann in high spirits all night, grinning even as he brushed his teeth.

The next morning, Hsiao Rann was up with the dawn, eager to start his day. He had plans to purchase medicinal herbs and a few other items.

His destination was the renowned Benevolence Hall, a traditional herbal shop known for its comprehensive selection of medicinal herbs.

He hailed a taxi and set off for the city's largest Benevolence Hall.

Upon arriving, Hsiao Rann found the shop bustling with customers. He made his way to the herbal medicine section, where he was met with cabinets teeming with various herbs. He used to be unfamiliar with these herbs, but now he understood each one's properties, even their growing conditions. Right before him lay the White Elm Fruit, also known as the Spiritual Fruit.

It thrives in mountain streams and near waterfalls, belonging to the Grassfruit Family. Classified as a middle-grade herb, it's harvested in the autumn. After its stem and root hairs are removed, it must be thoroughly washed and soaked.

The herb's dry roots are irregularly spindle-shaped, slightly curved, and measure about 8-13 centimeters in length and 0.5-2 centimeters in diameter. Its leaves are a deep purple-red with longitudinal wrinkles or transverse cracks, while the fruit itself is white on the outside, red on the inside, and marked with subtle, irregular patterns.

The fruit measures approximately 3 centimeters in diameter, with a tough outer skin and a bitter taste. Its striking appearance features a white exterior and a red interior.

Preparation: Rinse the fruit with water and allow it to soak briefly.

Flavor: Slightly bitter.

Benefit: It enhances an individual's vital energy and blood circulation.

Dosage: Limit consumption to one White Elm Fruit per day.

Caution: Overconsumption may lead to poisoning.

Storage: Keep in a dry location.

Even medical students may not be as familiar with these herbs as Hsiao Rann. With a smug grin, he continued to scrutinize the prices of the herbs, only to be taken aback by what he discovered.

Ginseng, a staple in pill concoction, specifically needed for the Essence Fostering Pill, must have been cultivated over a century ago!

Hsiao Rann examined the ginseng at Benevolence Hall and realized that even the cultivated varieties cost hundreds of yuan each, while the price of wild ginseng soared even higher. And that was just last year's harvest. The ginseng planted thirty years ago was so expensive that even if Hsiao Rann spent all his money, he might not be able to afford a single piece.

Hsiao Rann thought to himself in dismay, "Good heavens! I completely overlooked the fact that Chinese medicine isn't cheap. I've always known money was essential, but only now do I realize its true value. I assumed a few tens of thousands of yuan would suffice to purchase the ingredients for the Essence Fostering Pill. Yet, I doubt I could even procure a tenth of what's needed! Moreover, Benevolence Hall doesn't even stock many of the herbs I require. All I need are seventeen different herbs! Without the Essence Fostering Pill, I lack the capability to craft a high-grade medicinal pill. I need to figure out a way to make some money first. For now, I'll buy as many of the medicinal ingredients as I can afford."

Subsequently, he embarked on a massive purchasing spree, acquiring tens of thousands of yuan worth of the finest medicinal herbs in one go. Such a large purchase was rare, leaving the nurse assisting Hsiao Rann with his selections delighted.

He had just finished packing the medicinal herbs when he heard someone calling his name.

Hsiao Rann turned to find, to his surprise, that it was Lyu Bin.

"I've been searching for you at Polytechnic University for ages, but you were nowhere to be found. Now that we've bumped into each other here, kid, it's time to settle our previous dispute." Lyu Bin had been knocked unconscious by Hsiao Rann before. Though he hadn't sustained serious injuries, the resentment still simmered within him.

He had casually come to this place today with a couple of friends to hang out. The Jiang family dominated the traditional Chinese medicine market, supplying over eighty percent of the herbs. Lyu Bin's intention in visiting Benevolence Hall was simply to make some extra cash by any means necessary, never anticipating a run-in with Hsiao Rann.