The children of families were educated at a young age. Qi Tianyou’s situation was no different, and he naturally received the same education. For example, being able to recognize certain people. The various families of the Cangyun Empire, regardless of their size, needed to take these matters to heart so that when they conducted themselves in public, they wouldn’t offend those who absolutely shouldn’t be offended. The most important of these were the five clans of Cangyun City.
The rumors surrounding Gongyi Tianheng circulated among the peerage, who secretly ridiculed the sickly young master of the Gongyi Clan. Yet, his reputation was irrefutably good and had a solid base. Even with ups and downs, his enduring image was like that of a hero from a legendary novel.
Of course, the young masters of the other four clans were also very famous. Each of the clans had many martial artists who could crush their younger contemporaries. In this world where martial arts was respected, there was Gongyi Tianheng who could only watch on the sidelines. On the contrary, when people referred to the empire’s “sons”, they recognized five, not four, young masters. The general impression of this person shifted from ridicule to amazement. While their hearts contained disapproval, they publicly admired him on the surface.
Qi Tianyou held Gongyi Tianheng in high esteem and looked at him like an idol. Although Gu Zuo didn’t go that far, he still deeply respected him.
This guy had an indomitable will! He still hadn’t given up. It wasn’t easy!
Gu Zuo had always been fond of such people.
Although the Gongyi Clan had spent years searching for a capable pharmacist, none could cure him. But Gu Zuo felt that there was a chance that he could do it — His item book contained so many ancient and rare medicinal remedies that could nourish the body. Don’t even suggest that there wasn’t even one that would work. Most of all, in the latter chapters of the three medical texts, there were many case studies of unusual and hard-to-treat illnesses. Gu Zuo felted dazzled. As long as he met Gongyi Tianheng in person, he was convinced he could find a way.
After so many setbacks and dead ends… Having reaching this point, why not give him a try? He would try his best, of course. But at worst, if he failed the first time, so long as he could rely on Gongyi Tianheng’s resources, what about the second or third try? Who could say he wouldn’t find a solution?
If he agreed to be his patron, Gu Zuo would certainly take responsibility.
In his heart, Gu Zuo had been comforting himself for a long time. Plagued with thoughts that he couldn’t make a difference, he clenched his teeth: System, do you have a way to make sure that Gongyi Tianheng can’t harm me?
He needed some way to defend himself. If, if he really couldn’t cure him and Tianheng took out his anger on him…
The system was very frank.
[You can turn him into your medicine slave.]
Medicine slave? That didn’t sound like a good thing.
But the system was not human, so it probably didn’t have any human sentiment. Nevertheless, he still listened to all of the system’s explanation to find out what a medicine slave was.
[After the host learns <<Medicine Slave Brand,>> the host can use telepathy to create medicine slaves. A medicine slave’s life rests in the hands of its master. If a medicine slave resists its master’s commands, the master can punish it.]
Gu Zuo’s face stiffened as he listened to all that.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
…That was definitely not a good thing!
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[This is the easiest way.]
Xe Ieb vlvc’a xcbk ktja ab atlcx jcv tlr ojmf ibbxfv ilxf tf kjr ragemx vewy. Ktfc tf qbcvfgfv: Xbcusl Kljctfcu kjr jyif ab jmmbwqilrt j iba fnfc ktlif rlmx. Lf vfolclafis tjr j iba bo raeyybgc qglvf. Po P kjca ab wjxf tlw ws wfvlmlcf rijnf, vbc’a fnfc rjs atja ws afifqjats mjc reqqgfrr tlw jcv remmffv — Gbc’a rjs atja wf mgfjalcu j wfvlmlcf rijnf jcv atja qfgrbc’r wfcaji ragfcuat jgf ecgfijafv. Snfc lo P remmffv, la’r ecilxfis atja tf’ii ilrafc ab ws mbwwjcvr… Lf’v qgbyjyis gjatfg vlf atjc ifa atlcur yf.
[If not a medicine slave, then a path protector.]
Gu Zuo looked distracted.
That was a new concept. What sort of “demon” was a path protector?
Not nearly as deceptive as a medicine slave, right?
[A path protector, or guardian, protects people. The host is a pharmacist. A guardian will follow you wherever you go, grant you his favor, and ensure your safety. There are many rules, but the two sides can act of their own free will.]
Gu Zuo listened with his head swimming: Speak plainly!
The system became less long-winded.
[It is a bodyguard with a contract.]
Gu Zuo instantly understood: I help heal him and he protects me. Our relationship would be like a business transaction, right?
[Both sides cannot harm the other.]
Gu Zuo was satisfied. When the system explained the specifics of the guardian and his function, he was sold — They would be equals!
Although Gongyi Tianheng couldn’t practice martial arts, there would certainly be someone who could protect him. So long as he was with him, the people who guarded Tianheng would also conveniently guard him. That would be good enough.
He only wanted to find a place to cultivate as a pharmacist, and return to find his dad. Nothing more.
— Wait a minute.
Gu Zuo suddenly remembered something.
He grimaced and asked: System, you said that I could return home later on, but to what extent can I go back? When I finally get powerful enough, how many years will have passed? In this fantastical world, if it takes hundreds of years to meet these conditions, by the time I get back, my dad and father will be long gone. What’s the point!?
[The Void Pill grants one the ability to travel through time. The concurrent passage through time is arbitrary.]
Gu Zuo’s eyes opened wide: You’re saying that no matter how long I’ve been cultivating, I can travel back to the right point in time regardless of the time spent here?
[Yes, host.]
Gu Zuo finally sighed in relief: What about the Void Pill’s prescription?
[When the host’s rank has improved enough, this system is gradually unlocked. The Void Pill will be one of the rewards for the host’s accomplishments.]
“Listening” to this, Gu Zuo’s face revealed a relaxed and open smile for the first time since coming here.
This was great… He was at ease.
When he healed Tianheng, it would be smooth cultivating from there on out!
However, in a moment, Gu Zuo’s relaxed expression fell.
Wrong! There was still a serious problem!
— How was he supposed to approach Gongyi Tianheng and settle a contract?
On the main road of the capital, more than fifty carriages carrying merchandise moved onwards. Bracketing the fancy carriages were squads of armed escorts riding horses.
The leader of the armed escort was fifty years old. He was a Blood Refining stage three martial artist. Although he wasn’t as youthful as the well-bred young masters of the aristocratic families, his experience in life and death combat was superior.
For a fleet of this size, the “pack animal” pulling the carriages was a grade three wild beast called an Earth Lizard. This was the least an aristocratic family could do to flaunt its high status.
At the same time, because of the armed escort, there were some small merchants following behind. So long as they paid some protection fees, they were allowed to stay close and take refuge. Compared to those who traveled alone, they enjoyed greater security.
At the very end of this train, there were some handcarts carrying travelers. These carts were attached to the small merchant vehicles to keep pace.
Just as the small merchants paid the main carriages, these unrelated people feigned identities like shop assistants and pooled their money together as payment. This open dealing was another unspoken rule.
On one cart, there was a teenager. His face was splotched with dust and his hands were hidden in the folds of his sleeves. At this time, the youth avidly listened to the gossip of a yellow-toothed man, his eyed earnestly locked on.
This yellow-toothed man spoke enthusiastically. Spittle would launch with each word, and he would shout wildly.
At this moment, he talked about the hottest news in Cangyun City…
The young master of the Sima Clan participated in a large martial arts tournament. This youth received a lot of fame when he defeated twenty opponents.
The young master of the Duanmu Clan traveled into the depths of the Weeping Ghost Mountain Range to find a treasured Eternal Youth Herb for his mother’s birthday.
The young master of the Huangfu Clan beheaded eighteen thieves and took their heads for trophies.
The young master of the Helian Clan killed a wild beast whose grade was one level higher than his own…
That young master of the Gongyi Clan fell ill recently and went to a separate residence to recover. His authority was handed over to his younger brother in the meantime.
When it came to the matters of the clans’ young masters, ordinary people never got tired of listening and gossipers never got tired of talking.
This yellow-toothed man was one such gossiper. Today, he was especially talkative because he hit it off with a small, younger brother. Other people disliked him and didn’t want to hear him talk. Instead, this kid stuck with him to chat endlessly. It really gave him some confidence.
But the yellow-toothed man naturally didn’t realize that, when he talked about that Gongyi fellow, the little brother’s eyes flashed with anticipation. Nor was the man likely to discover that the youth’s hands hidden in his sleeves were incessantly practicing hand motions over and over again.
Gradually, this journey came to an end.
The yellow-toothed man had satisfied his desire to gossip, until he reluctantly parted from the youth. After giving his thanks, the teenager aimlessly wandered through the crowd and disappeared.
This youth, who didn’t know the roads and followed a caravan to Cangyun City, was undoubtedly Gu Zuo. While on this journey, he gathered many useful bits of news from the yellow-toothed man.
At long last, he finally deepened his understanding of Cangyun City and Gongyi Tianheng.
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guardian? more like gong, amiright 😏
thanks for the chapter!
lol Its all good. Thanks for the chapter.
Just a suggestion: Instead of "sons" of xx clan, wouldn't it make more sense to go with "young master" of xx clan? It seems to be a more stereotypical term for the xianxia genre.
Just to add… later on a lot of people will be calling GYTH "公子" instead of by his name, including all his bodyguards. It would make more sense that they're calling him, "Young Master, blahblah" instead of "Son, etc."
Anyway, thanks for picking up the translation for this story! Can't wait to see more.
Hiya. New reader here. Thank you for the trans
Nice story choice & great translation.
Although I do wonder how the MC suddenly became 10 years old
On this matter, couldn't it be that the original text meant a youth on his teens instead of the precise age of 10 years old?
Sorry for meddling, I have zero knowledge about the Chinese language.
Thank you very much for picking up this project. Your translation is top quality!:)
I’m loving this so far!
Weeping Ghost… I remembered LMW 😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for the chapter (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
Thanks for the chapter 🙂
I wonder if we ever get to meet the yellow-toothed man, again😂
Oh my.
thank you for the chapter!