Elixir Supplier

“What kind of job?” Wang Yao asked.

“Still a teacher,” Wang Mingbao replied. “She has the experience of teaching, and relevant policies are in her favor. I have asked!”

“Well, working as a teacher is very good,” Wang Yao said.

“She’s been pregnant for months, so she probably won’t be able to work for long,” Wang Mingbao said. “Hey, are you free for the next two days? I’ll bring her to see you.”

“For what?” Wang Yao asked.

“To see if the child is a boy or girl, and if it’s healthy,” Wang Mingbao replied.

“I can’t tell if it’s a boy or girl,” Wang Yao said. “Now that medical equipment is so advanced, it’s better to go to the hospital for maternity examinations.”

“I’ll go to the hospital, but I’ll come here as double insurance,” Wang Mingbao replied.

“Alright, whatever you like,” Wang Yao said. “Drink some more tea.”

“When are you and Xiaoxue getting married?” Wang Mingbao asked.

“Well, I’m not sure yet,” Wang Yao replied.

“Hurry up!” Wang Mingbao seemed excited about the topic. “I think Xiaoxue is a good girl, putting aside her family. Her feelings toward you are true. I can feel it as an outsider. You have to seize the opportunity!”

“Yes, I know, and I like her too,” Wang Yao said.

“You are always staying in this mountain village,” Wang Mingbao said. “I think you’ve become too calm and worry-free. Don’t be like that Tao Yuanming [1] going all ‘While picking asters ‘neath the Eastern fence, my gaze upon the southern mountain rests.’ Hey, why aren’t you planting chrysanthemum here?”

Wang Mingbao sat and chatted with Wang Yao for a long time.

“Let’s have dinner together in the evening,” Wang Mingbao said.

“Aren’t you going back to accompany your wife?” Wang Yao asked.

“I’m on leave today,” Wang Mingbao said.

“Did you drive here?” Wang Yao said.

“Yep.” Wang Mingbao nodded.

“Let’s eat and talk but not drink,” Wang Yao said.

“Sure, I’ll reserve a table,” Wang Mingbao said. “We’ll have dinner tonight. Have Liuchuan come along. Let’s go to the city to eat. I know a restaurant there with good food.”

“Do as you see fit,” Wang Yao replied.

“That’s settled then,” Wang Mingbao said. “Go out for a stroll. Don’t stay in the village all the time.”

“I think it’s quite nice in the village.” Wang Yao took a sip of tea.

When they came out of the clinic, they bumped into Zhong Liuchuan, who was just coming down from the mountain.

“Practicing again?” Wang Yao asked.

“Yes, I’m used to it,” Zhong Liuchuan replied. “If I don’t go there every day, I feel as if something’s missing.”

“Do you have anything going on tonight?” Wang Yao asked.

“I don’t,” Zhong Liuchuan said.

“Let’s got to the town center for dinner,” Wang Yao said.

Zhong Liuchuan agreed.

After telling his family he was going out, Wang Yao drove with Zhong Liuchuan to the town center.

“Later, you shall be responsible if your drinking,” Wang Yao joked.

“No problem,” Zhong Liuchuan replied without hesitation. Drinking was not his forte.

Wang Mingbao called Pan Jun and Li Maoshuang and invited them since they were in the city and nearby. He had planned to call Tian Yuantu, but he was not in Lianshan County.

“First of all, let me just say that I’m treating today,” Wang Mingbao said. “No one can rush to pay. Otherwise, I’ll fight with that person.”

The dishes were served quickly. The famous dish there was fish stewed in a big pot. It was fresh and delicious.

Ring! Ring!

While eating dinner, Wang Yao’s phone rang. Upon looking at it, he realized it was Su Zhixing and answered, “Hello, Big Brother.”

“What are you busy with?” Su Zhixing asked.

“Eating with friends,” Wang Yao replied.

“Friends? Male or female?” Su Zhixing asked.

“Male.” Wang Yao laughed.

“It’s alright if they’re women. I can trust you,” Su Zhixing said. “Let’s get down to business. I want to ask you for help.”

“What’s the matter?” Wang Yao asked.

“Do you remember what you promised me last time.” Su Zhixing asked.

“What did I promise you?” Wang Yao asked.

“Hey, it’s only been a few days,” Su Zhixing said. “You aren’t thinking of denying it, are you? Come here and teach us!”

“You haven’t recovered yet, so why are you concerned about that?” Wang Yao asked. “Wait for a little more. There’s no rush.”

“That is because we’re in a rush,” Su Zhixing said.

“Why?” Wang Yao asked.

“The border is not very calm. Some people are still scheming, and we’ll probably have a mission soon. We need to prepare early!” Su Zhixing did not want his comrades-in-arms leaving him forever again when there was a mission.

Wang Yao was silent for a long time before saying, “I’ll spare time for it.”

“OK, you carry on with your stuff. Drink less, don’t make mistakes, and don’t get caught if you make mistakes,” Su Zhixing said.

“Alright, I know,” Wang Ya said.

After hanging up the phone, he returned to the table.

“What’s the situation?” Wang Mingbao asked with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. “You’ve been gone for so long. It can’t be Xiaoxue checking in on you at night, can it?”

“It was not her. It was her big brother,” Wang Yao replied. “We just said a few words. Let’s eat.”

“Come on, let’s have a round,” Wang Mingbao said.

The people at the table raised their glasses.

…

In a southern mountain camp, thousands of miles away…

“How was it?” Su Zhixing’s captain asked.

“He has agreed, but the time is not fixed,” Su Zhixing said.

“We are in a rush for time,” the captain said. “They were found in southern Yunnan, but they were all dead. Some strange things are also happening in the country. We want to go there to check it out.”

“In the country?” Su Zhixing asked.

“Yes, there must be something in the jungle in southern Yunnan that’s attracting them,” his captain said. “Otherwise, how could they be so fearless and rush inside one after another?”

“Captain, I want to take part in this operation,” Su Zhixing said.

“Certainly not. You have not recovered yet,” his captain said. “You can’t hold your ground in the high-intensity battle, so don’t force yourself. You’ll only cause the other fighters to be distracted.”

Su Zhixing remained silent. Although the words were not pleasant to his ears, they were true. To go to the battlefield in his present state would only drag his comrades down.

“Get well here, and don’t think too much,” his captain said.

Su Zhixing reluctantly nodded. “Since I can’t go myself, I’ll try my best to bring my future brother-in-law, who is very capable, to help us!”

…

A car was driving on a road that had no street lights.

“Sir, are there any drugs that will keep you unintoxicated after a thousand cups?” Zhong Liuchuan, who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat, asked.

“Yes, but it’s not that magical. To put it plainly, it’s an anti-alcoholic,” Wang Yao replied with a laugh.

That evening, the other three people had all drank a little too much. Although Zhong Liuchuan had drunk more than his share of hard liquor, he was fine due to his persistent training. Recently, he had practiced the method of self-renewing given to him by Wang Yao, so his visceral abilities had been further strengthened.

Wang Yao caught a glimpse of someone in the field beside the road.

Whoosh! Something was thrown out and landed with a thud.

Wang Yao instantly stepped on the brakes. The car stopped after it continued for more than a dozen feet. There was a dead sheep in the middle of the road.

A small group of people rushed out from the side of the road. They were all holding weapons.

“Hey, look at how you drive! Compensate us!” a man yelled.

“Are you blackmailing us or just robbing us?” Zhong Liuchuan asked with a laugh.

“Ah, he understands the industry,” the man said. “Good, hurry up and take out all your money so we don’t have to hurt you!”

“Sir, leave it to me,” Zhong Liuchuan said.

“Alright, but don’t kill anybody,” Wang Yao said.

“What? Don’t kill anybody?” The man laughed.

Zhong Liuchuan stepped out of the car and was next to the man in an instant. He punched him using the ancient boxing method Wang Yao taught him.

Thud! The man flew out from the blow.

“Oh, why are you so weak?” Zhong Liuchuan was stunned.

He instantly realized that it was not the man who was weak. Rather, his strength had increased. Additionally, the boxing method was quite intricate. The power of his punch was more than he had imagined. He soon controlled his strength so as not to cause trouble. The other men instantly fell on the ground and wailed.

“Do you still want money?” Zhong Liuchuan asked.

“No, no!” The men all cried out.

“Where did the sheep come from?” Zhong Liuchuan asked.

“It was stolen,” one of the men said.

“Call the police and let them deal with them. They can’t escape within that short amount of time,” Wang Yao said and waved his hands in the air.

Wang Yao and Zhong Liuchuan got back into the car and left. The five men were lying on the ground.

“Hurry up and leave,” one of the men said. “Didn’t you hear they were going to call the police?”

“I… I have a terrible stomachache. Quick, take me to the hospital.”

“I… I feel weak all over!”

They wanted to run but realized that in addition to being in pain, they had no strength. They couldn’t stand up and escape. They could only lie on the ground. After a while, they heard the sirens of a police car and grew even more anxious, but their bodies were not in their control.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“I… I don’t want to go to jail!”

[1] Tao Yuanming is an ancient Chinese poet.