Chapter 66: The Serenity Pill Shop
Half a day later, Shop No. 12 on Hongfu Street, along with the courtyard of over fifty zhang behind it, was entirely rented out by Shen Lian.
The storefront faced south, two stories tall, with a five-zhang-wide frontage on the main street.
Inside, a heap of tattered clothes and broken barrels remained, remnants from the previous owner.
The last business had been a rice shop.
When renting, Shen Lian slipped a few spirit stones to the Steward from the Office of General Affairs, and learned that the rice shop’s manager had gone out to procure goods and never returned, while the remaining widow and orphans had returned to their hometown.
“Senior, would you like a signboard? I am Liu He, a minor steward from the South City Signboard Shop.”
Just as Shen Lian opened the shop door, a shrewd-looking young cultivator entered through the swirling dust.
“Many shop signs throughout Black Whale City are crafted by us—made from premium spiritual wood, intricately carved and inlaid with gold...”
Behind Liu He stood several more young cultivators, their expressions timid as they lingered at the entrance, peeking inside, hesitant to enter.
Noticing Shen Lian’s gaze, one of the young cultivators outside mustered his courage and stammered, “Senior, if you’re opening a business, I could help out with odd jobs.”
Liu He glanced at the loose cultivators outside and assured, “Rest easy, Senior, these are all children of cultivators who have lived around Black Whale City since birth. They’re simply hoping to find work in your shop.”
“Yes, exactly, Senior Liu is right. Senior, no matter what business you open, we’re diligent workers. All we seek is a place to make a living.”
Shen Lian could tell that these young cultivators hovering outside were only in their early teens, the strongest barely at the first layer of Qi Refinement, some still in the Qi Induction stage.
Yet their faces already bore the marks of hardship.
According to the city’s regulations, cultivators running a business within the city were exempt from the annual ten-spirit-stone entrance fee. Those employed in a shop were also spared the ten-stone fee.
Shen Lian soon withdrew his gaze and turned to Liu He.
He had planned to carve a signboard himself with a magical tool, but hadn’t expected there would be a business specializing in this.
It seemed that even at the lowest rungs, cultivators found their own ways to survive, each struggling in their own fashion.
“I intend to open a pill shop,” he said.
“So Senior is an alchemist.” Liu He clasped his hands in respect, his demeanor growing more solemn.
The young cultivators outside also shifted their expressions; some bowed to Shen Lian, then stepped back and left.
They had thought this might be an ordinary shop, hoping to earn a few spirit stones running errands.
But an alchemist was out of their reach.
A single pill could equal a month or two of their labor.
Some stayed, huddled quietly by the door, lost in thought.
Shen Lian took in the scene, finding it much like his own past.
In these times, even a self-taught alchemist was someone the common loose cultivator could not afford to provoke.
If they could stay by an alchemist’s side and learn a little craft, they might hope for a leap in status.
Even if they failed to master pill-refining, being familiar with dozens of medicinal properties could let them rent a few acres of spiritual farmland, or manage medicinal fields for a great clan.
If only they could stay in the shop, running errands would be worth it—even if it meant being a beast of burden.
Wages?
What wages?
If the master didn’t charge for teaching skills, he was already benevolent enough. Expecting wages too—that would be ungrateful.
“Serene Heart Pill Shop. Just make a sign from camphor wood with these four characters,” Shen Lian said.
Shen Lian addressed Liu He, not refusing this proactive business runner—after all, it wouldn’t cost much.
“Rest assured, Senior Alchemist, I’ll rush the job overnight and deliver the sign within two days.”
“How much for a deposit?”
Shen Lian patted his storage pouch, producing five spirit stones.
“That’s more than enough; camphor wood isn’t worth that much.”
Shen Lian clearly noticed that, upon learning he was an alchemist, Liu He became noticeably more cautious.
In the end, Liu He only took two spirit stones from him.
Shen Lian put the rest back into his pouch. No matter the universe, it was always harder to earn than to spend—spending was like opening a sluice gate.
After Liu He left, two people still stood uncertainly at the door, neither daring to enter nor to speak.
“Senior, let us clean for you,” ventured the leader, eyes downcast as he surveyed the shop.
Seeing Shen Lian did not refuse, he called the other inside, and they set about cleaning.
They divided the work—one tidied the rooms, the other, a tomboyish youth, quickly went to the courtyard to boil water, wash the furniture, and even brought Shen Lian a large cushioned chair.
By the end, even tea had been brewed for Shen Lian.
“Senior, the tea set has been boiled in hot water, and the tea leaves are what was left here,” the tomboy stammered, looking so nervous her feet seemed about to burrow into the ground.
“Go buy fresh bedding and supplies,” Shen Lian instructed, flicking a few spirit stones to her.
By evening, the shop was spotless, even the dust washed away with clean water. Shen Lian had planned to use talismans, but the work was already done.
The old rice barrels were thrown out, a counter set up, and a screen partitioned the front and back, turning the layout into a shop in front and a private room in back.
Once finished, the two young cultivators said nothing, simply bowed and left on their own.
“How much hardship must they have endured?” Shen Lian sighed, then surveyed the shop.
Opening a shop was his means to establish himself; his true objective was to use this place for Foundation Building.
It was precisely for this purpose that he’d rented the shop.
Eventually, he would need someone to help; he couldn’t devote all his attention to the business.
As for what kind of help—he’d prefer someone dull and honest, not lively or talkative.
A day later, the shop sign was delivered.
Serene Heart Pill Shop.
It was hung outside.
Neighbors from both sides came by to introduce themselves. Shen Lian took the chance to greet them in return.
He was the only pill shop on Hongfu Street, among five rice shops and over twenty other businesses.
There was no opening ceremony; once the sign was hung, he considered the shop open for business.
He placed a teapot in the shop and lounged in his cushioned chair.
After a whole day—
…he lost a day’s rent.
The next day,
same as before.
Losses doubled.
The two young cultivators from before came again to see if there was work to be done.
Shen Lian squinted and ignored them; they quietly cleaned up inside and out, then slipped away.
……
In the blink of an eye,
Serene Heart Pill Shop had been open for a month.
[Spirit Unmoved by External Things, Divine Insight +1]
[Heart Calm and Breath Still, Comprehension Point +1]
……
[Spirit Unmoved by External Things, Divine Insight +1]
On the second floor, Shen Lian sat cross-legged in meditation, as a quiet voice resounded in his mind.
Morning light crested the horizon.
Shen Lian slowly awakened, spiritual light flashing in his eyes.
[Shen Lian: Qi Refinement, Ninth Layer]
[Five Element Spiritual Roots: Fire 86, Earth 18, Metal 17, Wood 29, Water 18]
……
[Comprehension Points: 2012]
[Divine Insight: 2]
After settling in Black Whale City for a month, he finally acquired two Divine Insight points.
The city’s security was truly excellent—the grand formation ran day and night, patrolling cultivators were on duty round the clock; except for the high taxes, there was nothing to complain about.
The previous surge of fire spiritual power had prompted Shen Lian to consider strengthening his other spiritual roots.
Evaluating their levels, he decided to invest his Divine Insight into Earth.
Fire breeds Earth—perhaps it would bring some change.
“Mmm…”
A tingling sensation blossomed in his dantian, and Shen Lian reclined comfortably, eyes half-closed, savoring the feeling.
“Wonderful…”
Within his dantian, amidst the crimson fire spiritual power, earthy yellow light trembled, and fire and earth resonated together.
In that instant, even the Chaoyuan Five Qi condensed in his organs were stirred.
Inside his dantian, the Five Elements Mountain began to hum.
Shen Lian sat up abruptly, extending his palm; the Five Elements Mountain appeared in his hand.
He could distinctly sense a wave of spiritual energy emanating from within the mountain.