Chapter 28: Vitality Elixir

On the highway back to Niu City, Shen Xin couldn't help but ask curiously, "So was it really Chen Chunsheng pulling strings behind the scenes?"

Old Mo, focused on driving, didn't respond, but Chen Jiawang laughed. "Who cares who it was? As long as we've got the money in hand, that's what matters."

Tang Ziran sat in the back seat, happily playing with sparkling gems. After all, she was a young woman, and these glittering stones delighted her. She had dug up quite a few in the mine.

Shen Xin smiled. "Ziran, you made the greatest haul this time. Just one of those gems could fetch at least several hundred thousand."

"Hee hee, Brother Shen Xin, if you like any, just take your pick."

Shen Xin waved his hand. He had dug out five stones himself—more than enough. He planned to keep one for himself and give the rest to his parents, his sister, and Yu Yanan.

Back at the compound in Niu City, the four of them wasted no time and went straight to tell Sister Dan all the details of their recent task.

After listening, Sister Dan was silent for a moment before she spoke. "I've heard of Chen Chunsheng. He holds some sway in Long City. I think he spoke the truth this time—mining is not something that can be hidden, and if you're caught, the fines are even heavier. Still, you can't let your guard down. You must stay cautious in the future."

"Right, Sister Dan, take a look at these gems."

Old Mo handed a gem to Sister Dan, and Tang Ziran also placed two stones in her hand, saying, "Sister Dan, these are for you."

Sister Dan examined the stones, then smiled. "Thank you, Ziran. I haven't given you anything nice yet. Now I look stingy by comparison."

She then took a porcelain bottle from the safe and poured out a blood-red pill. "This is a Vitality Pill. Take it."

"Okay." Tang Ziran received it with delight and casually slipped it into her pocket.

Old Mo and Chen Jiawang stared with wide eyes, holding their breath as they asked, "Sister Dan, what about us?"

"You? You'll have to buy them. One million each."

"I'll buy one!"

"Me too!"

Old Mo and Chen Jiawang each bought a pill.

Watching their excitement, Shen Xin thought to himself that the Vitality Pill must be precious, or the two wouldn't be so eager. He asked, "Sister Dan, can I buy one too?"

Sister Dan shook her head with a smile. "I'll give you one. Look at you—so skinny, like a twisted stick."

Chen Jiawang immediately protested, "Sister Dan, I'm skinny too!"

"Get out! With all that muscle, you're hardly skinny!"

When the four of them left Sister Dan's room, Chen Jiawang dashed excitedly to his own bedroom. Old Mo, if not for wanting to see his daughter, would likely have run off as well.

Shen Xin quickly stopped Old Mo and asked, "Uncle Mo, how do you take the Vitality Pill?"

"Just swallow it, but since it's your first time, better cut off a small piece and take it with water," Old Mo replied.

Shen Xin looked at Tang Ziran. "Ziran, did you hear that?"

"I did!"

With that, Shen Xin felt at ease. He took a shower in his room before heading downstairs for dinner. When he arrived, he found only Mo Ying and Sister Dan at the table; everyone else was absent.

"Where is everyone?" he asked.

Sister Dan glanced at him with a smile. "They're probably digesting the Vitality Pill. Haven't you taken yours yet?"

"I'm not in a hurry," Shen Xin replied, sitting down to eat.

Mo Ying was a reserved girl, much like her father. Unless spoken to, she rarely said a word, and even then, she might not answer.

Shen Xin didn't mind. He ate in silence, filling his stomach, and then took a walk around the compound.

Around seven in the evening, he returned to his room and swallowed the Vitality Pill. Soon, a pleasant warmth spread through his stomach, then throughout his entire body, as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

Shen Xin could clearly feel his body growing stronger. No wonder the pill cost a million—Old Mo and Chen Jiawang had been right to be so excited.

By midnight, the effects faded, and he resumed his seated meditation.

The trip to Snake City had made him keenly aware of his own shortcomings—the lack of mana.

He could use his eye technique fifty or sixty times at most before running dry, leaving him nearly useless afterward. Well, not entirely useless—his physical strength was still far above average, but without the eye technique, his abilities were greatly diminished.

Soon, he noticed a multicolored glow emanating from his pocket. The light from the gems inside significantly accelerated his cultivation—five or six times faster than usual.

By dawn, when he pulled out the gems, they had noticeably dimmed.

"Damn, I didn't expect these stones could speed up cultivation!"

But he quickly calmed himself. Gems of this quality must be worth at least two or three hundred thousand each, if not more. Each was the size of an egg, pure, transparent, and luminous.

If auctioned, their price could reach over a million. With that in mind, Shen Xin decided against using them for cultivation.

He could afford to take it slow; after all, he had plenty of time to train.

As he went downstairs for breakfast, he spotted Yu Yanan, whom he hadn't seen in days, in the main hall.

"What brings you here?" Shen Xin asked in surprise. Truthfully, he'd rather she didn't visit now—Niu City was restless, and it wasn't safe for a young woman. Besides, Sister Dan had expressly forbidden Yu Yanan from staying in the compound.

"Because I missed you, heartless man! Did you miss me? Come on, beg for a kiss, beg for a hug!"

Shen Xin quickly scanned the hall and saw Old Mo and Mo Ying.

"Yanan, behave yourself. Don't be a bad influence on the kids," he said hurriedly.

Old Mo grinned awkwardly. "Carry on, I'll take Mo Ying and go."

Yu Yanan pounced, leaping into Shen Xin's arms, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist. "Take me to your room."

"Alright, but can you get down first?"

Shen Xin thought she must be hungry and wanted to drink his blood.

"Nope, carry me like this."

Shen Xin had no choice. He liked Yu Yanan, and happily carried her to his room, stretching out his neck. "Come on, sweetheart, take my blood."

"Smack!"

Yu Yanan slapped the top of his head and demanded crossly, "How could you? Do you think I only come to see you for your blood? What kind of person do you take me for?"

"Oh! Well, can you get down now?"

Yu Yanan let go, irritated, and took off her backpack. "You heartless thing, I came to bring you tonic. Look! Hundred-year-old ginseng, thousand-year-old polygonum, premium yellow essence, angelica, dendrobium—each one boosts the blood and energy."

Shen Xin looked them over, though he knew little about traditional medicine. Still, he'd heard of such things and quickly grinned. "My mistake. My wife is truly thoughtful!"

"Hmph, of course! And besides, I don't need to drink your blood anymore."

"What? You mustn't drink anyone else's! If you're found out, you could be arrested—or worse, killed! What would I do then?"

"Pfft! Why must it be human blood? Can't I drink from cows, sheep, chickens, or ducks?"

"Wait, that's possible?"

"Of course! Animal blood is blood too, isn't it?"

"I suppose so. But is it the same?"

"Not much difference, really. Sure, your blood is better, but how could I bear to harm my own husband? I'm here to learn…"