Chapter 26: Prescription of the Elixir & above Level Nine & the Mysterious Realm (1/2)
Chapter 26: Prescription of the Elixir & above Level Nine & the Mysterious Realm
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
”Brother Zhang, what's going on!?” Junior Leopard said when seeing Zhang Yong kicking the boy, Su Hua. He used to belong to a well-known family of Qingyang market, but his family had fallen into ruin in recent years. Sun Hua's father had run a small warehouse in Qingyang Market, but sadly, he died a few months ago, leaving behind his lazy and parasitic son who did not understand how to run the business. Sun Hua had to sell off the warehouse and all the valuables after being swiftly defrauded by a ruthless competitor. Finally, he was left with only a small room and relied on pawning the family's things to survive. Over a short time, there was nothing valuable left to sell. He would have no choice but to become a beggar.
It seemed that this time he was so starving, and brought the only possession he had on this market day, aiming to exchange for some money, however, lacking knowledge about the rules of the market provoked his trouble.
”Oh, it's Junior Leopard, here to buy books!” Upon seeing Junior Leopard coming over, Zhang Yong immediately broke into a smile, and relaxed the foot that he had raised, softly treading it into Sun Hua's backside. ”Now clear off! If I catch you here again, I'll give you an exceptional beating!”
Sun Hua fumed with rage, but he knew he was no match for Zhang Yong. He used a sleeve to wipe his face, which was stained with tears and mucus dribbled from his nostrils. All the on-lookers burst out laughing at this theatrical display.
”Forget it, Brother Zhang, he is just pitiful!” Junior Leopard sighed and walked towards Sun Hua. ”Elder brother Sun, did you come here to sell books?”
Sun Hua sobbed a little and glanced at Junior Leopard. He could see that he was young, but couldn't make out anything else, and just nodded his head.
”I will buy all of your books… here is some silver, please see whether it enough or not!”
Junior Leopard took out some pieces of silver and passed them into Sun Hua's hand.
”It's enough, enough!” Sun Hua said with a sob.
Sun Hua had been extremely hungry. He'd only wanted to sell a few old books for some copper coins that he could exchange for some baked sesame cakes. Just one piece of silver that Junior Leopard gave him would be enough to buy several servings. He promptly passed the bundle of books into Junior Leopard's hands, took the silver, and hurried away before there could be any further incident.
”Junior Leopard, you have a good heart. But that boy is merely a dissipate wastrel who has squandered his family fortune, that silver will do him no good! Soon the day will come when he has to sell his decrepit little room and beg on the streets!” Zhang Yong said angrily upon seeing Junior Leopard buy the books. He walked off in another direction, continuing his patrol.
”Heh!” Junior Leopard smiled, said nothing, and carried his pile of books to the front of the bookstall. ”How is going? Elder Brother Wang, do you have any new books?”
The middle-aged man at the stall immediately forced his facial expression into a simple and honest smile. ”This time, I have no shortage of good books!” He said, patting the pile of old books on the front of the stall as if showing them off.
Junior Leopard smiled, chose a few suitable books from the stall, and took out some money to pay for them. He then, turned down the market street to buy something to eat and drink, before returning to the Wu family forge.
He was now counted as a craftsman. Although he was young, it was recognized that his prospects were surely good, so, he had been granted his own private room.
At only about 20 square meters, this room was not big by modern standards, but it was enough for him to live by himself.
The room was simply furnished—there was a bed, table, and chair, also a little cabinet, which by now was already stuffed full of books—these books were what he had been working on for the last six months.
His books were many, and through them, he knew the world better.
”Strange Tales of Spirits and Devils” was not as fascinating as ”Journey to the West” but one day, if he felt an interest, he could make some alterations to ”Investiture of the Gods” and ”Journey to the West”. If he published them, there was a great chance that he could make some money! He flicked through one book, and then put it down to the side. He was no longer like he was at the beginning when he would buy every old book from the stall; these days he would just pick up a few he was interested in, and after he'd finished reading the pile kept at the head of the bed. He opened the bundle that Sun Hua had sold to him. Buying Sun Hua's book was just something he did on the spur of the moment, out of a sense of pity more than anything. It is said that a pitiful person must also have some detestable traits, but Junior Leopard saw no harm in making this very slight effort.
”The Dual-form Rhapsody of Heaven and Earth!? Oh my, there is even such a book as this in this world! Maybe I will feel like reading it… several years from now!” Junior Leopard looked at the cover of the first book, furrowed his brow and rammed the book into the last little space in his cabinet. ”The Classic of the Green Emperor and the Girl…? No wonder the Sun family had gone under, how could they have such books?” Junior Leopard's eyebrows had already creased into a frown. Although he had often enjoyed such Japanese specialties in his former life, in this life he was too young, only eight or nine years. He feared this kind of book could turn him into a psycho, so he skipped to the third book— Medicinal Soup Recipes?