Chapter Three: The Charlatan Sells His Medicine (Part One)

“Hey there, brother! My Vitality Pill can heal any injury or illness. Care to try one?”

The burly man, already exuding a gloomy air, immediately flared up at this. “Where did this brat come from? Scram, scram, scram—what bad luck! Trying to con me? If you don't leave now, you'll regret it!”

But Chen Mu remained calm. “Brother, why not give it a try? If it doesn’t work, you owe me nothing. With a wound as bad as yours, do you know how much you’d spend at the pharmacy? And it would take a month or more to heal—how much would that cost? My Vitality Pill guarantees a complete cure, fair and honest. I would never deceive anyone.”

The man was so exasperated he actually laughed. “Honest, are you? All right, I’ll try it. But if it doesn’t work, I’ll tan your hide!”

Hearing this, Chen Mu immediately agreed. “Very well.”

From his comically oversized robe, he produced a medicine case, then took out a pill and displayed it in his palm. This was a Fasting Pill he’d bought from the Alchemy Hall before leaving the valley, but unlike ordinary Fasting Pills, this one had been tampered with by Chen Mu.

And how had he tampered with it? He had infused it with a trace of life energy.

When the man saw the pill, his face darkened. How could he not recognize a Fasting Pill? They were common as dirt. Did this brat think he was easy to fool?

Just as he was about to explode, Chen Mu hurriedly said, “This isn’t a Fasting Pill. It just looks similar. This is the new Vitality Pill developed by Starview Valley. If it doesn’t work, you don’t pay. Try it and see for yourself. Or are you afraid your so-called Fasting Pill might be poisoned?”

At this, the man suppressed his anger, half-believing, half-doubting. “Are you really a disciple of Starview Valley?”

“Indeed I am. I serve as an apprentice to one of the valley’s alchemists. Money’s tight, so I’m selling some pills under the guise of a miracle doctor. You know how it is.” Chen Mu smiled, inscrutable.

The surrounding crowd had been listening and now eyed Chen Mu curiously. The title of alchemist carried great weight, especially here in Starview Valley’s territory. Claiming such a connection recklessly would be courting death.

Sensing their doubt, Chen Mu pulled out his copper identity token. Though it didn’t carry his personal details, it was proof enough that he was indeed a disciple of Starview Valley.

When he displayed the token, everyone understood—so he was a favored student of Starview Valley. Perhaps this “Vitality Pill” wasn’t just a scam after all.

The burly man, still skeptical, picked up the Fasting Pill. “So, I try it? No effect, no charge?”

“No effect, no charge!” Chen Mu affirmed.

The man popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed. Before he could react, a wave of energy rushed through his body, and his wound began to itch.

At first, he thought he’d been poisoned, but then realized with growing delight that the sensation was the wound healing. He tore off his shirt; the beast’s claw mark was visibly closing before their eyes.

The crowd watched, astonished, as the wound, still seeping blood a moment before, scabbed over and nearly healed in the blink of an eye. More astonishingly, the man could feel that even his old hidden injuries were fading—a tale hardly believable if told.

The crowd fell silent. The man’s attitude shifted completely; now he spoke with trembling respect. “Little brother, how much for one of these Vitality Pills?”

“You see it works now, don’t you? Not expensive—just one hundred gold coins per pill. Don’t think it’s too much; the effect speaks for itself. With an injury like yours, a month of care would cost about the same.”

The man nodded and paid the hundred coins without complaint. With that, the sales floodgate had opened—the crowd surged forward.

“Little brother, my older brother lost an arm to a beast in the mountains. He’s badly hurt. Here are a hundred gold coins—please, one pill for us!” a young woman pleaded, grabbing Chen Mu’s hand.

“Of course.” Chen Mu dropped another Fasting Pill into her hand. She immediately fed it to her unconscious brother on a stretcher.

The moment the pill went down, the bleeding stopped, and granulation tissue began to form. While a new arm didn’t sprout, the wound was now covered with fresh flesh.

Because a layer of blood scab still covered the wound, people thought it merely healed; no one noticed the remarkable regeneration beneath. Had they known, the news would have shaken the major powers—a regenerating limb was the work of a legendary treasure. Fortunately, Chen Mu had only infused a small amount of life energy, otherwise he really would have drawn trouble.

At this point, no one doubted that the so-called miracle doctor with his panacea was genuine.

“Little miracle doctor, please, one for me!”

“Mine, mine! Here are two hundred gold coins—give me two!”

Chen Mu was nearly overwhelmed. He quickly declared, “One per person—no more! I only have thirty pills. Line up!”

And so, the crowd obediently formed a line. Would they dare make a fuss here, on Starview Valley’s turf?

In no time, Chen Mu had sold all thirty Fasting Pills he’d purchased from the Alchemy Hall.

When the pills were gone, the crowd gradually dispersed, though with some disappointment. Chen Mu had made a fortune—three thousand gold coins in a single day. How many Pulse-Opening Pills would that buy?

Smacking his lips in excitement, Chen Mu hurried back to Starview Valley.

At that moment, in a small town’s apothecary, a servant was reporting the day’s events to his master.

This apothecary was also a Starview Valley property. The manager, stroking his mustache, mused, “Which alchemist in the valley developed a new pill? Why isn’t it being sold through our stores, but by a mere apprentice? Either the apprentice is selling it privately out of need, or the pill is experimental and being tested at the market. If it’s the former, that boy is in for trouble. Selling an alchemist’s pills on the side is no small offense—if the Discipline Hall finds out, it won’t end well. Still, it’s none of my concern. Best to report it to the sect.”

...

Chen Mu returned to his quarters just before sunset. Elated, he hurried to the Alchemy Hall and found Steward Liu. “Elder Liu, I’d like to buy some Pulse-Opening Pills.”

“Pulse-Opening Pills? Didn’t you just get your monthly allotment? You know you can only take one per month—why do you want more?” Steward Liu glared at him, bristling.

“Uh... I have my reasons…”

“Are you using sect contribution points, or buying with gold? Gold is a bit pricier... But you, you little pauper, you have neither points nor coins—why do you need so many pills?” Seeing Chen Mu was hiding something, Liu found it amusing.

“Who says I have no money?” Chen Mu plonked his heavy money box on the counter, making Liu raise an eyebrow.

When he opened it, Liu was stunned. “Where did you get so much money? Did you rob someone today?”

Chen Mu, in high spirits, replied, “I did some business at the market—this is today’s haul.”

Liu was silent for a moment. “If you buy with gold, it’s ten times the contribution point price. Are you sure?”

Chen Mu gritted his teeth. “I’m sure.”

“All right, three thousand gold coins for thirty Pulse-Opening Pills. Are you certain?”

“Yes. Oh, can I get another thirty Fasting Pills? For free?” Chen Mu blinked his bright eyes.

Liu gave him a look. “Fasting Pills are one gold each, but since you’re such a big spender today, you can have them as a bonus.”

After collecting the money, Liu fetched thirty Pulse-Opening Pills for Chen Mu.

When Chen Mu left, Liu muttered, “What is that lad up to? I hope he doesn’t get himself into trouble.”

No sooner had he spoken than a report arrived: a Starview Valley disciple had been selling Vitality Pills at the market. Liu’s expression grew odd as he replied, “Tell the manager it’s a new pill, and I ordered a disciple to test it—no need to overreact.”

Clearly, he’d understood the situation. After dismissing the messenger, Steward Liu gazed thoughtfully toward the outer disciples’ quarters. Fasting Pills disguised as Vitality Pills—and they actually worked? This Chen Mu was becoming harder and harder to read.