In the room, Li Mo finished packing his luggage, stretched lazily, and pushed open the window.
A river breeze drifted in, carrying with it the view of Qingyuan Mountain shrouded in misty clouds. The faint outlines of its staggered buildings could be seen, standing like a silent giant overlooking the city below.
"The view up there must be even better."
Li Mo murmured to himself.
Having crossed into this world, how could he be content with being just an ordinary man?
Yet, given his current circumstances, he likely wouldn’t get as far as Wang Hu in the sect’s initiation ceremony.
With the physique of a tiger or leopard, Wang Hu boasted superior innate talent—the best among their peers.
New disciples were sorted into outer, inner, or even core disciples based on their gifts, with a system of elimination for the weakest.
Clearly, a higher starting point meant mingling with those destined for greatness, and the returns on such connections would be immense.
If he ended up in the outer sect, for instance, he’d have no chance of even seeing Ying Bing.
"Speaking of which, Father mentioned there’s a skilled physician in the city he knows."
Li Mo turned and said softly, "Why don’t we go see him today?"
By the tea table, Ying Bing sipped from her cup and shook her head.
"No need."
Li Mo sighed. "At least let’s try to ease your symptoms."
Ying Bing remained silent, lifting her gaze from the tea. Even the steam couldn’t obscure the sharp clarity in her eyes.
She studied Li Mo as if searching for something hidden in his expression.
"Father gave me silver for this. I’d like to report back to him properly."
"Three Suns Clinic isn’t far—just two streets over."
Li Mo deliberately furrowed his brows.
Three Suns Clinic?
Ying Bing took another slow sip, as if tasting the name itself.
After a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded.
"Fine."
---
By evening, Purple Sun Prefecture was ablaze with lantern light. Along the riverbank, flower boats and floating lanterns drifted, while the broad streets bustled with nobles draped in fine silks and easily distinguishable outsiders.
The once-every-three-years disciple recruitment by the Clear Abyss Sect had amplified the city’s usual liveliness.
The busiest of all was Golden Ring Street, where the wares—herbs, weapons, horses—were tailored for martial practitioners.
At Three Suns Clinic—
"Please inform the master we’ve come."
Li Mo produced a letter from his sleeve, penned by his father.
The young apprentice glanced at the recipient’s name and immediately straightened.
"Please wait a moment. The master is out on a house call but should return shortly."
"Thank you."
Li Mo and Ying Bing settled in to wait.
Soon, footsteps echoed in the hall.
A middle-aged man entered, travel-worn, his patched hemp robe speaking of long journeys.
His face was lean, a long beard resting on his chest, but his eyes gleamed with unusual vitality.
"Master!" The apprentice handed over the unopened letter.
The man skimmed through it, and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Da Long, that boy—still remembers this old man, after all."
Ying Bing’s brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
Li Mo caught the odd phrasing. This man looked no older than his father—why the aged tone?
The apprentice beside them declared proudly, "My master is ninety-six this year."
"Ninety-six?!"
Li Mo’s jaw dropped.
They said medicine prolonged life, but this was reverse aging!
Had he cultivated some art or mastered longevity techniques?
This world truly defied common sense.
"A minor technique, nothing remarkable."
"Your father mentioned the patient is this young lady. Come forward."
The hemp-robed man beckoned.
As Ying Bing sat opposite him, he flicked a golden thread that coiled around her pale, slender finger.
Li Mo watched with fascination.
Noticing his concern, the apprentice reassured, "Don’t worry. There are very, very few ailments my master cannot treat."
The man’s lips curled slightly at the praise.
But—
The next moment, he let out a soft exclamation, his brows knitting tight.
*Hum—*
The thread trembled.
A layer of frost spread from Ying Bing’s fingertip, racing along the golden strand.
*Snap!*
The man recoiled as if shocked, severing the thread deliberately.
He exhaled shakily.
"Such ferocity!"
"Well?" Li Mo asked, bracing himself.
The man’s frown deepened into creases.
After a long pause, he shook his head.
"Inconceivable. By all logic, you shouldn’t even be alive today."
Eighty years of practice, and he’d never encountered such overwhelming Yin-cold energy in a person.
"Young lady, you’ve been diagnosed with Meridian Extinction before, haven’t you?"
"Mm." Ying Bing nodded.
The man stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"This old man suspects it may not be Meridian Extinction, but a rare constitution. As for what exactly… I’d need to consult ancient texts."
"If it’s not an illness, there’s no cure. At best, I can prescribe something to alleviate the symptoms."
Ying Bing’s eyes flickered briefly before settling back into calm.
For him to discern this much meant his skills ranked among Purple Sun Prefecture’s finest.
Even she hadn’t learned the truth until later, in the hidden archives of an ancient sect in Central Divine Land.
*Lunar Phoenix Physique.*
The ancient records listed ten legendary constitutions, dubbed the Ten Supreme Physiques by their chronicler.
Of these, nine—including the Lunar Phoenix—had faded into myth, with only traces in speculation.
The sole verifiable one was the Great Yu Martial Emperor’s *Imperial Dragon Physique*, said to bear the weight of a nation’s destiny.
"This is my Pure Yang Elixir. It should help. Two hundred taels."
The man produced a small porcelain vial.
"That’s reasonable." Li Mo reached for his purse.
The man leisurely raised a finger.
"Per pill."
Li Mo: "..."
Must you pause for *dramatic effect*?
The apprentice wiped his chin and interjected, "It’s a steal! Master only offered this price because his pride took a hit today—"
"*Ahem.*"
A glare silenced him.
"Not expensive at all!"
"I’ll take a hundred. Thanks."
With a magician’s flourish, Li Mo slapped a stack of banknotes onto the table—followed by several gold ingots.
Apprentice: "!"
Master: "?"
Ying Bing’s delicate brows shot up.
The clinic fell dead silent.
The heap of silver notes easily surpassed ten thousand taels. The gold? Even more. Rare as it was in markets, its exchange rate far exceeded face value.
All told, it amounted to twenty thousand taels—enough to buy a lavish mansion in Purple Sun Prefecture’s priciest districts.
"I’ve some savings," Li Mo said with an embarrassed smile. "Should cover it?"
"A hundred pills? Are you stocking a pharmacy? Planning to *eat* them?"
"One vial. Twelve pills."
The master pushed it forward, his eyelid twitching.
"Fine." Li Mo conceded with a resigned nod.
After a courteous bow, he and Ying Bing departed.
Watching their figures vanish into the night, the master rubbed his chin, perplexed.
"Weren’t they said to be at odds? Why’s the boy throwing money around like it’s nothing?"
He picked up the frost-coated thread, lost in thought.
If this truly is a special constitution...
This child's innate talent might be beyond imagination!
"Master, there's a message from the sect."
A medicine boy returned carrying a falcon, removed the bamboo tube from its beak, and fed it dried meat.
The letter was clearly addressed:
【For Elder Xue Jing of the Sixth Hall.】
After reading it, he smacked his lips and glanced toward the backyard:
"Return to the sect. Bring the alchemy furnace."
"Yes."
The rosy-cheeked medicine boy nodded, then dashed to the backyard and—with a grunt of effort—hoisted a towering dragon-tiger bronze furnace onto his slender shoulders, spinning it deftly into place.
......
......
Meanwhile.
The bustling night market was winding down, the crowd thinning until only the flickering street lamps remained. As the smoky aroma of the market faded, the starry sky above finally shimmered into view.
"What a shame."
"I heard Purple Sun Prefecture's night market has amazing snacks. Next time, I’ll come earlier."
Holding two skewers of Purple Sun Prefecture’s signature willow-leaf grilled fish, Li Mo took a bite—tender, fragrant, utterly free of any fishy taste, even the bones crisply edible.
"Want some?"
Li Mo turned, offering a skewer.
Ying Bing didn’t even glance at it, her gaze fixed on the boy whose lips were still glistening with oil. A doubt rose in her heart.
Having been reborn, she’d assumed everything would unfold as she’d foreseen.
Yet he seemed to be the exception.
"Why?"
It was the first time Ying Bing had initiated a question.
Li Mo, in high spirits, grinned:
"Force didn’t work, so I switched to kindness."
"Who knows? Maybe you’re the type to soften when coaxed, and then—boom—fall right into my arms?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the air turned awkward.
Ying Bing’s expression remained unmoved, clearly dismissing his joke as idle chatter.
Of course, an ice block like her wouldn’t have a shred of humor...
"Relax, relax."
"You’ve put up with a lot from me before. Call this compensation, or an investment."
"It’s just a couple thousand taels of silver anyway. Once I join Clear Abyss Sect, it’ll be pocket change."
Li Mo waved a hand, oozing confidence.
Strength aside, one thing was certain—he’d never be poor again.
Ying Bing’s brows furrowed slightly.
Where did this certainty come from?
In her past life, Li Mo had barely scraped into the sect’s outer division—his bone structure utterly mediocre.
Yet here he was, blissfully ignorant, seemingly fantasizing about dazzling everyone in a few days...
"Whoosh—"
The night wind swept past, making the lamplight sway and the shadows dance across the boy’s face, his ambition flickering between light and dark.
Suddenly, Ying Bing froze.
A long-buried memory surfaced—a distant, almost unfamiliar figure.
Herself, years ago, kneeling before a Clear Abyss Sect elder amidst a crowd of mocking onlookers, vowing to unlock her meridians within half a year.
Back then... what had given her that confidence?
"This favor... I’ll remember it."
Her voice, crisp and clear, had barely faded when—
【Investment successful. Investment: Twelve Three-Line Pure Sun Pills.】
【Investment successful. Your words have altered the target’s state of mind.】
【This investment has successfully changed the course of the target’s life. Feedback reward will be critically enhanced.】
【Congratulations, Host. You have received a special feedback reward!】
"Changed her state of mind?"
Li Mo was baffled. He hadn’t said anything particularly profound.
But then again, this was the Child of Destiny—even the slightest nudge could spark enlightenment.
Special feedback... critical reward boost...
This had all the signs of a jackpot!
"Want some grilled fish? It’s delicious."
"No."
"Uh... here comes the flying fish~?"