Han Yu strutted through the sect marketplace like a man who had never known poverty or fear. His robes fluttered dramatically—because he’d dabbed the corners with so wind-dispersing incense he bought from an old granny just to look cool.
The three gold coins in his pouch clinked together like a holy choir singing, "Treat yourself, King."
First stop? Food.
He approached a famous food stall run by a retired cultivator known only as Granny Dumplings. She once cut a spirit boar in half mid-leap and now sold dumplings so good they made grown Foundation Establishnt cultivators weep.
She was one of the many cultivators in the sect who didn’t exactly have proper talent for cultivation. She had been an outer court disciple but had never managed to reach the Inner Court due to lacking and eventually retired to work in the Sect’s Market.
"One plate of dumplings with chili lightning sauce," Han Yu declared confidently, slapping down a silver coin like it didn’t hurt his soul a little.
Granny Dumplings raised an eyebrow, nodded once, and delivered. The plate hit the counter. Steam rose like it ca from the Heavenly Furnace itself.
Han Yu bit in.
He transcended.
"I think I just achieved Enlightennt," he whispered as a single tear escaped down his cheek.
Monts later, he strolled through the rchant area, buying things he absolutely didn’t need: a jade comb for a nonexistent girlfriend, a scroll titled ’One Thousand and One Ways to bait a cultivator,’ and a custom-made silk head band with embroidered lightning bolts—just one. For the sake of appearances.
Life was good.
Too good.
Which is why, of course, everything went to hell imdiately.
As Han Yu turned down a side alley, admiring his new head band and wondering if he could wear it ato flex on so servants, a voice hissed from the shadows.
"Oi. That’s so fancy walking for a servant."
Han Yu turned slowly to see three inner-sect disciples’ personal servants blocking his path.
All three wore matching arrogance, greasy ponytails, and the sa sneer that said, "My uncle’s a Head Servant and I’ve never been slapped enough."
"You’re that Han Yu kid, right?" the leader stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Heard you’ve been getting cocky. Skipping chores. Walking around like you’re not rank bottom of the sect."
Han Yu sighed. "Gentlen, please. I’m having a wonderful day. Don’t ruin it."
"Hand over the coin pouch and we’ll only bruise you a little."
Han Yu smiled.
Then reached into his belt pouch and whispered: "Let’s see what this one does."
He yeeted a Panic Pellet. And then so more.
BOOM
The pill exploded in a burst of golden light and high-pitched violin screeching. A cloud of fog that slled aggressively of fernted cabbage and broken dreams filled the alley.
"AUGH! MY EYES!"
"IT’S IN MY ROBE!"
"IS THAT—WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE WE’RE UPSIDE DOWN?!"
Indeed, they were. The upside down floating pill had activated next, flinging all three disciples up and sticking them to the awnings on the sides of the alley like confused bats.
Han Yu, now the only grounded person in the alley, casually retrieved his pouch, wiped a tear from his eye, and whispered to no one in particular: "Judgntal geese were overkill, anyway."
Whistling, he exited the alley, leaving behind three floaty idiots flailing in cabbage mist and regret.
Later that night, Han Yu finally returned to his tiny servant quarters—still modest, still creaky, but now with a real mattress, a new robe, and a small bottle labeled "Ergency Goose Deterrent." He didn’t want the geese to co and court him in the future after all.
He collapsed onto his bed with a groan of satisfaction.
Gold? Partially Spent.
Stomach? Full.
Pride? Sky-high.
Enemies? Mildly traumatized.
He held up the remaining Panic Pellets, now sitting in a tiny box beside his bed like deadly little candies.
"I gotta ask her for more of these."
As if summoned, there was a knock on the door.
"Han Yu~" ca Li i’s too-cheerful voice. "Tomorrow morning, bright and early. I’ve got a fresh batch of mystery pills. You’ll love this one—I think it might give you the ability to speak to frogs."
"...Pass."
"You’re contractually obligated."
"...Frogs, you say?"
"Yes. And possibly cats. Or rocks."
Han Yu stared at the ceiling. "This is my life now."
But in the corner of his room, a tiny glowing rat squeaked encouragingly, and he found himself smiling.
After all...
He was rich, weirdly powerful, and possibly immune to multiple types of poison.
For a bottom-tier sect servant, that was a win.
He thought over all that had happened that day and suddenly realized sothing.
"Those pills must’ve certainly made a little dumb. How didn’t I think of this!?" A great idea appeared in Han Yu’s mind. "Can’t I just ask Li i to test so cultivation enhancing pills on ?" He realized.
It was possibly one of the best options that Han Yu had at geetting strong here. Such pills would be very expensive to buy even with Han Yu’s high salary. But with Li i he could just get them for free... Albeit with so damage.
’But even if I get damaged, I can get more compensation for it.’ Han Yu was betting on the fact that he’ll managed to live through it though.
He was really willing to risk it all to get stronger. After all he never intended to beco a re servant in the sect.
It was now that he thought of another potential benefit.
’I can also learn more about Alchemy from Li i. And once I beco a full fledged Outer Court Disciple, I can start doing it myself too.’ Han Yu hadn’t forgotten his original dream of becoming an alchemist.
While he had certainly beco jaded after seeing just how much danger and expenses alchemy involved, he also knew it was a rather lucrative occupation. Even soone like Li i who mostly made defective pills, made enough to sponsor her expensive hobby.
Not to ntion it actually brought her a decent amount of respect too. And fear.
’If I really beco an alchemist, even Murong Xie and all others whom I offended would have to think twice before they attack .’ Han Yu thought to himself.
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