Chapter 7: If You Want a Favor, Act Like It

Evan Norman was still a hot-blooded youth. Seeing the chaos, he had no mood to bicker with Raymond Joslin. He strode forward and said, "Use my Hemostatic Powder!" "Get lost!" Raymond snapped, shooting him a vicious glare. This was the City Lord's Young Master. How could he be treated with your bargain-bin medicine? Even if the kid had been some commoner's son, it still would not have been acceptable. If the child died here, Spring Revival Pharmacy would be held responsible either way, and Raymond would never wash his hands of it. "Someone come here," he ordered. "Watch him. Don't let him cause any more trouble." Two clerks hurried over at once and blocked Evan. If Evan forced his way through, they would not be able to stop him. But he was trying to help, and he still had to swallow his pride and beg? He had inherited Colin Umpleby's memories, and with them, a strong man's arrogance. Fine. Let's see how you handle it. "Let me take a look." A young man suddenly stepped out from the inner hall. He looked no more than twenty-three or twenty-four, dressed in a snow-white robe that made him seem refined and aloof. The moment Raymond saw him, it was like spotting a lifeline. He rushed up to greet him. "Young Master Looske!" This was Marcus Looske. He might have been young, but he studied under Imperial Physician Lapwood, and his Medical Art was exceptional. With him taking charge, everything would be fine. Knowing the young man cared about appearances, Raymond immediately turned to the crowd and introduced him with gusto. "This is Marcus Looske, Young Master Looske. His Medical Art is superb. He came from the Imperial City, and he is the disciple of Imperial Physician Lapwood, Lord Lapwood!" Then Raymond bowed deeply to Marcus. "Young Master Looske, we're counting on you!" A wave of "Oh!" rippled through the room. Someone from the Imperial City, and an imperial physician's disciple at that. The onlookers could not help feeling intimidated. Still… he was not as good-looking as that other youth. Marcus smiled with practiced restraint. With his status, why would he care what small-town nobodies thought? If he had not happened to meet Luna Lyson, Spring Revival Pharmacy's young lady, while passing through Sunrise City and fallen for her at first sight, he would never have stayed in a backwater like this. And as things stood, he had stepped forward to put on a performance in front of her. Of course, the City Lord carried weight too. Picking up a favor along the way cost him nothing. He examined the child and said, "No vital organs were damaged. As long as we stop the bleeding, he'll be fine." He made it sound easy, but everyone could see the truth. The child's blood would not stop. Even with hands pressed down, it still streamed through their fingers. Stopping it was easier said than done. Marcus drew out a small bottle. It was still a bottle, but the difference in quality was obvious. It was jade, and a lifelike plum blossom had been etched into it. He said calmly, "This is Flying Cloud Powder, newly developed by my master. It works wonders for stopping bleeding." Raymond hurried to flatter him. "So it's Imperial Physician Lapwood's work. Then the moment it's applied, the bleeding will stop." Marcus only smiled. He tipped out a little powder and spread it over the wound. At once, the powder bubbled, forming a thin film that sealed the entire cut. The bleeding stopped on the spot. "Young Master Looske, you're incredible!" Raymond was overjoyed. This time, his own life was saved. No, not just saved. He had saved the City Lord's precious son. He was about to soar. The crowd stared in amazement. This medicine was absurdly miraculous. Pfft! But in the next instant, the child's wound tore open again. Blood erupted like a spring. Marcus's brows knitted. Whether the child lived or died, whether the City Lord of Sunrise City raged or not, had nothing to do with him. But since he had stepped in, failing to save the boy would be a humiliation. He sprinkled more powder onto the wound, but this time it did nothing. The blood washed it away the moment it touched. What? Marcus checked again, his face darkening. "The assassin likely used a blade with barbs. The wound looks small, but the internal damage is severe. Unless my master is here to use the Eighteen Deadly Needles to stop the bleeding, his life can't be saved." In other words, Marcus could do nothing. Raymond's cold sweat poured down. It was over. Even Marcus could not save him. The City Lord's Young Master would die here, and when the City Lord took his anger out on someone, Raymond would be the first to be crushed. The room seemed to spin. Raymond swayed, on the verge of collapsing. "Yelp-!" A shriek rang out. It was not human. It was a dog. Everyone turned and saw that the handsome youth had taken the yellow dog he brought and slashed a huge gash across its leg with a small knife. What was he doing? The big yellow dog barked like mad. Damn it, this lunatic's acting up again! Someone save this dog, please! The crowd watched, baffled. No one understood why Evan suddenly pulled a stunt like this. If he wanted to clown around, could he at least pick the right time? Then they understood. Evan took out a bottle and sprinkled a little powder onto the dog's wound. A miracle happened. The bleeding stopped immediately. What the hell? That was insane hemostatic power. Evan smiled, set the big yellow dog down, and released his grip. The dog bolted. When it reached the doorway, it even twisted its head back and bared its teeth at Evan. If it could talk, it would have cursed Evan until he drowned in it. After barking a few times to vent its fury, the dog tore off again, fast as lightning. Even with that frantic sprinting, the wound never split open. Unbelievable. Everyone thought the same thing. If they had not seen it with their own eyes, who would have believed it? The moment Raymond saw it, hope flared in his chest. The hemostatic effect of that Golden Wound Powder was terrifying. If it was used on the City Lord's Young Master, it should be a sure thing. But Raymond remembered his own attitude perfectly well. He wanted Evan to save the boy? Regret twisted in his gut. If he had known Golden Wound Powder was this effective, he would have taken it earlier. Then he could have turned the tide himself and saved the City Lord's Young Master. What a merit that would have been. Yet Evan only showed them what the Golden Wound Powder could do, then stopped. The message could not have been clearer. Raymond had no choice but to swallow his pride. He turned to Evan and said, "One hundred taels of silver. I'll buy that bottle of Golden Wound Powder." The crowd burst into shocked cries. In Sunrise City, a normal family of three spent only two taels a month. One hundred taels was an astronomical price. But Raymond had his own calculations. If he used this Golden Wound Powder to save the City Lord's only son, would the reward be limited to a mere one hundred taels? That was a favor worth a fortune. Evan smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not for sale." "Two hundred taels!" Raymond raised the price. Evan still shook his head. "Not for sale." "Five hundred taels!" Raymond gritted out. He was bleeding himself dry. He was the manager here, but his monthly pay was only twenty taels. He had not held this position for many years, and after daily expenses, he had not saved much. This stash was only possible because he took kickbacks and bought inferior ingredients. But for the sake of saving his own skin, even if he had to empty everything he owned, he would do it. "Not for sale." Evan shook his head again. The crowd cried out in disbelief. Five hundred taels was a sky-high sum, enough to live comfortably for around ten years, and he still would not sell? Raymond had no ability to raise the price further. He clenched his jaw and demanded, "What do you want, then?" He could see it clearly. Evan was not after money at all. Evan's voice stayed calm. "If you want a favor, act like it."