Chapter 8: Kneel

"You mouthy little brat!" Raymond Joslin finally snapped. A mere fifteen- or sixteen-year-old kid actually dared to threaten him? "Goodbye." Evan Norman turned to leave. "W-Wait, wait!" Raymond hurried after him. If Evan walked out, the City Lord's Young Master was as good as dead. And if the City Lord blamed him for botching the job, he would likely end up wishing he were dead. Evan paused and glanced back, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at his lips. Raymond's heart lurched. The boy in front of him did not feel like a teenager at all. He carried himself like someone who had weathered a lifetime, eyes calm with a hard-earned, worldly clarity. The thought that his fate rested in Evan's hands sent a chill through him. His legs went weak. Before he even realized it, he had dropped to his knees in front of Evan. "I'm begging you!" he forced out, humiliation burning his throat. Evan felt no pity. If Evan did not have him by the throat, would this man have lowered his head? "Slap yourself," Evan said, voice flat. Raymond instinctively tried to stand, but the moment he thought of his own life, he swallowed it down. He raised his hand and started striking his own face. Smack, smack, smack! The sound rang out crisp and sharp. The onlookers shook their heads. Raymond really had it coming. Evan had offered the medicine earlier. Raymond was the one who refused it, acting like a tyrant. Evan had not abandoned them in the end. He had even left him a way out. Was that not merciful enough? Before long, Raymond's cheeks were covered in red fingerprints. "That's enough." Evan brushed at his sleeves, clearly uninterested in wasting any more time on a man like this. He simply could not swallow that anger. Still, he was not the type to watch someone die when he could save them. He walked to the City Lord's Young Master and sprinkled Hemostatic Powder over the wound. The bleeding stopped instantly. The torn flesh sealed and scabbed over at a shocking speed. Raymond wiped his forehead. Cold sweat soaked him from head to toe, and his whole body felt hollowed out. He had survived. He had actually survived. It really worked! The crowd stared, tongues clicking in amazement as whispers spread. "That guy earlier, the so-called imperial physician's disciple, couldn't even compare to some kid. Think he was a fake?" "Probably. There are scammers everywhere these days." "You wouldn't guess it from his face. Handsome and refined, but he's a con." "He's not even as good-looking as this young man!" The voices stayed low, but Marcus Lapwood heard every word. His face darkened to a livid green. When he looked at Evan, his gaze carried naked killing intent. This was all because of that boy. That boy had made him lose face in public. So what if Evan really had some miraculous medicine? He should never have used it in front of everyone and humiliated him like this. That brat would pay. Marcus Lapwood was petty to the bone. The moment someone embarrassed him, the urge to hurt them rose. Even to kill. Evan turned and left. There was no chance he would sell Hemostatic Powder here anymore. "Evan, wait." A voice suddenly drifted over, beautiful as music. Evan? Evan Norman stopped short and turned, startled. A young woman lifted the curtain and stepped out, her figure graceful, her features delicate as a painting. He recognized her immediately. Luna Lyson. Stellar Gale Academy's former goddess. She was three years older than Evan, and though she had left the academy a year ago, people still talked about her. He had not expected her to be from Spring Revival Pharmacy. "Luna." Evan dipped his head, his tone even. Luna smiled, and it felt like a hundred flowers blooming at once. "Evan, are you here to sell medicine?" Evan nodded. "I was." He did not feel like selling anymore. Luna flicked her eyes toward Raymond and said lightly, "If Evan is leaving because of him, it's fine." She turned to Raymond, her voice turning cold. "Get out." "Y-Young Lady, what do you mean?" Raymond panicked. Luna looked at him, her gaze sharpening into frost. "Did you think you hid it well? Taking bribes in private, buying inferior ingredients, passing them off as quality goods?" Raymond's blood drained from his face. He finally understood why the young lady had come down in person. She was investigating him. He had bought cheap, inferior medicinal materials at the normal price and pocketed the difference, making over a thousand taels of silver. If that reached the City Lord's Mansion, with an amount this large, it would be enough to take his head. His vision went black. He collapsed on the spot, frightened into unconsciousness. "Go report it to the City Lord's Mansion, and send him over as well." Luna pointed at Raymond. Two shop assistants immediately lifted him and carried him out. "Evan, can we talk now?" The beautiful young lady turned back to Evan. Evan smiled despite himself. "Sure. I'll sell the medicine to you." He took out all five bottles. Luna's smile deepened. "Evan, do you happen to have the formula?" What an appetite. Evan almost refused on instinct. Only by keeping the formula in his own hands could he sell Hemostatic Powder for a high price. But then he thought it through. Mixing medicine took time, and his focus was the Martial Way. Where was he supposed to find endless hours to waste? He needed money, yes, but he could not let that become the main thing. "What price are you offering?" Evan asked. Luna did not answer directly. "Evan, come upstairs. We can sit and discuss it properly." "Alright." Evan nodded. Luna turned and left at once, not sparing Marcus Looske so much as a glance. Marcus Looske's expression sank. In his eyes, as a noble young master from the imperial capital, taking interest in Luna was a gift. He had already lowered himself. And Luna? She did not give him an inch of face. Hmph. And that boy. Not only had he embarrassed him, he had stolen the attention of the woman Marcus admired. Despicable. Marcus Looske's face twisted, killing intent boiling in his eyes. Evan followed Luna to the second floor and into an elegant study. They sat across from each other. "The effects of this Golden Wound Powder are truly extraordinary," Luna said. "If Evan is willing to hand over the formula, I can offer one hundred thousand taels of silver." It was a sky-high price, enough for an ordinary person to live in luxury for a lifetime. Evan desperately needed money, and he nearly agreed on the spot. But cultivation was a bottomless pit. In front of it, one hundred thousand taels suddenly felt insignificant. Poor scholars, rich martial artists. That was no empty saying. Still, asking Luna for more was unrealistic. In truth, whether Spring Revival Pharmacy could even produce one hundred thousand taels immediately was questionable. It was not a small sum. Evan considered for a moment. "How about this? I only want one thousand taels up front. But I'll invest the formula as my stake. For every portion of Hemostatic Powder sold, I take half the profit." Luna only hesitated briefly before she nodded. "Deal." The effects were too good. If she obtained the formula, it was obvious it would sell throughout Sunrise City. It might even monopolize the market across the Splendid Origin Kingdom, becoming a goose that laid golden eggs. That was why she had preferred to buy the formula outright, even at the staggering price of one hundred thousand taels. It would make the Lyson family obscene amounts of money. But Evan's stance was clear. With her eye for people, she could tell at once he would not change his mind. Earning less was better than earning nothing at all. Evan smiled. "I also want some medicinal materials. I'm hoping Luna can help me with that." "No problem." Luna smiled back. Even with only half the profits from Hemostatic Powder, the Lyson family would still rake it in. Of course, the one who benefited most was Evan. He would do nothing and still make a fortune day after day. There was no helping it. He held the formula.