The monkey handled the furnace quickly and without hesitation. It was like watching a master chef in a busy restaurant, someone with thirty years of practice who could turn his craft into a performance.

To He Lingchuan’s surprise, he actually saw composure and confidence in a monkey.

Old Tang nodded repeatedly, stroking the long hair under his chin in approval.

In slightly over five minutes, the fire went out, and the pills were ready. The furnace shrank back down to the size of a toy.

Ling Guang motioned for He Lingchuan to hold out his hand. After that, he flipped the little furnace over and poured the finished pills into his palm.

He Lingchuan received four small medicinal pills.

Ling Guang smacked the furnace twice against his hand, and another one popped out.

Old Tang looked pleased as he commented, “An extra pill. Good job.”

He Lingchuan examined the pills closely. The pills were uniform in size, their surfaces round and smooth, black with a faint golden sheen.

Thousand-mending pills were a potent trauma medicine; their name meant “a thousand wounds mended.” They were far more valuable and more effective than ordinary wound salves. He had used them himself twice before, and during the gorge battle in the Panlong Dreamscape, he had seen the Gale Army relying on them too.

Anything standard-issue for the Gale Army’s field kits had to be the best of the best. He remembered the pills that A’Luo, the medic, had brought out, and they looked nearly identical to the ones in his hand now. A sniff confirmed it. Beneath the medicinal fragrance was that same faint spiciness.

Of course, the best way to verify them was to test them directly.

He Lingchuan drew a dagger and cut a deep gash into his own arm.

Blood gushed out at once.

He crushed one of the pills and pressed the powder into the wound. Immediately, a cool sensation spread through the burning pain.

The bleeding stopped within moments.

He waited a few breaths, then brushed the residue aside. The powder had mingled with the blood and congealed into a thin adhesive layer, sealing the wound completely.

Ling Guang added calmly, “By sundown, it’ll be healed. Two days later, no scar.”

The result was better than He Lingchuan had expected.

He was about to speak when Fixer Liu tugged discreetly at his sleeve. “Young Master, a word in private.”

They stepped aside, and Fixer Liu lowered his voice. “I thought that name, Ling Guang, sounded familiar. I just remembered something. His alchemy is excellent, yes, but there’s a reason he’s still here.”

“What is it?”

“His last four masters all died. And each time, they’d hired him only shortly before meeting their end. The worst case was the most recent one, just a month and a half ago. That master was accused of being one of the Minister of War’s faction. His entire household of seventy-six people was executed. They were cut in half and displayed in the marketplace for three days. People noticed the pattern and started calling Ling Guang a cursed monkey. Since then, no one dares take him.”

One of He Lingchuan’s eyebrows rose in doubt. “But none of that actually proves their deaths had anything to do with him.”

“Maybe not, but the reputation is unlucky.” Fixer Liu gave a wry smile. “Think carefully. We can always come back another day.”

“I won’t be in Shihuan for long. Besides, I have origin energy guarding me. Even if it’s a curse, it can’t touch me.”

The truth was, He Lingchuan figured that wealthy families might treat such a monkey like a plague, but he himself had already drawn two worst lots from that old turtle monster. Whether he hired Ling Guang or not, misfortune was bound to dog his heels.

It was but another drop into the bucket. What was there to fear?

And besides, what choice did he have? This was the last medicine ape available.

So he returned to face Ling Guang and said, “Your skill is impressive. Just what I’m looking for. Do you have any requests, or anything I should know before we agree?”

Ling Guang froze, then noticed Old Tang standing behind He Lingchuan, frantically winking at him.

The old monkey was clearly warning him not to say anything.

However, Ling Guang tilted his head, thought for a moment, and still said, “I have no special demands. But my last few employers all passed away. I should be honest with you about that.”

There goes the deal again! Old Tang slapped a hand to his forehead. Why does the kid have to be so damn honest?

He Lingchuan blinked. “Did you kill them?”

Ling Guang’s eyes went wide. “Of course not!”

“Well, as long as it wasn’t on purpose.” He Lingchuan waved it off and turned to Old Tang. “I think Ling Guang’s not bad. Straightforward, even. Why don’t we go ahead and sign the agreement?”

Old Tang was overjoyed. He had not expected this rich young master to have the guts not to shy away. Truly, one cannot judge by appearances alone. “Excellent, excellent! Wait right here!” He darted up the tree in a flash, looking nothing like an old monkey at all.

“Young Master He, you really are—” Fixer Liu had already done his part in cautioning. Now, he could only heap praise, “Resolute!”

Or just not afraid of death.

“My fate’s mine to decide, not...” He Lingchuan said grandly. He nearly said “some monkey’s,” but he had managed to catch himself in time. After all, Thousand-Heart Flow had a reputation for being prickly about respect. “for anyone else.”[1]

Ling Guang’s eyes lit up. He straightened to attention and gave a deep bow. “Thank you!”

He was sick of being treated like a walking curse. To him, this master really was a good man.

Just then, Old Tang came back, carrying three red booklets.

He Lingchuan flipped one open and found it was a contract, in triplicate. It stated that he was hiring Ling Guang of Thousand-Heart Flow as the He Family’s apothecary, with a monthly wage of fifteen taels of stamped silver[2], increasing ten percent each year, food and lodging included.

Ling Guang’s meals were specified too. He was to receive five catties of top-quality fruit daily and had to be treated with offerings and courtesy, never to be abused or treated as a pet.

After all, a medicine ape was not a cat or dog!

As an employee, Ling Guang was required to do his utmost in alchemy or pill refining. The contract even set a maximum failure rate. If he fell short, Thousand-Heart Flow would replace him free of charge with another apothecary.

It took He Lingchuan a full quarter-hour to finish reading. “These terms are… thorough.” Long-winded too, and clearly a standard template.

Old Tang grunted. “Thorough terms mean fewer losses down the line.”

Mao Tao curled his lip. Obviously, these monkeys had suffered too many losses in past dealings with humans, and now they patched their contracts with clauses on top of clauses.

He Lingchuan and Ling Guang signed and sealed all three copies. Each side kept one. Old Tang tucked away his copy, patted Ling Guang’s shoulder, and said gravely, “This time, do it properly. I don’t want to see you back here for years.”

Ling Guang nodded hard, eyes shining with tears.

He Lingchuan extended his hand. “Then, apothecary, please come with me.”

Ling Guang stowed the contract, leaped onto his shoulder, and tipped his hat in salute to Old Tang. “Take care, Master.”

As He Lingchuan’s group descended the hill, the forest echoed with monkey chatter. Even the old monkeys at the archway were grinning widely. Clearly, He Lingchuan had solved a problem for them.

Damn it, if I’d known they were this desperate, I should’ve bargained harder on the price.

Back in the carriage, he instructed the driver to stop by the marketplace to purchase herbs.

Whether warrior or spellcaster, cultivation always relied on medicinal aid. And He Lingchuan knew well that if he wanted rapid progress, pills had to be consumed like daily meals. Having a skilled apothecary at his side was a prize beyond measure.

* * *

A few hours later, in the Songyang Mansion side residence.

The Marquis of Songyang was reading a scroll in his quiet study when a fat sparrow suddenly burst into flight outside, shaking snow from the branches in a glittering cascade.

Moments later, the steward hurried in to announce, “My lord, someone has arrived from Mount Yang.”

The Marquis of Songyang said briskly, “I’m busy. I won’t see them.”

“They heard that the He father and son have arrived in Shihuan and want to ask for information.”

“Information on the He father and son?” The marquis closed his scroll and then said, “Fine, pass this all along. He Chunhua and his family of four are staying at the Hua’an Inn. His men, numbering six hundred and forty in all, counting dependents, are lodged at the northern and western post stations. Seven of his officers are staying with him at the inn. The new governor-general keeps at least four guards at his side, and that’s just the ones in plain sight. Whether he has hidden bodyguards, I can’t say. Ever since sending Zhu Xiyan’s granddaughter back, he’s already received nine waves of visitors. Looks to me like he’s casting a wide net, trying to build connections and get closer to the court. He himself isn’t anything special in cultivation, but a few of his men are decent warriors. Oh, and one more thing, the Zhu Family is holding a banquet tonight at the Luming Garden to welcome their granddaughter home. The He Family will almost certainly attend.”

The steward bowed. “And should I tell them that the He Family’s eldest son came to Songyang Mansion today?”

“Why bother?” The marquis gave a derisive snort. “That’s our business. That’s got nothing to do with them.”

The steward withdrew and carried out the order.

Two quarters of an hour later, he returned. “I relayed your words exactly. But the guests from Mount Yang want to know if you will attend the banquet at Luming Garden tomorrow?”

“I won’t. Let them do as they please.” The marquis stretched lazily. “But give them one more tidbit. They’ll find it interesting. Tell them that tonight, a very important figure will also be at the Zhu Family’s banquet. And that person is…”

* * *

“What?! You spent fifteen taels of silver a month to hire a monkey?!”

Madame Ying glared at He Lingchuan and at the monkey in the straw hat perched on his shoulder. She barely held back from slapping the table, but her voice still shot up three notches.

He Lingchuan said solemnly, “Mother, those from Thousand-Heart Flow don’t like being called monkeys.”

Ling Guang did not have Old Tang’s experience. Faced with Madame Ying’s fury, he dared not argue back and shrank behind He Lingchuan’s neck.

A monkey is a monkey, what else would it be? Even though this one had removed his hat and politely bowed to her, Madame Ying kept her face stern. “Fifteen taels! In the capital, you could hire a first-rate guard for that kind of money, do you know?”

“Ling Guang isn’t a guard; he’s an apothecary. Mother, if you ever have headaches, weakness, or, uh… those cold cramps you get every month, he can brew medicine for you on the spot—”

Madame Ying could not take it anymore. She grabbed two red dates and hurled them at his face. “Get out!”

The dates were plump and steaming, freshly soaked in hot water. He Lingchuan caught them easily and passed them to the monkey, then bolted for the door.

Just before he disappeared, Madame Ying saw the monkey stuff both dates into his mouth, cheeks bulging like a drum.

He Chunhua offered her a cup of warm tea, calm as ever. “Don’t be angry, dear.”

“Look at your son!” Madame Ying snatched the cup and gulped half in one go. “Always finding new ways to waste money!”

These past few months, she had thought that her eldest had finally turned over a new leaf, becoming sensible at last. Who knew that the moment he set foot in Shihuan, he would start squandering worse than before? Fifteen taels of silver were equivalent to fifteen thousand coins a month! How many monkeys could that buy?

And it’s even a monthly wage!

“To think he even signed a contract! Our family actually drew up a contract for a monkey! Utterly ridiculous!” The more she thought, the angrier she got. “Dock it straight from his allowance. Not a single coin more from me!”

1. The original line is 我命由我不由天, which translates to “my fate’s mine to decide, not heaven’s.” However, the line 我命由我，哪能由猴儿, where heaven is swapped out for monkey, has also become iconic since at least when the Nezha film in 2019 (哪吒之魔童降世) came out. ☜

2. This refers to standardized, assayed silver ingots. ☜