Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 550 - 517 Collection 1

A plate of greyish-white brain matter, still steaming slightly, lay quietly on the table, its aroma swirling in the air.

"Eat it. Today’s portion." Zhang Rongfang sat cross-legged in the Human Immortal Cave, his eyes slightly closed, gazing at the statue of the White Scale God opposite him.

The statue trembled slightly, without any other motion.

"This is all there is now. If you don’t eat it, I’ll just take it away." Zhang Rongfang said flatly.

After a moment of silence, a fine silver thread slowly emerged from the statue’s single eye, gradually creeping into the brain matter.

"This is how the environment is; if you don’t adapt, you’ll suffer." Zhang Rongfang sighed. "Think about it: compared to before when you were always sleeping underground, isn’t it much better now that you have something to eat every day?"

White Scale God: "..."

She felt something was off with herself, and the other party’s words didn’t entirely make sense either, but she didn’t know how to refute them.

Watching the brain matter gradually lose its luster, a hint of pity flashed in Zhang Rongfang’s eyes.

"Go ahead and eat. There’s more, and fresh ones can be brought at any time."

Unsurprisingly.....

After five days of testing, indeed, the White Scale God had eaten so much pig brain that she was already a bit foolish.

Previously, she could argue with evidence and logic, but as days passed, she had clearly become much slower.

This gave Zhang Rongfang new insight into the way gods and deities exist.

After the White Scale God ate two portions of brain matter, he instructed his attendant to take them away before starting today’s conversation.

After eating each day, they would chat about secrets that interested him; this had gradually become their tacit little secret.

"Today, I want to know, what purpose does the Mysterious Mist serve? Why does it exist?"

"Mysterious Mist..." the White Scale God thought for a moment. "It actually originates from the Innate Gods. Initially, it’s said they came from beyond the heavens. They naturally have a negative impact on all living things around them, so the Great Path derived the Mysterious Mist to enclose them.

In fact, by our understanding, the Mysterious Mist isn’t a kind of power belonging to the gods and deities; it should be a means to protect the creatures around them."

"A means to protect other creatures around the gods and deities?" Zhang Rongfang instantly understood.

"Are you saying that the Mysterious Mist is meant to isolate the special abilities of the gods and deities?" he asked.

"Precisely." the White Scale affirmed, "Innate Gods naturally possess an ability, which is Rongxin!"

"Rongxin?"

"To blend into the heart, and thus unforgettable, hence eternal!" White Scale explained. "As long as any intelligent creature has seen the existence of gods and deities, memorizing their true form, it can become a marker, providing part of the Void and shaping our dwelling."

"Wait, are you saying that the Void is created and shaped because people have seen the true form of gods and deities?" Zhang Rongfang suddenly asked.

White Scale stopped speaking, likely because she accidentally revealed something she shouldn’t have.

The statue swiftly ceased trembling, losing a slight sheen.

This indicated the end of today’s Q&A. If there were any doubts, they would have to wait until next time.

Zhang Rongfang wasn’t in a hurry; there was plenty of time, and he would take it slow.

After all, the other party was in his hands and couldn’t escape.

Once assured that the White Scale God was motionless, he stood up, slowly walked out of the cave, and stood on the Human Immortal Platform.

The daily routine was over; it was time to open the clinic.

His daily life was now like this: getting up early to practice and cultivate here, teaching his disciples, collecting intel through his conversations with White Scale.

Then, near noon, he would return to open the clinic, diagnosing patients while fulfilling children’s wishes and gathering butterflies.

The clinic stayed open until 7 in the evening, after which he would go to his sister’s house for dinner.

After dinner, he would play with his nephew and chat about current events with his brother-in-law, exchanging banter and jokes.

Just like that, a day would pass.

Sometimes, if his brother-in-law went on a business trip and it was inconvenient to stay in the inner courtyard at night, he’d visit the newly opened snack street in the city for some nibbles and mountain berry juice to relieve the monotony.

This kind of life, plain and simple, yet provided a sense of peace.

Zhang Rongfang had always wanted such a life, but now that he truly lived it, he felt an inexplicable sense of boredom.

Mountain People’s Clinic.

As soon as he entered the shop and sat down for just a few minutes, a familiar figure entered the clinic.

Today, Lu Meisha had changed into a light green fitted martial artist’s outfit, commonly worn by martial artists, with a pair of white leather gloves with wrist guards tied to her waist. Her long hair was tied high, making her look competent and spirited, much like those martial women outside.

But just by looking at her hands, one could tell she was simply imitating the appearance.

A martial artist, no matter what, would definitely have calluses on their hands.

There’d be many calluses from practicing hand skills, and those practicing with weapons would have calluses at specific parts.

Like her, with hands delicate and fair, resembling the skin of a piglet, it was clear she was a lady of noble birth.

"Today, your place is still as always, with no business." Lu Meisha couldn’t help but remark after entering.

"It’s all up to fate." Zhang Rongfang sat cross-legged in meditation, remaining motionless like a statue behind the counter.

"Speaking of which, can you really diagnose illnesses?" Lu Meisha stared at the counterpart, somewhat curious.

She had a face with chubby cheeks and a naturally alluring look in her eyes, the kind of foxy beauty, if not for her sharp tongue, she’d probably have much more romantic luck than she did now.

As long as she didn’t speak out of turn, she actually looked quite nice.

"A little." Zhang Rongfang replied blandly.

"Then can you check on me? I’ve been feeling a bit unwell recently." Lu Meisha’s eyes glinted as she spoke softly.

Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes to look at her.

He then took a small bag from a drawer beside him and tossed it over.

"Take one each day, after dinner at night."

"!?" Lu Meisha was bewildered, caught off guard, and clumsily caught the bag. She hadn’t even mentioned her ailment, and the medicine was already given?

Zhang Rongfang only needed a glance with his dim vision to see through everything clearly.

The blood vessels are slightly congested in some areas, taking some medicine to improve circulation should help.

"Alright, I’ll go back and try it..." Lu Meisha said, half-believing, "By the way, there’s a Western tea garden event happening in the city in a couple of days. Would you like to go with me? I happen to have an extra invitation."

"Tea... not interested, thank you." Although Zhang Rongfang was idle for now, he wasn’t entirely without things to do.

Lu Meisha continued to find topics of conversation, lingering in the clinic for a long time before reluctantly leaving.

Time passed day by day like this.

On the third afternoon, Zhang Rongfang was about to get up and close the door, instructing Xiaodong and Xiaoxia to put away the door panels.

Suddenly, Lu Meisha rushed in hurriedly.

Her eyes were bright as fire, fixed intensely on Zhang Rongfang. Yet she said nothing.

"?" Zhang Rongfang looked at her in confusion, waiting for her to speak.

"It’s nothing." Lu Meisha suddenly gave a brilliant smile and turned to leave.

She ran out of the clinic, sprinting over a hundred meters to the street corner, where she stopped behind a newly opened wonton stall and looked back at the clinic.

Now she finally understood that what her brother and sister had said was true.

Zhang Rongfang pretended to be indifferent on the surface, but he was actually silently caring for her.

The evidence was that medicine.

After going back, she tried it for two days and clearly felt much lighter; several hidden ailments on her body vanished suddenly.

Now it’s the third day, and she felt her whole body seemed to lighten up. Her mood brightened all at once.

Later, she sought out many other physicians, who gave the same answers.

Just by looking, to prescribe medicine so precisely, curing the illness — that was practically impossible.

Unless an ancient medical sage came back to life.

But Zhang Rongfang obviously didn’t have such capabilities.

So, the only possibility was this.

That... Zhang Rongfang had been silently watching her, observing her, collecting various health statures...

Thinking of this, Lu Meisha’s heart involuntarily fluttered.

’Looking back, this kind of health issue, he must have prepared the medicine for me long ago; otherwise, how could he produce the medicine as soon as I asked?

Isn’t it likely he had already prepared the pills, just waiting for an excuse to give them to me for treatment?’

Unconsciously, Lu Meisha felt a sweet hint arise in her heart.

But then, she quickly shook her head, dismissing the feeling.

’No, how could I have feelings for Zhang Rongfang; it must be an illusion! Just look at him...! Even if he is a high-ranking martial artist, doesn’t he still wander aimlessly outside, eventually needing my brother’s help to settle down.’

Such were her thoughts, but she ultimately couldn’t ignore the fleeting pulse of emotion that had just crossed her heart.

Lu Meisha covered her chest with her hand, feeling she needed to calm herself down.

Regardless, though Zhang Rongfang was quite capable, the family had introduced her to many of those who were born favored by the heavens, whose family backgrounds were far stronger than his.

No matter the choice, it would always be better than choosing Zhang Rongfang...

After all, don’t the Spirit People’s noble families have few high-grade martial artists under them? Can they not compare to a martial arts genius of barbaric Confucian descent?

But... if he truly liked her deeply, willing to give everything, even his life?

Would she...

That thought flashed through her mind, making Lu Meisha’s heart jump sharply, forcing her to stop thinking further.

Immediately, she suppressed her thoughts, turning swiftly to leave.

She now understood why Zhang Rongfang would willingly return to Wushan Prefecture and even deliberately upset his previous friends—it was probably all for her...

Maybe... she should give him a chance?

*

*

*

Inside the Mountain People’s Clinic.

Zhang Rongfang slowly reached out, picked up a small wad of paper that had been thrown in just now, and unfolded it to take a look.

After reading it, he crumpled the paper, threw it into the brazier, and burned it.

"Xiaodong, Xiaoxia, you two behave and watch over the clinic. If you need anything, just buy it yourselves; there’s some spending money in the drawer."

"Yes, sir," the two children responded obediently.

Zhang Rongfang nodded, walked out of the clinic, and looked up at the sky.

The setting sun was sinking, leaving only a sliver hanging at the horizon.

Red light, like arrows, pierced through the scattered clouds, dyeing everything in the world one color.

He lowered his head and walked quickly towards the outskirts of the city.

After only a few steps, from the left in the distance came the sound of intense firecrackers from a household, separated by a street.

Then came the music of trumpets, drums, and cymbals.

The music was festive, and women sang mountain songs to lyrics that seemed to be from some locale.

The gist was asking the bride not to rush, to settle the veil, and wait for the groom riding a high horse to drive away evil spirits, using the red strings and drum sounds to marry her home.

This thick sense of festivity slightly dispelled the previous sorrow caused by the riotous troublemakers.

Retracting his gaze, feeling a bit emotional, Zhang Rongfang quickened his pace, leaving the city, heading in the direction described by the note.

After about half an hour of travel, he finally arrived at the destination.