I don't believe he would come every day!

After Jiang Yuebai left, the aftermath lingered for a long while.

In front of Chu Liang’s little stall, a crowd had already gathered. The beverage that had brought a smile to Fairy Jiang’s face instantly attracted many eager to taste it themselves. Chu Liang organized everyone into an orderly queue, selling the drinks one jar at a time.

Someone, bold and wealthy, waved his hand grandly. “Junior brother, how many jars do you have? I’ll buy them all!”

Chu Liang smiled and refused politely. “Sorry, senior brother, each person is limited to two jars per day.”

After more than twenty jars had been sold, a long line still remained behind.

Chu Liang stood up and bowed to those waiting. “My apologies, everyone. Today’s fruit tea is sold out. If you wish to buy, please come early tomorrow.”

A chorus of disappointed voices rose from the back.

Those who managed to purchase felt all the more delighted, sipping slowly and exclaiming repeatedly at its exquisite flavor.

Despite the customers’ unwillingness, Chu Liang calmly packed up his stall and quietly departed.

There was nothing he could do—he had only caught so many venomous bees last time.

These venomous bees had brought him twenty sword coins, which was more than what he earned from the condensation pills. Compared to the lantern monsters, which were worth one pill each, the bees’ value was undeniably higher.

Chu Liang silently apologized for his earlier lack of respect.

These little venomous bees were far superior to the lantern monsters.

Everything today was part of Chu Liang’s plan. Seeing both his master and Jiang Yuebai so fond of the honey tea, he suddenly realized that its market might be broader than he had imagined.

Of course, it couldn’t be produced in bulk; to make money, he could only sell it at a higher price per jar.

But the drink itself wouldn’t fetch such a price. To sell at a premium, he needed to add some celebrity effect. Luckily, the adorable Senior Sister Jiang was undoubtedly the biggest star in the Shu Mountain Sect.

Thus, today’s scene unfolded, with Jiang Yuebai assisting him.

The daily limited supply also served to raise its intangible social value, granting buyers a sense of psychological superiority.

“I’m still too kind…”

Chu Liang counted the sword coins in his hand, reflecting quietly.

He had anticipated beforehand that even at ten sword coins per jar, he could sell out. Since he couldn’t increase production, there was no need to chase a larger customer base.

For rare and useless things, call them ‘luxury goods’ and even at dozens or hundreds of times the price, someone will always be willing to buy.

But Chu Liang would feel uneasy about his conscience if he did that.

Earning twenty coins, albeit tearfully, would suffice.

...

Leaving Red Cotton Peak while daylight remained, he soared on his sword straight to Yunhua Town.

He first visited the flower, bird, and fish market to check on Shopkeeper Chen, who had been poisoned previously.

“Oh, Young Hero Chu!” Shopkeeper Chen had fully recovered his mobility, though his face was still swollen and bruised.

“Shopkeeper Chen?” Chu Liang wondered, “Hasn’t the swelling gone down?”

Hundred Flower Powder usually worked fast—could the bee venom be stronger than the previous flower poison? This surprised him.

“No…” Shopkeeper Chen shook his head with a long sigh. “The other day, my wife went out to find a doctor for me. When she returned and smelled something odd in the house, she blamed me for not saving any for her…”

“She gave me a beating…”

“I’m innocent, Young Hero Chu…”

“I’m middle-aged, life is stressful, and long ago…”

“I don’t have that kind of ability, you know…”

Listening to Shopkeeper Chen’s plaintive rambling, Chu Liang could only nod in silent understanding.

Yes, you’ve been wronged. I understand.

Let’s call it a side effect of the Hundred Flower Powder.

“And also…” Shopkeeper Chen smiled sheepishly, “I said I’d catch some koi for you after the poison was cleared, but when I went this morning, the venomous bees had returned en masse! So I didn’t dare…”

“It’s fine. I was worried they might… worried they’d return, so I came to Yunhua Town to check. If they come again, I’ll clean them up once more,” Chu Liang replied gently.

“Ah, what if these venomous bees keep coming? What am I to do?” Shopkeeper Chen fretted.

Although his shop sold more than just koi, the koi from Jinhua River were his signature. Without them, his business would surely suffer.

“Yes.” Chu Liang nodded along. “If they keep coming… then I’ll just have to clear them out every day.”

Shopkeeper Chen was moved almost to tears. “It’s truly a blessing for the people of Yunhua Town to have a hero like you from Shu Mountain!”

Chu Liang smiled. “You’re too kind.”

I think so too.

...

When Chu Liang arrived at the banks of Jinhua River, he once again saw the familiar venomous bees flitting among the flowers.

Looking at them now, these fierce, spiked creatures seemed less ugly than before—almost cute, in fact. How strange.

They were like… flying sword coins.

Without hesitation, Chu Liang summoned his flying sword, cutting down the little black, spiked darlings one by one.

One, two, three…

After slaying about thirty venomous bees, he had cleared the riverbank again.

He followed yesterday’s route to the nearby valley, dispatched two more bees, and, unable to find any strays, reluctantly left.

But what he didn’t know was that, as he departed from Jinhua River, a pair of large eyes watched him from beneath the calm waters.

Diving.

No bubbles.

Observing in secret.

Only after Chu Liang left did those big eyes sink back beneath the water.

A three-foot-long koi, radiant with seven colors and extraordinary in appearance, sped through the water, heading toward the riverbed.

Soon, it reached the bottom, where, amid a patch of aquatic plants, a sand pit lay. Within it was another, slightly larger, seven-colored koi.

“Sister, sister!” The first koi opened its mouth and blew a string of bubbles, then spoke with human words. “That annoying cultivator came again yesterday! He killed all the venomous bees you painstakingly summoned!”

“What? He came again.” The larger koi responded in a deep voice. “The Shu Mountain cultivator—why does he keep targeting the venomous bees by the river?”

“What should we do, what should we do, what should we do?” The smaller koi asked anxiously. “If we can’t hold out, do we have to move away?”

“Don’t panic.” The larger koi said, “Cultivators of that level are always busy. He can’t come sweep the riverbank every day. Tomorrow I’ll summon more venomous bees, and I won’t let those fishermen near Jinhua River.”

“In the past, it didn’t matter. But now that I’ve cultivated magical powers, I must protect the koi tribe!”

The larger koi’s tone was resolute.

“But…” The smaller koi was still worried. “What if he does come every day?”

“Don’t worry. Human cultivators must train, seize resources, and surely don’t have so much free time…” The larger koi consoled it. “There are so many venomous bees in the upstream valley—he can’t possibly kill them all. As long as we’re patient, we can definitely protect Jinhua River!”

“Mm! Sister, you’re right.” The smaller koi finally relaxed, saying, “I don’t believe that villain will show up every day!”