Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Influence
Bai Mo himself didn’t think much of it.
Outside, however, the Demon Hunting Team erupted in cheers shortly after Lanshan left, but they were quickly stifled.
The commotion died down after a while, and things finally grew quiet.
When Bai Mo stepped out of his shop, he saw Lanshan and Ma Bizi herding the crowd away.
A few of the burly men kept looking back, wanting to say something to Bai Mo, but they never got the chance.
Bai Mo just smiled at them, watching as they disappeared into the distance.
Back home, Bai Mo was lost in thought.
’These burly men seem so carefree on the surface, but they’re actually quite shrewd.’
’At the very least, they’re cautious. They have to be, after all. Navigating the Celestial Barrier Mountain is like walking on thin ice.’
’The Alchemy Dao’s influence on human affairs... it seems there’s more to it than just profound and esoteric principles.’
’I should adjust my business strategy going forward!’
Bai Mo took a deep breath and jotted down some ideas.
To a Pill Master, the imitation Evil Exorcism Pill was just a crudely made pill with obvious side effects.
However, judging by Lanshan’s reaction, there was clearly more to it.
Bai Mo went to the adjacent storefront, where the laborers were now resting.
After such a commotion, it was clear they wouldn’t be able to resume work anytime soon.
"Alchemist Bai!"
"You have to come see this..."
As soon as Bai Mo arrived, many of them turned to him with pleading eyes.
The man who wielded the giant hammer was lying on the ground. His previously bulked-up frame had now deflated.
His body was wracked with spasms, his eyes were vacant, and his breaths came in ragged gasps, like a wheezing bellows.
Bai Mo came over and squatted down. The man noticed, mustering his energy to turn his head with great difficulty, as if trying to say something.
Seeing this, his comrades watched Bai Mo nervously, terrified the Pill Master was about to tell them to prepare for the worst.
After all, in hindsight, the pill really did seem like something that burned one’s life force for a burst of power.
Bai Mo placed a hand on him reassuringly.
"Rest easy. You’re in this state simply because you’ve over-expended your vital energy and blood."
"I’ll treat all of you to a feast of Demon Beast meat tonight. You’ll be fine after that."
As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the surrounding men went wide!
’Good heavens, the Pill Master is so generous! What a magnanimous gesture!’
WHAP!
A bronze-colored arm shot up, grabbing Bai Mo’s wrist.
The man on the ground trembled, his lips quivering as he eagerly opened his mouth.
"Alchemist Bai, that Pill!!"
A glint of light returned to his eyes, filled with desperate longing.
Bai Mo gently lifted the man’s hand from his wrist and placed it back down.
"Those Pills are supplied exclusively to the Demon Hunting Teams. They aren’t cheap. For you, the cost is too high..."
After speaking, he examined the man’s body once more. Confirming that he was fine, Bai Mo mentally noted the pill’s effects on someone with a weaker constitution before getting up to leave.
Two or three of the men politely saw him off.
"Today’s incident was a complete accident, and things even got physical. It’s alright if you all take the rest of the afternoon off..." Bai Mo said in a kind tone.
The man who had followed him out immediately pounded his chest.
"Alchemist Bai, what are you talking about!?"
"We don’t have a single scratch on us! Starting work again right now is no problem at all! Delaying the construction schedule—*that* would be the real crime!"
Seeing their fervor, Bai Mo shook his head with a helpless smile, waved, and walked away.
"Brothers! Did you hear what Alchemist Bai said!?"
"Let’s put our backs into it! Don’t let anyone look down on us!"
Someone raised an arm and shouted.
The rest of the men were instantly fired up. With rousing shouts, they grabbed their tools and prepared to get back to work.
For them, Demon Beast meat was no ordinary meal.
Normally, one would only grit their teeth and splurge on it when treating someone important or asking for a huge favor.
And that was nothing compared to a feast for over twenty people!
At this thought, the men glanced at their leader lying on the ground and felt his suffering had been well worth it.
...
"Do you have any Demon Beast meat today?"
Bai Mo asked quietly after sitting down at the tavern.
The waiter eagerly wiped down the table, his intense gaze making Bai Mo slightly uncomfortable.
"Yes, we do! The Demon Hunting Team brought in half a Cyan Mountain Wolf early this morning!"
Bai Mo didn’t know much about Demon Beasts, but he had indeed heard of the Cyan Mountain Wolf.
"Are those the demon wolves rumored to be as large as mountain boars?"
The waiter nodded.
"That’s right. In any other wolf pack, a wolf that size would have to be the alpha. But with these, they’re all massive!"
"This one, however, seemed to have been separated from its pack, so someone took the chance to hunt it!"
Bai Mo pondered for a moment.
"What’s the price of the wolf meat?"
The waiter lowered his voice. "Two Spirit Stones per pound. The taste isn’t the best, though."
The price wasn’t too steep.
Bai Mo said, "I’ll take twenty pounds then. Have it cooked, and I’ll take it to go."
HUH!
The waiter was shocked.
"Shopkeeper Bai, are you hosting a banquet?"
Bai Mo nodded.
"There’s no rush. As long as it’s ready before nightfall."
With that, he took out a cloth pouch, picked out a small number of Spirit Stones, and pushed them toward the waiter.
The waiter hesitated for a moment, then took the Spirit Stones and left.
Spending forty Spirit Stones in one go was a stretch; Bai Mo wasn’t that wealthy yet.
But those men had come to his aid, so he had to show his appreciation somehow.
’These Loose Cultivators have courage. It’s worth winning a few over and forging a good relationship. It can only benefit me in the long run.’
Cultivators came and went in the bustling tavern.
Occasionally, a Cultivator returning from gathering herbs in the Celestial Barrier Mountain would spot Bai Mo and raise their cup to him in a gesture of respect.
Bai Mo returned the gesture to each of them, using his tea in place of wine, much to their flattered surprise.
However, seeing that quite a few Cultivators recognized him, Bai Mo closed his eyes and feigned rest to avoid any further interruptions.
A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.
Bai Mo opened his eyes to see the waiter returning. He handed back the cloth pouch, which felt nearly half empty.
"Our owner said that Shopkeeper Bai’s Pills are a great help to the Demon Hunting Teams. For today’s Demon Beast meat, we’ll only charge you for our cost!" the waiter said with a beaming smile.
Seeing Bai Mo’s confused look, he explained.
"Brother Lanshan already paid a visit."
It dawned on Bai Mo, and he reflexively rubbed his nose.
’The imitation Evil Exorcism Pill is apparently held in higher regard than I thought.’
About two hours later, the Cyan Mountain Wolf meat was finally ready.
The waiter called over a simple-looking young man. The two of them loaded the food into large jars, secured them to a carrying pole with rope, and followed Bai Mo out of the tavern, shouldering the heavy load.
Before long, the three of them arrived at Bai Mo’s storefront.
The laborers were hard at work, the air filled with the CLANGING and BANGING of their tools. They let out the occasional shout, their hands moving in a blur!
Not far away, their leader lay on the ground, motionless with his eyes closed.
A few of his brothers, who were on a break, were looking after him.
"Such diligent workers!"
The waiter carried the pole inside and placed it in an empty corner.
"Shopkeeper Bai, the wolf meat was prepared in a hurry. It needs to marinate in the jars for a couple more hours to really soak in the flavor."
"Alright."
Bai Mo nodded slightly at the men who were secretly casting glances at him, then followed the waiter out.
The tavern was still busy, and their owner was a demanding boss.
The waiter said his goodbyes and left in a hurry with the simple-looking young man.
Bai Mo returned home and began to plan for the next few days.
Li Hu’s storefront would be ready soon. Then, the work on his own place could begin and should be finished shortly after.
Before that, however, he needed to get the Pill Furnace and medicinal herbs ready.
’If I calculate the Spirit Stones I have on hand... spending about half of them should be enough.’
Before long, the light outside the window began to turn golden with the setting sun.
Bai Mo went outside, popped open the lid of a jar, and called out to the men, officially starting the evening’s feast.
The men swarmed over, a chaotic chorus of excited shouts filling the air.
Bai Mo ordered some wine, toasted them with a cup, and then left.
They wouldn’t be able to truly relax with him around.
