~~~

Xiao Heng does not understand Liu Jin.

Although younger than him, the child is already stronger than his older brother, widely hailed as the greatest prodigy of New Moon Town. There is no doubt in Xiao Heng's mind that Liu Jin must be some sort of prodigy from the main sect to be as strong as he is. After seeing him defeat his brother so easily, Xiao Heng decided that staying out of Liu Jin's way would be the safest course of action for a failure like him.

He did not expect to literally bump into Liu Jin.

He did not expect Liu Jin to order him to stay at his side.

He certainly did not expect Liu Jin to offer him a cure.

For Xiao Heng, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If Liu Jin tells him to call him ancestor for the rest of his life in exchange for a cure, Xiao Heng will do it without hesitation. If Liu Jin tells him to strip and kowtow before him, Xiao Heng will do it in a heartbeat. That is how important this is to him.

How many times have people laughed at him?

How many times have even the servants whispered about him?

How many times has his father looked at him with disappointment?

If there is a chance to change that, Xiao Heng is willing to do anything for it. Of course, that is only if Liu Jin can do what he says. Xiao Heng is still not entirely sure. He still has doubts.

Yet he stays silent, sitting behind Liu Jin as the prodigy goes about his work. That is what Liu Jin asked of him, and that is what Xiao Heng does. For all his doubts, Xiao Heng still allows himself to hope.

He is nervous. Sweat drips from his brow. Xiao Heng wants to ask why Liu Jin is not using a furnace. He does not know much about medicine, but he does know the alchemists in the sect use furnaces to prepare pills. He wants to ask why Liu Jin isn’t using one, but he does not dare do so out of fear of breaking his concentration. Xiao Heng stays quiet and unmoving as Liu Jin works.

He feels as Liu Jin’s Qi rises. Inner Realm, First Level. He can feel it clearly, but it is still hard to believe. Is the child even eleven yet? What type of monsters live in the main branch?

His eyes widen as the ingredients Liu Jin picked start glowing in tune with his Qi. They pulse for a moment, and panic surges within Xiao Heng's heart when they fade into a powdery substance. However, Liu Jin does not seem worried. The child smiles. The powdery substance does not fall to the floor. Instead, it all mixes together, forming a pill that is only slightly larger than his thumb.

Liu Jin opens his eyes.

“Hm,” Liu Jin says, examining the pill. “Yes, this will do.”

Xiao Heng’s heart almost leaps out of his chest. “Is it…?” He cannot finish the question. He is too scared the answer will be no. He is too scared Liu Jin will laugh at him and tell him this has all been just a cruel joke.

“This will cure you,” Liu Jin says, pushing the pill into his hands. “However, keep in mind the process will be painful and-”

Xiao Heng is no longer listening. The moment Liu Jin tells him the pill can cure him, he puts it in his mouth and swallows it. For a moment, nothing happens. For a moment, he fears he has been made a fool of, humiliated once more.

Then there is pain.

Xiao Heng opens his mouth to scream, but Liu Jin is quick to put his hand over his lips, muffling the sound. Fire burns through his belly. His insides twist and twist, and Xiao Heng wonders why they have not broken yet. Suddenly, he cannot breathe. His lungs. Something is wrong with his lungs. For a moment, he fears he is about to die.

Then he throws up.

Xiao Heng heaves and coughs as a black tar-like substance erupts from his mouth. He notices Liu Jin’s hand no longer stops him from making a sound. The prodigy must have moved away just in time. Xiao Heng is about to ask what is happening when he feels it. Something large and painful is making its way up his throat. It hurts. Ithurtshurtshurtshurts…

Something heavy hits the ground.

Xiao Heng opens the eyes he did not realize he had closed. His breathing comes out in heavy gasps. He looks down and sees a black mass in the middle of all the tar. It is larger than his fist. He instinctively flinches away from it. Liu Jin, however, does not seem to share his disgust. The child bends down and picks it up.

“Interesting,” He says, uncaring of how gross the thing is. He looks at Xiao Heng. “Do you mind if I keep this?”

Does he mind? Does he mind? As far as Xiao Heng is concerned, Liu Jin can take that thing and burn it.

“Take it.”

“I will consider this the payment then. It looks like the procedure was a success.”

Huh?

Xiao Heng looks at Liu Jin in incomprehension for a while, still trying to get his breathing under control. It is only when he does that he notices it.

For the first time in his life, he feels fine.

“You look like you have gone up a level,” Liu Jin notes. “It was probably long overdue. With the obstruction removed, nothing is interfering with the flow of your Qi anymore.”

He has, Xiao Heng realizes. He had not noticed it with all the pain, but he is now in the Sixth Level of the Foundational Realm. After over a year of being stuck in the Fifth Level of the Foundation Realm, he has finally reached the Sixth Level.

“I…” Xiao Heng can’t believe it. He looks at his body in wonder. There are tears in his eyes. “I am cured?”

Liu Jin smiles. “Of course, you are. I told you I would do so.”

“I…I…” Xiao Heng struggles to find the right words. What can he say? What can he do? There is only one thing. His forehead hits the floor as he bows. “Boss! Now and till the end of my days, this one will always acknowledge you as Boss! Anything you need. Anything you desire. This one will do his best to get it for you!”

Xiao Heng means every word.

~~~