Chapter 9: Overwhelming Chu Tianfeng with Wealth

That afternoon, Chu Tianfeng went to find Zhang Qiang as agreed, and the two signed a contract regarding Chu Tianfeng’s role as a stunt double.

On the way back, he happened to see Xiang Yanping sitting beneath a large tree, enjoying the shade.

“How did it go?” Xiang Yanping asked eagerly.

Chu Tianfeng walked over unhurriedly and sat down beside Xiang Yanping. “It was too easy. They already had a standard contract—there was nothing to change. I just had to fill in my name.”

“So simple?” Xiang Yanping was somewhat incredulous.

After all, they were from the same hometown, and he worried that Chu Tianfeng, lacking experience, might suffer a silent loss.

“Yes, the contract is only two pages. I was there for barely fifteen minutes, finished everything in a few quick steps.”

This was the first contract Chu Tianfeng had signed since being reborn, and he had specially looked up related precautions online at noon.

Unexpectedly, the whole matter was far simpler than he had anticipated—almost none of his hours of preparation were put to use.

“Did you ask about the specific job content? Is there any danger?” Xiang Yanping asked again.

“The contract doesn’t specify job details, just notes that concrete matters will be separately negotiated,” Chu Tianfeng said, shaking the contract in his hand and handing it to Xiang Yanping. “Don’t worry. I asked Director Zhang, and he said that before each performance, he’ll seek my opinion first. I can decide whether to accept based on my own situation.”

Xiang Yanping took the contract, flipping through it with a sigh. “Why is everything so vague? Does it mention the pay? That’s what really matters.”

“Payment will be determined on site. This contract only establishes me as Wu Bai’s primary stunt double.” Chu Tianfeng shrugged.

“Really?” The news that he’d be Wu Bai’s stunt double—especially the primary one—made Xiang Yanping overjoyed.

He quickly skimmed the contract, found the relevant clause, and checked it carefully.

Chu Tianfeng nodded. “Yes, Director Zhang said my physique matches Wu Bai’s, with a high similarity in profile and back. Wu Bai’s original stunt actor had an emergency and couldn’t make it, so I’m filling in for now.”

“Wow! Doesn’t that mean you’ll get to act with Wu Bai often?” Xiang Yanping exclaimed happily.

To act alongside one’s idol was an honor. Just a few days ago, Han Xinwen had filmed a scene with Wu Bai—and even sacrificed two eyebrows for it without hesitation.

“I suppose so,” Chu Tianfeng replied with a wry smile.

“Then I need to buy a notebook just to collect Wu Bai’s autographs,” Xiang Yanping said, jumping up in excitement. “I’ll prepare several T-shirts and have Wu Bai sign each one.”

——————

Early the next morning, Chu Tianfeng took a day off from the crew and hurried to Qianiao Lake Town, catching the shuttle to Jianmen City.

Having just received his wages, he intended to buy some spiritual herbs to refine a Primordial Essence Pill.

After several days of cultivation, he felt that the true energy in his dantian had accumulated to a certain level. With the Primordial Essence Pill, he believed it would be easy to break through to the first stage of Qi training.

He knew the stunt actor’s job could carry some risk. Only by improving his cultivation could he enhance his own safety.

The pharmacy had been chosen online beforehand: the Great Goodness Hall, the largest traditional medicine shop in the area.

When Chu Tianfeng arrived at the Great Goodness Hall, it was only around nine-thirty.

Perhaps it was too early—a few customers were inside. Besides Chu Tianfeng, there was a young married woman and an elderly man with a square face, holding a cane.

“Boss, I’d like these medicinal herbs,” Chu Tianfeng said, handing over a pre-prepared list of spiritual herbs.

The clerk behind the counter was just a regular employee, but Chu Tianfeng, following local custom, addressed him as ‘boss.’

Of course, to prevent the formula from being leaked, Chu Tianfeng deliberately increased the quantity of some relatively cheap herbs and added two extremely inexpensive ones.

“All right,” the male clerk replied, glancing at the list. “Please wait a moment.”

Once the clerk left, Chu Tianfeng wandered idly around the shop.

A moment later, the young woman finished her purchase and left, while the square-faced elderly man, like Chu Tianfeng, strolled slowly about, occasionally asking the clerk about the prices of certain herbs.

After a while, the male clerk returned, accompanied by another elderly man.

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The elderly man wore a white lab coat, had a broad, square face, hair half-turned gray, but was energetic—his gaze was especially bright and piercing.

“Who gave you this prescription?” the square-faced elderly man asked, holding up a sheet of paper.

Chu Tianfeng glanced at it—it was the list of spiritual herbs he’d given the clerk earlier.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Tianfeng countered.

Not knowing the man’s intent, Chu Tianfeng didn’t answer directly.

“This prescription is clearly incorrect. Alas, incompetent doctors do real harm,” the square-faced old man said angrily, his hand trembling slightly as he held the list.

“Oh?” Chu Tianfeng frowned, privately speculating on the man’s purpose.

At that moment, the cane-holding elderly man walked over, looking at the spiritual herb list in the other’s hand.

“This prescription is a tonic, but two of the herbs are obviously inconsistent—rhubarb clears damp-heat, aloe clears the liver and purges fire. Combined, these two are simply a laxative,” the man in the white coat said, pointing to the list, indignant.

Chu Tianfeng couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected the square-faced old man to be here to expose him.

He’d only added two cheap herbs to throw others off—rhubarb and aloe were his first choices due to price.

He hadn’t expected this old man’s sharp eye to spot the trick.

What’s more, the old man had discerned that the Primordial Essence Pill formula was a tonic, showing his deep knowledge of herbal properties.

Chu Tianfeng even suspected the old man was a cultivator, but alas, without cultivation or spiritual sense, he couldn’t be sure.

“Senior, to be honest, this prescription is for my own research,” Chu Tianfeng replied with much more respect.

The square-faced old man smiled, looking at Chu Tianfeng with interest.

“Research?” said the old man in the white coat, half suspicious. “Then I advise you to remove aloe and rhubarb—otherwise, even with a lifetime’s study, you’ll get nowhere.”

He shook the sheet of paper as he spoke.

“All right, I’ll heed your advice. Thank you, senior.”

Chu Tianfeng hadn’t expected the old man to be so warm-hearted, and again he found himself amused.

“All right, Xiao Li, prepare his herbs according to the list, but leave out rhubarb and aloe,” the square-faced old man said, handing the list to the original clerk, who hurried off to the back room.

“Could you let me study this prescription?” the cane-holding old man suddenly asked.

The square-faced old man glared at him. “Old Bai, are you trying to make trouble? You saw him hand the prescription to us.”

Old Bai was unruffled; he stroked his grey beard and said calmly, “He did give it to you, but he didn’t say you could study it freely.”

Chu Tianfeng was surprised, unsure what was going on.

Clearly, these two old men knew each other, but their relationship seemed uneasy.

The square-faced old man implied he wanted the prescription, while Old Bai seemed to anticipate this, thus intervening.

Chu Tianfeng had no intention of getting involved in their quarrel.

Although Old Bai appeared to be helping him, he dared not assume anything.

Moreover, both old men might be cultivators—possibly advanced ones—Chu Tianfeng couldn’t afford to offend either.

But why would an advanced cultivator need a Primordial Essence Pill recipe? Chu Tianfeng couldn’t figure it out.

“I was just about to discuss it with him,” the square-faced old man said, turning to Chu Tianfeng. “Young man, I’ll give you ten thousand yuan if you sell me the prescription.”

“Huh?” Chu Tianfeng looked at the old man in the white coat, wanting to confirm if he was joking.

“I’ll offer fifty thousand!” Old Bai tapped his cane lightly on the ground, eyes fixed on the ceiling, displaying a ‘I’m the boss, I’m rich’ attitude.

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Chu Tianfeng was troubled. These two old men were almost certainly advanced cultivators. If they wanted to snatch the prescription, he couldn’t resist.

But they didn’t snatch—they offered money, leaving Chu Tianfeng conflicted.

Truthfully, he was broke and in need of cash.

A worthless pill formula selling for fifty thousand—he’d laugh himself awake from the dream.

Yet the buyers were likely advanced cultivators. He didn’t dare sell a useless formula and take their money.

Who knew if they’d hold a grudge and hunt him down later, smashing him with a single palm?

“You…” The square-faced old man’s beard trembled with rage. “Old Bai, are you determined to oppose me?”

Old Bai smiled at him. “Sell me that ginseng root, and I’ll leave immediately—the prescription is yours.”

Only then did Chu Tianfeng understand—their quarrel wasn’t just over his prescription.

“This prescription has many issues—it’s not worth fifty thousand,” said the square-faced old man firmly.

“Old Du, let’s not be coy—there are only nine ingredients. I don’t believe you can’t deduce the real formula,” Old Bai countered, pinpointing the problem.

“You…” Old Du was speechless with anger.

“Just sell me that ginseng root,” Old Bai said, still beaming. “You wouldn’t want me trailing you every day, would you?”

Chu Tianfeng shook his head inwardly. A mere ginseng root—even if three or five hundred years old—was nothing compared to the spiritual herb list.

After all, ginseng is just one root, gone once consumed. But the spiritual herb list could be used to endlessly refine Primordial Essence Pills.

“I don’t mind—I rather enjoy it,” Old Du stamped his foot. “I’ll be returning to Tianhai tomorrow. Keep close, don’t lose track.”

Their relationship was almost comically passionate! Chu Tianfeng couldn’t help but mock them to himself.

“With such a fine environment here, why return?” Old Bai asked. “Qianiao Lake…”

“To study the prescription,” Old Du replied gruffly, pushing him aside and producing a gleaming golden card, which he handed to Chu Tianfeng. “Young man, if you let me have the prescription, this gold card is yours. It’s the Supreme Gold Card of the Great Goodness Hall—our headquarters is in Tianhai, with branches nationwide. Wherever you buy herbs, just show this card and you’ll get a ninety percent discount.”

Chu Tianfeng was stunned, unsure whether to accept.

“And, these herbs today are my gift to you—no charge. How about it?” Old Du continued to tempt him.

Chu Tianfeng turned to Old Bai, uncertain what the old man meant.

“Take it,” Old Bai said with a smile. “I don’t own any pharmacies—he’s got me beat.”

“Thank you, seniors,” Chu Tianfeng said, hurriedly expressing his gratitude as he took the gold card from Old Du.

After observing the two old men for nearly half an hour, he felt they bore him little malice—there was no need to be on guard.

Perhaps they’d seen he had no cultivation at all and didn’t regard him as worth their attention.

As for the Primordial Essence Pill recipe, he had no worries. If the buyers were advanced cultivators, such a formula wouldn’t interest them anyway—even giving them the real recipe would make no difference.

Afterwards, Chu Tianfeng bid farewell to Old Bai and Old Du, carrying his herbs.

They escorted him to the door, and Old Du even asked about the origin of the formula. Chu Tianfeng replied offhandedly that he’d bought it from a wandering doctor at a temple fair.

Old Du was half skeptical, but didn’t press further.