Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Even when the sun was high in the sky, the moisture from Yunmeng Marsh had not yet dissipated.

Su Xiaojiu was still asleep inside the cave.

She wasn't sleeping peacefully; one leg was outside the animal skin blanket, her nine tails were spread out on the ground, and her breathing was long and even.

Bai Yin squatted by the stone bed and stared at her for half an hour.

Too thin.

This is the conclusion Bai Yin reached.

Although this body was reconstructed by Su Chang'an using his life essence and blood, and had all the necessary parts, in Bai Yin's eyes, she was just a paper doll that could be blown away by a gust of wind. Her face was pale, her wrists were so thin that they seemed to break at the slightest touch, and even her breathing seemed so weak.

"It needs to be made up."

Bai Yin frowned, his usually murderous eyes now filled with worry.

He stood up, carefully tucked the exposed leg back into the blanket, and set up three layers of barriers around the cave entrance.

After confirming that not even a fly could get in, he vanished from the spot in a flash.

……

Chongyang City.

This is the closest mortal city to Yunmeng Marsh, bustling and prosperous, with merchants gathering from all over.

Bai Yin walked on the street paved with bluestone slabs.

He changed his clothes.

He was no longer the naked, blood-stained demon he once was. He had borrowed a dark-colored robe, a jade belt around his waist, and his messy white hair was casually tied back with a hairband.

However, his face remained deathly pale.

That was a lingering effect from injuring himself yesterday, coupled with a deficiency of qi and blood, which made him look sickly and gloomy.

Pedestrians on the road quickly made way for them.

Although this person was handsome, his aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay made people afraid to approach him.

Bai Yin stopped in front of a pharmacy called "Huichuntang".

This is the largest pharmacy in town.

He stepped inside.

The old shopkeeper behind the counter was fiddling with an abacus when he heard footsteps and glanced up.

With just one glance, the old shopkeeper knew what was going on.

His face was pale and beardless, with dark circles under his eyes, and his steps were unsteady (actually a side effect of shrinking the earth to an inch), and his aura was cold.

typical.

That's so typical.

"Sir, are you getting medicine?" The old shopkeeper put down his abacus, a professional smile plastered on his face. "Is it for a medical consultation, or...?"

"Buy medicine."

Bai Yin walked to the counter, his voice a little hoarse.

"I want the best tonic."

The old shopkeeper stroked his goatee, his eyes sweeping over Bai Yin twice, revealing a knowing look on his face.

"There are many kinds of tonics. May I ask if you would like to replenish your Qi, blood, or... in which aspect?"

Bai Yin was stunned for a moment.

In what aspect?

He thought about Su Xiaojiu's weak appearance, and then about his own emotions that almost got out of control yesterday.

It definitely needs to be completed.

"I want them all," Bai Yin said in a deep voice. "As long as they can make people physically strong and mentally refreshed, I'll take them no matter how expensive they are."

The old shopkeeper's eyes shone even brighter.

Big business.

Judging from this young man's attire and demeanor, he must be either rich or noble. It's just a pity that he's so young and already so frail; it seems his wife is quite a formidable figure.

"Sir, if I may ask a question, please forgive my impertinence."

The old shopkeeper lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Is it your wife at home... who's making insatiable demands?"

Bai Yin frowned.

Insatiable demands?

He recalled Su Xiaojiu's past cries of hunger, and yesterday's words, "I want to eat the biggest fish."

They really have a lot of demands.

Besides, she's so weak. If I don't take care of myself, how will I have the strength to take care of her? How will I have the strength to catch fish for her? How will I have the strength to carry her all over the mountain?

"Yes." Bai Yin nodded, his expression serious. "She... has a huge appetite. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."

The old shopkeeper gasped.

Big appetite? Can't keep it up?

These must be incredibly fierce and ruthless words!

Looking at the pale-faced young man in front of him, the old shopkeeper's eyes revealed a trace of sympathy.

They've been completely drained.

"Understood." The old shopkeeper nodded heavily, turned and walked towards the medicine cabinet behind him. "Don't worry, sir. With the prestigious reputation of Huichuntang, I guarantee you'll regain your former glory and your wife will be completely convinced."

He opened each drawer and pulled out handfuls of medicinal herbs.

Deer antler, epimedium, cistanche, cynomorium, morinda root...

They are all potent medicines that are extremely yang and replenish vital energy.

Bai Yin was ignorant of medical principles.

But he could sense the spiritual energy contained in these medicinal herbs (although weak), and they were indeed good things.

"Take more," Bai Yin tapped on the counter. "This isn't enough."

The old shopkeeper's hand trembled.

Is that not enough? With this much force, even an eighty-year-old could go up the mountain and fight a tiger. Is this young man trying to shake the bed down?

"Sir, this medicine is potent; you must administer it gradually..."

"I'm in a hurry." Bai Yin pulled out a gold brick and slammed it on the counter. "Bring out all the stock in your store."

The gold brick smashed a dent in the counter.

The old shopkeeper's eyes widened.

"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir! It'll be ready soon!"

Fifteen minutes later.

Bai Yin walked out of Huichuntang carrying more than a dozen large sacks.

The old shopkeeper stood at the door, holding the gold brick in his hand, his face full of wrinkles from smiling.

To save face for this "Young Master Xu," he specially labeled the sacks with "Cold Relief" and "Cough Relief Powder."

That's incredibly thoughtful.

Bai Yin was very satisfied with this.

He carried the sack and went to the next pharmacy.

Jishetang, Baohetang, Tongren Hall...

In just half an hour.

All the pharmacies in Chongyang City were completely emptied.

The market is completely out of stock of aphrodisiac and kidney-tonifying herbs.

The price of goji berries, which originally cost one tael of silver per pound, has suddenly increased tenfold, and there's still no stock.

A rumor began to spread like wildfire throughout the city.

"Have you heard? A young hunter with white hair bought up all the tonics in the entire city!"

"Really? You're buying so much to eat?"

"How could it be fake? I saw it with my own eyes! The person's face was as white as paper; it was obvious that their body had been hollowed out."

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a waste. I heard his wife is an absolute beauty, but... she's too much of a drain on a man."

"No wonder, this isn't buying medicine, it's buying lives."

The rumors became increasingly outrageous as they spread.

Eventually, this even evolved into the idiom "medicine is expensive on Double Ninth Festival," used to describe a woman's extreme beauty that would make a man willing to spend his entire fortune to buy medicine to prolong her life.

……

Bai Yin, who was at the center of the rumors, was completely unaware of them.

He stored the several hundred kilograms of medicinal herbs he had bought into his storage ring and stood contentedly in front of a roast chicken stall.

The medicine is bought, now it's time to buy food.

"Boss, give me a chicken."

Bai Yin stared intently at the sizzling, oily roasted chickens on the iron rack, his gaze as focused as if he were selecting a peerless divine weapon.

The stall owner was a fat man, fanning the fire with a palm-leaf fan.

Looking up, he saw this menacing figure staring at his chicken, and he was so frightened that he almost dropped the palm-leaf fan in his hand.

"Which one would you like, sir?"

"I want the tenderest one," Bai Yin pointed to the one in the middle. "The skin should be crispy, the meat tender, and it shouldn't get stuck in your teeth."

Little Jiu has bad teeth (not really), so she needs to eat soft food.

"Okay!"

The chubby stall owner quickly wrapped up a roast chicken and handed it over.

Bai Yin took the roast chicken and smelled it.

Fragrant.

He could already picture Su Xiaojiu sitting on a rock, holding chicken legs in both hands, eating with her mouth full of oil.

A hint of gentleness unconsciously appeared on that usually cold face.

This smile stunned the chubby stall owner.

He looked like he was about to kill someone, but now he's smiling so... seductively at a chicken?

"How much?" Bai Yin asked.

"Thirty...no, twenty coins." The fat stall owner swallowed hard, not daring to ask for more.

Bai Yin touched his sleeve.

The gold BRICS have run out.

He casually took out a low-grade spirit stone and threw it on the stall.

"Keep the change, please."

After saying that, he picked up the roast chicken, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.

The chubby stall owner stood there dumbfounded, holding the spirit stone that emitted a shimmering halo.

Are people with kidney deficiency really that rich these days?

……

Yunmeng Marsh.

The sun was setting in the west.

Su Xiaojiu woke up.

She stretched, and her bones cracked and popped all over her body.

I slept so well.

There was no suppression from the seal, no nagging from the system, only the soft animal hide beneath him and the faint moisture in the air.

"Bai Yin?"

She called out.

No one answered.

The cave was empty, except for the barrier set up by the silly tiger, which was still glowing.

"Where did you go?"

Su Xiaojiu muttered something.

She got out of bed barefoot and walked to the cave entrance.

Just as he was about to reach out and poke the barrier, a dark shadow appeared out of nowhere.

Bai Yin is back.

He was slightly out of breath, and beads of sweat still clung to his forehead, clearly having run all the way back.

Upon seeing Su Xiaojiu standing at the cave entrance, his expression changed, and he quickly hid what he was holding behind his back.

"Why are you up?"

Bai Yin strode over, his tone reproachful, "The ground is cold, go back and lie down."

Su Xiaojiu raised an eyebrow.

She sniffed.

A strong medicinal smell, mixed with the aroma of roast chicken, wafted into my nose.

"What are you holding in your hand?"

Su Xiaojiu stared at his hands behind his back.

Bai Yin was somewhat flustered.

He hesitated for a moment, but still took out the roast chicken wrapped in oil paper.

"I bought this for you."

He handed it over like a treasure, saying, "It's still hot, eat it while it's hot."

Su Xiaojiu took the roast chicken, tore off a chicken leg, and took a bite.

Crispy skin, tender meat, and bursting with juice.

It's really good.

"At least you have a conscience." Su Xiaojiu was in a great mood, and asked while eating, "What about your other hand? What are you hiding?"

Bai Yin's face suddenly turned red.

He hesitated for a long time before finally taking out the huge storage ring.

"medicine."

"Medicine?" Su Xiaojiu was taken aback. "Why would I take medicine if I'm not sick?"

"tonic."

Bai Yin looked at her earnestly, his eyes sincere, "The shopkeeper said these are all highly nourishing foods that can make people... energetic and strong."

As he spoke, he emptied the contents of his storage ring.

Splash!

Hundreds of sacks instantly filled the cave entrance.

Su Xiaojiu casually picked up a package and tore off the "Fenghanling" label.

A strong, indescribable medicinal smell wafted towards us.

Deer antler.

Tiger penis.

Cynomorium songaricum.

Su Xiaojiu: "..."

Although she wasn't a medical cultivator, she had heard of these items before.

This is hardly something that nourishes the body.

This is clearly...

Su Xiaojiu raised her head and looked at the silly tiger in front of her who looked like he wanted praise.

"Bai Yin".

"exist."

"You think I'm... weak?"

Bai Yin was stunned for a moment.

The shopkeeper seemed to have said something about whether it was true or not.

He nodded, his face serious: "The shopkeeper said you have a big appetite and need to replenish your energy. I need to replenish mine too, otherwise I won't be able to keep going."

Su Xiaojiu dropped the chicken leg from her hand.

She looked at the aphrodisiacs scattered all over the ground, and then at Bai Yin's pure and innocent face.

That idiot.

Is he genuinely naive, or is he just being suggestive?

"you……"

Su Xiaojiu took a deep breath and pointed at the pile of tiger penises, "You yourself are a tiger, why did you buy this stuff? To try and cure yourself?"

Bai Yin blinked.

"The shopkeeper said this one is very potent."

Su Xiaojiu closed her eyes.

She felt a throbbing sensation in her temples.

I'm afraid I won't be able to get through this reunion.

[Chapter Conclusion - A City in Turmoil]

A tiger descends the mountain and enters the pharmacy; the whole city is talking about a man with kidney deficiency.

He spent a fortune seeking a cure, all to replenish her air sac.

The warehouse is piled high with deer antlers and tiger penises, and a roast chicken is fragrant with oil.

The foolish child, oblivious to matters of love and romance, remarked that his wife had a strong appetite.