High School Student with Immortal Race System

After breakfast, Yang Shen dug up a stalk of Jade Marrow Grass from his Window Spirit Field and transplanted it into a separate flowerpot.

He put it in a plastic bag and headed for the medicinal herb market.

Half a month had passed since his last visit. The medicinal herb market hadn’t changed much; most shops focused on wholesale, and only the more expensive varieties were available for retail.

Yang Shen wasn’t in a hurry to ask for prices. Instead, he took a look around, treating it as a learning experience.

In his Window Spirit Field, six stalks of Spirit Grass had been catalyzed by various forms of Magic. The Jade Marrow Grass, in particular, had begun to propagate, so the outlook was excellent.

However, after half a month of nurturing, his Window Spirit Field had developed a small problem.

The Jade Pendant, which he used specifically to feed insects, was growing continuously. Its emerald-green tail was already half a meter long, far exceeding the typical growth rate for a succulent. This proved that the Withering and Flourishing Curse was remarkably effective.

But the Jade Marrow Grass, which Yang Shen considered his primary future moneymaker... its growth had begun to slow noticeably.

It seemed to be approaching its limit.

Yang Shen figured the plant itself might have a biological limit. But he also suspected that the combined effects of his Withering and Flourishing Curse and Ganlin Curse—as performed by a mere Junior Cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Stage—couldn’t possibly make it grow indefinitely.

His cultivation level was what it was; the small amount of Spiritual Qi-infused rainwater he could conjure was hardly some mythical Spiritual Liquid capable of producing a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Grass from a single drop...

This was probably for the best. It meant a shorter turnaround on his investment, and the quality of the Jade Marrow Grass wouldn’t be so unbelievable as to arouse suspicion.

If he actually grew a "Ten Thousand Year Jade Marrow Grass," he’d have a hard time getting rid of it...

He had specifically dug one up today to test the waters at the medicinal herb market. He’d bought it for 666 per stalk, and he had no idea what it was worth now that it had grown.

After wandering for a good while and avoiding the area where he’d originally bought the herbs, Yang Shen walked into a shop with a sign that read: "We Buy High Source Plants." The owner was a middle-aged man playing a game on his phone.

Only after the man suffered a crushing 0-10-1 defeat did Yang Shen state his business.

"Jade Marrow Grass? What’s its condition? Is it wild?"

Yang Shen took it out of his backpack and placed it on the counter, pot, soil and all.

He had only dug up one stalk. In reality, he had four or five more of similar quality in his Window Spirit Field, and even more that hadn’t yet reached their growth limit.

The shop owner examined it for a long moment. "Whoa! This one’s got some real age on it. Must be at least two years old. Where’d you dig it up?"

Yang Shen replied, "In a park."

’Ask all you want. I’ll consider it a loss if I speak a single word of truth.’

The owner didn’t press the issue. He ran a shop; he didn’t dig up herbs. All he cared about was whether the price was right, not where it came from.

Even if it grew on a gravestone, what did that have to do with him?

"The condition’s not bad, but this root is a bit broken. It probably won’t survive being replanted. 800 bucks. Selling?"

Yang Shen frowned slightly. ’I bought it for 666, and he’s offering 800... I’m barely making any profit on this.’

’Then again, I have plenty more that have propagated in the Window Spirit Field back home. Those are basically zero-cost.’

’So, it’s not an unacceptable offer.’

In the age of information, you could look up almost anything, but that didn’t mean all knowledge was easily accessible, especially within niche industry circles.

And the medicinal herb business was one of the murkiest.

You couldn’t become an expert on herbs just by browsing the internet.

Yang Shen only knew that the stalk in his hand was more robust than average. He couldn’t say exactly how old it was, and his online research had yielded conflicting information.

Yang Shen was actually willing to get lowballed a bit. For these kinds of one-off transactions, often involving herbs dug up in the mountains, there was no proof of origin and no quality control.

It all came down to one’s discerning eye—and sometimes, even a favorable first impression.

Since this was a much more informal market than regular retail, one had to accept the risk of price volatility. This was his first time, so he didn’t mind.

Just as he was about to agree, a crisp voice sounded from behind him. "Jade Marrow Grass grows quickly at first, then slows down. With a 20-centimeter perennial like this, the first 18 centimeters probably grew in the first year. After that, it might grow less than a centimeter a year."

The shop owner, who was fiddling with the Jade Marrow Grass, jumped, and the flowerpot tumbled off the counter. Fortunately, Yang Shen had quick reflexes and bent down to catch it.

’The grass wouldn’t die from the fall, but the pot cost me 10 bucks...’

The first thing that entered his view was a pair of cloth shoes, worn over a pair of very traditional, flesh-colored ankle-high stockings.

Not even his aunt, Tao Ying, would wear such old-fashioned socks. But they happened to reveal a section of tender, pale ankle, as fair and smooth as a lotus root.

Her complexion was so fair it was almost dazzling; the faint, pale-blue veins underneath were the only proof it wasn’t a prosthetic leg.

A phrase flashed through Yang Shen’s mind: ’A jade foot in a broken shoe...’

Placing the flowerpot back on the counter, Yang Shen finally saw who had spoken.

She wore a traditional jacket, and her shockingly long hair was tied back in a thick braid.

Though she looked to be no older than seventeen or eighteen, with a bright, delicate face, she was dressed as if she’d stepped out of the last century.

The girl smiled at Yang Shen before turning to the middle-aged owner. "Using the Lin Family’s name to swindle customers... Don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?"

The middle-aged man let out a dry laugh. "What’s it to you, little girl? You here to ruin my business?"

The girl took two steps back and pointed at the shop’s sign. "Lin’s Pharmacy, with the official seal right there. And my surname is Lin. So, what do you think?"

The middle-aged man’s expression darkened. He knew this wasn’t a friendly visit. He stood up, frowning.

’Judging by his build, it looks like he has some Martial Cultivation...’

But when he saw the dozen or so burly, suit-clad men standing behind the girl, he smoothly sat right back down.

He even seemed to shrink a little in his seat...

A dozen bodyguards... yeah, she was definitely not someone to mess with.

"Who are you in the Lin Family?"

"Lin Yuebai. From now on, I’m in charge of the Lin Family’s licensing. Your shop was licensed nine years ago. We signed a contract, but you only paid the franchise fee for the first year. After that, you became a total deadbeat, taking advantage of the fact that the Lin Family was too busy to manage you."

Lin Yuebai pulled out her phone, opened the calculator app, and started tapping. Watching from the side, Yang Shen thought, ’With that outfit... I was expecting you to pull out an abacus.’

"With late fees and penalties for breach of contract, the total comes to seven hundred thirteen thousand, one hundred and nine. I’ll round it down for you—you can forget about the nine bucks. So, when can you pay?"

"Of course, you could also choose to dispute it. Then we’d have to go through other channels."

She smiled as she said this, revealing a small canine tooth, and glanced meaningfully at the dozen burly men in suits behind her.

The middle-aged man’s hand trembled. He sighed. "Little girl, this is no way to collect a debt. You’re not giving me any way out. Pushing me into a corner like this... you won’t get your money."

Lin Yuebai laughed. "You seemed to be living just fine when you were racking up the debt. Now that the collector’s come, you’re telling me you can’t survive?"

The middle-aged man was speechless.

Lin Yuebai placed a folder on the table. "Or, I can offer you another solution. Sign over the remaining lease on this shop to me, including all the fixtures and inventory. I won’t even bother to take stock. How does that sound?"

She glanced again at the dozen bodyguards. "I’d prefer not to make a scene. I’m giving you a chance. You should take it."

The middle-aged man’s heart skipped a beat. He picked up the documents and began to examine them carefully.

Yang Shen figured this wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon. He picked up his flowerpot and left, ready to try another shop.

As he brushed past her, the porcelain-doll-like girl waved. "Feel free to come back. There will be a new owner by then, and I’ll give you a fair price."

Yang Shen didn’t pay her much mind, though he did give the dozen burly men in suits a second glance as he passed.

’Can’t tell their Martial Cultivation from their posture, but their physique and presence... This is the first time I’ve ever seen such an entourage.’

’This Lin Family... they must be bad news.’

’Definitely have some underworld ties...’

But then he overheard the burly men whispering among themselves:

"We’ve been performing *The Eighteen Farewells* for years, but this is the first time we’ve been hired just to look tough. Easiest gig ever."

"The hell, man, why are you crying?"

"Sorry, sorry, occupational hazard. The moment I put on this suit, I just feel the urge to shed a tear or two..."

"Shh! We’re supposed to be professionals here! Everyone, look serious. None of us have any Martial Cultivation; this is all just gym muscle. If a real fight breaks out, remember to run. Don’t just stand there like idiots."

The absurdity of it all nearly made Yang Shen keel over.

He glanced back at the girl, thinking, ’She certainly looks fair and pure.’

’But if you split her heart open, I bet it’s pitch-black inside!’

——————