The tattered phantom looked a bit clearer than last time.

Henry Spencer nodded, sat atop the bright stars, and tried cultivating the third level of the Breathing Technique for a while, making some slight progress. Finally, as a wave of drowsiness hit, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Henry Spencer woke up full of energy and, with a “whoosh,” leapt out of bed.

This action startled both Mrs. Spencer and his younger sister.

“No way! Brother, you should stay in bed and rest for a few more days.”

Helen Spencer and Mrs. Spencer, still flustered, hurried to stop him.

After all, the apothecary had said that Henry Spencer needed to stay in bed for at least half a month.

Henry Spencer was quite helpless. With the family in such dire straits and his injuries already healed, how could he keep freeloading?

Fortunately, that afternoon, the Spencer family invited the village apothecary over.

This elderly apothecary, his face full of wrinkles and thin as a stick, first reached out to check Henry Spencer’s pulse, then examined his limbs.

After a long while, the old apothecary frowned slightly.

“Apothecary, is there something wrong with Xuan’er?” Mrs. Spencer asked anxiously.

“It’s not that there’s a problem, but rather that this child’s injuries have healed much faster than expected—he’s basically recovered, several times quicker than I predicted.”

The old apothecary spoke in puzzlement, looking a bit embarrassed.

After all, it was he who had declared that Henry Spencer would need to rest in bed for half a month.

But now, the patient before him was standing there, lively as could be.

Chapter 005: The Awe of Qi and Spirit

“You mean my brother’s injuries are basically healed?” Helen Spencer was overjoyed, and both mother and daughter were a bit excited.

“Not only that, I’ve noticed his qi channels seem even stronger than before, which is rather unusual.”

The old apothecary frowned deeply, truly unable to figure it out. After finishing the checkup, he immediately took his leave, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Seeing Henry Spencer lively and energetic before him was, to him, a blatant slap in the face.

Luckily, he was just a half-baked village apothecary, relying on his experience to handle most ailments; otherwise, he might have noticed something more.

Henry Spencer let out a long sigh of relief—first, because the old apothecary hadn’t noticed anything amiss, and second, because he finally didn’t have to stay in bed anymore.

After sending the apothecary off, the house was filled with joy.

The three of them had breakfast together. Though it was just simple fare, the atmosphere was warm and happy.

“Oh my, the whole family eating together—how cozy and blissful.”

A sharp, mocking male voice rang out.

Henry Spencer frowned. He knew this voice all too well.

Two people walked in from outside.

The one who spoke was a horse-faced young man, broad-shouldered and burly, two years older than Henry Spencer, strutting arrogantly, his small eyes narrowed to slits.

“Tommy Spencer, are you here to collect debts again?”

His sister Helen Spencer snorted coldly.

Tommy Spencer was the son of the mine overseer, “David Spencer,” just as tall and fierce as his father. Not yet eighteen, he had already reached the second level of Body Refinement, making him quite outstanding in the village.

Since childhood, Henry Spencer had always been bullied by Tommy Spencer at the village school.

And since he was also David Spencer’s son, seeing Tommy Spencer now made Henry Spencer especially disgusted. But after accepting memories from his previous life, his horizons had broadened, and he now faced Tommy Spencer calmly, without a trace of panic.

“Little girl, this time our young master ‘Edward Spencer’ is out inspecting, and just happened to stop by your house.”

Tommy Spencer raised his hand obsequiously, ushering the young man in the blue robe beside him into the house.

They were all from the same village, so of course Henry Spencer recognized this young master Edward Spencer.

This not-too-big, not-too-small Yangmu Village was mainly home to three surnames: Yang, Xu, and Zou.

These three major families formed three factions in Yangmu Village: the Yangs, the Xus, and the Zous.

Only these three families were truly wealthy in the area, far surpassing even the well-off households.

And this Edward Spencer was the young master of the “Xu family.”

With sharp eyes, Henry Spencer noticed that the blue robe Edward Spencer wore was made of fine, exceptionally smooth material.

It was actually a magic robe!

Even the lowest-grade magic robe on the market was worth at least a thousand spirit coins—equivalent to several months of Henry Spencer’s family income.

Such robes usually had the special effect of keeping out cold and heat. And it was said that higher-level magic robes were impervious to water and fire, immune to blades and spears, and could even speed up cultivation.

“Heh heh.” Edward Spencer was very amiable: “Huilan, I’m patrolling the area on behalf of my father and thought I’d stop by to see you. As for the debt your family owes, don’t worry—just pay it back with interest within half a year.”

But when his gaze fell on Helen Spencer’s beautiful, pure face, a flash of greed appeared in his eyes, though he quickly concealed it.

“Half a year? Didn’t your family say it was half a month before?”

Helen Spencer’s bright eyes were cold. She had always loathed this young master Edward Spencer, but dared not offend him.

She certainly didn’t believe he would offer such kindness for nothing.

“Huilan, your brother was injured, and to get that medical loan for your family, Young Master Spencer pleaded with the master and managed to extend the repayment period to half a year.”

Tommy Spencer quickly chimed in, grinning obsequiously.