Henry Carter felt deeply relieved. He took out the pale golden bead from his bosom and noticed that after being soaked in water, the bead had become somewhat crystal clear, almost like a piece of crystal in the night.

“I wonder what kind of treasure this is? Could it really be an elixir refined by an immortal? Judging by its pale golden color, why not just call it ‘Golden Elixir’?” Henry Carter tossed it in his hand and murmured, “Crystal clear, it actually looks like jade. Maybe I should call it ‘Jade Elixir’ instead?”

“I also wonder how much water the Jade Elixir can infuse?”

Henry Carter thought about how the Jade Elixir would eventually be used up one day, which made him feel a bit down. He composed himself and finally tucked the newly named Jade Elixir back into his bosom.

After wielding his sword all day, although he wasn’t tired, he could now split every incense stick in half with each strike, and even the last few sticks had been cleaved. Lighting more branches for practice didn’t seem meaningful anymore. He fell silent for a moment, took off his clothes, and lay down on the bed.

With the Jade Elixir, his future training would surely progress by leaps and bounds. He would soon fully master the basics of swordsmanship, and by then, even if he couldn’t defeat experts who had cultivated inner strength, he could at least handle ordinary people.

By that time, with his skills perfected, any ordinary martial artist—so long as they couldn’t channel their vital energy—would probably not be able to dodge his sword strike in time.

But after all, he was still young and tended to think simply. In truth, he knew in his heart that even those martial artists without inner strength, though unable to channel their vital energy, would still surpass him in skill and movement. Yet, having just mastered his first sword technique, hitting the mark every time with considerable force, and now possessing the Jade Elixir, he couldn’t help but feel optimistic and pleased.

He lay on the bed, silently pondering.

Once he truly had the skills, he could investigate his master’s situation and the mysterious illness that had struck the The Carter Family, to see what kind of disease it really was.

As for the The Bennett Family, judging by the look in the servant’s eyes before he left, there must be more to the story. But now, the The Bennett Family was likely not what it used to be, and as a destitute youth caught in the middle, things would indeed be difficult. Still, with his swordsmanship honed, he could at least have some means of self-protection.

Moreover, the The Carter Family pharmacy had been taken over by a few shameless uncles. Although he didn’t care much for the business, their faces were truly disgusting. He had been forced to swallow his anger before, but now that he had some skill, he could finally teach them a lesson.

Thinking this, a faint smile appeared in Henry Carter’s eyes.

“They say heroes break the law with their martial skills. It seems that having real ability is indeed a wonderful thing. All those frustrations from before can finally be vented.”

“But this Jade Elixir is so extraordinary, and the basics of swordsmanship are probably not like ordinary martial arts manuals. That young hero surnamed Zhao kept them hidden so carefully inside his clothes—just how special are these two things?”

Henry Carter pondered, “I heard they came to Yinghuang Mountain in search of immortals and gods. Could it be… this really is an immortal elixir?”

Thinking this, Henry Carter couldn’t help but feel startled. He told himself it was too far-fetched, yet he still couldn’t stop his mind from wandering in that direction.

“The reason they came to Yinghuang Mountain was because the young hero Zhao’s ancestor left behind notes. In that case, he really was the most likely to obtain an immortal fate. Could it be that this Jade Elixir and the basics of swordsmanship were the opportunities he gained in Yinghuang Mountain?”

Henry Carter was dazed for a while, then muttered to himself, “But in the end, he still paved the way for me. This stroke of fortune has fallen into my hands.”

Even if it wasn’t some immortal art or divine elixir, the Jade Elixir was truly extraordinary, and if he mastered the basics of swordsmanship, he could surpass ordinary martial artists. For Henry Carter, this was an astonishing stroke of luck.

There were still over a hundred taels of silver in his Daoist robe, enough for Henry Carter to devote himself to practicing swordsmanship for a long time without worrying about food and clothing.

He had finally reached a time free from worries about daily needs, but the celestial guest bird was already gone.

“This really is… wonderful…”

He showed a trace of bitterness, murmured to himself, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

……

Dong dong dong!!

A faint banging on the door could be heard. Henry Carter’s eyes snapped open. He turned over and got out of bed, immediately gripping his treasured sword.

“Young Master Carter… Little Daoist Carter…”

The person knocking sounded nervous, their words a bit rushed, and the knocking was so forceful and frequent it was as if they were about to break down the already dilapidated door of the ruined temple.

That voice seemed to belong to an uncle from a nearby village, a woodcutter named David Thompson.

“Too nervous…” Henry Carter shook his head, chuckled at himself, put the sword on the bed, covered it and the silver with the quilt, and then went to open the door.

He left the back room, walked through the corridor, circled around the screen wall, passed the statue of the Daoist deity, and finally reached the entrance. Henry Carter opened the door and saw a middle-aged man grab him anxiously, cold sweat streaming down his face, pulling Henry Carter outside but too anxious to speak.

At last, a fisherman who had come along spoke up: “Young Master Carter, David Thompson’s youngest, Xiao Qi, was bitten by a Blood-marked Snake. They brought him to the pharmacy, but Dr. Howard at the pharmacy said that anyone bitten by a Blood-marked Snake is doomed. Your father, Divine Doctor Carter, once cured someone bitten by a Blood-marked Snake. We had no other choice but to come to you. Can you save him?”

Henry Carter gasped.