Days later, Jiang Heng returned to Tiger Pass Town, its bustling energy unchanged.

  The street-side apothecary still drew crowds—many with no goods to sell, just there for the spectacle.

  His arrival caught some eyes.

  After all, his last visit had unveiled rare treasures.

  “Back to sell more, young brother?”

  The apothecary’s old keeper grinned, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

  Jiang Heng didn’t mince words, stepping forward and pulling the nest branches from his pack. “You take these, shopkeeper?”

  “Willow branches? Heavy with spiritual energy—fine stuff! Your treasure-hunting skills are something else, lad!”

  The keeper’s enthusiasm surged. He waved for an assistant to serve Jiang Heng tea.

  The crowd murmured, impressed.

  Countless loggers and hunters sold here, but few earned the keeper’s tea.

  Last time, only Hunter Wang’s son got such treatment.

  This kid got a hunter backing him?

  “Hss… these aren’t ordinary willow branches!”

  As the crowd whispered, the keeper’s gaze sharpened. He pulled a pair of spectacles from a copper case, donning them shakily. After a long, silent inspection, he said nothing.

  The crowd froze.

  What’s with these branches? Spill it!

  The impatient ones burned with curiosity.

  “Young sir, care to discuss this upstairs?” the keeper said gravely.

  Upstairs?

  The crowd jolted. The branches looked mundane, maybe nest material, yet warranted a private talk?

  “Where’d this kid find such a treasure? Unreal!”

  “Keeper Wen’s Apothecary rules say only hunter-grade deals go upstairs. Martial cultivators meet the real boss, the head alchemist…”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The keeper, Old Keeper Wen, wasn’t the true owner—just a branch manager.

  The crowd erupted, stunned that a could get hunter-level treatment.

  A hunter this young?

  Eyes raked Jiang Heng, reappraising him.

  He met their stares calmly.

  Old Keeper Wen was sharp. He’d likely recognized the branches as a spirit beast’s nest.

  A nest without a beast suggested it was dead.

  Keeper Wen’s gaze lingered on Jiang Heng’s bandaged arm and heavy pack.

  “Lead the way, shopkeeper.”

  Jiang Heng smiled, unfazed.

  Without a hunter’s title, he had their strength. Few in Tiger Pass Town could threaten him.

  “Honored guest, this way!”

  Keeper Wen bowed, guiding him upstairs.

  The assistant’s tea, still steaming, sat untouched on the stall. Keeper Wen ordered a fresh pot—his prized longjing.

  In the upstairs parlor, antique furniture exuded elegance, fit for elite guests.

  “Your name, young sir?” Keeper Wen asked, seating himself.

  “Jiang.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Young Master Jiang. If I’m not mistaken, this is a bird spirit beast’s nest. Did you slay it?”

  Keeper Wen’s tone was courteous.

  “You’ve got a good eye. But the corpse is for another use—I won’t sell it here.”

  Jiang Heng’s voice was flat.

  Keeper Wen’s face fell.

  A spirit beast corpse was big business, dwarfing the herbs loggers brought.

  Still, a youth slaying a spirit beast hinted at vast potential. Keeper Wen dared not slight him.

  He drew a white jade pendant from his sleeve, offering it.

  “This is Keeper Wen’s Apothecary’s token. Show it at any branch for a ten percent discount on buying or selling herbs.”

  A ten percent discount was no joke. For long-term cultivation, it’d save a fortune.

  Nice move.

  Jiang Heng toyed with the pendant, impressed.

  It was like a VIP card.

  Keeper Wen’s case held yellow and red jade pendants too—likely for mid- and high-tier hunters.

  White was for entry-level ones.

  Martial cultivators got bigger perks. Rumor had it Keeper Wen’s Apothecary sent rare herbs and recipes free to county martial academy instructors monthly.

  Jiang Heng had slaved to afford one recipe.

  Martial cultivators got them gratis.

  Still, a ten percent discount for a new hunter like him—without official status—was solid.

  The perks of hunter status are endless!

  This was just the start.

  Once he secured his title in the county, more benefits awaited.

  Pocketing the pendant, Jiang Heng laid out the boar pearl and other herbs from the nest.

  The lot, including the nest, sold for ten taels.

  He spent five on a large batch of [Scorpion Celery Broth] herbs, enough for a month.

  Money flows like water. Gotta earn more…

  Clutching the herb bundle, he headed for the town’s cart station.

  Next stop: Clear River County’s martial academy, to trade the corpse for hunter status.

  With that, learning martial arts would be easier.

  Clear River County was a thousand miles away.

  Walking took half a month; an ox cart, seven or eight days.

  Horses were faster, but Great Qing’s strict laws reserved them for upper-class citizens like hunters or military folk, unless you were a courier.

  Jiang Heng had the strength but not the title. Horses were off-limits.

  Before he reached the station, a commotion erupted behind him.

  “Open your damn eyes and look! My lord’s hunting this kid. Spot him, report it, and you’ll be richly rewarded!”

  A guard with a Mountain Patrol Division badge waved a portrait, shouting loudly.

  The crowd gathered, peering at the image.

  Their eyes widened, then snapped to Jiang Heng.

  The portrait was of him.