I use my future dreams to prove immortality.

Chapter 63 Making Friends

The Ji family's residence is located in the southwest district of Dongcheng, and its mansion is far inferior to that of the Zhou family.

The Ji family started out as pharmacists and are most skilled at refining herbs.

After the cataclysmic changes in the world, many medicinal herbs disappeared, and the Ji family failed to improve their elixirs in time, leading to their gradual decline.

Zhou Qiuyuan registered under the name of the Ji family in order to help them increase their knowledge of medicinal herbs.

Outside Black Swamp City, there are spiritual herbs that cultivators regard as treasures. He was short-sighted and did not want to mistake these rare herbs for weeds, thus entering a treasure mountain only to return empty-handed.

Zhou Qiuyuan knocked on the Ji family's door. A short while later, the vermilion gate swung open, and the experienced doorman looked at the sharp-eyed young man and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"My master is from the Wei and Jin dynasties. This is a token; please inform him of it."

Zhou Qiuyuan took out the jade tablet given to him by Wei Jin and handed it over.

The doorman led Zhou Qiuyuan into the main hall, where a maid respectfully served him tea.

Before long, a scholar with a long beard walked over. He smelled strongly of medicine, and his steps were unsteady, giving him a frail appearance.

Behind him followed a handsome young man and a bodyguard who stayed by his side at all times.

"As expected of Lord Wei's disciple, you are indeed a man of exceptional talent." Ji Shouyi wore a warm smile, giving people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze. "May I ask your name?"

Zhou Qiuyuan rose from his chair, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Zhou Qiuyuan, greetings to Patriarch Ji."

"No need for formalities. My son and I are about the same age, so let's address each other as uncle and nephew." Ji Shouyi was very polite and used the uncle-nephew relationship to bring the two closer.

Zhou Qiuyuan followed the lead, addressing him affectionately as "Uncle Ji, Brother Ji."

The eldest son of the Ji family nodded and replied with a smile, "Brother Zhou."

"Lord Wei mentioned it to my nephew, so I'll add a few words."

"My dear nephew, you can come to the mansion at the beginning of each month to collect six thousand cash. When the Ji family encounters trouble, they will invite you to come and help, and each time you will receive a considerable amount of money as a token of gratitude."

Zhou Qiuyuan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Uncle Ji, I plan to leave the city soon to hone my skills and learn about rare and exotic herbs."

"May I borrow the Ji family's general knowledge of medicinal herbs?"

"It's a small matter." Ji Shouyi looked at his eldest son and said, "Xiuyuan, take your nephew to the study and get the Hundred Herbs Compendium."

Ji Xiuyuan led Zhou Qiuyuan to the study in the backyard, skillfully pulled out a book called "Comprehensive Knowledge of Herbs," and handed it over, saying, "This book is for you."

"Thank you." Zhou Qiuyuan took it and glanced through it briefly.

The Complete Book of Herbs records various medicinal materials, including common herbs and mutated medicinal materials. Each type has a corresponding illustration and description of its medicinal properties, and it records approximately several hundred types.

"Why is there no elixir?"

Zhou Qiuyuan did not find any information about spiritual medicines in the Hundred Medicines Knowledge.

"My brother has quite the ambition," Ji Xiuyuan explained with a smile. "Spiritual herbs cannot be found in ordinary areas outside Black Swamp City; one can only find them by venturing deep into the Blackwater Swamp."

He wanted to refuse, but then he remembered what his father had told him on the way here.

The situation in Black Swamp City is chaotic. Several families of similar size to the Ji family have been quietly wiped out. More external assistance will make the enemies hiding in the shadows more wary.

As long as we befriend Wei Jin's apprentice, if the Ji family encounters danger, we might have a chance to invite Wei Jin, the Thunder Blade, for six thousand coins a month as a form of peace of mind.

"The Ji family's collection of medicinal herb illustrations is not easily revealed to outsiders. Since it is your request, my virtuous brother, I will lend it to you for a look. Please return it after you have finished reading it."

Ji Xiuyuan took out a thin book hidden in a secret compartment, which contained exquisite and detailed illustrations of medicinal herbs.

This book of medicinal herbs contains nearly 90% fewer herbs than the "Comprehensive Knowledge of Herbs," recording only seventy or eighty kinds of medicinal herbs.

Zhou Qiuyuan accepted the gift solemnly and quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you very much, Brother Ji!"

Zhou Qiuyuan got what he wanted and then bid farewell to Ji Shouyi, with Ji Xiuyuan seeing him off all the way.

"Brother Zhou and I hit it off immediately. Would you do me the honor of joining us at Xiangmanlou for a chat tonight?"

Zhou Qiuyuan wanted to refuse, but having just accepted a generous gift and receiving his share of the Ji family's allowance, he couldn't refuse Ji Xiuyuan's request, so he could only nod in agreement.

As he walked to the backyard, he saw a woman in white standing in the pavilion in the distance. She had a beautiful face and a friendly demeanor, and she was eating fruit.

Liu Mei seemed to sense Zhou Qiuyuan's gaze. She turned her head and couldn't help but look surprised.

Both recognized each other's identities and were somewhat incredulous.

To avoid gossip among the servants, they merely nodded to each other from a distance across the pavilion, without engaging in any idle chatter.

Zhou Qiuyuan recalled seeing Liu Mei wearing a fox fur coat outside the tenement. Now, seeing Liu Mei again at the Ji family mansion, how could he not understand that she had climbed the social ladder by marrying into the Ji family?

Everyone has their own destiny, and for a woman, marrying a good husband is the best way out.

Zhou Qiuyuan didn't take the matter to heart and strode away from the Ji family mansion.

Liu Mei didn't understand what Zhou Qiuyuan wanted to do at the Ji family. Could it be that he wanted to use her name to find a job for Ji Lang?

She summoned the servant who had been there earlier and asked, "What business did that person have entering the mansion?"

Knowing that this woman was the young master's favorite, the servant dared not offend her and honestly replied, "That person has a job in the manor and receives a monthly salary."

Liu Mei's lips unconsciously curved upwards, revealing an unspeakable sense of pride.

She had long anticipated that Zhou Qiuyuan's future achievements would be limited, and that he would only be able to help others guard their homes and property, so this outcome was not unexpected.

Because Liu Mei got involved with Ji Xiuyuan, her family also moved to the two-courtyard mansion to enjoy a life of luxury.

Ji Lang promised her that he would change her status from a mistress to a concubine.

Although she doesn't hold a high position in the Ji family, she can still be considered the young mistress of the Ji family.

A rich young master's concubine is far better than a poor man's wife who has shared hardship.

……

This was not Zhou Qiuyuan's first time visiting Xiangmanlou. As soon as he entered the restaurant, he saw the Ji family servant whom he had met once before.

"Master, the young master has been waiting at the restaurant for quite some time."

The servant bowed respectfully and led him to the private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room, a familiar woman's laughter could be heard.

Liu Mei, like a beautiful serpent, moved closer to Ji Xiuyuan, only to be pushed away. Her face showed unspeakable disappointment as she asked, "May I ask what distinguished guest you have invited, sir?"

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and then the servant pushed the door open and entered.

Ji Xiuyuan looked at the handsome young man behind the servant and said with a happy expression, "Brother Zhou, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Liu Mei's expression changed slightly when she saw Zhou Qiuyuan.

She didn't understand why her husband was hosting a banquet for the servants at Xiangmanlou.

Ji Xiuyuan warmly greeted him and said, "Brother Zhou, you've kept this from me for a long time. You've already achieved minor success in external cultivation in just over a month since you entered the sect. I envy your talent."

"The Ji family is willing to increase your monthly allowance to 60,000 cash, and the Ji family's secret medicine will also be made available to Brother Zhou free of charge."

"This woman, Liu Mei, grew up with you since childhood. I was unaware of this before, so please forgive me."

"A gentleman does not take what others cherish. This banquet is only to apologize. This concubine is given to Brother Zhou."