CHAPTER 4

"Immortal tea?" Wang Jin said, lifting the fine teacup and looking around with a playful smile. "Are you still saying this is a magical place?"

The old man nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes" Seriously. His eyes showed he really believed it. "The young master of the Wang family is very clever."

Wang Jin tried to be funny but was suddenly shocked when he sipped the tea and accidentally sprayed it across the table in surprise.

The old man seemed worried as he looked at the spilled tea. "That tea is special; you need to be careful with it!" He warned, though his tone was still gentle.

Unbothered, the old man poured more tea for Wang Jin, looking calmly. "Be cautious this time" He said, giving the cup to Wang Jin once more.

Confused by the old man's mysterious words, Wang Jin felt curious. He took the cup, had another sip, and felt calm as the tea flowed through him. He sighed happily, relaxed completely, and felt all the stress of the day disappear.

Watching how Wang Jin reacted, the old man smiled with satisfaction, nodding in approval with his beard.

Finally, the old man said, "The karmic balance is back." He waved his hand and created see-through symbols in front of Wang Jin. "Now, pick." He said in a kind but strong voice.

Confused by the sudden change, Wang Jin frowned in puzzlement. "Choose what?" He asked, unsure of what the old man wanted.

Seeing Wang Jin still confused, the old man sighed and decided to explain further. "Isn't it tough being in a new place? Without the things you're used to and no one to look after you." He said gently but convincingly.

Wang Jin nodded eagerly, his face showing the same feeling. The old man's smile grew bigger as he said, "So, choose carefully. Each of these symbols stands for something different in life: food, clothes, useful things..."

The old man took a long time to carefully explain the meaning of each symbol, showing endless patience. Finally, feeling relieved, he said, "Now, pick one."

Wang Jin blinked, understanding everything now. With a playful look in his eye, he joked, "I want all of them!"

The old man was first amused but then became annoyed. "Too greedy!" he said, showing his frustration.

Unfazed by the old man's criticism, Wang Jin frowned in disagreement. "You said to choose." He argued, sounding a bit rebellious. "You didn't say I could only pick one. So, I should have them all."

The old man was briefly speechless, looking frustrated. After a moment of thinking quietly, he quickly got up and left the room. He came back soon after, looking troubled.

Watching the old man's behavior, Wang Jin stood up, curious about what was happening. "What's wrong?" He asked, surprised by the sudden change in mood.

The old man stared at Wang Jin with a mix of frustration and hesitation. "Leaving now won't be simple. Returning the money to the Wang family and repairing Xingjun Palace will be difficult." He whispered, lost in thought.

Confused by the old man's mysterious comment, Wang Jin asked for clarification. "What did you say?" He asked, looking innocent but starting to feel suspicious.

Caught off guard by his mistake, the old man quickly tried to cover it up. "Oh, it's nothing important" He vaguely replied, looking guilty for a moment. But Wang Jin, being observant, noticed the mention about money.

"Money? Did you come here because you were paid?" Wang Jin asked. The old man seemed surprised for a moment, then quickly clarified, "I'm not here for money! I came to help ease the tension in the underworld. The twenty-seven guest officials in your mansion are risking everything for you, do you understand that?"

Wang Jin shook his head innocently, his eyes wide with surprise.

"He's dead, how do you know?" Wang Jin questioned, showing his doubt in his voice.

The old man's lips moved slightly, a small sign of amusement in his eyes. "Yes, but those folks have eaten and drank with him for many years. It's impressive to see such loyalty," he thought, with a touch of reluctant respect in his tone. Wang Jin smiled proudly when his faithful friends were mentioned. "Those individuals still have a sense of right and wrong," he said proudly.

The old man looked upset. "Their actions are disturbing the peace of the underworld. These deeds are bad, and they need to take responsibility," he said firmly.

Confused by the old man's statement, Wang Jin asked, "But why?"

"Because they act in behalf of your name" the old man explained, his voice full of meaning.

Wang Jin looked puzzled, his face showing his confusion as he thought deeply.

Feeling Wang Jin's unease, the old man tried to calm him with a soft voice. "Don't worry, your royal family has gathered goodness for many years, and in this life, all your riches have been given to the heavens. Losing these virtues doesn't matter, as you will be reborn in a new place. You should be thankful..."

"Thankful? For living with crazy people? For having nothing?" Wang Jin's voice grew louder in anger, his beliefs questioned by the old man's point of view.

Coughing softly, the old man felt guilty. "Yes, this is an unexpected situation. A heavenly friend faced challenges, broke through space, and messed up the timeline..."

Even though Wang Jin found it hard to understand the old man's complicated explanations, the sadness from his recent experiences burdened him greatly.

"So, it's not about giving you abilities. Each abilities here could make you happy forever. You just have to pick one, and you'll..." the old man started, trying to convince Wang Jin.

But Wang Jin had lost interest, his thoughts focused on a sudden realization. This old man was here to repay a debt.

Feeling more sure of himself, Wang Jin said confidently, "No more talk. You must pay back what you owe, and I'll take everything!"

The old man blushed with shame, looking annoyed. "Think about what will happen if you're too greedy," he said firmly.

Ignoring the old man's warning, Wang Jin stayed determined. "I know what I'm doing," he said confidently.

The old man went quiet for a moment, then asked, "Any regrets?"

"None at all!" Wang Jin said firmly.

"Okay," the old man smirked, sounding scornful. "Just as I thought, a clever trader who avoids losses. But... it's a pity"

Wang Jin couldn't hear clearly what was said next, he felt many things coming towards him and then vanishing into his body. After that, he felt very dizzy, his eyes lost focus, and he couldn't see clearly.

From a distance, the old man's voice reached Wang Jin, but it sounded muffled and far. "If you want everything, just being part of the Wang family is not enough. I will give you some of each ability. From now on, you will have all the food, medicine, and tools you are familiar with. There are other skills, but you have to find the materials and make them yourself."

With those words gently staying in his mind, Wang Jin slowly woke up, finding himself back in the simple house where his journey had begun. He rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out where he was.

"Was it all a dream?" Wang Jin whispered, feeling confused.

Feeling a slight pain in his body, he gently checked his bruises, noticing that they had reduced but were still visible.

As he stepped out, he spotted the man by the door, surrounded by a pile of weeds. The man gazed at Wang Jin with a blend of curiosity and wariness, causing Wang Jin to approach cautiously.

Watching the man's cautious behavior, Wang Jin frowned a little. "I'm not crazy," he objected, sounding slightly annoyed. "My last name is Wang, and my first name is Jin."

The man stopped for a moment, then smiled slightly. "It looks like the little crazy person is awake." He said, sounding amused.

Rolling his eyes, Wang Jin sighed quietly. It was obvious that the man still didn't believe he was not crazy.

"My name is Yuan Heng," the man said after a pause. "I am your friend."

Wang Jin stared at the man suspiciously, his eyes focused on the piled of weeds. "Friend, huh?" he said, sounding doubtful.

Unfazed by Wang Jin's doubt, Yuan Heng added, "These are plants, gathered for our trip."

Confused by the importance of the plants, Wang Jin's eyes looked at the different types until they found a specific weed with small purple flowers. Suddenly, he remembered something and understood that he had never seen this plant before. However, strangely, he knew exactly what it was.

"This is one of the plants in Bisheng ointment," Wang Jin said.