Chapter 7:

“Half a month ago, a batch of spotted inferior purple grass were delivered to the East District rental house.”

“A week ago, the wood processing factory received 20 boxes of high-quality purple grass ointment.”

“Subsequently, 300 boxes of the same quality purple grass ointment appeared on the trading market and were sold out at an extremely fast rate,” reported Zuo Xin, the close aide.

“How big was the batch?” asked Lu Ming.

“30 plants,” replied Zuo Xin.

“30 plants produced 320 boxes of purple grass ointment?” Lu Ming sneered, “If I’m not mistaken, the major pharmacies in the camp, using good quality purple grass, can only produce 7-9 boxes of purple grass ointment per plant, with 10 boxes being the upper limit.”

“Stagnation and self-satisfaction, no wonder there’s always a shortage of purple grass.”

“Perhaps they made improvements, adjusted the proportions,” speculated Zuo Xin.

Before Lu Ming could speak, a sharp pain struck. He clutched his forehead, frowning deeply.

“Sir, is your headache recurring? Shall I fetch the doctor to have a look for you?”

“If they could cure it, the symptoms wouldn’t recur,” gritted Lu Ming, fighting the intense pain with sheer willpower.

“Half a month ago, when you just returned to the camp, the symptoms had clearly eased a bit, why have they worsened again during this time?” Zuo Xin was completely puzzled.

The headache came in waves.

After enduring the most difficult moments, Lu Ming’s expression softened, a bit of color returning to his face. “Increase the manpower, secretly protect Yun Shan. This person is very important to me, absolutely nothing can happen to her.”

How did he come to know about Yun Shan, skilled in making ointments living alone in the East District rental house, and why did he call her “Yun Shan”?

Zuo Xin glanced at Lu Ming but didn’t ask anything, and instead replied, “Yes.”

***

Miachun Hall.

A new batch of purple grass ointment, priced at 12 points, was restocked and put up for sale, yet there were very few buyers.

Two days later, Manager Lin couldn’t sit still. “In the past, when the clinic had purple grass ointment for sale, it would be sold out by the morning. What’s been happening lately? The sales are getting worse day by day!”

Steward Zhang explained, “In the past, the major clinics were out of stock, allowing the unlicensed doctors who operate in the shadows to take advantage, selling 300 boxes in one go.”

“Recently… maybe people don’t need purple grass ointment as much, so business has slowed down a bit.”

“After some time, when the stock at home runs out, it will be back to the way it was before.”

Manager Lin sensed that something was amiss. “300 boxes? Where did the raw materials come from?”

The purple grass produced in the Red Maple Camp are all controlled by the major pharmacies. Residents have purchase limits, with a maximum of 1 plant per month.

Even if they knew the formula, without the purple grass, they couldn’t produce the herbal ointment.

300 boxes, at a rate of 8 boxes per plant, would require nearly 40 plants. For an ordinary person, without support from any other factions, where could they possibly obtain so many purple grass?

“Send people to investigate, we must get to the bottom of this,” said Manager Lin in a solemn tone.

“Yes,” Steward Zhang replied, gritting his teeth.

Just now, he hadn’t told the whole truth. The residents were not only temporarily not in need of purple grass ointment, they also had high praises for the products selling well on the trading market, and had some complaints about the products made by Miachun Hall.

The reason is simple. Selling at a high price without being as effective as the cheaper ones from other stores, isn’t it a bit unscrupulous?

As these sentiments spread, the number of customers visiting the clinic notably decreased.

However, Steward Zhang didn’t dare to directly tell the manager these things. He still harbored a glimmer of hope—ordinary people don’t manage herb gardens, so they don’t have a long-term, stable channel for obtaining high-quality herbs.

Even if the quality of the purple grass ointment sold at the trading market is excellent, without the means to produce it, it lacks competitiveness.

By that time, he hoped everything would return to normal.

***

With a bit of wealth at hand, Yun Shan exchanged her basic attire for comfortable new clothes.

Meanwhile, Feng Yao, after receiving his share, quit his job at the lumberyard that day. “What are your plans for the future?” he asked.

“I haven’t figured it out yet,” replied Yun Shan.

“What about the purple grass ointment? Will you continue making it?”

“I’d like to, but I don’t have the materials.”

“Can’t you buy them at the pharmacy?”

“There’s a purchase limit.”

“Will you go out to the wilderness to gather them? What about taking on missions at the mission hall?”

“Gathering them myself is time-consuming and dangerous. Taking on missions at the mission hall will likely turn into a price war,” Yun Shan calmly analyzed.

Feng Yao fell silent.

Easily earning over a thousand points in half a month, he was deeply reluctant to give up this business. But what could he do? He couldn’t help with the medicine-making, and the supply of purple grass was limited.

If only he could obtain another batch of raw materials.

Feng Yao fell into deep thought.

The purple grass ointment has been discontinued, yet the matter continues to ferment.

Sometime back, the purple grass ointment sold in the trading market was called “premium purple grass ointment.” Due to its high quality and low price, it has been increasingly favored by numerous NPCs.

The business of the medical stores and pharmacies has been more or less affected, with Miachun Hall being the most impacted.

According to Mr. Zhao, the person in charge of the lumberyard, “After using the premium purple grass ointment, using anything else feels subpar.”

No one else matches its itch-stopping effect.

Its swelling reduction is faster than others’.

In comparison, everything else seems inferior.

The head of the Miachun Hall felt secretly furious, but the product just doesn’t sell well anymore. Sales have dropped significantly, and there’s no way to recover.

Previously, the purple grass ointment was the star product in the store, constantly being snatched up. Now, even after being displayed until closing time, not even a third of the stock has been sold.

On the other hand, hearing that player-crafted items are selling well has lifted many people’s spirits.

Is this the victory of the premium purple grass ointment?

No, this is the victory of the players!

Some people have suddenly seen the light, “Work? What work? Let’s start a business.”

Pressed by life, after entering the game, either one has a part-time job or is on the way to getting one, and there’s no time to properly explore the camp.

Now inspired, many players have quit their jobs and started their own businesses.

So, when wandering around, Yun Shan saw many businesses present unlike before, there are people selling egg rolls, rice cakes, and meat buns by the street, and the variety of food has increased more than a little.

Yun Shan bought a portion of each and tasted them all.

The egg rolls were light, thin, and crispy, the rice cakes were soft, fragrant, and not sticky, and the meat buns had a crispy outer layer, and the meat inside was fragrant and delicious, making one want to eat a second one after finishing the first.

Yun Shan indulged and found it hard to leave.

***

Fur shop.

Five gray-named players and one white-named player haggled with an NPC, “This wolfhound is a two-star! It’s the leader of a pack of six one-star wolfhounds. 130 points is too little, can’t you add a bit more?”

The NPC remained indifferent, “You see for yourself. The fur is messy, dry, and lacks luster; the eyes are lifeless, and the body is as thin as a rail; the howl is weak and feeble, clearly sick from before getting injured. It’s riddled with injuries now. Will you buy it for meat or to make a fur coat? It’s useless, why buy it?”

The daily trade of beasts at the Red Maple Camp is huge, and the NPC doesn’t care about a poorly presented two-star wolfhound.

He waved his hand impatiently, saying, “I said 130 points, it’s 130 points. Sell it or forget it.”

The six individuals looked at each other, momentarily at a loss.

Just then, Yun Shan entered the shop. “I’ll offer 160 points. Can I have it?”

“Quite the discerning eye, you know it’s not easy to capture a two-star wolfhound…” Someone began to heap praise, hoping to raise the price for the beast.

Little did they know—

Yun Shan: “If you add money, I won’t buy it.”

A deathly silence ensued.

After a few seconds, the white-named player decisively stated, “Deal.”

The two-star wolfhound was pure black and of medium size.

At this moment, it lay half-dead on the ground, as if barely clinging to life, yet its eyes were filled with vigilance.

Yun Shan gently touched the wolfhound’s rough fur around its neck, showing no aversion to the coarse texture. “Good, come with me.”

The two-star wolfhound seemed to be pacified, its vigilant gaze easing as it allowed Yun Shan to hold it without resistance.

On the way back home, Yun Shan calculated in her mind.

At the start of the game, the power distribution of NPCs at the Red Maple Camp was roughly 65% one-star, 30% two-star, 5% three-star, and the sole four-star powerhouse, Lu Ming.

Once the two-star creature’s injuries healed and with accompanying protection, its safety was reasonably assured.

If carefully nurtured to level up to three stars, it would be even safer.

Yun Shan herself possessed the talent of “affinity,” unafraid of creatures being untamed or disobedient. The only consideration for her was where to find creatures with great potential, fast leveling, and cultivation value.

***

Back at the rented house, Yun Shan placed the two-star wolfhound on the table, then brought some clean water to tend to its wounds.

The creature was quite dirty, with fur matted together due to bloodstains. It had bruises on its body, somewhat concealed by its black fur.

After cleaning it up, Yun Shan applied the purple grass ointment to its wounds.

The ointment had the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. The camp’s NPCs mainly used it to treat minor redness, insect bites, and itching, but it was also effective for bruises and bumps.

As she applied the ointment to the bruised areas, Yun Shan softly reassured the creature, “If you’re tired, just sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be fine.”

Cannot sleep!

In this unfamiliar environment, the only one you can rely on is youself.

Once asleep, you may never wake up again.

The two-star wolfhound repeatedly cautioned itself.

Yet, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, its eyelids grew heavy, and the whispers around seemed like a lullaby. In no time, it drifted into slumber, peacefully falling asleep.

Upon waking up, its wounds had already been dressed.

In front of it was a bowl containing shredded steamed buns, chicken breast, diced radishes, emitting a delightful fragrance.

“From now on, your name is Dahei, and you’ll live with me,” Yun Shan patted Dahei’s head, earnestly saying, “I often go out, so you’ll be in charge at home. If you encounter strangers, just drive them away, no need to harm anyone. Do you understand?”

In this warm abode, with warm food, free from worrying about its own safety and constantly vigilant, Dahei was extremely content with the new environment.

It licked Yun Shan’s fingers, a sign of acknowledgment—understood.

***

After settling the creature, Yun Shan logged out of the game.

【Today’s total online time: 240 minutes (4 hours), limit reached.】

【Your physical condition is detected to be good.】

【Starting tomorrow, daily online time +1 hour (total 5 hours).】

【Please players, balance work and rest, and play games moderately.】

Yun Shan thought about how she had been sleeping less lately, feeling better, stronger, and having improved memory. She realized that her physical fitness had improved, and her consciousness projection could be sustained for a longer time, hence the increase in online time.