CHAPTER 10: Broken Hands and Feet

The other people in the grand hall also turned to look.

Yu Youyou patted the tail wrapped around her waist—thankfully, it was still well hidden.

“What are you all looking at me for?”

Qi Nanfeng came to his senses first, then stared at Yu Youyou for a long time before muttering, “Doesn’t seem like you changed that much…”

But why hadn’t he recognized her just now?

“She… seems to have a face now,” Su Yizhi, who was sitting nearby, suddenly spoke up. The others seemed to have an epiphany and nodded in agreement.

Previously, Yu Youyou had looked like a blank sheet of paper. It wasn’t that she was simple-minded, but that she resembled a paper effigy—her facial features were shrouded in a lifeless aura, as if a single gust of wind could blow her away.

Now, though she was still small and thin, her expression was much more vibrant. Her pale lips had gained a hint of color, and even her cheeks showed a soft pink hue.

From ghostly to human—her entire aura had changed.

“I’ve always had a face.” Yu Youyou patted her cheeks and sat down, pushing away Qi Nanfeng, who was leaning in for a closer look. “Back off. Did you have zhajiangmian for breakfast? The garlic smell from your mouth is suffocating me.”

Qi Nanfeng was deeply hurt. The fleeting thought of Damn, my bro is kinda cute was instantly extinguished—his bro was still the same old bastard.

“Alright, quiet down,” Elder Wan announced. “Today is your first minor examination since entering the outer sect. You will need to determine the correct proportions of ingredients for a Fasting Pill.”

As Elder Wan spoke, he distributed the exam materials.

Once the medicinal ingredients were in hand, the disciples fell into silence.

Elder Wan raised an eyebrow and carefully observed the students.

It was clear that most of them had practiced handling medicinal ingredients in private. Their actions, while somewhat clumsy, still had a certain method to them.

Among them, the most striking was Su Yizhi. Gone was his usual gentle demeanor—his movements were precise and fluid as he processed the herbs. In contrast, Qi Nanfeng next to him was downright crude, grinding medicinal powders as if he were plowing a field.

And as for Yu Youyou…

Elder Wan frowned and scolded, “Yu Youyou! What are you doing eating a steamed bun during an exam?!”

Rather than stop, Yu Youyou stuffed the rest of the bun into her mouth even faster and swallowed it in two bites, her expression unchanged. “Elder Wan, I’m finished with the exam.”

Elder Wan was so furious he almost choked. “Yu Youyou, get out and stand outside for self-reflection!”

Yu Youyou didn’t argue. She grabbed two more buns from under the table, then obediently walked outside to stand in punishment.

She really wasn’t trying to provoke Elder Wan. For some reason, she had been feeling unbearably hungry since this morning. She had already eaten five steamed buns, yet she still felt empty.

Unfortunately, Elder Wan didn’t know about Yu Youyou’s predicament. The normally good-tempered elder was truly angry today. When Qu Qingmiao arrived, he pointed at Yu Youyou’s figure outside the hall and complained, “You said before that this girl has a good temperament, but I think she just needs a good beating!”

Qu Qingmiao was puzzled—she had always thought Yu Youyou was a well-behaved child. “What did she do?”

“She’s gotten arrogant ever since she took first place in the entrance examination! Eating during class is one thing, but now she’s slacking off on the exams too,” Elder Wan fumed, tapping rapidly on the medicine box Yu Youyou had submitted. “She claimed to have finished preparing the medicinal ingredients in just half a cup of tea’s time! Even an inner sect disciple wouldn’t dare say they’re this familiar with the Fasting Pill’s formula!”

Elder Wan was beside himself with frustration. “She’s got a death wish! If she really gets expelled from Pill Cauldron Sect, and that crazy girl comes after her again, who’s going to protect her?”

“Let me take a look.” Qu Qingmiao took the medicine box.

After just a single glance, the furrow in her brow gradually relaxed.

“Elder Wan, you don’t need to worry about her getting expelled and being killed.”

“Hm?”

Qu Qingmiao handed the medicine box back. “See for yourself.”

Elder Wan had been too busy being angry earlier to take a closer look, but now, after carefully examining for a moment, he was suddenly stunned.

Even though the small assessment prohibited the use of scales, the weight of the medicinal ingredients in the medicine box matched the recipe down to the last fraction. The precision was impeccable—practically a perfect standard example!

“This… What an astonishing talent!” Elder Wan sucked in a breath of cold air. “So she is the true pillar of our Pill Cauldron Sect’s future?!”

However, Qu Qingmiao’s expression remained solemn.

She let out a long sigh and gazed toward the hall entrance, where Yu Youyou seemed to be having another nosebleed. Qi Nanfeng beside her was flustered, hastily stuffing cotton to stop the bleeding.

“She may spend her entire life in the outer courtyard, tending to medicinal fields and processing herbs,” Qu Qingmiao said with a hint of regret in her voice. “To enter the inner sect and learn to refine spiritual pills, one must possess spiritual power. Wood-type spiritual power, which harmonizes with herbs, and fire-type spiritual power, which controls flames, are particularly suited for pill refinement.”

“You had your eye on Su Yizhi earlier because he possesses fire-type spiritual power. Qi Nanfeng has wood-type spiritual power.”

“But that child, Yu Youyou… Based on the test results, her spiritual meridians are completely shattered. I’m afraid she will never be able to control spiritual power and become a true pill cultivator in this lifetime.”

….

Yu Youyou had no idea that someone was feeling regretful on her behalf—she only wanted food.

Fortunately, the Pill Cauldron Sect’s dining hall was free for disciples. She filled her stomach until it was round and even packed a bag full of steamed buns to take with her.

With a day off after the assessment, Yu Youyou planned to go to the black market to make some money.

Familiarity breeds confidence. Dressed in black and wearing her black mask once again, Yu Youyou stepped into the black market. This time, she was far less nervous than before.

Last time, she and Qi Nanfeng had only bought herbs from the outermost area and left. But as she ventured deeper, she discovered stalls selling all kinds of spiritual artifacts and treasures. At the farthest edge stood an enormous wall stretching endlessly into the distance, densely covered with crude and aggressive notices—

“A bounty of 100 spirit stones for the head of Phantom Concubine, the demoness of Hollow Mountain. Payment upon delivery.”

“Seeking teammates to explore the Ancestor’s Cave at Qishan. Profit split nine-to-one—I’ll take nine, you take one. If you don’t like it, come fight me.”

…

Yu Youyou, accustomed to the peaceful life of a pill cultivator, twitched at the sight. The rough, lawless lifestyle of these black-market rogue cultivators instantly reminded her of the chaotic, post-apocalyptic world she once knew.

But the black market had rules—no killing. She wasn’t afraid.

Too short to see the notices, she tiptoed to try and get a better view.

Just then, a burly man passing by grabbed her by the collar and lifted her effortlessly.

“Got a clear look now?” the man asked gruffly.

Yu Youyou quickly scanned the area. All the postings were about assassination or treasure hunting—not her thing.

“Yes, all done. Thank you.”

The man set her back down. “What are you thanking me for, your ancestors?”

“…”

Yu Youyou looked up. She had noticed many demon cultivators in the black market earlier, but she hadn’t expected this man to be one as well. Large, pitch-black wings sprouted from his back, and his dark mask had a crudely drawn, gaping blood-red mouth on it.

The demon cultivator cursed. “What are you staring at? Never seen a demon before? Gonna cry from fright?”

Yu Youyou shook her head. Actually, she found this demon cultivator rather helpful.

“No, I was just wondering—where can I make some spirit stones?”

Her attitude was sincere, but her shamelessness was undeniable. “Preferably something that doesn’t require much effort but pays well.”

“Heh.” The demon’s wings rustled slightly, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. “Easy money with little effort? Sure, there is such a thing—just depends on whether you dare to do it!”

A moment later, Yu Youyou found herself being unceremoniously thrown into a noisy high-rise building.

She picked herself up and took a look around. In the center of the hall stood a fighting ring, where two combatants were locked in a fierce battle.

A spray of blood arced through the air, narrowly missing Yu Youyou’s head. If she hadn’t been so short, she would’ve been drenched.

The match ended quickly. The loser, clutching a broken arm, tumbled off the stage, while the winner—missing a leg—still laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! I won! These 300 spirit stones are mine!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and jeers. Someone picked up the severed leg and tossed it around like a trophy before it finally rolled to a stop at Yu Youyou’s feet.

“…”

A disturbing sense of familiarity washed over her. Wasn’t this just like the brutal, life-or-death underground fight rings of the apocalypse?

The winged demon cultivator folded his arms and sneered. “You wanted quick money? Stop dreaming and get up there and fight. Don’t worry, no one’s allowed to kill here.”

His voice dropped to a sinister tone as he leaned closer, the gaping red mouth on his mask almost touching her.

“But breaking arms and legs? That happens all the time.” He chuckled darkly. “Scared now? Get lost and go cry to your mother—this isn’t a place for little brats like you.”

Yu Youyou remained silent.

The demon cultivator expected her to be terrified and run away. Instead, to his utter bewilderment—

“Thank you for the warning, big brother.”

She actually… thanked him?

Just as the winged demon was about to scare her further, she suddenly crouched down, picked up the severed leg, and hoisted it onto her shoulder.

Thanks to all the years she had spent wielding a hoe, carrying someone else’s leg was practically effortless.

The entire fighting ring fell into stunned silence. Every single person in the crowd stared at the tiny figure carrying the severed limb as if they had just seen a ghost.

Even the owner of the leg narrowed his eyes, his post-battle bloodlust still lingering.

Just as everyone expected the little runt to be thrown out, she quickly spoke up first.

“Need a leg reattachment? Special discount today—only 100 spirit stones.”

In the apocalypse, it was common for people to lose limbs, which led to an advanced level of reattachment surgery. It wasn’t unusual for someone to hop into an operating room with a severed leg and walk out with both feet intact.

The man with the missing leg didn’t respond right away. He was wearing a mask, so Yu Youyou couldn’t see his expression—she just assumed he thought the price was too high.

So she patiently explained, “Limb reattachment is a specialized skill. If you go to an amateur rogue healer, you’ll likely end up disabled. If you want a professional healer from the Pill Cauldron Sect, their services are excellent—but expensive. Reattaching a leg costs 100 spirit stones, pain relief is another 100, and with all the necessary follow-up pills, you’re looking at least 1,000 spirit stones.”

“And my skills are top-notch, with fair prices for all.” Yu Youyou proudly gave herself a thumbs-up. “Only a hundred!”

She turned to the defeated fighter below the stage, the one who had lost a hand, and enthusiastically called out, “If you want me to reattach it, it’s the same price for you!”

The one with the severed leg let out a cold snort, looking down at her as if he had just discovered some particularly amusing fool.

“There are plenty of scammers in the black market, but you’re the first one I’ve seen who dares to swindle people at such a young age.”

“We healers never deceive. If I say I can reattach it, then I absolutely can.” Yu Youyou waved her hand dismissively, her casual tone shifting into something more serious.

“And if you fail?”

“Fail?” Yu Youyou repeated, patting her own leg nonchalantly. “If I fail, I’ll compensate you with one of my own.”

The one who had lost his hand gritted his teeth, visibly tempted.

He only had a hundred spirit stones left. If what this little runt said was true, that amount wasn’t nearly enough to hire a proper medical cultivator. After all, healers were exceedingly rare, and Pill Cauldron Sect disciples wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.

With his hand severed, much of his cultivation was crippled. Earning more spirit stones would be nearly impossible.

“If you hesitate too long, the chance to reattach it will be lost.” Yu Youyou kindly reminded him.

At those words, the man’s head snapped up.

A gambler at heart—how could he refuse another bet?

He leaped onto the stage, standing before Yu Youyou.

A shadow loomed over her.

“Thud.”

With a dull sound, a bloodied severed arm and a pouch of spirit stones landed in Yu Youyou’s arms at the same time.

“The spirit stones are yours. But if you fail to reattach my arm today…” The man’s voice was chilling. “I’ll take both of your hands in return.”