3. Silver moves people's hearts

Lu Yao returned to his own room, ready to activate the Dimensional Door.

His room was quite secluded, far from the main house, reflecting the propriety of gender separation. But it allowed him to avoid prying eyes.

Lu Yao closed the doors and windows and called out in his mind, "Star Key, open the Dimensional Door!"

[Command confirmed, Dimensional Door opening]

A vortex-like "light door" around ten square meters in size appeared. Lu Yao felt that it more closely resembled a "transportation array".

Stepping through the light door, after a very brief sensation of weightlessness, he was already back in the Blue Star hospital room.

"Back at the hospital... it seems that the door opens back to the same place it was opened from."

He donned his long-missed clothes, turned on his smartphone which hadn't been used in who knows how long, and the experiences before felt like a dream, yet there was a glimmer of hope!

Lu Yao clenched his teeth and said, "Zhang Xin, you just wait! And thanks for the Star Key you sent me!"

He ran a small logistics company inherited from his parents when Zhang Xin came to him to talk business.

Finding the transport of several hundred tons of cold medicine too suspicious, he firmly refused. But he didn't expect the man to be so venomous!

~~~~~~~~

Taking advantage of the lasting effects of the acupuncture, Lu Yao hurriedly took action.

Silver on Blue Star was not only much cheaper than in the Otherworld, but one could buy it without even leaving the house.

Online shopping was very convenient in modern society, and in a rush, one could search for local businesses and have the owners deliver directly to the door.

Lu Yao used a shopping app to find a local silver shop in the city. He spent 5,000 yuan to buy 1 kilogram of pure silver, which was about 20 taels.

He asked the shop to cut it into various sizes and left a message saying, "Boss, I urgently need the silver, can you deliver it today?"

The other party immediately replied, "I've seen your order. We're not far from each other, I'll deliver it right away."

"Thanks a lot!"

"Don't mention it, just leave a good review with a photo~"

"No problem!"

The entire shopping process took less than 10 minutes, and now all he had to do was wait for the delivery.

To avoid drawing attention, Lu Yao quietly left the hospital and took a taxi back home, leaving his home address as the delivery address as well.

No sooner had he arrived home than his phone rang. As it happened, he and the deliveryman arrived at the same time.

The 20 taels of silver were only as big as a fist, cut into exquisitely shaped silver ingots, glistening in the sunlight.

After checking the goods, Lu Yao brought them back home. By then, he was drenched in cold sweat, his back completely soaked.

Sitting on the couch and catching his breath for a while brought some relief.

"My body now is worse than that of a three-year-old child."

He only realized the value of something once he had lost it, and Lu Yao missed his once healthy body immensely.

"At least heaven didn't seal all exits, leaving me a slim chance of survival!"

"But... I'm out of money..."

Lu Yao frowned tightly—there were only 6,000 yuan left in his bank account!

He was not born into wealth, and to raise money for treatment, he had sold the company to relatives long ago. But cancer was a bottomless pit, beyond what ordinary people can handle, and there was no money left at home.

"Let's focus on staying alive first; this money should last me a while."

Putting aside his concerns for the moment, Lu Yao activated the Dimensional Door and returned to the Otherworld with the silver.

~~~~~~~~

As the transportation ended, the Dimensional Door immediately disappeared.

Lu Yao pushed open the door and faintly heard the shouts of martial arts training.

"Hey!"

"Ha!"

"Put some strength in, hold the stance!"

In the Liao Family Boxing Gym, the daily morning training had already begun.

Today Master Liao was dressed in a dark, form-fitting martial outfit, revealing the figure of a person well-practiced in martial arts: slender waist, long legs, round buttocks, and with a full chest, truly displaying an admirable physique.

Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, was also in the boxing squad, but she was frequently distracted and daydreaming, earning her several lashes on her ample bottom from her sister's rattan cane.

"That damned brat, said he was going home to get money... Didn't run away, did he!? Could it be that I really misjudged him! Damn it! My money!!!"

Last night, Lu Yao hadn't returned home, which had left her terrified that she might have been swindled out of her services.

The male disciples couldn't stop sneaking glances at her, harboring thoughts about this beautiful "little martial sister."

In reality, they would have preferred to ogle their master, but they didn't dare. The master was an Organ Refining Warrior and could sense their gazes.

Just at that moment, a thin young man approached; it was Lu Yao.

Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, widened her almond eyes and approached with murderous intent, baring her teeth, "You dare deny the consultation fee..."

As this little tiger was about to pounce and rip him apart, Lu Yao timely threw something shiny her way.

Liao Qe caught it instinctively, freezing on the spot.

"What is this beautiful and shiny thing? Let me have a taste~"

The little money-grubber took the metal strip the size of her little finger and bit into it, the intoxicating texture told her—it was silver of extremely high purity!

The strong bodily control of a martial artist instantly judged its weight—1 tael!!!

That was 10,000 copper yuan! At the moment, Liao Qe was rolling on the ground and dancing in her inner world:

"A year's tuition at the martial arts school is 100 copper, this silver is like 100 years of tuition fees! Young Master Lu is really rich! I did not misjudge him after all! Ahahaha!"

Seeing the girl standing there dumbfounded, Lu Yao waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Hey, hey, what's wrong with you? Do you think this is enough for the consultation fee?"

Liao Qe regained her senses and casually flicked her hair.

She had been all wide-eyed and furious, but in the brief moment of covering her face while flicking her hair, she instantly turned into a sprightly fairy.

In a coquettish voice, she said, "Young Master Lu, you didn't return all night, I was so worried~"

"I'm sorry for making you worry, it was my fault, here's another one for you," said Lu Yao, tossing another ingot of silver her way.

This one was much bigger than the last, its silvery brilliance dazzling Liao Qe's eyes.

With a thud, she was hit squarely on the forehead, then she clutched it tightly in her hand to confirm—10 taels of silver!!!

The silver ingot bore the auspicious bas-relief of a carp, lifelike in detail. Liao Qe couldn't believe it and felt as if she was in a dream:

"This 10 taels of silver... Is it really... for me? It's like a thousand years of tuition for a disciple... He just gave it to me?"

Having spent half of the 20 taels of silver he brought in one go, Lu Yao remained unflustered and nodded with a smile, "Yes, it's for you, it's yours now."

He was genuinely grateful for this charming girl's lifesaving grace.

The little money-grubber stared blankly with a silly smile, a clear trail of drool visible at the corner of her mouth.

Just then, Liao Ya came over, giving her sister a thump on the head, "Snap out of it! Don't embarrass yourself!"

Then she said to Lu Yao, "Young Master Lu, it was just a few acupuncture sessions, it didn't need so much..."

While she spoke, she tried to take the silver from her sister's hand. The dignity of a strong person, good upbringing, and kind nature made her reluctant to accept such a "huge" amount of silver.

But Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, immediately clutched it tightly, letting out a piercing scream, "No, this is mine!!!"

Liao Ya's pretty face turned frosty as she sternly said, "Liao Qe! Have you forgotten father's teachings? A martial artist must never covet! We must not take money that isn't ours!"

Lu Yao hadn't expected this to be a girl with principles and persistence, so he quickly said, "Master Liao, this is my sincere gratitude."

Liao Qe also whispered, "Sister, you need a lot of money to advance to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm..."

At these words, Liao Ya's body stiffened, and her movements slowed down.

Seizing the moment, Lu Yao clasped his hands together earnestly, "I'm the kind of person who hates owing others favors. I'm more anxious to repay a debt than take revenge. Please take it, don't refuse."

His words were sincere, and since Liao Ya hadn't managed to take the silver away after trying for so long, it was no longer polite to refuse. She allowed her sister to keep it, saying somewhat bashfully, "You've gone to great expense, Young Master Lu."

"Not at all, I'll still need to trouble you to care for my illness," he replied.

Blushing, the sister exchanged pleasantries with Lu Yao, still feeling like she had taken advantage of him and somewhat embarrassed. She then said to her sister, "Quickly go get a portion of the tonic from the school for the young master."

Liao Qe nodded, "It's being prepared, it'll be ready to eat in a bit."

"A tonic?" Lu Yao's eyes lit up.