Cultivation Isn't Everything

Ji Min caught the robe with a swipe of his hands and checked it out; the robe had images of several black dragons in different poses embroidered onto it, and it looked very expensive.

Ji Min wore the robe before heading towards the gazebo where they all ate in silence before retreating to their rooms for the rest of the day.

The next day, Old Lao and Ji Min met at the gazebo, and Ji Min, as per Sensei's suggestion spent an hour revealing everything that happened to him the night before whilst leaving some crucial bits out of it.

For example; he had claimed that the cells in his body seemed to have adapted to the Tranquil Poison and that it might be the reason why he could absorb its venoms to temper his body and increase his strength.

"Hmm; perhaps you are the only person alive who could do that. After all, anyone else would need a cultivation technique unique to the Tranquil Poisoning." Old Lao had inferred after hearing all that Ji Min had to say.

"Master Lao; about the fruits…?" Ji Min said, scratching his head with an awkward smile.

"Don't think too much about it, I am not going to take them to my grave. Furthermore, there is an important matter we need to discuss, but it can wait till you return." Old Lao added with a sigh.

"Return? Do you want me to leave?" Ji Min was stunned.

"You don't want to?" Old Lao asked in surprise but Ji Min simply went quiet in thought.

"Old Li would be coming to take you back in three days; it seems your grandfather and his wingmen miss you a lot." Old Lao revealed;

"Moreover, I think he is also planning something big and it seems you would be needed." He added before taking a sip from his herbal teacup.

Ji Min sighed when he heard he would be leaving so soon, but after thinking about it for a while, he realized that he also missed his grandfather as well.

"Don't worry, you can return once you're done with your duties back at home; after all, Little Ming and Little Qing seem to have taken a liken to you." Old Lao said with a smirk whilst Ji Min simply gave an awkward chuckle.

The duo talked for a while about different matters and no matter how much Ji Min pushed Old Lao to talk about the important matter; the latter simply said when the time was right, he would tell him everything.

Ji Min spent the remaining three days talking with Old Lao, hanging out with the twin sisters, and fixing the destruction he had caused when scampering around for energy to feed on.

On the third day, Master Li arrived as Old Lao had said to take him back to the Yun Empire.

Ji Min said his goodbyes to the trio but the twins were a little unwilling to part with him; especially Little Qing who had her head down all through, but the dejected aura she was giving off told Ji Min everything she wanted to say.

Ji Min had to promise her that he would return once he was done with his duties back at home, and it was only then that the little girl looked up at him with teary eyes.

"Alright, it's time to leave." Master Li said whilst having a brief talk with Old Lao.

Ji Min could guess that they were talking about his progress and the process involved in curing him as well as all the possible scenarios that happened during that time; after all, they were both physicians who spent their time researching any unique case that came their way.

"Once everything is done, if you can bring him back, just send word and I will come to pick him up." Old Lao turned to Master Li who shook his head.

"Aren't you supposed to ask for permission from his people first?" The latter replied with an amused smirk.

"Don't worry about that; the kid would do all that by himself; moreover, I and his grandfather had a deal." Old Lao casually answered before they then joined Ji Min and the twin sisters who were having their talk a little distance away.

After saying their final goodbyes, Master Li, just like Old Lao, whipped out a flying sword and after Ji Min boarded it, they shot off into the distance as the tears Little Qing had been holding back finally fell down her face.

Old Lao sighed at the sight before patting her on the head;

"That kid is very talented and even I can't gauge his potential; to stand by his side and be able to have him stay by your side or you by his, you have to show a potential that matches up to his."

"But currently, even if they combined both of your talents, it still wouldn't be able to match up to his.

I'm not saying this to sadden you further, but to let you understand how much effort and hard work you will need to make that happen." Old Lao said before looking towards the direction where Master Li had shot off towards.

"But what if we can't match up to him in terms of cultivation?" Little Qing asked with a trembling tone;

"Silly brat, whoever told you cultivation is the only way to be valuable?" Old Lao flicked her head softly.

"Take me for example; I am just a Peak Qi Sea stage expert who is scared of entering the core formation because of the tribulation I would have to face, but still there are a few people within the Tian Li Empire that would dare antagonize me." Old Lao revealed;

"As a master physician and alchemist, I am very much valuable to not only the King but the Emperor himself, otherwise with the innumerable Peak Qi Sea Stage expert at their disposal, they might not even spare me a glance.

So even if you don't have a high cultivation power, you simply have to find other ways with which you can become a very important person to those who do." Old Lao then left, leaving the girls to brood over his words and come to a decision.

Master Li and Ji Min's return trip took three full days as they had to take many detours due to Master Li, who had some unfinished business with his contact.

After all, unlike Old Lao, Master Li was someone who loved to help people a lot, and as a result, he was always actively sought out by nobles and even ordinary citizens a lot.

The duo arrived at the Yun Empire around noon, and by the evening, the town of the Southern Ji Family came into view as Ji Min took in a deep breath to calm his anxious emotions.

He had been able to pass as Ji Tang's grandson because the latter had been too worried and preoccupied with finding a cure for his condition to spot any changes in his temperament, but now, Ji Min knew that things has changed.