Waking from the battle Fonta found that he was in absurd amounts of pain. More than when he’d lost to Yang’s grandfather, and past what he’d gone through when he lost his arm. There were more than broken bones and torn muscles. Fonta felt multiple of his organs were damaged to a degree moving would do more harm than good.

“Status.” Fonta thought and scowled as nothing appeared. Remembering that the item belonged to his teacher seconds later.

Fonta attempted to cultivate when a cough came from deep within as blood covered his blanket. As his arms were bound and sealed. “Never again. It was as though I was controlling my body from the outside.”

“So you admit to doing something stupid for once. That’s progress, Great Master Pain.” Yang said without the usual snark,

“What happened?”

“One of the inner branch members of my clan saw you use the clan’s style and since I’m as out as one can get, they believe we somehow stole clan secrets.”

“Bah. Unless, Yang, you didn’t.” Fonta said in a monotone.

“Didn’t what?”

“No idea. Thought you’d confess to all your crimes.”

“I don’t commit crimes.”

“Tell that to the judge.”

“Good news or bad news?”

“Bad, get it over with.”

“You won’t survive the teleportation home in your current condition. Also, cultivation and fighting are banned until you completely recover. Also, should you recover you are expected to be at the marriage contest when it occurs.”

“Of course, as your sect master I should be there.”

“As a participant.They want to marry you into the clan since you likely have a rare talent. Don’t tell them otherwise.”

“Ugh. What are the requirements?”

“Nascent realm by the age of thirty or awakened while over eighteen. You hit yours and I managed to open a fifteenth meridian as well. I will be Awakened before we leave the hospital.”

“Was that the good news?”

“Oh right, you have been asleep for two days.”

“Two days! I need to get out of here.” Fonta tried to roll himself out of bed. Falling to the ground and causing the IV attached to him to fall on top of him.

“Yes, the good news is that your master and other potential sect mates have come here in person. We will be putting the sect down here. Or in this general area? You have maybe a month of free time.”

“What have you done?” A nurse yelled as they saw him crawling towards the door.

“Noooo! You won’t take me alive!” Fonta continued to move towards the door as Yang watched with an embarrassed expression.

The nurse sped up and picked Fonta up with one arm before putting him back in the bed.

Fonta didn’t resist, as the pain of falling opened various wounds and blood had pooled too quickly for him to maintain consciousness.

A needle was pressed into his neck and Fonta slept soundly for a bit.

The next time Fonta awoke he felt much better. The strong-armed nurse eyed him with irritation and disdain. Which made Fonta trust her more.

“So you know, the royal family is paying for your medical bill. So while I don’t mind you staying here. You will need to work quickly otherwise the royal doctor will be replaced. That would be inconvenient, thus I offer you an air cleansing pill.” The nurse pulled out a clear blue container filled with white beads.

“Oxycodone?” Fonta squinted as he read the words on the bottle.

“Air Cleansing PILL.” The nurse stated.

“What does it do?”

“You won’t feel any pain during the healing process. You take the medicine and you get to go.”

“And you won’t send me to a farm?”

“Royal healers don’t do that. Nor do union healers.” The pill was placed in front of him.

Fonta nodded and levitated the pill to his mouth. “Hold my jaw and head.”

The nurse did so and watched as Fonta made an odd face before swallowing.

“That tastes horrible.” Fonta eased free.

“Next time use water.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The nurse knocked on the wall and a white-haired old man with thick prescription glasses and a white beard walked in flicked Fonta on the forehead then left.

Fonta felt an odd sensation as he sat on the bed.

“You can go. Next time don’t jump out of your bed.”

“I don’t feel better.” Fonta said as he sat up and moved his arms. Silently realizing that they weren't hard to move although his legs were still messed up.

“You don’t feel anything.”

Fonta smiled wearily as time lost all meaning. He blinked once and he was in the room alone.

“I hate sitting still.” Fonta stated to no one in particular

Casimar entered what seemed like moments later.

The young man bowed to Fonta’s bedside his arms placed in front of himself. “This one vows to serve you and your sect as a defender until you deem me obsolete. I will be your hammer and shield.” Casimar vowed.

“I hate sitting still.” Fonta stated as he pulled out his book and purchased a wheelchair.

“I understand, sect leader!”

Fonta’s eyes were half closed as he was put in the chair.

“Anything specific?”

“Sleepy. Can’t waste time. Must train.” Fonta stated.

“Yes, I know just the thing.”

The sound of a saxophone could be heard from outside a shop playing a type of melody Fonta didn’t know the genre but it sounded familiar. The smell of coffee wafted through the place Casimar brought Fonta, as the duo felt the sensation enter their systems. Various polished granite tables filled the cafe though the customers were rather relaxed and somewhat sparse at the time.

Fonta was brought to a table and touched the shiny table enjoying the cool and smooth texture.

“Sect leader Fonta, this is my favorite cafe in the city. They serve what is known as Stone Coffee. It's so good, you need to try it yourself.”

“Coffee?” Fonta knew the word but couldn’t place it.

“Yes, 1 moment.” Casimar left and spoke with a woman clad in black behind a counter with a black apron.

Fonta scowled at the woman sensing as though the very building could become a coffin in seconds. Turning his head to the musician, Fonta had seen that saxophone before.

Fonta heard the instrument's voice and felt the sound enter him like a weapon.

“Be at ease, young one. Not everything is as it seems.”

“What does that mean?” Fonta asked.

The musician opened their eyes and looked at Fonta for a brief moment Returning to his performance.

“You have to try it black. Otherwise you won’t understand what you're drinking.”

Fonta took a sip. Then out of instinct, he downed the whole drink at once. After years of living with limited food supplies, Fonta couldn’t waste food. Thus he downed the bitter scalding brew.

“I knew it. Poison.” Fonta collapsed as the caffeine punch put him in a state of exhaustion.

“It’s bitter, some people use cream and sugar to make it palatable. I prefer it black however.”

Fonta didn’t move as he lay down the bitter burning poison running through his system. Then the caffeine kicked in causing Fonta’s eyes to roll upwards as Morpheus came to collect.

“Sect leader Fonta, are you ok?” Casimar moved to wake him when he realized that Fomta was a bit delicate at the moment.

Casimar returned to the barista and asked, expecting to know the answer. “You didn’t slip anything into our cups right?”

The barista looked up, noticed the passed-out customer, and sighed. “Coffee can sometimes put people to sleep. He should be fine.”

“Well that's new information.” Casimar scratched his head.

“But you don’t doubt it?”

“I’m a regular, and he is usually a lot more high energy. I’ll get him back to his room.” Casimar rolled Fonta out of the room.

“Ravens Bride.” Fonta muttered while half asleep. The name of the song being played seemed familiar, but in a different key signature altered rhythm, and some swinging.

Fonta was getting tired of passing out and waking up in different places. Such a situation shouldn’t be normal and yet he was lying on a bed that seemingly wanted to eat him alive by how soft it was.

The room was extravagant, from the burgundy carpet to the wallpaper, portraits, and mirrors. Drapes over the window kept out the sun as various baubles and items made from stone and clay acted as decorations.

Fonta relaxed for a long while before pulling out his book as the pain began to kick back in. He looked inside his book and moved towards the medicine category.

Cold Relief- Removes colds at the source and reduces fever. Takes 2 hours to run through a person's body, comes in a bottle with a plastic cup, and there are 10 uses per bottle. 10,000 Ducks

Ultra Amox- Removes all infections at the source. Takes 30 minutes to trigger. Comes in a pack of 5. Cost 25,000 Ducks.

Regrowth pill- Regrows one limb at peak condition over the course of two hours. This process is very painful. 2 pills per pack, only take 1 per limb. 50,000 Ducks.

Oxy and Co- Removing the sensation of pain for 6 hours costs 4000 ducks first pill, and doubles in price every time it's purchased more than once in 24 hours. Works instantly. Does nothing if the patient is not in pain. Anti-addiction countermeasures.

Regeneration Pill, “Restores body to peak condition during sleep, takes 8-10 hours. Body is restored to its peak condition and all wounds and injuries are regenerated. Limbs are regrown. 100,000 Ducks.”

Restoration Spray- Applies topically to a wound, closing, and cooling simultaneously. 30,000 Ducks 14 pumps.

Stomach relief- Relieves stomach pain and indigestion while clearing out organs. 500 ducks for 20 tablets.

Diagnosing thermometer- Checks internal body temp, and diagnoses diseases, conditions, and sicknesses. 25,000 ducks. Sanitize between uses.

Chi Fix X- Cost 1,000,000 ducks. Removes barriers preventing progression. One purchase every 100 tears. (Note you must collect the tears worth 100ml in jars. They must be real genuine tears. We know the difference. Then at least three people must kowtow and praise the good book for this pill to refresh. Refreshes daily at Book level 2 and becomes permanent at book level 3.)

Scowling Fonta checked his balance and noted he had around 40,000 Ducks saved up.

“Vits, this book is going to rob me blind if I’m not careful. Wait, how did I get so much money!”

The book flipped to a purchase history page, while the names of items were blocked.

User Zara has spent a total of 85,000 Ducks over the past 2 days.

“Ah… Well, she is the only one with an actual job… Or they are pooling their money. How do I get them to spend more of their hard-earned money?

The book flipped to a new page.

Sales

For 5000 credits you can reduce the prices in a category by 5%. You may raise the discount by 1% per 2000 additional ducks, however, the amount you receive from their purchases increases by the same amount. Caps at 95% off. Last 7 days.

Book wide 10% off all items for 30,000 ducks, last 4 days.

Buy Three get One free. For every 3 purchases of a similar item, get the 4th free, the free item must be of an equal or lower value to the other items.

Increase book level to increase sale options.

“Oh these are evil. Make a few more up charged pages and add sales. Oh I’ll be swimming with Ducks.” Fonta rubbed his hands together then hopped off the bed, only to collapse as his legs refused to listen.

There was a knock on the door. “Fonta are you up? I have some news!”

“Fine!” Fonta crawled into his chair. Straightened his clothes and put on a stoic expression.

“What is it?”

“Your master will be here in the month along with the others which means I can help you with your physical therapy. Though you are forbidden from using chi or cultivating.”

“Master’s orders?”

“Right.”

“Ugh. Well, at least we can start by getting me walking. Guess the shoes on the other foot. First disciple.”

“Yes, it is.” Yang said as he started pushing Fonta's chair.