Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1 Coercion
"Don't make a sound, or I'll kill you!"
A raspy voice hissed into his ear, accompanied by a sharp prick against the back of Li Shiming’s neck.
He was being held at weapon-point!
It had never crossed his mind that a simple stroll through his own garden—the backyard of the Nanling Prefecture magistrate’s residence—would lead to him being kidnapped.
"Do not do anything reckless. I have no desire to harm you; I only need your assistance with a few matters!" the hoarse voice added.
Li Shiming froze, not daring to move an inch. As the stranger pressed closer, the pungent scent of blood filled his nostrils.
The captor was satisfied with his cooperation, noting that the boy lacked the typical foolhardiness of most scholars. Had there been any alternative, he wouldn't have chosen to threaten the magistrate's son.
"May I ask what it is you require of me?" Li Shiming inquired, forcing himself to remain calm.
"Mr. Li, before you do anything for me, you must first consume this pill!" the intruder said, withdrawing the blade slightly.
A hand stained with blood then held a dark pill up to Li Shiming’s face.
Li Shiming felt a jolt of alarm upon hearing the man use his name. The fact that the kidnapper knew his identity yet still dared to act suggested either a desperate recklessness or extreme confidence.
Even though the stinging sensation at his throat had ceased, he didn't dare fight back. His current body was merely that of a fifteen-year-old scholar. Aside from the rhythmic calisthenics he had practiced during his school days in his previous life, he possessed no combat training whatsoever.
He accepted the pill from the blood-streaked hand and, without pausing to examine it, tossed it into his mouth and swallowed.
Of course, he wasn't so submissive as to actually digest a mysterious pill. The moment he swallowed, he used his mind to divert the object into a hidden storage space.
This storage space was a unique dimension that had crossed over with him.
Three days after waking up in this world, he had discovered this realm. It was strangely fused with the computer room of the university he had attended in his past life.
Whenever Li Shiming focused on the storage space, his consciousness would be pulled inside.
The heart of the space consisted of four large IBM z15 server cabinets. Next to them stood a dedicated uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and a cabinet filled with maintenance tools was positioned against the far wall.
Because the UPS had long since run out of power, the massive IBM z15 servers were currently nothing more than expensive decorations.
However, he had realized the area functioned perfectly as a storage dimension where he could stash any physical object he touched.
Watching Li Shiming swallow the pill, the man behind him let out a sigh of relief.
Li Shiming’s status made him the perfect tool. While anyone else might draw suspicion while trying to obtain the necessary items, no one would question what a Young Master like Mr. Li chose to buy.
"Young master, that was a Three-day Soul-breaking Pill. If the antidote isn't taken within seventy-two hours, your body will begin to decay until you die. Do not waste your time seeking medical help; even if you provided the formula for the Three-day Soul-breaking Pills to the most renowned doctors in Nanling, they couldn't synthesize a cure in just three days!" After the sound of a longsword sliding into its scabbard, the hoarse voice spoke again.
"Am I permitted to turn around? I find it difficult to converse like this," Li Shiming said, his voice low and steady.
"The young master has quite the brave spirit!" the man remarked, stepping back.
Li Shiming turned to find a middle-aged man whose left arm had been amputated. The stump was wrapped in bandages, though fresh red stains were already soaking through the fabric.
A memory quickly surfaced—something his servant Mo Yan had mentioned regarding a major incident. Just yesterday at the Tianxiang Building, a swordsman in white had slaughtered seven captains from the Weiyuan Escort Agency. Only Chief Escort Wang had escaped with his life.
Crucially, it was reported that Chief Escort Wang’s left arm had been lopped off by the man in white during his flight.
"Chief Escort Wang, perhaps you could explain exactly what you need me to do?" Li Shiming asked, his tone grave.
Chief Escort Wang showed little surprise at being recognized.
As the magistrate's son, it was only natural for the boy to be informed about local news, particularly an event as explosive as the massacre at Tianxiang Building.
"I hold no personal grudge against you, young master. If you assist me, I swear to the heavens that I will provide the antidote. I only resorted to poisoning you because I was cornered!" Chief Escort Wang said, bowing slightly with a look of sincere apology.
Li Shiming's heart remained cold. Having lived through two lives, he understood the darker side of human nature all too well.
Regardless of how "cornered" Chief Escort Wang claimed to be, the reality was that he had poisoned and threatened him.
"This is a prescription. You are to procure the ingredients, prepare the concoction, and bring it back here. I trust you are wise enough not to mess with the ingredients. If anything is wrong with the medicine, I will know instantly, and you will never receive the cure for the Three-day Soul-breaking Pills!" Chief Escort Wang said, handing over a weathered slip of paper while adding a final threat.
The paper was aged, detailing several herbs along with specific quantities, required ages, and the precise method for brewing them.
"Gathering these specific ingredients will take time. I will do my utmost to have the medicine ready by tonight," Li Shiming said seriously after scanning the list.
Based on his knowledge, the items required were quite rare. Even with the resources of the magistrate's manor, obtaining them would be a significant task.
Even though he wasn't actually in danger from the Three-day Soul-breaking Pills, he had to maintain his act perfectly.
"Very well, I shall wait for you behind the rockery!" Chief Escort Wang knew the difficulty of the list; if it were easy, he wouldn't have gone to the extreme of kidnapping the boy.
"I trust that Chief Escort Wang will honor his oath," Li Shiming remarked, tucking the prescription away and meeting the man's gaze.
He then turned and walked away. Chief Escort Wang watched the boy's retreating back, a flicker of respect appearing in his eyes.
However, that respect was quickly replaced by a cold, murderous intent. He couldn't allow Li Shiming to survive this. He had offended the boy too deeply; even if he gave him the antidote, once the magistrate found out, he wouldn't have a hope of surviving.