Approaching the injured woman quickly, I attempt to clear my mind. It seems to help further. A fog is clearing from my mind.

Okay. Okay. I got this. It’s not as b…

She just finishes unwrapping the bandages and reveals her pale, forefinger-less hand… holding a cleanly severed finger.

Gulp.

Alright, I may not have this.

How the hell do they expect me to deal with this?

Think James, think. What can I do?

Look closer.

Right, I need to look closer and ‘intuit’. This is clearly a test from them to see my abilities. Well, I’m going to solve this! But not in the way they expect.

I can feel my head clear up completely, allowing me to fully focus on the issue at hand.

Seeing that the blood is still somewhat coming out and this seems to be a strangely recent injury, I can see that there is still a chance for reimplantation of the finger.

However.

I will need to make sure that: she doesn’t lose too much blood; and I don’t use high cost ingredients.

Almost immediately, I find something within those requirements, that will allow her to heal and reattach the finger within a week. There are other options that have shorter times to heal, with higher cost ingredients.

Hmm… maybe I should use something that can use a long recovery time?

If it heals quickly, that could really gain attention. Maybe not for the better… Does this area already have quick healing items, capable of reattaching limbs and destroyed parts?

…

They probably do. Though, they are likely quite expensive. Mostly used for cultivators or rich people. Most of them allow full healing within a day or much less. There are better items… but those are unrealistic for this scenario.

For most injuries, being able to heal within a week to a month, an injury that would never have been healed… is better than most people could ever hope for.

Especially, for those who are poorer.

Nonetheless, I could provide an option that works faster than their versions, which could change the current balance for those quick healing items.

I could make a lot more money doing that, than practically giving away this low-cost option. If I give this away now, there will be less reason to use the higher cost ones. Since, in the end, it will be healed similarly. And people could, if they understand the concept, make it themselves. Albeit, with reduced results.

Making it so, they wouldn’t need my help to heal others.

If I were to willingly choose a higher cost item, it is likely they wouldn’t treat this woman, based off the looks she’s getting.

…

Sigh.

I want make sure people can have access to the things they need. At an affordable cost. I REALLY will need to make sure that I watch out for the people who were already making money off these.

I should make them promise to not let this get out of the group. It will likely still leak, but that will buy me time to get into the sect.

“Before I start, can everyone here agree to not spread information about what I will be doing today, beyond your organization?”

Everyone’s eyes subconsciously turn to the woman who brought us in here. The air around her changes. She seemingly freezes, not moving or acknowledging my words.

Silence.

No movement. Some people’s eyes have widened at her.

I wait for a moment, in growing disbelief… as she continues to ignore me.

Huh. Really?

I wait for even longer. I can see her throat move, but only to breathe.

They can’t even agree to that much?

Fuck that.

I’m not going to let myself be a fool and make waves, if the people I’m trying to help won’t even hide the fact they might betray me.

The hell with that.

Unfortunately, it looks like the woman will have to live with the injury.

I’ll help her and the others as much as I can, with simple methods. They may be a tiny bit out there, but nothing too abnormal.

I should have done this from the start.

With a nod, I speak.

“Okay, thank you for your honest response. Since that is how your group feels, I’ll still do what I can to help…”

As I’m speaking, I turn to look over at Shi, who is standing straight up. Her eyes wide.

Staring at the offending woman, who is still in the exact same position. Which is becoming increasingly clear to me, that this is far from a normal response to a question.

As she does so, I feel the shiver from when I entered the room disappear.

Wait a second. My head was a little foggy earlier. Distracted. Was I…?

Interrupting my thoughts, is two women who suddenly appear by the side of the woman. They meet my eyes and nod. Taking both of her arms in theirs, all three seemingly disappear into thin air.

Considering that my eyesight has been massively upgraded since I’ve been here and that I was previously able to see Gong’s high-speed kicks… this scares me.

In the corner of my eye, I can see that Shi is looking down at her hands.

Within Shi’s hand, there is a sheet of paper, which she hands to me.

On the paper there is a note,

“You have my word that nothing will be shared outside our organization. Our apologies for the incompetent and traitorous woman, who no longer represents our organization. Hopefully, these talismans and this small additional gift will allow you to forgive us for this error. Thank you for your help.

I will be sending a gift to your leader, that you all may find useful.

Once again, my apologies for our error.

-Wu Qing

In Shi’s other hand, is a clear orb reminiscent of the spirit stone I had received from the old man. However, this orb had more of a foggy interior to it.

Underneath that orb are a few pieces of paper with strange writing upon them. Almost automatically, I could tell that they were Talismans.

What type is the question.

If they responded this quickly. Does this mean they’re watching the whole time?

No. I think they started watching from when I entered this room. If I remember correctly. There was an informant that had run off earlier.

Was it a coincidence?

Either way, now I have to keep an eye out for what I actually do and think. I should assume that I’m being watched right now. That I already have been watched.

I’ll have to figure out what these Talismans are later.

Walking over to her, I make sure to look her in the eyes, gaining her attention.

“Shi, can you hand those over to me?”

I can see her visibly gulp. Walking over to me, practically vibrating as she hands it to me. It’s pretty clear this is a not normal situation for her.

Information pours into my head as I can feel the stone in the Talisman touching my fingers.

My intuition tells me that these Talismans are offensive ones. Ones that allows me to shoot a giant fireball at whoever I choose without homing in on them and exploding in a large burst of fire. There are a total of five of them. Each could cripple a normal beginner level, foundation establishment cultivator.

The Foggy Orb is actually called a superior spirit stone, one that has a greater Qi content than a normal one.

Why is my ability activating automatically? Is it because I’m nervous? And I’m fearing for myself right now?

I take a deep breath. I focus on Shi’s face.

Since it looks like I’m already having trouble, I’m going to stick to the plan and only do simple alchemy. But there are too many variables going on right now. Too many things that I’m unsure of.

Keep it simple, James. Keep it simple.

My eyes happened upon the injured woman. Her face still wracked with pain.

“Alright, if I have the freedom to do this, then I need you two in the corner to do something for me. Grab me a piece of paper and something to write with.”

The two women who brought the injured woman into the room jump in response to my words. Both women scramble out of the room in a panic. Quickly after, they rush back in with it.

I write down the ingredients I need and shoo them back into the corner, while I focus on the woman’s stump.