C14 Do I Look like a Good Person?

Upon hearing that sound, Yun Buhui instinctively felt a twinge of pain in his heart. The day was overcast, and he knew his father's chronic leg ailment must be acting up again. The old saying that patients like him feel the pain more on rainy days was undeniably true; his father's legs would ache unbearably whenever it rained.

Yun Buhui entered the ward swiftly, finding his father covering his mouth, humming in discomfort. His mother, now awake, was gently kneading her husband's legs. The couple truly seemed to share their burdens, both suffering from their own health issues.

"Dad, is your leg troubling you again?" Yun Buhui asked as he set down two insulated food containers and began to massage his father's legs.

"Just sit and rest; there's no need to massage my legs, it won't help," Yun Jie said, resigned to his fate. Despite the intense pain, he had grown accustomed to enduring it over the years.

"No trouble at all, I'm not tired. Let me massage them; it might ease some of the pain," Yun Buhui insisted, squatting beside the bed to knead his father's thigh muscles. But just as he was about to apply pressure, Xiaoling's voice echoed in his mind again.

"Congratulations, host, for successfully triggering your second profession. Would you like to activate the physician function now?" Startled by the voice, Yun Buhui was momentarily surprised, but then a wave of elation washed over him.

"Activate."

"Activate what?" his parents asked, giving him puzzled looks. It seemed odd for their son to be speaking nonsensically in broad daylight. Realizing his parents were right there, Yun Buhui sheepishly scratched his head but offered no explanation. He figured it was better they thought he was talking in his sleep than to try to explain the real situation.

"Activating the physician function will cost 100 Reputation Points. Are you sure you want to proceed?" This time, Yun Buhui was more discreet, silently affirming in his mind, "Activate."

"Very well, host. Activation successful. You are now a Grade One Apprentice. To advance to a Grade Two Apprentice, you will need to spend 200 Reputation Points."

As Xiaoling finished speaking, Yun Buhui felt a wealth of knowledge flood his mind, and his understanding of medicine reached new heights. What left him dumbfounded was the realization that he was starting as a mere Grade One Apprentice. To think that even a basic Grade One Apprentice required 100 Reputation Points, and to progress to a Grade Two Apprentice would take 200. It was at this moment that Yun Buhui truly grasped the significance of Reputation Points.

With over two hundred Reputation Points remaining after deducting one hundred, Buhui didn't hesitate to mentally declare, "Advance to Grade Two Apprentice."

Once he did, he noticed a fresh surge in his comprehension of medicine. Later, while massaging his father, he finally understood why his father's legs ached when it rained. During this, he uncovered another remarkable benefit of Reputation Points. By using them, he could alleviate a patient's ailments, though not cure them entirely—merely provide temporary relief. This discovery thrilled him; he had never imagined Reputation Points could be so incredibly versatile. With just five points, he managed to temporarily ease his father's leg pain. Seeing his father's relief, no longer grimacing or moaning in discomfort, filled him with joy.

"Buhui, your massage skills seem to have gotten better. How come my legs feel so much better after just a few rubs?" his father inquired.

Yun Buhui just grinned and kept silent. Some things were better left unsaid. To speak might lead to mistakes, and above all, he didn't want to deceive his parents with lies.

"Dad, Mom, I've stewed a chicken for you. Have some chicken soup while it's hot; it'll be good for your health. Don't worry about me; I've already eaten," Buhui said, placing the insulated lunch boxes before his parents. He then handed them each a spoon. Exchanging glances, both parents saw the deep satisfaction in each other's eyes.

They couldn't help but feel proud of their son's filial piety. What more could parents wish for in a lifetime? Yet, they regretted that their health had become a burden to him, causing him to leave his path to success and return to the countryside. The thought was like a knife to their hearts.

Yun Buhui always kept a smile for them, and they, in turn, hid their worries, not wanting to dampen his spirits. Watching his parents savor the chicken soup, continuously praising its wonderful flavor, he knew their compliments were genuine—the soup truly was delicious.

"Dad, Mom, go ahead and enjoy your meal here; I've got some errands to run outside." It's important to note that Yun Buhui's primary purpose for coming here was to visit a jewelry store to sell his Jade Qilin—that was the crucial task at hand.

After leaving the hospital, Yun Buhui strolled through the lively streets, remembering that there should be a jewelry store a few hundred meters to the left. This jewelry store was reputed to be quite famous throughout Celestial River County.

Following the direction of his memory, in less than ten minutes, he spotted the sign for "Li Beauty Jewelry Store" ahead, although it was much further than he had recalled. Standing at the entrance, Yun Buhui surveyed the area before stepping inside.

Yun Buhui's attire wasn't shabby, but his whole outfit totaled just over a hundred yuan. While it didn't stand out on the street, it seemed rather modest compared to the well-dressed customers milling around the store. He walked around, paying close attention to the price tags in the display cases, especially where the jade was showcased, examining each piece with great care.

A small jade bracelet was priced at seven or eight thousand yuan, and those of superior quality fetched tens of thousands. Yun Buhui couldn't help but marvel at the value of jade. He noticed, though, that prices varied with the type of jade. For instance, Yellow Jade wasn't as valuable as Hetian Jade, but he was well-prepared for this reality.

Yun Buhui then intended to inquire with the staff whether they purchased finished jade products. Many jewelry stores were reluctant to buy finished jade due to its high price, often resulting in a loss for them. Instead, they preferred to acquire high-grade jade to carve themselves, which could yield greater profits.

However, before he could pose his question, Yun Buhui noticed two security guards approaching him. At first, he thought they might need to speak with him about something, but then he realized they were just staring at him silently.

Initially, Yun Buhui didn't grasp what was happening; he continued to peruse the jade prices and qualities on his own. Gradually, he became aware that with every step he took, the guards matched his movements. If Yun Buhui didn't catch on to what was happening at this point, he would indeed be utterly oblivious.

Yun Buhui felt a sense of resignation. After pausing to collect himself, he turned to glance at the two security guards. They seemed to be feigning indifference, yet their gaze remained fixed on him. Yun Buhui touched his nose, contemplating a retort, but ultimately he just sighed and held his tongue. It dawned on him that, for some inexplicable reason, these two had pegged him as a villain. He couldn't fathom why he'd be mistaken for one of those notorious bad guys from the stories.

In that moment, he was tempted to confront them with a question, "Do I really not look like a good guy to you?" But upon reflection, he realized they hadn't really done anything wrong; they hadn't uttered a word, just given him a few extra glances. So, he conceded that the security guards at the Jewelry Store were simply diligent in their duties. What more could he say?

While Yun Buhui resumed his perusal of the jade, three newcomers entered. Among them were two women in their twenties and a man in his thirties. It was clear that one of the women was quite intimate with the man, likely his partner. The other woman was presumably the sister of either the man or his partner, though she bore a stronger resemblance to the woman accompanying the man.

The younger woman was strikingly beautiful, with a high nose bridge and large eyes, her golden hair gently swaying. She wore a dress and high heels that seemed perilously tall. Yun Buhui watched her walk with a hint of concern; the heels were so high, it was akin to walking on stilts. Could that possibly be comfortable?

"Little sister, take a look around. Today, my sister and I came specifically to buy you a gift. Don't hold back, choose anything you like. This is the finest Jewelry Store in all of Celestial River County. Whatever catches your eye, no matter the cost, your brother-in-law will get it for you!" the man declared.

The young woman's eyes twinkled mischievously at her brother-in-law's generous offer. "You're the best, brother-in-law. Since you both insist, I certainly won't hold back," she replied with a playful wink.

With that, she began to explore the store, her gaze quickly landing on a jade pendant displayed not far from where they stood. The pendant, designed to be worn at the waist, was understated yet exuded elegance—a truly exquisite piece.

Reflecting on this, the young girl made her way toward the direction of the jade pendant. But as she took a step forward, she might have encountered a freshly cleaned floor, courtesy of the janitor. Coupled with her excessively high and slender heels, disaster struck. With a resounding snap, she tumbled to the ground with a painful cry.