With the contract signed, Ethan didn't linger long in the lab. He spent some time studying the pharmaceutical machines—most in good condition, but a far cry from his old Earth lab. There, he could extract and recombine genes at will; here, he'd need ingenuity and patience. But it didn't faze him. His breakthrough serum had come from countless failed attempts. Now, even with simpler gear, he was confident he could do it again. His formula had always been secure. The crucial data and exact plant essences existed only in his mind. Without those, no one could replicate it—even if his ex tried, she'd never succeed. If fate insisted on denying him cultivation, so be it. But as long as hope glimmered, as long as there was even a chance, Ethan would fight for it. … Before choosing his direction, he spent a full day canvassing the city, conducting market research. What sold? What didn't? What was most urgently needed? By sundown, his initial optimism had faded. He'd assumed that, as a top biologist, proposing a bestselling drug would be easy in this less-technological world. Instead, he learned that local pharmaceuticals—while perhaps less refined—were just as effective. From beauty tonics to strength boosters, the market was already saturated. No matter how shrewd his pitches, without a winning product, Danhan couldn't survive—nor could he ever raise the funds and freedom to pursue his cultivation serum. The realization left him despondent, so much so that when a wiry youth bumped him in the street, he barely noticed. "Think you can steal and slip away?" A sharp voice jerked Ethan from his funk. He reflexively checked his pouch—his coin purse was gone. No need to ask—this runty kid had pinched it. Ethan sprang after the kid, snatching the child's free hand and reaching into her shirt. No pockets. If she'd stolen it, it'd be hidden on her. Sure enough, he found a hard, lumpy little bread bundle, and then, at the edge, his money pouch. The girl flushed deep red, not daring to struggle. "My thanks, friend," Ethan said to the youth who'd grabbed the girl's arm. "If not for you, I'd have lost my last meal." The young man nodded, releasing the thief, who after a brief pause scurried away and vanished into the throng. The whole exchange happened so fast, most bystanders never even knew it took place. The young man didn't return the thanks, but instead sized Ethan up. "Why let the thief go?" If Ethan had wanted, the kid could have easily been handed over to the law. Ethan shrugged. "The poor thing is clearly starving. There's nothing to gain by beating her." He had seen Luna Yates in that little girl—hungry, desperate. "If you don't mind," Ethan added, "why don't we sit for a drink?" He was ready to move on from pity. "It was nothing. Let's part here," the youth replied coolly. Ethan pressed, "I'm an alchemist by trade. Perhaps you're looking to sell herbs? I'm always in need." A faint breeze of herbal aroma from the young man gave Ethan's game away. "How'd you know?" the young man asked, surprised. "Call it instinct. Plus, the scent of fresh herbs clings to you," Ethan replied. With a nod, the young man said, "There's a tavern up ahead on Rao River. Let's go there." … The Rao River Inn lived up to its reputation; when a server brought out their drinks, Ethan was struck by the crisp fragrance. "My name's Ethan Moore. And you?" Ethan lifted his glass. "Lan Yu," the young man replied shortly, draining his cup. "I work for Danhan Alchemy. If you ever have fresh herbs, bring them straight to us. If you help source rare plants, I'll make it worth your while…" Ethan trailed off, suddenly realizing Danhan's resources were still too thin to actually follow through on his offers. Lan Yu assumed this meant an even higher price and said, "Fair enough. But I won't be in Raozhou long—the Chenyu and Changyan domains are at war again. They're desperate for healing herbs near the front lines." War—herbs—healing. Suddenly, Ethan's mind flashed with clarity. He'd seen plenty of wound ointments in the pharmacies around town, but none came close to the effectiveness of penicillin. In WWII, penicillin saved millions. It turned the tide with its ability to kill infections. Ethan slapped the table. That's the answer—penicillin!
