Chương 27: Buying Herbs
After receiving Father Raphael's treatment, Borne's wound had completely healed.
He expressed his gratitude to the priest, bid him farewell, and left the church.
Borne walked along the streets of Celestoria, bustling with people.
There were vendors selling fruits and vegetables, as well as merchants selling various trinkets and souvenirs.
He passed through several alleys and finally found the apothecary he remembered.
A faded old wooden sign with the names of various herbs hung at the shop's entrance, worn down by the wind and sun.
Several pots of fresh herbs at the door gave off a strong fragrance.
Borne pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately surrounded by an even stronger scent of herbs.
The interior of the apothecary was quite simple, with several wooden shelves neatly lined with all kinds of bottles and herbs.
Old herbal illustrations hung on the walls, depicting the shapes and uses of many rare herbs.
An elderly apothecary stood behind the counter, carefully dusting a bunch of dried herbs.
"I need some healing herbs and some to stop bleeding," Borne said.
The apothecary looked up, scrutinizing Borne with a sharp gaze as if trying to assess his identity and needs.
He nodded, put down the dried herbs, and walked over to the shelves behind the counter.
"I have several ointments and potions you can choose from," he said.
The apothecary took out a few bottles and placed them before Borne.
He picked a few suitable herbs and ointments: Dragon Tongue Grass Pills and Lotus Essence for internal injuries, and Red Velvet Grass Powder and Mountain Silver Flower Water for quick bleeding control.
Borne examined these items; they all looked to be of high quality, clearly carefully selected.
He hesitated for a moment and asked, "How much for all these herbs and ointments?"
The apothecary stroked his beard and calmly replied, "These are all high-grade ingredients, especially the Dragon Tongue Grass Pills and Red Velvet Grass Powder; they are very effective. Altogether, it will cost one silver coin and thirty copper coins."
Borne's brow furrowed slightly. He knew these medicines must be good, but the price was quite high.
He felt the coin pouch at his waist. Inside were only two silver coins and forty copper coins, meaning that after buying these, he would be left with just one silver coin and tencopper coins.
He still needed to save some money to buy weapons.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to grit his teeth and buy the medicines. These herbs could save his life in a critical moment, after all.
"Alright, I'll take them."
Reluctantly, Borne handed over one silver coin and thirty copper coins, feeling like his heart was breaking.
The money hadn't even had a chance to warm his pocket before it was gone.
The apothecary smiled slightly, took the money, and carefully wrapped the medicines in a clean cloth before handing them to Borne.
After buying the medicines, Borne felt a bit more at ease and decided to take this rare opportunity to wander the streets of Celestoria.
The streets were bustling with people, with vendors and street performers occupying both sides of the road. He walked slowly, observing the scene around him.
The atmosphere on the streets was lively, filled with mixed sounds of haggling, laughter, and music.
Street food vendors, craftsmen selling handmade goods, and several young artists were performing in the street, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
Borne's attention was suddenly caught by a performance not far away.
He saw a street performer leading a peculiar magical beast in a dance.
It was a magical monkey with a unique appearance—its fur was golden, while its face was a bright blue, making it both eye-catching and unusual.
This type of monkey was known as the "Blue-Faced Monkey."
Borne felt a bit surprised; he recalled seeing records of this creature in the Beasts Compendium.
These monkeys were typically found only in the forests and mountains of the Eastern Province, and it was rare to see them performing in other places.
The Blue-Faced Monkey was dancing to the rhythm of the music on the street, its movements agile and swift.
Occasionally, it would make exaggerated gestures with its hands, drawing bursts of laughter and applause from the crowd.
The monkey's performance was very skilled; it occasionally did somersaults and imitated human steps with tap-dancing.
When it leaped, its fur glistened in the sunlight, making it look quite amusing.
The performer leading the monkey was a short man holding a long whip.
He would occasionally flick it lightly, producing a sharp "crack," as if keeping time for the monkey's movements.
He shouted slogans constantly, encouraging the monkey to perform all sorts of funny actions.
"Come on! Great jump! Let's give this clever Blue-Faced Monkey a round of applause!" the performer shouted loudly, his face full of enthusiasm and confidence.
The Blue-Faced Monkey seemed to be well-trained.
After watching for a while and realizing he still had time, Borne decided to continue exploring.
He kept strolling down the bustling street, and as time passed, he began to feel a bit hungry.
The trip to the apothecary and his wanderings around the city had left his stomach even emptier.
He looked around, searching for a place where he could get something to eat.
As he continued walking, his eyes fell on a signboard outside a small restaurant. It was a wooden sign with the words "Seafood Rice" painted in red, simple yet eye-catching.
"Seafood rice... Sounds good," he thought.
Pushing open the wooden door of the restaurant, Borne found the interior simple and modest.
Several wooden tables were neatly arranged, and paintings of fishing boats and the sea hung on the walls.
A server in worn-out grey clothes saw Borne come in and immediately greeted him warmly, "Welcome! Here to try our seafood rice? The seafood here is fresh, brought in from Stormhaven just this morning!"
"I'll have one," Borne replied with a nod.
The server nodded happily, motioned for Borne to take a seat, and quickly ran to the kitchen to place the order.
Shortly after, the server brought out a steaming plate of seafood rice.
The rice was golden in color, mixed with fresh shrimp, squid rings, clam meat, and some green herbs.
The dish's colors were bright and appealing, and its fragrance was mouthwatering.
Looking at the steaming plate of seafood rice in front of him, Borne felt his appetite surge. He picked up a spoon and took a bite.
Immediately, a burst of delicious flavors spread throughout his mouth.
The rice had absorbed the seafood juices, making it tender and layered with taste.
Hints of garlic and olive oil added a rich aroma to each bite, leaving him wanting more.
He silently marveled at how delicious this seafood rice was, even better than what he had tasted before in Stormhaven.
Borne quickly devoured the tasty seafood rice, finishing it in no time.
He had always been accustomed to eating quickly, a habit he developed during his military service.
Whenever he was on a mission, he would eat rapidly to save time and energy, and this habit had persisted to this day.
The server smiled as he took the payment of eight copper coins, looking quite pleased.
Walking out of the shop, Borne looked at his coin pouch.
Now, he only had one silver coin and two copper coins left.
"Making money is hard, but spending it is easy," he couldn't help but think to himself.
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