I am becoming the ultimate demon.

Chapter 17: Hidden Dangers Emerge Within the Home; The Dream Recipe, Spring Butterfly's Betraya

Liu Qingmei temporarily stayed at the Ji residence. She explained to Ji Lin that she had been chased while traveling and had fled all the way to Xiong'an County.

This fate was like a needle prick in my butt; it was destined.

Ji Lin did not assign her a specific job, but allowed her to follow the night patrol and act freely without imposing any restrictions on her.

……

Ji's strange behavior as the season approached aroused suspicion among some of the clan elders and stewards.

This day happened to be the day of a clan meeting, where clan members could freely express their opinions and discuss recent clan matters.

The main hall of the Ji family mansion was packed with people. Ji Chang'an and other clan elders sat in the middle, presiding over the meeting together.

Representatives from other households sat on either side, while the younger generation stood in the back row.

The clansmen exchanged pleasantries, whispered among themselves, and talked about their recent situations, comparing how many wives they had taken.

Ji Changming held a steaming cup of tea in his hand. He lifted the lid, gently scraped the water from the rim of the cup, took a sip, and exhaled a string of white mist, looking relaxed and content.

"Elders, Ji Lin always stays at home and doesn't care about the family's affairs. All he does every day is ask for ancient treasures and do health exercises. Can such a person be the heir of the Ji family?" Ji Changming's expression changed slightly, and he was the first to provoke trouble.

These words sparked a flurry of discussion among the clansmen, with differing opinions.

"Ji Lin is indeed acting improperly. Recently, he transferred all the good people in the clan away, leaving only the old, weak, sick and disabled in each department. They even have a hard time moving a box. How will they do business in the future?" Ji Yongchang stroked his beard and said.

The branch of the Ji family, led by the third uncle Ji Yongchang, was at odds with Ji Chang'an. Ji Changming, Ji Lin's cousin, was particularly jealous of Ji Chang'an, the head of the family.

They had already begun spreading rumors within the clan that "the young master has been frightened and is not capable of shouldering great responsibilities."

The clansmen couldn't tell the truth from the falsehood for a while, but quite a few believed it.

"Strange things have been happening frequently lately, and the imperial court is taking it very seriously. They even summoned Lin'er to the capital to meet the emperor and have him return to continue assisting the county magistrate in investigating some cases. Brother Changming, you wouldn't be so dismissive of the imperial decree, would you?" Ji Chang'an asked solemnly, glancing at Ji Yongchang.

"We should indeed pay attention to matters of the court, but we can't completely abandon the family business, can we? After all, our Ji family has many businesses, and our family members still need to eat. As the heir, I have to prove my business acumen." Ji Changming was somewhat agitated.

"Yeah yeah."

"That makes sense."

The clansmen also thought this made a lot of sense and expressed concern about Ji Lin's performance.

Standing to the side, Ji Lin found it all ridiculous. They were actually using such a reason to fight for power. Without the protection of force, would they still be sitting here so leisurely, drinking tea and gossiping?

It seems that the Ji family is not a monolithic entity until they have absolute power.

"Ji Lin is quite prestigious in Xiong'an County, and we can't hastily deny his contributions. I think we should do this: the Li family has had some disputes with us recently, let him settle this matter, see how he performs, and then judge him. What do you think?" an elder said slowly.

"In addition, we need to fill the vacancies in each department as soon as possible," Ji Yongchang added.

The clansmen all nodded in agreement.

Li Chang'an said, "Alright, since no one has any objections, let's do it this way."

After saying that, everyone left.

Ji Changming and Ji Yongchang exchanged a glance, their lips curving slightly upward.

In fact, with the powerful Night Patrol team at his disposal, Ji Lin didn't need to prove anything. He didn't have that much time to deal with these trivial matters; he was just trying to shut some people up and have some peace and quiet.

The dispute between the Ji and Li families stems from recent frequent battles. The Ji family's wound medicine is very popular among martial arts practitioners, and even some rebel armies secretly enter the city to purchase it, often selling out quickly. Since the Li family intervened and seized the market, they have engaged in vicious price competition, leaving both sides with no profit.

The Ji family had considered using force to suppress the protests, but in the long run, this would not be conducive to the city's economic development and would also damage the Ji family's reputation.

The solution is actually quite simple: either reduce costs or improve efficacy.

These two things are not contradictory; perhaps we can try to improve the medicine's formula.

According to the modern online novel "Battle Through the Heavens," the genius Xiao Yan won the business war using this method.

As for the specifics of how to do it, he would need the system's assistance, since he didn't understand any pharmacology.

After returning to his room, Ji Lin took out a prescription for wound medicine that he had obtained from the pharmacy and asked the system to analyze it.

"System, improve this formula. Require us to reduce costs and increase efficacy."

[System analysis in progress...]

[Analysis complete. This operation requires 5 anomalies. Continue?]

Ji Lin was stunned. He hadn't expected that he would need to consume anomaly points. The six anomaly points he had just earned were gone again. Damn Third Uncle and the Li family.

"Continue, continue."

[5 anomaly points have been consumed; improvements are underway...]

[Improvement successful. Congratulations, host, you have obtained the formula for the blood clotting powder.]

He sighed. It was a bit expensive, but at least he succeeded.

The next day, Ji Lin took the formula for the blood-clotting powder and ordered people to prepare the medicine according to the formula.

He then took a batch of hemostatic powder to Ji Chang'an and said, "Father, I dreamt last night that an immortal gave me a prescription that is more effective and cheaper than wound medicine."

Ji Chang'an narrowed his eyes, unable to believe Ji Lin's words. "Lin'er, such an important matter cannot be made up."

He handed a blood-clotting powder to Ji Chang'an.

Ji Chang'an took the medicine, smelled it, and widened his eyes. Sure enough, it smelled stronger and purer than the wound medicine.

"Lin'er, you said you have this prescription! That's wonderful!"

"Of course." Ji Lin took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to him.

Ji Chang'an excitedly opened the note, his hands trembling slightly; he could hardly believe his eyes.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

"Where did you get this prescription?"

"Instructions from the immortals."

"..."

Although Ji Lin couldn't understand the prescription, judging from Ji Chang'an's reaction, the prescription given by the system was indeed quite effective.

After receiving Ji Chang'an's approval, he immediately ordered people to mass-produce the blood-clotting powder and personally led people to sell it at the Ji family pharmacy in the market.

"New formula, new formula, new blood-clotting powder, even better efficacy! Same price!"

Several tall women shouted in unison.

The street was bustling with people, and a few江湖人士 (jianghu figures) were peeking around, but none of them actually came to buy anything.

As more and more people gathered around, no one knew what it was. No one was willing to pay to try something they had never seen before. This was no small matter; if it wasn't used properly, it could be fatal.

Ji Lin shouted loudly, "The new product is free on the first day! One item per person, while supplies last!!"

As soon as these words were spoken, people at the scene, passersby, and those from neighboring stalls rushed to grab them.

"I want one! I want one!"

Ji Lin knew that some people had come secretly a few times, but he didn't want to care right now.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the blood-clotting powder at the scene was instantly cleared.

"Young master, why are you giving it away for free? If you offer a discount and get it at cost price, many people would still buy it!" a maid asked, puzzled.

"Let's save some time. Those few medicines aren't worth much. Let's pack up and go home."

The next day, Ji Lin did not come in person this time, but only sent a few skilled men to oversee the scene.

The street thugs gathered around to see, and sure enough, the price had returned to the original level, but it still sold out quickly.

At this moment, the shop two stalls away next door, just like yesterday, hadn't sold a single piece of wound medicine. Li Tianming of the Li family was furious when he saw this.

"Damn it, it's that brat's doing again. We haven't even settled the score with him for what happened to our pleasure boat. Usually nothing's wrong, but as soon as he comes, there's this ghost story and this flood..."

……

At this moment, in a corner of the Ji residence, Ji Lin saw Huang Yu and Tang Wu peeking at something from the eaves.

"Big Beard, Little Black, what mischief are you two up to?" he asked in a low voice.

Huang Yu gestured for him to come up.

Ji Lin understood immediately, and with a light leap, he flew to the rooftop, which was more than ten feet high, without making a sound.

Looking into the distance, he could see his maid Chundie hiding to the side with Ji Changming, talking about something.

He listened more carefully and could vaguely make out a few words.

"Young master... the recipe... you're dreaming..."

Ji Lin frowned, but didn't expose her on the spot. He simply had the butler arrange for her to do menial tasks...

Outside the city gate, a junior steward from the Jubao Pavilion in the prefecture frowned and said with a bitter face, "Sigh, what good stuff can you find in this godforsaken place?"