Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1 Coercion

"Don't make a sound, or I'll kill you!"

A raspy voice hissed into his ear, and Li Shiming felt a sharp prick against the back of his neck.

He was being held at the point of a blade!

It had never crossed his mind that he would be kidnapped while taking a peaceful stroll through his own garden within the magistrate's residence in Nanling Prefecture.

"Don't do anything reckless. I have no desire to harm you, I just need your assistance with a few matters!" the hoarse voice added.

Li Shiming froze, not daring to move. As the figure behind him pressed closer, the pungent stench of blood filled his nostrils.

The captor was satisfied with his calm reaction, noting the lack of the foolish bravado often found in scholars. Had there been any other choice, he would not have resorted to threatening the magistrate's son.

"May I ask what it is you require of me?" Li Shiming inquired, forcing himself to remain composed.

"Young Master Li, before you assist me, you must first consume this pill!" the stranger said, pulling the weapon back slightly.

A hand stained with blood then held a dark pill right beside Li Shiming's face.

Startled by the mention of his name, Li Shiming realized the kidnapper was fully aware of his status. This meant the man was either incredibly desperate or possessed immense confidence.

Even though the sharp pressure against his neck had ceased, he didn't dare fight back. His current body was merely that of a fifteen-year-old scholar; aside from the basic calisthenics he did during his school years in his past life, he possessed no combat training.

He took the pill from the blood-smeared hand and, without a second look, tossed it into his mouth and swallowed.

Of course, he wasn't so submissive as to actually ingest a mystery pill. The moment it entered his mouth, he mentally shifted it into a storage space hidden within his mind.

This storage space was a dimension that had crossed over with him.

He had discovered this realm three days after arriving in this world. Bizarrely, it was a replica of his university's computer room from his previous life.

Whenever Li Shiming focused on the storage space, his consciousness would be transported inside.

The heart of this dimension consisted of four large IBM z15 server cabinets. Next to them stood a dedicated uninterruptible power supply, and against another wall was a cabinet filled with maintenance tools.

However, because the power supply was completely drained of electricity, the massive IBM z15 servers were currently nothing more than expensive decorations.

Nevertheless, he had found that the area functioned as a storage dimension where he could deposit any object he touched.

Seeing Li Shiming swallow the pill, the man behind him let out a breath of relief.

Li Shiming’s status made him the perfect tool; while others might draw suspicion for trying to gather the necessary items, no one would question the purchases made by the Young Master.

"Young master, that was a Three-day Soul-breaking Pill. If the antidote isn't taken within three days, your body will decay until you perish. Don't bother seeking medical help; even if you provided the recipe for the Three-day Soul-breaking Pill to the most renowned doctors in Nanling, they couldn't synthesize a cure in just three days!" The sound of a sword sliding into its scabbard rang out, followed by the raspy voice once more.

"May I turn around? I find it difficult to converse like this," Li Shiming requested in a low tone.

"The young master has quite the courage!" the man remarked, taking a step backward.

Turning around, Li Shiming saw a middle-aged man with a missing left arm. The stump was wrapped in bandages, though fresh blood was already soaking through the fabric.

A recent report he had heard from his servant, Mo Yan, flashed through Li Shiming's mind. Just yesterday at the Tianxiang Building, a man dressed in white had slaughtered seven captains from the Weiyuan Escort Agency. Only Chief Escort Wang had escaped alive.

Significantly, Chief Escort Wang had lost his left arm to the man in white during his flight.

"Chief Escort Wang, perhaps you could explain what you need me to do?" Li Shiming asked with a grave expression.

Chief Escort Wang wasn't particularly shocked that his identity had been compromised.

It was only natural for the magistrate's son to be informed of local events, especially a bloody incident as major as the one at the Tianxiang Building.

"I hold no personal grudge against you, young master. If you help me, I swear by the heavens that I will provide the antidote. I only used the poison because I was cornered!" Chief Escort Wang said, offering a small bow. His tone was apologetic, sounding almost sincere.

Li Shiming remained cold inside. Having lived two lives, he understood the darker side of human nature all too well.

Regardless of Wang's supposed desperation, the reality was that he had poisoned and blackmailed him.

"This is a prescription. Secure these ingredients, prepare the decoction, and bring it here. I trust you are wise enough not to tamper with it. If anything is wrong with the medicine, I will know instantly, and you will never receive the antidote for the Three-day Soul-breaking Pill!" Chief Escort Wang said, handing over a slip of paper with a final threat after seeing that his emotional appeal had failed.

The parchment was aged, listing several herbs along with specific quantities and required ages, as well as the brewing instructions.

"Gathering these specific ingredients will take some time. I will do my utmost to have the medicine ready by tonight," Li Shiming replied seriously after scanning the list.

Based on his knowledge, the items on the list were quite rare. Even with the magistrate's resources, it would be a difficult task to collect them quickly.

Even though he wasn't actually in danger from the Three-day Soul-breaking Pill, he had to play the part of a victim perfectly.

"Fine, I shall wait for you behind the rockery!" Chief Escort Wang knew the difficulty of obtaining these items; if it were easy, he wouldn't have risked everything to kidnap the boy.

"I trust that Chief Escort Wang will honor his word!" Li Shiming tucked the prescription away, giving the man a long, meaningful look.

He then turned and walked away. Chief Escort Wang watched him go, a flicker of respect appearing in his eyes.

However, that respect was quickly replaced by a cold, murderous intent. He couldn't allow Li Shiming to survive. He had offended the boy too deeply; even if he gave him the antidote, once the magistrate found out, he would be hunted to the ends of the earth.