Chapter 38: Alchemy Room Chief Steward
The voice reached the inner room, and suddenly hurried footsteps sounded.
“Song Qi, you old thing, have you finally saved up enough medicinal herbs?!”
The newcomer wore a gray robe, with long hair tied up in a bun, gray-white in color, and his face also looked to be in his fifties or sixties, stern in appearance.
He took three or two steps to reach Song Qi, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.
“Found them, second-order feral beast bone, blood tendon flower, tendon growing grass, thirty-year blood ginseng.”
Song Qi recited the prescription’s medicines silently; over these years, he had secretly collected these medicinal herbs, not knowing how long he had waited.
Xu Zhongdao patted his shoulder and said, “Enough. If not for someone scheming against you, with Hundred Herbs Hall’s status, why would it be like this.”
Xu Zhongdao’s gaze darkened; Hundred Herbs Hall’s status over two hundred years was not low, but over time, various intentions inevitably arose.
A capable Song Qi would occupy a position, and occupying a position meant less profit.
Not to mention, there were forces like the Little Mountain Association who did not want to see another Spirit Nurturing Realm expert in Yun Cang Town, or even a great expert who might reach True Intent Realm.
Above the Body Tempering Four Realms was True Intent Realm, the sky of this Yun Cang Town.
Song Qi’s gaze was like a knife, deeply hidden at the bottom of his eyes: “This old man does not compete, but some matters have their own plans.”
“Stay here with me; in a couple of days, I’ll help you refine the Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill.”
Song Qi nodded, then suddenly said to Su Yan, “Kid, come over and meet someone.”
Su Yan walked over and bowed to Xu Zhongdao: “Junior Su Yan, greetings to Senior.”
“Hundred Herbs Hall Pill Room Chief Steward Xu Zhongdao; you can call him Old Xu.”
Xu Zhongdao looked at Su Yan in surprise, then at Song Qi, his gaze flickering: “Where did you find this junior?”
Song Qi was a lone bachelor; how did he suddenly have a junior?
“He’s good material for practicing martial arts, and he helped me find blood tendon flower, offending that bastard from Gu Changfeng’s family.”
With one sentence from Song Qi, Xu Zhongdao became a bit more serious and nodded: “Not bad, good material.”
Both were old veterans of the martial world; Song Qi’s words pointed out Su Yan’s talent and that Su Yan had done him a great favor, implying nothing less than introducing him for future care.
An old friend’s request was naturally easy to agree to.
Under Xu Zhongdao’s arrangements, the two stayed here, each having servants arrange rooms.
Xu Zhongdao was the Chief Steward of Hundred Herbs Hall Pill Room, in charge of refining various pills and medicines.
His situation was similar to Song Qi’s; he was an old fellow left behind by the former shopkeeper. Now Hundred Herbs Hall’s three shopkeepers each had their own teams; though they still relied on the old-timers, they had also placed their own people in the major businesses.
Growing and harvesting medicinal herbs, pill refining, pill sales.
These three major areas, along with some other domains, were all under the three shopkeepers’ management, with multiple stewards below.
Xu Zhongdao was the Chief Steward, but the Second Steward mostly managed the Pill Room year-round; he was only responsible for refining first-order high-grade and second-order medicines.
The remaining ordinary pills were mostly handled by pharmacists and pill masters.
He was also happy to have some leisure.
Song Qi handed over all the collected medicinal herbs to Xu Zhongdao.
After carefully inspecting them, Xu Zhongdao said, “I haven’t tried this prescription yet; let me familiarize myself with it, and in a couple of days, I’ll refine it for you. But if you return, I’m afraid some stewards won’t be comfortable with it. Will you stay outside, or go into the mountains?”
“Hmph, this old man doesn’t compete. If I enter Spirit Nurturing, I’ll take a trip into the mountains. That old fellow Gu Changfeng says he’s a steward outside, but his foundation has always been in the mountains.”
As the two spoke of this, each had their own thoughts.
Xu Zhongdao was somewhat worried: “You’ve been delayed for many years after all; Gu Changfeng has been in Spirit Nurturing Realm for years, and I’m afraid wanting revenge…”
“I won’t be hasty, but opportunities are plentiful. During the Desolate Mountain Hunt, don’t a few people always die each time?”
Xu Zhongdao was worried for his old friend but had no method; no one could persuade him on such matters.
“Right, personally prescribe medicine for Su Yan to practice martial arts; his talent is far stronger than mine. Just using red skin powder and such is truly a bit wasteful.”
At this, Xu Zhongdao’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
“Old Master brought me here, likely with good intentions to let me meet a medicine refining expert, and also probably worried about retaliation from the Little Mountain Association.”
Su Yan practiced fist techniques in the courtyard, each movement rising and falling with rigid power.
While practicing the fist techniques with gusts of wind, he pondered inwardly.
Given the relationship between Gu Hong and Niu Han, the treasure plant that his predecessor Su Dahe traded his life for ultimately fell into his hands.
The two sides already had a deadly feud, and with Old Master Song’s matter, this enmity had grown even larger.
‘Just made an enemy; first enter the martial arts school inner sect for protection, and when strength rises, find an opportunity to bury that Gu Hong in the mountains.’
Cold light flashed in Su Yan’s eyes; Su Dahe’s matter was one grudge, and Gu Hong wanting him to be a dog made this grudge equally huge.
‘Blood Moving Realm, two realms above me, but if I raise the yin water centipede and velvet fire scorpion insect, perhaps I can give him some unexpected surprise.’
After Su Yan finished practicing, a servant came to find him.
“Young Master Su, my master and Master Song invite you to the back courtyard.”
“I understand.”
The servant led Su Yan to the back courtyard, passing through several small arched doors, before arriving at the back courtyard.
This place was even more secluded, with rockery and bamboo, and a fragrance of medicinal herbs; it looked like Xu Zhongdao’s own residence.
When Su Yan entered, the servant had already left; Song Qi and Xu Zhongdao had been waiting here for a while, with a pot of sweet medicinal tea brewing.
“So diligent, much better than Song Qi this old fellow back in the day; he only dared to risk his life.”
Xu Zhongdao smiled, then said, “Come over; let me check your muscles and bones.”
As Xu Zhongdao spoke, Su Yan looked toward Song Qi.
Song Qi smiled: “Go on; this old fellow is lacking in martial arts, but in medicine refining and prescribing, he’s one of the best in Yun Cang Town.”
Su Yan stood in a stance, without evasion, form and intent united, exhaling like an ape; even in aura, he had some of the bronze fox ape’s ferocity.
Xu Zhongdao’s eyes brightened; he hurriedly stood and walked closer. In his eyes, Su Yan’s qi and blood were surprisingly so dense.
He checked hands-on; the skin and flesh seemed like layers of cowhide, muscles trembling firm like iron blocks, this body of muscles and bones.
“Strange, Skin Refining Great Accomplishment, and thicker foundation than ordinary Skin Refining, superior bone structure, qi and blood.”
Xu Zhongdao immediately asked: “How long can you endure the red skin powder?”
Su Yan was stunned by his question: “What endure? Isn’t it fully absorbed in about an hour?”
Xu Zhongdao: ?
He widened his eyes: “You never got up from start to finish?”
Su Yan nodded; Xu Zhongdao tugged at his beard: “Another tough one, good, very good. Your foundation is solid, and you can endure it, so I’m at ease prescribing medicine.”
Su Yan was baffled; Song Qi then explained: “Your red skin powder is said to be fully absorbed, but that pain isn’t something everyone can endure, let alone those who absorb slowly. They usually reduce the dosage or come out midway for a brief adjustment.”
Usage and endurance depend entirely on the individual and can be adjusted.
Only Su Yan’s method could maximize the medicinal potency.
“No need to buy Hundred Herbs Hall’s red skin powder anymore; if you have silver, go buy feral beast bone powder, yin red root, blood essence, black chicken vine, wolf tongue grass.”
Su Yan showed a puzzled expression: “Aren’t black chicken vine and wolf tongue grass highly poisonous? And yin red root, three poisonous creatures, this is…”
“Yo, you know a bit about medicinal properties.”
Xu Zhongdao laughed: “Specially formulated for you, stronger red skin powder, or rather poison skin powder.”
