Chapter 116: Spirit Needle
This was Hua Changxi’s second time entering the Eastern Depot, and she went with Eunuch Yu. Upon their arrival, they did not see Eunuch Xuan and could only wait in Eunuch Xuan’s office.
After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, a eunuch in his forties or fifties rushed in.
As soon as he entered, the middle-aged eunuch anxiously looked at Hua Changxi. Seeing that she was only fourteen or fifteen years old, he instinctively doubted her medical skills. However, since he couldn’t find any other physicians, he decided to try his luck.
“Are you the physician invited by the Commander? My godson is about to give up. Hurry and come with me to save him.”
Before Hua Changxi could speak, Eunuch Yu stepped forward to object: “No, we were invited by Eunuch Xuan. We will only go to save people after he returns.”
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged eunuch became anxious: “More than a dozen or twenty people have died in the past two days. Eunuch Xuan went to the Northern Garrison Command with the Director, and we don’t know when he’ll be back. It’s better to save more people than to wait here.”
Hua Changxi did not expect so many people to have not survived and directly said, “Save them first.” After speaking, she was about to have the middle-aged eunuch lead the way.
Eunuch Yu, worried about Eunuch Xuan’s anger, blocked her again: “Saving people requires needles, and we haven’t gotten the needles yet.”
The middle-aged eunuch quickly replied, “I’ve already gone to the Artifact Refining room to get the needles. They are in the patients’ courtyard.”
This time, Eunuch Yu could not stop them. Seeing Hua Changxi follow the middle-aged eunuch, he could only quickly follow.
As they neared the patients’ courtyard, the three of them saw people carrying two corpses out.
Seeing this, the middle-aged eunuch’s expression became solemn: “Two more have died.”
Hua Changxi stepped forward to examine the bodies. Both were Martial Artists, their internal organs severely damaged by sword qi and completely ruptured.
The middle-aged eunuch, worried about the remaining patients, urged, “Physician, let’s go into the courtyard quickly.”
Hua Changxi quickly followed the middle-aged eunuch into the courtyard and was led into a large room. Inside was a large communal bed, with over a dozen Martial Artists lying on it, barely breathing.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Yu quickly pulled Hua Changxi aside: “Eunuch Xuan said to save the Cultivators first.”
Hearing this, the middle-aged eunuch’s expression became anxious, but he couldn’t openly object.
The Director clearly valued Cultivators more. If he were to stop the physician from saving the Cultivators now, and if someone were to die among the Cultivators, he would surely be punished by the Director upon his return.
Hua Changxi glanced at the Martial Artists on the communal bed. Several of them were in critical condition: “The Cultivators won’t be in immediate danger. These Martial Artists will die if not treated soon. Let’s save them first.”
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged eunuch’s eyes lit up, and he quickly handed the needles he had retrieved from the Artifact Refining room to Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi took the needles and examined their quality, noting the dozens of needles of varying thickness and length placed in the box, while channeling Spiritual Power into her hands.
Spiritual Power could flow smoothly into the needles, and the needles could withstand the flow of Spiritual Power.
“The Artifact Refiners of the Eastern Depot have excellent skills. This set of spiritual needles is very well refined.”
The middle-aged eunuch said, “Master Lu, who refined these spiritual needles, was once a renowned weapons master from the Ministry of Works. The Director went to great lengths to transfer him to the Eastern Depot.”
Time was of the essence, so Hua Changxi did not inquire further about the artifact refiner. Instead, she took the spiritual needles and walked towards the Martial Artist with the most critical condition.
That person happened to be the middle-aged eunuch’s godson.
Seeing the middle-aged eunuch’s anxious face, Eunuch Yu comforted him: “With Physician Hua’s help, your godson will be fine.”
The middle-aged eunuch twitched his lips but said nothing, watching Hua Changxi skillfully and steadily insert spiritual needles into his godson. Seeing her practiced and decisive technique, his doubts about her medical skills lessened.
Hua Changxi used the spiritual needles to seal the ‘small sword’ formed by sword qi within the injured person’s body in one location, preventing it from damaging other internal organs. She then quickly wrote a prescription for hemostasis and repair.
“Boil the medicine according to this prescription, in quantities for the number of injured Martial Artists. All Martial Artists must take it.”
The middle-aged eunuch took the prescription, glanced at it, and then turned and left without a word.
After he left, Hua Changxi said to Eunuch Yu, “Later, try to find out who he is.”
Eunuch Yu replied, “This person could retrieve needles and also procure medicinal herbs, so he must have some status in the Eastern Depot.”
Hua Changxi thought the same. She took the remaining spiritual needles and walked towards the next injured person.
The set of spiritual needles was sufficient to seal the ‘small swords’ within the bodies of three Martial Artists.
Without spiritual needles, Hua Changxi had to wait for the middle-aged eunuch to finish boiling the medicine before proceeding with the next step of treatment.
“Eunuch Yu, do you think I could ask the Eastern Depot’s artifact refiners to refine a few more sets of spiritual needles for me?”
To have the Eastern Depot’s artifact refiners help refine spiritual needles, Eunuch Xuan would definitely have to be involved. Eunuch Yu couldn’t make decisions for Eunuch Xuan. Just as he was contemplating how to respond, the middle-aged eunuch entered.
“The physician wants to refine more sets of spiritual needles? I can speak to Master Lu about this matter.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes lit up: “Then I’ll trouble you, esteemed eunuch. May I know your name?”
The middle-aged eunuch replied, “I am Lin Qi, the Commander of the Eastern Depot’s Disciplinary Office.”
Hua Changxi smiled: “So it’s Eunuch Lin. A pleasure to meet you. I am Hua Changxi.”
Eunuch Lin’s attitude towards Hua Changxi was much more polite now. When he went to retrieve the medicine from the storeroom, the people there looked at the prescription and commented that it was well-written, indicating that this young woman truly possessed medical skills.
“Physician Hua, the medicine you requested has been boiled.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi walked to Eunuch Lin’s godson’s side. After sitting down, she picked up a sharp small knife and cut open the patient’s chest.
As soon as the chest was opened, a white spiritual light shot out.
“Bang!”
Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lin saw a flash of white light disappear, followed by a red light suppressing the white light. By the time they recovered, a sword mark had appeared on the ground.
“This is the sword qi that damaged the Martial Artists’ bodies.”
“Eunuch Lin, please bring the boiled medicine for your godson to take.”
Hua Changxi began treating the next Martial Artist.
An afternoon passed, and all the Martial Artists received treatment.
Eunuch Lin watched as the Martial Artists’ breathing stabilized. He no longer doubted Hua Changxi’s medical skills. To express his gratitude, he offered to have Master Lu from the Artifact Refining room refine several more sets of spiritual needles for her.
After treating the Martial Artists, Hua Changxi went to another room to treat the Cultivators.
Treating Cultivators was easier than treating Martial Artists. Martial Artists were mortals, and their bodies could not withstand Spiritual Power. She could only use spiritual needles to seal the ‘small sword’ and then create an opening for the ‘small sword’ to fly out.
Cultivators did not require this. Cultivators could withstand Spiritual Power. After sealing the ‘small sword’ with spiritual needles, she injected Spiritual Power into the spiritual needles and then inserted them into the ‘small sword,’ forcibly dispersing the ‘small sword’ through the Spiritual Power within the spiritual needles.
Of course, this was only possible if her Spiritual Power was superior to that of the ‘small sword.’
Judging by the ‘small swords’ that flew out of the Martial Artists’ bodies, their destructive power was not too strong, equivalent to only one strike from a Qi Refining Cultivator.
If the ‘small swords’ were any stronger, those Martial Artists would have died on the spot, and the Cultivators likely wouldn’t have lived long enough for her to arrive and treat them.
Treating the Cultivators was much faster than treating the Martial Artists. By the time Eunuch Xuan returned, Hua Changxi had already dispersed the ‘small swords’ within all the Cultivators’ bodies.
Seeing that not a single Cultivator had died and most of the Martial Artists were out of danger, Eunuch Xuan was delighted and directly gifted the set of spiritual needles from that day to Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi accepted them without hesitation, considering them her rightful labor fee: “Eunuch Xuan, I have one more matter I’d like your help with.”
The smile on Eunuch Xuan’s face faded slightly: “What is it?”
Hua Changxi said, “I’d like to ask the Eastern Depot’s Rune Masters to draw some talismans for me.”
Eunuch Xuan’s eyes flickered: “Talismans for setting up a teleportation array?”
Hua Changxi nodded: “Yes.”
Eunuch Xuan replied, “I cannot help you with this. The Eastern Depot does not have Rune Masters. If we have such needs, we go to the Heavenly Department to find someone.”
Hua Changxi didn’t know if he was telling the truth, but she knew her plan to have someone from the Eastern Depot engrave runes on the array stones had fallen through.
Afterward, Hua Changxi left with Eunuch Yu.
As soon as they left, the Eastern Depot’s Director, Zhang Fang, arrived.
Zhang Fang personally examined the injured Cultivators and Martial Artists, paying special attention to the sword marks in the Martial Artists’ room: “Are these sword marks left by the sword qi when it was released from within the Martial Artists?”
Eunuch Lin quickly replied, “Yes, I was by the Physician Hua’s side when she was treating everyone. The power of the sword qi should have been much stronger, but it only left these sword marks after being blocked by Physician Hua.”
Zhang Fang had seen many Alchemists and Physicians in the palace. The severe injuries his subordinates had suffered were something the Demon Suppressing Army had encountered years ago.
At that time, to treat those members of the Demon Suppressing Army, the Heavenly Department Minister had pleaded with the Emperor, who then dispatched the royal Alchemists and Physicians to provide treatment.
To understand the true situation of the Demon Suppressing Army, the Emperor had sent him to accompany them. He had witnessed the entire process of the physicians treating the wounded, and it had not been an easy task.
Hua Changxi could save people, and her medical skills were even more extraordinary than he had imagined!
“Continue to maintain a good relationship with Hua Changxi. We might need her to save our lives in the future.”
Eunuch Xuan quickly agreed to this.
Unable to find a Rune Master, and thus unable to set up the teleportation array for the time being, Hua Changxi was somewhat dejected. On the way back to the Medical Affairs Department, she was racking her brain trying to figure out where to find a Rune Master.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to learn to draw runes herself; she simply didn’t have the time or energy.
Currently, her daily schedule was: lecturing in the morning, alchemy in the afternoon, and cultivation at night. She would handle minor matters in her spare time, leaving no room to learn rune drawing.
Once her cultivation level increased and her Alchemist rank improved, she might then have the time and inclination to learn rune drawing.
As she neared the Medical Affairs Department, Hua Changxi suddenly turned around sharply and looked behind her.
Eunuch Yu was startled by her abrupt action: “Master, what’s wrong?”
Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes as she looked at the alley entrance across the street. She had just sensed someone watching her. When she turned her head, she saw a figure quickly disappear into the alley.
There was still a residual fluctuation of Spiritual Energy in the air; it was a Cultivator.
Who had targeted her this time?
Someone from the Eastern Depot?
Hua Changxi frowned, withdrew her gaze, and said, “It’s nothing.” Then, she continued walking towards the Medical Affairs Department.
Since she had been targeted, that person would definitely track her again. Next time, she would definitely catch him and find out who was watching her.
Upon returning to the Medical Affairs Department, as it was inconvenient to cultivate freely, Hua Changxi dedicated her time to alchemy. Back at the Labor Department, she went directly to Number Six Qihuang Hall to refine pills.
On May 26th, while Hua Changxi was explaining alchemy to the laborers at Number Six Qihuang Hall, several unexpected guests arrived.
Mu Qingying, the He Family Sisters, and Shen Qianfan and Zhu Qinghuan, who had obtained Wooden Tokens. Following them, several people she didn’t recognize also arrived.
“Jiu Niang.”
Two young women emerged from the group of unfamiliar people. They walked past everyone and, smiling, approached Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi listened to their greetings, her eyes flickering: “Who are you?”
The older young woman smiled: “My great-grandfather was the Great Clan Elder of the Hua clan, and Hua Tai is my grandfather. I am two years older than you, so you can call me Sister Wanyue.”
She then smiled at the young woman beside her, “This is Miss Shu Ran from the Earl’s Mansion.”
Hua Shuran listened and then smiled at Hua Changxi: “What Miss Shu Ran? We are all family, so we should address each other as sisters. Jiu Niang, I am one year older than you. If you don’t mind, you can call me Sister Shuran.”
Hua Changxi sized up the two women who wanted to be her sisters. She didn’t want to engage in pleasantries and directly said, “I am about to start lecturing. If you two have something to discuss, we can talk after class.”
Hua Shuran saw that Hua Changxi was not warm towards her and Hua Wanyue, even appearing somewhat distant. She frowned slightly and continued with a smile, “We are here to listen to your lecture.”
Before Hua Changxi could react, she turned to the young men and women who had come with them and introduced them herself, “Jiu Niang, these two are Young Master Chu and Miss Duan. They are also here to listen to your lecture.”
Hua Changxi’s gaze shifted. She observed the dignified Young Master Chu and the clearly arrogant Miss Duan, maintaining her unchanged attitude: “If you are here to listen to the lecture, please go down and sit properly.”
Miss Duan seemed displeased with Hua Changxi’s attitude and was about to say something, but Young Master Chu pulled her away.
Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue glanced at Hua Changxi and followed behind the two, finding seats.
Young Master Chu saw Mu Qingying and smiled, nodding at her.
Mu Qingying also nodded in response.
Hua Changxi noticed their interaction and her expression shifted. She had a hunch that this Young Master Chu had an unusual identity, but they were all unrelated people, so she couldn’t be bothered to think too much about it. She began teaching everyone how to refine Mortal Pills.
Mu Qingying and the others, who were watching Hua Changxi refine pills for the first time, might have been somewhat dismissive at first, but gradually, they became completely focused.
There was no other way; Hua Changxi’s pill refining process was too natural and smooth. Her movements carried an indescribable charm, and watching her refine pills was a visual feast.
Hua Changxi demonstrated the pill refining process once, then instructed the laborers who had brought their Alchemy Furnaces to refine them themselves. She moved among them, pointing out their shortcomings.
Seeing this, Mu Qingying took out her Alchemy Furnace from her Storage Bag and also began refining pills, but she was refining Elixirs.
Hua Changxi glanced over, her focus remaining on the laborers. Only when Mu Qingying was melting and sealing the pill did she step over to correct her technique.
“The medicinal herbs are not fully fused, so the medicinal efficacy cannot be fully realized; if sealed improperly, the Elixir’s Spiritual Energy and medicinal efficacy will not be preserved for long.”
Before long, Mu Qingying’s Elixir was refined. Looking at the ten Mid-grade Pills in the Alchemy Furnace, her expression was shaken. Just because of Hua Changxi’s guidance, the quality of the pills she refined had improved.
Before this, the pills she refined were all Low-grade Pills.
Mu Qingying was both shocked and excited. Just as she was about to exchange pill refining insights with Hua Changxi, she heard Hua Changxi say, “Alright, class is dismissed.”
