Chapter 197: The Hua Family is Watched by All Sides
Pharmacist Xu said, “That’s right, Jiu Niang, I also heard another piece of news. After the new year, all the Qihuang Hall Masters will have to start lecturing, teaching the people of the Medical Affairs Department alchemy techniques.”
Hua Changxi’s expression stirred upon hearing this, “Lecturing?”
Pharmacist Xu nodded, “Yes, the specific arrangements are still unknown. I suspect that within these few days, the Department Head will definitely summon all of you Hall Masters to discuss this matter.”
Hua Changxin looked at Pharmacist Xu and teased, “Uncle Xu, I’ve noticed you have quite extensive connections within the Medical Affairs Department. Just now, you mentioned the situations of other Qihuang Halls, and it’s clear that the Medicine Children who can work at Qihuang Halls all have backgrounds. Now, you can even find out about things that haven’t happened yet, which shows you have many friends in the Medical Affairs Department.”
Pharmacist Xu smiled and waved his hand, “What extensive connections? I’ve just been in the Medical Affairs Department for a long time, and I have some favors with a few people. Besides, the matter of the Hall Masters lecturing after the new year wasn’t meant to be kept secret. If I could find out, it might be that they intentionally leaked it.”
Hua Changxin didn’t comment on this, only saying, “I understand.”
Pharmacist Xu looked at Hua Changxin, “Jiu Niang, you’re supposed to return to the Medical Affairs Department for duty this month, aren’t you? I’m afraid Prince Shou and the Department Head might have opinions if you keep staying away.”
Hua Changxin asked, “Are the other Hall Masters all here?”
Pharmacist Xu nodded, “They are all here.”
At this moment, Pu Cao entered the room carrying food.
Since Hua Changxin had already decided to take on the identity of the Qihuang Hall Master, she naturally intended to be a good Hall Master for Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall. “After I eat, I’ll return to the Medical Affairs Department with you.”
Upon hearing this, Pharmacist Xu’s face lit up with joy, and at the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiu Niang had entrusted him with managing all matters for Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall. Heaven knows the immense pressure he had been under during Jiu Niang’s absence, having to deal with inquiries from superiors and the probing from other Halls.
Originally, the eight Medicine Children of their Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall didn’t have very high statuses. With Jiu Niang gone, they had even less confidence in front of others.
After eating, Hua Changxin reviewed the account books of the various apothecary shops for November before returning to the Medical Affairs Department with Pharmacist Xu.
Upon arriving at the Medical Affairs Department, Pharmacist Xu led Hua Changxin directly through the main entrance.
Hua Changxin stood under the main entrance of the Medical Affairs Department and smiled, “Before, I could only enter the Medical Affairs Department through the back door. Now, I can use the main entrance too.”
Pharmacist Xu chuckled, “From now on, you won’t have to use the back door anymore.”
Hua Changxin smiled without saying anything and followed Pharmacist Xu into the Medical Affairs Department. Seeing him heading straight towards Pilgrimage Road, she quickly said, “Uncle Xu, let’s go through the Ninth Street alley.”
Pharmacist Xu looked puzzled, “To get to the Apprentice Hall, going via Pilgrimage Road is the fastest.”
Hua Changxin replied, “I haven’t had a proper look around Ninth Street yet.” With that, she walked directly towards the nearest alley.
Seeing this, Pharmacist Xu could only quickly follow.
Meanwhile, on the corridor of the ninth floor of the Medical Affairs Department Building, Heavenly Department Minister Wei Zhenjie and Medical Affairs Department Head Gu Qiming were watching the two of them enter the alley.
Wei Zhenjie frowned slightly, “Is that female cultivator Hua Changxi’s twin sister?”
Gu Qiming nodded, “Yes, her name is Hua Changxi.” Seeing Wei Zhenjie’s displeased expression, he asked, “Minister, is there something wrong with Hua Changxi?”
Wei Zhenjie frowned, “I can’t discern the depth of her cultivation.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Qiming’s expression jolted, “Minister, you are a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and even you can’t figure it out? Doesn’t that mean Hua Changxi is at the same realm as you?”
Wei Zhenjie shook his head, “It’s also possible she has cultivated a very profound breath-concealing technique.”
Gu Qiming immediately chimed in, “That must be it.”
The Minister was able to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm because he had the backing of the Heavenly Department and lacked no cultivation resources. Even so, it took him decades. Hua Changxi, on the other hand, just had her coming-of-age ceremony, started cultivating only a few years ago, and came from a humble family with no resources or background. It’s impossible for her to have cultivated to the Nascent Soul Realm in just a few years.
Wei Zhenjie asked, “What is Hua Changxi’s Spiritual Root?”
Gu Qiming replied, “Single Fire Spiritual Root.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhenjie’s eyes flickered, “Hua Changxin is a Single Wood Spiritual Root, and Hua Changxi is a Single Fire Spiritual Root. Why did Taisu Palace only take Hua Changxin back then?”
Gu Qiming shook his head; he didn’t know about that.
Wei Zhenjie asked, “Have you investigated the Hua Family?”
Gu Qiming nodded. The thought of his investigation into the Hua Family’s situation made him feel uneasy. “Except for a few daughters-in-law married into the Hua Family, the bloodlines of everyone else have reverted to their ancestors. Currently, the entire Hua Family consists of cultivators.”
Wei Zhenjie looked over, “The Body Refining Technique you submitted earlier was obtained from the Hua Family?”
Gu Qiming nodded, “I suspect that Body Refining Technique was found by Hua Changxi in Qihuang Hall. Many people know about this, and they are all keeping an eye on the Hua Family.”
Wei Zhenjie frowned upon hearing this, “If the Body Refining Technique was indeed found in Qihuang Hall, why did no one else find anything? It doesn’t make sense that Qihuang Hall would only recognize Hua Changxi, right?”
Gu Qiming sighed; he couldn’t understand this either. It was one thing for others, but even those who had received the Wooden Token couldn’t discover anything unusual about Qihuang Hall, which was baffling.
“After Hua Changxi took over Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, she only appeared once and then disappeared. Prince Shou is extremely displeased about this. If he wasn’t counting on Hua Changxi to unlock the secrets of Qihuang Hall, he would have surely made a move long ago.”
Wei Zhenjie fell silent. After a long while, he said, “Hua Changxin is not an ordinary Single Wood Spiritual Root. As her twin sister, Hua Changxi is likely not simple either. In future interactions, do not make an enemy of her.”
Gu Qiming nodded in agreement. Since the Spiritual Energy Revival, everything has been reconfigured. Past status and position no longer mean anything.
He had reviewed many cultivator profiles in the Heavenly Department. Many former ordinary people were rising silently, their talent and opportunities far surpassing those of the Noble Family scions who knew about the Spiritual Energy Revival earlier.
Wei Zhenjie asked again, “The other nine Wooden Tokens, still no clue who took them?”
Gu Qiming looked ashamed, “It is my incompetence, subordinate.”
Wei Zhenjie shook his head, “It’s not your fault. Nowadays, there are more and more cultivators, and all sorts of spells and Divine Abilities are emerging. Neither you nor I can guard against them all.”
Gu Qiming sighed with a helpless expression, “If Senior Gu could reveal a few words, we would have a direction for our investigation, but he says nothing.”
Hearing this, Wei Zhenjie fell silent. After a long pause, he said, “Senior Gu does not acknowledge that you and I are people of Dan Sheng Hall.”
Thinking of Gu Xing’s attitude towards them, Gu Qiming let out a long, helpless sigh.
On the street of Qihuang Halls in the Apprentice Hall, as soon as Hua Changxi returned to Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, the news immediately spread to the other seventeen Qihuang Halls.
The personnel arrangements for the eighteen Qihuang Halls were made at the end of October. By November, people from each Qihuang Hall had gotten to know each other through their interactions, except for Hua Changxi of Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, whom many Hall Masters had yet to meet.
In Number Fourteen Qihuang Hall, Seventh Prince Chu Junhao and Duan Yuyan were playing chess.
After Duan Yuyan placed a piece, she smiled, “She’s finally showing herself. I thought she didn’t want to be a Hall Master?”
Chu Junhao looked at the chessboard and placed a piece with a frown, “She doesn’t care about Qihuang Hall as much as we imagined.”
Duan Yuyan looked at Chu Junhao, “Perhaps we’ve overestimated her importance.” With that, she placed another piece.
Chu Junhao didn’t respond to her words and directly placed a piece, ending the game.
Seeing that she had lost again, Duan Yuyan immediately complained, “Cousin, you could at least let me win a little.”
Chu Junhao smiled gently, “If I let you win, what’s the point of playing chess? You’ll only know your shortcomings after losing a few more times by facing stronger opponents.” As he spoke, he walked under the eaves and looked at the adjacent Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.
“To understand a person, you can’t rely on others’ words; you have to verify it yourself.”
