Chapter 5: A Glimpse
No matter what kind of world she transmigrated into, since a pie fell from the sky and she encountered it, Hua Changxi had no reason not to accept it.
After tasting all the medicinal herbs on the shelf, the words in her vision turned to 『Hundred Herbs Annotation（Minor Accomplishment）: Taste Hundred Herbs 22/100』
Hua Changxi was too curious about what came after the Mortal Plants chapter, so she tiptoed to the outside of the room where her Father and Mother slept. Seeing that her Father and Mother were napping, she quickly returned to her room, changed into men’s clothing, and then went out, heading straight for the Hua Family Apothecary Shop.
“Jiu Niang, why are you here?”
“Are you feeling better?”
Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang, who were helping out in the apothecary shop, were a bit stunned when they saw Hua Changxi. Neither of them expected Hua Changxi to come to the shop at this time.
Hua Changxi casually found an excuse: “I’m feeling a bit unwell, I want to get some medicine to take back.”
Hua Sanlang immediately said, “What medicine do you need? Third Brother will get it for you.”
Hua Changxi shook her head and refused: “Third Brother, Fourth Brother, you two entertain the customers in the shop. I can get the medicine myself.”
At this time, there were indeed a few patients in the shop. Seeing that Hua Changxi could move freely, Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang let her get the medicine herself.
Seeing that her two brothers weren’t paying attention to her, Hua Changxi walked to the medicine cabinets and opened them one by one, tasting the medicinal herbs inside.
『Hundred Herbs Annotation（Minor Accomplishment）: Taste Hundred Herbs 100/100』
After tasting a hundred types of medicinal herbs, a clear and ethereal voice sounded in her mind again.
“《Hundred Herbs Annotation》Spiritual Plant Chapter unlocked.”
Following that, Hua Changxi’s mind gained detailed introductions to tens of thousands of spiritual plants, demonic beasts, and spiritual items.
Restoring Spiritual Power, Regrowing Severed Limbs, Bringing the Dead Back to Life, Nourishing the Divine Soul.
As she processed the knowledge from the Spiritual Plant Chapter, Hua Changxi’s heart was both shocked and excited.
The unlocking of the Spiritual Plant Chapter was like opening a skylight for her research in medicine.
At the same time, she also confirmed one thing: in the world she currently inhabited, besides Martial Artists, there should be higher-level Cultivators.
Perhaps because Cultivators were too rare, they were little known.
But not everyone was unaware; at least people like the Demonic Daoist in red robes and that young woman knew.
Although the Hua family had people working in the yamen, they were only low-level officials, and their level of contact was too low. She had luckily obtained an opportunity from the Demonic Daoist, which allowed her to glimpse an unknown corner of this world.
The astonishing medicinal efficacy displayed by the medicinal herbs used by Martial Artists had already amazed her. Now, these newly emerged spiritual plants had completely refreshed her worldview.
If one were to ask where in the Great Jin Dynasty spiritual plants were most likely to be found, it would undoubtedly be the Medical Affairs Department!
Pharmacist Xu had told Hua Changxi that the Medical Affairs Department had a special rule: anyone who discovered a new medicinal herb would receive a Breaking Shackles Pill.
Martial Artists were divided into First Rank, Second Rank, Third Rank… Ninth Rank, based on their martial force, totaling nine levels.
For a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist to advance to Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, they had to break through the shackles within their bodies. The Breaking Shackles Pill was an indispensable advancement pill.
Once a Martial Artist advanced to Seventh Rank, they could transform Internal Energy into Gang Qi, thus entering the ranks of top experts.
Therefore, the reward from the Medical Affairs Department could be considered quite generous.
The Medical Affairs Department governed all medical affairs of the Great Jin Dynasty. By setting such an enticing reward, who knew how many little-known medicinal herbs they had collected.
Previously, when she learned of the Medical Affairs Department’s plan to recruit more apprentices in Jingzhao Prefecture, Hua Changxi had only thought of finding a stable job to earn money. Now, she had an additional reason to join the Medical Affairs Department.
“Jiu Niang, have you finished getting your medicine? Do you want Third Brother to help you?”
Hua Changxi suppressed her thoughts and quickly replied, “No need, I’ll be done in a moment.”
The Hua Family Apothecary Shop wasn’t large, and there were only over three hundred types of medicinal herbs in the cabinets. After tasting them all, Hua Changxi casually grabbed a prescription for replenishing qi and blood, informed Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang, and hurried home.
Speaking of the Hua family in South Luo Lane, Xiuzheng Ward, they were quite well-known within the ward.
Firstly, the Hua family shared a common ancestor with the Dingyuan Earl’s Mansion. Although they were distant relatives, they still shared the surname Hua.
For ordinary commoners to be connected to Nobles was definitely something that attracted attention.
Secondly, it was Old Master Hua’s life, which could be considered a model of a comeback.
Hua Changxi’s Grandfather, Hua Bin, Old Master Hua, lost his Father at the age of two and his Mother at the age of five. With no uncles or elders to look after him, and no Brothers or Sisters to support him, he barely managed to survive to adulthood with the help of the clan.
Many people did not have high hopes for Old Master Hua, thinking he would never marry and would be a bachelor his whole life, and that his lineage was destined to die out.
But what was the outcome? Old Master Hua had incredible luck. He accidentally saved a merchant surnamed Fan who came from another region. After receiving the silver reward from the merchant surnamed Fan, he used the silver to grease the wheels and successfully entered the South City Patrol as a constable.
After becoming a constable, the merchant surnamed Fan felt he was worth investing in and directly married his youngest daughter to him, also bestowing the house where the Hua family currently lived as dowry.
After getting married, he became even more remarkable. The Hua family, which had originally been a single lineage, suddenly flourished with many branches.
Now, the entire family had over twenty members.
The prosperity of his descendants was truly enviable.
Thirdly, Hua Minghe and his two Brothers all worked in the yamen.
The eldest, Hua Minghe, was a constable in the Six Doors. The second, Hua Ming’ang, took over Old Master Hua’s position as a patrol constable in the South City Patrol. The fourth, Hua Mingcheng, was a jailer in the Ministry of Justice’s prison.
Although none of them were high officials, they were still employed by the government, and their news was bound to be more informed than that of ordinary commoners.
Therefore, every move of the Hua family received considerable attention from the people in the ward.
After entering Xiuzheng Ward, Hua Changxi became cautious in her movements, trying her best to avoid encountering people along the way.
In those days, it was difficult for any family’s affairs to escape the scrutiny of their neighbors, let alone the Hua family, which was already quite conspicuous.
The news of Hua Changxi being kidnapped by the Demonic Daoist had already spread throughout the ward.
She had only been rescued yesterday and was still injured. She didn’t want people to know that she could go out today.
Hua Changxi returned home through the back door. The Hua Family Apothecary Shop was only two streets away from Xiuzheng Ward, and her round trip took just over an hour.
The courtyard was still quiet. Hua Changxi had thought her sneaking out wouldn’t be discovered, but as soon as she entered her room, she saw her Mother sitting expressionlessly on her bed.
“Mother, I was feeling a bit unwell, so I went to the apothecary shop to get some medicine.”
Hua Changxi quickly held up the tonic she had bought and showed it to Madam Yao.
Madam Yao looked at her daughter, feeling both angry and headache-inducing: “You were just kidnapped, and you dared to sneak out of the house alone again, Jiu Niang, you are too bold.”
Hua Changxi retorted softly, “Mother, this is the city, not outside the city. There are patrol officers everywhere.”
Madam Yao was speechless with anger and said, “You lost so much blood. Even after drinking the medicine from the Medical Affairs Department, you should be resting well.”
“If you needed medicine, couldn’t you have asked your Sixth Brother to go?”
“I think you don’t cherish your body at all.”
Seeing that Madam Yao was truly angry, Hua Changxi quickly apologized, “Mother, I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”
Madam Yao was truly helpless with this daughter. She had her own ideas since she was young. Unless she genuinely agreed with something, no matter how the adults disciplined her, she would still dare to do it again next time.
Just as she was about to say something more, there was a noise from the main hall.
Hua Changxi quickly peeked through the doorway, then put her index finger to her lips and made a shushing gesture to Madam Yao, whispering:
“Mother, Grandmother is up to weave cloth. Please don’t scold me. If Grandmother finds out I went out, she’ll lecture me again.”
The customs of the Great Jin Dynasty were similar to the Tang Dynasty; daughters going out were not prohibited, but not encouraged either.
Old Madam Hua strongly disliked her young women going out casually, believing that a young woman who liked to go out was a sign of a wild heart and rebellious spirit.
Madam Yao didn’t want her daughter to be scolded by her mother-in-law. She glared at Hua Changxi and got up to leave.
Soon, the conversation between Old Madam Hua and Madam Yao could be heard in the courtyard.
Hua Changxi breathed a sigh of relief, closed her door, and lay down on the bed, beginning to recall the events of the past two days.
Martial Artists, Demonic Daoists, Cultivators…
She knew too little about this world. She had transmigrated thirteen years ago, and only now had she glimpsed a few scattered fragments.
To fully understand this world, it was clearly impossible to stay confined within the small world of the Hua family.
The Medical Affairs Department, she had to get in!
