Chapter 81: Promotion
It took an entire night to refine and absorb the Creation Pill. As soon as dawn broke the next day, Hua Changxi went to her parents’ room. Not long after, her parents and two elder brothers woke up.
Hua Changxi asked with a smile, “How do you feel?”
Hua Liulang said with pleasant surprise, “I feel so light and unburdened. I used to think practicing martial arts was amazing enough, but I never expected there to be a better path of cultivation in this world.”
Hua Minghe and the other two also had expressions of joy on their faces.
Hua Changxi said with a smile, “Spiritual meridians are the bridges connecting heaven and earth. With these bridges, one can absorb the power of heaven and earth for their own use.” As she spoke, she handed the 《Burning Flame Art》 to Hua Liulang and Madam Yao.
“Mother, you and Sixth Brother have fire spiritual meridians, so you must cultivate fire-element cultivation methods. This cultivation method is very suitable for you.”
Then, she looked at Hua Minghe and Hua Sanlang, “The 《Green Wood Art》 that Tenth Sister gave is an excellent cultivation method. You can practice according to that method.”
Hua Liulang carefully put away the 《Burning Flame Art》 and looked at Hua Changxi curiously, “Ninth Sister, we’re not surprised that Tenth Sister could produce Daoist sect pills and cultivation methods, but you…”
Hua Changxi glanced at him sideways, “What about me? Can’t I have my own opportunities?” She then snorted, “My family treats me like a blade of grass, but outside, I’m a treasure.”
Madam Yao heard this and glared at her daughter, “Who in our family treats you like grass?”
Hua Changxi pouted and said nothing.
Hua Minghe seemed to want to say something but stopped.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi said directly, “Father, whether you conceal or reveal the fact that you can cultivate, I won’t interfere.”
“I don’t have any more pills. If anyone in the family becomes envious, or tries to force you using filial piety, don’t come to me.”
“Sixth Brother also said that as a lowly laborer with no power or influence, producing such pills would surely attract attention. You won’t stab me in the back, will you?”
Madam Yao glanced at her husband, then lightly tapped Hua Changxi’s forehead, “Are we the kind of people who don’t know what’s important? Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone in the family about this.”
Hua Sanlang said, “But we can’t keep it a secret forever, can we?”
Madam Yao replied, “Then, before the family finds out, we’ll think of a good reason.”
Hua Changxi didn’t dwell on it. She took out a Fire Spirit Stone and asked, “Did Tenth Sister leave any of these stones?”
Hua Liulang quickly took it and looked, “Yes, she left a thousand. And a sachet. Ninth Sister, you wouldn’t believe it, that sachet looks small, but it can hold so many things.”
Hua Changxi asked, “What about those Spirit Stones?”
Hua Liulang replied, “Eldest Brother took most of them. Fourth Brother and Eleventh got a hundred each, Seventh Sister and Twelfth Sister got fifty. The sachet is also with Eldest Brother.”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, then got up and set up a wood-element Spirit Gathering Array in an empty spot in the room.
Hua Liulang asked curiously, “Ninth Sister, what are you doing?”
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Minghe, “Father, when you cultivate in the future, you should do it in this Spirit Gathering Array. This will speed up your cultivation.”
Then, she looked at Madam Yao, “Mother, you can cultivate in my room. I’ve set up a fire-element Spirit Gathering Array in my room.”
Hua Liulang quickly asked, “What about me and Third Brother?”
Hua Changxi replied, “I’ll come to your room later and set one up for you.”
Without storage bags, Spirit Stones were inconvenient to store. Spirit Gathering Arrays were more suitable for family members to cultivate with.
Hua Changxi handed the 《Four Arts Beginner》 to Hua Sanlang, “Third Brother, this contains some common cultivation knowledge. Take it and copy it down.”
As she spoke, she looked earnestly at her four family members.
“Cultivation, like martial arts, requires a large amount of resources. In the early stages, Tenth Sister and I will provide some for you, but how far you can go in the end depends on yourselves.”
“You must keep this in mind.”
Hearing this, Hua Minghe and the other three knew that their two daughters, the blue sister, had given them a great opportunity. Their faces showed a hint of sadness.
Hua Changxi didn’t say any more, “Father, Mother, it’s getting late. I need to go to the Medical Affairs Department.”
Madam Yao grabbed her, “Ninth Sister, you still want to stay at the Medical Affairs Department as a laborer?”
Hua Changxi nodded, “I don’t plan to leave the Medical Affairs Department for now.”
Madam Yao quickly said, “Tenth Sister said when she left that being a laborer is too hard. She told you not to go and to wait for her to come back, and she would arrange another job for you.”
Hua Changxi chuckled, “Mother, I know Tenth Sister means well, but I have my own path to walk, and no one can help me with that.”
“Alright, don’t worry about me anymore. If I’m really unhappy working at the Medical Affairs Department, I know how to make choices. I’m leaving now.”
Hua Changxi left the room and saw that Old Master Hua and the others were already sitting in the main hall. She said, “Grandfather, Grandmother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, I’m going to the Medical Affairs Department.”
Watching her leave the courtyard, Old Madam Hua said, “It’s good that Ninth Sister wants to continue staying at the Medical Affairs Department. Although Tenth Sister has some connections, they can’t be wasted carelessly.”
Old Master Hua didn’t speak, implicitly agreeing.
The people from the second and fourth branches also said nothing.
Tenth Sister had achieved success, and everyone was counting on her to help them. If the resources in her hands were given to Ninth Sister, then what they received would be less.
By the time Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Affairs Department, it was already 11 AM (（9:00）). As soon as she entered the Labor Department, she felt that the atmosphere was a bit off.
Although the laborers used to do heavy work every day, they were generally smiling because the wages they received were higher than those outside.
However, upon her return this time, as she walked along, she noticed that the laborers’ spirits were not good, and most of them looked dejected.
“Changxi, you’re back.”
Back in the Sixth Bureau, Wang Yun Chu was the first to see Hua Changxi. The others heard her voice and looked over, seeing that she had indeed returned from the Medicine Farm, they were all very surprised.
Du Ruo sized up Hua Changxi. Seeing that she hadn’t become timid or fearful after going to the Medicine Farm, and that her ostentatious spirit was even stronger than before, she was surprised but also relieved.
It seemed this girl hadn’t suffered any hardship at the Medicine Farm.
“Eunuch Lu instructed that you should go see him as soon as you returned.”
Hua Changxi replied, “I’ll go see Eunuch Lu after I put down my luggage.”
Wang Yun Chu put down his work and followed Hua Changxi back to the dormitory.
Seeing him, Hua Changxi asked in confusion, “Is something wrong?”
Wang Yun Chu whispered, “Eunuch Lu has been having a difficult time lately. Eunuch Jia has scolded him several times. When you go to see him, please be sure to control your temper.”
Seeing that he had come specifically to remind her, Hua Changxi smiled, “Thank you, I’ll be careful. By the way, I noticed the atmosphere in the Labor Department is a bit off. Did something happen?”
Wang Yun Chu looked around and, seeing no one, whispered, “Last month, Eunuch Sun, who was in charge of the First Department, died, and a new Eunuch Zhou took his place.”
“As soon as that Eunuch Zhou took office, the first thing he did was replace all the stewards of the First Department.”
“Some of Eunuch Sun’s direct subordinates were found to have embezzled medicinal herbs and were directly beaten to death. Others were framed with fabricated charges and expelled from the Labor Department.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi’s expression became more serious. Was the struggle in the Labor Department this intense?
Wang Yun Chu continued, “Not only the First Department, but the Second and our Third Departments are also unsettled. It seems someone is also causing trouble for Eunuch Jia.”
Hua Changxi frowned. Someone was causing trouble for Eunuch Jia, and Eunuch Jia had called her back at this very time. Was there a connection between the two?
“Yun Chu, thank you for telling me this. I’ll go see Eunuch Lu first, and we can talk when I get back.”
Hua Changxi placed her luggage on her bunk and went directly to Eunuch Lu’s courtyard to find him. However, she didn’t see Eunuch Lu in the courtyard; instead, she saw Steward Leng.
“You’re back.”
Steward Leng smiled at Hua Changxi, not surprised by her return, clearly Eunuch Lu had told her about this beforehand.
Hua Changxi looked at Steward Leng, her eyes flickering.
Spiritual energy fluctuations!
Steward Leng actually had spiritual energy fluctuations on him!
This person was a cultivator!
A cultivator trying to curry favor with a eunuch?
What was Steward Leng’s background? What was he trying to do by lurking in the Labor Department?
“Steward Leng, I’m looking for Eunuch Lu.”
“Eunuch Lu is with Eunuch Jia. He instructed me to bring you to him as soon as you returned. Come with me.”
Steward Leng voluntarily led Hua Changxi to Eunuch Jia’s office courtyard.
As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they saw someone being beaten with a plank in the center of the yard. Their waists and buttocks were beaten until they were bloody and mangled.
The person being beaten was none other than Eunuch Lu.
Eunuch Jia sat high on the steps. Seeing Steward Leng bring Hua Changxi, he raised his hand to stop the beating and ordered Eunuch Lu to be carried away.
Steward Leng clearly hadn’t expected Eunuch Lu to be beaten, and so severely. She had been counting on him for cover. She gave Hua Changxi a look, signaling her to go and pay her respects to Eunuch Jia, while she quietly retreated.
Eunuch Jia knew that Steward Leng was Eunuch Lu’s lover. Seeing her leave, he said nothing and kept his gaze fixed on Hua Changxi.
She looks so much like her!
So much like her!
A while ago, he had seen the Fifth Prince and the direct disciple of the Taisu Palace Sect Leader in the palace. That direct disciple looked exactly like Hua Changxi.
He then sent people to investigate the Hua family. To his surprise, Hua Changxi had a twin sister who had gone to Taisu Palace at a very young age.
That direct disciple was Hua Changxi’s twin sister, Hua Shiniang.
Thinking of the respectful attitude of the Chief Eunuch of Qianqing Palace towards Hua Shiniang, Eunuch Jia’s regard for Hua Changxi increased several notches. Seeing her standing still and not coming up to pay her respects, he didn’t blame her. Instead, he spoke first, “I already know the details of how Xiao Luzi punished you by sending you to the Medicine Farm.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. She was punished by Eunuch Lu and sent to the Medicine Farm because of their cooperation in alchemy, which had broken down over profit sharing. What did Eunuch Jia mean by his words?
Was he implying that he held something against her?
Seeing her remain silent, Eunuch Jia continued, “I really didn’t expect your attainments in alchemy to be so high. I can also mobilize a batch of medicinal herbs. According to the profit-sharing you mentioned before, how about we cooperate?”
Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Jia in surprise. This situation didn’t seem like he was trying to hold her mistakes against her.
“Eunuch Jia, I don’t want to cooperate with anyone in alchemy anymore.”
Eunuch Jia frowned slightly, feeling the displeasure of being rejected, “What I’m offering isn’t waste medicinal herbs.”
Hua Changxi replied, “Your Excellency, it’s not about the medicinal herbs. I was too ignorant of my own limitations before. I’ve learned my lesson now and dare not act recklessly again.”
With the Five Finger Mountain, where would she lack medicinal herbs?
Moreover, she didn’t want to refine ordinary pills anymore. She wanted to focus on refining elixirs for cultivators. Her Alchemist rank hadn’t improved yet.
Thinking that she still needed to refine thousands of batches of pills to advance from a First-Rank Alchemist to a Second-Rank Alchemist, she felt time was running out.
Eunuch Jia didn’t believe that this girl had been scared witless after being punished and sent to the Medicine Farm for a few months. But if she was unwilling, he couldn’t force her. “I heard you were doing quite well at the Three Forked Medicine Valley and were even valued by Elder You.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Elder You is very kind and takes good care of the younger generation.”
Eunuch Jia looked deeply at Hua Changxi. Was this girl’s confident attitude because she knew her sister was favored by the palace?
“Xiao Luzi said that after you joined the Labor Department, you were diligent and efficient. With your high medical skills, being a laborer is truly a waste of your talent.”
“How about this, you can start as a Third Steward. If you do well, I’ll put all the female laborers in the Third Department under your management in the future.”
Hua Changxi was a bit confused. She had refused Eunuch Jia, yet he was promoting her instead.
Was this magnanimity, or was there another motive?
Thinking that becoming a Third Steward would free up a lot of her time and give her a certain degree of autonomy, Hua Changxi didn’t refuse.
As for what Eunuch Jia’s true intentions were, she would find out sooner or later.
Eunuch Jia didn’t care what Hua Changxi thought. He directly ordered the eunuch beside him, Xiao Shouzi, to announce the appointment at the Sixth Bureau.
When Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau, everyone knew she had become a Third Steward.
Third Stewards didn’t have to sleep in the communal dormitories; they had two-person rooms. When Hua Changxi went back to her original lodging to get her luggage, she saw Du Ruo.
Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi, seeming to want to say something but hesitating, “The person you’re replacing is Sister Zhou. Sister Zhou is a good person, and the female laborers under her are quite loyal to her.”
Hua Changxi was stunned, “Replacing? Wasn’t there a vacant position for a Third Steward?”
Du Ruo was also surprised when she heard her question, “No, Sister Zhou is just on sick leave and has gone home. She will be back.”
Hua Changxi frowned, feeling that Eunuch Jia was deliberately making things difficult for her, causing her to offend someone as soon as she took office. “Thank you, Steward Du, for the reminder. I understand.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi still intended to become a Third Steward, Du Ruo looked troubled.
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow, “What? Does Steward Du think I should refuse this position as Third Steward? But the decision-maker isn’t me; it’s Eunuch Jia.”
“Even if I refuse, Eunuch Jia might just assign someone else.”
“If Steward Du wants to stand up for Sister Zhou, you should go to Eunuch Jia.”
Hua Changxi understood the rules of the workplace. She could be a troublemaker, but she would never deliberately offend the direct superior who could decide her fate. She didn’t want to leave the Medical Affairs Department yet.
Firstly, she hadn’t figured out what was going on with the stone cauldron in the center of the plaza.
Secondly, cultivation couldn’t be done by blindly burying oneself in practice. Interacting with many people at the Medical Affairs Department was also a small-scale interpersonal trial ground.
After entering the Core Formation Realm, her cultivation had stagnated twice, both times being broken through by encountering people. Although she hadn’t fully understood the reason behind it, interacting with more people was ultimately beneficial for her cultivation.
Thirdly, the Medical Affairs Department was the highest medical institution in Great Jin. Staying here allowed her to learn about all the latest information regarding medical skills and alchemy.
Also, although the Five Finger Mountain had many medicinal herbs, it couldn’t encompass all spiritual plants and spiritual medicines. Medicinal herbs from all over the country were sent to the Medical Affairs Department. By staying here, she could also gather information on medicinal herbs that were not in the Five Finger Mountain.
Fourthly, Gu Jin Fan was here. She always felt there was something strange about this person. Keeping an eye on him in secret might yield unexpected gains.
