Chapter 94: A Strange Wooden Token
Soon, Hua Changxi followed Yu Hui to Number Nine Qihuang Hall.
As she passed the stone pillar at the entrance of Qihuang Hall, which was carved with the character ‘Nine’, Hua Changxi noticed that the green wooden token she had just obtained from the Old Courtyard lit up, startling her.
“Sister Changxi, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Hua Changxi standing still at the entrance, Yu Hui quickly asked.
Hua Changxi clutched the wooden token, collected her thoughts, shook her head, and followed Yu Hui into the courtyard.
Compared to the previous times when she had to step forward to pay her respects, Eunuch Yu dared not put on airs this time. Seeing that Yu Hui had brought Hua Changxi, he waited in the courtyard with a smiling welcome.
Behind Eunuch Yu stood a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha.
“Eunuch Yu, long time no see.”
Hua Changxi took the initiative to greet him. After Eunuch Yu smiled and acknowledged her, he immediately introduced the middle-aged man to her: “Hua Changxi, this is Great Merchant Zhuo from Qingzhou. Great Merchant Zhuo owns dozens of apothecary shops, and also has ten apothecary shops in the Capital City.”
Great Merchant Zhuo was adept at flattering others. Upon hearing Eunuch Yu’s words, he did not hesitate and stepped forward to perform a gesture of equal standing towards Hua Changxi: “Young Woman Hua, Zhuo Lin offers his respects.”
Hua Changxi glanced at him and returned the gesture.
Seeing that they had introduced themselves, Eunuch Yu smiled and led them into the living room.
Yu Hui, with keen insight, served tea to the three of them.
Hua Changxi looked at Zhuo Lin and got straight to the point: “Great Merchant Zhuo, what kind of pills are you looking to purchase?”
Zhuo Lin glanced at Eunuch Yu and said with a smile, “We need martial artist pills, from First Rank to Ninth Rank, as many as you have. If possible, we will also accept cultivator pills, as many as you have.”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “Martial artist pills are settled with silver, but elixirs used by cultivators cannot be bought with silver.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi did not refuse to sell elixirs, Zhuo Lin’s breathing tightened.
Elixirs were currently only refined by the Royal Family, top Nobles, and established Noble Families. They were nowhere to be found on the market. Not to mention ordinary people without power or influence, even ordinary Noble families and high-ranking martial artists could not find a channel to purchase them.
If the Zhuo family truly began selling elixirs, it was imaginable that the Zhuo family would certainly reach a higher level in Qingzhou, and even entering the circle of Nobles in the Capital City would not be impossible.
Most importantly, everyone now knew that there were cultivators above martial artists, and the Zhuo family desperately needed to stock up on elixirs to prepare for cultivating Zhuo family cultivators.
If he could obtain elixirs, his status and influence within the family would also increase.
Zhuo Lin suppressed his excitement and cautiously probed, “Then, in Young Woman Hua’s opinion, in what way should Zhuo Lin purchase elixirs?”
When it came to business transactions, Hua Changxi disliked beating around the bush and instinctively wanted to say they should be purchased with Spirit Stones, but she swallowed the words before they left her mouth.
Her cooperation with Elder You Four and others had, after all, taught her a lesson.
Direct and sincere transactions easily led to a passive position.
“Great Merchant Zhuo, what can you offer in exchange for elixirs?”
Seeing Zhuo Lin deep in thought, Hua Changxi was pleased that she had thrown the question back to him and could also take the opportunity to test his sincerity and trump cards.
This was Zhuo Lin’s first time meeting Hua Changxi, and he couldn’t quite gauge her thoughts, so he looked to Eunuch Yu for help.
Eunuch Yu saw this and felt somewhat helpless. He realized Hua Changxi had changed; she was no longer as straightforward as before, and he could no longer discern her true needs.
Seeing that Eunuch Yu couldn’t help him, Zhuo Lin could only stand up and bow to Hua Changxi: “Please, Young Woman Hua, teach me how I can buy elixirs?”
Hua Changxi saw their exchange of glances and suddenly had an idea: “Eunuch Yu said you have ten apothecary shops in the Capital City, where are they located?”
Hearing this, Zhuo Lin’s eyelids twitched, but he still replied, “Four in the inner city, six in the outer city.”
Hua Changxi smiled: “Are you willing to exchange these ten shops, Great Merchant Zhuo?”
In the more than two months she had been teaching pharmacology to the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Departments, she had realized that the scope of recipients for such teaching was too narrow and too few.
To popularize pharmacological knowledge, perhaps she should find a way to expand outwards.
Regarding Zhou Qiuyu, the first volume of the Purple-level medicinal herbs has already been compiled and will be sold in the apothecary shops. Those who want to learn medicine should buy it.
Zhuo Lin could see that Hua Changxi had set her sights on his apothecary shops, and she was asking for all ten of them, which he naturally was unwilling to do.
“Young Woman Hua, the apothecary shops are ancestral family businesses, it’s truly…”
Hua Changxi: “Buying and selling requires mutual consent. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. Then we will only trade martial artist pills.”
“Brother Yu knows where my Shen Nong Hall apothecary shop is. You write a list, and have Brother Yu take it to your apothecary shop to find the steward. Payment and pills will be exchanged hand-to-hand.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi had bypassed the matter of elixirs, Zhuo Lin became anxious again: “Young Woman Hua, I am willing to pay more silver.”
Hua Changxi interrupted him: “I said, silver cannot buy elixirs.”
“Great Merchant Zhuo, you probably don’t know much about cultivators, do you? Elixirs, at this time, are not only life-saving medicine for many people and cultivators, but also an opportunity.”
“You are a merchant, I don’t need to tell you how important opportunity is, right?”
“How about this, you go back and inquire first. If you still want to buy elixirs, we will talk then. However, at that time, it will depend on whether I still need apothecary shops.”
Zhuo Lin looked to Eunuch Yu for help again. Eunuch Yu saw this and helplessly turned his head away. He currently had no leverage to negotiate with Hua Changxi.
Seeing Eunuch Yu’s unreliability, Zhuo Lin was furious.
Ten apothecary shops.
In the Capital City, under the Emperor’s feet, where Nobles gathered, these ten apothecary shops were built with his countless efforts. The thought of handing them over made him feel as if his heart was bleeding.
But elixirs…
“The apothecary shops can belong to Young Woman Hua, but how many elixirs can Young Woman Hua provide me?”
Seeing that Zhuo Lin had agreed, Hua Changxi’s eyes flashed with excitement. After thinking for a moment, she said calmly, “First Rank elixirs, for increasing cultivation, healing injuries, restoring Spiritual Energy, and detoxifying, I can provide them all.”
“However, you must keep the source of the elixirs a secret. I don’t like trouble.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi could actually produce so many elixirs, Zhuo Lin was overjoyed. He also did not want others to know that Hua Changxi had elixirs and steal the Zhuo family’s business, so he immediately agreed.
Hua Changxi: “Verbal promises are not secure. I need a drop of your blood.”
Zhuo Lin was stunned and looked at Eunuch Yu.
Eunuch Yu then looked at Yu Hui.
Finally, Yu Hui spoke and asked, “Sister Changxi, what do you need blood for?”
Hua Changxi: “To make a Heart Demon Oath. Don’t worry, as long as you don’t break your promise, nothing will happen.”
Zhuo Lin, Eunuch Yu, and Yu Hui knew very little about cultivators. After hesitating, Zhuo Lin, for the sake of the elixirs, bit his finger.
Eunuch Yu and Yu Hui exchanged glances. Although Hua Changxi did not ask them for blood, they also learned about the elixirs. After thinking about it, they both bit their fingers at the same time.
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.
Just as Yu Hui was about to ask how to give blood to Hua Changxi, he saw a drop of blood fly from his fingertip and hover in front of him.
Hua Changxi looked at the three of them: “Just make the oath.”
Next, Zhuo Lin, Eunuch Yu, and Yu Hui all made promises not to leak that Hua Changxi provided elixirs.
As soon as the oath was finished, Zhuo Lin, Eunuch Yu, and Yu Hui’s eyes widened as they watched their blood twist and deform, turning into a talisman that entered their brows.
The three were greatly shaken. The moment a thought of betraying the promise entered their minds, they felt a pang of unease.
Seeing that they had made the Heart Demon Oath, Hua Changxi looked at Zhuo Lin: “Later, we will go to handle the transfer of the apothecary shops and draft the pill purchase contract.”
Saying this, she looked at Eunuch Yu. Seeing that he and Yu Hui had been so sensible just now, she proactively asked, “Eunuch Yu, what do you want to know about cultivators?”
Eunuch Yu’s expression trembled, and he immediately sat up straight: “I want to know how to become a cultivator?”
Yu Hui and Zhuo Lin also looked at Hua Changxi with solemn expressions.
Hua Changxi: “There are two paths to becoming a cultivator. One is to be born with Spiritual Meridians. Those with Spiritual Meridians, as long as they have a suitable Cultivation Method, can embark on the path of cultivation in a place with Spiritual Energy.”
“The other path is for those born without Spiritual Meridians. They can shape Spiritual Meridians by collecting Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to refine elixirs.”
Eunuch Yu immediately asked, “How can one know if they have Spiritual Meridians?”
Hua Changxi: “There is a stone called a Spirit Testing Stone that can detect a person’s Spiritual Meridians.”
Eunuch Yu asked again, “If one does not have Spiritual Meridians, what elixirs can shape Spiritual Meridians?”
Hua Changxi: “As far as I know, Creation Pills, and Body Transformation Pills combined with Attribute Elixirs, can shape Spiritual Meridians.”
Eunuch Yu asked again, “How can one obtain these three types of pills?”
Hua Changxi smiled: “Does Eunuch know why the Imperial Guards extensively searched the Labor Department a while ago?”
Eunuch Yu and Yu Hui’s expressions trembled: “Could it be that Leng Xiangru stole… pills that can shape Spiritual Meridians?”
Hua Changxi: “Shaping Spiritual Meridians is certainly difficult. How one embarks on the path of cultivation depends on each of your own abilities and opportunities.”
Afterward, Eunuch Yu asked Hua Changxi some common knowledge about cultivators.
Seeing that he asked a lot, Hua Changxi’s eyes rolled: “I have an introductory book for cultivators called Four Arts Beginner. It records the four most commonly used methods by cultivators and a lot of common knowledge. I can exchange it with Eunuch.”
Eunuch Yu’s face immediately lit up, but then quickly fell: “But all I can offer is silver.”
Hua Changxi looked around the courtyard: “From my previous cooperation with Eunuch, I found this courtyard very suitable for alchemy. It’s secluded and sparsely populated, so no one will disturb us.”
Eunuch Yu understood Hua Changxi’s meaning and said very decisively, “I don’t usually live in this courtyard, so if you like it, you can refine alchemy in this courtyard.”
Hua Changxi smiled: “Then thank you, Eunuch.” With that, she took out the handwritten copy of Four Arts Beginner and handed it to Eunuch Yu.
Eunuch Yu took the book reverently. Zhuo Lin watched from the side, feeling very envious.
Afterward, Hua Changxi, along with Great Merchant Zhuo and Yu Hui, first went to handle the transfer procedures for the apothecary shops, and then went to Shen Nong Hall Apothecary Shop to finalize the pill purchase contract.
For their first purchase, Zhuo Lin bought 100,000 taels of pills. Pu Cao excitedly took the banknotes with trembling hands.
After the pill purchase was completed, Hua Changxi and Yu Hui saw Great Merchant Zhuo off, and then they returned to the Medical Affairs Department.
On the way, Hua Changxi asked, “Brother Yu, how many Qihuang Halls are there in total?”
Yu Hui: “Eighteen. Nine in the Labor Department, and nine in the Apprentice Hall.”
Hua Changxi: “Which people occupy the nine in the Labor Department?”
Yu Hui: “Eunuch Zhou of the First Department, Eunuch Zhao of the Second Department, and Eunuch Jia of the Third Department each occupy two. The remaining three belong to my Godfather.”
“Sister, why are you asking this?”
Hua Changxi smiled: “During this period, I’ve been teaching my subordinates how to identify and wash medicinal herbs. I’ve found some promising individuals. Now that I have ten more apothecary shops, I want to find a courtyard to teach them more, and then have them work for me in the apothecary shops.”
Yu Hui gave a knowing ‘oh’: “My Godfather occupies Number Seven, Number Eight, and Number Nine Qihuang Halls. If you want to use them, I’ll go and speak to him. He doesn’t usually use the courtyards.”
Hua Changxi said joyfully, “That would be great! Brother Yu, thank you.”
Yu Hui waved his hand: “Hey, there’s no need for us to be so polite.”
After parting ways with Yu Hui, Hua Changxi immediately went to Number Nine Qihuang Hall. The wooden token had flashed earlier, and she needed to investigate the reason for its flashing.
The Old Courtyard in the plaza was dilapidated. Although the Qihuang Hall was built of stone, it wasn’t much better and carried an aura of ancient history.
It was said that the apothecary shops on the Ninth Street were also like this, but because they had been renovated, they didn’t look too old.
Hua Changxi had never been to the Apprentice Hall and didn’t know what the Qihuang Halls there were like. However, in the Labor Department, it was likely that the higher-ups didn’t pay much attention, so they didn’t manage the buildings here.
Hua Changxi walked to the stone pillar outside Number Nine Qihuang Hall and indeed saw the wooden token flash again.
“The wooden token and the stone pillar seem to be able to sense each other.”
Hua Changxi looked at the neighboring Qihuang Halls and quickly walked over, waving the wooden token towards the stone pillars outside Number Eight Hall and Number Seven Hall. She saw the wooden token flash twice again.
“What is this wooden token used for?”
Hua Changxi returned to Number Nine Qihuang Hall. After entering the courtyard, she carefully examined everything in the yard but found nothing unusual.
After wandering around the courtyard for a long time, Hua Changxi couldn’t figure out the purpose of the wooden token. With no clues, she could only leave Qihuang Hall for now.
On the way back, Hua Changxi thought about how she had met Pharmacist Xu in the plaza earlier and hadn’t said anything, so she went to Ninth Street.
Pharmacist Xu was at Number Twelve Apothecary Shop on Ninth Street. To get there from the Labor Department, one had to pass through Pilgrimage Road, which ran through Ninth Street and led directly to the plaza.
Pilgrimage Road was located in the middle of Ninth Street. Hua Changxi stood at the intersection where the plaza and Pilgrimage Road met, looking forward, and immediately saw the nine-story building on First Street.
The tall building was built with quite some presence, but its location was not ideal. It wasn’t built in the center, and it felt out of place with the layout of Ninth Street.
Hua Changxi thought of something and looked back towards the plaza. Looking at the Stone Cauldron in the plaza, and the Old Courtyard behind it, she thought of the magnificent Palace and the towering giant trees, and felt that the location of the Old Courtyard was the core of the Medical Affairs Department.
Ninth Street was crowded. After standing at the intersection for a while, people started coming out of the apothecary shops on both sides. Without lingering, Hua Changxi crossed the intersection and walked towards Number Twelve Apothecary Shop.
“Huh~”
As she passed the intersection, Hua Changxi saw the wooden token flash again, and she stopped in surprise, looking around.
Soon, her gaze fell on the round pillars standing on both sides of the intersection. Atop the pillars hung colorless, transparent lanterns.
Hua Changxi looked at the other streets and found that at the intersection of every street, there were two identical lanterns hanging.
