Chapter 99: Destined for Me
Returning to the Labor Department from the Old Plaza Courtyard, the sky had completely darkened. Hua Changxi did not return to her own courtyard but instead went to the street of Apothecary Shops at the very back of the Labor Department.
Nine Apothecary Shops were lined up side by side. Heading west led to the Old Plaza Courtyard, and further west were the nine Apothecary Shops at the very back of the Apprentice Hall.
Judging by this arrangement, the eighteen Apothecary Shops were clearly guarding the Old Plaza Courtyard.
Hua Changxi, holding two wooden tokens, walked from Apothecary Shop Number Nine to Number One.
During this time, the wooden token with the sword pattern did not flash when passing other Apothecary Shops, but the newly acquired wooden token flashed at all shops except for Number Nine.
Apothecary Shop Number Nine was where the ‘Four Diagnostic Methods’ were taught, so the other shops should also have their own specialized content.
Hua Changxi thought of the alchemy inheritance she had obtained from the system. She couldn’t help but connect the Shen Nong Cauldron’s alchemy inheritance with the Apothecary Shops.
There was no other reason than the diagnostic technique also being present in the alchemy inheritance.
Following this line of thought, would the medical content taught in the other eight Apothecary Shops also be related to the content within the alchemy inheritance?
The numbering of the Apothecary Shops was certainly not arbitrary. Following the principle of simplicity to complexity, Hua Changxi stood outside Apothecary Shop Number One.
The first thing the Shen Nong Cauldron taught her was tasting hundred herbs, identifying medicinal herb types and their properties. Could Apothecary Shop Number One be a classroom for teaching knowledge of medicinal herbs?
Currently, she was lecturing on medicinal herbs to people from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Bureaus of the Third Department. She certainly didn’t lack students, but bringing people over to teach and lecture would surely alert others, and Apothecary Shop Number One was under Eunuch Zhou’s jurisdiction.
Not just Apothecary Shop Number One, but several other Apothecary Shops as well; she would have to find a way to obtain the right to use them.
While contemplating the Apothecary Shops, Hua Changxi returned to her courtyard, refined pills for two hours, and then went back to her room to cultivate.
The next day, as Hua Changxi awoke from her cultivation, the excitement in her eyes was almost uncontrollable.
『 Realm: Core Formation Realm 36,200,000/10,000,000』
Her cultivation speed had increased again. Now, cultivating for one hour could increase her cultivation by 300,000 points!
After a day passed, her cultivation speed had increased by another 100,000 points!
The only thing she had done yesterday was unlock Apothecary Shop Number Nine.
Lighting the pill fire on Ninth Street could increase cultivation speed, and unlocking Apothecary Shops could also increase cultivation speed, with a significant increase. For Hua Changxi, the benefits were immense, instantly giving her boundless motivation.
Last night, she had been troubled by the idea of snatching the right to use the Apothecary Shops from Eunuch Zhou, Eunuch Zhao, and Eunuch Jia. Now, she had made up her mind to obtain all nine Apothecary Shops.
“Sister Changxi, why have you come?”
Ever since Hua Changxi took over Eunuch Lu’s position, she hadn’t had to work and hadn’t come to the storeroom. Yu Hui was very surprised to see her.
“Brother Yu, I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
Hua Changxi led Yu Hui to a corner. “What is the relationship between Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Xuan from the Eastern Depot yesterday?”
Yu Hui looked at her and was silent for a moment before saying, “My godfather and Eunuch Xuan are from the same village. They were sold into the palace together as children, and they were both castrated together. In the first few years after entering the palace, they relied on each other.”
Hua Changxi: “So, that means Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Xuan have a very deep friendship.”
Yu Hui sized up Hua Changxi’s expression. “Sister, have you encountered some difficulty and want to ask Eunuch Xuan for help?”
Hua Changxi did not deny it. “Brother Yu, didn’t I tell you? I want to lecture in the Apothecary Shops.”
Yu Hui was confused. “Aren’t all three of my godfather’s Apothecary Shops given to you?”
Hua Changxi: “It’s not enough.” She then looked at Yu Hui. “I want all nine Apothecary Shops.”
Yu Hui was somewhat speechless. “What are you doing that requires nine courtyards?”
Hua Changxi explained, “Learning medicine isn’t easy. The classifications are very detailed. Each courtyard will have a different use for me. One courtyard for identifying medicinal herbs, one for washing medicinal herbs, one for processing medicinal herbs.”
“If you break it down, nine courtyards aren’t even enough. I heard there are also nine Apothecary Shops in the Apprentice Hall.”
Yu Hui quickly stopped Hua Changxi. “The Apothecary Shops in the Labor Department aren’t enough for you to mess around with, and you still want to mess around in the Apprentice Hall?”
Hua Changxi looked at him. “Isn’t Eunuch Xuan from the Eastern Depot? I heard that eunuchs are afraid of people from the Eastern Depot. If Eunuch Xuan intervenes, can he help me get the Apothecary Shops from Eunuch Zhou, Eunuch Zhao, and Eunuch Jia?”
Yu Hui: “Sister, are you serious?”
Hua Changxi nodded. “Of course. I saved Eunuch Xuan’s life yesterday, and he said he wanted to repay me. I don’t want anything else, just for him to help me get a few courtyards. He can help, right?”
Yu Hui: “…Sister, you saved Eunuch Xuan yesterday, and today you’re going to ask for a favor. Isn’t that a bit too hasty? How about you use my godfather’s three courtyards for now, and we can talk about it later?”
Hua Changxi shook her head. “Brother Yu, time waits for no one. I need them urgently.”
Yu Hui didn’t want to refuse Hua Changxi, but he was genuinely thinking of her. “Sister, I know you’re very driven, but you just got ten apothecary shops from Great Merchant Zhuo, and now you plan to lecture in nine courtyards. Do you have that much time and energy?”
Speaking of the ten newly acquired apothecary shops, Hua Changxi looked at Yu Hui with bright eyes.
Although this person had his own little schemes, he was generally capable. She indeed had too many things to do and couldn’t handle everything personally; she needed to find someone to share the burden.
“Brother Yu, how about you help me manage those ten apothecary shops?”
Yu Hui was stunned. “I manage apothecary shops for you?”
Hua Changxi nodded. “I don’t plan to reform the Zhuo family’s apothecary shops. As long as the shop names are changed and my medicinal knowledge books are sold in the shops, nothing else needs to change.”
Yu Hui swallowed, somewhat tempted. “But I’ve never managed an apothecary shop before?”
Hua Changxi smiled. “You can manage such a large storeroom, so managing apothecary shops is even less of a problem.”
As his martial force increased, Yu Hui’s ambitions also grew. Managing the storeroom could no longer satisfy his current aspirations. “Since Sister trusts me so much, I’ll give it a try?”
Hua Changxi smiled. “Then it’s settled.”
Yu Hui’s face couldn’t hide his joy, but he quickly composed himself. “Sister, are you sure you want to go find Eunuch Xuan to cash in your favor immediately?”
Hua Changxi nodded affirmatively.
Yu Hui: “Alright, I’ll go find my godfather right away.”
“What? Hua Changxi wants all the Apothecary Shops?”
Eunuch Yu was also very surprised to hear Yu Hui’s words.
Yu Hui: “The other six Apothecary Shops will be used by Eunuch Zhou, Eunuch Zhao, and Eunuch Jia. Sister Changxi wants Eunuch Xuan to intervene and resolve this.”
Eunuch Yu: “…I understand. You go ahead and attend to your business.”
As soon as Yu Hui left, Eunuch Yu went to the Apothecary Shops.
At this time, Hua Changxi was still explaining the washing of medicinal herbs to the laborers of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Bureaus. There was no one in Apothecary Shops Seven, Eight, and Nine, so Eunuch Yu began to investigate each of the three courtyards.
After searching, he found nothing.
Eunuch Yu pondered for a moment, then went to the Eastern Depot to find Eunuch Xuan.
When Eunuch Xuan learned that Hua Changxi wanted to claim all the Apothecary Shops for herself, his initial reaction was the same as Eunuch Yu’s; he thought there was something beneficial to cultivators in the Apothecary Shops.
“Did you inspect the Apothecary Shops?”
“I did, and there was nothing. My three courtyards are mostly used for storing medicinal herbs. Although I haven’t lived there much, I know exactly what’s inside. There’s nothing special.”
Eunuch Xuan thought for a moment. “After dark, I’ll go with you. If there really is something good in the Apothecary Shops, you, being a mortal, won’t be able to sense it.”
Eunuch Yu: “Then, should I still help Hua Changxi ask for the other six courtyards?”
Eunuch Xuan: “We’ll discuss this after I’ve seen the Apothecary Shops.” He paused. “That Hua Changxi, we should try to befriend her in the future. You’re not a cultivator, you don’t know how rare healers who can treat cultivators are.”
Eunuch Yu showed a wry smile. “I don’t dare not to befriend her now.”
Eunuch Xuan saw his reluctance. “Little Yu, many things are different now than before. You need to change some of your ideas quickly.”
Eunuch Yu was stunned and looked at Eunuch Xuan in confusion.
Eunuch Xuan knew his childhood friend’s information channels were blocked, so he spoke more plainly. “Do you know what the Royal Family and various nobles have been most focused on these past few months?”
Eunuch Yu shook his head.
Eunuch Xuan: “Ruins have appeared in Kunlun Mountain in Northwest Liangzhou. The scale of the event is no less than the commotion caused by Qingzhou’s Five Finger Mountain last year.”
“Kunlun Mountain has always been known as a divine mountain, and everyone wants to claim it for themselves to establish sects. After months of contention, a result was finally reached a few days ago.”
“Do you know who ended up with Kunlun Mountain?”
Eunuch Yu shook his head again.
Eunuch Xuan sighed. “A wild kid, with no power or influence, and orphaned. He grew up relying on handouts from everyone.”
Eunuch Yu was speechless. “How could someone like that possibly contend with the Royal Family and various nobles?”
Eunuch Xuan smiled and sighed. “I used to think that power and influence were the most important things in this world, but now, I’m starting to waver.”
“That wild kid truly has nothing, but the Mountain Spirit of Kunlun Mountain recognized him as its master.”
“Last year’s Five Finger Mountain contention was like this, and this year’s Kunlun Mountain contention is also like this. The nobles busied themselves, only to become supporting characters.”
“It is said that Five Finger Mountain was obtained by someone called the Fire Lotus Fairy. If she, like that wild kid, was an insignificant person with no power or influence, then the various forces that entered based on their power would become a laughingstock.”
“So, Little Yu, don’t look down on small figures whose status is lower than yours.”
“Our status is given by benefactors; it’s superficial and can be taken back at any time. Our usual arrogance and sense of superiority are merely self-deception.”
Seeing that Eunuch Yu had taken his words to heart, Eunuch Xuan didn’t say any more. He let him stay for dinner, and then they went to the Medical Affairs Department together.
The two waited in the shadows, watching Hua Changxi emerge from the Apothecary Shops and return to her courtyard before entering the three courtyards to investigate.
Eunuch Xuan took out a spirit-detecting device and checked each courtyard, finding no abnormalities.
Eunuch Yu felt that Hua Changxi’s request for the Apothecary Shops was definitely not for lecturing, and he wanted Eunuch Xuan to investigate a few more times.
Eunuch Xuan, however, refused with a shake of his head. “Let’s go.”
After leaving the Apothecary Shops, Eunuch Xuan said to Eunuch Yu, “Tomorrow, you go and arrange a meeting with Eunuch Zhou and the other two. I’ll invite them for a drink.”
Eunuch Yu knew that Eunuch Xuan was going to help Hua Changxi get the other six Apothecary Shops. He was still somewhat unwilling. “Are you really not going to look anymore?”
Eunuch Xuan smiled at him. “Opportunities are hard to grasp and cannot be forced. Since you think Hua Changxi has ulterior motives for wanting the Apothecary Shops, then keep an eye on her. If she truly finds benefits in the courtyards, we can follow her and get a share.”
Yu Hui quite agreed with this approach. The next day, he actively invited Eunuch Zhou and the other two to a restaurant.
On the third day of the fourth month, Hua Changxi, along with several laborers she deemed to have talent for learning medicine, explained the diagnostic process of the ‘Four Diagnostic Methods’ in Apothecary Shop Number Nine.
She discovered that the more people she taught, and the deeper the teaching content, the clearer and more defined the sword pattern on the wooden token became.
She didn’t know what the sword pattern was for, but she could feel that deepening it would definitely not be harmful.
After the lecture, as soon as the laborers left, Hua Changxi saw Eunuch Jia, accompanied by Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Zhao, enter the courtyard.
Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi. “You wanted the Apothecary Shops just to teach the laborers medicine?”
Hearing him ask, Hua Changxi knew Eunuch Xuan had already spoken to them. She quickly smiled and said, “I’m doing this to help the laborers perform their duties better.”
Eunuch Jia said meaningfully, “It’s our good fortune to have a steward like you in the Labor Department who is so considerate of the laborers.”
Hua Changxi smiled. “It’s convenient for others, and convenient for oneself.”
Eunuch Zhao interjected, “I wouldn’t have thought it. You, a young woman, have such broad connections, even knowing Eunuch Xuan of the Eastern Depot.”
Eunuch Xuan was the Chief of Punishments of the Eastern Depot. With him intervening, even if Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Jia didn’t want to give up the Apothecary Shops, they had no choice but to do so.
Although the three of them had their patrons, people from the Eastern Depot were the Emperor’s trusted confidantes. If they wanted to cause trouble, it would be difficult for them to escape.
Hua Changxi smiled. “I know I’ve caused trouble for the three eunuchs. Although you haven’t used those courtyards much, I have still taken advantage of you.”
Saying this, she took out Third Rank Pills and presented them to Eunuch Jia and the other two one by one.
“Lecturing in other places would be disturbed and interrupted, but the Apothecary Shops are relatively quiet.”
“This is a small token of my appreciation. Please don’t refuse it, the three eunuchs.”
Eunuch Jia casually opened the bottle cap and saw that it contained ten Heavenly Gang Pills, which Eighth-Rank Martial Artists needed. His eyelids twitched, and he quickly put the pills away.
Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Zhao saw Eunuch Jia’s reaction and discreetly put the pills away as well.
“Alright, the courtyards are yours to use.”
They came to see Hua Changxi primarily to complain a little and didn’t intend to do anything significant. Eunuch Jia gave Hua Changxi a deep look before leaving with Eunuch Zhou and Eunuch Zhao.
As soon as the three left, Hua Changxi hurried to the Sixth Bureau, called over the laborers who had finished their work, and took them to Apothecary Shop Number One.
“Qiuyu, take out the upper volume of Mortal Plant Medicinal Herbs you organized. Today, I will explain the properties of the herbs in it to you again.”
As she began her lecture, the second wooden token indeed lit up with a white glow.
Hua Changxi placed the wooden token in a gap in the roof beam at the entrance. The laborers listening to the lecture did not look back, and if they didn’t specifically look at the roof beam, they wouldn’t see the white glow.
Confirming her conjecture was correct, Hua Changxi’s subsequent lectures became even more earnest.
The white glow was initially weak, but by the following two days, when she also called over laborers from the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus to listen, the white glow became increasingly strong.
On the third day of her lecture in Apothecary Shop Number One, a sword pattern appeared on the wooden token; on the seventh day of her lecture, a sword pattern was marked on the stone pillar at the courtyard entrance.
Seeing the sword pattern marked on the stone pillar of Apothecary Shop Number One, Hua Changxi went to the Old Plaza Courtyard again.
“Old man, I’ve come to see you again.”
“Here, I brought you some spiritual fruit.”
“The wooden token on the wall seems crooked. I’ll go take a look.”
Gu Xing stared at Hua Changxi in disbelief as she took down another wooden token, looking at him with an innocent expression.
“Old man, these wooden tokens have a connection with me.”
