Chapter 116

Entering the Eastern Depot for the second time, Hua Changxi again went alongside Eunuch Yu. After they arrived, they did not see Eunuch Xuan, so they could only wait in his office.

After waiting for about two ke, a middle-aged eunuch in his forties or fifties rushed in.

As soon as he entered, the middle-aged eunuch anxiously looked at Hua Changxi. Seeing that she appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, he instinctively doubted she had much medical skill, but since he could not find any other physician, he had to treat her as a last resort.

"Are you the physician invited by the Thousand Household? My godson can barely hold on. Come quickly with me to save him."

Before Hua Changxi could speak, Eunuch Yu stepped forward to object: "No. We were summoned by Eunuch Xuan; we will only go to treat people after he returns."

Hearing this, the middle-aged eunuch grew frantic: "Ten or twenty people have already died in the past two days. Eunuch Xuan went with the Commissioner to the Northern Depot; who knows when he'll be back? Rather than waiting here doing nothing, you would do better to go and save a few more lives."

Hua Changxi had not expected that so many had failed to survive. She said directly, "Let's treat them first." After speaking, she signaled the middle-aged eunuch to lead the way.

Eunuch Yu, worried that Eunuch Xuan would be angry, stopped her again: "Treating people requires needles, and we haven't gotten the needles yet."

The middle-aged eunuch quickly said: "I've already gone to the Artifact Refinery to fetch the needles; they are placed in the injured patients' courtyard."

At this, Eunuch Yu could no longer hinder her. Seeing Hua Changxi follow the middle-aged eunuch away, he had no choice but to hurry after them.

Just as they were approaching the injured patients' courtyard, they saw people carrying two corpses out.

The middle-aged eunuch’s expression turned grim: "Two more dead."

Hua Changxi stepped forward to examine the corpses. Both were martial artists; their internal organs had been severely damaged by sword Qi and were completely ruptured.

Worried about the remaining survivors, the middle-aged eunuch urged, "Physician, let's hurry into the courtyard."

Hua Changxi quickly followed the middle-aged eunuch into the courtyard. He led her into a large room where there was a long common bed platform. On it lay over a dozen martial artists, each with more breath out than in.

Seeing this, Eunuch Yu hastily grabbed Hua Changxi: "Eunuch Xuan said to treat the martial artists first."

The middle-aged eunuch’s face showed urgency upon hearing this, but it was difficult for him to speak out in objection.

The Commissioner clearly valued the cultivators more. If he now stopped the physician from treating the cultivators, and someone among them actually died, once the Commissioner returned and learned of it, he would certainly be punished.

Hua Changxi swept her eyes over the martial artists on the large bed platform. A few of them were already in critical condition: "The cultivators won't be in trouble for a little while yet, but these martial artists will die if not treated now. Save them first."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged eunuch’s eyes lit up. He quickly handed her the needles he had fetched from the Artifact Refinery.

Hua Changxi took the needles. Looking at the dozens of needles of varying thicknesses and lengths in the box, she gathered spiritual power in her hand to check the quality of the needles.

Spiritual power could flow smoothly into the needles, and the needles could withstand the circulation of the power.

"The Eastern Depot's artifact refiners are very skilled; this set of spirit needles is quite well made."

Middle-aged eunuch: "Master Lu, who forged these spirit needles, was a famous weapon master in the Ministry of Works. The Commissioner went to great lengths to transfer him to the Eastern Depot."

Time was of the essence. Hua Changxi did not continue asking about the artifact refiner. Instead, she took the spirit needles and walked toward the martial artist in the most critical condition.

That man happened to be the middle-aged eunuch's godson.

Seeing the middle-aged eunuch's anxious expression, Eunuch Yu consoled him: "With Physician Hua attending, your godson will be fine."

The middle-aged eunuch forced the corners of his mouth into a faint smile and said nothing. He stared intently at Hua Changxi as she inserted the spirit needles swiftly and steadily into his godson. Her practiced and decisive technique slightly lessened his doubts about her medical skill.

Hua Changxi used the spirit needles to seal the "small sword" formed from gathered sword Qi in the injured man's body, fixing it in one place to prevent it from roaming and destroying other organs. Then she rapidly wrote out a prescription for stopping bleeding and promoting healing.

"Decoct the medicine according to this prescription. Prepare it for the number of injured martial artists; every single one of them must take it."

The middle-aged eunuch took the prescription, glanced at it, then turned and left without a word.

As soon as he left, Hua Changxi said to Eunuch Yu, "Later, find out who that man is."

Eunuch Yu: "Someone who can fetch the needles and draw medicinal ingredients probably has some standing in the Eastern Depot."

Hua Changxi thought the same. She took the remaining spirit needles and went to the next injured person.

With one set of spirit needles, the number was only enough to seal the "small sword" inside three martial artists.

Without any more spirit needles, Hua Changxi had to wait for the middle-aged eunuch to finish decocting the medicine before proceeding to the next stage of treatment.

"Eunuch Yu, do you think I could ask the Eastern Depot's artifact refiner to forge a few sets of spirit needles for me?"

To get the Eastern Depot's artifact refiner to help forge spirit needles would certainly require Eunuch Xuan's intervention. Eunuch Yu had no authority to make decisions on Eunuch Xuan's behalf. Just as he was wondering how to respond, the middle-aged eunuch entered.

"The physician wants to have several more sets of spirit needles forged? I can go and speak to Master Lu about this."

Hua Changxi's eyes lit up: "Then I am obliged to you, Eunuch. Might I ask your name?"

The middle-aged eunuch said, "I am Lin Qi, a Judicial Baihu of the Eastern Depot."

Hua Changxi smiled, "So it's Eunuch Lin, pleased to meet you. I am Hua Changxi."

Eunuch Lin's attitude toward Hua Changxi was now much more courteous than before. When he went to the storeroom to fetch the medicine, the storeroom staff looked at the prescription and said it was well-written, which showed that the young lady before him truly understood medicine.

"Physician Hua, the medicine you requested has been decocted."

After hearing this, Hua Changxi walked over to Eunuch Lin's godson, sat down, picked up a sharp knife, and cut open the wounded man's chest.

As soon as the chest was opened, a stream of white spiritual light shot out.

"Bang!"

Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lin saw the white flash disappear, and then a red light suppressed the white light. By the time they came to their senses, they saw a sword scar had appeared on the ground.

"This is the sword aura that was destroying the martial artists' bodies."

"Eunuch Lin, bring the decocted medicine and have your godson take it."

Hua Changxi began treating the next martial artist.

After an afternoon, all the martial artists had been treated.

Seeing that the martial artists' breathing had stabilized, Eunuch Lin no longer doubted Hua Changxi's medical skills. To express his gratitude, he proactively said he would ask Master Lu from the Artifact Refining Workshop to forge several more sets of spiritual needles for her.

After finishing with the martial artists, Hua Changxi went to another room to treat the cultivators.

Treating cultivators was easier than treating martial artists. The martial artists were mortals, and mortal bodies could not withstand spiritual power. She could only use spiritual needles to seal the 'Small Sword' and then cut an opening to let the 'Small Sword' fly out.

For cultivators, it was different. Cultivators could withstand spiritual power. After sealing the 'Small Sword' with spiritual needles, she infused the needles with spiritual power, then inserted the needles toward the 'Small Sword,' forcibly dispersing the 'Small Sword' through the spiritual power within the needles.

Of course, this required that her spiritual power be superior to that of the 'Small Sword.'

Judging by the 'Small Swords' that flew out of the martial artists' bodies, their killing power was not very strong, only equivalent to the strike of a Qi Refining cultivator.

If the 'Small Swords' had been a bit more powerful, those martial artists would have died on the spot, and the cultivators probably would not have lasted until she arrived to treat them.

Treating cultivators was much faster than treating martial artists. By the time Eunuch Xuan returned, Hua Changxi had already dispersed the 'Small Swords' inside all the cultivators.

Seeing that not a single cultivator had died and most of the martial artists were out of danger, Eunuch Xuan was overjoyed and directly gave her the set of spiritual needles used today as a gift.

Hua Changxi accepted unceremoniously; it was her due compensation. "Eunuch Xuan, I have another matter on which I'd like your help."

Eunuch Xuan's smile faded slightly. "What is it?"

Hua Changxi said, "I would like to ask the talisman master of the Eastern Depot to draw a few talismans for me."

Eunuch Xuan's eyes flickered. "Talismans to set up a teleportation array?"

Hua Changxi nodded. "Yes."

Eunuch Xuan said, "I cannot help you with that. The Eastern Depot has no talisman master. If we have such needs, we always go to the Celestial Department to find someone."

Hua Changxi didn't know if he was telling the truth, but she knew her hope of getting someone from the Eastern Depot to carve runes on the array stone had been dashed.

After that, Hua Changxi left together with Eunuch Yu.

As soon as the two left, Zhang Fang, the Commissioner of the Eastern Depot, arrived.

Zhang Fang personally examined the injured cultivators and martial artists, paying particular attention to the sword scar in the martial artists' room. "Were these sword scars all left when the sword aura was released from the martial artists' bodies?"

Eunuch Lin quickly replied, "Yes, this humble one was present while Physician Hua was treating everyone. The power of the sword aura should have been much stronger, but after Physician Hua blocked it, only these sword scars remained."

Zhang Fang had seen many alchemists and physicians in the palace. The severe injuries suffered by his subordinates this time had been encountered by the Demon-Repressing Army many years ago.

Back then, to treat that batch of Demon-Repressing Army soldiers, the head of the Celestial Department had beseeched the Emperor, and the Emperor had sent the imperial alchemists and physicians to treat them.

In order to understand the true situation of the Demon-Repressing Army, the Emperor had sent him along. He had watched the entire process of how the physicians treated the wounded, and the treatment process was not easy at all.

Hua Changxi could save people; her medical skills were even more superb than he had imagined!

"Maintaining a good relationship with Hua Changxi—who knows, we might need her to save our lives in the future."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xuan quickly agreed.

Having found no talisman master and being unable to set up the teleportation array for now, Hua Changxi was a bit frustrated. On the way back to the Medical Office, she racked her brains thinking about where to find a talisman master.

It wasn't that she didn't want to learn talisman drawing herself; it was simply that she didn't have the time or energy.

Now her daily schedule was: teaching in the morning, alchemy in the afternoon, cultivation at night, and squeezing in trivial tasks during spare time—there was simply no time to learn talisman drawing.

Once she raised her cultivation level and her alchemist grade also advanced, only then might she have the time and mood to study talisman drawing.

Just as she was about to reach the Medical Department, Hua Changxi suddenly spun around to look behind her.

Eunuch Yu was startled by her abrupt action: “Master, what’s wrong?”

Hua Changxi squinted at the mouth of the alley across the street. She had just sensed someone staring at her; when she turned back, she caught a figure darting quickly into the alley.

There was still a faint ripple of spiritual energy in the air—it was a cultivator.

Who had set their sights on her now?

Someone from the Eastern Depot?

Hua Changxi furrowed her brows and withdrew her gaze: “Nothing.” With that, she continued walking toward the Medical Department.

Since she had been targeted, that person would surely tail her again. Next time, she had to catch him and find out who exactly was watching her.

Back at the Medical Department, unable to cultivate freely, Hua Changxi devoted her time to alchemy. Returning to the Chores Hall, she went straight to No. 6 Qihuang Hall to refine pills.

On the twenty-sixth of May, while Hua Changxi was teaching the servants alchemy in No. 6 Qihuang Hall, several unexpected people arrived.

Mu Qingying, the He sisters, and Shen Qianfan and Zhu Qinghuan, who had taken the wooden tokens, came. Behind them were a few people she did not recognize.

“Jiuniang.”

Two young ladies Hua Changxi had never met walked up to her with smiles.

Hua Changxi looked at them: “And you are?”

The older of the two smiled: “My great-grandfather is the senior elder of the Hua clan. Hua Tai is my grandfather. I’m two years older than you, so you can call me Wanyue Jie.”

As she spoke, she smiled at the young lady beside her.

“This is Miss Shuran from the Earl’s manor.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Shuran immediately smiled at Hua Changxi: “What ‘Miss Shuran’? We’re all sisters, we ought to address each other as such. Jiuniang, I’m one year older than you. If you don’t mind, you can call me Shuran Jie.”

Hua Changxi sized up the two women who wanted to be her elder sisters and said directly: “I’m about to start class now. If you need something from me, you’ll have to wait.”

Hua Shuran noticed that Hua Changxi was not at all warm toward her and Hua Wanyue—in fact, she seemed quite distant. She frowned slightly but continued with a smile: “We’ve come to listen to your lecture.”

Without waiting for Hua Changxi to react, she turned to look at the young man and young lady who had come with them and introduced them on her own: “Jiuniang, these two are Young Master Chu and Miss Duan. They’re also here to attend your lecture.”

Hua Changxi sized up the handsome and dignified Young Master Chu and the haughty-looking Miss Duan, then withdrew her gaze: “If you’re here to listen, please go down and take your seats.”

Miss Duan seemed displeased with Hua Changxi’s attitude and looked about to say something, but Young Master Chu pulled her away.

Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue exchanged a glance at Hua Changxi, then followed the two and found seats.

Noticing that Mu Qingying was also there, Young Master Chu smiled and nodded at her.

Mu Qingying nodded back, acknowledging the greeting.

Hua Changxi observed their interaction and guessed that Young Master Chu was no ordinary person, but since they were all irrelevant to her, she couldn’t be bothered to think more about it and began teaching the group how to refine mortal pills.

Mu Qingying and the others, watching Hua Changxi refine pills for the first time, might have been dismissive at first, but gradually they became completely absorbed.

There was no help for it—Hua Changxi’s pill-refining process was too natural and smooth; her techniques and movements carried an indescribable rhythm, and watching her refine pills was simply a visual delight.

After demonstrating the entire procedure once, Hua Changxi had the servants who brought their own cauldrons start refining on their own, while she moved among them, pointing out their shortcomings.

Seeing this, Mu Qingying took out her own cauldron from her storage pouch and began to refine pills too—but she was refining spirit pills.

Hua Changxi watched for a while and, as Mu Qingying worked, gave her pointers on the techniques for fusing and sealing the pills: “If the ingredients aren’t fully fused, the medicinal effects won’t be released; if the seal isn’t done properly, the spirit pill’s Qi and efficacy won’t last long.”

Mu Qingying looked at the ten mid-grade pills in her cauldron, her expression shaken—thanks to Hua Changxi’s guidance, the quality of the pills she refined had improved.

Before this, everything she had refined was low-grade.

Mu Qingying was about to exchange alchemy insights with Hua Changxi when she heard Hua Changxi say, “Alright, class dismissed.”