Chapter 3: Gaining an Opportunity

The back office of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

"Jiuniang."

"Come, drink this."

Hua Minghe carefully helped the bandaged Hua Changxi sit up, holding a bowl of brown-red medicinal broth with a strong bloody smell.

Hua Changxi wrinkled her nose at the stench of the medicine: "Father, what kind of medicine is this? It smells so awful."

Hua Minghe also found the medicine excessively foul: "It was concocted by the Medical Bureau, said to be a restorative tonic for generating blood."

Hua Changxi didn't want to drink it, but for the sake of her health, she followed her father's hand and swallowed the medicine. After finishing, her face twisted in disgust.

It tasted terrible.

It felt like drinking blood.

"Ugh—"

Hua Changxi wanted to vomit.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in beige official robes walked in.

"Don't waste it!"

"That's top-grade blood-replenishing medicine."

"If it weren't for this major case of the demonic cultivators causing chaos, and the number of victims, you wouldn't have gotten such good stuff."

Seeing the newcomer, Hua Minghe immediately stood up to greet him: "Pharmacist Xu."

Hua Changxi suppressed her nausea and looked at Pharmacist Xu in surprise: "Uncle Xu, why are you here?"

Pharmacist Xu: "Those who were captured by the demonic cultivators for bloodletting sacrifices all fell into deep comas due to excessive blood loss. Ordinary doctors are completely helpless."

"The prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture pleaded with the Medical Bureau, so they sent me and a few other pharmacists over to see if we could save more people."

As he spoke, Pharmacist Xu examined Hua Changxi and said with a smile: "Jiuniang, you're really lucky to have survived the demonic cultivators' hands."

Hearing this, Hua Minghe looked terrified and said sternly to Hua Changxi: "From now on, no more running off."

After this kidnapping, Hua Changxi deeply realized how poor public security was in this ancient era. She nodded obediently: "Understood." Then she turned to Pharmacist Xu.

"How are the others?"

Pharmacist Xu sighed: "We managed to save twelve."

Hua Minghe's expression turned grim: "Eighty-one people, and only a dozen survived. Those demonic monks and cultivators are getting more and more rampant."

Pharmacist Xu was equally indignant: "Exactly. Before, we only heard of such demonic monks and cultivators appearing elsewhere; now they dare to commit crimes right here in the capital."

"The court really should crack down on those monks and Daoists."

Hua Minghe didn't respond to that.

Many court officials believe in Buddhism or Daoism, and the current emperor believes in both.

Under such circumstances, who would dare to suppress the rise of Buddhism and Daoism?

Pharmacist Xu clearly knew this as well and didn't say more, instead turning to Hua Changxi: "How are you feeling now?"

Hua Changxi carefully assessed her condition. After drinking the medicine, a warm current flowed through her body, and her dizziness was gone. She exclaimed in surprise: "What exactly was that medicine? Its blood-replenishing effect is amazing."

Pharmacist Xu chuckled: "It's a newly discovered herb by the Medical Bureau called Trueblood Wood. Pills made from Trueblood Wood have miraculous effects even on martial artists, let alone ordinary people."

Trueblood Wood...

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. It was yet another herb she had never heard of.

Fortunately, she had grown accustomed to this situation.

The customs and folkways of the Great Jin Dynasty closely resembled those of the Tang Dynasty in her memory, yet there were differences, the most notable being the flourishing of the martial path.

Here, martial arts experts like those in wuxia novels truly existed.

People who practice martial arts are called martial artists, and many of the herbs they use are unfamiliar to her.

"Pharmacist Xu, another victim has woken up. The prefect requests your presence." A yamen runner came to call him.

Xu the Pharmacist nodded, and before leaving, said to Hua Changxi: "Jiu Niang, the Medical Bureau is going to recruit a batch of apprentices next month. Didn't you tell me before that you wanted to enter the Medical Bureau? This is an excellent opportunity."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression immediately brightened: "I will definitely go."

After Xu the Pharmacist left, Hua Minghe looked at Hua Changxi with disapproval: "Why are you thinking of going to the Medical Bureau? Isn't it fine to just stay in the family's pharmacy?"

Hua Changxi curled her lip: "I would like to continue staying in the family pharmacy, but can Grandmother agree to that? Last year she already wanted me to make room for Sixth Brother and Eighth Brother."

In old Madam Hua's heart, all the Hua family's assets were to be left to the sons and grandsons. Naturally, the pharmacy business should be managed by the grandsons, while the granddaughters should stay at home embroidering and weaving.

She had been able to enter the pharmacy to help only because she showed extremely high medical talent, astonishing the attending physician. The attending physician personally requested her from old Madam Hua, and only then was she allowed to stay and work in the pharmacy.

In the previous two years, Sixth Brother and Eighth Brother were attending school, so no one competed with her. This year, both have dropped out and have reached the age to help at the pharmacy, so of course she has to make room for them.

Hearing this, Hua Minghe was silent for a moment. He had five children: the first three were sons, and the last two were daughters.

When his youngest daughter, Shi Niang, was eight years old, she was taken by Qingyun Daoist from Taisu Palace on Qiyun Mountain. Now, he only has Jiu Niang left by his side.

Jiu Niang loves medicine. As a father, he very much wants to fulfill his daughter's wish, but the Hua family has no great assets and there are many children. If the children want to develop, they truly have to find other ways.

If it were a boy in the family who wanted to enter the Medical Bureau, Hua Minghe would absolutely agree, but Jiu Niang is a young lady.

"Although the Medical Bureau does not participate in court political affairs, it is still one of the many government offices."

"The affairs in the government offices are complicated and interconnected; it's not something a young lady like you can figure out."

"The Medical Bureau openly says that both men and women can enter, but nine out of ten inside are men. Do you know how hard it is for a woman to stand her ground among men?"

"You are familiar with Xu the Pharmacist. Go ask him, since the Medical Bureau was established, how many women have managed to make a name for themselves in there?"

Hua Changxi lowered her eyes: "For a woman who wants to stand out, where is it not difficult?"

Seeing that Hua Minghe still wanted to persuade her, Hua Changxi added: "Father, I don't plan to stand out by going to the Medical Bureau. I just want to find a job."

"My medical skills were recognized by Xu the Pharmacist. With him looking after me, I will surely be able to establish a foothold in the Medical Bureau."

In her previous life, she was the heir of a family of traditional Chinese medicine. Right after graduating with a doctorate, she entered the best traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the country.

Even though she didn't recognize many of the medicinal herbs in this world, she believed that with her medical knowledge and clinical experience from her previous life, she was absolutely capable of handling the work in the Medical Bureau.

Hua Minghe didn't want to argue with his daughter while she was still injured, so he could only say: "Let's talk about this later. Your disappearance this time scared your mother to death."

"Rest a bit more. The Prefect and the Chief Captain might summon you later. When that time comes, tell them everything you know. After registering, you can go home with Father."

Hua Changxi nodded.

After resting for two hours, sure enough, a bailiff came to take Hua Changxi to the main hall.

Hua Minghe accompanied Hua Changxi, and in the main hall they saw the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

A demonic Daoist had actually appeared causing chaos in the capital. As a constable of the Six Doors Bureau, Hua Minghe had sent someone to notify the Six Doors Bureau immediately after rescuing his daughter.

Therefore, below the Prefect sat the Chief Captain of the Six Doors Bureau.

To avoid trouble, Hua Changxi concealed the fact that the young lady knew her, but told everything else without reservation.

After she finished speaking, before the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture could say anything, the Chief Captain of the Six Doors Bureau was the first to ask: "Can you describe that red stone in more detail?"

Hua Changxi: "It's just a red stone, round, about this big." As she spoke, she gestured with her hands.

The Chief Captain asked again: "The young lady who fought against the demonic Daoist, and the middle-aged man who appeared later—did they have any distinctive features in appearance?"

Hua Changxi thought for a moment, didn't recall anything special, so she shook her head at the Chief Captain.

Seeing this, the Chief Captain sighed inwardly, knowing that capturing those two would likely be difficult. He stopped asking further questions and turned to the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture: "Does Your Honor have any questions?"

The Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture nodded, then looked at Hua Changxi: "Miss Hua, are you certain that red-robed demonic Daoist is dead?"

Hua Changxi nodded affirmatively: "Definitely dead. I threw the red stone into the lava, and the demonic Daoist chased after it and jumped in. How could anyone survive falling into lava?"

The Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture smiled: "I have nothing more to ask."

Seeing that the Chief Captain of the Six Doors Bureau also shook his head, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture said to Hua Minghe: "You can take your daughter home. But if there is anything we need to ask Miss Hua in the future, you will have to come back to Jingzhao Prefecture."

Hua Minghe knew this was standard procedure: "If Your Honor needs anything, I will definitely bring Jiu Niang to assist in the investigation."

When Hua Minghe brought Hua Changxi back to the Hua residence, it was almost dark.

"Jiu Niang."

The Hua family gathered around, all looking with concern at Hua Changxi, who was already asleep in Hua Minghe's arms.

Hua Minghe said, "Ninth Girl is injured and needs to rest now. I'll take her back to her room first. Everyone can talk to her in a couple of days."

After saying this to the family, Hua Minghe carried Hua Changxi back to the room.

Hua Minghe's wife, Yao, quickly followed.

The others stayed in the main hall.

Although Old Madam Hua was concerned about her ninth granddaughter's injuries, that didn't stop her from using Hua Changxi as an example: "See? This is the price of running around everywhere."

"Especially you three—Fifth Girl, Seventh Girl, and Twelfth Girl—when you go out, you must stay close to the family. Understood?"

Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierniang knew that Hua Changxi had been taken by the demonic Daoist and were still shaken. They all answered, "Understood."

In Hua Changxi's room, Yao gently wiped her daughter's body with a cloth and changed her into clean clothes.

Worried that her daughter might wake with a start, Yao stayed by her side until midnight, only returning to her own room after making sure Hua Changxi was sleeping soundly.

As for Hua Changxi, although she had just gone through a life-or-death crisis, she slept exceptionally sweetly.

In her deep sleep, she had a dream.

In the dream, she turned into a small bird radiating red light.

The small bird's nose opened and closed, producing thunderous breathing sounds. With each breath, it drew the surrounding air currents continuously into its body.

As the air currents flowed in, the red light on the bird grew more and more brilliant.

Unconsciously, Hua Changxi's breathing began to synchronize with the bird's.

Hua Changxi slept straight through until noon the next day. When she woke up, she felt exceptionally refreshed—but the moment her eyes fully cleared, her entire body stiffened.

[Realm: Qi Refining 1/1000]

The line of text that appeared in her vision stunned Hua Changxi. It took her a while to come back to her senses.

After coming to, Hua Changxi closed her eyes and shook her head several times. When she found the words were still there, her heart began to pound violently. Unbidden, she thought of the red stone that the red-robed old man and the young woman had fought so desperately over.

Could this be the opportunity that the red-robed demonic Daoist and the young woman had spoken of?