Chapter 81: Promotion

Refining and absorbing the Creation Pill takes a whole night. At daybreak the next day, Hua Changxi went to her parents' room. After waiting not long, her parents and two elder brothers woke up.

Hua Changxi smiled and asked, "How do you feel?"

Hua Liulang said with a face full of surprise, "I feel completely light and at ease all over. Before, I thought practicing martial arts was impressive enough, but I never imagined there was another, better path of cultivation in this world."

Hua Minghe and the other two also had joyful expressions.

Hua Changxi smiled and said, "A spiritual vein is a bridge connecting heaven and earth. With this bridge, you can absorb the power of heaven and earth for your own use." As she spoke, she handed the "Burning Flame Art" to Hua Liulang and Yao Shi.

"Mother, you and Sixth Brother have a Fire Spiritual Vein, so you must cultivate a fire-type technique. This manual is very suitable for you."

Then, looking at Hua Minghe and Hua Sanlang, she said, "The 'Azure Wood Art' that Tenth Sister gave is an excellent cultivation technique. You can just practice according to that manual."

Hua Liulang carefully put away the "Burning Flame Art" and looked at Hua Changxi curiously: "Ninth Sister, it's not strange that Tenth Sister could produce Daoist pills and techniques, but you..."

Hua Changxi gave him a sidelong glance: "What about me? Can't I have my own fortune?" She snorted, "The people at home treat me like a weed, but outside, I'm a treasure."

Yao Shi heard this and glared at her daughter: "Who in our family treats you like a weed?"

Hua Changxi curled her lip and said nothing.

Hua Minghe seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Hua Changxi saw this and said directly, "Father, whether you keep the matter of your ability to cultivate a secret or announce it, I don't care either way."

"I don't have any more pills. If the family gets jealous over this or uses filial piety to pressure you, don't come looking for me."

"Sixth Brother also said that I, a powerless little servant, would definitely attract attention by taking out such pills. Don't stab me in the back."

Yao Shi glanced at her husband, then lightly tapped Hua Changxi's forehead: "Are we the kind of people who don't know how serious this is? Don't worry, we won't tell the family about this."

Hua Sanlang: "But we can't keep it a secret forever, can we?"

Yao Shi: "Then before the family discovers it, we'll think of a good excuse."

Hua Changxi ignored this matter, took out a Fire Spirit Stone, and asked, "Did Tenth Sister leave behind this kind of stone?"

Hua Liulang quickly took it and looked at it: "Yes, she left a thousand of them, and also a pouch. Ninth Sister, you don't know, that pouch looks small, but it can hold a lot of things."

Hua Changxi: "Where are those spirit stones?"

Hua Liulang: "Most of them were taken by Eldest Brother. Fourth Brother and Eleven got a hundred each, Seventh Sister and Twelfth Sister got fifty each, and the pouch is also with Eldest Brother."

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, then got up and set up a Wood-type 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, go into this Spirit Gathering Array to cultivate. This way, your cultivation speed will be a bit faster."

Then, looking at Yao Shi, she said, "Mother, you can go to my room to cultivate. I have set up a Fire-type Spirit Gathering Array there."

Hua Liulang quickly asked, "What about me and Third Brother?"

Hua Changxi: "I'll go to your rooms later and set them up for you."

Without storage pouches, spirit stones are not easy to store, so the Spirit Gathering Array is more suitable for the family's cultivation.

Hua Changxi handed the "Introduction to the Four Arts" to Hua Sanlang: "Third Brother, this talks about some common knowledge of cultivation. Copy it down."

As she spoke, she looked seriously at her four family members.

"Cultivation, like martial arts, requires a large amount of resources. In the early stage, Tenth Sister and I can provide some, but in the end, how far you can go depends on yourselves."

"You must always be aware of this."

Hua Minghe and the other three heard this and knew that their two daughters (younger sisters) had given them a great fortune. Their faces showed a mix of emotions.

Hua Changxi said no more: "Father, Mother, it's getting late. I need to go to the Medical Office."

Yao Shi pulled her back: "Ninth Sister, do you still want to stay at the Medical Office as a servant?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I don't plan to leave the Medical Office for now."

Yao Shi quickly said, "When Tenth Sister left, she said being a servant is too hard and told you not to go. She asked you to wait for her return, and she would arrange another job for you."

Hua Changxi gave a wry smile: "Mother, I know Tenth Sister means well, but I have my own path to walk. No one can help me with that."

"Alright, don't worry about me. If I really am unhappy working at the Medical Office, I know how to choose. I'm leaving now."

Hua Changxi left the room and saw Old Master Hua and the others already seated in the main hall. She said, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Second Uncle and Aunt, Fourth Uncle and Aunt, I'm off to the Medical Department."

Watching her walk out of the courtyard, Old Madam Hua spoke up, "It's fine if Ninth Girl wants to stay in the Medical Department. Tenth Girl does have some connections, but they shouldn't be squandered recklessly."

Old Master Hua said nothing, which counted as tacit agreement.

The second and fourth branches also didn't say anything.

Tenth Girl had made something of herself, and everyone was counting on her patronage. If she passed her resources to Ninth Girl, then their share would be smaller.

By the time Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Department, it was already the Hour of the Snake (9:00 AM). As soon as she entered the Miscellaneous Servants Hall, she sensed something off about the atmosphere.

In the past, although the servants did heavy work every day, because they were paid more than outside, they all had smiles on their faces more or less.

But this time, as she walked along, she noticed the servants' spirits were not good; most of them looked downcast and worried.

"Changxi, you're back."

Back in the Sixth Bureau, Wang Yunchu was the first to spot Hua Changxi. When the others heard her voice and looked over, seeing that she really had returned from the herb garden, they were all quite surprised.

Duruo sized up Hua Changxi. Seeing that she hadn't become timid or scared from being in the herb garden, and instead her usual boldness was even more pronounced than before, she was both astonished and relieved.

It seemed the girl hadn't suffered any hardships in the herb garden.

"Eunuch Lu instructed that as soon as you return, you're to go see him."

Hua Changxi: "I'll put down my bundle and go see Eunuch Lu right away."

Wang Yunchu set down her work and followed Hua Changxi back to the dormitory.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi asked puzzledly, "Is something the matter?"

Wang Yunchu said in a low voice, "Eunuch Lu has been having a rough time lately. He's been scolded by Eunuch Jia several times. When you go see him, be sure to keep your temper in check."

Seeing that she had come specifically to warn her, Hua Changxi smiled and said, "Thank you, I'll be careful. By the way, I noticed the atmosphere in the Miscellaneous Servants Hall is off. Did something happen?"

Wang Yunchu looked left and right, and only when she saw no one else did she whisper, "Last month, Eunuch Sun, who was in charge of the First Division, died, and a new Eunuch Zhou took over."

"The first thing that Eunuch Zhou did after taking office was to completely replace all the original managers of the First Division."

"Some of Eunuch Sun's old loyalists were found to have embezzled medicinal materials and were beaten to death on the spot; others were kicked out of the Miscellaneous Servants Hall on trumped-up charges."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's face turned a few shades more serious. Were the conflicts in the Miscellaneous Servants Hall really this fierce?

Wang Yunchu continued, "It's not just the First Division. The Second Division and our Third Division are also unstable. It seems someone is also causing trouble for Eunuch Jia."

Hua Changxi frowned. Someone was causing trouble for Eunuch Jia, and Eunuch Jia happened to call her back just at this time. Was there a connection between the two?

"Yunchu, thank you for telling me this. I'll go see Eunuch Lu first, and we can talk more when I get back."

Hua Changxi put her bundle on her bed and went straight to Eunuch Lu's courtyard to find him. However, she didn't see Eunuch Lu in the courtyard; instead, she saw Manager Leng.

"You're back."

Manager Leng looked at Hua Changxi with a smile, not at all surprised by her return, clearly indicating that Eunuch Lu had already told her about this.

Hua Changxi looked at Manager Leng, a flicker of light passing through her eyes.

Spiritual energy fluctuation!

Manager Leng actually had spiritual energy fluctuation!

This person was a cultivator!

A cultivator flattering and fawning over a eunuch?

What exactly was Manager Leng's background? What was she doing lurking in the Miscellaneous Servants Hall?

"Manager Leng, I'm looking for Eunuch Lu."

"Eunuch Lu is with Eunuch Jia. He instructed that as soon as you return, I'm to take you to him. Follow me."

Manager Leng took the initiative to lead Hua Changxi to the courtyard where Eunuch Jia conducted his business.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they saw someone being beaten with boards in the center. The waist and buttocks were already battered and bloody.

The person being beaten was none other than Eunuch Lu.

Eunuch Jia sat high on the steps. When he saw Manager Leng bring Hua Changxi in, he raised his hand to stop the beatings and ordered Eunuch Lu to be carried away.

Manager Leng clearly hadn’t expected Eunuch Lu to be hit, and hit so badly at that. She had been counting on this person to cover for her. She gave Hua Changxi a wink, gesturing for her to go pay respects to Eunuch Jia, while she herself quietly slipped away.

Eunuch Jia knew that Manager Leng was Eunuch Lu’s lover. Seeing her leave, he said nothing, his gaze fixed on Hua Changxi.

So alike!

Too alike!

A while ago, he had seen the Fifth Prince and the direct disciple of the Taisu Sect’s sect leader in the palace. That direct disciple actually looked exactly like Hua Changxi.

He then sent people to investigate the Hua family. This investigation was alarming—Hua Changxi actually had a twin sister who had gone to the Taisu Sect when very young.

That direct disciple was none other than Hua Changxi’s twin sister, Hua Shiniang.

Thinking of the respectful attitude the head eunuch of Qianqing Palace had shown toward Hua Shiniang, Eunuch Jia’s regard for Hua Changxi increased several notches. Seeing her standing still, not coming forward to pay respects, he didn’t take offense but instead spoke first: “I am already fully aware of the details of your being punished by Little Lu and sent to the medicine estate.”

Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. She had been punished by Eunuch Lu and sent to the medicine estate because of their cooperation in alchemy—they had fallen out over the profit split. What did Eunuch Jia mean by saying this?

Was he implying he held leverage over her?

Seeing that she didn’t speak, Eunuch Jia continued: “I truly didn’t expect your alchemy skills to be so high. I also have a batch of medicinal materials at my disposal. According to the profit split you mentioned before, how about we cooperate?”

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Jia in surprise. This posture didn’t seem like someone about to seize on her mistakes.

“Eunuch Jia, I no longer wish to cooperate with anyone in alchemy now.”

Eunuch Jia’s brow furrowed slightly, displeasure at being refused rising in his heart: “The materials I provide are not discarded medicinal herbs.”

Hua Changxi: “Eunuch, it’s not about the materials. Before, I was too ignorant and arrogant. I’ve learned my lesson now and dare not act recklessly again.”

With the Five Finger Mountain at her disposal, how could she be lacking medicinal materials?

Moreover, she no longer wanted to refine ordinary pills. She needed to hurry up and refine spiritual pills for cultivators—her alchemist rank had not yet been upgraded.

Thinking that she still needed to refine several thousand cauldrons of pills to advance from a first-rank alchemist to a second-rank alchemist, she felt there was never enough time.

Eunuch Jia didn’t believe this girl had been scared out of her wits by a few months’ punishment at the medicine estate, but since she was unwilling, he couldn’t force it: “I heard you’ve been doing quite well at the Three Fork Medicine Valley, and even Old Man You thinks highly of you.”

Hua Changxi smiled: “It’s because Old Man You is kind and takes good care of his juniors.”

Eunuch Jia gave Hua Changxi a deep look. Was this girl acting so unafraid because she knew her sister was valued in the palace?

“Little Lu said that since you entered the Servants’ Hall, you’ve worked earnestly and efficiently. With medical skills as high as yours, working as a servant is truly an underuse of your talent.”

“So, try being a third steward first. If you do well, in the future I’ll put all the female servants of the Third Division under your management.”

Hua Changxi was a bit confused. She had refused Eunuch Jia, yet he was promoting her instead.

Was this magnanimity, or was there an ulterior motive?

Thinking that becoming a third steward would not only free up a lot of time but also give her some autonomy, Hua Changxi didn’t refuse.

As for what Eunuch Jia was really plotting, she would find out sooner or later.

Without caring what Hua Changxi thought, Eunuch Jia directly ordered the eunuch Xiao Shouzi beside him to go to the Sixth Bureau and announce the appointment.

By the time Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau, everyone already knew she had become a third steward.

A third steward no longer had to sleep in the common dormitory but would live in a two-person room. When Hua Changxi went back to her original quarters to get her bundle, she saw Du Ruo.

Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi, seeming to hesitate: “The person you’re replacing is Sister Zhou. Sister Zhou is a good person, and the female servants under her all respect her.”

Hua Changxi was taken aback: “Replacing? Wasn’t there a third steward position vacant?”

Du Ruo was also surprised to hear her ask that: “No, Sister Zhou just took leave to go home due to illness. She will be coming back.”

Hua Changxi furrowed her brows, feeling that Eunuch Jia was deliberately creating trouble for her, making her offend people as soon as she took office: “Thank you for the reminder, Manager Du. I understand the situation now.”

Seeing that Hua Changxi still intended to become the third steward, Du Ruo looked troubled.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow: “What, Manager Du thinks I should refuse to be this third steward? But the decision-maker isn’t me; it’s Eunuch Jia.”

“Even if I refused, Eunuch Jia might just send someone else.”

“If Manager Du wants to speak up for Sister Zhou, you should go to Eunuch Jia.”

Hua Changxi understood workplace rules well. She could be a troublemaker, but she would never actively offend the direct leader who could decide whether she stayed or left. She didn’t want to leave the Medical Bureau just yet.

One reason was that she still hadn’t figured out what was going on with the stone cauldron in the center of the square.

Second, cultivation cannot be achieved solely by埋头苦修; the Medical Affairs Department, where one interacts with many people, also serves as a small-scale interpersonal training ground.

After entering the Core Formation stage, both times her cultivation stalled were resolved by interacting with others. Although she has yet to fully understand the reason, more contact with people is ultimately beneficial to her cultivation.

Third, the Medical Affairs Department is the highest medical authority in Great Jin. By staying here, she can stay abreast of the latest developments in medical techniques and alchemy.

Also, although the herbs on Five Finger Mountain are numerous, they cannot encompass all spiritual plants and medicines. Medicinal materials from across the nation are sent to the Medical Affairs Department, so by remaining here, she can also gather information on herbs not found on Five Finger Mountain.

Fourth, Gu Jinfan is here. She always feels there is something strange about this person. Secretly keeping an eye on her might yield unexpected gains.