Chapter 229: Health Preservation

Wen Gu came to the Town for a trip, but did not return to his sect immediately, continuing to stay at the post house.

There were quite a few others like him, mostly people who had newly entered the Valley this year.

In the current state of the world, for those new arrivals like them, no matter where they stayed in town, nothing compared to the post house. It was not absolutely safe, but it was relatively more reliable.

After staying at the post house for another night, he set off again to stroll the streets after daybreak.

The previous day, Wen Gu had gone to see Shopkeeper Wu; today, he planned to go to the medicine hall.

The medicine halls here were banded together, belonging to the largest local power—the Medicine Gang.

The former Medicine Gang, after its power and interests expanded, formed the new Medicine Gang.

The medicine halls of Shenyi Gu were an important component of the Medicine Gang and also served as multi-functional spaces.

Before the chaotic times, the medicine halls here were just like those outside the valley, selling medicine and treating illnesses.

But after the chaotic times, their functions became complex.

Medicine halls now served as both pharmacies and tea houses.

If you were walking on the street and felt thirsty or hungry, wanting a cup of tea or some snacks, it was very hard to find dedicated tea houses or restaurants; you had to look for a medicine hall. You could see several medicine halls on a single street, with storefronts both large and small.

Wen Gu, accompanied by his attendants and guards, sat with Shopkeeper Wu for a while longer before coming out to continue walking forward.

On the same street, not too far away, was a medicine hall. It was also the largest medicine hall on this street—Anxiang Hall.

"From afar, one knows it is not snow, for a hidden fragrance comes."

What Anxiang Hall had been most famous for in the past was its Incense Pill; their signature product was an Incense Pill made from spices, carrying a faint, cool fragrance.

After the chaotic times, they followed the general trend and actively adapted, also producing Incense Pills for Exorcism and masking odors. At the same time, they expanded their business, selling Incense Pills and medicinal herbs, while also providing a place to enjoy tea and rest.

Wen Gu stood at the entrance and looked at the plaque of Anxiang Hall.

It was evident that this plaque was a newly made shop sign from the last few years.

Carved with fine craftsmanship from high-quality wood, it looked more imposing and solemn, and one could also see the burning ambition behind it.

According to information uncovered by the Patrol Guard Division, Zhang Dalang's position as a street soldier was pushed by Anxiang Hall.

Wen Gu withdrew his gaze and walked inside.

The first floor of the medicine hall was a pharmacy in the front and a clinic in the back. The second floor was where one drank tea.

Wen Gu did not rush to the second floor, but instead looked around the pharmacy in the front.

Unlike the small stalls like Shopkeeper Wu's, the medicine hall's herb stalls were grander and more orderly.

There were many types of medicinal slices for sale, as well as various pre-packaged medicine bags.

There was only one shopkeeper and two clerks in the pharmacy.

The shopkeeper was buried in a newspaper; hearing the movement at the door, he only lifted his eyes to glance once before continuing to read.

Of the two clerks, one was dozing off to the side, and the other was lazily tidying the shelves.

Seeing someone enter the shop, the one dozing off hadn't intended to pay attention, but after glancing at Wen Gu's attire and the guards and attendants he brought, he pulled a smile in a very perfunctory manner: "Customer, are you buying medicine or drinking tea?"

Wen Gu was not angry and replied, "I'll just look at the medicinal herbs first."

"Fine, suit yourself," the clerk said, then returned to his indifferent manner.

Beside him, Li Sihu almost raised his eyebrows.

A clerk at a medicine hall was actually this rude?

He glanced at Wen Gu, and seeing Wen Gu wave his hand slightly, he had to suppress his anger.

But he muttered in his heart: Is the Shenyi Gu medicine hall really that arrogant? What kind of shop has this attitude? Can they even sell anything?!

Wen Gu did not feel surprised.

From the information collected, it was clear that the Shenyi Gu medicine halls truly did not worry about selling their goods!

Medicinal herbs were in high demand!

If one looked closely at the herbs on the shelves, they were all freshly prepared not long ago.

The previous batch had long since sold out.

Absolute monopoly was just like this; the medicine halls controlled the distribution rights for most medicinal herbs, and they only had a good attitude toward major powers.

Usually, when facing other customers, even wealthy young masters, their attitude was average.

The pharmacy's shopkeeper and clerks had not gone to see the Entrance Assessment; they had to guard the shop that day and couldn't go watch the excitement, so they didn't recognize "Young Master Rong."

Seeing Wen Gu, they only assumed he was an ordinary wealthy young master who had newly entered the valley.

Being able to offer a smile and ask a question was already giving him face; if it had been other commoners, they wouldn't have spared a second glance.

Wen Gu did not dwell on this; he looked at the medicinal slices and then went to look at the pre-packaged medicine bags displayed on the shelves. "Health-Preserving Medicine?"

Wen Gu had heard before that many of Shenyi Gu's medicine halls sold health products.

Previously, when the Tang Sect produced medicinal pills, outsiders didn't pay much attention once they knew they were ordinary health-preserving medicines, simply because there were too many medicine halls selling Health-Preserving Medicine! That health-preserving pill from the Tang Sect had no unique features at all!

"As expected of a large medicine hall, so many varieties!" Wen Gu sighed.

The clerk who was tidying the shelves heard this and said proudly, "That's for sure, our medicine hall is not like those small shops outside." The clerk looked at Wen Gu with an expression that seemed to say, "You kid really have an eye for things!"

When facing Wen Gu, he added a touch of friendliness.

"Which kind would the young master like to buy?" he asked.

"Are there any suitable for me?" Wen Gu asked curiously.

"Yes, plenty!"

The clerk pointed to one of the shelves: "Those over there are all suitable for a young man of your age."

Health-Preserving Medicine was not just for the elderly; there was also some for young people.

Wen Gu looked over in the direction the other person was pointing.

"This quantity—many people are buying them. Are there many people getting injured?"

"Injuries? You have to distinguish between visible injuries and invisible ones!"

The shop assistant at the medicine hall was very happy to clear up the confusion for these outsiders.

"A person lives by their essence, Qi, and spirit. Now that we are in a chaotic age where the Evil Plague runs rampant, those Plague Ghosts outside can consume a person's essence and Qi, leaving them lacking in energy and deficient in blood and Qi;..."

The assistant began his practiced medicine-selling pitch.

However, setting aside those supernatural things, Wen Gu could roughly understand.

To put it simply, it was actually that this strange, chaotic age of the Evil Plague had caused the world's people massive and profound psychological trauma, affecting their state of living.

What kind of age is twenty or thirty years old?

It is the prime of life, the golden years!

In terms of career, one might just be starting to strive for success and display their grand ambitions.

But in today's chaotic age, there are plenty of "youthful dementia" sufferers who are listless, morose, and have to look at a six-digit number several times just to remember it! The assistant became more and more excited as he spoke, and he said to Wen Gu, "You must be new to the valley this winter, right? You can't go wrong buying this!"

"This is a prescription formulated by our Anxiang Hall's Hall Master, who invited a Venerable Master to prepare it! Only our Anxiang Hall has it!"

When the assistant said this, he was extremely proud.

The "Hall Master" in his words was the boss of Anxiang Hall.

"Venerable Master" was an honorific for the famous doctors of Jingbing Hospital.

Being able to invite a famous doctor from Jingbing Hospital to customize a prescription was indeed worth showing off.

It not only proved that their Anxiang Hall's Hall Master had ability, but also indicated that their Anxiang Hall was of a high class! It was not something those three-no street stalls could compare to! Wen Gu nodded along with the other person's words and said, "I heard you have medicinal tea already brewed here. Bring me a pot of tea and let me see how effective your medicinal tea really is!"

When the assistant heard this, he became even more spirited, quickly walked around the counter, and bowed while gesturing to lead the way.

"This way, please, upstairs, honored guest!"

If customers consumed tea here, they could get extra tips!

He had heard that this group of young masters who had newly entered the valley this year were all quite stingy, and he hoped the one in front of him would give a larger tip.