Chapter 101: The Sound of the Wooden Fish

Leaving the old courtyard of the square, Hua Changxi returned to her own yard, placed the five wooden tablets in her hand one by one onto the table, and gazed at them silently, lost in thought.

Taking the wooden tablets would certainly require paying a corresponding price.

"Is the price igniting the alchemical fires of Nine Streets?"

If it were only that, Hua Changxi could accept it, for possessing the alchemical inheritance of the Shennong Cauldron, she also had confidence she could achieve it.

But what she worried about was that the price was not limited to this.

Hua Changxi picked up the wooden key tablets for Qihuang Hall Number One and Qihuang Hall Number Nine; the sword patterns on these two tablets were the most profound, having transformed from flat designs into 'three-dimensional' patterns.

The 'three-dimensional' sword patterns looked like miniature versions of real swords, while the wooden tablets were merely containers holding the 'swords'.

Staring at the 'swords' for too long, Hua Changxi felt a strong sensation that the 'swords' inside seemed ready to fly out at any moment.

If the Alchemy Saint Hall were truly just a sacred ground for alchemy, the presence of sword patterns carved onto the wooden key tablets capable of opening Qihuang Halls would seem somewhat incongruous.

Hua Changxi felt these sword patterns must serve some other purpose, and it was highly likely one of the prices she would have to pay.

Although she knew a price must be paid, and that the price was no small matter, Hua Changxi still had no intention of giving up her attempt to seize control of the Qihuang Halls first.

First, teaching and sharing pharmaceutical knowledge in the Qihuang Halls gave her an illusion of returning to her classroom days in her previous life; she quite missed this feeling of bathing in an ocean of knowledge, and doing so made her feel it was very meaningful;

Second, unlocking the Qihuang Halls gave her a great sense of accomplishment;

Third, unlocking each Qihuang Hall caused her cultivation speed to surge dramatically; as the sword patterns on the wooden tablets became more profound, her cultivation speed would also increase.

The sword pattern on the Number Nine tablet was profound because the alchemical fire of First Street had been ignited; the sword pattern on the Number One tablet was profound because the largest number of laborers had gone to Qihuang Hall Number One to listen to her explain pharmaceuticals.

After more than a month of exploration, she had summarized the rule: the more profound the medical knowledge taught in the Qihuang Hall and the greater the number of listeners, the more 'three-dimensional' the sword pattern on the wooden tablet would become.

Looking at the fifth wooden tablet she had just received, Hua Changxi walked toward Qihuang Hall Number Four, pondering all the way how to handle the matter of Eunuch Jia and the other three.

As she approached Qihuang Hall Number Four, she saw Xiao Shouzi, who served beside Eunuch Jia, leading a group of people out from Qihuang Hall Number Three.

"Changxi, Eunuch Jia knows you have reclaimed a medicinal garden within Qihuang Hall Number Three and asked me to bring people to help organize it for you; it is already done, please see if it is acceptable, and if not, I will come back tomorrow to redo it."

"Thank you; I apologize for the trouble."

Watching Xiao Shouzi and the group depart, Hua Changxi's expression grew somewhat serious; she walked to the gate of Qihuang Hall Number Three and looked at the sword pattern on the stone pillar.

Marking the stone pillar with a sword pattern merely prevented others possessing wooden tablets from marking it again, but it could not stop other people from entering or exiting the Qihuang Hall.

In this case, it could not be considered that she had brought the Qihuang Hall under her control.

"Is this wooden tablet truly a key? If it is a key, it should be able to restrict others' entry and exit."

Hua Changxi walked to the exterior of Qihuang Hall Number One, frowning as she examined the sword pattern on the stone pillar, and soon discovered a detail she had previously missed: the sword pattern was recessed inward.

Looking at the 'three-dimensional' sword pattern on the wooden tablet, then again at the recessed sword pattern on the stone pillar, Hua Changxi realized the two seemed capable of fitting together; she stepped before the stone pillar, intending to align the wooden tablet with the recessed area of the sword pattern.

However, very quickly, Hua Changxi withdrew her hand.

She still remembered the commotion caused when the alchemical fire of First Street was ignited; who knew what movement the Qihuang Hall might make once the sword patterns were aligned?

It was better to be cautious and return tonight to investigate.

Hua Changxi went to Qihuang Hall Number Four to test the teaching content there, returned to her own courtyard to refine pills as soon as night fell, and only went to Qihuang Hall Number One at midnight, after confirming that everyone monitoring her from the shadows had departed.

Upon arriving, Hua Changxi approached the stone pillar, took out the Number One wooden tablet, and when the sword pattern on the tablet aligned with the recess on the pillar, the tablet and the pillar snapped together with a 'bang' like two ends of a magnet.

Immediately afterward, a spiritual light emerged within Qihuang Hall Number One.

Standing at the courtyard gate, Hua Changxi clearly saw the originally dilapidated yard instantly transform into a vast and holy main hall, filled with a rich fragrance of medicine permeating the air.

On the stone walls surrounding the main hall, vivid images materialized one after another, depicting mortal plants, spiritual plants, divine plants, and Dao plants.

In the center of the main hall, facing north, a colorful meditation cushion condensed into existence; behind the cushion hung a golden clock, and then, using the colorful cushion as the center, rows upon rows of meditation cushions began to materialize on the left, right, and directly opposite, radiating outward endlessly, seemingly without limit.

Witnessing this scene, Hua Changxi shivered, instantly regained her senses, and swiftly removed the wooden tablet.

Fortunately, the wooden tablet came off very easily.

The moment the tablet was removed, the spiritual light vanished, and the Qihuang Hall reverted to its original dilapidated state.

"Is this truly the correct way to open the Qihuang Hall?"

Hua Changxi looked around; although the commotion just now had not been loud, the spiritual light was most conspicuous in the night, and she did not know if anyone else had seen it, so she mounted her Somersault Cloud and flashed away immediately.

In the old courtyard of the square, Gu Xing, who had been lying on a reclining chair with eyes closed resting his spirit, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze shooting straight toward the Labor Hall direction: "Someone has opened Qihuang Hall Number One! Could it be the Hua girl?"

Hua Changxi knew the movements of Qihuang Hall Number One might be seen by others, but she did not expect that early the next morning, someone would come knocking at her door.

Looking at Eunuch Jia and the other three standing at the courtyard gate, Hua Changxi remained silent for a moment before letting them into the yard.

Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi with burning eyes: "Changxi, did you know that a light flashed within Qihuang Hall Number One last night?"

Hua Changxi shook her head: "I do not know."

Eunuch Zhao, who had no prior contact with Hua Changxi, did not wish to beat around the bush with her any longer: "Hua Changxi, give us a definite answer; do you intend to cooperate with us or not?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "How exactly do you wish to cooperate?"

Hearing her say this, Eunuch Jia and the other three exchanged glances: "If one day someone demands that we leave the Labor Hall, we hope you will protect us."

"Furthermore, regarding the matters you undertake in the Qihuang Halls, we hope to participate together with you."

Hua Changxi looked at them: "I only give lectures in the Qihuang Halls; if you wish to attend the lectures, you may come listen at any time. As for protecting you... you are not my people, so why should I protect you?"

Eunuch Yu: "What must we do to become your people?"

Hua Changxi sized up the four of them, appearing not very eager to take them in: "You all already have masters; would it not be improper to acknowledge another master?"

Seeing that Hua Changxi actually intended for them to acknowledge her as their master, the expressions of Eunuch Jia and the other three all showed hesitation.

Seeing that the sky had already brightened considerably, Hua Changxi said: "I must go to the Qihuang Hall to give my lecture; you should go back and think it over carefully."

Recalling the spiritual light that had flashed within the Qihuang Hall last night, while Eunuch Jia and the other two were still hesitating, Eunuch Yu spoke up first: "There is no need to think further; I acknowledge you as my master."

Hua Changxi was a generous person; whether it was directly placing Yu Gui in charge of ten medicinal shops or the distribution arrangements from their previous cooperation in refining medicine, it was evident she was someone who adhered to the exchange of benefits; as long as the value provided was sufficient, her rewards were never discounted.

He was a eunuch; whether serving as a slave to this person or that person, finding a master like Hua Changxi was far better than those noble figures in the palace who ate people without spitting out bones.

Seeing that Eunuch Yu had agreed, Eunuch Jia and the other two hesitated briefly before also stating their position.

Hua Changxi looked at the four of them, flipped her right hand over, and the Heart Demon Beast scroll appeared in her palm: "To acknowledge me as your master, you must swear a Heart Demon Oath; if you ever betray me, your bodies will explode and you will die."

Eunuch Yu had already sworn a Heart Demon Oath once before; he voluntarily took the beast scroll and guided the other three in dripping blood to swear their oaths.

After the four had finished swearing their Heart Demon Oaths, Hua Changxi asked, "How many people witnessed the anomalies at Qihuang Hall Number One last night?"

Eunuch Jia's shift in role was remarkably smooth: "Rest assured, Master; the few of us have already suppressed this matter, and it will not spread for the time being."

Hua Changxi glanced at him and said, "Notify everyone in the Miscellaneous Labor Hall to come listen to my lecture."

Watching Hua Changxi stride away, Eunuch Jia and the other three exchanged silent glances.

"Was what we did correct?"

"In the conflicts of First Street, very few who get involved manage to escape unscathed. How could adding a layer of protection for ourselves be wrong?"

"The question is, can Hua Changxi... can the Master protect us?"

"The commotion at Qihuang Hall Number One last night was absolutely caused by Hua... by the Master. Following her must be the right choice; at the very least, we can save our lives."

After taking in Eunuch Jia and the other three, their mobilization efforts caused an increasing number of miscellaneous laborers to attend Hua Changxi's lectures at Qihuang Hall.

The sword patterns on the second and third wooden tablets became 'three-dimensional' at a speed visible to the naked eye.

On May 1st, Hua Changxi determined that Qihuang Hall Number Four taught the meridians and structural composition of humans, animals, and plants, covering topics such as anatomy, acupuncture, anesthesia, and massage.

On May 5th, after marking the stone pillar outside Qihuang Hall Number Four with sword patterns, Hua Changxi visited the old courtyard in the square again and took the sixth wooden tablet.

On May 6th, Hua Changxi discovered that Qihuang Hall Number Five taught the decomposition, extraction, and fusion of flora, fauna, minerals, and the like.

On May 10th, after the stone pillar of Qihuang Hall Number Five was marked with sword patterns, Hua Changxi received the seventh wooden tablet.

On May 11th, Hua Changxi tested and found that Qihuang Hall Number Six was a place for teaching pill refining.

On May 15th, after the stone pillar of Qihuang Hall Number Six was marked with sword patterns, Hua Changxi took the eighth wooden tablet from the old courtyard in the square.

The teaching content of Qihuang Hall Number Seven had stumped Hua Changxi.

The content taught in the previous Qihuang Halls had been entirely deduced based on the pill refining inheritance, but after pill refining, she had lost her direction.

If Qihuang Hall Number Six teaches pill refining, and Qihuang Hall Number Nine teaches the diagnostic methods of looking, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, what could Qihuang Halls Seven and Eight possibly teach?

To unlock the Qihuang Halls, Hua Changxi had been busy continuously for over a month; now that she was stuck, it actually gave her some spare time to think about other matters.

She first returned to Feng'an Fang to check on Pu Cao and A Niu.

"What is wrong with you two?"

Seeing both Pu Cao and A Niu listless, Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised, especially regarding A Niu, whose eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, indicating a very poor state.

Pu Cao glanced at A Niu and said, "Recently, whenever night falls, A Niu hears the sound of a wooden fish, which disturbs him greatly and leaves him agitated."

Hua Changxi frowned. "The sound of a wooden fish? Haven't you asked the surrounding neighbors to stop knocking them?"

Pu Cao hesitated, seeming reluctant to speak fully. "But the problem is, I haven't heard any sound of a wooden fish."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression immediately turned serious. "Only A Niu can hear the sound of the wooden fish?"

Pu Cao nodded. "Changxi, I think A Niu seems possessed by evil spirits. At night, he cannot sleep; as soon as he dozes off, he is lured away by the sound of the wooden fish."

"Fortunately, Qing Niu and A Niu live together. Last month, whenever A Niu fell asleep at night, by midnight he would act as if he had lost his soul and try to leave. Qing Niu held him back, and then I woke up upon hearing the commotion and whipped A Niu awake, which stopped him from going out."

Hua Changxi looked at A Niu. "The sound of a wooden fish?"

Pu Cao said, "I specifically asked the surrounding neighbors, and no one mentioned renting their courtyard to a monk."

Upon hearing the word 'monk', a flash of light instantly appeared in Hua Changxi's eyes as she thought of the incident at Apothecary Xu's home.

During this period, Apothecary Xu had not come to find her; she did not know whether Xu Ling had returned with that monk named Kong Hai yet.