Chapter 163: Herb Apprentice

Hua Changxi stayed one night at the Hua residence; early on the morning of the tenth month's twenty-fourth day, she returned to the Shennuo Pharmacy in Feng'an Ward, instructing Pu Cao that henceforth, if members of the Hua family came here to sell items useful to cultivators, they should purchase all qualified goods, and she handed her a price list.

Pu Cao glanced at the price list; though she currently knew little about the market rates for spirit talismans and spirit tools, she was already very clear on the selling prices of spirit pills, and seeing that the purchase prices for pills on the list were conspicuously inflated above market value, she realized Hua Changxi was secretly subsidizing the Hua family.

After Hua Changxi left, Pu Cao discussed this matter with A-Niu as well.

Upon learning this, A-Niu remarked, "Changxi has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; she has clearly done so much for the Hua family, yet they remain unaware, and behind her back, they might even be resenting her."

Pu Cao shook her head: "Changxi's approach is the way of long-term stability. Family, of course, cannot be entirely neglected, but such care must be administered with method."

"If Changxi directly shouldered the cultivation resources for the Hua family, over time, it would only foster in them a habit of knowing only how to take without ever giving."

"Once such a habit is formed, the Hua family will deem Changxi's contributions as entirely taken for granted; if later Changxi cuts off their cultivation resources, they will absolutely not feel gratitude for her past efforts, but instead harbor even greater resentment."

"By purchasing the spirit pills and spirit talismans refined by the Hua family, Changxi aims to teach them self-reliance. It may seem thankless at first, but once the Hua family grows through their own efforts, they will eventually appreciate Changxi."

Speaking thus, she paused momentarily.

"Of course, not everyone in the Hua family may understand Changxi's painstaking intentions; being human, everyone wishes for an easier life."

"Acquiring cultivation resources is never easy, nor does everyone possess the courage to face the dangers along the path of cultivation; some will subconsciously shift the pressure onto their families, and if their relatives refuse to bear it, resentment will arise."

Hearing this, A-Niu asked, "So the Hua family simply refuses to acquire cultivation resources themselves, which is why they keep clashing with Changxi repeatedly, correct?"

Pu Cao replied, "Not everyone in the Hua family is like that; most importantly, Changxi is too perceptive; she neither wishes nor will she bear responsibility for others, not even for family." With that, she sighed.

"Yet by acting this way, to her family she appears selfish and neglectful of kin; to outsiders, she seems somewhat cold-hearted and devoid of familial affection."

A-Niu said, "I think the Hua family is rather ungrateful; if I had a family member like Changxi, I would wake up smiling even in my dreams."

Pu Cao smiled: "Not everyone is as easily satisfied as you; human greed knows no bounds." Saying this, she patted A-Niu on the shoulder.

"Though we are not Changxi's blood relatives, in her eyes we are still her own people; therefore, you need not envy the Hua family."

Hearing this, A-Niu recalled that Hua Changxi, when not returning to the Hua residence, always came to the pharmacy, and he nodded with a smile.

After leaving the Shennuo Pharmacy, Hua Changxi headed straight for the Medical Bureau; only upon stepping into the Laborer Hall did she realize her mistake—she should now be going to the Apprentice Hall... specifically, the Thirteenth Qihuang Pavilion behind it.

From being a laborer in the Laborer Hall to becoming the master of the Thirteenth Qihuang Pavilion, she could certainly consider this a promotion.

Hua Changxi turned and exited the Laborer Hall, crossed directly through the plaza, and entered the Apprentice Hall opposite.

The daily task for laborers in the Laborer Hall was washing and processing medicinal herbs, whereas the most important duty for apprentices in the Apprentice Hall was study; physicians and pharmacists from Nine Streets would take turns coming to the Apprentice Hall to lecture the apprentices.

Although the Laborer Hall and Apprentice Hall were separated only by a plaza, the status and treatment of laborers versus apprentices differed as heaven from earth; apprentices were considered reserve personnel for future physicians and pharmacists within the Medical Bureau.

The Apprentice Hall was roughly the same size as the Laborer Hall; to Hua Changxi, this place felt somewhat like a school, while the Laborer Hall resembled a factory for processing medicinal herbs.

Hua Changxi slowed her pace, carefully observing everything within the Apprentice Hall; passing certain courtyards, she could even hear the voices of physicians and pharmacists lecturing from within.

Hua Changxi paused to listen for a while and discovered that the content being taught surprisingly concerned spiritual plants; though somewhat surprised, she was not particularly startled.

Since even the laborers in the Laborer Hall had been replaced by those possessing spiritual roots, the situation in the Apprentice Hall would certainly be even more pronounced.

Indeed, among the apprentices she encountered on her way after entering the Apprentice Hall, every single one possessed a spiritual root.

Those capable of entering the Medical Bureau as apprentices now were evidently no ordinary people.

Walking and stopping intermittently, Hua Changxi reached the Thirteenth Qihuang Pavilion near noon; upon entering the pavilion, she immediately saw eight people standing in the courtyard, several of whom she recognized.

"Greetings, Pavilion Master."

As soon as the eight spotted Hua Changxi, they immediately bowed and performed formal salutations toward her.

Hua Changxi's gaze swept over the eight individuals.

Seeing Hua Shuran, Hua Wanyue, He Sirong, and He Siqi present in the courtyard did not surprise her; what surprised her was merely how swiftly the Dingyuan Count's Prefecture and the Wuyi Marquis's Prefecture had acted.

Yesterday, during her elder brother's betrothal banquet, Hua Wanyue had still sought her opinion, expressing a desire to enter the Thirteenth Qihuang Pavilion, only to be rejected by her; yet today, the Count's Prefecture had directly sent the person in; as for Third Master He, he had not even mentioned the matter yesterday, instead directly inserting the person here.

Hua Changxi felt somewhat stifled; whether it was the Dingyuan Count's Prefecture or the Wuyi Marquis's Prefecture, neither had truly regarded her with much respect, otherwise they would not have disregarded her opinion so blatantly.

Nevertheless, the fact that both the Dingyuan Count's Prefecture and the Wuyi Marquis's Prefecture could successfully insert their people here sufficiently demonstrated that both families possessed considerable strength.

Hua Changxi let her gaze glide past the four individuals and settle upon Pharmacist Xu.

Seeing Pharmacist Xu in the courtyard truly startled her: first, that Pharmacist Xu had actually become a cultivator; second, that he had actually come here to serve as an herb apprentice.

Hua Changxi could not fathom why Pharmacist Xu would join this crowd, so she turned her attention to the remaining three individuals, one of whom she had previously interacted with; when she had been punished and sent to the San Cha Medicinal Manor, this person had been the team leader.

Zhu Yu!

Although he had now shaved off his beard, she still recognized him at a glance.

Hua Changxi felt irritated; out of the eight herb apprentices, six were people she knew, and she had no idea which factions the remaining two represented as spies.

Among the eight, Pharmacist Xu knew Hua Changxi best; seeing her remain silent, he smiled and proactively greeted her: "Changxi, from now on, we eight will be your herb apprentices; whenever you have tasks, simply order us to carry them out."

The other seven immediately echoed his words.

Regarding these herb apprentices, Hua Changxi had no intention of paying them heed; letting them attend to their own duties, she called only Pharmacist Xu into the room.

"Uncle Xu, when did you become a cultivator?" And with a single Wood Spiritual Root, no less.

Hearing Hua Changxi's inquiry, Pharmacist Xu's face immediately lit up with a proud smile: "That I could become a cultivator is entirely thanks to Lingling; I truly bore a good daughter."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered: "Lingling?"

Pharmacist Xu nodded: "Lingling was simply fortunate; she accidentally obtained two pills, and after I consumed them, I gained a spiritual root."