Chapter 365: Nine Streets Hall

Hua Changxi stayed at the Dingyuan Count's residence for less than an hour before leaving and heading straight back to the Medical Bureau.

Three years had passed, and apart from an increase in personnel, the Medical Bureau remained unchanged.

Regarding Hua Changxi's return, members throughout the Medical Bureau were buzzing with discussion.

"Has Peak Master Hua truly been recovering from injuries these past three years?"

"If the Liang Duke had truly severely injured Peak Master Hua, would she dare to provoke the Liang Duke's residence immediately upon recovering?"

While ordinary cultivators focused on the grudge between Hua Changxi and the Liang Duke, Xia Zhen, Prince Shou, and others focused on the fact that all twenty-plus members of the Hua family had been admitted into the Xuanyuan Residence.

The members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion wore thoughtful expressions, all wondering: What did Hua Changxi do to make the Five Xuanyuan Generals relent and accept everyone from the Hua family?

For the Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi was the backbone; her return meant nothing but joy for everyone on the peak.

"Master."

Yu Fu and the other three had been waiting early at the gate of the Medical Bureau; upon seeing Hua Changxi, they immediately rushed forward with delight.

Seeing the four, Hua Changxi walked toward the interior of the Medical Bureau and asked with a smile, "While I was away, was everything well on Danyuan Peak?"

Zhou Shou, who was directly responsible for releasing missions and managing operations on Danyuan Peak, immediately replied, "Rest assured, Master, everything on Danyuan Peak is well; the second layer of the secret realm has been fully developed."

"The assessment missions you previously ordered are conducted at the end of every year; each year, a batch of outstanding disciples is selected and assigned to the Planting Department, Processing Department, Pill Refining Department of the Mission Hall, as well as the Lecture Hall."

Yu Fu added, "Nowadays, the monthly allowances for all apprentices on Danyuan Peak are distributed using pills refined by the Pill Refining Department."

Knowing that Danyuan Peak was operating smoothly, Hua Changxi felt relieved and told the four, "After returning to the peak, compile a summary of the situation in all departments of Danyuan Peak over these three years and bring it to the Bamboo Hut for me."

The four immediately agreed.

At this moment, Hua Changxi and the four reached the former building of the Medical Bureau, but the plaque reading 'Medical Bureau' had now been replaced with the three characters 'Nine Streets Hall'.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi stopped and asked, "Did something special happen to the Medical Bureau?"

Yu Fu glanced at the Nine Streets Hall office; knowing what Hua Changxi was asking, he hurriedly said, "Following the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion, the Medical Bureau now has an additional Nine Streets Hall."

Hua Changxi's eyes flashed: "Nine Streets Hall?"

Behind the Spirit Realm Pavilion stood the Dao-protecting Xia family, and behind the Qihuang Pavilion stood the noble families led by the imperial house; who was pulling the strings behind this newly emerged Nine Streets Hall?

"Who is the person in charge of the Nine Streets Hall?"

Yu Fu replied, "It is Apothecary Tong Zhou, formerly the chief alchemist of the Second Street."

Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes slightly: "Apothecary Tong Zhou? That name sounds familiar."

Yu Fu reminded her, "Does Master remember Gu Jinfan of the Xin'guo Duke's residence? Apothecary Tong is her master."

Upon hearing Gu Jinfan's name, Hua Changxi's expression turned serious as she looked at Yu Fu: "Are you implying that the people behind the Nine Streets Hall are nobles?"

Yu Fu shook his head: "That is unclear; to be honest, the Medical Bureau is in chaos now, with members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion indistinguishable, and the connections behind the Nine Streets Hall are extremely complicated."

"However, on the surface, the main members of the Nine Streets Hall are all formerly outstanding alchemists and their disciples."

Continuing forward led to the Pilgrimage Road.

Watching the green flames burning at the intersection of the Pilgrimage Road, First Street, and Second Street, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered, and then she walked without hesitation into the adjacent alley.

Although they did not know why Hua Changxi avoided the Pilgrimage Road, Yu Fu and the other three followed her without hesitation.

"Master."

Just as they reached the mouth of the alley, Hua Changxi was called out to by Yu Fu.

Yu Fu said, "Master, look quickly; that is Apothecary Tong Zhou, the current head of the Nine Streets Hall."

Hua Changxi looked over and saw several cultivators walking out of the Nine Streets Hall.

The next moment, her eyebrows arched high.

One of the cultivators accompanying Tong Zhou was actually a Spirit Platform realm cultivator!

"Who is that cultivator in green robes beside Apothecary Tong?"

Yu Fu looked over: "That is Wen Shouren, Alchemist Wen; he is a fourth-grade pill refiner. Many affairs of the Nine Streets Hall are handled by him on behalf of Apothecary Tong; he can be said to be Apothecary Tong's deputy."

Hua Changxi curled the corner of her mouth; a deputy?

Apothecary Tong was merely an early Nascent Soul cultivator, while Wen Shouren was a Spirit Platform realm cultivator who had opened his spiritual sea.

Outsiders probably had the superior and the subordinate reversed!

Just then, Tong Zhou and Wen Shouren also looked over in their direction.

Hua Changxi had no intention of greeting the two; she nodded slightly at them before turning her head and stepping into the alley.

Watching Hua Changxi stride away with Yu Fu and the others, Tong Zhou snorted with a laugh: "This Peak Master Hua is indeed as rumored... arrogant."

Wen Shouren glanced at him: "Would you demand the Five Xuanyuan Generals to spare you a glance?"

Tong Zhou was stunned; did Elder Wen believe that Hua Changxi's status was already equal to that of the Five Xuanyuan Generals?

Wen Shouren paid no attention to Tong Zhou; he looked at the alley where Hua Changxi had disappeared, then turned his gaze to the Pilgrimage Road nearby.

Taking the Pilgrimage Road was the shortest way back to Danyuan Peak; taking other alleys inevitably required a detour; choosing the far over the near meant... she was unwilling to walk the Pilgrimage Road?

While crossing the Nine Streets, Hua Changxi suddenly asked the four, "Has anyone on Danyuan Peak been associating too closely with the Nine Streets Hall?"

Yu Fu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi all shook their heads, but Jia Lu suddenly said, "While on patrol, I saw Wan Feng from the Personnel Department chatting with Wen Shouren."

"However, that time the Nine Streets Hall wanted to purchase a batch of spiritual herbs from Danyuan Peak, and Wan Feng was the one who received Wen Shouren."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi laughed; she roughly guessed who was behind the Nine Streets Hall.

The successor of the Pill Saint Hall!

That Wen Shouren should be someone of the same status as Elder Yiming of the Artifact Saint Palace.

Previously, she had thought the successor of the Pill Saint Hall would continue to ignore the current state of the Medical Bureau, but it seemed they could no longer sit idle and had begun to enter the fray personally.

Regarding the Pill Saint Hall, Hua Changxi had never intended to fight for power or profit; she lacked both the inclination and the energy or time; she merely wished to use this platform to advance her own medical arts and pill dao, and incidentally spread them.

Therefore, she was not particularly concerned about the 'entry' of the Pill Saint Hall's successor.

In short, as long as they did not affect her, they could do whatever they pleased.

Soon, Hua Changxi and the four returned to Danyuan Peak.

When Danyuan Peak first appeared, it was barren; but now, it has been completely transformed, the entire mountain lush and green.

Looking at the vibrant Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi's lips curled upward, her eyes flowing with joyful laughter.

"Ninth Sister!"

Just as Hua Changxi arrived at Danyuan Peak, Hua Sanlang rushed over with several members of the Hua clan.

Upon meeting her, Hua Sanlang immediately asked, "Ninth Sister, I heard that you have arranged for our entire family to join the Xuanyuan Manor. Is this true?"

Hua Changxi had not expected the news to spread so quickly, but then she smiled with understanding.

It must have been leaked by Marquis Hua and his son.

Once the news that the Hua family had joined the Xuanyuan Manor broke, the matter between her and the Duke of Liang would inevitably come to an end; tomorrow, the Duke of Liang would have no choice but to visit Danyuan Peak.

Hua Changxi looked at Hua Sanlang. "It is true, Third Brother. You should think carefully about whether to remain here at Danyuan Peak or join the Xuanyuan Manor with the rest of the family."

Hua Sanlang froze; it was actually true. Ninth Sister truly had the ability to get their entire family into the Xuanyuan Manor!

Seeing him lost in thought, Hua Changxi walked around him and continued up the peak.

Yu Fu and the other three hurried to keep pace. "Master, with the Duke of Liang visiting tomorrow, do we need to make any preparations?"

Hua Changxi replied, "No need."

Along the rest of the path, Yu Fu and the others reported their respective duties to Hua Changxi, only stopping once they had escorted her to the bamboo hut.

"Master, please rest first. We will return immediately to compile all affairs of Danyuan Peak from the past three years and deliver the summary to you in a couple of days."

Jia Lu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi prepared to turn back, but Yu Fu hesitated, looking as though he wanted to speak yet holding back.

Hua Changxi looked at him. "What is it? Is there something else?"

Yu Fu hesitated a moment before speaking. "It is like this, Master. During the three years you were away, Sanlang withdrew a batch of elixirs from the Logistics Department every three months, claiming it was to support his family."

"I merely wished to ask how this expenditure should be handled going forward?"

Hua Changxi normally would not have cared about such a small amount of resources, but after a moment of thought, she said, "Deduct it from my Third Brother's monthly allowance."

Upon hearing this, Yu Fu immediately smiled. "Yes, I know what to do."