Chapter 365

Hua Changxi stayed at the Count Dingyuan Prefecture for less than an hour before leaving and returning directly to the Medicine Department.

Three years had passed, and other than having more people, the Medicine Department had not changed.

Regarding Hua Changxi's return, people everywhere in the Medicine Department were discussing it.

"Has Peak Master Hua really been recovering from her injuries for these three years?"

"If the Liang Duke had really seriously injured Peak Master Hua, would she dare to go provoke the Liang Duke's Prefecture as soon as she recovered?"

Compared to ordinary cultivators whose focus was on the grudge between Hua Changxi and the Liang Duke, Xia Zhen, Prince Shou, and others were focused on the fact that all twenty-plus members of the Hua family had been taken into the Xuanyuan Prefecture.

The members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion were all deep in thought, wondering: What did Hua Changxi do to make the five Xuanyuan generals relent and accept the entire Hua family?

For Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi was the backbone; with her return, the entire peak was filled with nothing but joy.

"Master."

Yu Fu and the other three had been waiting at the gate of the Medicine Department early on. As soon as they saw Hua Changxi, they happily greeted her.

Hua Changxi saw the four of them and, while walking into the Medicine Department, asked with a smile: "Has everything been well at Danyuan Peak while I was away?"

Zhou Shou, who was directly responsible for the task distribution and operations of Danyuan Peak, immediately replied: "Master, rest assured, everything at Danyuan Peak is well. The second level of the secret realm has been fully developed."

"The assessment tasks you ordered previously have been carried out at the end of every year, and each year we have been able to select a batch of excellent disciples. These people have been arranged into the Planting Department, Processing Department, Alchemy Department, and the Lecturer Hall of the Task Hall."

Yu Fu added: "Nowadays, the monthly allowance for the apprentices at Danyuan Peak is distributed using pills refined by the Alchemy Department."

Hua Changxi knew that Danyuan Peak was operating well, so she felt relieved and said to Zhou Shou and the others: "After returning to the peak, summarize the situation of each department at Danyuan Peak over the past three years and bring it to the bamboo house for me."

The four immediately agreed.

At this moment, Hua Changxi and the four of them arrived in front of the former Medicine Department building, but the plaque that once read "Medicine Department" had now been replaced with the three characters "Jiujie Hall."

Seeing this, Hua Changxi stopped and asked: "Has something special happened to the Medicine Department?"

Yu Fu looked at the Jiujie Hall office, knowing what Hua Changxi was asking, and hurriedly said: "Following the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion, the Medicine Department now has an additional Jiujie Hall."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered: "Jiujie Hall?"

Behind the Spirit Realm Pavilion was the Dao-protecting Xia family, and behind the Qihuang Pavilion were the noble families led by the imperial family. Who was pushing the Jiujie Hall from behind?

"Who is the person in charge of Jiujie Hall?"

Yu Fu: "It is the former chief apothecary of the Second Street, Apothecary Tong Zhou."

Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes: "Apothecary Tong Zhou? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere."

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

Hearing the name Gu Jinfan, Hua Changxi's expression became more serious. She looked at Yu Fu: "You mean the person behind Jiujie Hall is a noble?"

Yu Fu shook his head: "I'm not sure about that. Honestly, the current Medicine Department is very chaotic. The members of the Spirit Realm Pavilion and the Qihuang Pavilion are mixed up, and the relationships behind the people in Jiujie Hall are also very complex."

"However, on the surface, the main members of Jiujie Hall are that batch of excellent apothecaries and their disciples."

Continuing forward was the Pilgrimage Road.

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

Although they didn't know why Hua Changxi wouldn't walk on the Pilgrimage Road, Yu Fu and the other three followed without hesitation.

"Master."

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

Yu Fu: "Master, look, that is Apothecary Tong Zhou, the current person in charge of Jiujie Hall."

Hua Changxi looked over and saw several cultivators walking out of Jiujie Hall.

The next moment, her eyebrows arched high.

A cultivator accompanying Tong Zhou was actually a Spirit Platform Realm cultivator!

"Who is that green-robed cultivator next to Apothecary Tong?"

Yu Fu looked over: "That is Wen Shouren, an alchemist. He is a fourth-grade alchemist, and many of the affairs of Jiujie Hall are handled by him on behalf of Apothecary Tong. He can be considered Apothecary Tong's deputy."

Hua Changxi's lips curled up. A deputy?

Apothecary Tong was only an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, while Wen Shouren was a Spirit Platform Realm cultivator who had opened his sea of consciousness.

Who was the principal and who was the deputy? Outsiders had likely gotten it backward!

Just then, Tong Zhou and Wen Shouren also looked toward them.

Hua Changxi had no intention of greeting them; she nodded at them and turned to step into the alley.

Watching Hua Changxi walk away with Yu Fu and the others, Tong Zhou hummed with a laugh: "This Peak Master Hua is indeed as the rumors say... arrogant."

Wen Shouren glanced at him: "Would you ask the five Xuanyuan generals to take an extra look at you?"

Tong Zhou was stunned. Did Elder Wen think that Hua Changxi's status was already on par with the five Xuanyuan generals?

Wen Shouren ignored Tong Zhou, looked at the alley where Hua Changxi had disappeared, and then looked at the Pilgrimage Road next to it.

Returning to Danyuan Peak, the Pilgrimage Road was the closest route; taking other alleys meant having to take a detour. Forsaking the near for the far—was this... a refusal to walk the Pilgrimage Road?

While passing through the Nine Streets, Hua Changxi suddenly asked Yu Fu and the others: "Is there anyone at Danyuan Peak who has had overly close dealings with Jiujie Hall?"

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

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

Hearing this, Hua Changxi laughed. She had probably guessed who was behind Jiujie Hall.

The successors of the Alchemy Saint Hall!

That Wen Shouren should be someone with the same status as Great Elder Yi Ming of the Artisan Saint Palace.

Previously, she had thought that the successors of the Alchemy Saint Hall would continue to ignore the current state of the Medicine Department. Now it seemed they couldn't sit still anymore and had started to enter the fray themselves.

As for the Alchemy Saint Hall, Hua Changxi had never thought about fighting for power or profit. She had neither the desire nor the energy and time. She just wanted to use this platform to refine her own medical and alchemy skills and, incidentally, spread them.

Therefore, she didn't care much about the "entry" of the Alchemy Saint Hall successors.

In a word, as long as they didn't affect her, they could do whatever they wanted.

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

When Danyuan Peak first appeared, it was barren; but now, it had taken on a new look, and the entire peak had become lush and green.

Looking at the vibrant Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi's lips couldn't help but curl up, and her eyes flowed with a pleasant smile.

"Jiuniang!"

As soon as Hua Changxi stepped onto Danyuan Peak, Hua Sanlang hurried over with several Hua clansmen.

Upon meeting, Hua Sanlang couldn't wait to ask: "Jiuniang, I heard people say that our whole family has been arranged by you to enter the Xuanyuan Prefecture. Is this true?"

Hua Changxi didn't expect the news to spread so quickly, but then she smiled with relief.

It must have been spread by Count Hua and his son.

Once the news that the Hua family had joined the Xuanyuan Prefecture was out, the matter between the Liang Duke and her had to come to an end. Tomorrow, the Liang Duke wouldn't be able to avoid coming to Danyuan Peak even if he wanted to.

Hua Changxi looked at Hua Sanlang: "It is true, Third Brother. You can think it over carefully: whether to stay at Danyuan Peak or join the Xuanyuan Prefecture with the family."

Hua Sanlang was stunned. It was actually true! Jiuniang really had the ability to get their whole family into the Xuanyuan Prefecture!

Seeing him lost in thought, Hua Changxi bypassed him and continued walking up the peak.

Yu Fu and the others followed quickly: "Master, with the Liang Duke visiting tomorrow, do we need to make any preparations?"

Hua Changxi: "No."

On the rest of the way, Yu Fu and the others reported the affairs they were responsible for to Hua Changxi, only stopping when they had escorted her to the bamboo house.

"Master, you rest first. We will go back and summarize all the affairs of Danyuan Peak from the past three years and bring them to you in two days."

Jia Lu, Zhou Shou, and Zhao Xi prepared to turn back, but only Yu Fu seemed to have something to say.

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

Yu Fu hesitated but still said: "It's like this, Master. In the three years you were away, Third Brother would withdraw a batch of pills from the Logistics Department every three months, saying it was to help support the family."

"I just wanted to ask, how should the follow-up on this expenditure be handled?"

Hua Changxi didn't care about a little bit of resources, but after pondering for a moment, she said: "Deduct it from my Third Brother's monthly allowance."

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