Chapter 43

Hua Changxi had quite a few pills in her hands. Selling them to a pharmacy would not only make it easy for the price to be suppressed, but she might also be targeted. Since she didn't know any middlemen, after hesitating repeatedly, she went to find Pharmacist Xu.

Pharmacist Xu also ran a pharmacy. In fact, most pharmacists and physicians in the Medicine Department ran pharmacies outside.

On weekdays, these pharmacists and physicians served in the Medicine Department, while their pharmacies were either managed by family members or by shop assistants.

The common people valued their reputation and medical skills, so they would all go to their pharmacies to buy medicine and see doctors. These pharmacies did better business than ordinary ones.

When Hua Changxi arrived at Xu's Pharmacy, she found that Pharmacist Xu was not there, and only a shop assistant was watching the store.

"Brother Wu Shuang, Happy New Year! Is Uncle Xu here?"

When Pharmacist Xu wasn't on duty, he would usually be at the pharmacy seeing patients. Hua Changxi was a bit surprised not to see him.

The assistant Wu Shuang smiled: "Happy New Year, Jiuniang. The Proprietor is in the backyard." As he spoke, he lowered his voice: "A-Ling is sick, and the Proprietor is taking care of her."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi asked hurriedly: "Is A-Ling very sick?"

Xu Ling was Pharmacist Xu's daughter. Pharmacist Xu's wife had passed away from illness shortly after giving birth to Xu Ling. Over the years, the father and daughter had relied on each other, and she knew how much Pharmacist Xu valued his daughter.

Wu Shuang scratched his head: "I don't know if it's serious. A-Ling has no other problems, she's just lethargic."

Hua Changxi: "How lethargic?"

Wu Shuang knew that Pharmacist Xu treated Hua Changxi like a junior of his own, so he didn't hide it: "At first, A-Ling just got up late in the morning. Later, she would sleep until the afternoon to wake up. But now, A-Ling only wakes up for a while at night, and sleeps the rest of the time."

Hua Changxi frowned as she listened: "How long has this been going on?"

Wu Shuang thought for a moment: "It started last October. After it started snowing in the capital, A-Ling became more and more lethargic."

"Brother Wu Shuang, I'll go to the backyard to see A-Ling."

Hua Changxi had been to the backyard of Xu's Pharmacy before without needing to be announced, so Wu Shuang didn't stop her.

"Uncle Xu."

Hua Changxi entered the backyard. Not seeing Pharmacist Xu in the main room, she walked straight to the east wing, the room where Xu Ling lived.

The east wing of Pharmacist Xu's house had a layout of one bright room and two dark rooms; the middle was the living room, and the two ends were the study and the bedroom.

The wing door was open. Hua Changxi walked into the living room while calling for Pharmacist Xu.

Pharmacist Xu, who was sitting by Xu Ling's bed, was clearly startled by the sound. Then, in Hua Changxi's surprised gaze, Pharmacist Xu rushed out of the bedroom, pushed Hua Changxi out of the living room, and quickly closed the wing door.

Hua Changxi looked at Pharmacist Xu in astonishment, feeling very confused by his behavior just now.

Pharmacist Xu's behavior had been subconscious. Facing Hua Changxi's confused gaze, he knew he had overreacted, but he didn't know how to explain it.

After her surprise, Hua Changxi tentatively said: "Uncle Xu, what exactly is wrong with A-Ling?"

There was only one possibility for Pharmacist Xu's reaction just now: he was afraid of others seeing Xu Ling.

Seeing Pharmacist Xu remain silent, Hua Changxi added: "Uncle Xu, two heads are better than one. Even if I can't help you much, if you tell me about A-Ling's condition, maybe I can provide some diagnostic ideas?"

Pharmacist Xu looked at Hua Changxi. Over the past few years, Jiuniang had interacted with him quite a bit, and A-Ling and Jiuniang were also well-acquainted.

Pharmacist Xu trusted Hua Changxi's character. After hesitating for a moment, he turned and opened the wing door: "Come in with me and see A-Ling."

Hua Changxi followed Pharmacist Xu into Xu Ling's bedroom.

Xu Ling was sleeping quietly, her expression very peaceful, but... her cheeks were covered with silver-white patterns that were glowing with a faint light.

Hua Changxi's pupils shook. She walked quickly to the bedside and looked carefully at the patterns on Xu Ling's face: "These patterns... they look a bit like snake scales. What do you think, Uncle Xu?"

Seeing her lean so close and analyze so seriously, Pharmacist Xu was a bit surprised: "Aren't you afraid?"

Hua Changxi was stunned for a moment. She realized she really wasn't very afraid; instead, she felt a faint sense of excitement.

From the day she could practice, she knew this was a fantasy world, but she had always felt that the fantasy side was far from ordinary people and required her to work hard to explore it.

She hadn't expected to encounter such an extraordinary and bizarre event so soon, and it was happening right within her own social circle.

She was excited—excited to finally be in contact with the fantasy side of this world.

Of course, these thoughts couldn't be shared with outsiders. Therefore, Hua Changxi looked at Pharmacist Xu seriously: "Uncle Xu, the person lying there is A-Ling. What is there to be afraid of?"

Finally having someone to discuss his daughter's problem with, Pharmacist Xu couldn't help but say: "You don't know, two days ago, when I saw snake scales appearing on A-Ling's face, I was scared to death."

Hua Changxi comforted him: "Uncle Xu, don't be afraid. Even if A-Ling turned into a snake, she's still your daughter, isn't she?"

Pharmacist Xu: "..." He was not comforted.

Hua Changxi grabbed Xu Ling's hand and began to take her pulse. She was truly extremely curious about Xu Ling's situation.

How could snake scale patterns appear on a human's face?

【Pulse-Taking and Diagnosis Technique (Introductory): Diagnosis 1/10】

Hua Changxi let out an "Eh," as new data appeared.

Seeing this, Pharmacist Xu hurriedly asked: "What's wrong? Did you find any problems? I checked A-Ling's body before and didn't find any issues."

Hua Changxi shook her head quickly. The moment the data appeared, a warm current rushed into her eyes. After a burst of warmth, she discovered that her eyes could see things in much finer detail.

For example, she could now see that the light of the snake scales on Xu Ling's face was changing with her breathing.

Hua Changxi got up and carefully checked Xu Ling's body again, discovering that there were snake scale patterns on her hands and feet as well, and the light on the patterns also changed with her breathing.

Looking at this scene, Hua Changxi somehow suddenly thought of the diagram of the bird breathing and exhaling that had appeared in her mind when she practiced.

When she practiced, she could clearly perceive that every pore on her body was breathing and exhaling along with her breath.

How similar it was to Xu Ling's situation!

Hua Changxi suddenly felt a lingering fear. She had always practiced alone and had never seen what she looked like while practicing. Could she also be growing bird feathers like Xu Ling?

No, no, no!

Hua Changxi immediately denied it. She practiced in the Menial Hall dormitory; if there were any problems, her roommates would have made a scene long ago.

Therefore, her situation and Xu Ling's were different.

Hua Changxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Xu Ling in confusion again.

Is this Xu Ling practicing?

Thinking that the reason she could practice was all thanks to the demon Daoist, Hua Changxi hurriedly asked Pharmacist Xu: "Uncle Xu, before A-Ling became lethargic, had she gone out or come into contact with any special people?"

Pharmacist Xu shook his head: "A-Ling usually stays in the pharmacy. The people she comes into contact with are either here to see a doctor or to get medicine. There are no special people."

Hua Changxi couldn't figure it out. She hadn't gone out and hadn't come into contact with any special people, so how could such a bizarre thing happen to Xu Ling? It couldn't be self-induced, could it?

Hmm?

Self-induced?

Hua Changxi looked at the snake scales on Xu Ling's face, and a flash of inspiration crossed her mind. She thought of a type of spiritual plant recorded in the "Commentary on the Materia Medica" called the Ancestral-Returning Fruit.

Ancestral-returning...

Somehow, Hua Changxi thought of that household story and looked at Pharmacist Xu curiously: "Uncle Xu, is A-Ling's mother surnamed Bai?"

Pharmacist Xu didn't understand why Hua Changxi suddenly mentioned his late wife, but he still said: "A-Ling's mother's surname is Zhou. However, my Xu family did have an ancestor surnamed Bai."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi clapped her hands and said excitedly: "Uncle Xu, have you heard the story of the Legend of the White Snake?"

Pharmacist Xu had of course heard of the Legend of the White Snake, and asked in confusion: "I have, why?"

Hua Changxi was a bit excited: "Uncle Xu, the person the White Snake, Lady Bai, repaid with kindness was surnamed Xu—the same Xu as you, Uncle Xu."

Pharmacist Xu's face darkened: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Hua Changxi's eyes glowed: "Uncle Xu, A-Ling is lethargic. Don't you think she looks like a snake hibernating?"

Pharmacist Xu's face turned completely black: "Hua Jiuniang, if you keep talking nonsense, do you believe I'll kick you out?"

Seeing that Pharmacist Xu was angry, Hua Changxi had to suppress her excitement: "I'm just providing you with ideas, aren't I? Uncle Xu, think about it carefully—isn't my line of reasoning quite logical?"

"Logical my foot!"

Pharmacist Xu was so angry he cursed: "So you're saying my Xu family's ancestor was a snake, and we are all descendants of a snake?"

Hua Changxi: "Don't be angry. I have sources for saying this."

Pharmacist Xu was so angry his chest heaved. This Hua Jiuniang had practically expelled his entire family from the human registry, and she still told him not to be angry—she was going to be the death of him.

"Hua Jiuniang, you better explain yourself clearly. If you can't, I'm breaking off relations with you."

Hua Changxi: "Uncle Xu, have you heard of a fruit called the Ancestral-Returning Fruit?"

Pharmacist Xu snorted coldly: "This pharmacist has never heard of it."

Hua Changxi looked serious: "But I have. It is said that after eating this Ancestral-Returning Fruit, one can return to their ancestral bloodline. It is the spiritual fruit the demon race dreams of most."

Pharmacist Xu laughed in anger: "The demon race has come out now? Hua Jiuniang, did reading storybooks rot your brain?"

Hua Changxi was not affected by Pharmacist Xu's emotions and continued: "Humans can also return to their ancestors. It is said that in ancient times, humans were protected by gods, and people at that time all had divine power in their bodies. After returning to their ancestors, humans can possess divine power once again."

Pharmacist Xu didn't want to listen anymore and pushed Hua Changxi out of the wing: "Go back where you came from. You're not welcome here. Go tell your stories somewhere else."

Hua Changxi didn't expect Pharmacist Xu to believe her either. She looked at him seriously: "Uncle Xu, A-Ling should be fine. Don't let anyone else know about her situation. Demon monks and demon Daoists are most interested in people like A-Ling."

Pharmacist Xu was extremely impatient: "Get out!"

Hua Changxi didn't say anything more. She gave Pharmacist Xu a few more warnings and then left.

Once she left, Pharmacist Xu stood in the courtyard in silence for a while. Afterward, he returned to the wing, watched his daughter for a long time, and finally entered the room where the Xu family ancestors were worshipped.

Looking at the Bai family spirit tablet at the very top of the altar, Pharmacist Xu's expression was extremely complex.

The story of the Legend of the White Snake was quite widespread in the Great Jin Dynasty. To avoid being laughed at, Pharmacist Xu had never taken the initiative to tell others that his family really had an ancestor surnamed Bai.

Hua Changxi's words had ultimately stirred up waves in Pharmacist Xu's heart.

The reason he was affected was not just because of the Legend of the White Snake, but also because of some things that had happened in the Medicine Department over the past two years.

Ordinary people only knew that the Medicine Department was a government office, but not many knew that the Medicine Department was under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Department.

The Heaven Department's authority was on par with the Six Ministries and was directly led by the Emperor.

The Heaven Department had three major divisions. The Medicine Department was one of them, another was the Martial Academy, and the third division was rarely known to people—the mysterious and unpredictable Demon Suppression Division.

Demon suppression.

What kind of demons?

Naturally, monsters and demons!

Over the past two years, the workload of the Medicine Department had become increasingly heavy, and the amount of pills that the pharmacists and physicians of the Nine Streets were required to hand over had increased. Where did those handed-over pills go?

A small portion was distributed to the Martial Academy, and the majority was sent to the Demon Suppression Division.

Judging from the quantity of pills consumed, the number of casualties in the Demon Suppression Division had clearly increased significantly over the past two years.

Although he hadn't seen monsters or demons with his own eyes, he could perceive that the Demon Suppression Division's opponents were quite formidable; otherwise, they wouldn't need such a large amount of medicine.

"If there really are monsters and demons in this world..."

Pharmacist Xu thought of Xu Ling's situation. At this moment, he was also a bit unsure whether he was human or not. Could it be that his Xu family descendants were really descendants of a snake?

After leaving Xu's Pharmacy, Hua Changxi's mood was not calm. There was the excitement of a new world door opening to her, and also the gravity of sensing a crisis approaching.

People like Xu Ling had appeared in her social circle, so what about others?

If more and more people like Xu Ling appeared, could this world remain peaceful in the long run?

A sense of crisis welled up in Hua Changxi's heart. She had to speed up and improve her cultivation realm.

Since she had obtained the opportunity to practice, she didn't want to be a mere ripple that could only passively drift with the tide when the currents of the era surged.

Since she couldn't ask Pharmacist Xu to help sell the pills in her hands, Hua Changxi thought of Yu Gui. Yu Gui couldn't use up the share of pills he had received, so he would definitely have to sell the rest.

Backed by Eunuch Yu, he should have channels to sell pills.

Unfortunately, she didn't know where Yu Gui lived, so she could only wait until she returned to the Menial Hall to find him.

Hua Changxi didn't wander around the streets and went straight back to the Hua family. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw many gifts placed there.

"Jiuniang is back! Come over and see, is there anything you like?"

Seeing Hua Changxi, Hua Dalang hurriedly waved at her with a smile, asking her to come over.

Old Madam Hua had originally been happily looking through the gifts Hua Dalang brought back from outside. Seeing him ask Hua Changxi to come over, the smile on her face dropped, but she didn't voice any opposition.

Hua Changxi walked over and asked: "Big Brother, who gave all these?"

Old Madam Hua immediately showed off: "The Count's Mansion and the Great Clan Elder value your Big Brother for being a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist, so they specially rewarded him with so many things."

"Hmph, you, a biological sister, aren't even as generous as outsiders."

Hua Changxi ignored Old Madam Hua and scanned the fabrics and jewelry in the courtyard, feeling no interest: "I'm going back to my room to rest."

"What kind of attitude is that!"

Old Madam Hua was furious. The Count's Mansion appreciated Dalang, and everyone in the family was happy for him, yet this Jiuniang didn't even offer a single word of congratulation.

Hua Dalang only thought Hua Changxi was still angry about what happened on New Year's Eve. He picked out a few pieces of fabric and jewelry that young ladies liked and went to find Hua Changxi.

After Hua Changxi returned to her room and had just put away the unsold pills, she saw Hua Dalang enter. She immediately said with displeasure: "Big Brother, remember to knock next time you enter my room."

Hua Dalang smiled nonchalantly: "What, are you really going to become distant with your Big Brother?"

Hua Changxi: "It's not about being distant, it's about having boundaries. I'm a young lady now, I have my privacy. If you want to enter my room, you must ask for my permission beforehand."

Hua Dalang: "Fine, fine, fine, I'll knock next time, okay?" As he spoke, he put down the fabric and jewelry in his hand: "These were all picked out by Big Brother for you. See if you like them?"

Seeing that Hua Dalang intended to repair their relationship, Hua Changxi didn't brush him off. She looked through the fabric and jewelry and said reluctantly: "They're okay."

Hua Dalang laughed: "After going to the Medicine Department, your taste has really improved. Our family couldn't afford these jewelry materials before."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Big Brother, it's not that my taste improved after entering the Medicine Department; it's that I feel I deserve better."

Hua Dalang knew this younger sister had loved to spout strange theories since she was a child, so he didn't want to argue with her and asked with a smile: "Jiuniang, it must be very hard for you at the Menial Hall, right?"

Hua Changxi looked suspiciously at Hua Dalang, who was suddenly showing concern for her: "It's okay, I can handle it."

Hua Dalang looked disapproving: "Jiuniang, come home. It won't be long before Big Brother can take up an official post. I can't bear to see my own sister working as a menial."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi couldn't be bothered to care if Hua Dalang meant well or not, and said directly: "Big Brother, I will not come home."

In the Medicine Department, although she was only a menial, she was considered to be participating in social production and had entered the social sphere.

What would coming home count as? Coming back to be an accessory to the family?

Hua Dalang frowned and said patiently: "Big Brother knows you don't want to stay at home all day. I've already agreed with Grandmother that after you leave the Medicine Department, the medicine refining business in our family's pharmacy will be handed over to you to manage..."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi completely understood what Hua Dalang was up to. She sneered: "Big Brother, you don't need to say anymore. No matter how hard or tiring the Menial Hall is, I am willing to endure it. I will not come back to work for the family."

In the Menial Hall, everything she gained belonged to her personally.

Working at the Hua family pharmacy, everything she did would belong to the Hua family. She would produce value but have to wait for the Hua family to distribute it. She would have to be crazy to come back.

Hua Dalang was a bit angry: "Jiuniang, your temperament is really giving people a headache."

Hua Changxi sneered: "Yes, I'm not like Fifth Sister. Young ladies like Fifth Sister are the ones you like, because of your 'liking,' she became someone else's concubine."

Seeing Hua Dalang glare at her, Hua Changxi glared right back: "Big Brother, since I have already stepped out of the house, there is no reason for me to return."

Hua Dalang stood up with a 'whoosh' and said coldly: "Grandmother was right, you really are born with a rebellious bone and are unteachable."

Hua Changxi shrugged and spread her hands: "That's just how I am."