Chapter 46

Last time, when Hua Changxi ran into the Lu sisters and they were having a private conversation, she had waited for them to leave before coming out to avoid awkwardness. This time, Hua Changxi did not want to wait; she walked straight past them from behind.

"Changxi..."

Seeing Hua Changxi, Lu Qingluo was startled, and even Lu Qingling's expression became somewhat unnatural.

Speaking ill of someone behind their back and then being heard by the person in question was indeed quite awkward.

Hua Changxi smiled at Lu Qingluo, then cast her gaze toward Lu Qingling: "Although your analysis sounds very logical and seems to make sense at first glance, have you ever actually interacted with me? Have you ever dealt with me?"

"You and I haven't even spoken more than a few sentences to each other. Are you sure you are analyzing the person that is Hua Changxi?"

Lu Qingling had never expected Hua Changxi to so bluntly expose her for gossiping behind her back, and even confront her directly to her face.

Whether at the Lu family or at the Apprentice Hall, everyone tried their best to avoid direct conflict. Someone like Hua Changxi, who came right out and laid things bare, really caught her off guard.

Seeing Lu Qingling's reaction, Hua Changxi gave a contemptuous smile: "You are only analyzing some rumors. If you take rumors as truth, would you say that person is smart, or stupid?"

After saying this, ignoring Lu Qingling, who was so angry her eyes had widened, she stepped directly into the Sixth Bureau.

Who doesn't talk about others behind their backs, and who isn't talked about by others behind theirs?

Hua Changxi could accept being discussed behind her back, but she shouldn't be caught in the act. If she ran into it once, she might let it slide, but if she ran into it twice or three times and they were still saying bad things about her, then of course she had to step forward to reclaim her dignity.

"She..."

Lu Qingling pointed at Hua Changxi, her face flushed red, not knowing if it was from anger or shame.

Lu Qingluo knew Hua Changxi's combat effectiveness, so she quickly comforted her sister: "Sister, don't be angry. Changxi's mouth is just like that; she often leaves people unable to step down."

Lu Qingling quickly calmed her emotions and was silent for a moment: "This Hua Changxi... is quite a person of character."

Upon hearing this, seeing that her sister not only didn't scold Hua Changxi but actually spoke with a tone of appreciation, Lu Qingluo couldn't help but let out a surprised "Ah."

Lu Qingling looked at her sister, feeling somewhat uncomfortable: "Hua Changxi wasn't wrong. My view of her was indeed biased."

"Someone like Hua Changxi, who says whatever is on her mind directly to your face, is much easier to get along with than those who act one way to your face and another behind your back."

"Although it can be a bit embarrassing, it is still much better than plotting against people behind their backs."

Lu Qingluo nodded in agreement: "Actually, if you don't provoke Changxi, she is quite easy to talk to."

Lu Qingling didn't want to mention Hua Changxi anymore. She took out the notes she had recorded at the Apprentice Hall and was just about to instruct Lu Qingluo to study them carefully when she saw a group of people running toward the warehouse.

"What happened?"

Lu Qingluo grabbed someone from the Sixth Bureau to ask.

"A fight broke out over at the warehouse. It's very intense; I heard some martial artists are involved."

After hearing this, Lu Qingluo exchanged a glance with Lu Qingling. Both sisters were curious about what a scene involving martial artists would look like.

"Sister, shall we go over and take a look?"

"Then let's just watch from afar."

When the sisters arrived at the warehouse, it was already surrounded three layers deep.

"Who is fighting whom?"

"It's people from the Three-Fork Medicine Manor coming to cause trouble for the people at Warehouse No. 5."

"What exactly is going on?"

"You know Mao Wei from Warehouse No. 5, right? Last year, Mao Wei had a few teeth knocked out, so he left Warehouse No. 5. Now, Mao Wei has brought his brother, Mao Yong, back to seek justice."

The incident of Mao Wei being beaten had caused a brief stir in the Menial Hall previously, and both Lu Qingluo and Lu Qingling remembered it.

"Who beat Mao Wei?"

"I heard it was a female menial."

"How would a female menial dare to make a move?"

"That female menial has quite a background. She is the sweetheart of Yu Gui, the steward of Warehouse No. 5."

Listening to the crowd's discussion, Lu Qingling's previous change of heart toward Hua Changxi—thinking she was a person of character and that her sister could interact with her more—instantly vanished.

People who are always entangled in controversy, no matter how capable they are or how good their character might be, are not suitable to be befriended.

Within the crowd, Yu Gui looked at the arrogant group led by Mao Wei with an ugly expression and whispered to Wan Xiaozhou: "Go quickly and tell the Godfather that someone is here at the warehouse causing trouble."

After hearing this, Wan Xiaozhou immediately went to find Eunuch Yu.

Yu Gui looked at Mao Yong, who was standing beside Mao Wei. Mao Yong was a steward at the Three-Fork Medicine Manor and had come to the Medical Department today to deliver a batch of medicinal materials. He hadn't expected that after unloading the materials, he would start looking for trouble.

"Steward Mao, are you sure you want to cause trouble at the warehouse?"

Mao Yong: "I heard the person who hurt my brother is your woman. Yu Gui, for the sake of Eunuch Yu, I won't make things difficult for you. Hand her over; my brother lost a few teeth, so she must lose a few as well."

Yu Gui's face darkened as he looked at Mao Wei: "Mao Wei, didn't you tell your brother why you were beaten in the first place?"

Mao Wei was just about to say something when Mao Yong raised his hand to interrupt him: "Er-lang has already told me the sequence of events, but even if he did say a few joking words, your woman shouldn't have hurt him."

Yu Gui frowned: "Are you saying you don't intend to be reasonable?"

Mao Wei was filled with resentment: "I've lost my teeth, and now I can't even enjoy eating meat. What kind of bullshit logic is that?"

Seeing more and more people gathering, Mao Yong didn't want to escalate the matter further. He walked straight toward Yu Gui, intending to use force to compel Yu Gui to hand the person over.

Seeing that he was about to make a move, Yu Gui's expression changed drastically. Although he had been taking medicinal pills to practice martial arts for the past two months, his foundation was too poor, and he was currently only a Third-Grade martial artist.

Fortunately, Mao Yong was only a Fourth-Grade martial artist. Although there was a gap, Yu Gui could still take a few of his moves.

Watching Yu Gui and Mao Yong start fighting at the slightest disagreement, the surrounding onlookers quickly retreated several meters.

At first, Yu Gui fought with caution, anxiously hoping for Eunuch Yu to arrive quickly, but as they fought, he discovered that Mao Yong could not completely suppress him.

As a Fourth-Grade martial artist, Mao Yong had already developed internal energy, but Yu Gui's strength was a notch higher than Mao Yong's. He relied on brute force to withstand the internal energy Mao Yong was unleashing.

Yu Gui was surprised in his heart, and soon thought of the medicinal pills he had been taking.

He had long discovered that the medicinal pills refined by Hua Changxi were much more potent than those sold on the market, but he didn't know exactly how strong they were. After this sparring session, he knew.

Yu Gui fought with increasing courage, and there was even a faint trend of him forcing Mao Yong back.

The onlookers only felt that Yu Gui was powerful; only the one-armed middle-aged man brought by Mao Yong frowned tightly.

A Third-Grade suppressing a Fourth-Grade... the Medical Department really is full of hidden talents!

"Bang!"

Yu Gui and Mao Yong collided with a punch. Mao Yong took two steps back and stood firm, while Yu Gui was knocked back several meters by the impact of the internal energy before he could stabilize his figure.

But even so, it still made Mao Yong feel a bit alarmed, and he quickly glanced at Mao Wei.

His second brother had told him that Yu Gui was only a Second-Grade martial artist.

Is this a Second-Grade martial artist? He is clearly Third-Grade, and the kind that is about to break through to Fourth-Grade.

Mao Wei was also a bit dumbfounded; when he left, Yu Gui was only a Second-Grade martial artist.

Mao Yong looked at Yu Gui with cold eyes: "Yu Gui, I don't want to escalate this matter. Are you sure you want to shield that female menial?"

Seeing that he was actually able to force Mao Yong back, Yu Gui felt more confident and refused to give in: "The fault in the previous matter lay with Mao Wei. If you, Mao Yong, were truly reasonable, you wouldn't have come here to cause trouble."

Mao Yong's face darkened: "It seems I cannot reason with you." As he spoke, he glanced at the one-armed man beside him.

The one-armed man nodded. Instantly, a heavy pressure like Mount Taishan pressed straight down on Yu Gui. The surrounding onlookers also felt their breathing tighten and found it difficult to cope.

Martial artist pressure!

The moment the pressure struck, Yu Gui's legs couldn't stand straight, but he still struggled to hold on. Before long, his face was flushed red, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.

Watching this scene, Lu Qingling grabbed Lu Qingluo's hand tightly: "Hua Changxi is too good at causing trouble, and even if she causes trouble, she might be fine, but those around her will suffer instead."

"Just watch, if this Yu Gui doesn't hand Hua Changxi over, he will definitely be in trouble. But if he does hand Hua Changxi over, he will feel guilty and be criticized by others."

"Therefore, in order not to put oneself in a dilemma, the best way is not to have any involvement with Hua Changxi."

Lu Qingluo was also frightened by the martial artist's pressure and nodded repeatedly.

Lu Qingling still wanted to give her sister a few more words of advice when suddenly, a cold female voice sounded from behind.

"I heard you are looking for me?"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Hua Changxi walking over with a faint smile. The onlookers hurriedly made a path for her.

Hua Changxi didn't care at all about the martial artist's pressure. She walked calmly to Yu Gui and pulled him behind her. The mountain-like heavy pressure in the air instantly vanished.

Seeing this, Mao Yong's expression changed, and a look of wariness appeared on the one-armed man's face.

Hua Changxi looked at Yu Gui: "Brother Yu, are you alright?"

Yu Gui let out a sigh of relief and smiled as he wiped the sweat from his forehead: "I'm fine."

Only then did Hua Changxi look at Mao Yong: "I was the one who beat your brother. If you want to seek revenge, you should be looking for me. What is the meaning of coming to the warehouse to cause trouble?"

As she spoke, her gaze turned toward Mao Wei.

"It seems I didn't beat the fear into you last time. Not only did you not realize your own mistake, but you actually wanted to come and seek revenge."

Mao Wei shivered and quickly hid behind Mao Yong.

Mao Yong was just about to say something, but was stopped by the one-armed man.

The one-armed man looked at Hua Changxi: "Today's matter was our presumption. We will leave now."

Hua Changxi laughed out loud: "You want to come when you want and leave when you want?" As she spoke, she sized up the one-armed man, "You should be a person of the Jianghu, right? Is this the rule of the Jianghu?"

The one-armed man's expression was solemn: "What do you want?"

Hua Changxi looked at Yu Gui.

Yu Gui was stunned for a moment and whispered: "It's best not to escalate the matter."

After hearing this, Hua Changxi didn't want to escalate the matter either. She looked at Mao Yong: "You came to the warehouse to cause trouble; you should at least apologize to Brother Yu, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Gui immediately wanted to say that there was no need to apologize to him, but when he met Hua Changxi's gaze, he knew she was standing up for him, so he silently swallowed his words.

Amidst the one-armed man's light cough, Mao Yong pulled Mao Wei out with an ugly expression and said to Yu Gui: "Steward Yu, we brothers offended you today."

Yu Gui smiled and waved his hand: "It's fine, we didn't know each other before the fight. Steward Mao is highly skilled in martial arts; it was my luck to be able to spar with you."

Mao Yong looked at Hua Changxi, and seeing that she didn't speak, he pulled Mao Wei and prepared to leave. As he turned, he heard Hua Changxi's voice again.

"Is this matter over?"

The one-armed man answered for Mao Yong: "It's over."

Hua Changxi: "Good, if it's over, then I'm turning the page. In the future, don't let anyone bring this matter up again."

The one-armed man: "We won't."

Hua Changxi smiled and looked at the brothers Mao Yong and Mao Wei, whose expressions were ugly: "If you still want revenge, I welcome it, but remember, my name is Hua Changxi. Don't find the wrong person again."

Mao Yong looked at her: "Since we have turned the page, we will not bring up the past again." After saying this, he left with Mao Wei, the one-armed man, and the other menials who were transporting the medicinal materials.

After exiting the back door of the Medical Department, Mao Yong immediately looked at the one-armed man: "What grade of martial artist is that Hua Changxi exactly?"

The one-armed man shook his head: "To be able to break my pressure instantly, her martial arts cultivation must be above mine."

Mao Yong was surprised: "Brother Yu, you are a Seventh-Grade martial artist."

The one-armed man looked at him: "Don't underestimate anyone. Over at the Kyoto Martial Arts Academy, martial artists above the Seventh Grade are getting younger and younger. Didn't an Eighth-Grade martial artist appear last year at the age of fifteen?"

"In the past, practicing martial arts meant relying on polishing one's body bit by bit, but now more and more miraculous medicines are appearing. Some people take miraculous medicines and open their shackles in one day, directly becoming Seventh-Grade postnatal martial artists."

Mao Yong listened with longing: "Are there really such miraculous medicines?"

The one-armed man shook his head: "I don't know, but there are such rumors; they wouldn't be groundless, would they?"

Mao Yong looked at Mao Wei: "So that's the end of the matter with Hua Changxi."

Seeing that even the one-armed man didn't dare to have a direct conflict with Hua Changxi, Mao Wei didn't dare to say anything else: "Brother, what about my job?"

Mao Yong: "In the future, you will just work for me at the Three-Fork Medicine Manor."

Over at the warehouse, after Mao Yong and the others left, the others also dispersed.

Lu Qingluo looked at Hua Changxi, who was talking to Yu Gui, and said to Lu Qingling: "Sister, although Changxi can cause trouble, she can also handle trouble."

"And she is so amazing. As soon as she came out, she didn't do anything, just said a few words, and the people from the medicine manor had to apologize obediently."

Lu Qingling had no words to refute.

Lu Qingluo: "Sister, what you said is partly right, but not entirely. Look at that Steward Yu; I think he is very happy to associate with Changxi."

Lu Qingling: "Alright, that's other people's business. Let's mind our own, let's go back quickly."

Lu Qingluo looked back at Hua Changxi one more time and silently followed Lu Qingling away.

On this side, Hua Changxi performed a medical examination on Yu Gui, and seeing that he was indeed fine, she prepared to leave the Medical Department to look for a house.

Seeing that Wan Xiaozhou hadn't returned yet, Yu Gui prepared to go see Eunuch Yu himself to talk about today's events, and the two happened to be going the same way.

Halfway there, the two ran into Wan Xiaozhou, who was returning.

Yu Gui: "I told you to go call the Godfather; where did you call him to?"

Wan Xiaozhou glanced quickly at Hua Changxi, then said vaguely: "Eunuch Yu is busy; he is currently entertaining the great merchant Zhuo."

Yu Gui's expression paused: "The great merchant Zhuo is here?"

Hua Changxi asked curiously: "Who is the great merchant Zhuo?"

Yu Gui whispered: "My Godfather can process a batch of discarded medicinal materials, right? In the past, they were all handed over to this great merchant Zhuo to handle."

"Ever since you, little sister, started refining medicine at the Qihuang Pavilion, the discarded medicinal materials given to the great merchant Zhuo must have decreased. He is probably here to ask about this."

Hua Changxi said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions. Seeing that Wan Xiaozhou seemed to have more to say, she parted ways with Yu Gui.

Watching Hua Changxi walk away, Yu Gui patted Wang Xiaozhou's head: "What were you being vague about just now?"

Wan Xiaozhou smiled bitterly: "Eunuch Yu went to the warehouse on purpose; he said this matter was caused by little sister Changxi, and she should solve it herself."

Yu Gui frowned: "The Godfather still doesn't consider little sister Changxi as one of his own."

Wan Xiaozhou: "Isn't that so? I saw Pharmacist Zhou again two days ago, and Eunuch Yu was still planning to have Pharmacist Zhou replace little sister Changxi."

Yu Gui sighed and said with a headache: "Little sister Changxi takes forty percent of the profit, and the Godfather has always been uncomfortable with that. But little sister Changxi provides both the prescriptions and the technology; it wouldn't be reasonable to have her take less."

Wan Xiaozhou also sighed: "Isn't that so."

There is simply no solution to the problem between Eunuch Yu and little sister Changxi. The two of them must not have a falling out; many of them are still counting on little sister Changxi's medicinal pills to practice martial arts.