Chapter 50: Shennong Tripod

Hua Hua Changxi returned to the dormitory with a splitting headache. As soon as she lay on the bed, she ran the Little Bird Breathing and Cultivation Method, constantly gathering spiritual energy toward her head.

Time slipped away quietly, the sky darkened, and people returned to the dormitory.

Su Ruoli looked at Hua Changxi, who was lying on the bed with a pale face, called her name twice, and seeing that she had no reaction, quickly closed the room door, walked to the bed, reached out to lift the quilt, and then began to grope around on Hua Changxi's body.

Soon, she found a bottle of pills on Hua Hua Changxi.

Su Ruoli's expression was happy. Just as she was about to take the pills, her hand was grabbed.

Looking at Hua Changxi, who had opened her eyes and was looking at her expressionlessly, Su Ruoli was startled, her heart tightening: "Ch... Hua Changxi, you're awake?"

Hua Changxi grabbed Su Ruoli's wrist and looked at her coldly: "What are you doing?"

Su Ruoli's reaction was quite fast: "I saw your face didn't look good and thought you were sick, so I came over to check the situation."

Hua Hua Changxi increased the force on her hand: "Checking my situation means taking the pills on my body?"

Su Ruoli felt like her wrist was about to break. She wanted to break free from Hua Changxi's restraint but couldn't move at all, so she could only cry: "It's not like that. I saw you carrying these pills with you and thought they could cure your illness, so I wanted to take them to feed you."

Hua Hua Changxi sneered repeatedly: "Pills carried with you are for curing illnesses? You don't even use your brain when you lie."

As she spoke, she used force, and after the pill bottle Su Ruoli was holding fell onto the bed, she threw her away.

"Bang."

Su Ruoli was thrown directly into the wall and then fell to the ground in pain.

Just so coincidentally, the room door was pushed open at this time.

Wang Yunchu, Lu Qingluo, and the others entered and saw Su Ruoli lying on the ground in pain, and Hua Changxi sitting on the bed with a cold expression.

Seeing someone coming, Su Ruoli immediately began to sob, and there were painful groans in her mouth.

"Ruoli, what's wrong with you?"

Lu Qingluo quickly stepped forward to help Su Ruoli up, but as soon as her hand touched Su Ruoli, Su Ruoli screamed in pain, and during the process, she looked at Hua Changxi with fear.

She was like this, directly making everyone present feel that she had been beaten by Hua Hua Changxi.

Wang Yunchu looked at Su Ruoli and then at Hua Changxi: "Hua Changxi, did something happen?"

Su Ruoli spoke before Hua Changxi: "It's my fault. I made Hua Changxi unhappy, and it's only right that she pushed me down."

As she spoke, she pretended to accidentally reveal the bruised and swollen wrist that Hua Hua Changxi had grabbed.

Everyone saw Su Ruoli's bruised and swollen wrist, and immediately someone stood up for Su Ruoli.

Sister Lin looked at Hua Hua Changxi disapprovingly: "Hua Changxi, we are all in the same dormitory, can you not move your hands and beat people at every turn."

Hua Hua Changxi glanced at her faintly: "It doesn't matter if a person is a bit stupid, but to be stupid and not know it, and still insist on helping others preside over justice in a righteous manner, that is very annoying."

After finishing, she didn't care about Sister Lin, who was furious, and looked at Su Ruoli with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"I think you shouldn't have come to the Menial Hall. People here have used all their strength to make a living. You are so good at acting, you should go find those people who are full and have nothing to do to show off your acting skills."

Su Ruoli hung her head and leaned on Lu Qingluo, making a weak and pitiful posture. Noticing the changing expressions of everyone, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Hua Changxi:

"Hua Changxi, you offended Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lu, and they want to send you to the Three-Fork Medicine Manor to work. I know you are angry, but you shouldn't take your anger out on me."

Hearing this, everyone's expression changed greatly.

Su Ruoli's original intention was to let everyone know that Hua Changxi had offended the two eunuchs, and then alienate her. But she didn't expect Wang Yunchu and the others to be full of worry.

Wang Wang Yunchu looked at Hua Hua Changxi anxiously: "Hua Changxi, are you really going to be sent to the medicine manor to work?"

Hua Changxi didn't show the look of horror Su Ruoli had expected, but instead became a bit more spirited: "I don't know, no one notified me."

As she spoke, she looked at Su Ruoli, "How did you know about something that even I, the person involved, didn't know?"

"Are you Eunuch Yu's person? Or Eunuch Lu's person? Did they tell you to steal my pills?"

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone looking at Su Ruoli changed instantly.

Su Ruoli was anxious: "Hua Changxi, don't make false accusations. When did I steal your pills?"

Wang Wang Yunchu was also anxious: "Forget about the pills for now. Hua Changxi, hurry and find Manager Du and beg her to plead for you. You must not go to the medicine manor to help."

Even Sister Lin, who couldn't care about her conflict with Hua Hua Changxi, echoed: "That's right, hurry and find Manager Du to plead for you."

Hua Changxi looked at Wang Yunchu and the others who were all worried for her, and her expression softened a lot: "Su Ruoli is right, I did offend the two eunuchs. If they punish me to go to the medicine manor, I will accept it."

Wang Wang Yunchu stepped forward quickly and whispered in her ear: "You can't go to the medicine manor. The medicine manor is chaotic. Female menials will suffer a big loss if they go."

Hua Hua Changxi wasn't used to people getting close, so she moved back: "Don't worry, I can protect myself." As she spoke, she rubbed her head, which was still feeling swollen and painful.

"I'm not feeling well, I'm going to sleep first, you guys rest early too."

Wang Wang Yunchu saw Hua Hua Changxi lie down and close her eyes, so even if she had more advice, she could only swallow it back.

Su Ruoli saw that everyone's attention was drawn away by Hua Changxi. She covered her wrist, which felt like it was about to break, stood up slowly against the wall, and then, while everyone wasn't paying attention, left the room.

Su Ruoli entered Manager Leng's room, closed the door, and knelt on one knee: "Helm Master, that Hua Changxi's martial arts cultivation is definitely not low. The subordinate just found Earth-Gang Pills on her."

Manager Leng sat lazily on the armchair, sharp light flashing in her eyes, no longer the fawning and flattering look she had in front of Eunuch Lu: "Earth-Gang Pills... these are pills needed by seventh-grade martial artists." 【50-49

Su Ruoli entered Manager Leng's room, closed the door, and knelt on one knee: "Steering Master, that Hua Changxi's martial arts cultivation is definitely not low. Your subordinate just found a Earth Essence Pill on her."

Manager Leng sat languidly in an armchair, sharp light flickering in her eyes, showing none of the fawning and flattery she displayed in front of Eunuch Lu: "Earth Essence Pill... this is a pill required by seventh-grade martial artists."

Pills for martial artists are difficult to refine, and the higher the grade of the martial artist, the harder the pills they require are to refine; this is because the medicinal efficacy within the herbs must be stimulated using internal energy.

Therefore, a pharmacist who refines pills for high-grade martial artists must not only understand medicine and know how to refine pills, but must also be a martial artist, and their grade must be at least fourth-grade or higher.

Because only martial artists of the fourth grade or higher can cultivate internal energy.

Manager Leng smiled: "It seems Hua Hua Changxi must have caught the eyes of Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lu precisely because of her ability to refine medicine. Where is the Earth Essence Pill? Bring it here for me to see."

Su Ruoli's expression stiffened: "Your subordinate is incompetent; as soon as I found the pill, Hua Changxi woke up." She paused, "If the Steering Master wants the Earth Essence Pill, you can send someone to search Hua Changxi's belongings."

"A mere servant having such a precious pill on her person—we can even frame her with a charge of theft."

Manager Leng shook her head: "Doing that would bring us no benefit at all. Hua Hua Changxi can refine Earth Essence Pills; I actually want to recruit her for my own use."

Upon hearing this, Su Ruoli hesitated and said: "Hua Changxi is likely not easy to subdue. Steering Master, you don't know—no matter how humble and subservient I acted, she remained unmoved."

Manager Leng tapped her fingers on the table: "Hua Hua Changxi's temperament is indeed a bit difficult to handle." As she spoke, she smiled, "What you just said about searching Hua Hua Changxi's belongings—I think it's feasible."

"However, this matter must be done by Eunuch Lu."

"Let's wait until tomorrow. Eunuch Lu has been called away by Eunuch Jia, so it's not a good time to find him now. I will go find him early tomorrow morning and have him send people to search Hua Hua Changxi."

"Once Hua Hua Changxi's charge of theft is confirmed, I will step in to resolve the situation for her. By then, I won't have to worry about her not working for me."

"Alright, you go back now and continue to keep a close watch on Hua Hua Changxi."

After Su Ruoli left, Manager Leng sat cross-legged on the bed, then took out a black lotus jade piece, placed it in her palm, and closed her eyes.

The next day, when Hua Hua Changxi woke up, there was no one left in the room. Although her head no longer hurt, her heart was still on edge.

Because she did not know why she had suddenly suffered a headache, and one so painful it made her wish she were dead.

Eunuch Yu grabbing her yesterday did not involve life or death, but what about next time? If she were to have a sudden headache while fighting an enemy, wouldn't she be putting herself in danger?

Thinking back to Su Ruoli searching her body while she was cultivating yesterday, her expression darkened further.

Hua Hua Changxi took out the Earth Essence Pill and looked at it. Although she didn't know why Eunuch Yu had let her go yesterday, she still felt a lingering fear.

The Medicine Department was, after all, a government office. Even if the herbs for refining the pills were provided by Eunuch Yu, if an Earth Essence Pill were found on her, she would have no way to explain it.

"If only I had a storage treasure."

As soon as the thought arose, Hua Hua Changxi felt her head swell, and the next second, something burst out from within her mind.

Then, Hua Hua Changxi was stunned.

A three-legged bronze cauldron over a meter high stood steadily on the ground.

Looking at the bronze cauldron, Hua Hua Changxi remained dazed for quite a while before jumping off the bed as if flying.

Isn't this the Shennong Cauldron she used to store small items in her past life?

Compared to the dust-covered, old, and mottled state it was in during her past life, the Shennong Cauldron was now glowing with brilliance; one could tell at a glance it was a treasure.

"Did the Shennong Cauldron travel through time with me?"

Dusty memories revived, and Hua Hua Changxi recalled the reason for her transmigration.

Her grandfather's eldest son's family and second son's family came to seize the house her grandfather left her. During the dispute, someone pushed her, her head hit the Shennong Cauldron, and then she breathed her last.

Hua Hua Changxi touched the Shennong Cauldron inch by inch. The events of her past life had become very blurred due to her deliberate forgetting.

Now, seeing the Shennong Cauldron, many things surfaced in her heart again.

In her past life, her parents died in a car accident when she was one year old, and she lived with her grandfather ever since. In her sophomore year of college, her grandfather also passed away. From then until her death, she was all alone.

Hua Hua Changxi shook her head, no longer thinking about the past life.

Her grandfather had told her that one must look forward and not live in the past.

She is now Hua Hua Changxi, and having restarted her life, she must face it with a brand-new attitude and live actively in the present.

Hua Hua Changxi composed herself and then pondered why the Shennong Cauldron had flown out of her head.

"Store!"

Hua Hua Changxi placed her hands on the Shennong Cauldron, thinking about retrieving it into her mind, and the cauldron instantly turned into a stream of light and dived into the center of her brow.

"Come out!"

The Shennong Cauldron appeared in the room again.

This process of the cauldron going in and out made Hua Hua Changxi's head start to swell and ache again, so she didn't dare to play with it carelessly.

Although it was shocking that such a large bronze cauldron could dive into her head, once she thought about the fact that she could now cultivate, she felt relieved.

This is a fantasy world; one shouldn't be surprised by strange things.

Hua Hua Changxi thought of the medical inheritance she had received and finally realized everything.

What she obtained from the red stone must have been the bird-like breathing and cultivation method. Because of the cultivation, she absorbed spiritual energy, which activated the Shennong Cauldron, and then she received the medical inheritance.

Thinking about it now, being captured by the demonic Daoist that time could be considered a blessing in disguise; otherwise, she wouldn't know if this Shennong Cauldron could have been activated.

Thinking of how she used to store small trinkets and items in the Shennong Cauldron in her past life, Hua Hua Changxi hurriedly put all the pills she had refined into the cauldron and then tried to retrieve it back into her mind.

The Shennong Cauldron dived into her brow again.

Seeing that the Shennong Cauldron could truly store items, Hua Hua Changxi was very excited. Just as she wanted to bring it out to see how much it could store, a clamor of noise came from outside the room.

Then, the door was violently pushed open.

Looking at the crowd swarming in, Hua Hua Changxi's gaze fell on Eunuch Lu outside the room.

"Valuable medicinal herbs were lost from the Servant Hall yesterday. Search carefully for this official."

Hua Hua Changxi saw at a glance that this was aimed at her and felt incredibly lucky that she had summoned the Shennong Cauldron in time and that it could store items.

The people sent by Eunuch Lu turned the room upside down, but apart from her change of clothes and daily necessities, they found nothing.

Manager Leng, standing beside Eunuch Lu, glanced at Su Ruoli.

Su Ruoli shook her head, indicating that Hua Changxi had not left the room.

Hua Hua Changxi saw this scene clearly, but she quickly averted her gaze and looked at Eunuch Lu. To ensure she would be sent to the Three-Fork Medicine Valley, she even gave him a provocative, mocking smile.

Eunuch Lu was indeed furious and said coldly: "Hua Hua Changxi, you beat others and were negligent in your duties. I am punishing you to work at the Three-Fork Medicine Manor. You will set off with the others going to the Three-Fork Medicine Manor the day after tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Hua Hua Changxi's expression changed drastically, and she looked at Eunuch Lu with an unconvinced face.

Seeing this, Eunuch Lu felt a bit more comfortable, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.

Once he was far away, Manager Leng looked at Hua Hua Changxi disapprovingly: "Hua Hua Changxi, you really... why didn't you just bow your head and apologize to Eunuch Lu? The work at the medicine manor is not something a young lady like you can handle."

Hua Hua Changxi looked at Manager Leng and said nothing.

Seeing that she didn't respond, Manager Leng continued to speak to herself: "Forget it, since you are my subordinate, I will plead for you once Eunuch Lu's anger has subsided."

Having said that, she shook her head helplessly and left.

After the onlookers dispersed, Du Ruo walked over with a cold face: "I told you long ago not to be too ostentatious. Manager Leng is still reasonable. I'll accompany you to plead with her again and ask her to beg Eunuch Lu not to send you to work at the medicine manor."

As she spoke, she pulled Hua Hua Changxi, intending to go find Manager Leng.

Hua Hua Changxi did not want to cause more trouble, so she shook off Du Ruo and said stubbornly: "I don't want to beg anyone. Manager Du, stop meddling in my affairs."

Du Ruo was so angry her breathing became heavy: "Fine, fine, fine, it's my meddling. You... you'll have your time to cry."

Manager Leng arrived at Eunuch Lu's courtyard, pouring tea and massaging his shoulders and legs: "Eunuch Lu, I heard Hua Hua Changxi is a martial artist. Punishing her to go to the medicine manor might not be enough to make things difficult for her."

Eunuch Lu sneered: "Rest assured, this time I will definitely make Hua Hua Changxi suffer enough to make her crawl back and kneel before me, begging me."

Manager Leng looked puzzled: "Is there a martial arts master at the medicine manor?"

Eunuch Lu smiled: "The Medicine Department's medicine manors all have Grandmasters stationed there."

Hearing this, Manager Leng's eyes flickered, and she put on a shocked expression: "The Medicine Department has so many medicine manors; do they all have Grandmasters stationed there?"

"Eunuch, don't tease me. Although my knowledge is shallow, I know that Grandmasters are rare."

Eunuch Lu stroked Manager Leng's smooth cheek: "To outsiders, Grandmasters are indeed pitifully rare, but what kind of place is this? It's the Medicine Department."

"The Medicine Department is one of the three major departments of the Heavenly Bureau, and the Heavenly Bureau oversees the Martial Academy. The Martial Academy has been established for hundreds of years and has cultivated countless martial arts experts. No matter how many experts the Medicine Department needs, the Heavenly Bureau can send them over."

"Hmph, once Hua Hua Changxi arrives at the Three-Fork Medicine Manor, with a Grandmaster watching her, let's see what kind of trouble she can stir up."