Chapter 95: Lighting the Pill Fire

Discovering that the wooden plaque would flash in the Imperial Physician Hall and the Nine Streets, Hua Changxi became more and more curious about the use of the wooden plaque. Seeing people coming and going on the Ninth Street, she suppressed the urge to explore immediately and walked toward the No. 12 Pharmacy.

This was not the first time Hua Changxi had come to find Pharmacist Xu. Seeing her wearing servant clothes again, the people at the door thought it was something Pharmacist Xu had told her to do, so they didn't make things difficult and went to pass the message.

Soon, Pharmacist Xu came out.

"Uncle Xu."

Pharmacist Xu saw Hua Changxi and said helplessly: "You, your guts are too big. How could you dare to confront Eunuch Zhou head-on?"

Hua Changxi: "I couldn't bear to see it."

Pharmacist Xu shook his head: "There are too many unfair things in the world. Can you manage them all?"

Hua Changxi: "... I only manage what I see."

Pharmacist Xu sighed: "Have you thought about the consequences? If Eunuch Zhou really wants to deal with you, what do you plan to do?"

Hua Changxi snorted: "He wouldn't dare."

Pharmacist Xu was choked by her righteous attitude. Soon he thought of something and asked: "Are you really a cultivator?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "Um."

Pharmacist Xu was a bit hesitant to speak. He wanted to ask Hua Changxi how she became a cultivator, but he also knew that this was a secret matter.

Since the Mount Wuzhi affair broke out last year, coupled with the fact that he had heard a lot about the Demon Suppression Department killing demons and monsters in the Medical Department, the fact that this world had supernatural power could not be hidden.

But even though this kind of thing had spread widely, it was very difficult for them to find out exact news.

The people above seemed not to want ordinary people to know about these things, and they all blocked the news, spreading it only in their respective circles of connections.

Although he was a pharmacist in the Jiujie Pharmacy, he didn't have strong connections, and the news he found was ambiguous and could not distinguish between true and false.

Hua Changxi saw this: "Uncle Xu, I have been busy from last year until now, and I haven't gone to see you. Are you and Xu Ling okay? Especially Xu Ling, has her problem of being sleepy been solved?"

Speaking of Xu Ling, a smile appeared on Pharmacist Xu's face: "It has been solved."

Hua Changxi was curious: "How was it solved?"

Pharmacist Xu: "In October last year, Lingling saved an injured monk. During the monk's recovery in the pharmacy, he discovered Lingling's problem and taught Lingling a set of breathing methods. After Lingling practiced it, the problem of being sleepy was reduced a lot."

"Later, every time Lingling was sleepy, she would go to the monk, follow the monk to knock on wooden fish and chant scriptures, and the problem of being sleepy was slowly solved."

Hua Changxi frowned: "Monk? Uncle Xu, the monk Lingling saved casually, and that monk just happened to be able to solve her sleepiness. Is this too coincidental?"

Pharmacist Xu explained: "Jiuniang, you haven't seen Master Konghai. Master Konghai is kind-hearted and compassionate. He has been wandering the world even after he was seventy, and his purpose is to save all living beings."

Hua Changxi still felt something was wrong: "Uncle Xu, the problem of Lingling's sleepiness, according to the information I currently understand, is because her bloodline is returning to its ancestors."

"This doesn't mean your ancestors were snakes; it may mean that people of your clan are protected by the Snake God. After the bloodline returns to its ancestors, you can stimulate the Snake God's supernatural powers."

"The breathing method that Master Konghai gave Lingling just now, if I am not mistaken, should be a cultivation technique."

"Uncle Xu, you know how hard it is to get a martial artist's cultivation technique. A cultivator's cultivation technique will only be harder. Master Konghai just gave it to Lingling like that. Is this normal?"

Pharmacist Xu stammered: "But... Lingling saved Master Konghai's life." He hesitated, "Jiuniang, you are a cultivator. Can you go with me to see Master Konghai? See if he has any ulterior motives, so I can be at ease."

Hua Changxi thought for a moment: "Okay, when you are off duty, I will go with you to your pharmacy to see Master Konghai and see what kind of technique Lingling is practicing."

Seeing her agree, Pharmacist Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was still willing to believe that the kind-faced Master Konghai was good, he trusted Hua Changxi, whom he watched grow up, more.

Hua Changxi was a cultivator now. If there was anything wrong, she would definitely be able to find it.

Pharmacist Xu patted his chest: "After you said that, I feel a bit panicked in my heart."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Uncle Xu, it is also possible that I am overthinking it."

Pharmacist Xu: "It's good to think more. The martial artist's world is so dangerous. I don't understand the cultivator's, but I know it's definitely not easy." He paused, "Although you are a cultivator now, you should also pay more attention and don't make enemies everywhere."

"Like Eunuch Zhou, the person behind him is a noble in the palace after all. People have power and influence. If they can't deal with you, a cultivator, they can't deal with your family?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Uncle Xu, I don't do things so unreliably. I also have a backer behind me."

Pharmacist Xu looked surprised. He knew the Hua family's situation very well. They were marginal figures of the Hua clan. The most powerful one in the Hua clan was the Count Dingyuan's mansion, but the Count Dingyuan's mansion didn't pay much attention to them.

"What backer do you have?"

Hua Changxi didn't know the specific situation of Hua Shiniang and didn't want to say more: "Uncle Xu, you just need to know that I also have a trump card behind me that makes people wary."

As she spoke, cold light flashed in her eyes, "Even without a trump card, whoever dares to move my family, I will make them look good, no matter who they are."

Looking at Hua Changxi, whose eyes were fierce and whose aura had changed greatly, Pharmacist Xu was shocked.

Hua Changxi withdrew her murderous aura, looked at Pharmacist Xu, took out the handwritten copy of "Introduction to the Four Arts" and handed it to him: "Uncle Xu, although this book is about alchemy, arrays, talismans, and tools, because it is an introductory book, it records a lot of common sense about cultivators."

"Like what spiritual meridians cultivators have, how to divide realms, and various cultivation resources like spiritual herbs, spiritual fruits, and spiritual minerals that cultivators often use, and what dangers they will encounter—all are mentioned. You can take it and see."

Pharmacist Xu took the book excitedly, feeling moved that Hua Changxi took care of his face and didn't open her mouth to take care of him: "Jiuniang, Uncle won't say polite words to you."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Uncle Xu, then you go ahead and be busy. I have things to do in the Servant Hall. When you are off duty, I will come to find you and go back to the pharmacy with you."

Pharmacist Xu watched Hua Changxi leave with a smile, then carefully put "Introduction to the Four Arts" into his bosom and put it away, and then entered the pharmacy.

That afternoon at 18:00, Hua Changxi met Pharmacist Xu at the gate of the Medical Department and went back to Xu's Pharmacy together.

As soon as they returned to the pharmacy, Pharmacist Xu greeted the clerk Wu Shuang: "Jiuniang is here, hurry up and call Lingling out to meet the guest."

Wu Shuang stood still: "Master, Lingling went out with Master Konghai."

Hearing this, Pharmacist Xu's face became anxious: "When did this happen?"

Wu Shuang: "Early this morning, you left first, and they left right after."

Seeing Pharmacist Xu's anxious face, Wu Shuang was still a bit puzzled: "Master, didn't Lingling go out with Master Konghai before? They should be back soon."

Hearing this, Pharmacist Xu hurriedly said to Hua Changxi: "Right, right, right, Lingling would go out with Master Konghai before."

Hua Changxi looked at Wu Shuang: "Did they say what they went out to do?"

Wu Shuang: "It should be that Master Konghai found someone in misfortune again and took Lingling to save people."

Hua Changxi looked at Pharmacist Xu: "Uncle Xu, let's not talk about what kind of person Master Konghai is for now. You let Lingling follow a monk all day, aren't you afraid she will become a nun?"

Pharmacist Xu was stumped: "I didn't think about this. I just thought... Master Konghai can cure Lingling's sleepiness, which is good for Lingling."

Wu Shuang interjected: "Master, I have wanted to say this for a long time. Since Master Konghai came, Lingling has indeed become... become a bit... inhuman."

Pharmacist Xu and Hua Changxi looked at Wu Shuang at the same time, because Pharmacist Xu went to work in the Medical Department, and Wu Shuang was the one who had the most contact with Xu Ling.

"What do you mean by inhuman?"

Wu Shuang was frightened by the two people's burning gazes: "Master, haven't you noticed? Lingling's eyes when looking at people are very indifferent, as if she has no feelings."

"Of course, this is just my feeling. Maybe Lingling is only like this to me?"

This did not comfort Pharmacist Xu, but instead increased his worry.

Hua Changxi looked at Wu Shuang: "Did Lingling come back on the same day when she went out with Master Konghai before?"

Wu Shuang nodded: "Yes, they always came back on the same day."

Hua Changxi said to Pharmacist Xu: "Uncle Xu, I will have dinner at your house tonight."

Pharmacist Xu grabbed Hua Changxi with trembling hands: "Jiuniang, if that monk Konghai really has a problem, you must save Lingling."

Hua Changxi comforted: "Everything is our speculation. Let's wait for people to come back and see. Don't scare yourself first."

The sky gradually darkened, and Pharmacist Xu stood at the door of the pharmacy and kept looking.

When the last trace of light disappeared, two figures appeared at the street entrance.

"Master, my father is waiting for us."

From far away, Xu Ling saw Pharmacist Xu wandering at the door of the pharmacy, and a glimmer of light appeared in her indifferent eyes.

Master Konghai saw this, frowned, but soon relaxed and smiled: "Then let's go back quickly, don't let him worry."

"Um."

Xu Ling's voice was cheerful: "Master, why hasn't the person we are going to save moved yet?"

Master Konghai: "There should still be karmic obstacles blocking him. Don't worry, we will take our time, we will definitely be able to save him."

Xu Ling asked again: "Master, you said I am the protector of the Snake God, and the person in Feng'an Square is the protector of the Cow God. Besides the Snake God and the Cow God, are there other demon gods?"

Master Konghai: "Of course there are. There are twelve great demon gods in the demon world. It's a pity that the demon gods are still sleeping."

When they were still tens of meters away from Xu's Pharmacy, Master Konghai suddenly stopped, looked at the pharmacy with a solemn expression: "Lingling, let's not go back to the pharmacy first."

As he spoke, he pulled Xu Ling and turned to leave.

Xu Ling struggled: "Not going back, Father will be worried."

Master Konghai turned his head and looked at Xu Ling coldly. Xu Ling's eyes went blank instantly, and then she followed him away obediently.

Just as Master Konghai crushed a teleportation talisman and pulled Xu Ling to disappear on the street, Hua Changxi walked out of the pharmacy.

Looking at Pharmacist Xu, who was walking back and forth anxiously, Hua Changxi wanted to comfort him. Just as she came out of the pharmacy, she sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy in the distance, turned to look, but saw nothing.

Hua Changxi frowned, hesitated, and walked over to check.

In the capital in the third month, the breeze was gentle. Hua Changxi walked on the street and could no longer sense that fluctuation of spiritual energy.

"Jiuniang, what's wrong?"

Pharmacist Xu saw Hua Changxi suddenly fly away, and then wander on the street, and ran over panting.

Hua Changxi: "Just now I sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy. Uncle Xu, there will be more and more cultivators in the future. Try not to go out at night in the future."

Afterward, Hua Changxi waited until midnight, and Xu Ling and Master Konghai didn't come back.

Pharmacist Xu had passed the most worried period and was now calm: "Master Konghai stayed in the pharmacy for a few months. Besides letting Lingling chant scriptures with him, he just took her out to save people. Even if he has ulterior motives, he shouldn't hurt Lingling in a short time."

"Jiuniang, you don't have to wait. Lingling will definitely come home. When she comes back, I will notify you immediately."

Hua Changxi saw his calm face, thinking that there was still the matter of the wooden plaque waiting for her to explore, so she didn't refuse, said goodbye to Pharmacist Xu, and returned to the Medical Department.

"I believe you all have realized by now that this female servant before you is no ordinary person. Someone who knows martial arts and whose alchemy skills are not a bit inferior to the pharmacists of the Jiujie—why must she insist on staying in the Servant Hall as a lowly servant?"

She wanted to see if the lanterns on the Pilgrimage Road in the Jiujie would all make the wooden plaque flash.

Thinking of Leng Xiangru stealing pills and being quickly discovered and tracked to the Servant Hall, Hua Changxi inferred that the Medical Department must have cultivators stationed there.

Before starting the investigation, Hua Changxi changed into night clothes and put on a mask. Then she drove the somersault cloud and flew to the T-shaped intersection where the First Street and the Pilgrimage Road met.

On both sides of the intersection, a round pillar stood, and a colorless and transparent lantern hung at the top of the round pillar.

Hua Changxi held the wooden plaque and passed between the two lanterns.

"Boom~"

The moment she passed through the lanterns, green flames suddenly ignited in the two lanterns.

The flames emitted a rich scent of pills. Bathing in the scent of pills, Hua Changxi found that some of the stagnation she encountered when refining pills on weekdays instantly became clear.

The green flames lit up the night, and the green light shrouded the First Street completely at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi was both surprised and scared.

What was surprising was that she didn't do anything, and the lanterns lit up.

What was scary was that such a big movement would definitely be discovered.

Hua Changxi was anxious. She flew to the top of the round pillar and wanted to extinguish the green flames, but no matter what she did, she couldn't extinguish the flames.

"What's going on?"

At this time, Hua Changxi had already heard the movement from the Medical Department building. Soon, several figures flew out of the building.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi couldn't care about the green flames. Having learned the painful lesson of Leng Xiangru, she drove the somersault cloud and fled directly out of the Medical Department.

At the same time, in the old courtyard in the square, Gu Qiming, who was comforting Gu Xing, stood up abruptly, looking at the row of wooden plaques hanging on the wall that all lit up with white light.

"Senior Gu, what's going on?"

Without getting a response, Gu Qiming looked at Gu Xing, seeing him close his eyes, as silent as ever.

Gu Qiming thought for a moment and said: "Senior Gu, don't worry, no one will dare to come and drive you out in the future..."

Gu Xing suddenly opened his eyes: "No, you don't need to stop it. What should come will come."

Gu Qiming looked surprised. Gu Xing had been in a posture of preferring to die than leave this courtyard before. How could he change his attitude all of a sudden?

"Master, something happened."

Yuan Tianchou drove his flying sword to the courtyard gate, jumped off the sword, and rushed into the courtyard: "Master, someone broke into the Medical Department, and several masters have gone to chase them."

Gu Qiming: "Since someone has gone to chase them, why bother me?"

Yuan Tianchou walked to him and whispered: "The two lanterns on the First Street are lit. You'd better go and take a look."

Gu Qiming heard this, looked at Gu Xing abruptly, saw him close his eyes again, and could only follow Yuan Tianchou away.

As soon as the two left, Gu Xing opened his eyes, tears sliding down the corners of his eyes like lines: "I, waited."

Feeling the life force continuously surging from the recliner beneath him, and that life force rapidly merging into his withered body, Gu Xing felt the vibrant vitality surging within him with tears in his eyes.