The voice echoed inside. Rushing footsteps were heard.
"Song Qi, you old bastard! Have you finally gathered enough herbs?!"
A man in a gray robe, his long, gray hair tied up, appeared. He looked to be in his fifties or sixties and had a serious face, but his eyes were filled with unmasked amusement.
"I found them. Second-Order Desolate Beast Bones, Blood Vein Flower, Tendon-Regenerating Grass, Thirty-Year Blood Ginseng..." Song Qi recited the ingredients for the prescription. He had been secretly collecting these herbs for years.
Xu Zhongdao patted his shoulder and said, "That's enough. If not for the interference with the Hundred Herb Hall's status, it wouldn't have taken this long." Xu Zhongdao's eyes darkened. The Hundred Herb Hall had been around for two centuries, but over time, various power plays emerged. A healthy Song Qi would occupy a position that rivaled others, potentially reducing their profits. Furthermore, forces like the Small Mountain Association didn't want another Vitality Nurturing expert in Yun Cang Town, or potentially a master of the True Intent stage.
Song Qi's eyes were sharp: "I am not looking for a fight, but I will settle some scores."
"Stay at my place. I'll help you refine the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill in a couple of days."
Song Qi nodded, then suddenly turned to Su Yan: "Young man, come over and meet someone."
Su Yan walked over and bowed to Xu Zhongdao: "Junior, Su Yan, greets Senior."
"This is Xu Zhongdao, the Great Manager of the Hundred Herb Hall's Pill Chamber. You can simply call him Elder Xu."
Xu Zhongdao looked at Su Yan with surprise, then at Song Qi, his eyes flickered: "Where did you find this junior?" Song Qi was a bachelor; how did he suddenly acquire a junior?
"He's excellent material for practicing martial arts, and he found the Blood Vein Flower for me, which angered that bastard Gu Changfeng's son." Song Qi's words were concise. Xu Zhongdao became serious. Song Qi had highlighted Su Yan's talent and the great favor he did him, clearly intending to introduce Su Yan and ask him to look out for the young man. Entrusting a friend was a straightforward matter.
The two settled in. Xu Zhongdao arranged rooms for them. Xu Zhongdao was the Great Manager of the Hundred Herb Hall's Pill Chamber, responsible for refining various elixirs and medicines. Like Song Qi, he was one of the old guards left behind by the former owner. The current three managers of the Hundred Herb Hall each had their own network, and while they relied on the old guard, they had also installed their own people in the major business areas: Herb Cultivation and Collection, Elixir Refining, and Elixir Sales. These three major areas, along with some others, were controlled by the three managers, each with multiple supervisors.
Xu Zhongdao was the Great Manager, but the day-to-day management of the Pill Chamber was mostly handled by the Second Manager. Xu Zhongdao's primary responsibility was refining First-Order High-Grade and Second-Order medicines. Ordinary elixirs were handled by the normal apothecaries. He was content with this leisurely role.
Song Qi handed over the collected herbs to Xu Zhongdao. After careful inspection, Xu Zhongdao said: "I haven't tested this formula before, so I'll familiarize myself with it and refine it for you in a couple of days. But now that you're coming back, some of the managers might be unhappy. Will you stay outside the city or go to the mountains?"
"Hmph. I'm not looking for trouble. If I reach Vitality Nurturing, I'll take a trip to the mountains. Gu Changfeng, that old bastard, claims to be managing affairs outside the city, but his real base has always been in the mountains." They both understood the implications.
Xu Zhongdao was concerned for his old friend: "You've been delayed for many years, and Gu Changfeng has been in the Vitality Nurturing stage for a long time. If you want revenge..."
"I won't be impatient. There will be opportunities. When the Desolate Mountain hunt begins, people always die." Xu Zhongdao worried for his friend, but he knew it was pointless to advise him.
"By the way, you need to personally formulate medicine for Su Yan's martial arts training. His talent is far greater than mine. It would be a waste to only use things like Red Skin Powder."
At this, Xu Zhongdao's eyes lit up: "Is that true?"
Su Yan practiced his fist technique in the courtyard. Every move was fierce and powerful. As he refined his form, he was inwardly considering the situation. Gu Hong's connection to Niu Han suggested that the Treasure PlantSu Dahe (Su Yan's father) died and eventually fell into Gu Hong's hands. They already had a blood feud, and now, with the incident involving Manager Song, the conflict had escalated.
'A feud is a feud. I will first secure my position as an Inner Door Disciple for self-preservation. Once my strength is sufficient, I will find a way to bury that Gu Hong in the mountains.' A cold glint flashed in Su Yan's eyes. Su Dahe's death was one debt, and Gu Hong's attempt to use him as a puppet was another.
'He is two realms above me at Blood Circulation. But if I nurture my Dark Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug, I might give him a surprise.'
Su Yan finished his practice, and a servant came to find him.
"Young Master Su, my master and Master Song invite you to the back courtyard."
"I understand." The servant led Su Yan to the back courtyard, through several small arched doors. It was a quieter area, with rock gardens, bamboo, and a faint medicinal aroma, clearly Xu Zhongdao's private residence.
When Su Yan entered, the servant left. Song Qi and Xu Zhongdao were already waiting, a kettle of fragrant medicinal tea brewing.
"Practicing this diligently is much better than this old man, Song Qi, back in the day. He just had the courage to fight for his life." Xu Zhongdao smiled, then said: "Come here. I want to check your bones and muscles."
Su Yan looked at Song Qi. Song Qi smiled: "Go ahead. This old man isn't much of a martial artist, but when it comes to alchemy and compounding medicine, he is one of the best in Yun Cang Town."
Su Yan adopted his Stance Skill, unifying his form and intent, exhaling like an ape. His aura even carried some of the ferocity of the Bronze Fox Ape.
Xu Zhongdao's eyes lit up. He immediately rose and took two steps closer. In his eyes, Su Yan'sblood energy was incredibly dense. He reached out to examine him. The skin felt like layers of rhinoceros hide, the muscles tight and trembling like iron. His bones...
"Amazing. Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining, and his foundation is thicker than that of an average practitioner. Superior Root Bone and blood energy." Xu Zhongdao immediately asked: "How long can you withstand the Red Skin Powder?"
Su Yan was puzzled: "Withstand? Doesn't it take about an hour to completely absorb the medicine?"
Xu Zhongdao was shocked: "You mean you never got out of the barrel the whole time?"
Su Yan nodded. Xu Zhongdao tugged at his beard: "Another fierce one! Good! Your foundation is solid, and you have high endurance. I can formulate the medicine with confidence."
Su Yan was confused. Song Qi explained: "While the Red Skin Powder is meant to be completely absorbed, not everyone can endure the pain, especially those who absorb it slowly. They usually reduce the dosage or get out mid-way for relief." The usage and tolerance were tailored to the individual. However, only by enduring the full process, as Su Yan did, could the full medicinal effect be realized.
"You don't need to buy the Red Skin Powder anymore. If you have silver, use it to buy Desolate Beast bone powder, Dark Scarlet Root, Blood Essence Ginger, Black Chicken Vine, and Wolf Tongue Grass."
Su Yan looked confused: "Aren't Black Chicken Vine and Wolf Tongue Grass highly poisonous? And the Dark Scarlet Root is also toxic. These three poisons..."
"Oh, so you understand a bit about medicinal properties." Xu Zhongdao smiled: "This is specially formulated for you—a much more potent Red Skin Powder, or perhaps we should call it Poison Skin Powder."