Chapter 6, The Value of the Crimson Flame Pill

Early the next morning, Ning Yue arrived at the Zhouji Pharmacy. Zhou Ji was the Doctor Zhou mentioned by Old Li, and he was also a fellow villager from Yishui Township. After her father's passing, Ning Yue grew up on the rice from the hundred families of Yishui Township, so every person in Yishui Township was considered her elder, and Doctor Zhou was no exception.

Gazing at the last Crimson Flame Pill in her bag, Ning Yue let out a long sigh. Only when it is truly used can one realize how expensive this pill is. Although this amount of money is negligible compared to the significant effects, Ning Yue has only just managed to escape the line of subsistence as a poor person

Zhou Cuicui did not say a word, taking the prescription to prepare medicine for Ning Yue. These medicinal materials were all very common, and their main function was to strengthen the body. Therefore, Zhou Cuicui did not suspect anything and only thought that Ning Yue had depleted her vital energy and needed to recuperate.

Unable to escape the wooden barrel, Ning Yue could only endure the torment of the medicinal bath. Never before had Ning Yue wanted to die as much as today, eagerly wishing for death. Unfortunately, not to mention dying, even moving a finger felt so exhausting.

Water splashed all over the room, and the ground was covered in mud. However, in the next moment, Ning Yue was stunned on the spot. Whether it was her self-perception or the data displayed in her mind's system interface, both her strength and agility had seen a certain improvement. Although these improvements were not significant in terms of data, the feeling was as if she had undergone a complete transformation

No problem! Zhou Ji cast a glance at Ning Yue without changing his expression, as if to say, you young man are easily surprised.

Xiaoyue, seeing you radiant today, your health should have improved. Last time, your pale appearance truly startled me. Do not blame Uncle Zhou for being talkative; as the saying goes, haste makes waste. Practicing martial arts requires a methodical and gradual approach

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye. Although the young grappler has made rapid progress and reached level 6, he is still far from level 10. The system states that reaching level 10 allows one to leave a clear fingerprint on fine iron, which is considered a minor achievement. Currently, Ning Yue can only leave fingerprints on wood.

"Tap, tap, tap!" Ning Yue knocked on the counter, instantly waking the drowsy Zhou Cuicui. "Hello, hello, esteemed guest, are you here for a consultation or to collect medicine?"

"Of course it is a good medicine, but..." Ning Yue looked at Zhou Ji, and as he licked it, she instantly felt a chill down her back. "This is for bathing, not for eating"

Is that you, Brother Yue! Are you here to get medicine? I heard from my father yesterday that you overexerted yourself in your martial arts training and injured your vitality? Weren't you always thinking about studying hard to achieve success? Why have you become like those reckless wanderers, burying yourself in training?

The cost of medicine for seven days has directly consumed half a month's salary of Ning Yue. If this continues, in less than six months, Ning Yue will have to beg on the streets. No wonder it is said that the poor excel in literature while the rich excel in martial arts; one cannot truly endure without a solid family background.

Leaving the yamen, Ning Yue headed straight for the Zhou Ji pharmacy. This time, Doctor Zhou was not on a house call, but he spotted Ning Yue from a distance.

As the charity event was about to begin, Ning Yue suddenly broke in with cold sweat, "Uncle Zhou, is it not enough that I call you uncle? I have serious business to discuss this time!"

Although he was not very happy about being interrupted, Zhou Ji still opened his mouth in confusion and asked, "What important matter?"

Good medicine!" Zhou Ji took the elixir, sniffed it, and his expression changed dramatically. After sticking out his tongue to taste it, he could no longer hold back his praise.

He squeezed his arm with force, and the feeling of inexhaustible strength made Ning Yue exceptionally obsessed. Although he was a police officer in his previous life, how could he not have fantasized about becoming a hero? Capturing criminals while leaping between the rooftops of the city's skyscrapers?

As a result, those whom Zhou Ji found suitable were unwilling to marry into the family, while those willing to do so were not to his liking. Over a year has passed, and Zhou Cuicui's marriage has yet to be settled. However, despite being a lovely little girl, Zhou Cuicui has inherited Zhou Ji's medical skills. Sometimes, after Zhou Ji finishes his rounds, Zhou Cuicui takes charge of the medicine shop.

Why are you acting just like Cui Cui? I haven't even said a few words and you are already impatient? Uncle Zhou is not bragging; although he does not understand martial arts, medicine and martial arts are closely related. That day, after I finished taking your pulse...

After purchasing the prescription, Ning Yue once again became completely clean. The hard-earned experience and silver were reset to zero once more. Ning Yue came to understand that this grand martial arts system was undoubtedly one that took advantage of others.

"Xiao Yue, why did Xie Yun choose to hand the elixir to you instead of coming to sell it to me himself? Moreover, what is the pricing of this medicine, and how shall we divide the profits?" As Zhou Ji spoke, he put away his smile; when it came to serious matters, he no longer displayed the kind and gentle demeanor he had towards Ning Yue as a junior.

Ning Yue suddenly felt a headache; Zhou Ji was a decent person, but he was overly verbose. It hadn't been much of an issue before, but ever since Ning Yue arrived in Tongli Town, he had truly experienced it. Perhaps because both of them were from Yishui Township, they naturally grew closer. Moreover, Zhou Ji had casually mentioned several times about wanting to invite Ning Yue to join his family, which made Zhou Ji's tone when speaking to Ning Yue more akin to that of an uncle.

Among this group of children, Ning Yue and Zhou Cui Cui have undergone the most significant changes. Ning Yue, who was the most spirited in her childhood, has gradually become ordinary and dull, while the wildest little girl has become increasingly quiet and composed

Suddenly, the body immersed in the medicinal bath began to feel uncomfortable. A burning sensation, akin to being scorched by fire, spread across the body, continuously searing the skin. Beneath the skin, there was an odd itching sensation, reminiscent of ants crawling, accompanied by a tingling numbness. This experience was nothing short of torture. Ning Yue had always believed her willpower to be quite strong, but now it seemed utterly fragile.

Having resolved her health issues, Ning Yue returned to work at the yamen. Their work schedule is similar to modern clocking in. They are required to report for duty every day, and missing a day means losing a day's pay. Ning Yue needs to take medicinal baths daily to address her underlying health concerns; every additional day of work is a day earned.

If the world cannot change, then try to adapt to it. The martial spirit of the Zhou Dynasty is at its peak, which can be described as being in vogue. It is best for people to follow the trend; even if one cannot stand out, at least one will not starve. By the way, has Uncle Zhou gone on a house call? Please prepare the medicine according to this prescription for me, starting with a seven-day supply

It seems that I can no longer hide it; if I do not find a way to generate income soon, I will be dragged down in just a few days. The Great Martial Arts System, I must say, has put me in a terrible situation. Now that I have drawn my bow, there is no turning back; unless I stop practicing, I will have to keep burning money... After a powerless complaint, Ning Yue put away the elixir and stepped out of the yamen's courtyard.

What made Ning Yue even happier was that her blood bar had been completely replenished, which meant that all the hidden injuries caused by her previous intense training had vanished without a trace. The name of her minor grappling technique also returned to its previous green color, and the earlier gloom was instantly swept away.

The herbs listed on the prescription are merely ordinary medicinal materials, with the only exception being the need to synthesize the medicinal bath elixir using the techniques provided in the cultivation method. Perhaps this is the key to how ordinary herbs can transform decay into the miraculous

The elixir had no name, after all, this pill was merely intended to rectify the shortcomings of the minor grappling technique. Ning Yue tossed one into the water bucket, and it seemed to trigger a chemical reaction, causing the entire bucket to boil. Before long, a pool of clear water transformed into a bright red color resembling flames

Uncertain of how much time had passed, Ning Yue knew that she could not hold on much longer before losing consciousness. When she awoke again, she found herself lying back with her head hanging over the edge of a wooden tub.

At the counter of the Zhouji Pharmacy, a girl around sixteen or seventeen years old was propping her head up and dozing off. The girl's name was Zhou Cuicui, the only daughter of Zhouji. While she could not be described as beautiful, she was undoubtedly quite charming.

"Ning Yue, why are you going out now that the market has ended?" Old Li was taken aback when he saw Ning Yue ending his homebody life and blurted out.

Medicinal herbs are considered expensive items in this era, and even the most ordinary herbs come with a hefty price tag. Therefore, most people tend to endure their ailments rather than seek treatment.

In the moment this feeling surged, Ning Yue thought of jumping out of the wooden barrel. Just as she was about to put this thought into action, she felt a sense of panic as her body seemed to no longer be under her control; at least her limbs were completely unresponsive. If it weren't for the tingling sensation that followed, Ning Yue would have doubted whether she had grown hands and feet.

Ning Yue carefully took out a pill from her belt and handed it to Zhou Ji, saying, "This is a pill called Chiyan Dan, obtained from Xie Yun. It has the effects of cleansing the meridians and strengthening the bones. What is even more precious is that it can eliminate hidden injuries and reinforce the foundation. Uncle Zhou, I plan to have you help me sell this pill."

Alright, alright, Uncle Zhou, I understand. Last time I lost my composure for a moment, but I will be more careful in the future. Ning Yue finally couldn't help but interrupt Zhou Ji's incessant chatter

"Cui Cui, are you still not awake? Where is your father?" Ning Yue looked at Zhou Cui Cui's embarrassing appearance with a mischievous smile. In her memories, Zhou Cui Cui was very wild when she was young, often running around the mountains and fields with a group of boys. As they gradually grew up, the group of playmates also lost their initial innocence.

I will just go out for a stroll! Thanks to Old Li's care a few days ago, Ning Yue is very grateful to him. Normally, Ning Yue would just smile and would definitely not casually find an excuse like today.

In Yishui Township, Zhou Cuicui is the most sought-after young woman in the surrounding ten miles. Since she turned fifteen, suitors have been coming to her door in droves. However, Zhou Ji has only this one daughter and hopes to find a capable son-in-law to carry on the family lineage.

Ning Yue felt fortunate that he did not slip down, otherwise he would have become a bizarre tale of drowning while taking a bath at home. Recalling the painful experience of yesterday, Ning Yue suddenly displayed a face full of terror, and after the fear, he jumped out of the wooden tub as if trying to escape from this den of dragons and tigers

After picking up the medicine, I returned home as soon as I finished work, eagerly boiling a bucket of hot water. Then, I placed the medicinal ingredients in order into the synthesized space. Under the control of my thoughts, the ingredients in my hands seemed to magically disappear, and with a command from Ning Yue, a fiery red pill appeared in the palm of her hand

Ning Yue tested the water temperature with her hand and found it was not as scalding as she had imagined. Gritting her teeth, she stripped off her clothes and jumped into the water bucket. Looking through the hole in the roof made by Xie Yun at the starry sky, Ning Yue felt an inexplicable sense of being in a dream.

The first use of the medicinal bath yielded remarkable results. While Ning Yue was in the process of pouring out the bathwater from the wooden tub, she accidentally kicked over a stool, and inadvertently poked a large hole in the tub with her finger