Chapter 3: Great Calamity
In Lin Shan's words: "This kid is destined to play with fire!" When he said this, there was a hint of pride on Lin Shan's face, along with a touch of regret
His fingers flitted over the medicine pouch like a butterfly dancing among flowers, and Lin Xiao could clearly perceive the temperature of the liquid in the medicine jar, as well as whether the medicinal properties of the herbs had been fully activated. Whenever the liquid reached the desired heat, he would elegantly add a new herb to the jar.
Two tears slowly streamed down as Lin Shan sighed, "Master, Master, your great kindness is something I can never repay in this lifetime. But when you leave, please ensure that I treat Wu Niang well; this is a promise I shall never dare to break. However, however—" Lin Shan suddenly opened his eyes wide, and two beams of azure light flashed in his gaze. The person who had always given the impression of being carefree and unrestrained now bore a chilling intent to kill and an overwhelming aura of authority.
It is not feasible; after all, Guohua City is a large city, with three thousand garrison troops within, and an additional two thousand royal guards. The defenses cannot be considered weak. If we were to relocate, where could we possibly go?
Mr. Wei let out a bitter smile and said softly, "Ordinary medicinal materials are one thing, but those among them..."
No problem! With a gentle flick of his finger against his long beard, Lin Shan squinted and said in a loud voice: "The city of Huazhi is tall and deep, and the city lord Jin is indeed a talented and resourceful hero. Moreover, there are three thousand elite garrison troops stationed there. Even if the Black Blade bandits number in the tens of thousands, they still cannot breach the city. Furthermore, there are also two thousand family soldiers from the Wang family and an additional three thousand private troops accumulated in secret. Even an army of thirty to fifty thousand cannot capture the city."
With a hint of panic, Lin Yao looked around and his voice became increasingly somber: "There is also a 'Heavenly King's Heart-Protecting Pill.'"
Huichuntang is the largest pharmacy and medical institution in several counties of the Northwest, and Lin Shan is the most renowned divine doctor within a radius of hundreds of miles. Huichuntang has saved countless lives and enjoys a high reputation among the people. However, Huichuntang is ultimately just a pharmacy and a medical institution, an organization dedicated to treating illnesses. Although Lin Shan, Hua Wuniang, and others possess remarkable skills, Huichuntang as a whole does not wield significant power.
Mr. Wei let out a loud shout, leaping forward with the account book in hand, landing three zhang away. He swiftly drew a yellow brass judge's pen from under his arm, its two whiskers curling fiercely as he glared menacingly at Lin Xiao, who had just entered. Upon seeing Lin Xiao, Mr. Wei's fierce expression instantly transformed into one of utmost friendliness. He casually tucked the judge's pen behind his collar and said with a beaming smile: "Second Young Master, your skills have greatly improved! I, Old Wei, truly did not hear your footsteps approaching, haha, I am ashamed, very ashamed!" Upon seeing Lin Xiao, Mr. Wei's fierce expression instantly transformed into one of utmost friendliness. He casually tucked the judge's pen behind his collar and said with a beaming smile: "Second Young Master, your skills have greatly improved! I, Old Wei, truly did not hear your footsteps approaching, haha, I am ashamed, very ashamed!"
The pain jolted Lin Xiao out of that wondrous realm, and the true energy within him retreated into his dantian like a receding tide. Due to the hasty withdrawal of his energy, even with a gentle technique like the Evergreen Method, Lin Xiao still felt a faint pain in his meridians. Angrily, he turned around and saw Lin Yao, and instantly, the fury on his face turned to numbness. In a low voice, he asked, "Elder brother, what is the matter?" As he spoke, he casually tossed the last type of 'Clinging Grass' into the medicinal pot.
Lin Yao's complexion was pale, and his body was trembling violently. He stared blankly at Lin Xiao, crying out with a sobbing voice: "Second brother, I have wronged you in the past—this time, you must save your elder brother's life—woo woo, quickly open the storeroom to get the elixirs, otherwise, otherwise—"
And now, the young lady who has just married into the Wang family for only a few days is actually going to use rabbit blood powder and heart-protecting pills to save her life
Hiss——, Lin Xiao gasped in surprise. He knew that Lin Shan's martial arts skills were exceptionally high, but he never expected that a living person could produce fire from the palm of their hand
In times of chaos, the herbal medicine business must have long attracted the envy of many people
"What have you done?" Lin Xiao stared intently at Lin Yao, speaking in a somber tone: "The Heavenly King's Heart-Protecting Pill is meant for emergency rescue. If you take it over now, it won't save that person! If there is anything, you should quickly tell Father. As long as that person is not completely dead, if it is merely a spasm of the heart meridian that has caused the emergency, perhaps Father can still perform his miraculous skills to bring him back to life"
With great effort, Lin Shan stood up and said in a deep voice: "Good child, gather everyone from the Huichuntang. Father wants to convene a meeting to discuss this matter. Although we are no longer afraid of the Zhang family, we must not engage in deceitful actions that would tarnish our reputation without reason"
The second son of the Wang family is unlikely to be involved in any trouble, and the elder Wang would never allow his son to take the blame. So, who is most suitable to bear this burden? It can only be that wayward young master Lin Yao.
In times of chaos!
This statement seems somewhat nonsensical, and no one knows whether there are other meanings behind Lin Shan's words
Lin Shan's expression darkened as he said softly, "This is of no concern; in due time, they will naturally seek out the Black Blade Bandits for compensation. As for those medicinal herbs, the Black Blade Bandits may not even recognize them, and they certainly won't waste them carelessly." Nodding slightly, Lin Shan calmly continued, "The men in the convoy, I fear, will not survive. Even if they temporarily escape from the bandits, the Rejuvenation Hall will not tolerate them. Let us treat it as if they have all perished and provide them with generous compensation." Even if they temporarily escape from the bandits, the Rejuvenation Hall will not tolerate them. Let us treat it as if they have all perished and provide them with generous compensation.
Located in the northwestern frontier, Huichuntang is undoubtedly the largest pharmaceutical merchant in the northwestern region of the Great Yuan Empire, possessing a wealth of information. Lin Xiao is well aware that since the sudden death of the old monarch of the Great Yuan Empire five years ago, seven princes have raised armies to vie for control of the realm. In these five years, the situation has deteriorated to an irreparable state. The area around Guihua City has enjoyed a few years of peace due to its distance from the border conflicts. However, with the arrival of the Black Blade Bandits, this tranquil and comfortable life is clearly about to be disrupted. The area around Guihua City has enjoyed a few years of peace due to its distance from the border conflicts. However, with the arrival of the Black Blade Bandits, this tranquil and comfortable life is clearly about to be disrupted
Lin Shanduan picked up a fist-sized purple clay teapot from the table and leisurely took a sip of the clear tea. Only then did he casually ask, "My dear child, why have you become so unsettled? What has happened? Has the Black Knife Bandits breached the city? It can't be that soon, can it?"
"There is no time left," Lin Shan said淡淡地. "Given your elder brother's temperament and the company he keeps, it is not surprising that he could commit some disgraceful acts. However, he lacks the quick wit to adapt to emergencies, and he would undoubtedly panic when faced with a serious situation. When the Zhang family's young lady encountered trouble, he at least delayed for a quarter of an hour before he thought of returning to the hall to fetch medicine to save her. On the way, he must have worried about my punishment, which would have caused him to dawdle for at least another quarter of an hour. Now, having delayed for so long, hm!"
Lin Xiao's expression changed abruptly; he glared fiercely at Lin Yao, disregarding the prenatal nurturing balm that had already spilled on the ground, and dashed towards the backyard with the speed of a gust of wind.
Father, please hurry and treat Miss Zhang." Lin Xiao quickly calmed his mind, temporarily setting aside the unusual situation in Lin Shan's palm, and urged Lin Shan anxiously.
The young man Lin Xiao sighed softly, placing the Dan Ling into his inner pocket. Just as he was about to close his eyes and sleep, he suddenly heard a rustling sound from over ten zhang away. Lin Xiao's first reaction was that a thief had come, but which thief in the city of Huizhu would dare to be so bold as to cause trouble at the Rejuvenation Hall? He casually picked up a stick from beside the window, rose quietly, and approached the door, peeking through the crack. This glance immediately deflated Lin Xiao's spirits.
With a gentle sigh, Lin Shan shook his head and said, "It is a pity that this batch of medicinal materials could not be used to save the common people, but instead fell into the hands of those fatherless and lordless bandits"
Wearing a light silver brocade robe and a purple-gold belt around her waist, Lin Yao entered the pharmacy with a sway, her hair tightly bound into a high ponytail with a circle of pearl chains. She walked straight up behind Lin Xiao, who was lost in thought, and without any courtesy, struck him heavily on the head with her folding fan.
It was as if a thunderbolt had struck Lin Xiao's head. Lin Xiao staggered back a few steps, accidentally knocking over the furnace behind him. The sound of the medicine pot shattering on the ground drew everyone's attention to this side, but Lin Xiao merely extended a trembling finger, pointing at Lin Yao, and whispered, "Elder brother, you, you, you and the second son of the Wang family, you all——"
Holding the Dan Ling tightly, a faintly cool aura seemed to emanate from within it, bringing a moment of tranquility to Lin Xiao's heart
Gradually, a faint, cold, and refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted through the pharmacy. The pharmacists and apprentices in the pharmacy all took deep breaths, casting envious glances at Lin Xiao. Being experienced individuals, they naturally understood that Lin Xiao had made further progress in his potion-making skills. The aroma of the prenatal nourishing balm he had concocted today was three parts richer and three parts clearer than before, indicating that its medicinal potency was also three parts more extraordinary.
Lin Xiao stared blankly at Lin Shan, utterly perplexed by where Lin Shan had found the courage
Lin Xiao had long been aware of the sordid affairs surrounding Lin Yao and knew the character of his group of dubious friends. However, he never imagined that Lin Yao and his companions could actually engage in such shameless acts that violated moral and social norms. He had roughly deduced some of the key elements involved, but it was precisely because he had grasped these crucial points that Lin Xiao felt an overwhelming fear as if the sky were about to collapse.
Young Master Xiao's talent is indeed astonishing, but what a pity, what a pity. Everyone in the pharmacy almost simultaneously shook their heads, and then they quickly lowered their heads, for Lin Yao had entered.
The number of fighters in Huichuntang is barely over one hundred; can they possibly be a match for the kind of wealthy tycoons like the Zhang family?
The Wang family may choose not to say anything, considering their longstanding relationship with the Huichun Hall, but what about the Zhang family? The Zhang family from Guiying City has little emotional connection with Huichun Hall! If their young lady encounters trouble, the head of the Zhang family, in a fit of rage, could take drastic actions, and others would not dare to comment! If it were merely a matter of executing Lin Yao, that would be one thing, but the fear is that the entire Huichun Hall could be implicated!
It is merely three parts, seemingly insignificant. However, many pharmacists have spent their entire lives concocting medicinal soups, and they may not even be able to enhance the potency of a certain remedy by one part, let alone three parts
The "Tuo Tai Yang Shen Gao" is a unique elixir from the Huichuntang, specifically designed for women who are inherently weak and whose fetal energy is unstable. The medicinal materials used are not particularly rare, yet the variety is extensive, and each ingredient must be added to the concoction at precisely the right moment. Lin Xiao, however, is the best at controlling the timing of the decoction in the entire Huichuntang, surpassing even those pharmacists who have been in the profession for decades.
Lin Xiao stood there in a daze, watching Lin Shan slowly counting on his fingers, pondering something.
Mr. Wei gently clasped his hands together and carefully tidied up the account books on the table, preparing to leave
Why doesn't Father consider relocating the Rejuvenation Hall to ... ...
Lin Xiao smiled faintly, nodded towards the Hu master post, and turned to go into the pharmacy to gather various medicinal ingredients for the "Fetal Nourishing Spirit Ointment"
A faint blush suddenly appeared on Lin Shan's face: "By then, there will be no need to be so anxious!"
After a long time, Lin Shancai slowly nodded and said: "Well, although we are merely in the position of servants, we have put in some effort over the years. If I were to truly accomplish something, I believe that after their retreat this time, they would not refuse to help me tidy things up."
"Young Master Xiao, this elderly gentleman wishes to prepare a batch of 'Fetal Nourishing Spirit Ointment.' Please take care of it!" The host, Hu, called out loudly in the main hall, simultaneously pointing to an elderly man seated in front of him.
With a thud, Lin Yao sat down on the ground, his face covered with a layer of pallor. He stared blankly at Lin Xiao, his voice trembling with tears as he said, "I dare not speak, the young lady of the Zhang family, the young lady of the Zhang family!"
His elder brother Lin Yao, with the assistance of two family servants, was clumsily climbing over the wall! Although he had also practiced the family martial arts since childhood, all his skills had been lost in the embrace of soft comforts. Lin Yao's attempt to scale the wall resembled a drunken, struggling pregnant sow. As he laboriously made his way over the high wall, Lin Xiao let out a silent sigh, discarded his staff, and lay back down on the bed, closing his eyes to sleep.
On the surface, the Wang family has about 2,000 soldiers, and the Zhang family is not far behind; if the two families were to join forces, along with their servants and attendants, they could easily muster an army of 10,000 men
Mr. Wei nodded gently and said with a soft smile, "The master is benevolent."
What does "father" mean? Lin Xiao's face turned pale in an instant
With a loud bang, Lin Xiao pushed open the door of the compartment, nearly slamming it into Mr. Wei's face as he was stepping out.
"Open the medicine cabinet." Lin Yao coldly looked at Lin Xiao and said in a low voice: "Bring me ten copies of 'Rabbit Blood Powder', and also, also..."
Every flicker of the fire is so joyful, brimming with vibrant vitality. A satisfied smile gradually spread across Lin Xiao's face, as if he felt his body was leaping and cheering along with the flames in the furnace. The true energy of the 'Evergreen Technique,' cultivated over ten years, slowly surged from his dantian, autonomously adjusting its rhythm in sync with the dancing flames.
With a crack, the purple clay teapot held in Lin Shan's palm shattered into pieces, and the tea and leaves inside were transformed into a wisp of smoke by a ball of bluish-green flames that evaporated from his palm
Lin Shan shook his head and weakly squinted his eyes
Lin Shan was momentarily taken aback, turning to look at the egg-sized, greenish-blue flame in the palm of his hand. He hurriedly dispersed the true essence that was contained within his palm, cleared his throat lightly, and said, "Good child, hmm, if you practice the Evergreen Technique to the eleventh level or above, you will also possess this ability of your father."
Zhao Linxiao nodded slightly, while Mr. Wei, holding the account book, hummed a tune and walked out, casually pulling the door shut behind him
Lin Yao seized Lin Xiao by the neck, a layer of menacing killing intent already shrouding his handsome face: "Open the medicine vault! Get the medicine, quickly!"
In the following days, everything remained peaceful, and there were no rumors in the marketplace about the black knife bandits slaughtering the city two hundred miles away. It seemed that what Lin Shan had told Lin Xiao was merely a dream. However, the hard and unyielding talisman in Lin Xiao's inner pocket reminded him that all of this was real. Perhaps the news of the city slaughter had been suppressed by certain individuals with ulterior motives—such as Master Wang, who was quite adept at such matters. The lord of Guihua City likely also did not wish for rumors to disturb the marketplace.
Good child, do not worry. Although the Huichuntang is not a significant player, it is not something they can simply swallow at will. Hmph, if it were not for——yet again——hmm!
Mr. Wei, the accountant, twirled his mustache and his entire face wrinkled into a ball. He said with a bitter smile: "Master, it seems that the Black Knife bandits are just outside the city. In these chaotic times, is there anything more precious to those desperate outlaws than medicinal herbs? With enough medicinal herbs, they will have the confidence to protect their lives on the battlefield."
At night, Lin Xiao lay in bed, with his left hand holding the family genealogy and his right hand tightly gripping the Dan Ling.
As time passed, Lin Xiao gradually relaxed his heart. While busy in the Rejuvenation Hall, he comforted himself, saying: "Perhaps the Black Knife Bandits will not foolishly attack the Huizhu City"
Lin Xiao couldn't help but shiver. The Black Knife Bandits had already come this close
As this thought suddenly surged in his mind, Lin Xiao gently shook his head
"Father, it is not the child, it is the elder brother!" Lin Xiao stood in a daze for a while before finally mentioning that Lin Yao had asked him for rabbit blood powder and the Heavenly King's Heart Protecting Pill. At the same time, he also analyzed in a very organized manner the possible events that might occur, as well as the potential reactions from the Zhang family in the future.
The Guohua family in Chengwang is, after all, rooted in a wealthy landlord family. As for the Zhang family in Guiying City, they are a newly emerged affluent clan from the past few decades, and their origins are shrouded in some unsavory rumors. Lin Yao's actions have essentially attracted a hungry wolf to the bountiful feast that is Huichuntang
In a small room on the south side of the ceiling, Lin Shanzheng was anxiously staring at a ledger with Mr. Mouse Whiskers.
Every day, when Lin Xiao prepares medicine for others, it is the best time for him to practice the Evergreen Technique. It seems that facing the flames greatly benefits his true energy cultivation. This is a rather inexplicable phenomenon, yet it is indeed very effective. Since Lin Xiao first discovered this peculiar occurrence three years ago while preparing medicine for someone, his internal martial arts progress over these three years has surpassed the total of the previous seven years by fifty percent. Although he has only practiced internal martial arts for ten years, the depth and maturity of his internal energy are comparable to those of an average practitioner with twenty years of experience.
A glimmer of brilliance flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes as he lowered his voice and urgently said: "The 'Moon Rabbit Blood-Stopping Powder' is for treating women's continuous bleeding, and the 'Heavenly King's Heart-Protecting Pill' is for saving someone from fainting due to a critical condition, elder brother, you!"
The Guihua City Wang family and the Guiying City Zhang family, what are they? They are the local tyrants of several prefectures in the northwest. In various industries and all things that can generate profit, is there anything they do not have a hand in?
Having selected various medicinal herbs, Lin Xiao took a clean medicine jar and carefully adjusted the flame of a stove. Seemingly indifferent, he placed a portion of the herbs and clean water into the jar, gently set the jar on the stove, and then squatted in front of the stove, staring blankly at the flickering flames within.
The Black Blade Bandits, notorious for leaving no living soul in their wake, are legendary figures. Their leader, known as 'Black Blade', is ranked ninth on the infamous blacklist of martial artists in the Great Yuan Empire. The brutality and ruthlessness of Black Blade are sufficient to instill fear in children who cry at night in the areas he has ravaged
Lin Shan also smiled, but deep within his eyes, there remained a trace of profound worry. His mood was not as relaxed as he appeared while comforting Mr. Wei. Lin Shan drooped his eyelids and pondered to himself: "Should I send Xiao'er away in advance? But where can I send him? There are more than just the Black Blade bandits outside the city!"
After a long while, Lin Shan suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Wei, does this mean that our entire convoy transporting medicinal materials back to the city has been lost over the past three days?"