Chapter 8: Farewell to Chun'er

"I, the Third Young Lady, even if you kill me, the answer will remain the same. This pharmacy is just an ordinary place for refining medicine, and this old servant's abilities are limited. Aside from prescribing common medicines for some people or refining ordinary pills, I truly have no Ginseng Flower, Third Young Lady..."

Doctor Sun could have only medicated herself in order to obtain the Ginseng Flower, but despite her helplessness, she knelt on the ground in terror, speaking repeatedly.

"Fine, you may rise. It seems you truly do not have the Ginseng Flower. Then, do you know where in the capital one might find it?"

Seeing Doctor Sun like this, Wan Ling's previous suspicions completely vanished. If a person was like this even when facing life and death, it seemed the item truly did not exist here. Letting out a soft sigh, she put down her book and motioned for her to stand. Seeing Doctor Sun rise tremblingly while looking at her, Wan Ling asked again.

"This... an ordinary mid-level alchemist might not necessarily have it, but a high-level one certainly will. In our Great Chao Dynasty, there are not many high-level alchemists even in the entire capital. As far as I know, the Chun Ge Xiao Ju in the capital must have it. Jue Wuchen must have the Ginseng Flower..."

At Wan Ling's inquiry, Doctor Sun frowned in surprise. However, she looked at her and named a person.

"Chun Ge Xiao Ju? Then Jue Wuchen is a high-level alchemist?"

Wan Ling questioned her again at Doctor Sun's words. She was truly curious about this alchemist, for while there were many martial artists in the Great Chao Dynasty, alchemists were extremely rare. Her "Soul Chaser" persona was the supreme being in the assassin world; if she was going to do something, she had to do it perfectly.

"Yes, yes..." Hearing her ask, Doctor Sun nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Good, I will believe you this time. Here is the antidote..." Understanding Doctor Sun's words, Wan Ling spoke casually and handed him a black, murky pill.

"Thank you, Third Young Lady, Thri—" Seeing the antidote she gave, Doctor Sun was terrified she might take it back. He hurriedly snatched it and stuffed it into his mouth.

"This is only a month's worth of antidote. At this time next month, I will give you another. Regarding my visit to the pharmacy today, it would be best if Doctor Sun remains silent and acts as if I never came. Otherwise, if I am displeased and discard the antidote, your old bones might survive the month, but you will have absolutely no chance of survival. This medicine is a unique poison I have specially formulated over the years. Chun'er, let's go..."

Seeing Doctor Sun's reaction, Wan Ling smiled slightly. Her beautiful face smiled like a flower, but her words caused the joy on Doctor Sun's face to freeze, leaving his expression ashen. Though helpless, he could only follow respectfully behind, watching them depart...

"Master, it seems the Third Young Lady already knows that the medicine she usually takes is poisonous. Are we really going to hide the Third Young Lady's behavior from the Madam and the Master?"

Doctor Sun shook his head with a light sigh as he returned. The apprentice who had been intimidated by Wan Ling at the door earlier couldn't help but step forward to ask.

"What if we don't hide it? Are you or I any match for the Third Young Lady? Moreover, my life is currently in her hands... Enough, go back to work. Treat today's events as if nothing happened. You'd best remain silent too, or don't blame me for not warning you... Is your injury serious? The Third Young Lady's skills have suddenly become so formidable, and those hidden weapons... Is it easy being a servant? Sigh..."

Doctor Sun's eyes flashed as he retorted to the apprentice, who lowered his head in silence. After a pause, he stepped forward sincerely to pat the boy's shoulder in warning. Seeing the apprentice sigh and nod, he finally helped him to the side. When he rolled up the boy's pant leg and saw the mulberry skin deeply embedded in the wound, he let out a sincere, soft sigh...

Chun'er followed Wan Ling away. Regarding her lady's sudden display of skill, she was shocked but understood. However, regarding the fact that her lady's body contained poison, she looked at Wan Ling in disbelief and asked

"Miss, when did you concoct such gut-rotting poison..."

"You girl... that is a secret. Jue Wuchen... I think I'd like to pay him a visit... Chun'er, let's go to Chun Ge Xiao Ju. We're leaving the manor right now..."

At Chun'er's words, Wan Ling smiled slightly. In truth, the "antidote" she provided was merely a few pieces of rat droppings she had seen in a corner while cleaning the house. But her feathers were not yet full; before the poison in her body was neutralized, she did not want to invite unnecessary trouble, so she used such a trick to stabilize Doctor Sun.

This girl was simple; she wouldn't tell her that now. Instead, she gave a playful smile, her eyes filled with curiosity when mentioning Jue Wuchen. A high-level alchemist residing in the capital would naturally possess extraordinary influence; otherwise, he wouldn't be living in the capital.

Thinking of the Ginseng Flower she needed, he would surely have it. Although Wan Ling was somewhat fatigued from walking for so long, she still looked at Chun'er and began walking outward.

"Miss... alright. But what is the use of the Ginseng Flower anyway? Why is Miss so insistent on wanting that thing? Based on Doctor Sun's words, Jue Wuchen must have a very high status. If Miss goes to ask him, will he actually give it to you?"

Chun'er felt the need to protest, but seeing that she had already walked far ahead, she could only follow behind, muttering to herself in confusion about why her lady needed the Ginseng Flower so badly.

"It is precisely because of his high status that he must have the Ginseng Flower. Even if he doesn't give it, I will find a way to get it. You silly girl, just wait for me at home, I'll go by myself..."

Wan Ling smiled faintly at Chun'er's confusion. Speaking of the Ginseng Flower—the medicine that could neutralize the poison in her body—her eyes were filled with a determined resolve. Seeing Chun'er walking slowly and thinking that searching for medicine might lead to trouble, Wan Ling suddenly turned to look at her and said

"No, Miss, Chun'er wants to go too..." Although Wan Ling's words were clearly out of concern for Chun'er, Chun'er heard them as if she were being unwilling to take her along. She immediately caught up and said stubbornly

"You... Miss, I'm not saying you're being disloyal. It's just that for this trip to find the Ginseng Flower, the fewer people who know, the better. Furthermore, if I am alone, my skills are enough to escape, but if I bring you, I'm afraid... So Chun'er, I won't be taking you this time. When I return, I will teach you some combat skills, and then I'll take you, alright?" Seeing Chun'er's reaction, Wan Ling frowned helplessly.

She was used to acting alone. It was truly a bit difficult to suddenly have someone with no combat skills by her side. Though she knew her direct way of speaking might hurt her, seeing the girl's face fall as if she were being abandoned, Wan Ling looked at her helplessly and said

"Chun'er understands. Chun'er is clumsy; let alone protecting Miss, I might even become a burden. But Miss, you must keep your word. When you return, you must teach me martial arts. That way, even if Chun'er cannot protect Miss, I can at least clean up after her..."

Wan Ling rarely considered her feelings. Chun'er knew her lady was worried about her getting hurt, and knowing she could do nothing, she realized following along would only be a hindrance. The gloom on her face vanished; though she was a bit saddened that her lack of skill prevented her from following this time, she looked up expectantly.

"Mm..." At Chun'er's expectant look, Wan Ling gave a light smile and nodded. Thinking about everything that had happened to this body previously, if it weren't for this girl looking after her, she would likely have died long ago.

Combined with what she just said—that while she couldn't protect her, she could clean up after her—Wan Ling made a silent vow to herself: no matter what, she would bring her along. This girl was her sister, and she would protect and cherish her with her life just as much.

"Then Miss, please be careful. If you can't get it through sincere request, we'll find another way. I'm going back now..." At Wan Ling's nod, Chun'er gave a light laugh and spoke with renewed worry, waving as she watched her leave...

"Sigh, this girl, acting as if it's a permanent parting..." Seeing Chun'er's reaction, Wan Ling turned her head and smiled slightly. Seeing the reluctance and worry on the girl's face as she waved, a sudden pang of bitterness rose in her heart.

She was merely going out to ask for a Ginseng Flower, yet it felt like this. She let out a meaningless light laugh and a sigh, then turned to follow... She did not know that this time she left, when she eventually returned, Chun'er would have suddenly vanished into thin air...