Chapter 3: Obtaining Opportunity

The back office of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

"Jiu Niang."

"Come, drink this."

Hua Minghe carefully helped up Hua Changxi, whose wounds had already been bandaged, holding a bowl of brownish-red medicinal soup that carried a heavy scent of blood.

Hua Changxi’s brow furrowed at the pungent medicinal smell: "Father, what kind of soup is this? Why does it smell so bad?"

Hua Minghe also found the medicine excessively foul-smelling: "This was prepared by the Medical Bureau. They said it is a powerful tonic for blood regeneration."

Hua Changxi didn't really want to drink it, but for the sake of her health, she drank it with Hua Minghe's help. Once finished, her facial features twisted instantly.

It was too disgusting.

It felt like she was drinking blood.

"Ugh—"

Hua Changxi felt like vomiting.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in cream-colored official robes walked in.

"Don't waste the goods!"

"That is top-quality blood-replenishing medicine."

"If it weren't for the fact that this case involving the demonic Taoist was so massive and had so many victims, you wouldn't even get to taste such good things."

Seeing the newcomer, Hua Minghe immediately stood up to greet him: "Pharmacist Xu."

Suppressing the nausea in her heart, Hua Changxi looked at Pharmacist Xu with some surprise: "Uncle Xu, why are you here?"

Pharmacist Xu: "The people captured by the demonic Taoist for blood sacrifice have all fallen into deep comas due to excessive blood loss; ordinary physicians are simply powerless to treat them."

"The Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture petitioned the Medical Bureau, so the Bureau sent me and several other pharmacists to see if we could save more people."

As he spoke, Pharmacist Xu sized up Hua Changxi and said with a smile, "Jiu Niang, you are truly lucky to have survived in the hands of a demonic Taoist."

Hearing this, Hua Minghe looked fearful and said deeply to Hua Changxi, "You are not allowed to run around recklessly again in the future."

After this kidnapping incident, Hua Changxi also felt deeply that the public security of ancient times was too poor. She nodded obediently: "I understand." She then looked at Pharmacist Xu.

"How are the others?"

Pharmacist Xu sighed: "We managed to save twelve people."

Hua Minghe's expression turned grim: "Out of eighty-one people, only about ten survived. Those demonic monks and Taoists are becoming more and more rampant."

Pharmacist Xu was equally indignant: "Exactly. Previously, we only heard of demonic monks and Taoists appearing in other places; now they even dare to commit crimes within the capital's territory."

"The Imperial Court should properly manage those monks and Taoists."

Hua Minghe did not respond to this.

There were many officials in the court who believed in Buddhism or Taoism, and the current Emperor believed in both.

Under such circumstances, who would dare to suppress the rise of Buddhism and Taoism?

Pharmacist Xu was clearly aware of this and said no more, turning instead to Hua Changxi: "How are you feeling now?"

Hua Changxi carefully assessed her physical state. After drinking the medicine, a warm current was flowing through her body, and her dizziness had vanished. She couldn't help but say in pleasant surprise, "What exactly was that soup? The blood-replenishing effect is so incredible."

Pharmacist Xu smiled: "This is a newly discovered medicinal ingredient by the Medical Bureau called True Blood Wood. Pills refined from True Blood Wood have miraculous effects even on martial artists, let alone ordinary people."

True Blood Wood...

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered slightly. It was another medicinal ingredient she had never even heard of.

Fortunately, she was used to such situations.

The customs and traditions of the Great Jin Dynasty were very similar to the Tang Dynasty she knew, yet somewhat different—the most distinct difference being the prosperity of the Martial Dao.

True martial arts masters, like those in wuxia novels, actually existed here.

Those who practiced martial arts were called martial artists, and many of the herbs they used were unfamiliar to her.

"Pharmacist Xu, another victim has woken up. The Prefect has asked you to go take a look," a bailiff came to call Pharmacist Xu.

Pharmacist Xu nodded. Before leaving, he said to Hua Changxi, "Jiu Niang, the Medical Bureau is recruiting a batch of apprentices next month. Didn't you tell me before that you wanted to join the Medical Bureau? This is an excellent opportunity."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression instantly brightened: "I will definitely go."

Once Pharmacist Xu had left, Hua Minghe looked at Hua Changxi disapprovingly: "Why are you thinking of joining the Medical Bureau? Wouldn't it be better to stay at the family pharmacy?"

Hua Changxi curled her lip: "I would love to stay at the family pharmacy, but would Grandmother allow it? Last year, Grandmother already wanted me to make room for Sixth Brother and Eighth Brother."

In the eyes of the Old Lady of the Hua family, the Hua family's assets were to be left to her sons and grandsons. The pharmacy business would naturally be managed by the grandsons, while granddaughters were meant to stay at home embroidering and weaving.

The only reason she could help in the pharmacy was because she had demonstrated extraordinary medical talent, which had stunned the resident physician. It was only because the resident physician personally requested her from Old Lady Hua that she was allowed to stay and help.

For the past two years, when Sixth and Eighth Brother were studying, there was no one to compete with her. This year, both had dropped out of school and were at the age where they could help in the pharmacy. She would inevitably have to make room for them.

Hearing this, Hua Minghe fell into a momentary silence. He had five children: the first three were sons, and the last two were daughters.

When his youngest daughter, Shi Niang, was eight years old, she was taken away by Taoist Qingyun of the Taisu Palace on Mount Qiyun. Now, Jiu Niang was the only daughter left by his side.

Jiu Niang loved medicine. As a father, he wanted to satisfy his daughter, but the Hua family had no significant estate, and with so many children, if a child wanted to develop a career, they truly had to find another way.

If one of the boys wanted to join the Medical Bureau, Hua Minghe would absolutely support it, but Jiu Niang was a young lady.

"Although the Medical Bureau does not participate in court politics, it is still one of the many government departments of the Imperial Court."

"The affairs within a government department are intricate and complex; they are not something a young lady like you can easily navigate."

"On the surface, the Medical Bureau says both men and women can join, but in reality, eight or nine out of ten are men. Do you know how hard it is for a woman to establish herself in a crowd of men?"

"You are acquainted with Pharmacist Xu. Go ask him—since the Medical Bureau was established, how many women have actually made a name for themselves there?"

Hua Changxi lowered her eyes: "If a woman wants to stand out, where is it not difficult?"

Seeing that Hua Minghe wanted to continue persuading her, Hua Changxi added, "Father, I'm not going to the Medical Bureau to seek fame or prominence. I just want to find a job."

"My medical skills have been recognized by Pharmacist Xu. With him looking out for me, I am certain I can find my footing in the Medical Bureau."

In her past life, she was a successor of a traditional Chinese medicine family. Upon graduating with her doctorate, she joined the best traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the country.

Even if she didn't recognize many of the medicinal ingredients in this world, she believed that with her past-life medical knowledge and clinical experience, she could absolutely fulfill the duties of the Medical Bureau.

Hua Minghe did not want to argue with her while she was still recovering from her injuries, so he could only say, "We will discuss this later. Your disappearance this time terrified your mother."

"Rest a little longer. In a while, the Prefect and the Chief Constable might summon you. When that happens, tell them everything you know. Once you have made your statement, you can go home with me."

Hua Changxi nodded.

After resting for an hour, a bailiff indeed came to take Hua Changxi to the main hall.

Hua Minghe accompanied her to the hall, where they met the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

Since demonic Taoists had appeared within the capital, Hua Minghe, as a constable of the Six Doors, had also sent word to the Six Doors immediately after rescuing his daughter.

Thus, sitting below the Prefect was the Chief Constable of the Six Doors.

To avoid trouble, Hua Changxi concealed the fact that the young lady recognized her, but she spoke without reservation about everything else.

After she finished, before the Prefect could speak, the Chief Constable of the Six Doors was the first to ask: "Can you give more details about the red stone you mentioned?"

Hua Changxi: "It was a red stone, round, about this big." She gestured with her hands.

The Chief Constable asked again, "That young lady who fought the demonic Taoist, and the middle-aged man who appeared later—did they have any distinctive physical features?"

Hua Changxi thought back, but since she couldn't recall anything special, she shook her head at the Chief Constable.

Seeing this, the Chief Constable sighed inwardly, knowing that capturing those two would likely be difficult. He did not ask further and turned to the Prefect: "Does the Prefect have anything to ask?"

The Prefect nodded and looked at Hua Changxi: "Miss Hua, are you certain that the red-robed demonic Taoist is dead?"

Hua Changxi nodded firmly: "Definitely dead. I threw the red stone into the magma, and the Taoist jumped in after it. How could someone survive falling into magma?"

The Prefect smiled: "I have nothing more to ask."

Seeing that the Chief Constable of the Six Doors also shook his head, the Prefect said to Hua Minghe, "You may take your daughter home. However, if we need to question Miss Hua again in the future, you will have to come back to the Jingzhao Prefecture."

Hua Minghe knew this was standard procedure: "If your Excellency has any needs, this subordinate will certainly bring Jiu Niang back to assist with the investigation."

By the time Hua Minghe brought Hua Changxi back to the Hua residence, it was almost dark.

"Jiu Niang."

The Hua family members gathered around, looking with concern at the sleeping Hua Changxi in Hua Minghe's arms.

Hua Minghe: "Jiu Niang is injured and needs plenty of rest. I will take her to her room first. Everyone can talk to her in a couple of days."

After informing the family, Hua Minghe carried Hua Changxi back to her room.

His wife, Lady Yao, followed quickly behind him.

The others remained in the main hall.

Although Old Lady Hua was concerned about her ninth granddaughter's injuries, it did not stop her from using Hua Changxi as a cautionary tale: "You all saw that, didn't you? That is the price of running around recklessly."

"Especially you three—Wu Niang, Qi Niang, and Shi Niang. When you are out, you must stay close to your family. Do you understand?"

Hua Wu Niang, Hua Qi Niang, and Hua Shi Niang knew that Hua Changxi had been taken by a demonic Taoist. They were still shaken and replied in unison, "We understand."

In Hua Changxi's room, Lady Yao gently wiped her daughter's body with a cloth and changed her into clean clothes.

Worried that her daughter might be startled awake, Lady Yao kept watch until midnight, only returning to her own room once she was certain Hua Changxi was sleeping soundly.

As for Hua Changxi, despite having just experienced a life-and-death crisis, she slept exceptionally sweetly.

In her deep sleep, she had a dream.

In the dream, she turned into a small bird emitting a red light.

The bird's nostrils flared and contracted, producing a breath like rolling thunder. With every breath, the surrounding airflow was continuously drawn into the bird's body.

As the airflow entered, the red light on the bird's body grew increasingly brilliant.

Unconsciously, Hua Changxi's breathing began to synchronize with the bird's.

Hua Changxi slept until noon the next day. When she woke, she felt exceptionally refreshed, but once her vision was completely clear, she froze.

[Realm: Qi Refining Stage 1/1000]

The line of text appearing in her field of vision left Hua Changxi stunned. It took a long while for her to snap out of it.

After recovering, she closed her eyes and shook her head several times, only to find the text was still there. Her heart suddenly began to pound violently, and she couldn't help but think of the red stone that the red-robed elder and the young lady had fought so desperately to grab.

Could this be the "opportunity" the red-robed Taoist and the young lady spoke of?

(End of Chapter)