Chapter 5: 5. Chapter 5: A Glimpse of the Whole

Chapter 5: A Glimpse of the Whole

No matter what kind of world she had traveled to, since a windfall had fallen from the sky and landed right in her lap, Hua Changxi saw no reason not to take it.

After tasting all the herbs on the medicine rack, the words in her vision transformed into: [Notes on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs (Minor Mastery): Tasting Herbs 22/100]

Driven by intense curiosity about what would follow the "Chapter on Mortal Plants," Hua Changxi tiptoed outside her parents' room. Seeing that they were both taking a midday nap, she hurried back to her room to change into male attire and then headed straight for the Hua Family Pharmacy.

"Jiu Niang, why are you here?"

"Is your body better?"

Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang, who were helping out in the pharmacy, were both stunned to see Hua Changxi. Neither had expected her to show up at the shop at this time.

Hua Changxi made up a casual excuse: "I'm feeling a bit unwell, so I wanted to come and grab some medicine to take home."

Hua Sanlang immediately said, "What medicine do you need? Third Brother will prepare it for you."

Hua Changxi shook her head in refusal. "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, please attend to the customers in the shop. I can prepare the medicine myself."

There were indeed a few patients in the shop at the time, and seeing that Hua Changxi was moving about freely, the two brothers let her prepare the medicine on her own.

Waiting until her brothers weren't paying attention, Hua Changxi walked to the medicine cabinets, opened them one by one, and began tasting the herbs inside.

[Notes on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs (Minor Mastery): Tasting Herbs 100/100]

As she reached the hundredth herb, that ethereal, otherworldly voice rang in her mind once again.

"The 'Chapter on Spiritual Plants' of the *Notes on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs* is now unlocked."

Immediately following this, tens of thousands of detailed descriptions of spiritual plants, demonic beasts, and spiritual objects flooded into Hua Changxi's mind.

Restoring spiritual power, regrowing severed limbs, bringing the dead back to life, nourishing the divine soul...

As she digested the knowledge from the Spiritual Plants chapter, Hua Changxi felt both shocked and exhilarated.

The unlocking of this chapter was like opening a window into her medical research.

At the same time, she confirmed one thing: in this world she currently inhabited, beyond martial artists, there must exist a higher level of cultivators.

Perhaps because cultivators were so rare, they were little known.

But it wasn't that no one knew; at least people at the level of the red-robed demonic Taoist and the young lady were aware.

Although the Hua family had members serving in the government offices, they were merely low-level officials with very limited contact. It was only by her luck in obtaining the opportunity provided by the demonic Taoist that she had been able to glimpse this unknown corner of the world.

The medicinal herbs used by martial artists and the astonishing effects they displayed had already amazed her; now, these newly emerged spiritual plants completely shattered her worldview.

If one were to ask where spiritual plants were most likely to be found in the Great Jin Dynasty, it would undoubtedly be the Medical Bureau!

Physician Xu had told Hua Changxi that the Medical Bureau had a special regulation: anyone who discovered a new medicinal ingredient would be awarded a Breaking Shackles Pill.

Martial artists were divided into nine ranks—First Rank, Second Rank, Third Rank... through Ninth Rank.

For a Sixth Rank martial artist to ascend to the Seventh Rank, they had to break the shackles within their bodies, making the Breaking Shackles Pill an essential advancement medicine.

Once a martial artist reached the Seventh Rank, they could convert internal strength into astral qi, officially entering the ranks of top-tier experts.

Thus, the reward offered by the Medical Bureau was incredibly generous.

The Medical Bureau managed all medical affairs of the Great Jin Dynasty; with such an enticing reward in place, one could only imagine how many obscure medicinal ingredients they had collected.

When Hua Changxi had previously heard news in the Jingzhao Prefecture about the Medical Bureau recruiting apprentices, she had only thought of it as a way to find a stable job to earn money. But now, she had another compelling reason to join.

"Jiu Niang, have you finished your medicine? Do you want Third Brother to help you?"

Suppressing her thoughts, Hua Changxi replied quickly, "No need, I'll be finished in a moment."

The Hua Family Pharmacy was not large, containing only about three hundred types of herbs. After tasting them all, Hua Changxi grabbed a random dose of blood-replenishing medicine, informed Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang, and hurried home.

Speaking of the Hua family in Nanluo Lane of Xiuzheng坊 (Xiuzheng Ward), they were quite well-known within the ward.

First, because the Hua family shared the same lineage as the Count of Dingyuan's manor. Although they were only distantly related, they shared the same surname. For an ordinary commoner to have connections to the nobility was certainly a matter of public interest.

Second, there was Old Man Hua's life, which could be called a model of a rags-to-riches comeback.

Hua Changxi's grandfather, Hua Bin, had lost his father at age two and his mother at age five. With no elders to look after him and no siblings to help, he had barely survived to adulthood by relying on the charity of his clan.

Many people had doubted him, believing he would never marry and would remain a bachelor for life, causing his lineage to end.

But as it turned out, Old Man Hua had incredible luck. He accidentally saved a merchant surnamed Fan from out of town. After receiving gratitude silver from the merchant, he used the money to pull strings and successfully entered the South City Military Command as a constable.

Once he became a constable, the merchant Fan felt he was a worthy investment and directly betrothed his youngest daughter to him, providing the residence the Hua family lived in today as a dowry.

After starting a family, things became even more remarkable. The Hua family, which had originally been a single-child lineage, suddenly flourished. Today, the extended family consisted of over twenty people. The prosperity of his descendants was truly something to be envied.

Thirdly, the three Hua Ming brothers all served in government offices.

The eldest, Hua Minghe, was a constable for the Six Doors; the second, Hua Mingang, took over Old Man Hua's position as a patrol constable for the South City Military Command; and the fourth, Hua Mingcheng, was a jailer in the Ministry of Justice's prison.

Though none were high-ranking officials, they were still government employees, meaning their information was naturally more current than that of ordinary citizens. Consequently, every move the Hua family made was closely watched by the residents of the ward.

After entering Xiuzheng Ward, Hua Changxi became more cautious, trying her best to avoid people along the way.

In this day and age, it was difficult for any household event to escape the scrutiny of neighbors, let alone the Hua family, who were already quite prominent.

The news of Hua Changxi being kidnapped by the demonic Taoist had already spread throughout the ward.

She had only been rescued yesterday and was still injured; she had no desire to let anyone know she was capable of going out today.

Hua Changxi returned home through the back door. The Hua Family Pharmacy was only two streets away from Xiuzheng Ward, so the round trip took her just over an hour.

The courtyard was still quiet. Hua Changxi had thought her sneaking out wouldn't be discovered, but to her surprise, as soon as she entered her room, she saw her mother sitting on her bed with an expressionless face.

"Mother, I wasn't feeling well, so I went to the pharmacy to get some medicine."

Hua Changxi quickly held up the tonic she had purchased for Lady Yao to see.

Lady Yao looked at her daughter, feeling both angry and exasperated. "You were just kidnapped, and yet you dare to sneak out of the house alone again? Jiu Niang, you are far too bold."

Hua Changxi muttered back softly, "Mother, this is in the city, not out in the wilderness. There are patrol officers everywhere."

Lady Yao was choked with indignation. "You lost so much blood. Even if you take medicine from the Medical Bureau, you should still rest properly. If you needed medicine, couldn't you have sent your Sixth Brother? It seems to me you don't care about your own health at all."

Seeing that Lady Yao was truly angry, Hua Changxi hurriedly apologized. "Mother, I was wrong. I won't do it again."

Lady Yao was simply helpless when it came to this daughter. She had been headstrong since childhood; unless she truly agreed with something in her heart, no amount of parental discipline would stop her from doing it again next time.

Just as she was about to say more, a sound came from the main hall.

Hua Changxi quickly peeked toward the door, then placed her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture toward Lady Yao, and whispered

"Mother, it's Grandmother getting up to weave. Stop scolding me. If Grandmother finds out I went out, I don't know how much more she'll lecture me."

The customs of the Great Jin Dynasty were similar to the Tang Dynasty; they did not forbid women from going out, but they did not encourage it either.

Old Madam Hua disliked the young ladies of the house going out at will, believing that a girl's desire to wander was a sign of a wild heart and a rebellious spirit.

Not wanting her daughter to be scolded by her mother-in-law, Lady Yao gave Hua Changxi a sharp look and rose to leave.

Soon, the voices of Old Madam Hua and Lady Yao could be heard in the courtyard.

Hua Changxi breathed a sigh of relief, closed her bedroom door, and lay on her bed, reflecting on the events of the past two days.

Martial artists, demonic Taoists, cultivators...

She truly knew too little about this world. She had been here for thirteen years and had only managed to catch a few scattered glimpses.

To fully understand this world, staying within the small bubble of the Hua family would clearly not suffice.

The Medical Bureau—she absolutely had to pass the entrance exam!