The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 10 Buying Medicine
Han Qing nodded, his gaze firm, his heart filled with confidence.

"Go back, we'll talk about it tomorrow morning." Master Fang waved his hand.

Han Qing bowed, turned and left.

Master Fang gave him wine, that's a favor; he helped Master Fang with his illness, that's only right and proper.

He opened the gourd, took a sniff, and the rich aroma of medicine lingered around his nose.

"It is indeed pure Sanhexiang medicinal wine, there is no problem."

Although Master Fang had always treated him very well, one should always be wary of others.

His medical skills are now so advanced that he can tell whether a medicinal wine is problematic simply by smelling it, without having to put in any effort.

This Sanhexiang wine is the most common medicinal wine for replenishing qi and blood. Chen Guilin has been a doctor for so many years and has prepared countless batches of it. He can make a mistake even with his eyes closed.

Silent all night.

It's dawn the next day.

Han Qing got up early and was sharpening his knife. When it was fully light, Luo Ying got up, swayed past him, yawned, and suddenly a look of suspicion appeared in her eyes.

"Hmm, this mute seems to have gotten a bit stronger. Is it just my imagination?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. He's only been practicing martial arts for three days. How could he possibly have mastered it? There are indeed martial arts geniuses in this world, but to master the Nine Yang True Skill in three days is something you can't find many in the entire Shu region. I can't be that unlucky." Luo Ying immediately dismissed the thought in his mind.

Just then, Master Fang also came out of the room: "Dumb, come here!"

Han Qing got up, wiped the water off his hands, and went straight to Master Fang. He found that Master Fang was still half-asleep and half-awake.

If you don't sleep well every day, you'll lack energy and vitality, and you'll inevitably look sickly.
"You said last night that you could cure my illness, so I'll let you try. Take this bag of silver. You don't need to work this morning. Buy whatever medicinal herbs you need." As he spoke, Master Fang tossed a heavy money bag to Han Qing.

Many of the teenagers nearby looked on with envy, wondering what had happened.

Han Qing nodded, took the money bag, and weighed it in his hand; it was at least ten taels.

"Alright, don't stand there. Just go out. You don't need to register with Clerk Wang." Master Fang yawned, waved his hand, and turned to go back into the house.

Han Qing, with his money bag tucked in his pocket, walked out of the secluded courtyard, basking in the envious gazes of the group of teenagers.

"The mute has become rich; he doesn't have to work anymore."

"Could the mute person's surname be Fang?"

"I can't be sure."

"Go away, stop gossiping. If Master Fang hears you, you're asking for death!"

...

Walk out of the yamen.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and the sun was shining brightly. Han Qing was in a great mood. Who would want to suffer and be tired if they could avoid working?

Moreover, since Master Fang didn't specify which pharmacy he would buy the medicine from, it wouldn't be a problem for him to go to his own pharmacy.

"Master Fang is truly my great benefactor."

As Han Qing pondered this, he walked home, passing through the market along the way.

He could hear people cheering from a distance.

"Oh my, Brother Li has another big catch, a five-colored spirit deer! One of them is worth at least several dozen taels of silver."

"More than that! At least a hundred taels!"

"I'm so envious. When will I be able to have such excellent hunting skills?"

"There's no use being envious. Brother Li's skill is a talent; you can't learn it!"

A large crowd gathered around Li Tai's stall, admiring the five-colored deer he had acquired that day.

Han Qing glanced at it as he passed by. The deer did indeed look very peculiar, its antlers shimmering with a magical light in the sunlight.

Li Tai laughed heartily: "What talent? It's all luck. You all don't need to envy me. You'll all have good luck in the future." "Thank you for your kind words, Brother Li. When we catch a big one, I'll treat you to a feast!" someone laughed.

"There's no need for drinking and carousing; Yingzi would be heartbroken if she knew," Li Tai shook his head.

"Brother Li is such a good man," someone praised.

"Enough said. Give this five-colored deer to Master Luo, settle the payment, and then I'll go buy jewelry for Yingzi!" Li Tai said, hoisting the five-colored deer and heading out of the market.

Hearing this, Han Qing also had an idea. He wanted to go to Hengtai Pawnshop to see if they had the jade. Anyway, it was nearby, and it wouldn't take long to go there by detour.

Before long, he walked into Hengtai Pawnshop, where a clerk greeted him.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

"Do you have a piece of jade in the shop, shaped like a koi fish? Let me take a look," Han Qing said.

"A koi-shaped pendant? There really is one. Please wait a moment." The waiter went back into the inner room and handed Han Qing a koi-shaped jade pendant a while later.

As soon as Han Qing touched it, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity, as if the jade was a part of his body, connected to him by blood.

"There really is one. This jade is mine, but why is its color so murky?" Han Qing was initially delighted, but then became somewhat puzzled.

It was familiar, but in my memory, this jade should have been pure white, a top-grade flawless jade, with golden light floating inside, a far cry from the inferior jade pendant in front of me.

How much is this jade?

"Five taels of silver. Hengtai Pawnshop is a century-old establishment. We value integrity in business and treat everyone fairly, young and old. You can rest assured, sir," the clerk said with a smile.

"This jade is cloudy and of poor quality. Five taels is a normal price, and it's very cheap compared to other jade pendants, but it's still a huge sum of money that I can't afford." Han Qing thought to himself, returned the jade to the shopkeeper, and turned to leave.

"Please take care, sir," the waiter called out.

As Han Qing walked, he pondered whether or not he should pay for the jade.

"If we buy it, it might attract the Yin-Yang Scholar, or even the Yin-Yang Cult masters behind him."

"If I don't buy it, this clue will be lost, and I'm afraid I'll never be able to uncover the mystery of my origins in this lifetime."

It doesn't matter if I don't know; what I'm afraid of is that someone might find out and secretly harm me.

From my childhood memories, the person who gave me this exquisite jade was a gentle woman, who might very well be my own mother, and possibly someone of great status.

Compared to the hidden enemy, the Yin-Yang Scholar is nothing?

Han Qing pondered and gradually made up his mind: he wanted the jade; the unknown fear was the most terrifying thing.

As for the hidden threat posed by the Yin-Yang Scholar, he felt there was no need to be too afraid. At worst, he could hide in the government office for half a year. With his current growth rate, he would emerge from seclusion after half a year. What would this so-called Yin-Yang Scholar be? He could easily kill him with a slap.

While he was pondering, Han Qing arrived at the entrance of his family's pharmacy, Xinglin Hall. Before he even entered, he heard a high-pitched male voice drifting out from inside.

"Old Han, I'm giving you one last piece of advice. Don't be stubborn and end up making things difficult. Hand over the secret recipe for the health-preserving soup, and it'll be a win-win situation for everyone. Besides, it's not like I'm not going to give you the money."

Han Qing's heart sank. He recognized the voice all too well. He pushed open the door and saw a middle-aged man in brocade clothes with a mustache and a slightly obese figure standing in front of the counter. His eyes gleamed with shrewdness and cunning. Behind him were two burly men, both with menacing faces and strong bodies. This man was Wan Fuchun, the manager of Wanchuntang.

"Manager Wan, this is a family recipe passed down through generations in my Han family. Your Wan Chun Tang is a large and powerful family, why make things difficult for an old man like me? If I give this recipe away, I will be ashamed before my ancestors in the afterlife, and Xing Lin Tang's business will not be able to continue. Please, Manager Wan, give this old man a way out." Han Cheng pleaded desperately.

"Hmph, Wanchuntang is a property of the Luo family, and I am only working for Old Master Luo. You think you can just refuse to give it to me? I may agree, but Old Master Luo will not! No, you must hand over this prescription today!" Wan Fuchun said with a gloomy face, and the two burly men behind him were also rubbing their fists, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

"I won't give it to you! I won't give it to you! Go ahead and kill me! Is there no law in Baiyun County?" Han Cheng, a stubborn man, shouted.

Wan Fuchun's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Just as the two burly men were about to make their move, suddenly, a figure blocked their path—it was Han Qing.

"Who are you? Get out of my way!"

"roll!"

Han Qing roared, no longer suppressing his killing intent, and it erupted completely in an instant.

The two burly men were immediately stunned and unconsciously took two steps back, as if they were facing not a teenager, but a prehistoric beast.

(End of this chapter)