Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

The three of them followed the flow of people into the city.

Deng Shifan went ahead, reportedly to set up his stall in the East Market.

After bidding him farewell, Gu Shuxian carefully examined the city.

The city was bustling with activity. The bluestone streets were about two zhang wide, lined with shops, and people were coming and going.

There were peddlers carrying loads of goods and hawking their wares, merchants leading mules and horses, and wandering swordsmen.

Some people dressed in fine clothes rode tall horses and swaggered through the city, while others, disheveled and filthy, huddled in corners, trembling with fear.

The air was filled with the steam from steaming buns and the bitter smell of medicine being decocted in a pharmacy.

For Gu Shuxian, who had lived on the mountain for many years, it truly felt like a lifetime had passed.

"Stop looking, let's go." Qian Le tugged at Gu Shuxian's sleeve and whispered.

Gu Shuxian snapped out of her daze and followed him across two main streets before turning into a secluded alley.

At the end of the alley is a small bookstore with a signboard above it that reads "Sanmei Bookstore".

A couplet written in calligraphy hangs at the entrance.

When the mind is settled here, distracting thoughts cease.

"This is it. I've already inquired around. Although there are book stalls in the East Market, they're said to be mostly shoddy handwritten copies with numerous errors. It's safer to find a proper bookstore here."

As Qian Le spoke, he straightened his clothes. "This place is frequented by scholars and literati, so we should put on an act too."

He looked even more nervous than Gu Shuxian, who was visiting for the first time.

Gu Shuxian nodded, solemnly patted the dust off his clothes, and then followed him inside.

The shop wasn't big, but it was very tidy, with bookshelves all around displaying various books.

The low table in front of the door and the long table in the center were also covered with dark blue cloth, and dozens of blue-covered, thread-bound notebooks were stacked on them.

They're all books!

For a moment, Gu Shuxian had the urge to pack up and snatch all these books, but he managed to restrain himself well.

My apologies, I am a cultured person, how could I think like that?

Gu Shuxian thought to himself and turned his gaze to a middle-aged man with graying temples behind the counter. Judging from his appearance, he should be the owner of this bookstore.

The shopkeeper was flipping through something that looked like an account book when he heard footsteps and looked up.

"What kind of books would you two like to read?"

The other party was polite and did not show any disrespect because of the two people's coarse linen clothes.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any books on herbs?" Qian Le asked eagerly. "I'd like the kind with lots of pictures and detailed text, the more detailed the better!"

"Of course."

After a moment's thought, the shopkeeper got up and walked to the shelf on the left to search.

Gu Shuxian took the opportunity to look around aimlessly.

Books were laid out before me.

"The Hundred Family Surnames", "Selected Examples of Policy Essays", "Essays on Boiling Spring Water", "The Flower and Silk Manual"...

It is evident that this place mainly contains children's primers, imperial examination preparation books, and reference books, while popular reading materials are scarce.

I don't know what the shop owners were thinking; even a fool could figure out that leisure books are more popular.

Qian Le also came over to look around, but he couldn't read the words, and after a while he got bored and started looking at the shopkeeper again.

A short while later, the shopkeeper came over carrying two thick books and said:

"For identifying herbs, I have two books I recommend."

"This book, titled 'Collection of Annotations on the Materia Medica,' was written by Sun Jingyang, a famous physician of the previous dynasty. It is richly illustrated and includes more than 300 kinds of medicinal herbs. It is currently the most popular book on the market and is suitable for beginners."

"However, I would recommend this book, 'Illustrated Compendium of Herbs,' which was written by a doctor from the Tongrentang Pharmacy, a long-established pharmacy in this city. It took ten years of his life to write it, and it records only more than 120 kinds of herbs, but they are all from the vicinity of Wancheng."

"What's the price?" Qian Le asked.

"This one costs six hundred coins." The shopkeeper held up the book "Collected Annotations on the Materia Medica," and then held up another one.

"This book is worth eight hundred coins."

One book is more comprehensive and cheaper, the other is more practical but more expensive. Qian Le was caught in a dilemma and turned to ask:

"Shuxian, what do you think?"

But Gu Shuxian ignored him and instead stared at a thick, old book.

Qian Le leaned closer and whispered helplessly, "Junior Brother Gu, we're here to pick out books on medicinal herbs. I know you like reading, but now's not the time. Junior Brother Deng is still at the East Market, waiting for us to help him out."

Gu Shuxian pointed to the book he was reading.

"This is also a herbal medicine book, but it's a little different."

"How so?" Qian Le became interested when he heard that it was also a book on herbal medicine.

"All the books in this bookstore are brand new, except for this one, which is old and worn out," Gu Shuxian said seriously.

That's it? Qian Le was speechless.

Just as he was about to whisper a reminder again, the shopkeeper also came over.

The shopkeeper glanced at the title of the book and sighed.

"This young guest has a good eye; this book has quite a history."

"There really is something?" Qian Le raised an eyebrow.

Gu Shuxian also turned to stare at him.

The middle-aged shopkeeper continued:

"This book, 'The Record of Herbs,' was written by the ancient sage Shuren over a thousand years ago. It is said that he personally tasted over a thousand kinds of herbs and recorded the shape, medicinal properties, and effects of each one."

"Before this, the identification of medicinal materials relied entirely on oral transmission from master to apprentice, which resulted in numerous errors and omissions. This monumental work by Shurenshi is the first systematic record of this, making him the founding father of medical books on herbal medicine, and his contribution is immeasurable."

"However..."

The shopkeeper's tone was full of praise, but he quickly changed the subject.

"Times have changed. Over the past thousand years, medical skills have not stagnated, but have been constantly innovated and improved. Many physicians in later generations have raised objections and made corrections to the records in this book."

"Looking at this book now, it's full of errors. Some of the properties and flavors of medicinal herbs are incorrectly identified, some toxicity levels are not accurately labeled, and some herbs are even extinct and can no longer be found..."

"If you two guests wish to learn about medicinal herbs, this book, 'The Record of Herbs,' is not suitable."

Upon hearing this, Qian Le lost interest.

This book seems to contain a lot of information, but it has errors and contains ancient medicinal herbs that cannot be found, so it's really useless.

It sounds impressive, but that was in the past. It's foolish to belittle the present and favor the past.

After much deliberation, Qian Le decided to choose the "Illustrated Compendium of Herbs". Although it was two hundred coins more expensive, it contained all the herbs that could be found nearby and was very practical!

"Alright, then let's..."

"I want this book, 'The Record of Herbs'."

Qian Le was speechless, then turned to Gu Shuxian, who had spoken, and smiled, "Junior Brother Gu, that's called 'The Illustrated Compendium of Herbs.' I can remember it clearly even though I'm illiterate. How could you have misunderstood?"

"I mean, I want this one. Trust me, Senior Brother Qian." Gu Shuxian calmly pointed to the thick and old "Record of Herbs" in front of him.

Gu Shuxian's expression remained calm, but his heart was already filled with excitement.

This book is definitely not simple!

A groundbreaking work!

milestone!

Shurenshi personally tasted hundreds of herbs and left behind systematic records, pioneering a new path for later generations of physicians.

In terms of merit! In terms of influence! In terms of groundbreaking!

Which other medical book dares to claim invincibility? Which dares to boast of being undefeated?

If this book cannot be called a masterpiece, what book can?

I came down the mountain intending to inquire about the sequel to "The Legend of the Archer Heroes", but I didn't expect to have such a pleasant surprise!

Gu Shuxian almost burst out laughing.

No, I can't laugh yet; I have to figure out a way to fool them first...

No, it's to persuade Qian Le to buy this book!