Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Xu Fu was an extremely selfish person who always only considered himself and prioritized his own comfort in everything he did.

Even though King Tian Jian of Qi and Chancellor Hou Sheng were important figures and powerful figures, conversely, weren't these people who didn't understand the mysteries of Yin and Yang just another kind of bumpkin?

All it takes is a few special pills to amaze these guys.

There is absolutely no need for the True Person Pill.

In Xu Fu's view, the Ghost-Controlling Pill would be just right.

Moreover, he was also quite looking forward to Tian Jian and Hou Sheng taking his Ghost-Controlling Pill.

After all, the core of the Ghost Control Pill is "controlling people as if they were ghosts." There is a type of pill that can be used to control a person's mind and turn them into a puppet. This is the result of the Yin-Yang Puppet Technique being incorporated into the Dao of Alchemy.

There are also some pills that are addictive. If Tian Jian and Hou Sheng were to take such pills, they would be forever controlled by him and completely dependent on him. At that time, not only would he not be given important positions, but he would also be able to get the State of Qi to search for ships from overseas immortal mountains.

Seven days later, the fire in the alchemy furnace went out. Xu Fu lifted the lid, and a refreshing and unique fragrance immediately wafted out.

Xu Fu hurriedly put the elixir into a porcelain bottle, and then wrapped the bottle three times with brocade before urgently sending the guards monitoring outside the courtyard to inform Hou Sheng.

The courtyard where he now lives is only half a mile away from Hou Sheng's prime minister's residence. There are more than twenty armored guards guarding the courtyard. Hou Sheng calls it "protecting the safety of the alchemy master," but in Xu Fu's eyes, it is clearly surveillance to prevent him from escaping.

"Once you've tasted my elixir, you'll naturally treat me like a god." He straightened his robes and muttered to himself.

Before half an hour had passed, footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard. Hou Sheng, dressed in a purple prime minister's court robe, walked ahead with measured steps, followed by a middle-aged man with graying temples, who seemed to be Hou Sheng's attendant.

Xu Fu did not take this man seriously. Upon seeing Hou Sheng, he immediately greeted him, "Greetings, Prime Minister."

It must be said that Xu Fu actually had a pretty good temperament.

Although his skin was dark from years of exposure to the wind and sun at the beach, and his appearance was unremarkable, he possessed a unique aura that set him apart from ordinary people around him. At first glance, he gave people the feeling that "this person is no ordinary person."

Xu Qing was no stranger to Xu Fu.

But after seeing this extraordinary young man in person, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.

His gaze then swept over the sword the other person carried.

If it is a sword, but more like a knife, the shape of the Amaterasu Sword is that of a katana.

"Is this how the island nation's indistinguishability between swords and knives came about?"

"The problem lies at its very root."

"Even though Xu Fu used a knife, people insisted on calling it a sword, which led to a blurred understanding of swords and sabers among later generations, because in their view, a knife and a sword were the same thing..."

Xu Qing couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Xu Fu noticed Xu Qing's gaze, but didn't care. All he cared about was Hou Sheng.

"I heard you've already finished refining your elixir?" Hou Sheng asked Xu Fu.

Xu Fu quickly replied, "It took a long time and a lot of effort, but in the end, it did not disappoint the medicinal materials provided by the Prime Minister. It has indeed been successfully refined."

He pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, his tone full of self-satisfaction, "This is the True Person Pill. Although it is not as good as the Immortal Gathering Pill, it can still seize the creation of heaven and earth and harmonize yin and yang. Ordinary people can improve their innate qualities and strengthen their muscles and bones by taking it. If they can take it for a long time, it will surely prolong their lives."

When Xu Fu met him before, he mentioned the three realms of alchemy. In Xu Fu's opinion, those three realms were actually exaggerated. He knew very well that although the alchemy of the Yin-Yang School was mysterious, it was not that mysterious.

However, Xu Fu chose not to reveal it. Sometimes, maintaining a degree of mystery is still quite necessary.

Since Hou Sheng thinks he's so amazing, then let him be amazing. He doesn't mind going along with Hou Sheng's words to elevate the reputation of his own pills.

After all, who can say for sure about things like prolonging life? And you can't see a person's exact lifespan with the naked eye.

The pills he refined this time may not have the effect of prolonging life, but they can make people instantly feel excited and light-headed as if they have ascended to heaven. This is the "miraculous effect of the Ghost-Controlling Pill". As for the risk of addiction, it will not be apparent until several months have passed.

Upon hearing "prolong life," Hou Sheng's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take the porcelain bottle, but Xu Qing gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Prime Minister, you've forgotten to test the medicine."

The calm words reached Hou Sheng's ears, and he immediately realized what was going on.

"Yes, I almost forgot."

Even though Xu Fu was very famous, one can only know a person's face but not their heart. Whether the elixirs he refined were dangerous or not, we would have to try them to find out.

Xu Fu was not surprised by this; it was simply a matter of testing medicine.

He was very confident in his elixir; those who tried it would surely say it was good.

Moreover, these medications pose no risk to life.

To show that he had a clear conscience, Xu Fu took the initiative to say, "The Prime Minister has thought things through thoroughly. However, this elixir is mild, and the person who tries it will definitely feel its effects."

Just when Xu Fu thought Hou Sheng would send someone to test the medicine, Hou Sheng did not make a move. Instead, Xu Qing, who was following Hou Sheng, instructed the servants, "Bring the things up."

He seemed to have prepared everything long ago.

Xu Fu had a bad feeling.

Immediately, a servant brought over two small iron cages, and inside the cages were several gray... rats.

They are obviously large rats; each one is very fat.

"We couldn't find any white mice in the manor, so let's try using ordinary mice first." Xu Qing's tone was calm, but it made Xu Fu's face instantly darken.

Using mice to test his elixirs? Xu Fu felt a surge of humiliation.

Although this Ghost-Controlling Pill is not a true Human Pill, it was refined by him over seven days. Ordinary people would be extremely fortunate to obtain one, but now it is being fed to rats.

He suppressed his anger and explained to Xu Qing, "Sir, you may not know this, but the constitutions of humans and rats are vastly different. The True Person Pill is made according to human constitution. Feeding it to rats would likely cause a conflict between the medicinal effects, and it wouldn't produce any real results."

“That’s not right,” Xu Qing shook his head, his tone firm. “What rats can eat, humans may not be able to eat; but what humans can eat, rats certainly can eat. If rats eat it and are fine, then humans can eat it with peace of mind; if rats eat it and get sick, why should humans take the risk?”

This reasoning is sound and well-founded.

Hou Sheng silently gave it a thumbs up.

Yes, what mice eat may not be safe for humans, but what humans eat can certainly be given to mice without any problem. Since this True Person Pill is meant for humans, it can definitely be given to mice.

“Mr. Qing is right, then let’s use rats to test the medicine,” Hou Sheng said.

Xu Fu wanted to argue further, but Hou Sheng's gaze silenced him. He could only watch helplessly as his servant opened the porcelain bottle, poured out three vermilion pills, crushed them, mixed them with the grain, and fed them to the gray rat.

He felt a little uneasy. The Ghost-Controlling Pill was harmless to humans, but he had never tested its effects on rats before.

After all, who would use mice to test elixirs meant for human consumption?

Before half a cup of tea had been brewed, a sudden change occurred.

First, a gray rat suddenly convulsed, its fur stood on end, and its eyes instantly turned blood red. Then, with a "bang," its body exploded, splattering blood all over the iron cage. Another rat convulsed a few times, foamed at the mouth, and then its limbs stiffened and it stopped breathing. The last rat, though not dead immediately, curled up in the corner of the cage, trembling all over, without the strength to move.

"This is your True Essence Pill? There seems to be something wrong with it!"

After this scene unfolded, Xu Fu frowned slightly.

Xu Qing's words, however, were like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

As Xu Qing's words were spoken.

Hou Sheng immediately realized what was happening and glared angrily at Xu Fu.

A sense of relief welled up inside him; he had almost decided to test the medicine himself after hearing Xu Fu mention "prolonging life."

If it weren't for Mr. Qing's reminder, he would probably be the one in trouble now.

If rats become like this after taking the elixir, then even if a person doesn't die from it, they won't fare much better.

"Xu Fu, I demand an explanation!" Hou Sheng's voice was filled with pressure and deep anger.

Xu Fu felt increasingly displeased as he felt Hou Sheng's sharp gaze.

Who is he?

Elder Jin of the Yin-Yang School.

He held an extremely high position within the Yin-Yang School, and could decide the life and death of many Yin-Yang School disciples with a single word.

They routinely used ordinary people as test subjects for their medicines, showing absolutely no concern for their lives.

Simply because he possesses immense power.

This is a world where the strong arbitrarily decide the fate of the weak.

Although Hou Sheng wielded great power, in Xu Fu's eyes he was merely an ordinary mortal.

Xu Fu, through alchemy, had already glimpsed the path to immortality.

However, he was reprimanded by Hou Sheng.

Even if you feel unhappy, the situation is beyond your control.

Xu Fu could only patiently continue explaining, using the same few excuses over and over again.

"For example, rats and humans are different."

"The potent medicine would be a tonic for humans, but the mice are too small and too weak to absorb it, which is why they reacted this way..."

These statements are not entirely unfounded.

But this is on the premise that Hou Sheng is willing to believe Xu Fu's words.

Hou Sheng was skeptical and unsure of the truth, so he turned his attention to Xu Qing.

In his view, since Mr. Qing knew Xu Fu's background and the three levels of alchemy he possessed, and this trial of the medicine was a test of Xu Fu's true abilities, then whether or not to believe Xu Fu should be decided by Mr. Qing.

Xu Qing felt Hou Sheng's gaze and said calmly, "Perhaps what you said makes some sense, but it doesn't change the possibility that there's a problem with your pills."

"You should know that the people who value your alchemy skills are the Prime Minister and the King. If there is really a problem with the pills, can you take the responsibility?"

Hou Sheng nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.

Indeed, it involved his safety, and Xu Fu's elixirs had many hidden dangers, so he dared not take them indiscriminately.

Xu Fu never imagined that there would be so many intricacies involved in refining elixirs, and that he would be subject to such criticism.

"This……"

His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to explain, but he didn't know what to do.

"I'll give you one more chance to refine the pills again. If the pills are still the same next time, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and you should know the consequences," Xu Qing said to Xu Fu.

Xu Fu felt a wave of pressure wash over him. The middle-aged man in front of him looked like an ordinary person, yet he felt a sense of dread that he had been seen through.

Before he could say anything more, Hou Sheng turned and left with Xu Qing, taking the remaining bottle of pills with him. He left Xu Qing with only one sentence: "Although it cannot prolong life, it is suitable as a poison."

Xu Fu's plan to make a name for himself failed outright.

In order to change Hou Sheng's impression of him, he could only show his true abilities in the time that followed.