By evening, the sky had grown increasingly dim.
Guanji Pharmacy was not in Shiqiao Town, but in Hongshi Town.
By the time Wei He arrived, the pharmacy was nearly closed. Several shop hands were moving the door panels, sealing up the storefront one by one.
However, a small side door had been left open for people to enter and exit.
People were still coming and going through it, seemingly doing the last bit of business.
Wei He followed them in through the side door.
Inside, a shopkeeper wearing a face mask was speaking to two people. When he saw Wei He enter, he froze slightly, then quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
The shopkeeper then summoned a clerk and whispered a few words into his ear.
The clerk immediately walked toward Wei He.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Wei He?" the clerk asked respectfully.
"That is me." Wei He nodded.
"My lady knew you were coming. Please follow me." The clerk bowed respectfully.
Wei He's expression shifted slightly, and a few guesses arose in his heart.
He followed the clerk up a staircase on one side to the second floor.
Upstairs was a vast, spacious hall.
A huge brass incense burner stood in the middle. Faint smoke drifted steadily from within, its fragrance almost overpowering.
A young woman in a red dress sat cross-legged before the incense burner. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, her cherry lips were red as blood, and her almond-shaped eyes calmly shifted from the burner to Wei He.
"Are you Brother Wei He?" The girl rose to her feet with a bright smile.
"That would be me. May I ask who you are, Miss?" Wei He cupped his fists.
"My name is Guan Die. Has Cheng Shaojiu mentioned me to you?" Only