Reunion with Xian'er

"Phew~~~"

Long after Yan Qingshan had left, Gu Ni, who had been standing at the door watching Ya Fei spar with Yan Qingshan, let out a breath and sighed. "Such a young Dou Master. He looks no more than fifteen or sixteen, yet he is the finest young powerhouse I have ever seen.

Among the younger generation of the Imperial Capital, there are quite a few Dou Zhes under twenty, but very few Dou Masters. Almost none become Dou Masters at such an age. To exert such pressure on this old man, he is no weakling even among Dou Masters."

"Even Master Gu Ni thinks so!"

After calming down, Ya Fei lifted her teacup and took a light sip. The cooled tea made her frown slightly, but she had no mind to care about that now. "This man is no ordinary person, whether in scheming or methods. This is the first time I've been led around by someone like this...

Yan Qingshan, is it? There are not many places in the Empire that can obtain Nashi Stone, and these Gold Coins..."

Ya Fei's gaze swept over the ten rather distinctive chests. They seemed to follow a certain standard design, so their origins should be traceable.

Her eyes flickered as though she were considering other countermeasures. She had lost this round, but this matter was far from over!

Qingshan Town, Myriad Medicine Hall. It was noon, and streams of people flowed through the place like a tide: injured mercenaries, teams preparing to venture deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and people who had come seeking treatment by reputation. The entire main hall of Myriad Medicine Hall bustled with activity.

As the largest medical clinic and pharmacy in Qingshan Town, Myriad Medicine Hall had become one of Qingshan Town's three major powers after replacing the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Through various means, it had completed the integration of Qingshan Town's medical trade.

With over half the physicians and nearly seventy percent of the medicinal herb trade passing through it, Myriad Medicine Hall became a place that raked in Gold Coins daily. As its reputation grew louder and louder, people came not only from Qingshan Town, but even from several nearby Magical Beast towns, further expanding Myriad Medicine Hall's influence.

The main hall of Myriad Medicine Hall was spacious and bright. Though there were many people, it did not seem noisy or chaotic. A year earlier, after Myriad Medicine Hall rose to prominence, it underwent institutional reforms.

After gathering numerous physicians from Qingshan Town and its surrounding regions, it divided the physicians into different departments, allowing doctors and apprentices to handle the ailments they were best at treating.

After the physicians were divided into departments, guide attendants were stationed in the main hall to direct people through registration, consultations, and collecting medicine. Although people had to visit more places, the orderly guidance prevented noise and crowding, saving a great deal of time instead.

There was also a fast-track channel for patients with urgent injuries or illnesses, ensuring that emergency treatment was not delayed. This efficient and straightforward method earned Myriad Medicine Hall widespread praise and made its integration of Qingshan Town's medical trade remarkably smooth.

Yan Qingshan entered the familiar yet unfamiliar Myriad Medicine Hall with Qingling and Xuelan. He had established the changes here with his own hands, but after the initial framework took shape, he left. The later completion had little to do with him, making the place feel somewhat unfamiliar.

Watching the many people passing by, anxious but not frantic, a faint smile appeared on his lips. The traditional methods used by Myriad Medicine Hall and Dou Qi Continent were inefficient. A resident physician had to face all kinds of complicated situations and could only handle them one at a time. Sometimes, delays cost many people their lives.

But with the new method, each type of physician was responsible for a broad category of illnesses. Their familiarity and experience greatly improved efficiency. When faced with large numbers of similar patients, they could even consult one another and resolve cases together. The improvement was tremendous.

When Yan Qingshan entered Myriad Medicine Hall, the young girl at the front desk was probably too busy to recognize him at first. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Under someone's guidance, he arrived at a consultation room in the rear courtyard.

The fairly large consultation room was almost packed with people. A smiling girl in white was guiding several apprentices through bandaging and treating the injured. Even more wounded people waited nearby. Though they were bleeding, not a single mercenary disturbed this angel-like girl.

"This is bad. You were bitten by a Phosphorus Wood Jackal. The teeth of this magical beast contain a toxin. At first, its bite looks no different from an ordinary wound, but after lying dormant, it will flare up and cause unceasing bleeding. Once it takes effect, it will already be..."

At the center of the crowd, Xiao Yi Xian treated several waiting wounded patients in succession. But when she reached the fifth person, she encountered an emergency. "Your toxin has already flared up. It must be purged first. Where is the corpse of the Phosphorus Wood Jackal you hunted?

This toxin requires jackal fangs ground into powder to prepare an antidote. This magical beast is rather rare, and Myriad Medicine Hall does not keep it in stock..."

"What!!!"

Xiao Yi Xian's words made the mercenary's face turn deathly pale. The several mercenaries who had come with him looked equally devastated.

One of them trembled as he said, "It was my fault that Little San got hurt. That jackal beast's hide was torn to pieces after we killed it, and there was not much flesh left either. We had plenty of other loot, so I didn't bring it back to save myself some trouble..."

"This... Only jackal fangs can cure Phosphorus Wood Jackal poison..."

Xiao Yi Xian's expression became extremely grim. "Without jackal fangs, we can only use bloodletting to purge the toxin. But after using that method, even an ordinary person would suffer severe damage to their vitality.

You have already lost too much blood due to the jackal poison. If we use bloodletting to purge the toxin as well, I fear that before the poison is fully expelled, you will..."

The man's face was ashen, and his companions looked grief-stricken. Yet no one blamed Xiao Yi Xian. On one hand, Xiao Yi Xian had countless supporters among the crowd. On the other, those who survived in the Magical Beast Mountain Range had seen life and death too often.

These mercenaries had long accepted such possibilities. Even if they did not die from injuries today, they might lose their lives mysteriously some other day. They had already prepared themselves mentally.

"Lie down!"

Pity filled Xiao Yi Xian's eyes as she softly said to the mercenary, "I have an untested method. While you take a large amount of Blood-Generating Paste, I can try using bloodletting to purge the poison. But I have only thought of this method. I cannot guarantee it will work."

"It's fine, Physician. My life was worthless to begin with. If it works, then I've gained another life. If it doesn't, then that is simply my fate."

The man decisively lay down on a long bench nearby. Xiao Yi Xian had an apprentice bring over a large jar of Blood-Generating Paste and prepared to begin.

"Your method won't work!"

At that moment, a voice came from nearby. Xiao Yi Xian's body stiffened. Her eyes blinked several times as countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She seemed unable to believe it, thinking she had heard an illusion. Slowly, she turned her head, her small mouth slightly open as she froze in place.

"Little girl, don't recognize me anymore?"

Yan Qingshan walked over. Beneath countless watching eyes, he simply pulled Xiao Yi Xian, the goddess none of the mercenaries dared profane, into his embrace.

"Qingshan... Brother!"

Xiao Yi Xian had still been stunned, but when that warm and familiar embrace wrapped around her once more, she finally reacted. She hugged Yan Qingshan back, afraid that he would leave her life again.

Some mercenaries who had been preparing to act were stunned as well. A few older people nearby were not surprised at all. Many people knew about Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yi Xian, and Yan Qingshan, a physician born into a mercenary family, was a familiar figure whom many had watched grow up.

"Leave this man to me!"

Yan Qingshan hugged Xiao Yi Xian before releasing her. After rubbing the little girl's cheek, Xiao Yi Xian still seemed unable to think clearly. She nodded obediently and stood to one side.

Yan Qingshan walked over to the injured man. Lightning flashed in his eyes as deep azure Dou Qi suddenly struck the Meridians along the edge of the wound. A great deal of blood instantly spurted out. Yet Yan Qingshan did not stop. He accurately cut open another wound, and strands of dark blood carrying a faint green hue slowly seeped out.

The man's face was deathly pale. Excessive blood loss had even covered his lips with a layer of white. But before long, his wounds stopped bleeding. His life had been saved.

Yan Qingshan accepted a towel handed over from the side and wiped the blood from his hands. He instructed the man and the mercenaries accompanying him, "After returning, find some remedies to replenish your qi and blood. Rest and recuperate carefully for a month or so. Do not overexert yourself during that time. It would be best not to circulate Dou Qi at all."

Myriad Medicine Hall. After the day's closing work was completed, Yan Qingshan met Boss Yao again in the meeting hall.

Boss Yao had become much more prosperous, his face glowing with health. But when facing Yan Qingshan, his attitude was extremely humble, because he knew very well who Myriad Medicine Hall owed its current prosperity to.

"Fire Attribute Fire Cloud Art, a low-level Black Rank cultivation method. You will have to find your own Dou Skills. I trust you still have your connections."

Yan Qingshan showed little enthusiasm as he casually tossed Boss Yao a red scroll. It had been found in the Storage Ring of a Da Dou Shi from the Mo Clan. Yan Qingshan did not care for it, but to Boss Yao, it was a treasure he could only dream of obtaining in his lifetime.

"I'll be staying for a while after returning this time. I brought back a group of people and intend to have them form a department. Find a way to make the other two mercenary groups in Qingshan Town submit to us. If you handle this matter well, then you can keep that item without it burning your hands."

Yan Qingshan leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, one hand resting on the tea table. Several fingers continuously tapped against the tabletop. The tapping seemed to strike Boss Yao's heart, making him increasingly nervous.

Boss Yao did not dare neglect the matter and repeatedly nodded. "I understand. The other two major mercenary groups in Qingshan Town are not even as strong as the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was back then. I have considerable connections and influence in Qingshan Town. I have some confidence in dealing with them."

"Mm. I'll leave this matter to you."

Yan Qingshan nodded, then naturally changed the subject. "Tomorrow, Xiao Yi Xian and I are planning to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I do not know when we will return.

After some time, the Mite'er Family, one of the Empire's three great clans, should send people here. Do not neglect them. I will find a way to stay in contact with you. We will discuss the specifics then.

It is getting late. You may leave first!"

"Yes!"

Boss Yao's thoughts churned like stormy seas as he slowly backed away, preparing to depart.

He had originally harbored some complaints, but the moment Yan Qingshan mentioned the Mite'er Family, they vanished completely. To have ties to one of the Empire's three great clans meant this boy's influence was anything but simple. It was better for him to continue yielding and obeying.

"Take the item with you!"

Yan Qingshan's voice sounded again. Boss Yao turned around, and a red blur flew into his arms. It was the low-level Black Rank Fire Cloud Art. He hurriedly put it away. Yan Qingshan had already closed his eyes and was no longer looking at him, while Boss Yao had no desire to linger. He quickly left the room.