Compounding Medicine

Tiger Might Martial Arts School's rear courtyard.

Inside the study, Guan Lie was reading.

Guan Lu brought over a cup of tea.

Guan Lie turned a page without even raising his head. "You're back. How was the gathering tonight?"

"It was boring!"

Looking somewhat listless, Guan Lu set down the teacup and said unhappily, "It was just a bunch of young masters talking about dull topics. Even the martial arts exchanges were boring—mostly just performances!"

"Still, I did get to see Qin Muxue!"

Guan Lu's eyes brightened, and more life entered her voice. "Not only is she beautiful, she really is incredibly strong. Several boys were no match for her. Oh, and she even injured a young master from the Yue Family. Someone at Late Manifesting Strength couldn't withstand two of her palms!"

Guan Lie accepted the tea and took a sip, smiling faintly. "Those children of martial arts families have excellent conditions. Their bodies have been nourished with Spiritual Medicine and Exotic Beast Meat since childhood, and they have complete inherited techniques. Their starting point is naturally high; there's no comparing with them. You needn't feel discouraged. Your strength is already quite good!"

"Dad, you only know how to comfort me. I know my own limits. Compared to Qin Muxue, I'm really far behind!"

Guan Lu acted coyly. Normally, she was cold and aloof; only at times like this did she show a girl's side.

Guan Lie put down his teacup and looked at Guan Lu. "Have you considered what I told you last time?"

"I don't want to go to Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery!"

Guan Lu's pretty face immediately changed, her expression filled with anger. "Every single person there is arrogant beyond belief, with that look like they're above everyone else. I'm not going there to take their abuse!"

Guan Lie sighed faintly at her words. "There's no helping it. Those who can enter Danshi Mountain Buddhist Monastery are all people with outstanding talent and Bone Structure, and their backgrounds are extraordinary as well. Naturally, they have their pride. If you don't want to go, then forget it. But when autumn comes, I'll find a way to send you to the Martial Academy!"

"The Martial Academy is fine!"

Only then did Guan Lu nod.

"Oh, right!"

Suddenly seeming to recall something, Guan Lu looked at Guan Lie and said with a face full of displeasure, "Dad, have you heard? There's a trainee in the front courtyard named Fang Mo who goes out to have fun every night. If a trainee like that is no good, just expel him. Save him from disgracing Tiger Might!"

"I know!"

Guan Lie smiled faintly and took another sip of tea.

"You know? Then why haven't you expelled him? Didn't the Martial Arts Association ask you to dismiss him?"

Guan Lu asked in surprise.

"How do you know he goes out to have fun?"

Guan Lie set down his teacup and raised his eyes to look at Guan Lu.

"I... heard them say so. And when I came back tonight, I ran into him. His face was bruised too. If he wasn't fooling around, then he must have been fighting!"

Guan Lie said calmly, "What the ears hear may be false; what the eyes see is knowledge. Are you sure he was fighting?"

"Forget it. I can't be bothered to care!"

Guan Lu pouted angrily, then turned and ran out.

"That child!"

Guan Lie smiled and shook his head, picking up his book again to resume reading.

Just then, the communicator on the table rang.

Guan Lie glanced at it and saw Tang Xiong's name displayed. He put down his book. "Connect it!"

The call connected, projecting a beam of light that formed the image of a middle-aged man in a black police uniform.

"Master!"

The middle-aged man bowed respectfully.

Tang Xiong had once studied under Guan Lie. He was now a squad captain in the Public Security Bureau and happened to oversee City God District.

Guan Lie said calmly, "Have you found out? What's the situation?"

"I've found out!"

Tang Xiong nodded, his expression somewhat grave. "Master, this matter is a little troublesome!"

Guan Lie raised his brows slightly. "Tell me what's going on first."

Tang Xiong hesitated before saying, "It's the Yunyang Richest Fang Family. The Martial Arts Association has made some moves as well, but I blocked them all. The other side clearly has no intention of letting this go and may use even greater power. When that happens, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop them. Master, you must be careful!"

"Careful of what?"

Guan Lie asked with displeasure.

Lowering his voice, Tang Xiong said, "Master, the Fang Family is Yunyang's richest family after all. They have powerful connections and relationships in every circle. If they are determined to see this through, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop them! ...Wouldn't it be enough if you just expelled the person?"

"Hmph! Impossible!"

Guan Lie's expression darkened as he snorted coldly.

"Tang Xiong, send a message to the Fang Family. If they make another move, I don't mind paying the Fang Family a visit!"

Smack!

He hung up, and Tang Xiong's image vanished.

On the other end of the call, Tang Xiong, dressed in his police uniform, looked at the blackened screen with helplessness.

He looked at the middle-aged man in a police uniform seated opposite him and spread his hands.

"Director Feng, you heard him. That's my master's attitude. I'll have to trouble you to pass those words on to the Fang Family!"

Director Feng rose from the table helplessly. "Your master is too stubborn. Is it worth offending the Fang Family over one trainee? I've shielded you for so many days already. If pressure really comes down from above, I'm afraid I won't be able to withstand it!"

Tang Xiong was equally helpless. With a bitter smile, he said, "That's simply my master's temperament. I've made things difficult for you, Director Feng. Please just deliver the message!"

Director Feng nodded. "All right! I'll deliver it!"

"Xiao Mo, are you short on money?"

The next day, while Fang Mo was helping Xie Changmin make medicine, Xie Changmin seemed to ask casually as they simmered the concoction.

"A little... yes."

Fang Mo looked at Xie Changmin, puzzled. How did he know that Fang Mo was short on money?

"You brat, you've got things backwards!"

Xie Changmin shot Fang Mo an annoyed look and pointed at the shelves full of medicine. "Learn the craft I taught you properly. Once you master even ten percent of it, you won't be short on money. Yet here you are, sitting on a treasure mountain without knowing it, running out every day to be a Sparring Partner and getting beaten black and blue. What am I supposed to say about you?"

"Teacher, even if I compounded medicine at my current level, I'd still have to be able to sell it!"

Fang Mo smiled awkwardly. He understood that since he went out every day, Xie Changmin likely thought he was going out to earn money. But he probably did not know Fang Mo was fighting underground matches and assumed he was working as a Sparring Partner.

"So, you think your teacher hasn't taught you wholeheartedly?"

Xie Changmin's eyes widened as he tossed the stirring rod in his hand to Fang Mo. "Starting today, you'll handle all the medicine compounding yourself each time. Let me see how much you can learn!"

"No, Teacher, that's not what I meant!"

Fang Mo hurriedly said.

"What do you mean, that's not what you meant?"

Xie Changmin glared and barked, "It's decided!"

Fang Mo immediately dared not argue further. He took the rod and began stirring.

He wanted to train, and the Martial Hall could expel him at any time. Strength was the most important thing to him, but Pharmacist Xie was doing this for his own good.

After thinking it over, he settled down. If he learned a few skills and truly became able to compound medicine, he would still be able to survive after leaving Yunyang.

With a thought, golden words appeared before his eyes.

[Medicinal Properties: Getting Started (155/1000)]

[Grinding Medicine: Getting Started (910/1000)]

[Extraction: Getting Started (378/1000)]

[Alchemy: Beginner Practice (33/100)]

From medicinal properties, Grinding Medicine, extraction, and condensation to Alchemy, they were all skills involved in brewing medicine.

During this period, he read the books Xie Changmin had given him every night before bed, and had come to understand quite a bit about medicinal properties.

Coupled with helping Xie Changmin make medicine, he had improved rather quickly.

Still, becoming a pharmacist was indeed not easy.

One had to understand the medicinal properties of every ingredient—herbs, roots and stems, ores, Exotic Beast materials—and master each one. Otherwise, it was impossible to extract the active ingredients. One also had to choose suitable fusion catalysts to improve extraction rates and neutralize toxicity.

The refining process involved complicated steps.

When to heat it, how hot to heat it, how to stir it, when to cool it, how long to let it stand—every stage's timing and technique could affect the final product's quality.

Pharmacist Xie kept his word and truly allowed Fang Mo to take complete control.

Under Xie Chang's guidance, he began refining medicine.

Fang Mo's movements were extremely steady, and his mindset was calm. Like conducting a chemistry experiment, he proceeded step by step.

Watching from the side, Xie Changmin could not help nodding to himself.

Fang Mo's ability to learn was truly strong. His technique was growing steadier and steadier, and every compounding seemed to show improvement.

He really was a fine seedling!

Fang Mo fused in the final Medicinal Liquid, carefully using heat to condense it while observing its color, concentration, and scent.

At last, he completed every step.

Looking at the green liquid in the Bronze Cauldron, a victorious smile appeared on his face.

He had completed the refinement independently.

"Don't celebrate yet. Test its energy level!"

Xie Changmin was pleased inside, but his face remained stern.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Fang Mo hurriedly steadied himself, carefully removed a drop, placed it into the Testing Machine, and activated the test.