The Apothecary's Disappearance

A Red Robed Man slowly stepped out from behind Lu Changsheng.

His face was covered as well, making his features impossible to see clearly.

Still, Lu Changsheng could vaguely sense the surging, roiling vitality and blood within him. He was definitely no ordinary martial artist.

"Do you want these Blood Strengthening Pills?"

Lu Changsheng asked.

"Indeed. There are more than three thousand Blood Strengthening Pills here. I'll pay One Thousand Taels of Silver for all of them. What do you think?"

The Red Robed Man spoke calmly.

"Deal."

Lu Changsheng did not hesitate in the slightest.

With so many Blood Strengthening Pills, it would be difficult to sell them unless he set up a stall at the Black Market.

But if he set up a stall at the Black Market, how long would it take to sell them all?

Now that he could obtain One Thousand Taels of Silver in one go, he naturally chose to sell everything.

After receiving the one thousand tael Silver Note, Lu Changsheng was about to turn and leave when the Red Robed Man suddenly said, "Are you interested in Blood Strengthening Pills?"

"Hmm?"

Lu Changsheng said nothing, merely staring at the Red Robed Man.

The Red Robed Man continued, "Blood Strengthening Pills suddenly began appearing in large quantities at the Nanyang Prefecture Black Market more than a month ago."

"Because they are cheap and highly effective, many Blood Strengthening Realm martial artists have flocked to them like ducks to water."

"However, I took the Blood Strengthening Pills to an apothecary for verification and discovered that many of the medicinal ingredients within them are not cheap. Selling Blood Strengthening Pills at their current price is entirely a losing business."

"There must be a Shocking Conspiracy behind these Blood Strengthening Pills! I have already uncovered some information. Are you interested in investigating with me?"

Lu Changsheng studied the Red Robed Man carefully.

It seemed others were not fools either. They had noticed something wrong with the Blood Strengthening Pills and had even begun investigating.

But Lu Changsheng vaguely felt that the waters here ran deep. He had no desire to wade into this muddy water.

"My apologies, I'm not interested."

With that, Lu Changsheng ignored whatever the Red Robed Man might think and turned to leave.

After returning to Miraculous Garden, Lu Changsheng did not dwell on the matter of the Blood Strengthening Pills.

He did not want to invite any trouble at present. He only wanted to quietly temper his internal organs.

As for not having Martial Skills and thus being unable to rapidly increase his Comprehension, Lu Changsheng was not in much of a hurry either.

After all, his Comprehension was already quite good.

With such Comprehension, attaining the Divine Strength Realm would not be a problem at all.

The matter of Martial Skills could be set aside for now.

All he wanted was to quietly temper his internal organs until his five viscera and six bowels became incomparably tough, then choose to break through the Life and Death Profound Gate and advance to the Divine Strength Realm!

The Divine Strength Realm was what mattered most to Lu Changsheng!

As for everything else, it could all be put aside for the time being.

In the blink of an eye, another month passed.

Lu Changsheng had been seeing patients for a month now.

Many patients even recognized Lu Changsheng.

They knew that the Famous Doctor Wu Jing had trained a disciple with excellent medical skills.

Now, Wu Jing had become exceedingly assured of Lu Changsheng.

He even handed some of the slightly more difficult patients over to Lu Changsheng.

Gradually, Lu Changsheng became capable of standing on his own.

"Changsheng, your medical skills are now sufficient for you to complete your apprenticeship."

"In truth, there is little left for me to teach you. I have a medical book containing all my insights from decades of practicing medicine, as well as difficult and complicated cases. You should read it more often."

"In a few days, I will explain the situation to Miraculous Garden. Then you can be promoted to Doctor and truly open your own consultation hall to see patients!"

Wu Jing said with a smile.

He was very satisfied with Lu Changsheng, and greatly comforted as well.

He had actually taken on quite a few disciples, but they had all been mediocre. Not a single one had satisfied him.

Only Lu Changsheng could be considered to have inherited his mantle.

Given time, Lu Changsheng might even carry his medical skills forward and bring them to greater heights!

"Thank you, Master!"

Lu Changsheng bowed respectfully.

Although he had been seeing patients for a month, his current status was still that of an Apothecary, not a Doctor.

Only after Miraculous Garden confirmed it and he opened his own consultation hall to see patients could he truly be considered a Doctor.

And that day was not far off!

Thinking back, he had once been nothing more than a beggar.

Now, in less than two years, he had become a Doctor.

Moreover, his true identity was that of a powerful Organ Refining martial artist!

"Hm?"

"Why hasn't Apothecary Cheng come today?"

"That's right. Apothecary Cheng has always been punctual. He has never been late."

Lu Changsheng had spent the entire morning at the pharmacy, only to find everyone discussing Apothecary Cheng.

Apothecary Cheng and Wu Jing were longtime partners.

One prepared medicinal ingredients, while the other treated illnesses and saved lives. They worked together with perfect coordination.

Miraculous Garden had once wanted to assign Wu Jing a different apothecary, but Wu Jing refused. In the end, Apothecary Cheng remained paired with Wu Jing.

"Old Cheng has always been punctual."

"Zhang Huan, go to Old Cheng's home and ask what happened."

Wu Jing frowned as well.

They had worked together for more than a decade, and Apothecary Cheng had almost never been late. This was indeed rather strange.

"Yes, Elder Wu."

Zhang Huan was quick-witted. He immediately left the pharmacy and hurried toward Apothecary Cheng's home.

About half an hour later, Zhang Huan returned.

However, his expression was grave. He glanced at Lu Changsheng and Wu Jing before saying in a low voice, "Elder Wu, Doctor Lu, Apothecary Cheng has disappeared!"

"According to Apothecary Cheng's family, he left home early this morning to head for the pharmacy, but he never returned afterward."

"Yet our pharmacy never saw Apothecary Cheng arrive."

"Furthermore, I have heard more news. This morning, many apothecaries and doctors disappeared from major pharmacies, even from Miraculous Garden headquarters. Their whereabouts remain unknown."

Lu Changsheng's expression turned grave.

Apothecaries and doctors disappearing was clearly abnormal.

"What about Miraculous Garden? Have they sent people to investigate?"

Wu Jing asked.

"Miraculous Garden has already dispatched the Guard Team, and even sent Organ Refining Masters to lead the investigation. But it will take time."

Zhang Huan's words made Lu Changsheng wary.

Over the next second and third days...

Not only Miraculous Garden, but other pharmacies also had apothecaries and doctors vanish under strange circumstances.

However, Miraculous Garden had a large number of apothecaries and doctors, so it also had the greatest number of disappearances.

The missing people accounted for roughly one-fifth of all Miraculous Garden's apothecaries and doctors.

That was no small number.

Yet Miraculous Garden's investigation still yielded nothing.

"Changsheng, you must be more careful when returning home these days."

Wu Jing warned Lu Changsheng.

"Master, I will be careful."

Lu Changsheng nodded.

At dusk, the pharmacy closed. Lu Changsheng rose and left the pharmacy, preparing to return to his courtyard.

His courtyard was within Miraculous Garden and quite far from the pharmacy.

Yet the streets were bustling at dusk.

He did not know what festival it was that day, but lanterns had been hung in many places along the streets.

Lu Changsheng wandered around the streets for a while before slowly making his way back toward Miraculous Garden.

However, when Lu Changsheng turned a street corner and entered a pitch-black alley, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he stopped.

At some unknown time, three Shadowy Figures had appeared behind him.

"This young doctor is Wu Jing's prized disciple. Remember to be careful. Don't kill him."

"Yes."

Two of the figures moved as swiftly as the wind. In the blink of an eye, they had reached Lu Changsheng's back and stretched out their hands to seize him.