Everyone Was Stunned, an Apothecary Apprentice!

Among the many apprentices, Lu Changsheng was not particularly conspicuous.

Many of the apprentices did not even know Lu Changsheng or his name.

When they saw Lu Changsheng applying to take the Apothecary Apprentice assessment, they were truly astonished.

How long had it even been?

At most, they had only been recruited into Miraculous Garden around five months ago.

In five months, they had not even learned all the characters, much less become Apothecary Apprentices.

An Apothecary Apprentice had to memorize the names, effects, growing environments, and so on of at least several hundred medicinal herbs, all of which had to be learned from books.

How could they learn if they could not read?

Even Steward Zhang frowned and asked doubtfully, "Are you sure you want to apply for the Apothecary Apprentice assessment?"

"I'm sure."

"How confident are you?"

Lu Changsheng thought for a moment. Not daring to overstate it, he answered conservatively, "About seventy to eighty percent."

A trace of surprise appeared on Steward Zhang's face.

Seventy to eighty percent confidence meant he was practically certain to become an Apothecary Apprentice.

Lu Changsheng was still so young, yet after only five short months, he was confident he could become an Apothecary Apprentice. He was a prodigy!

In the future, he had a great chance of becoming an Apothecary, or even a physician!

At Miraculous Garden, physicians who sat in consultation halls held extremely high status. Even the guards of the Guard Team could not compare to one physician of Miraculous Garden.

At that thought, Steward Zhang's expression turned solemn. He nodded and said, "I approve. Go ahead."

After a pause, Steward Zhang added, "Forget it. It would be rather troublesome for a Menial Apprentice like you to go alone. I'll take you there myself."

Steward Zhang was clearly trying to befriend Lu Changsheng.

A future physician of Miraculous Garden had limitless prospects and was worth befriending.

"Then I'll trouble Steward Zhang."

Lu Changsheng cupped his hands in salute.

He then followed Steward Zhang away from the square.

Steward Zhang had left, but the apprentices erupted into an uproar.

"He's really going to take the Apothecary Apprentice assessment?"

"We always saw Lu Changsheng holding those books on medicinal herbs. I thought he was just putting on a show. He can actually understand them?"

"I haven't even learned all the characters, but Lu Changsheng can already memorize books on medicinal herbs?"

"Master Mo likes Lu Changsheng very much. He often teaches him in private."

"Ah, who would have thought that Lu Changsheng had no talent for the Martial Path, yet was so gifted in his studies? Once he becomes an Apothecary Apprentice, he'll earn wages, and his status will rise greatly. He won't be walking the same road as us anymore..."

"No, I need to work hard at reading and learning characters too. I'll strive to become an Apothecary Apprentice."

The apprentices discussed it animatedly. There was envy and admiration, but even more than that, inspiration.

With a "role model" like Lu Changsheng, more of the remaining apprentices would surely work hard and strive to become Apothecary Apprentices as soon as possible.

Lu Changsheng paid no attention to what the apprentices thought.

Following behind Steward Zhang, he arrived at the medicinal herb storeroom within Miraculous Garden.

This was where medicinal herbs for all of Miraculous Garden were processed.

Many Apothecaries inside were directing apprentices as they air-dried, sun-dried, and processed medicinal herbs.

"Elder Wen."

Steward Zhang bowed to an Old Man with a head full of white hair and beard, who looked ancient and frail.

Elder Wen raised his head, glanced at Steward Zhang, and asked, "What brings Steward Zhang here?"

"Elder Wen, this is a Menial Apprentice who arrived just five months ago. He has come to apply for the Apothecary Apprentice assessment. I'll have to trouble Elder Wen."

Steward Zhang explained his purpose.

"Hmm?"

"A Menial Apprentice who has only been here five months? He probably could not even read before, yet he has come to apply for the Apothecary Apprentice assessment."

A flicker of surprise passed through Elder Wen's clouded eyes.

He stared at Lu Changsheng. "What is your name?"

"Lu Changsheng."

"Not a bad name. How many medicinal herbs do you know?"

"Five hundred and eighty-three."

"The Medical Sutra records more than three thousand six hundred medicinal herbs. Being able to remember over five hundred indeed meets the standard for an Apothecary Apprentice. Still, this old man must test you."

Elder Wen rose and led Lu Changsheng to the medicinal herb storeroom in the rear courtyard.

Medicinal herbs covered the ground here.

Elder Wen casually pointed to several herbs and asked, "Tell me what these three are, and what their main effects are."

Lu Changsheng answered at once, "Bupleurum: bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It mainly treats stagnant qi in the heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach, as well as accumulations from food and drink. It dispels pathogenic cold and heat, casts out the old and brings forth the new. Long-term use lightens the body and brightens the eyes."

"Atractylodes: strengthens the spleen, benefits the stomach, dries dampness, harmonizes the middle, and calms the fetus. It treats weak spleen and stomach qi, loss of appetite, fatigue and shortness of breath, deficiency distension, diarrhea, phlegm retention, edema, jaundice, dampness obstruction, difficulty urinating, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, and restless fetal qi."

"Fennel: pungent in flavor and warm in nature. It enters the kidney and stomach meridians. It mainly treats cold in the middle burner, nausea and vomiting, stagnant spleen and stomach qi..."

Lu Changsheng spoke in great detail, reciting every word recorded in the Medical Sutra without missing a single thing.

Beside him, Elder Wen nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Elder Wen tested him for nearly two hours, and Lu Changsheng correctly identified several dozen medicinal herbs.

There were only a few herbs he had not yet read about in the Medical Sutra, so he could not identify them.

However, judging by Elder Wen's expression, he was extremely satisfied.

At the very least, passing the Apothecary Apprentice assessment should not be a problem.

"Very good! Being able to identify so many medicinal herbs cannot be achieved through rote memorization alone. It shows that you have truly learned and applied what you learned."

"Steward Zhang, you've brought this old man a fine seedling."

"Lu Changsheng, from today onward, you are an Apothecary Apprentice."

Ordinarily, when an apprentice became an Apothecary Apprentice, Elder Wen would arrange for them to study under an Apothecary.

But after giving it some thought, Elder Wen said, "Are you willing to serve as an apprentice by this old man's side?"

"I am willing. Of course I am willing. Thank you, Elder Wen."

A hint of delight appeared on Lu Changsheng's face.

Judging from Steward Zhang's attitude earlier, Elder Wen's identity and status were certainly far from ordinary.

To become Elder Wen's apprentice was more than Lu Changsheng could have hoped for.

"Lu Changsheng, being able to follow Elder Wen is your good fortune. Elder Wen is one of Miraculous Garden's old hands. He can identify even more medicinal herbs than are recorded in the Medical Sutra."

"Study well under Elder Wen. I hope that in the future, you will not only become an Apothecary, but a Doctor, perhaps even a Famous Doctor of your generation!"

Steward Zhang patted Lu Changsheng on the shoulder and offered some encouragement before leaving.

Following Elder Wen, Lu Changsheng began his life as an Apothecary Apprentice.

Apothecary Apprentices had a certain amount of free time and even days off.

They had one day off every month.

They also received wages: three qian of silver a month.

Though the silver was not much, Lu Changsheng did not care.

What he cared about was that day off each month.

With time off, he could go to Woniu Mountain and retrieve the silver.

Lu Changsheng was very patient.

He did not rush. Instead, he waited a full month until his day off, then used going out as an excuse.

He then went to Woniu Mountain and found the cave.

The cave was covered in dust, with no traces left by anyone else. That meant no one had entered it during these past few months.

Lu Changsheng took out the gold and silver he had hidden.

He did not take the jewelry.

He only took the gold, silver, and Silver Notes.

The jewelry had to be sold off, and selling it could leave traces behind.

After all, those jewels were stolen goods of unknown origin.

Lu Changsheng took out the gold and silver and returned safely to Miraculous Garden.

He roughly counted it. Excluding the jewelry, there was no longer over eight hundred taels; only around five hundred taels remained.

Still, five hundred taels of silver was enough.

There were only two things he needed to do next.

First, study at a martial arts school, or simply buy some basic Martial Skills.

Second, buy Medicinal Cuisine to practice the Great River Blood Strengthening Technique.

Lu Changsheng disguised himself slightly. He stuck a homemade beard beneath his nose and used medicinal herbs to turn his face waxy yellow, making himself look like a middle-aged man.

Then Lu Changsheng headed out directly for the pharmacy.

PS: Two chapters are updated every day, at 12:00 and 12:30 respectively. If there is no update during those times, the chapter has definitely been blocked, so please wait patiently; it will be released around five in the afternoon. Bill was blocked today and was not released until five in the afternoon. During the public period, the two daily updates will never be missed!