This Herb Has a Problem

Within the Medicine Hall, the herbs selected by Alchemist Assistants were inspected afterward, their completeness checked and any missing herbs noted.

On the day after the Alchemist Assistants finished selecting, people were assigned as usual to inspect the already allocated herbs.

Steward Li of the Medicine Hall routinely arranged for people to conduct the inspections. Once the assignments had been made, he sent them off to check, basically just giving everything a once-over.

These people were all Formal Disciples of the Medicine Hall. They had learned the relevant knowledge about medicinal herbs. Though they could not compare to Alchemist Assistants, they knew the basics.

Moreover, their main task was much like checking accounts—making comparisons, not studying medicines.

"Steward Li, I am more familiar with herbs such as Angelica Sinensis and Coptis Chinensis over here. Can I switch with Li Yufeng?"

Before Steward Li left, Zhao Ziqing spoke up to ask.

"As long as Li Yufeng has no objections, that will be fine."

Hearing this, Steward Li paused, glanced at Zhao Ziqing, nodded, then turned and left.

As he turned away, a strange gleam flashed through Steward Li's eyes.

After receiving his answer, a smile appeared on Zhao Ziqing's face.

It was more or less as he had expected. There was indeed no problem on Steward Li's end, so Zhao Ziqing directly exchanged assignments with Li Yufeng.

When he learned that Li Yufeng had been assigned to inspect Angelica Sinensis, Coptis Chinensis, and the like, he had already proposed the exchange. The price he paid was helping the other man process herbs.

Zhao Ziqing first went to the Coptis Chinensis. After inspecting each batch and confirming there were no issues, he walked to where the Angelica Sinensis was stored. At this point, his heartbeat quickened more and more.

After opening several herb chests in front and finding no issues through comparison, his gaze shifted to the position of the herb chest he had silently counted several times before.

This is it.

Zhao Ziqing murmured inwardly, then opened the herb cabinet.

What met his eyes was Angelica Sinensis of rather good appearance. Among them was that special herb—Du Huo.

Zhao Ziqing took it in hand, inspecting it while smelling its medicinal scent.

For this matter, he had deliberately familiarized himself with the two herbs Du Huo and Angelica Sinensis, even consulting medical books and the Medicine Scripture.

Now that he held it in his hand, he compared and examined it again, even leaving a small hole in the herb. Once he confirmed that it was not Angelica Sinensis but Du Huo, a smile appeared on Zhao Ziqing's face.

"Steward Li, there is a problem with the herbs in this storeroom."

Holding the Du Huo that looked almost identical to Angelica Sinensis, Zhao Ziqing walked out of the storeroom and called out loudly.

His voice also drew the attention of the disciples inspecting herbs.

"What problem?"

After a strange smile flashed across Steward Li's face at those words, he looked at Zhao Ziqing as the latter ran over.

"This herb has a problem."

"This herb looks very much like Angelica Sinensis, but it is actually not. This herb is Du Huo."

Holding the Du Huo in his hand, Zhao Ziqing spoke with an anxious expression.

"Du Huo is highly poisonous. If it is left in the storeroom and taken away by someone who does not understand its effects, it will cause a great disaster."

Zhao Ziqing continued, deliberately emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. He wanted to draw Steward Li and the others' attention to it.

At the same time, he wanted the disciples nearby who had heard of the matter to know that this was no small issue.

"Who was responsible for selecting this batch of Angelica Sinensis?"

Steward Li asked.

Hearing that tone, Zhao Ziqing knew the matter was settled.

"It is recorded here as Yang Chan, Pharmacist Xu's assistant."

Zhao Ziqing quickly gave the answer.

"You two, go and bring Alchemist Assistant Yang Chan here."

Steward Li looked toward the four guard disciples nearby and gave the order.

These people were part of those responsible for the Medicine Hall's security. Qingyuan Sect had many people guarding the Medicine Hall, both openly and in secret, all to prevent anyone from tampering with things inside.

The medicines in the Medicine Hall concerned the cultivation of the entire Qingyuan Sect, so they were naturally treated with great importance.

By the time Yang Chan arrived before the storeroom, quite a few people had already gathered there. Even the other Alchemist Assistants were watching to see what had happened.

"Yang Chan, the Angelica Sinensis in this storeroom was sorted by you yesterday, wasn't it?"

After glancing at Steward Li, Zhao Ziqing walked up to Yang Chan, pointed at the storeroom beside them, and questioned him.

At that moment, Zhao Ziqing looked like a judge passing sentence, exceedingly pleased with himself.

"That's right."

Yang Chan's expression did not change as he nodded.

"Then you should recognize this herb!"

Zhao Ziqing smiled faintly and took out the Du Huo that closely resembled Angelica Sinensis.

"Of course I recognize it. I personally inspected this herb. Is there a problem?"

Yang Chan continued to answer, with little change in his expression.

"The problem is enormous. Do you know that this herb is not Angelica Sinensis?"

"After inspecting it, you actually placed it among the Angelica Sinensis. That is a dereliction of duty."

"This herb is Du Huo, and Du Huo is highly poisonous. If used in excessive amounts, it can even kill people. At the least, it can ruin a person's cultivation."

"As an Alchemist Assistant, after doing something like this, what right do you have to remain in the Medicine Hall?"

"If someone's martial path is severed today because of your actions, or they even die, you will bear a monstrous crime."

As Zhao Ziqing spoke, his voice grew louder and louder. His rebuke made him seem as though he represented all the disciples of Qingyuan Sect.

Those listening nearby could not help nodding, agreeing with his view.

As the people below Pharmacists who had the most contact with medicinal herbs, Alchemist Assistants naturally could not make mistakes. Once they did, the consequences would be immense.

Whether selecting herbs or assisting Pharmacists in treating the injured, any oversight could cost lives.

If disciples of Qingyuan Sect died at the hands of hostile forces, they had contributed to the sect and died honorably. But if they died due to negligence within Qingyuan Sect, that would be a disgrace.

"I know this is Du Huo."

Yang Chan said calmly, his tone barely changing. Yet his words were like a single stone stirring up a thousand waves, leaving many people staring at him in shock, unable to understand why he had done such a thing.

Even Zhao Ziqing, standing before Yang Chan, was the same. He had intended to keep occupying the moral high ground and continue attacking Yang Chan, using that to achieve his goal.

But Yang Chan's words stunned even him. For a moment, he did not know what to say. Still, Zhao Ziqing reacted quickly and promptly adjusted himself.

"You knew it was Du Huo, yet you still put it among the Angelica Sinensis. Are you trying to kill people?"

"Could it be that you hold a grudge against someone in the sect and want to take revenge on the sect?"

Zhao Ziqing shifted the subject, dragging the matter into a far greater mess while using it to send Yang Chan into a pit of eternal damnation.

This differed from his original plan, but since Yang Chan had said that, he had no choice. He would directly cut off all of Yang Chan's hopes.

"If I had not done this, how would you have jumped out?"

"Isn't that right, Steward Li?"

Yang Chan smiled faintly, looking toward Steward Li, who had been watching the show from the side, as he spoke.

After discovering that someone was targeting him, he had begun making preparations.

Yang Chan had not chosen to throw away the Du Huo. Instead, he had chosen to lay out a trap, because he knew that if someone wanted to deal with him, there would inevitably be further moves.

They had discovered it this time, but that might not be the case next time.

The best method was to pull up the weeds by the roots.