Preparing Medicine

Preparing Medicine at Tiger Might Martial Arts School's Back Courtyard.

Inside the study, Guan Lie was reading.

Guan Lu carried over a cup of tea.

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

"Boring!"

Looking somewhat listless, Guan Lu set down the teacup and said irritably, "It was just a bunch of young masters talking about boring things. Even the sparring exchanges were pointless—mostly just performances!"

"But I did see that Qin Muxue!"

Guan Lu's eyes brightened, and her voice gained a little life. "Not only is she beautiful, she's genuinely strong. Several boys were no match for her. Oh, right—she even injured one of the Yue Family's young masters. Someone at the late stage of Bright Force couldn't even withstand two of her palms!"

Guan Lie took the tea and sipped it, smiling faintly. "The children of these martial arts families have good conditions. Since childhood, they've nourished their bodies with Spirit Medicine and Exotic Beast Meat, and they have complete inherited cultivation methods. Their starting point is naturally high; there's no comparing with that. You needn't be discouraged. Your strength is already quite good!"

"Dad, all you do is comfort me. I know my own limits. Compared to Qin Muxue, I'm truly far behind!"

Guan Lu acted spoiled. She was usually cold and aloof; only at times like this did she show the manner of a girl.

Guan Lie set down his teacup and looked at Guan Lu. "What about the matter I mentioned to you last time? Have you given it any thought?"

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

Guan Lu's pretty face immediately changed, full of indignation. "Every single person there is arrogant beyond belief, with that look on their faces like they're beneath everyone else. I'm not going there to put up with that!"

Guan Lie sighed softly at her words. "There's nothing to be done about it. Those who can enter Dan Shi Mountain Buddhist Monastery are all people with exceptional 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 with a face full of dissatisfaction. "Dad, have you heard? There's a trainee in the front courtyard called Fang Mo who goes out to have fun every night. If a trainee like that won't do, just expel him—so he doesn't bring shame upon Tiger Might!"

"I know!"

Guan Lie smiled faintly and took a sip of tea.

"You know? Then why haven't you expelled him? Didn't the Martial Arts Association tell 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, raised his eyes, and looked at Guan Lu.

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

Guan Lie said calmly, "What you hear may be false; what you see is truth. Are you certain he was out fighting?"

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

Guan Lu said angrily, puffed out her cheeks, turned, and ran out.

"This child."

Guan Lie shook his head with a smile and picked up his book again, preparing to read.

Just then, the communicator on the desk rang.

Guan Lie glanced at it. Tang Xiong's name was displayed on the screen. He put down his book. "Put it through!"

The call connected, and a beam of light projected 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, overseeing City God District.

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

"It's been investigated!"

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

Guan Lie's eyes lifted slightly as he said calmly, "Tell me the situation first."

Tang Xiong hesitated before saying, "It's the Fang Family, Yunyang's richest family. The Martial Arts Association has also made some moves. I've blocked them all, but they clearly aren't willing to let it go. They may very well use greater force, and when that happens, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop them. Master, you must be careful!"

"Careful of what?"

Guan Lie said unhappily.

Tang Xiong lowered his voice and said:

"Master, the Fang Family is Yunyang's richest family after all. They have powerful connections and influence in every circle. If they're determined to push this through, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop them!"

"...Why not just expel him?"

"Hmph! Impossible!"

A displeased look crossed Guan Lie's face as he snorted coldly.

At the request of our many readers, we now offer ad-free VIP Member access.

Click to view

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

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

On the other end of the line, Tang Xiong, dressed in a police uniform, looked at the darkened screen with helpless resignation.

He looked at the middle-aged man in a police uniform seated across from 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 pushed himself up from the desk with some helplessness. "Your Master is far too stubborn. Is it worth offending the Fang Family over one student? I've held things off for 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:

"My Master has always been like this. I've put Director Feng in a difficult position. Director Feng, please just deliver the message!"

Director Feng nodded.

"Fine! I'll pass it along!"

"Mo, are you short on money?"

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

"A little... yes."

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

"You've got things backward, kid!"

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've mastered even a tenth of it, you wouldn't be short on money. But here you are, sitting on a mountain of treasure 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?"

"Master, even if I could make medicine at my 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 had probably assumed he was going out to earn money. However, he likely did not know that Fang Mo was fighting in underground matches and had mistaken it for sparring work.

"Fine, kid. Are you blaming your Master for not teaching you diligently enough?"

Xie Changmin glared, tossing the stirring rod in his hand to Fang Mo. "Starting today, you'll handle every batch of medicine yourself. Let me see how much you can learn!"

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

Fang Mo hurriedly said.

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

Xie Changmin glared and shouted:

"It's decided!"

Fang Mo immediately did not dare argue. He took the rod and began stirring.

He wanted to train, and the Martial Hall could expel him at any moment. Strength mattered most to him, but Pharmacist Xie meant well too.

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

With a thought, golden words appeared before his eyes.

[Medicinal Properties: Elementary Mastery (155/1000)]

[Medicine Grinding: Elementary Mastery (910/1000)]

[Extraction: Elementary Mastery (378/1000)]

[Alchemy: Beginner (33/100)]

From medicinal properties, medicine grinding, extraction, and refinement to alchemy, all of them were skills involved in concocting medicines.

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

Combined with helping Xie Changmin prepare medicine, he had progressed rather quickly.

Still, becoming a pharmacist truly was not easy.

One had to understand the medicinal properties of every ingredient—herbs, roots and stems, ores, and materials from exotic beasts. Every property had to be mastered, or it would be impossible to extract the active components. One also had to choose suitable fusion catalysts to improve extraction rates and neutralize toxicity.

The refining process involved complex steps.

When to heat it, how hot to heat it, how to stir it, when to cool it, how long to let it sit—both the timing and technique of every step could affect the quality of the final product.

Pharmacist Xie kept his word and truly let him take over completely.

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

Fang Mo's hands were incredibly steady, and his mind 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 grew steadier and steadier, and he seemed to improve with every mixture he prepared.

He really was a fine sapling!

Fang Mo blended in the final medicinal liquid, carefully using heat to condense it as he observed its color, concentration, and scent.

At last, he completed every step.

Looking at the green liquid in the copper pot, a victorious smile appeared on his face.

He had completed the refinement on his own.

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

Xie Changmin was delighted inside, but his expression remained stern as he spoke.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Fang Mo hurriedly steadied himself, carefully extracted a drop, placed it into the testing machine, and activated the test.