Old Man Chen's pharmacy was known to everyone in Datian Town. Hunting in the mountains inevitably led to injuries or poisoning, yet Old Man Chen always cured them with medicine that worked like a charm, earning him an exceptionally high reputation in Datian Town.
On North Street stood an inconspicuous little shop, with a large character for "Medicine" hanging high above it. Old Man Chen's apprentices were busy slicing and preparing medicines through all manner of processes, while the fresh fragrance of herbs drifted through the area.
Though the pharmacy's business was excellent, Old Man Chen, who had handed everything over to his apprentices, lived a leisurely life. He often sat in a rattan chair in the pharmacy's inner courtyard, sipping tea and reading, perfectly at ease. Other than difficult illnesses his apprentices could not diagnose, or excessively precious medicinal herbs they dared not purchase without permission, he no longer involved himself in ordinary matters.
Surrounded by a crowd of youths, Qin Haoxuan arrived at the pharmacy in a grand procession, drawing quite a few curious looks.
Everyone in town knew that Qin Haoxuan had come to sell medicinal herbs again. With such a great commotion, perhaps he had found another treasure worth a fortune!
Besides a few injured hunters and scattered herb gatherers who had come to sell their finds, Chen Family Pharmacy had only two unfamiliar faces.
Seeing two unfamiliar faces in Datian Town was truly rare. Under the eager recommendations of Old Man Chen's haughty apprentices, the pair were selecting expensive medicinal herbs. Judging by the apprentices' nearly fawning smiles, they must have already bought quite a lot. They were presumably those wealthy traveling magnates from elsewhere.
As Qin Haoxuan reached the entrance of Chen Family Pharmacy, the faint fragrance of the Solomon's Seal stood out even amid the dense herbal scent, immediately drawing the attention of the two strangers.
"Young man, are you here to sell herbs?" One of them, a man in a blue robe with a little goatee, walked up to Qin Haoxuan. "This little village town actually has fine Solomon's Seal?"
Before Qin Haoxuan could speak, one of the youths rushed to answer ahead of him. "I don't know whether it's Solomon's Seal or not, but nothing Brother Qin brings out is inferior goods!"
The goateed man stared straight at Qin Haoxuan's face. Seeing that Qin Haoxuan neither confirmed nor denied it, tacitly accepting the claim that it was Solomon's Seal, the man continued, "Little brother, I'm preparing a prescription that happens to require Solomon's Seal. Name your price for this piece today, and I'll buy it. What do you say?"
Qin Haoxuan knew that this man was certainly someone with a background. He had not even taken out the Solomon's Seal, yet the man had identified it at a glance. It would be better not to name a price carelessly before such a capable person.
Qin Haoxuan did not name a price, but the village youths who had come along for the excitement had already begun shouting out random bids, scrambling to be first.
"Five taels..."
"How could five taels be enough? At least ten!"
"Show some ambition, would you? Is Brother Qin's treasure worth only ten taels? I say at least fifteen!"
The youths, who did not even know what Solomon's Seal was, argued until their faces were red. Their bids climbed all the way from five taels to fifty.
The two strangers exchanged smiles. The goateed man took out five gleaming silver ingots from his bundle and said, "There are one hundred taels of silver here. If little brother is willing to sell me this piece of Solomon's Seal, all this silver is yours."
The sight of one hundred taels of silver instantly stunned the mountain youths. They had shouted their bids with great enthusiasm, but aside from Qin Haoxuan, they were country bumpkins who had never even seen ten taels of silver, much less a full hundred at once.
Even Zhang Kuang's family, whose father was Datian Town's finest hunter, earned only twenty or thirty taels from hunting in a year. Yet that already made them one of the wealthiest families in town.
Seeing the drool practically spilling from the youths' faces, the two men assumed the deal was sealed.
Qin Haoxuan was also startled enough by the price that his heart pounded wildly. Only after a long while did he shake his head and say, "I really can't sell this to you two..."
Hearing Qin Haoxuan's words, the goateed man was taken aback. Then he said, "Though Solomon's Seal is rare, if you sell it to the pharmacy, you'll receive only twenty or thirty taels. Yet I'm offering one hundred taels..."
The other stranger, who had remained silent all this time, interrupted him. "If you're dissatisfied with the price, I'll add another twenty taels. How about it?"
One hundred and twenty taels—an ordinary Datian Town family's income for more than ten years. Even Qin Haoxuan would need three or four years to earn that much. One youth had already flushed bright red, staring at the six silver ingots glittering under the sunlight until he felt he could barely breathe.
Qin Haoxuan drew a deep breath and steadied his somewhat wavering soul.
"Old Man Chen has been talking about wanting a piece of Solomon's Seal for years. If he learns that I found one but sold it to you, he'll lower the price when he buys medicinal herbs from me in the future. A hundred taels is tempting, but I can't cut off my own retreat, can I?"
Qin Haoxuan laid out his reasoning. Everyone present, including the two strangers, listened with deep approval. The other adults buying medicine in the shop wore regretful expressions, lamenting why they could not have raised a son like this!
"Interesting, interesting." The two strangers smiled faintly and left with great composure. The moment they departed, Old Man Chen, having received the news, hurried out from the inner courtyard.
"Solomon's Seal? You found Solomon's Seal?" Old Man Chen's voice arrived before he did. Though nearly eighty, he was full of vigor, rosy-faced, and swift on his feet. The instant he saw Qin Haoxuan, he cried anxiously, "I heard someone was competing with me for Solomon's Seal at a high price? Where is it? Did you sell it?"
"Here, I saved it for you." Qin Haoxuan opened the hand that had been tightly gripping the Solomon's Seal. A yellow pebble the size of a little fingernail appeared in his palm, and its subtle yet rich fragrance immediately spread out, suppressing the scents of all the other herbs in the pharmacy.
"Solomon's Seal—it really is Solomon's Seal..." At his age, Old Man Chen could no longer restrain his emotions upon seeing it. Taking three steps as two, he rushed over, accepted the Solomon's Seal from Qin Haoxuan, and carefully examined it in his palm, tears of excitement streaming down his face.
"Qin boy, how much do you want to sell this piece of Solomon's Seal for?" Only after quite some time did Old Man Chen compose himself and ask solemnly, "I heard someone just offered one hundred and twenty taels?"
Qin Haoxuan nodded. "How much do you think you can offer?"
"Medicinal herbs have no fixed price. If someone urgently needs it to save a life, even a thousand taels would not be excessive for this piece of Solomon's Seal. But at present, I can offer only thirty taels." Old Man Chen gently rolled the Solomon's Seal between two fingers and praised, "What a treasure, what a treasure!"
This price was far too different from the previous offer of one hundred and twenty taels. Before Qin Haoxuan could state his position, the youths behind him began clamoring.
"Others offered such a high price, but yours is so low! Brother Qin even saved it for you!"
"Yeah, that's outrageous. The difference is enormous..."
"I won't force you. If you can't sell it, take it back!" Old Man Chen rolled it between his fingers faster, looking utterly reluctant to part with it. Though Solomon's Seal was exceedingly rare and impossible to find on the market, the thirty taels he offered was already a very fair price.
Qin Haoxuan smiled faintly and blocked the hand Old Man Chen extended with the Solomon's Seal. "Thirty taels it is. Without you, how could I be where I am today? I picked it anyway. Selling it for a little more or a little less doesn't matter, so let it fulfill one of your wishes!"
Old Man Chen was moved beyond measure and overjoyed. He gripped the Solomon's Seal tightly in his hand, as though someone would snatch it away if he loosened his hold for even a second.
After receiving thirty taels of silver from Old Man Chen, Qin Haoxuan called his friends together and led the youths to a tavern in town, where they drank heartily before going their separate ways, each thoroughly satisfied.
While drinking at the tavern, the youths heard an extraordinarily exciting piece of news: "Word has it that tomorrow is the great day when the Immortals in the mountains open the mountain and select disciples!"
After returning home, Qin Haoxuan slept soundly. By evening, the town chief had sent men to gather all the eligible sixteen-year-old youths in town and announced this thrilling news in the town square.
"Tomorrow at Pozi Ridge, the Immortals in the mountains will choose the finest seedlings among you and take them as disciples. This is a rare opportunity. You must all steel yourselves and take it seriously. Once chosen by the Immortals, you will also receive a Settling Allowance of two hundred taels of silver every year!"
Two hundred taels of silver! Every single year!
Two hundred taels of silver was an enormous sum even to Qin Haoxuan, let alone these youths who had scarcely seen any money. They were directly knocked senseless by the astronomical figure of two hundred taels every year.
"Those who wish to register, come register with me. At dawn tomorrow, we will set out for Pozi Ridge."
Even without the temptation of two hundred taels of silver each year, being noticed by the Immortals in the mountains and accepted as their disciple was enough to make these youths flock to it like ducks. Qin Haoxuan also wanted to become an Immortal, but he was more worried that his aging parents would be left without food or clothing after he departed. How could he go off to become an Immortal and leave his parents lonely and helpless?
But with the annual Settling Allowance of two hundred taels, things were different. If the Immortals chose him, the two hundred taels every year would allow his parents to live without worry and enjoy their old age. He could then follow the Immortals without concern and learn the arts of longevity and immortality. Surely his parents would support him as well!
Along with the excited youths, Qin Haoxuan registered with the town chief. Zhang Kuang, who had also registered, was brimming with confidence amid the flattery of several lackeys. Thinking that the Immortals would soon choose him, allowing him to shed his mortal status forever, he no longer feared Qin Haoxuan as he had before.
"Qin Haoxuan, the Immortals will definitely choose me tomorrow. Then we'll settle some scores properly."
After writing his name in the registration book, Qin Haoxuan heard Zhang Kuang's nearly arrogant voice behind him. He turned around and fixed his eyes on the supremely confident Zhang Kuang. A fierce glint flashed through his gaze, but he said nothing.
Zhang Kuang felt that single look bore straight into his heart and saw through his soul. He could not help shuddering, goosebumps rising all over his body.
Zhang Kuang, who had been glared at by Qin Haoxuan, quickly calmed down. A cold gleam flashed through his eyes as he secretly blamed himself for getting carried away and acting too impulsively. He shot Qin Haoxuan a venomous glare, then silently turned and left before all the spectators, drawing a burst of mocking laughter. He had truly lifted a stone only to smash his own foot.
Watching Zhang Kuang's retreating back, even Qin Haoxuan could not help feeling a chill in his heart. If an insidious petty man like Zhang Kuang, who knew when to advance and when to retreat, was truly chosen alongside him, he would have to be doubly careful.
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