Medicinal Meal Upgrade, Missing Medicinal Ingredients

Returning to his small courtyard, Shen Han opened his panel.

Mirror Master: Shen Han

Cultivation: Flesh Refining

Technique: Ancient Sun Technique (Great Success)

Martial Arts: Angry Dragon Divine Fist (Perfected), Sky-Splitting Blade Technique (Perfected)

Skills: Medicine (Perfected)

"The Perfected Sky-Splitting Blade Technique, combined with the over one thousand jin of force from the Flesh Refining Realm, is truly extraordinary in its power.

In actual combat, I can steadily suppress any expert in the Flesh Refining Realm.

But I cannot stop cultivating my techniques; I must continuously improve my realm to become even stronger.

Alright, let's see what is written on the white cloth."

He took out the white cloth he had obtained from Wen He, brought it close to the oil lamp, and examined it carefully.

Upon seeing it, he was immediately both shocked and delighted.

What was recorded on the white cloth was actually a medicinal diet recipe called "Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water."

This medicinal diet was decocted from thirteen types of medicinal herbs in specific proportions, and it had a tremendous effect on condensing blood and qi, as well as tempering tendons and bones. Furthermore, any martial artist who had not yet reached the Bone Refining Realm could consume it.

"A timely rain indeed!"

Shen Han felt very fortunate about his trip to the Golden Buddha Temple tonight.

The Qi Condensing Powder had already lost its effectiveness, so this Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water had arrived at the perfect time.

"I'll go buy the herbs tomorrow at noon. I hope they aren't too expensive..."

Early the next morning, Shen Han arrived at the clinic.

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere of the previous evening, everyone in the clinic was feeling incredibly relaxed.

"Elder Huang, are you doing alright?"

Shen Han sat in Huang Tie's Clinic No. 8 and personally brewed a pot of tea for him.

"Sigh, I am safe and sound, it's just that Xiao Li..."

"The dead cannot return to life, Elder Huang, please accept my condolences."

Huang Tie nodded: "Fortunately, those three damned villains were all killed, so Xiao Li can finally rest in peace."

Shen Han asked casually: "Who was the one who took action?"

"A hero with an ugly appearance."

Huang Tie's eyes filled with admiration as he said, "Little Shen, you didn't see it. That hero possessed natural divine strength; Wen He's two disciples didn't even have the power to fight back.

Even Wen He only managed to hold on for a short while before being killed without a trace."

"Elder Huang, didn't you ask for his name or background?"

"How could I dare to casually befriend such a heroic figure?"

Huang Tie waved his hand, "However, that hero mentioned during his conversation with Wen He that he knew Master Han."

Shen Han found it amusing and said: "A friend of Master Han?"

Huang Tie replied: "But the Master has no impression of him. I thought about it carefully while sleeping last night; it is likely that the Master's habit of doing good deeds has brought him this good fortune.

Sigh, I actually really wish I had a friend like that."

"Elder Huang, your medical ethics are noble; perhaps someone has been protecting you in the shadows all along."

"Little Shen, stop joking around."

"I'm serious."

"Right!"

Huang Tie suddenly changed the subject, "Speaking of that ugly-faced hero, there is one more thing."

Shen Han asked curiously: "What is it?"

Huang Tie's expression turned strange: "After that hero killed the villains, he actually looted all the silver from their corpses."

"Haha, I personally think that even heroes have to eat and drink, after all."

Shen Han quickly took a sip of hot tea to ease his embarrassment.

Huang Tie agreed: "That's true. Perhaps that hero lives alone and has no livelihood, so taking the thieves' silver after ridding the people of a scourge is only natural."

As they spoke, patients began to arrive one after another.

The day's consultations officially began.

Originally, Han Zhengming had told Huang Tie to rest for a few days, but Huang Tie was concerned about his patients and did not agree.

Noon.

Hua'an Hall in the south of the city.

"Young Master, are you preparing to change your medicinal ingredients again?"

The shopkeeper, Qiao Shan, was very surprised.

Shen Han smiled and said, "That is correct. This time, the prescription contains thirteen types of herbs. Please calculate the cost for one portion for me."

Although he said this, Shen Han knew clearly that the ingredients for the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water would definitely be much more expensive than the Qi Condensing Powder. He wondered how many portions his sixty taels of silver could buy.

"Uh..."

After reading the prescription, Qiao Shan was stunned.

Shen Han asked, "Shopkeeper, is there... perhaps a problem with the prescription?"

Qiao Shan frowned slightly. "To be honest, I have ten of these ingredients in stock, but the remaining three—Heaven-Reaching Grass, Scale Skin, and Gourd Cup Root—my shop does not carry."

"You don't have them?"

Shen Han was startled.

Qiao Shan said helplessly, "Yes. The medicinal formula you have this time is very expensive; one portion would cost at least seven or eight taels of silver. If I had the stock, why would I pass up the chance to make money?"

It was that expensive?

Now it was Shen Han's turn to be stunned.

But being expensive was one thing; not being able to buy them was an entirely new problem.

"Shopkeeper, do you know where I might find them?"

"My Hua'an Hall is the largest pharmacy in Three Rivers County. If I don't have them here, other shops certainly won't either."

Qiao Shan said solemnly, "If you don't believe me, Young Master, you can go inquire elsewhere."

Shen Han cupped his hands. "In that case, thank you very much."

Qiao Shan saw Shen Han out the door. "Take care, Young Master. If you have any other needs in the future, you are welcome to come back to me."

To be honest, Qiao Shan valued Shen Han as a client. He was well aware of what a stable source of business meant for trade.

After leaving Hua'an Hall, Shen Han visited several more pharmacies in succession.

Sure enough, just as Qiao Shan had said, none of the shops in the entire county sold Heaven-Reaching Grass, Scale Skin, or Gourd Cup Root.

Shen Han returned to Hanging Pot Medical Hall.

Finding an opportunity, he asked the steward, Qian Cheng, and learned that the medical hall had never procured those three medicines either.

"What should I do now?"

He could only put the matter aside for the time being.

An hour later, as usual, all the registered patients at Clinic No. 13 had been seen.

Zhan Chaoyang stepped into the clinic to change his dressing.

"Little Doctor Shen, my wounds seem to be completely healed. I can move around as I please!"

"Mm, your physical constitution is truly excellent, Guard Zhan."

"No, no, it is all thanks to you, Little Doctor Shen."

Zhan Chaoyang said hurriedly, "I understand even better now why you were able to cure my uncle. Although you are young, your medical skills have reached the pinnacle!"

Shen Han laughed. "Guard Zhan, please, stop flattering me."

Zhan Chaoyang said boldly, "You deserve the praise! By the way, regarding what happened last night, a friend of mine at the yamen told me that Magistrate He has issued a gag order; no one is allowed to mention it."

"Why?"

"Wen He and the other two were traitors to the Long Blade Sect. Magistrate He believes their deaths must involve the sects. As the saying goes, 'jianghu matters are settled in the jianghu,' and Magistrate He does not want to interfere too much."

"Magistrate He is quite shrewd."

"Otherwise, how could he be an official?" Zhan Chaoyang said. "Besides that, there was another strange incident yesterday."

"Oh?"

"A Night Watchman was killed by a blade."

Zhan Chaoyang said seriously, "This matter is even more bizarre. My constable friend wanted to investigate it thoroughly, but guess what? It is said that Magistrate He was suddenly coerced by some external force and hastily ruled the case a suicide."

It must have been that senior martial brother... Shen Han had an inkling.

That night watchman was an informant for the head disciple of the Iron Fist Martial Hall. If the case were thoroughly investigated, it would inevitably have a negative impact on the martial hall's reputation. A conclusion where the matter was dropped was what best served everyone's interests.

This is for the best... Shen Han thought to himself. With the night watchman dead, at least things could be quiet for a while.