The Pharmacist Association's Invitation

The Pharmacist Association's Invitation

After descending the mountain, the two went their separate ways. Zhang He immediately hurried to the Wang Family Pharmacy without stopping. He was consumed with guilt. He had been so absorbed in cultivation that he had actually forgotten his promise to Wang Pengyu. He had no idea what the situation at the Wang Family Pharmacy was now.

As soon as Zhang He entered the Wang Family Pharmacy, Wang Pengyu got the news and hurried over to greet him. Seeing Zhang He, he visibly relaxed, and his tightly knitted brows unfurrowed.

"Brother Zhang, you're finally here. I've been worried sick these past few days! We've completely run out of Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills. The people coming to beg for medicine could trample our doorstep flat. At this point, they're practically about to camp outside our home every day!"

Wang Pengyu wiped away his cold sweat and gave a bitter smile, a trace of complaint in his voice.

Zhang He was embarrassed. He immediately set down his basket and took out several large clay jars. Altogether, they held more than three thousand Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills.

"These were exceptionally difficult to refine. The moment I succeeded, I came straight here. There are three thousand pills here. Take them for now," Zhang He said.

"Three thousand should be enough to tide us over for a while." Wang Pengyu let out a small sigh of relief. "You have no idea. Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills are selling like crazy now. Ever since the wealthy families learned they can cure the poison from Corpse Poison Beetles, they've been coming here every day to beg for medicine. They've tried every threat and temptation under the sun."

Wang Pengyu sounded rather miserable, but in truth, he was both suffering and delighted. For the first time, the Wang Family Pharmacy had become so famous!

"I'll refine the next batch as soon as I can and bring it to you," Zhang He said.

"By the way, let me introduce someone to you." Wang Pengyu suddenly lowered his voice with an air of mystery. "This man has quite a bit of influence. As soon as he heard the news, he came especially to find you."

"He came especially to find me?" Zhang He frowned.

Led by Wang Pengyu, Zhang He followed him into a lavishly furnished room.

A middle-aged man in brocade robes sat inside, a faint air of authority radiating from him. When Zhang He entered, the man's eyes suddenly flashed with keen interest. He then sized Zhang He up discreetly. Seeming to sense that Zhang He was no ordinary person, a trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.

"Brother Zhang, this is Master Lu Tiao. He's a master alchemist from the Pharmacist Association, and he came especially to see you," Wang Pengyu said with a smile.

The Pharmacist Association? Zhang He racked his brain, but couldn't recall what it was.

"So you're Zhang He? Just as Pengyu said, you're a promising young talent!" Master Lu Tiao smiled slightly, his manner friendly.

Zhang He grinned and got straight to the point. "You flatter me. May I ask what brings you here, Master Lu Tiao?"

He had already guessed that it must have something to do with his Five Poison Beads.

Master Lu Tiao paused briefly. Zhang He's bluntness had caught him somewhat off guard. But he was experienced and steady; he quickly recovered, smiling as he said, "Please, have a seat first. I came here because of you, young friend. I've examined the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills. Their refining method, the way they're formed, and their unique ingredients have all astonished me. Your alchemy seems to follow a path completely different from ours. Am I right?"

Master Lu Tiao stared intently at Zhang He's face, trying to read his reaction.

Zhang He remained perfectly calm. "That's right. My alchemy techniques are indeed different." The main ingredient in his alchemy was poison, and the refining process required many methods to keep its medicinal properties in check. Naturally, his approach was different. But from Master Lu Tiao's words, Zhang He already knew that the other man had clearly studied his Five Poison Beads. Unable to figure anything out, he had come to propose working together.

At that thought, Zhang He felt a little displeased. Had Wang Pengyu intended to crack the formula and stop working with him?

Master Lu Tiao noticed the displeasure on Zhang He's face and immediately guessed the reason. He hurriedly said, "Young friend, don't misunderstand. I studied your Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills purely out of personal curiosity. Every pharmacist is naturally curious about unusual alchemy techniques. I'm sure you can understand."

Only then did Zhang He's expression ease.

"From the way you refined them, I saw your potential. That's why I decided to bring you into the Pharmacist Association," Master Lu Tiao continued.

"Join the Pharmacist Association?" Zhang He furrowed his brows and looked at Master Lu Tiao in confusion.

Wang Pengyu quickly explained, "Brother Zhang, the Pharmacist Association is a tightly organized institution. Only pharmacists with real skill can join. Once you do, you can receive all kinds of help from the association. If you want to pursue the path of a pharmacist, it'll be a great boon to your future."

Master Lu Tiao nodded slightly. "That's right. To tell you the truth, the great power backing our Pharmacist Association is Medicine King Valley. Across the entire continent, there isn't a sect that dares offend Medicine King Valley. Once you join the association, you'll naturally have Medicine King Valley's protection as well."

Zhang He gave him an amused look. "Are you asking me to join a sect?"

"Join a sect? Ha-ha. Being part of the Pharmacist Association doesn't mean you can call yourself a member of Medicine King Valley. The valley's requirements for accepting disciples are extremely strict. However, when they select disciples each year, they give preference to candidates from the Pharmacist Association." Master Lu Tiao sounded pleased with himself.

Zhang He remained unmoved. "Why do you want me to join the Pharmacist Association? There's no such thing as a free lunch. What benefits would I get, and what would you need me to do?"

No matter how powerful Medicine King Valley was, Zhang He wouldn't be tempted so easily.

Master Lu Tiao couldn't help but see Zhang He in a new light. Even after hearing his introduction, the young man remained so calm. Master Lu Tiao thought for a moment, then said, "The Pharmacist Association has more than three thousand pharmacists. They all have their own skills, and they're divided into ranks. The association has six ranks: ace, Gold-Rank, Silver-Rank, Bronze-Rank, Iron-Rank, and ordinary. Pharmacists can earn contribution points by making certain contributions to the association. Once they've accumulated enough points, they not only qualify for promotion but can also use their contribution points to obtain the help they need from the association, such as rare medicinal ingredients, ancient pill formulas, or assistance from the association's experts."

Zhang He's eyes lit up slightly. From the sound of it, the Pharmacist Association seemed like a pretty good place!

"Then what would I need to do to join the Pharmacist Association?" Zhang He asked calmly, narrowing his eyes.

At that, a faint smile appeared on Master Lu Tiao's face. The other man had finally been tempted. He got straight to the point. "If you want to join the Pharmacist Association, you only need to register, and I'll vouch for you."

"Ha-ha, Master Lu, why don't you just say what you really mean?" Zhang He smiled slightly. "Are you hoping to get your hands on my pill formula?"

Seeing Zhang He's attitude, Master Lu Tiao decided there was no point in hiding anything. He stated his intentions plainly. "A pill formula is a pharmacist's most precious secret. We wouldn't ask you for it. In fact, we're bringing you into the Pharmacist Association for the sake of its reputation. Once you join, you'll need to accumulate contribution points, and the Five Poison Beads in Mengyin City are a perfect opportunity! So, when you sell the Five Poison Beads, you only need to tell people that the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills are specially supplied by the Pharmacist Association."

Zhang He immediately understood what Master Lu Tiao meant. The other man wanted him to join the Pharmacist Association both because of his distinctive alchemy skills and because this opportunity could help promote the association's reputation.

Zhang He had no reason to refuse. This arrangement could only benefit him.

"If I join the Pharmacist Association, I have no problem with that. I just want to ask: how many contribution points would I get for doing this?" Zhang He asked shrewdly.

Master Lu Tiao clapped his hands and laughed. "The contribution points you receive this time will be enough to promote you straight to Iron-Rank Pharmacist!"

"What can an Iron-Rank Pharmacist do?"

"That's rather complicated. An Iron-Rank Pharmacist has far greater privileges than an ordinary pharmacist, so you'll be able to do many things. I'll give you a document later, and you can read through it at your leisure. At the moment, there are only three hundred Iron-Rank Pharmacists in the entire association. You'll be the youngest!"

Wang Pengyu looked at Zhang He with envy. An Iron-Rank Pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association—what an exalted status! Zhang He's future truly seemed boundless.

Wang Pengyu made up his mind to befriend Zhang He. He had a feeling that Zhang He would achieve extraordinary things in the future.

After they finished discussing the matter, Master Lu Tiao couldn't wait to return and prepare for Zhang He's admission to the Pharmacist Association. As Zhang He's sponsor, he would benefit too if Zhang He advanced.

After Master Lu Tiao left, Wang Pengyu had his men carry out a chest. "All the money from the Detoxification and Marrow Cleansing Pills we sold last time is in here. Their prices varied, though, and a small portion were given away to build goodwill and help promote them. Here's the ledger."

Zhang He paused and opened the chest. It was full of glittering gold coins. From the amount, there had to be at least six hundred! An ordinary family couldn't earn that much even after a lifetime of hard work!

"I'm making money too fast." Zhang He was delighted, but as he looked at the huge chest, he knew he couldn't carry it off himself. That would be ridiculous. After thinking it over, he said, "Leave the money with you for now. By the way, can you help me find a new house?"

"What kind of house?" Wang Pengyu asked, taken aback.

"Somewhere with a nice environment. It doesn't have to be too big, and then arrange for two or three servants," Zhang He said after thinking it over. He didn't have high standards for a house, as long as it was comfortable. But he had to think of his mother and little sister. Now that he had so much money, he could afford to buy a decent house.

"No problem. Leave it to me." Wang Pengyu gave his word.

When Lian Yunbi returned home, she went straight to her younger brother's room. Her mother was keeping watch by his side alone. Lian Yunbi's heart sank when she saw her little brother lying unconscious. In just a few short days, he had become almost unrecognizable. The sight made Lian Yunbi's heart ache.

"Yunbi, did you find the Ice Cold Pangolin?" her mother asked, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her daughter returning unharmed.

Lian Yunbi shook her head. "Has Father come back?"

"He has. He came back empty-handed too." Her mother's eyes dimmed as she sighed.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. A handsome, imposing middle-aged man strode in. It was Lian Yunbi's father, Lian Cheng.

"Father!" Lian Yunbi hurriedly greeted him.

"I've already sent people to find Pharmacist Lin. I'm sure we'll hear something soon," Father Lian said solemnly.

"Are there really no other skilled pharmacists in Luowang Prefecture? Do we have to go to that Pharmacist Lin?" Lian Yunbi was furious with Pharmacist Lin. He had put off refining the Cold-Clearing Pill again and again, and every time he visited their home, he leered at her. Lian Yunbi knew exactly what he was after, so she had no good feelings toward the despicable Pharmacist Lin!

"Pharmacist Lin is a Bronze-Rank Pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association! How many Silver-Rank Pharmacists are there in all of Luowang Prefecture?" Father Lian was helpless. If there had been another pharmacist, would he have needed to beg that arrogant Pharmacist Lin?

Just then, her little brother groaned in bed. His brows knitted tightly, and his breathing grew rapid. His skin, which had been fair, turned red again, as if a flame had ignited in his lower abdomen. Wherever it spread, his skin immediately turned crimson.

Her little brother's affliction had flared up again!

"I don't want to live anymore. Just kill me!" Her little brother woke and burst into tears.

"My poor son!" Her mother began to wail. Father Lian's tiger-like eyes were brimming with tears too. They blamed themselves. If they had prepared the Cold-Clearing Pill sooner, his condition might have eased, and their son wouldn't have had to suffer so much!

Lian Yunbi had experienced this kind of pain herself when she was little, though not as severely as her little brother. Seeing him in such unbearable agony made her heart feel as if it were being cut by a knife.

"If only we had an Ice Cold Pangolin..." Lian Yunbi clenched her pearly teeth. At that moment, she wished she could suffer in her little brother's place. She clutched her clothes tightly, when suddenly she felt something strange in her hand. She remembered something and immediately pulled an inconspicuous porcelain bottle from her pocket.

She recalled what Zhang He had told her. Watching her little brother suffer, she gritted her teeth and poured out a pill. "Let's try it first!"